It's A Headline: "Kerry Wants One-on-One With Dean"

[DrFunkenstein]

WASHINGTON - John Kerry wants to go one-on-one with Democratic White House rival Howard Dean.

Kerry issued the challenge for a face-to-face debate during an appearance on CBS's "Face the Nation" on Sunday.

He had been asked about recent comments from Dean following a debate in Albuquerque, N.M., in which Kerry refrained from directly attacking Dean. Afterward, Dean said: "I wish he'd say to my face what he says behind my back."

In response, Kerry said Sunday that he'd welcome a debate with just the two men on the stage.

"If he wants a challenge and he wants us to go face-to-face, I accept," said Kerry. "Let's get together. Let's have a debate."

Kerry suggested Iowa or New Hampshire for such a meeting.

The Dean campaign didn't express much interest in the idea.

"There have been and continue to be numerous forums and debates for each of the candidates to discuss the issues, debate specific records and address concerns directly with Governor Dean," said campaign spokeswoman Courtney O'Donnell.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=694&e=10&u=/ap/kerry_dean

<>

[RogueTrooper]

1. And no doubt the response from the Dean campaign

will be included shortly..

http://www.blogforamerica.com

Jim Jordan
Campaign Manager
Kerry for President

Dear Jim:

I received and reviewed your letter inviting Governor Dean to participate in a series of one-on-one debates with Senator Kerry at the exclusion of the other seven candidates running for the Democratic nomination.

As you know, there have been and will continue to be numerous forums and debates that will provide the opportunity for each of the candidates to discuss the issues, to debate their ideas and address their differences with Governor Dean – or any other candidate -- directly. In fact, just last week, Representative Kucinich highlighted the difference between his position and that of Dick Gephardt on the pre-emptive war in Iraq. Specifically, he said, “I just want to say that when you were standing there in the Rose Garden with the president and you were giving him advice, I wish that you would have told him no, because as our Democratic leader, your position helped to inform mightily the direction of the war.”

As you may recall, during the debate in New Mexico, Senator Joe Lieberman challenged Governor Dean’s position on trade, saying – correctly or incorrectly – that it would lead to a “Dean Depression.”

Senator Kerry will continue to have ample opportunity to debate the differences between himself and Governor Dean during the upcoming candidate forums in New York, Arizona and Michigan.

Jim, there are nine candidates seeking the Democratic nomination for President – each with his or her own ideas and policies and each with the goal of defeating George Bush next November. For ANY candidate to suggest otherwise is presumptuous.

Governor Dean’s campaign has been about returning democracy to the hands of the American people. We believe it is up to the American people to narrow the field – through the democratic nominating process – and not for any one candidate to subvert this process simply because “that suits us.”

We trust the American people to decide what suits them.

Sincerely,

Joe Trippi

http://www.blogforamerica.com

[blm]

3. Then Dean shouldn't throw out accusations against Kerry that

he won't bother to back up face to face.

[RogueTrooper]

4. From what I gathered from Dean's comments

he was more that happy to face to face with Kerry.

[DrFunkenstein]

6. That's What It Sounded Like To Kerry, Too!

"I wish he'd say to my face what he says behind my back," Dean said before disappearing behind the door, a grimace on his face.

"I just wish he had given me a chance to respond to all that stuff — the zero experience on foreign affairs, the NRA stuff, the tax cut stuff," Dean said.

"I would have liked to have responded to that in person," Dean said, relishing the thought of getting mouthy with Kerry.
--

Maybe it's this part that worries him:

Rivals hope his campaign will implode, and Dean said he knows one way that could happen.

"I do have a mouth on me," the former Vermont governor said aboard a small charter plane taking him here from Albuquerque, N.M., site of the first major debate of the 2004 race.

"That is, I generally say what I think so I get in trouble," Dean said.

Could he hurt himself? "If I blew up in a debate or something like that, yes," Dean said. "But I haven't done that in 16 years of debates."

[RogueTrooper]

9. Beg your pardon

Could you point out to me where, in either of those statements, Dean calls for a one on one debate with Kerry? I cannot seem to see it.

[blm]

11. He doesn't. Kerry took him up on the face to face

and in the political arena that becomes a debate.

[RogueTrooper]

16. You made a mistake

Dean said, "...to his face."

I think in all your excitement you must have misread the sentence.

[tedoll78]

7. blm, simple questions for you

Answer this:
Where did Dean challenge Kerry to a one-on-one? Link please.

Another question:
Is Kerry capable of saying things to Dean's face during a regularly-scheduled debate?

[blm]

13. He didn't. Dean wants to get the in face treatment on the issues, well,

then in the political arena the next step is to debate. Kerry tooh Dean's words and brought them in to the political arena...it was a fair play.

btw...remember the first forum in SC when Stef asked Dean about his rhetoric against Kerry and Dean didn't want to answer and just played the "move on" card? PUHLEEZE don't pretend that he is some innocent and brave soul in all this.

[tedoll78]

18. I'm still waiting..

for an answer to my second question.

Is or is not Kerry capable of saying those things to Dean's face in one of the regularly-scheduled debates?

It's a simple question. Do you plan on answering it?

[dfong63]

2. hey, Kerry, get back in line

... no cutting

[tedoll78]

5. And I want a pony.

And a million dollars.
Doesn't mean I'll get them.

Dean's campaign isn't inept enough to accept such a challenge from the "Dean Dean Dean Dean Dean" man. Dean expressed regret that Kerry won't say things to his face, but he said nothing about context of such a confrontation.

Frustrated folks: read that last sentence once again. Pause, and let it sink in.

Kerry is trying to spin this into a "Dean is too chicken" issue, all while knowing that he's perfectly capable of saying things to Dean's face in any of our lovely regularly-scheduled forums. Nothing else seems to be working, so why not throw this kitchen sink at Dean and see if it works?

[DrFunkenstein]

10. Kerry Explains Why The Regular Schedule Is A Cop Out

"Secondly, with respect to the comment you just made, I welcome Governor Dean's challenge. If he wants a challenge and he wants us to go face-to-face, I accept...We can do it in Iowa. We can do it in New Hampshire. I'm perfectly willing to do it. In those one-minute exchanges with nine people on the stage, it's very, very difficult to really get at and explain the differences between candidates. So I welcome the opportunity to do that one-on-one with Governor Dean, and I'm glad he wants to do it."

When you throw down the gauntlet, you damn well better be ready for someone to pick it up. More backtracking from the straight-shooter, I guess.

[tedoll78]

14. Did you even read my post?

Go back and read it again.

sad..

[DrFunkenstein]

19. Don't Be Sad

I read your post, and was just pointing out the shortcomings of your logic. C'mon - turn that frown upside down!

:loveya:

[tedoll78]

22. I'll repeat it again..

Kerry - like all of the other candidates - is perfectly capable of addressing Dean in one of the regular debates. Nothing is preventing him from doing so. And Dean, as has been his expressed wish, is perfectly capable of responding to such attacks in said format.

Read that again. Go on.

[DrFunkenstein]

32. This Is Fun!

"In those one-minute exchanges with nine people on the stage, it's very, very difficult to really get at and explain the differences between candidates."

It is very brave of Dean to be willing to take on Kerry in said format.

[tedoll78]

36. It's also..

very considerate and egalitarian of him.

[babzilla]

31. or we can do it in the road

We can do it in Iowa. We can do it in New Hampshire. I'm perfectly willing to do it. In those one-minute exchanges with nine people on the stage, it's very, very difficult to really get at and explain the differences between candidates. So I welcome the opportunity to do that one-on-one with Governor Dean, and I'm glad he wants to do it."

Or we can do it in the rho-hoad.

Kerry is a debate champ for god's sakes, why can't he he really get at and explain himself within any debating forum laid out? I'm sure its very difficult for all of the candidates but they seem to be able to cope with it. Kerry has an obvious need to put himself apart from the others, that is not playing well for him. Perhaps he should rethink and regroup.

The last part of the quote is just weirdly delusional:
"So I welcome the opportunity to do that one-on-one with Governor Dean, and I'm glad he wants to do it."

[Mass_Liberal]

8. I think Dean and Kerry would both be up for it

:kick:

[ima_sinnic]

12. Dean has it just right, per post #1

His response says, "there are 9 of us, so why are you so obsessed with me? Why the combative attitude? Just debate when you have your chance, like everybody else, and against everybody else as well."

Kerry seems exceedingly preoccupied with what Dean is saying most of the time. IMHO.

[DrFunkenstein]

15. Oh, I Don't Know...Could It Be

"I wish he'd say to my face what he says behind my back," Dean said before disappearing behind the door, a grimace on his face.

"I just wish he had given me a chance to respond to all that stuff — the zero experience on foreign affairs, the NRA stuff, the tax cut stuff," Dean said.

"I would have liked to have responded to that in person," Dean said, relishing the thought of getting mouthy with Kerry.

---

If you're going to take on the bull, you better expect the horns.

[tedoll78]

20. A question for you:

Is Dean capable of doing those things in one of the regularly-scheduled debates?

Hint: Yes.

I can hear it now, just like it's happened in past debates.
Kerry: "blah blah Dean blah.."
Moderator: "Dean, a response?"
Dean: "blah blah Kerry blah.."

Kerry's trying to muddy the waters and make this a debate format issue because nothing else is working. This won't work either. Time to search for a new angle to the Dean problem.

[DrFunkenstein]

25. Is That What Dean Supporters Hear When Policy Is Discussed?

That's not my impression of them. I think talking about health care and economic recovery and Iraq are all issues that I think Dean people would be interested in. I know Kerry people are.

[tedoll78]

27. Nah,

I just didn't feel like filling-in the debate text example with real dialogue, lol.

[LuminousX]

17. Further Proof

Kerry is spending a lot of energy chasing Dean.

But it is a good political move. He needs to regain some spotlight. This makes him look more aggressive. I suspect he will be able to get a small amount of traction out of this but will backfire horribly if he doesn't directly attack Dean in the next debate.

[TheDonkey]

24. No that's a bad strategy

Attacking Dean during the next nat. debate will only eat away Kerry's time to explain his vision for America.

Many of the newbies to this race don't care to see a bunch of hand slapping and whining and that is why Kerry ignoring Dean is his best bet.

Unless he has extra time off the nat. debate to discuss key differences between him and Dean, he shouldn't waste his time. A reason why Dean does not mention this stuff during the debate yet will mudsling as much as possible off camera.

[DrFunkenstein]

28. I Would Rather Kerry Took A Second To Say To The Audience

"Aren't you sick of these 1 minute answers by 9 different people? Wouldn't you rather see real discussion about the future of America? Soundbites may be entertaining, but they won't solve our problems."

[Pavlovs DiOgie]

37. Or perhaps

Kerry could learn to make his point in 60 seconds, like the other candidates do.

[LuminousX]

33. The why does he want special time

special debates for the explicit purpose of going against Dean?

As Trippi pointed out, Lieberman sure was able to get his jabs in at Dean, and Kucinich was able to poke at Gephardt... so if Kerry wants to do it, he can do it in that forum as well.

Kerry needs to share the spotlight with Dean to regain some campaign momentum. Dean would be an idiot to allow that at this point in time and only accept when his own campaign is losing steam.

[TheDonkey]

21. Trippi pulled an old political trick out of the bag...

Dean really should of just had a short and sweet debate with Kerry to end this whole, "he says mean things about me," whining.

The debate with all nine canidates is not the time for bickering but rather them explaining what THEY would do. I don't want to see Liberman, Dean, Kerry, Kucinich, whoever blasting canidates during a national campaign because many who are watching don't know where they stand to begin with.

But Trippi I'm sure realizes that if Kerry blasts Dean during the national debate, not only will it make Kerry look desperate and mad, but also eat away his chance to explain his vision for America. Smart move by the Dean camp, except Dean should never of commented on wanting Kerry to talk to him face 2 face as it is clear that he has no intention too.

[Cha]

Read carefully...Dean did Not say in a debate that Excludes all

the other candidates ...he said "face to face..

[DrFunkenstein]

35. Maybe They Can Debate As They Walk Past One Another

Would that be more to Dean's suiting?

[babzilla]

23. O/T "Operation: Liebermania"

from the article linked

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Lieberman (news - web sites) is taking his campaign right into the homes of Granite State voters.

He's launched "Operation: Liebermania" — going door-to-door in the early primary state of New Hampshire. Kathleen Timbas of Concord had her questions about health care and the environment ready to go by the time the Connecticut senator landed on her doorstep on Sunday.

"I found it helpful," said Timbas, a financial analyst who favors one of Lieberman's rivals, former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean.

Classic comment from the Dean supporter when the Lieberman campaign brings it "right into his home": I uh found it helpful, now please leave please you're creeping me out Joe.

[tsipple]

30. "I Found It...Helpful."

That's too funny.

[Prag_Idealist]

26. Dean's Response..well Trippi's

Response to Jim Jordan
Jim Jordan
Campaign Manager
Kerry for President

Dear Jim:

I received and reviewed your letter inviting Governor Dean to participate in a series of one-on-one debates with Senator Kerry at the exclusion of the other seven candidates running for the Democratic nomination.

As you know, there have been and will continue to be numerous forums and debates that will provide the opportunity for each of the candidates to discuss the issues, to debate their ideas and address their differences with Governor Dean – or any other candidate -- directly. In fact, just last week, Representative Kucinich highlighted the difference between his position and that of Dick Gephardt on the pre-emptive war in Iraq. Specifically, he said, “I just want to say that when you were standing there in the Rose Garden with the president and you were giving him advice, I wish that you would have told him no, because as our Democratic leader, your position helped to inform mightily the direction of the war.”

As you may recall, during the debate in New Mexico, Senator Joe Lieberman challenged Governor Dean’s position on trade, saying – correctly or incorrectly – that it would lead to a “Dean Depression.”

Senator Kerry will continue to have ample opportunity to debate the differences between himself and Governor Dean during the upcoming candidate forums in New York, Arizona and Michigan.

Jim, there are nine candidates seeking the Democratic nomination for President – each with his or her own ideas and policies and each with the goal of defeating George Bush next November. For ANY candidate to suggest otherwise is presumptuous.

Governor Dean’s campaign has been about returning democracy to the hands of the American people. We believe it is up to the American people to narrow the field – through the democratic nominating process – and not for any one candidate to subvert this process simply because “that suits us.”

We trust the American people to decide what suits them.

Sincerely,

Joe Trippi

It was posted to the blog.
http://www.blogforamerica.com/

[tsipple]

29. Kerry is Jan

Dean, Dean, Dean!
Marsha, Marsha, Marsha!

:evilgrin:

[DrFunkenstein]

34. You Devilish Scamp, You

"I wish he'd say to my face what he says behind my back," Dean said before disappearing behind the door, a grimace on his face.

"I just wish he had given me a chance to respond to all that stuff — the zero experience on foreign affairs, the NRA stuff, the tax cut stuff," Dean said.

"I would have liked to have responded to that in person," Dean said, relishing the thought of getting mouthy with Kerry.

[w4rma]

38. I've no problem with this, but Dean can't accept because other candidates

will complain and may start having their own one-on-ones or debates without Kerry or Dean. If Dean accepted it would turn into a real mess.

I think this will backfire on Kerry with supporters of the other 7 or 8 candidates.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

39. Dean's response:

[Pavlovs DiOgie]

40. Hilarious!

B-)