Repugs trying to change debate rules?

[AnnInLa]

If this was discussed before, SO sorry, but just heard Tweety say that the "buzz" around town was that the repugs want to change the rules of the debate??? They want the VP debate to be held sitting down, in chat style, shooting the breeze with the moderator....I guess so cheney will look more "grandfatherly"???? Then they want to reduce the hours of the Presidential debate so as not to expose bush too much (Tweety's words). Anyone have any hard info about this? What a great ad for MoveOn.

[DancingBear]

1. I was talking with another DU'er about this very thing just yesterday

I was emphatic that they would try and change the VP debate to a format like last year, where "too tough" Joe literally had a cup of coffee with Cheney for 90 minutes.

You had to know it was coming - didn't you?

If Kerry is smart he should be able to get some very good political mileage out of this.

The baby-faced assasin (Edwards) should have a field day with it. :) :)

[PsN2Wind]

2. Hope Edwards points out

he was expecting a debate not a koffee klatsch.

[liberalnurse]

3. Did they mention the "ear piece" for *bush?

I don't know how *bush will survive if he does not have an ear piece to relay the answers to him with.......

[oneighty]

4. Can FUVP

Stand up for ninety minutes? I bet not.

180

[carpetbagger]

5. It's called lowering expectations.

Bush already scored a major coup when the debate was formatted one domestic and one foreign. For a guy whose major asset in a campaign is his ability to stay on talking points, having half the lines to remember is important.

The key thing is for K/E to stick to some good talking points in politely but nonetheless declining such changes. Frankly, Edwards looks best in a stand-up format, Kerry and Cheney are a wash, but Bush would probably look horrible in a sit-down format, between his inattentiveness bordering on smugness, and his inability to answer questions without turning them into launching pads for prepared talking points.

[DeepModem Mom]

6. kick

[Placebo]

7. THE VP DEBATE CANNOT BE DONE 'SITTING DOWN'

abso-fucking-lutely NOT!

Imagine how much more distinguished Edwards will look standing for an hour and a half compared to cheney.

the body language of edwards can be shown off much better as well, cheney just stands there and tilts his head down looking dead and freakish.

also cheney will be looking so tired and feeling tired by the end of and edwards could get up there and speak continuously for hours without starting to look tired or off his message.

BOYCOTT THE 'CONVERSATION STYLE' VP DEBATES!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Piperay]

8. Edwards and Cheney both need to

be standing at podiums as equals if they are sitting down Edwards will end up looking like little Danny Quayle (sp?) sitting next to his grandfather. x(