What will YOU do to keep people from watching the debates?

[LoZoccolo]

As we all know, Bush* is a master of debating, so no matter how much we disagree with his policies, it is clear that he is going to wipe the floor with Kerry during the debates. I'm afraid that he'll do so well that even people who you already think would not vote for Bush* might be severely affected. So should we try to keep our friends from watching the debates, perhaps by making plans to go out that night, away from being able to watch the TV coverage? Or do you have some other kind of sneaky plan we should hear about? Do tell, I'm scared as fuck!

[sniffa]

1. actuaLLy

i'LL be watching the debates with as many peeps as possibLe.

new DU get togethers!!

[LoZoccolo]

3. I would urge you to cancel this get-together.

Even though people might say they'll still vote for Kerry, you don't know what they'll do in the voting booth after they see this master at work.

[Scairp]

31. Are you nuts?!

I was planning to try and have a meeting to watch and then discuss, at the very least, the first one. Bush, a master? If you mean MASTER BULLSHITTER then I would agree. Kerry has been debating on the floor of the Senate for twenty years. He can blow Shrub out of the water. Who's friggin side are you on anyway?!

[MissB]

42. It's called

raising the expectations. It is a game we've played around here lately. Raise the expectations for *, lower them for Kerry.

[deckerd]

44. It's not a game.

And if it were, the majority of people on this board would not be able
to compete because they are incapable of using irony to their advantage.

Creating misleading impressions for media consumption. It is called putting on appearances to benefit your candidate. Republicans are masters at it. Dems suck at it. Hard. I'm sorry to say... whatever happened to the early 90's when liberals knew how to play this game???

In any case there's no point keeping up the charade because nobody on DU got the memo about campaign tactics.

When ever someone tries to drum up a talking point, Dems who just got off the vegetable truck start stepping all over each other like a goose in a new world. (Sorry for the mixed metaphors.)

I for one think Bush WILL beat Kerry in the debates, simply because nobody ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the general public.

As the reaction to the CBS from my (liberal) relatives and recent polling demonstrates. And America's in the middle of a 40-year reactionary cycle which began in 1970 or thereabouts.

[bringbackfdr]

48. Living in NH I've seen Kerry in debates

Before he debated Bill Weld in 1996 Weld was considered the favorite, Kerry was considered too stiff, aloof, etc. Kerry wiped the floor with him, he came across as smart and quick-witted. This will not be a repeat of Gore's sigh/lockbox/get-in-your-face performances from 2000.

[Rick Myers]

2. Letting people see him 'unedited'

is the BEST thing you can do. He's good at sound bites, but on the fly everyone can see him as an illiterate fool.

[LoZoccolo]

5. No way, man.

He's really fucken good at debating - he has never lost a debate.

[Bandit]

39. According to the Right..His oratory skills rival Abraham Lincoln

and Churchill together. I agree we must stop liberals from watching Kerry get massacred.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

4. Er, you're joking right?

It's early and my sarcasm meter is off.

[LoZoccolo]

6. There are a lot of other threads where people talk about this.

I think there were three at a time yesterday afternoon.

[LoZoccolo]

8. Here - according to this poll, most people here agree.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=848544&mesg_id=848544

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

7. I love it. Raise the expecttations for Bush and lower them for Kerry.

Use their tactics against them.

[Worst Username Ever]

9. Well, they are probably going to have to hold a 4th debate anyway

because the margin of victory is going to be so large, I am sure our folks are going to bitch for a do-over. Of course, it will be a lesson in futility, as Bush has never lost a debate. Ever. I really think he will prove himself, especially during the town-hall style debate.

[LoZoccolo]

10. And that begs the question...

...why are we such gluttons for punishment? Was this whole thing to try to get three instead of two just so much posturing and reverse psychology?

[Worst Username Ever]

14. I think in requesting three debates

we must have been hoping Bush would cancel them althogther, just for the fact of really "showing who's boss." But evidentally he is smarter than we gave him credit for, and will be doing all three. He knows that this is his strong suit, and Kerry will be lucky if he doesn't just crap his pants in front of the camera.

The really sad thing is that Kerry is actaully very good at debating, but when you but him up against this guy, it just puts him to shame.

I'll be spending the debates alone in a dark room, praying.

[LittleClarkie]

34. Nope, we wanted the middle, unscripted debate

Because we know Bush has trouble when he's off script.

Actually, Kerry is at this very moment making hash meat out of several of Bush's talking points. Bush is looking more and more foolish as Kerry gets the word out that "The Emperor has no cloths on."

I for one am looking forward to taping all three debates. Can't wait!

[democrat in Tallahassee]

11. Poor John Kerry. I pity him. Everyone please avert your eyes

[jtb33]

12. WTF?

Is this sarcasm? Is Kerry really that bad at debating, or is Bush* really that good? I think this election will come down to the debates.

[LoZoccolo]

13. Oh Kerry's not /bad/...

...it's who he's up against.

[jtb33]

15. Is Bush* REALLY that GOOD?

...at debating?

[LoZoccolo]

16. He's never lost a debate.

Going all the way back to his debates with Ann Richards for Texas governor.

[jtb33]

19. How are debates scored?

Is there actually a "points" thing, or is it just media opinion that decides who "won"?

[LoZoccolo]

20. Points don't really matter.

It's like boxing - when there's a knockout, the points don't matter anymore!

[Beausoleil]

18. shhh....

we're trying to raise the bar!

[zulchzulu]

17. What the hell are you talking about

Bush IS NOT going to "wipe the floor" with Kerry in the debates. It is the OTHER WAY AROUND.

Bush had the lucky position in 2000 of being the "new guy" with Gore being pinned as the Clinton guy. Bush "beat" Ann Richards because he was the "new guy".

There is absolutely too much material and issues to prove Bush a liar and a failure to think that he can bat that stuff away.

Kerry will destroy Bush in the debates.

[sofa king]

21. Here's what I would like to see: The Bush Lie Ticker

The President is so dishonest, so disillusioned, and so predictable that I believe with the miracle of modern technology he can be exposed in real-time.

I'd like someone to present a live webcast (or even better, television broadcast) of the debate, backed by a team of fact checkers with ready made cites and links. You could put it out on a five-minute delay to allow for encoding.

Every time Bush tells another lie, the webcast goes DING!, the number counter rolls, and a correction at the bottom of the page with links.

Put out a call to have Americans pledge $10 for every lie, distortion, ignorant oversimplification and gaffe, the final tally to be donated to either the Kerry campaign or soldiers' benefit programs.

Here's a fanciful example:



Edit: By the way, I'd be happy to donate all available free time to make this a reality. Someone else is going to have to pony up the money. Feel free to contact me at [e-mail]

[crispini]

23. you've got mail

[sofa king]

25. Thanks, crispini!

Maybe we should pitch this idea in another thread and see what sort of resources we can pool to do it.

[faithnotgreed]

45. it does deserve some attention i think. very interesting

[spanone]

22. I assume sarcasm but these debate threads are getting OLD

[liberal N proud]

24. Why would you want to stop people from watching?

It will be great to see Kerry out debate shrub, even though the deck is stacked against him.
With supporters like you, who need Carl Rove?

[LoZoccolo]

26. It /would/ be great to see Kerry out-debate Bush*...

...but if Bush* is a master debater, I wouldn't want anyone seeing this. :scared:

[Stephanie]

35. Bush is a master of rhetoric!

He was president of the debating team at Yale! Kerry is quaking in his boots right now!

[cleangreencar]

30. waitaminute!

I thought Kerry had like 20 years in the senate? He is proud of that time right? He did what was right for the nation, didn't he? Can't he compare his history with anyones and come out roses? I say "bring it on!"

[ShaneGR]

27. Sorry, we're liberals, we ENCOURAGE viewership

No censorship or coverup here.

[HFishbine]

28. I'm buying free drinks at the bar

They only show sports on the TV and I'll buy drinks all night for anybody who shows up -- just to make sure they aren't at home watching the debates. I hate to admit it, but I'll probably get up really early and steal all the newspapers off my neighbors' front porches the next day too. I don't want them to read how Kerry got trounced.

[LoZoccolo]

38. Great idea, stealing the newspapers!

And you know what? If you hit a few of those vending boxes too, you could probably steal about a hundred newspapers in not much time at all!

[Warren DeMontague]

29. Hmmmm.

I think that, considering the polls are in Bush's favor, the media will take care of that job by under-promoting the debates just like they did the DNC. (Of course, CNN is still running a 30 second free ad for the GOP by showing clips of all the alleged 'zingers' in their speeches-- and disguising it as a CNN ad-- with no charge to the republicans, something that would be a blatant violation of a fairness doctrine if it still existed) ...Anyway, as long as el shrubbo is ahead, the corporate media isn't going to want anything to potentially upset the applecart, despite Bush's obvious intelligence and capability with regards to debates.

[cleangreencar]

33. I really would like an answer...

Doesn't Kerry have a long and productive record in congress to use in the debates? Shouldn't busch be the one who should be nervous?

[goodhue]

32. I don't buy your premise.

I'll be encouraging everyone to watch the debates.

[LoZoccolo]

37. What if your friends turn into Bush* supporters as a result?

What would you do?

[goodhue]

43. Not likely.

I would be very surprised. My recollection of 2000 was that Gore actually won based on watching entire debates in real time. It was only in the realm of sound bite and spin that Bush won hands down; which is what matters of course. Many people including some of my friends heard the spin and sound bites and concluded that Gore had acted like an oaf. Perhaps had they seen the full debate itself they would not so readily have bought the sound bite spin.

[uncle ray]

36. * is a master debater!

* is a master debater! i think the debates should be on cable tv if * is a master debater. i don't think children should see a master debater, i i guess i agree with you there. hell, personally i don't care to see * master debating either, but like the burg video, as sickening as it is,you gotta watch it once. you know who else i hear is a master debater? pee wee herman. i've never seen him debate but i think i remember him argueing once on pee wee's playhouse. maybe he and * could go on tv and be master debaters at the same time?

* is a master debater.
* is a master debater.
* is a master debater.

say it fast, it's fun.

[CitySky]

40. HA HA HA HA HA

LOL.

[CitySky]

41. Throwing a Debate Party

Oh yeah, oh yeah!

:party: :party: :party:

We're gonna have FUN watching Big Man Kerry make dog food out of Boy George. In real time is the only way to do it. You can't trust the media with their clips, snips, and talking heads.

Now where can I pick up some Kerry balloons in time for next Thursday?

[deckerd]

46. Talking point

If you want to use DU as a campaign tool, get this out on the wires.

The FACTS ARE that, regardless of skill or intellectual ability, it
is TRUE that Bush has never lost a debate. He is more mediagenic in
public speaking context than all of his opponents have been. Kerry's
debate skills are not an issue, unlike bush his ability to appear
LIKABLE in a debate format is untested and unknown. Advantage Bush.

Now, one may foolishly disagree with me on this, but whether you agree or disagree does not matter this is the constant message the media needs to hear from us about this issue, over and over again.

Because unlike all the hyperbole, sarcasm and unwarranted optimism,
it is a PLAUSIBLE reason why SOME, PERHAPS MOST Democratic activists are sincerely worried about the debates.

Which is all the media will be interested in hearing from us about the subject.

Is everyone following me here? Dems need to seriously go on the
Defensive on this issue, and prepare for the worst case scenario
when it comes to the debates.

[freeplessinseattle]

47. c'mon people get a grip

how can you make fun of his gaffes and challenged mental state while being so intimidated by his unbeatable mastery in debates? c'mon, so what if in the past he has "won", that was in the past, he has changed, he has more difficult questions to address, and has a different opponent. I mean really, are you saying he's impossible to beat? pardon my French, but BULLSHIT! I'll gladly take him on anytime, and wipe the floor with him, I'm not overly confident in myself, just have little confidence in him, plus he has declined significantly in his mental capacities lately..