Bush is a great debater. He wins every debate he's in

[Bucky]

Talking up what a moron Bush is feeds the wrong meme. It's playing into the hands of Rove's strategy.
Don't buy into it!

Seriously, Bush always beats expectations because Rove always manages Bush's expectations into the ground. They say how farkin' brilliant Gore is, how witty Ann Richards is, how experienced at debating Kerry is. Then, when Bush goes thru a whole 90 minutes without barfing on-stage, they can pronouce him the winner. Look, the monkey didn't barf--he's a winnah!

Great strategy. But please don't surrender to it.

Instead, try telling a few fence-sitting friends how great a debater Bush is, how he always manages to redefine the terms of the debate by avoiding nuance and fact. Tell them that you wanna see if Bush has a command of the basic facts that it requires to be president. Say you wanna be reassured that after four years in training he understands the specifics of what his policies do.

I think that's the best way to pre-spin the debates. We have to get past this "lowered standard" Bush always squeaks by with.

[annabanana]

1. I'd sure like to sit down and have a beer with him.

He's "folksy" and doesn't confuse me.

[LeinesRed]

4. I wanna sit with him at a weekend barbecue!

after thinking at my job all week, I just want to be with someone "folksy"

[napi21]

2. Rove seems to be failing this time!

I know that's what the perception was when shrub debated Gore, but I've heard may more statements this time that Shrub has never lost a debate. That doesn't sound like expectations have been lowered this time.

[AngryAmish]

3. But lets face it, Bush is a moron

Can we speak among ourselves? Kerry will crush him. It is that simple.

[annabanana]

7. You're WRONG

(wink wink) He's unstoppable in a debate! Can't be beat!

[Bucky]

14. Bush is total dolt. Gore will blow him out of the water in the debates!!

No way we can lose once the people see what a contemptable little snot the Smirkster is. I practically sigh in exasperation every time his says one of his stupid little platitudes. How trés un-sophistícque this little pampered rube is! I scorn his foolishness and the people will follow me for my intellectual superiorité. I repeat, no way we can lose! Go get 'em Harvard boy!

[LeinesRed]

5. I'm confused...

so are there high expectations set for Smirk, or low ones? Trying to keep ahead of the media spin.

[kerryin2004]

6. Bush is the master Debater..

I don't like his presidential policies, but I sure would like to sit around a bar with that man.. He just seems like so much fun, and he makes them witty comments all the time, and then he smirks and laughs.. That Bush is not only a great debater, he is a common man, and I just hope that Kerry can hold his own..



FUGWB

[liberal N proud]

8. Here we go again! Kerry is doomed, he can't win, bush is better...

Did anyone win saying they were going to lose?
If you keep saying Kerry is going to lose, then one thing is for sure, Kerry will lose.
If you are worried about Kerry losing, get out and volunteer!
Make a difference. sitting here in the DU is not making a difference. Unless you are trying to bring everyone else down with you?

[annabanana]

10. relax...

(we are raising the bar here.......)

[Zorbet55]

9. you're right and be watchful of

the always dangerous bush shrug and smirk. He's real effective with this among the sofa-sports crowd. The crowd goes wild! when he pulls this stunt.

[earthside]

11. Expectations Higher

This time ... (this pains me to write) ... Bush is President.

That is an expectation he has to meet.

That is Kerry's advantage ... one "gotcha" from Kerry pointing out Bush doesn't know or understand what he is talking about; one "gotcha" where Bush clearly lies or mistates a fact ... and Bush is finished.

My greatest fear is that the debate rules are so tight that neither one gets the chance to say anything interesting.

[rasputin1952]

12. Actually, bush has never "won" a debate...

he obfuscates, and NEVER answers a question. He is, literally full of crap.

In order to "win" a debate, you have to have the other side concede to your points, or, have the audience accept what you are saying is the truth, and sway them to your side. bush has never done this. All of his elections have been razor thin victories, and quite possibly the vast majority were won through illegal/immoral means.

bush could not talk his way out of a wet paper bag. The scripted crap we are fed makes him look better than he is, and that is the scam. He IS an idiot, he is merely a well scripted idiot.

Just listen to him when he's at a 'legit; newsconference, he rambles, babbles, and is incoherent. He cannot think as most people do....he will lose, and his ass will be back in Crawford, or Gitmo.

[lefador]

13. Correct

In any sane society, a "master debater" is not the guy who needs to have his Q&A sessions scripted before going public. A "master debater" is not one who after being ask a silly question at a press event does ask with "gee, I wish I had got that question ahead of time so I could have prepared for it." A "master debater" does not need "1st amendment zones" or "loyalty oaths"

Lets not confuse things and call things like they are: the guy is a freaking moron. That is not lowering expectations but stating the truth. Regardless of how the debates turn out, the "liberal media" will tell us that Bush won, so just try to prepare for that fact.

[Crunchy Frog]

15. He's the Master de Bater.

I can't wait to see him master de bate on TV. I only hope they don't decide to censor it.