Rules of debate: No asking each other questions

[AmerDem]

Excerpts from the "Memorandum of Understanding" signed by President Bush's and Sen. John Kerry's campaigns before the debates:

# Each debate shall last for 90 minutes.

# No opening statements, but each candidate gets a two-minute closing statement.

# The candidates may take notes during the debate on any sort of paper they prefer, using the type of pen or pencil that each prefers. But the candidate must submit the paper and pens to the Commission on Presidential Debates before the event.

# Candidates may not ask each other direct questions, but may ask rhetorical questions.

# Candidates are barred from addressing each other with proposed pledges.

# Tonight's debate will focus on foreign policy and homeland security. The Oct. 13 debate shall focus on economic and domestic policy. The Oct. 5 vice presidential debate and the Oct. 8 presidential debate shall not be limited by topic.


http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/193069_rules30.html






http://images.blogads.com/sbxtupszzbippdpn/therawstory/3201574/readmore?r=20&d=http://www.statueoflimitations.us/blog11.html?

[Maestro]

1. So is it really a debate?

No questions can be asked of each other. Who's idea was that? Man, shrub's handlers just don't want him to answer anything spontaneously. He is such a moran!

[AmerDem]

5. We can blame

Shaheen, Shrumm amd Cahill. Shaheen was interviewed after this contract and she was quoted as saying "we aren't concerned with the details we wanted the 3 debates" not an exact quote. This team (IMO) has proven to be completely clueless. There is no way to box shrub in and his camp already said a few times there is a chance they wont return for the other debates ( if they feel the contract has been breeched, media hasn't signed and the moderators refused to sign). So the end result could very well be that shrub gets this first puff piece of a debate and never shows up again.

[HughBeaumont]

2. Rove the Turd Blossom Kingmaker strikes again.

We have a marionette for a president and lobotomy patients for voters.

[ewagner]

3. No notes?

If I understand it correctly, they cannot COME IN to the debate with notes.

This means shrub will be operating without cue cards OR teleprompter.

This might get good/

[KansDem]

6. But nothing about subjecting themselves to ear inspections...

"Hey, Mr. President, is that an ear piece in your ear...?"

"Gosh, no. It's just a big clump of ear wax!"

"Oh, OK. You may proceed..."

[VOX]

4. Talking Point City. As "safe" and as canned as it can be for *...

It's just a notch or two from phoning it in.

[AmerDem]

7. Kick

:kick:

[molly]

8. I like this one

"But the candidate must submit the paper and pens to the Commission on Presidential Debates before the event.

That's an indication that they will be looking for crib notes - do they check sleeves along with ears?