Kerry Challenges Bush to Monthly Debates

[Thrill]

Uh OH He's calling him out. Will he accept the challenge? This could really hurt the chimp if he declines.


http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=564&ncid=564&e=12&u=/nm/20040313/ts_nm/campaign_kerry_dc

I'm sure we will get the response that he's to busy.

[Reverend_Smitty]

1. Bush will never go for it

Bush is too stupid to hold his own against Kerry...Chimp's handlers will never let this fly. I would love to see it happen though

[Lindsey]

5. Isn't it a given that there are ALWAYS Presidential debates?

Aren't Kerry and Bush going to have three debates? My concern is who the moderators will be.

[elperromagico]

6. They're been traditional since 1976, but

the devil's in the details. Being the incumbent, Bush has a certain advantage in terms of deciding the format. He can always claim that a certain format (such as a town hall-style meeting) is "beneath the dignity of the President."

Or he can do like he typically does at debates and press conferences: Give a canned response regardless of the question ("We need to make the tax cuts permanent" and "Saddam Hussein was a brutal dictator" are two such examples).

[elperromagico]

2. Seems to me it's win-win for Kerry either way.

If Bush does agree, Kerry will eat him alive in the debates.

If Bush refuses (which he probably will), Kerry can portray him as a man incapable of defending his positions in a debate.

Hmm - this feller Kerry seems to know what he's doing.

[R3dD0g]

16. Eat him alive?

Only if he tries to.

You, of course, remember the debates where Gore deferred to the piece of shit time after time?

Bush can't walk and chew gum at the same time, that doesn't mean that he can't be programmed to answer preprogrammed questions.

Kerry will have to make his best effort to kick his ass without seeming to be vicious.

[boobooday]

3. Call him out every day

What is he so afraid of?

Surely a "strong, steady leader" would be up for a debate against his "weak liberal" challenger?

hahahahaha na na nana na

Come out, come out, Resident Chickenhawk!

http://www.wgoeshome.com

[TheFarseer]

4. How could he not go for at least 3?

Like last time. I'm not sure if that would look bad to average americans. It would sure look bad to me.

[Alex146]

7. Bush will accept

but every night before the debate there will be an orange alert or an anthrax scare...

[Wonk]

8. Already rejected the request

(snip)

The Bush campaign rejected the request for monthly debates and questioned how Kerry could ask for a civil discussion after his remarks about Republicans and after spending millions of dollars on ads attacking Bush.

[Leilani]

9. There are 3 debates tentatively planned

but of course, it's up to candidates to accept, format, etc.

There is 1 Veep debate planned.

Bush would never debate Kerry monthly; he's not THAT stupid.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

10. "I look forward to that debate". This phrase used

repeatedly by Bush and his handlers. Should be turned around on him in spades by the Kerry campaign when Bush (inevitably) ducks the debates challenge.

[Dr Fate]

11. Too Busy? More vacations than any Prez in HISTORY- but too busy??

THat should be Kerry's response.

"He had time to relax on his ranch in Crawford- taking more vacations than any president in US history. Yet only now that it's time to debate the issues that he claims to not have time.."

Bush response: Those were "working vacations"...

Kerry: "Fine- then lets debate at Crawford and you can call it a working vacation.

I'm ready when you are Mr. Bush. I'm unafraid to debate the issues at hand. The American people are tired of TV ads- they want to see real debate- etc, etc..."

[DaveSZ]

12. Kerry is a smart bastard

I like him. :)

[maggrwaggr]

13. that was a good move by Kerry

now the chimp's too scared to go up against him.

[jpgray]

14. This is smart--just like Edwards in weeks past, Kerry needs free media

This is the age-old way to get it. Bush would be strategically dumb to accept, but doubly so because he is no match for Kerry in a debate. Of course he will refuse, but Kerry, like Edwards, will get some air time for the challenges at least.

As mentioned above, Kerry can take it a little farther than Edwards could, because Bush is genuinely not working very hard at any given time in his presidency. Hell, he goes to rodeos and clears brush for 27% of his presidency.

[BradCKY]

15. It sounds like a win win

If Bush backs down, Kerry looks even tougher than he already is.

If Bush accepts... well remember Meet The Press? Except this time Kerry won't be soft on him.

[AlFrankenFan]

17. If he declines he's screwed

If he accepts and fucks up, then he's still screwed.

Kerry's got him trapped :P

[adadem]

18. If he won't

we should rent chicken suits and march around the White House.