Will there be presidential debates this year? If so, how many?

[AZCat]

Presidential debates don't always happen. There were no presidential debates between 1960 and 1976. Since then, there have been two or three every election (and usually a separate VP debate). How many debates do you think the Bush Administration will agree to this election?

BTW- good source:
www.debates.org
(this is the group that organizes and runs the debates)

[mitchtv]

1. remember Arnold?

1 debate, questions in advance.

[bigwillq]

2. 2-3 sounds right to me n/t

[LincolnMcGrath]

3. Hey, last time he was declared the winner,

based on the fact that he didn't make a total ass out of himself.

Tweety: "He wins for not looking to bad."

[AZCat]

5. Yup, remember how the media rolled over for him in 2000?

That's why I was wondering if they might actually hold a normal number. But if he is FINALLY coming under fire for being a jackass then Rove might pull the plug.

[woofless]

6. Oh, he'll look bad this time

and I doubt that it will take more than one to shred him and leave a bleeding mess on the floor. No Dem is feeling very nice right about now and I don't think anyone will be pulling any punches.

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

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[Design8edGrouch]

13. I agree and I will go even further...

1 or 2 debates will be scheduled and some breaking event will occur within 36 hours and * will have to cancel. He will even get a bump in the polls because he will be acting so heroic.

[xray s]

7. In '92 the old man didn't want to debate Clinton

He tried to get away with it, but the Clinton people put a guy in a chicken suit at all the Bush rallies, and Poppy finally caved in.

My guess is Junior will cook up a crisis that will keep him "too busy to debate"

[DieboldMustDie]

10. A guy in a chicken suit at a Dubya rally...

would be confined to the protest pen a half mile away, so no one would ever see him. :mad:

[Eric J in MN]

8. There will be 2, and the pundits will prepare their remarks declaring

There will be 2, and the pundits will prepare their remarks declaring George W. the winner of each before they start.

[Dagaz]

9. 3 plus 1 VP sound right

Could be 2 since the Pugg primary is so late (as the church lady would say...how conveeeeenient). ok I'll now say 2 plus one veep.

[BillZBubb]

11. 2 Pres, 1 VP

Do you think the Repukes will allow Bush to be seen standing right next to the Democratic nominee, or will they insist each stay on his own side and behind a dais?

[jmags]

12. 2-3 with format heavily favorable to the illiterate in chief

Candidates are not allowed to ask questions to each other...questions are given in advance, etc.

If we allowed true debates, Republicans wouldn't get elected for president.

[mykpart]

14. The way they format the debates now

it really doesn't matter. Bush will have all the questions furnished in advance and he will just have to memorize the answers. (Hell, he'll probably have them on a teleprompter!) And if the Dem candidate refuses the format, Bushco. will make it seem as if DEMS don't want to debate!

[MAlibdem]

15. Anyone see the West Wing reelection debate

One of those will be enough for whoever the dem nom is to run circles around George "i-got-a-C-average-in-college-now-im-president-WHOOOHOOOO" Bush