How Many Kerry/Bush Debates Will There Be?

[arwalden]

Poll question: How Many Kerry/Bush Debates Will There Be?

And will it be a real debate? Or will it be a Larry-King-style softball questions for Bush, and Sam-donaldson-wolf-blitzer sneak-attack gotcha questions for Kerry.

[ronnykmarshall]

1. Nada!

Bush is going to try and avoid debating Kerry at all costs.

[shooga]

2. One ..

... JK will tear him a new *hole.

[Arkana]

16. Kerry has to be careful

because even though I have no doubt he'd destroy Bush in any debate, the media would twist it to look like a Bush victory because he was still standing when he came out. That's exactly what they did to Gore.

[Kazak]

3. This is still Democracy, right?

They'd better have it out 'til the people are satisfied, by golly.

[arwalden]

4. Incumbents Have Little Incentive To Debate...

since debates tend to help the challenger, don't they?

-- Allen

[napi21]

5. There will be ONE! Only because * would look BAD if he ....

didn't do at least one. It will be interesting to see how they dowmplay * debating ability in advance so public expectation is -50.

[grannylib]

6. One, Chimpy can't totally run and hide...and of course he'll get softballs

(and probably the questions in advance, and a little voice in his ear telling him what the answers are...)

[Rooktoven]

7. Not a real debate---

I can't see the Bush camp allowing shrub to be directly questioned by Kerry.

[Fovea]

8. We may get one

But seeing how he handled the Russert MTP embarassment, I imagine that it will be a debate in name only.

[elfwitch]

9. Didn't * say

he'd only allow a debate if it was written?
Does anybody else remamber that?

[welshTerrier2]

10. One on domestic policy; one on foreign policy

the election will be too close for bush to duck debates ...

[arwalden]

11. Do You Think That NOT Debating Is More Damaging That Debating Badly?

I'm thinking that EITHER way he's screwed.
But I would want to choose the option that screws him the MOST.

-- Allen

[jus_the_facts]

15. It doens't matter Allen...the media will still spin it to his advantage...

....just like they did in 2000....we could see he LOST every single debate against Gore...it's the SPIN Man..THE SPIN always seems to WIN!! :(

[welshTerrier2]

17. bush has to debate ...

first of all, they (bush's handlers) don't believe bush will do badly ... they'll believe they can lower expectations and talk about how bush is so busy saving us from terrorists that he hasn't had enough time to prepare ...

secondly, the macho white males who support him would never accept his backing down ...

and thirdly, as someone else has already said, it's all about the spin ...

bush will debate kerry ... one on foreign policy and one on domestic policy ...

as for kerry's request for monthly debates, it will never happen ... and that's too bad ... we've come to a place in our democracy that winning and spinning has become more important than helping inform the electorate ... and with an uninformed electorate, there can be no democracy ...

[adriennel]

12. my guess

handlers will find a way to keep Bush from debating AT ALL, or Bushie will only debate if given the questions before hand. There's no way Bush can beat Kerry ON HIS OWN, ie a "one-on-one debate about the issues". I was so happy when Kerry proposed a "monthly" debate on the issues with Bush (which McClellan dismissed with 'the president's a busy man...duh') because there is no way in HELL Bush will debate with Kerry on a MONTHLY basis. I bet he does not debate Kerry at all. First time round, voters did not know as much about Bush and of course Gore chose not to challenge Bush (for the most part.) Hopefully we all know better now (except for BushCo. I expect them to continue acting in a boneheaded fashion.)

[damnraddem]

13. Whatever they put on TV and call debates, there will be no ...

real debates.

After all, a debate requires at least two sides, with some level of competency. That lets out Dubya, right there.

[bluedog]

14. 3.heard that

on a talk show.bush agrees to 3.hope they check his ears for a feedermic...and for prompt notes written on his sleeve.....

[JohnLocke]

18. 3.

[ChiefJoseph]

19. Like 2

[BillZBubb]

20. No real debates. Two Bush* debate related program activities