The Magic Bullet

[cidliz2004]

Mr. Kerry,

The best advice that can be given to you for this debate is this:

ABSOLUTELY ALL of your answers MUST be given like you are talking to

a 10 yr old.

If you do this you win.

If you don't you stand the chance of losing.


You are said to be good with children and I have seen evidence of this. Stay in that mode of communicating and you will have nailed it.

[cidliz2004]

1. Also, the frame of mind should be that of teacher to pupil

Since, no one is responding to my idea - I guess it isn't any good. My question though is - why not?

[Sparkly]

2. It's true in the sense that he needs to be clear, use short sentences, and

familiar words. I heard on the radio today, once again, how great it is that Bush is "plain-spoken," and it was said that Kerry must be busy practicing how to be "plain-spoken" to match.

However, Kerry can't come off as condescending or phony.

It's nuts, because I'd take presidential over "plain-spoken" (which I consider a euphemism for "stupid") any day.

[peacetalksforall]

3. Normal, intelligent people can make a claim and provide

the equivalent of an organized paragraph to support the claim (like it was done in the old days). Now, it's sound bites, with rebuttal of more sound bites. In delivery, he should NEVER enunciate stupidly and incorrectly as BUsh does and he can't slow down the answer in a measured way as Gore did.

Bush is a formula creation - only so many answers have been programmed. It's a tough call.

[cidliz2004]

5. The reason I think that this will work is

that being a parent, you run into situations when you have to explain things to your kids on levels that they understand. Kerry knows how to do this, he is a parent and seems to "get" kids. Saying that however doesn't mean that you have to be condescending, it just explains what mode he has to be in DURING the debates. If he keeps that in the back of his mind, he won't lose himself in sophisticated explanations and he won't think in terms of being on the Senate Floor.

Kerry has this part of his personality in him, most parents do, so all he has to do is to rely on the methods of communicating to a 10 year old, then draw from his vast experience and knowledge.

Bush is at a distinct disadvantage here because he has no vast experience and knowledge.

Kerry may just want to think of a few "indirect questions" that can be posed at Bush though, since he can't ask questions, or counter question, he can simply answer questions ending with a "charge" that will need a response from Bush or even to turn the question around at some point redirecting it to Bush.

Kerry can even slip in a few 4 - 5 syllable words in a response, pause, look at Bush then "diplomatically" change the word to something more simple

Kerry could even make reference to the terrorist mixup that Bush made twice and correct the names of the terrorists very low key like during any one of his answers.

No direct attack just "correct" the MANY things that Bush gets wrong and gets away with from the Press.

Maybe an attack on the press might be a pretty good step into the right direction to.

[peacetalksforall]

6. Have you heard about the legal document that was written up?

I heard Bryan Lamb reading from it on Friday - it appears it has been designed to compensate for Bush's weaknesses and incapabilities.

I think I heard that direct questions are out.

The camera can only be focused on the speaker and cannot show reactions.

There will be strict time limits on answers.

On and on and on.

All to prop up Bush and make up for his normal deliveries which are aided by screens, directions in his ear, and canned pharases left over from his 2000 campaign and little soundbites he's used in flying around the country speaking to the devout.

It is extremely limiting. Kerry will be in a vise.

[Mr E McSquare]

4. The Stupid Bullet

isnt it sad that Kerry has to talk to the american public as though they were ten year olds to get his point across?
Pathetic but true.
Sometimes I think maybe America isnt worth fighting for. sadness for me.

[newyawker99]

7. Hi Mr E McSquare!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[tomfodw]

8. Also, TELL THE TRUTH

Whatever you do, for the love of God, DON'T LIE!!! Don't exaggerate, don't embellish, don't embroider, don't stray from the TRUTH, from what you can easily prove and document. Don't let them make this about you, make them make this about how bad Bush is.

[hippiechick]

9. Disagree sorta ...

He needs to keep it simple and concise, yes ... but he can't talk 'down' to the audience ie, teacher to pupil. I think he needs to relate as if he was a sibling or concerned relative ... "I know you just lost your health care coverage, and I know little Bobby's over in Iraq ... and here's what I plan to do about it..."

For some unGodly reason, people like the 'folksy one-of-us-ness' of Shrub ... and I think Gore's intelligence hurt him in 2000. People automatically detest 'the egghead'. Kerry needs to seem like 'one of us'.

[napi21]

10. Ahh yes, the KISS principle!

You do all know what that is, don't you?

[HootieMcBoob]

11. WRONG

That's precisely what the pundit types complained about with Gore in the 2000 race! Are you giving bad advice on purpose?

[napi21]

12. I think you're missing the idea.

Neither candidate is going to have a lot of time to answer anything, and even less time to rebut! I don't think the idea is to speak LIKE a ten year old, but short and simple enough that a 10 year old can understand what you said.