Why don't Kerry surrogates bring up Bush's fear of debates...

[LostInAnomie]

... on every program that they can get a moments air time on. They should be shaming him at every moment making him look like a coward. They need to DESTROY this image of a strong leader, and his bed wetting fear of debate is the path to take.

"I think that the issues that this nation faces are important enough to debate weekly so the voters know the candidates positions..."

"If the President can vacation 40% on his time in office surely he can take some time to debate the issues that the American people care about..."

" Why is the President afraid of letting the people really know his positions about the issues instead of his hand picked audiences. What does he have to hide?"

Something like that. Anything to challenge him and make him look weak. He is running on machismo, take that away and he is a word slurring, draft dodging, coke snorting, privileged son, pussy.

[David Dunham]

1. Have to keep expectations high -- not low -- for Bush's debating

Gore was dumb and criticized Bush's ability to debate, which lowered expectations.

[LostInAnomie]

2. They don't have to knock his prowess...

...they just need to emphasize that it is important for the voters to be informed.

They have to start playing tough or they are going to be left behind.

[In Truth We Trust]

3. I agree

Kick!

[walldude]

4. It's a sneaky balance debating Bush

He's way to easy to defeat, and if you trounce him like Gore did you end up looking arrogant and Bush looks like the kid on the playground who got his lunch money stolen by the school bully. We don't need people feeling sorry for him. The people who support him(Bush) don't see his stupidity as a sign of weakness and thats where Kerry could get hurt in the debates. I think the debate that is going to matter more is Edwards/Cheney. Cheney's not nearly as dumb as Bush and if Edwards trounces him it will be a major blow... IMHO

[MirrorAshes]

5. He challenged him to weekly debates, which sets him up to look scared

but somewhat indirectly, because yes we do need to keep the expectations high. I think hes playing it just right.