Rules for a Bushless Debate

[jmowreader]

Let's play around a bit and assume Bush will have "other priorities" for at least one of the debates. Perhaps all three. It will be too dangerous for a sitting President to be in front of a crowd that hasn't all signed loyalty oaths, there will be a Terror Alert that will require his full attention, he can't turn his attention away from the War on Iraq to prepare for a meaningless debate--meaningless because the world and especially the American people love Bush and will reelect him in a landslide. Something.

So we must prepare for the eventuality that Bush won't show up at any debate.

I suggest these rules for a Bushless Debate:

1. The debate will be conducted in a large facility with no stage. There will be no podium. There will be no moderator.

September 30: Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, Michigan (capacity: 107,501)
October 8: Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol, Tennessee (capacity: 160,000)
October 13: Beaver Stadium, College Park, Pennsylvania (capacity: 107,282)

2. The facility will be filled to capacity if feasible. Admission will not be charged. The Secret Service will conduct security screenings of all attendees. Attendees may bring signs, but they must be affixed to a solid surface. Materials to attach the signs to the aforementioned solid surfaces will be provided by the debate organizers.

3. The debate will start no later than 7pm. Television coverage will end at 1am. The candidate may choose to field questions later than this.

4. The candidate will carry a wireless microphone in his right hand and a 1.5-litre bottle of water in his left. Additional bottles of water will be available to the candidate. The candidate will not carry any sort of radio receiving device.

5. The candidate will be accompanied by four Secret Service agents, two camera operators and a sound operator. One camera operator will focus on the candidate, while the other will focus on citizens asking him questions.

6. Each facility is equipped with a Jumbotron video system. Images of the candidate will be played on the system for the benefit of the crowd.

7. Conduct of the debate: The candidate will move freely throughout the facility fielding questions from anyone who chooses to ask them. The candidate is encouraged to go down the rows to speak to citizens. Citizens' questions will not be prescreened.

Imagine the Bush boy in this debate format, walking through Bristol Motor Speedway answering questions with no earpiece.

[AndyP]

1. does he normally have an earpiece?

Will he in the debates?

[jmowreader]

2. "He" as in Bush or Kerry?

Bush uses an earpiece at every public appearance he makes.

I do not think Kerry does; he certainly doesn't need one.

The intent of the "no radio receivers" rule was to make it clear that Kerry was gonna go out into the crowd at Bristol Motor Speedway with nothing but a microphone, a bottle of water and his brain.