Chimp "debating the debates"

[Sparkly]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20040905/ts_alt_afp/us_vote_debates

Ken Mehlman, campaign manager for Bush's re-election effort, said the president's campaign would announce its intentions in due time.

"We look forward to the debates. We look forward to having a debate about debates. We will, in an appropriate time, which is shortly, talk about our intended participation," he told ABC television's "This Week" program.

(snip)

But Joe Lockhart, senior adviser with the Kerry's campaign, accused the Bush campaign of stonewalling.

"Debates don't need to be debated. We don't need 'intended'," he told ABC.

I thought the RNC would be happy there were no formal, stand-up podium debates. What is their problem?!

[Ninga]

1. Let the cries of "debater girly-man" begin!!!!

[wolfgirl]

5. Made me laugh...

thank you!

[Spinzonner]

10. SOunds like a perfect line for Carville

[stray cat]

2. A debate on debates and Bush is considered decisive!

This is the the man who claims he will protect us from terrorists!

[madaboutharry]

3. Their problem is that the republican

candidate for president is a first class moron who can't think on his feet.

[merbex]

4. You ask" What's their problem?"

Their candidate is messing his pants at the very thought of going "mano mano"vs Kerry

[brainshrub]

6. I wish they would bring back Lincoln-Douglas style debates.

A series of them. Perhaps once a week for a month. Talk about Health Care, Environment, Healthcare and Terrorism.

[Pepperbelly]

13. You are right but I fear that ...

Bush doesn't have the brains and the American viewing public doesn't have the patience or the interest.

[brainshrub]

15. Kerry should ask for it 'tho.

Maybe next time the Republicans will nominate someone smart enough to pull off a L/D Debate.

Personally, I feel L/D is the best way to conduct political debates.

[gatorboy]

7. This is their way of trying to keep the bounce up.

They know Bush is a lousy speaker when he has no script. Keeping him out of a debate for as long as possible only keeps his numbers up.

[Democat]

8. They are going to see what happens with the polls first - if Kerry...

...comes back up with Bush, then they will debate. If Kerry stays behind, then why should they bother debating?

The Republicans are strategic. They have been out-thinking us for years.

[punpirate]

9. Hmmm....

"We look forward to having a debate about debates" sounds very much like "weapons of mass destruction program-related activities."

These guys want to get out of them, or so micro-manage them in a way that would guarantee that nothing of substance could be said in the debates by either candidate.

Next thing you know, they'll be saying that last time, Jim Lehrer was just too partisan, and they need a more neutral moderator, say, Sean Hannity or Bob Novak. :eyes:

[Flubadubya]

11. I actually saw that when it happened...

I had to pick my jaw up off the floor, then fell on my ass laughing. Eewww these people are such slippery little slugs!!!

[buff2]

12. If they were so confident in Resident Evil.......

They would be EAGER to debate. He's a chickenshit coward and will prolong it for as long as he can. He'd rather strut around on a stage with a mike repeating the same shit over and over. God,he makes me sick. :puke:

[elperromagico]

14. His attempts to dodge the debates hurt him in 2000.

Gore gained a lead over Bush during the period of the "Debate Over The Debates." If Kerry could hammer him on this somehow - "Why is the President afraid to discuss the issues with me? He says he wants to debate; let's debate then" - it could help him and hurt Bush.

[Supersedeas]

16. An educated electorate is Rove's worst nightmare

The debates are a step in the wrong direction in Rove's mud-sling at the TV Media OK coral..

[BillZBubb]

17. Please Kerry, don't allow any "debate" about the debates.

Stick exactly to the Debate Commission script. If that is unacceptable to the Chimp, so be it. That's his problem.

This is classic Repug posturing. If Kerry yields anything on the debates, he looks weak. Kerry needs to tackle this from a position of strength, not weakness.