Perfect Kerry debate zinger

[LTRS]

Perfectly clear that the *Bushies are lowering expectations for the debates:

"Dan Bartlett talked up Kerry's experience as a debater, citing his 20 years in the Senate and his participation on his prep school's debate team.

But he predicted Bush would "hold his own" on Thursday. "Will President Bush step on his own line and maybe not pronounce a word right?" Bartlett said. "I bet he will but I think after the 90 minutes there won't be any ambiguity in his positions."

Kerry should respond by saying something to the effect of "Surely, as many times as it's been pointed out, my opponent knows how to pronounce the word "nuclear" by now. This is just part and parcel of the the phony persona he presents to the American public."

How in the world can Bush respond to that? And if Kerry can point out that *Bush is a complete fake from the word go, why not?

Am I right, or am I wrong?

[Roland99]

1. The chimp would throw a banana peel at Sen. Kerry!

[shraby]

5. That or the words Abu Ghraib which

* consistently mispronounces.

[IronLionZion]

10. ah boo ga ref

that clip was on the Daily Show

[Eric J in MN]

2. Jimmy Carter pronounced it nukular, too, so I don't think

making fun of Bush's pronunciation is the answer.

Kerry needs to make viewers feel comfortable with him as president.

[LTRS]

7. So he shouldn't suggest that *Bush is a

fraud, from top to bottom? The point is not that *Bush mispronounces words. The point is it must be purposeful at this point. He's just putting on the "regular guy" show. Kerry shouldn't look for an opportunity to point that out?

[goclark]

3. That would make some feel sorry for Bush

After all they think he is someone they would like to have a beer with - that's so funny because he can't drink...LOL

[elperromagico]

4. We run into sticky territory by poking fun at his intelligence.

Unfortunately, a lot of people like him because he is so willfully unintelligent and incurious; it makes them think he's "one of them."

[Gman]

6. actually, he'll crap in his hand

and throw it at Kerry.

[simpsonsbuff]

11. i prefer this line

Kerry: "pete rose has been more honest about his gambling, than u have been on iraq". I think that is a pretty good one liner!?

[gospelized]

8. that's really the last thing

kerry would want to do.

he shouldn't be mean. people already thanks to the media think he is unpersonable. making fun or being mean to Bush won't help at all.

he should be mostly serious, make the occasional joke, and make Bush look like the fool he is thru issues not insults.

[LTRS]

12. It's not being mean about his intelligence

... it's pointing out that his folksy mispronunciations are phony, just like *Bush.

But if you guys don't get it, I doubt the general public will, so never mind.

[shockingelk]

9. Bush will probably give short, prepackaged answers

"What's your plan for Iraq?"

"We will finish the job we started ... terrorists ... Amurica ... best military .... proud of our men and women ... freedom is not Amurica's gift ..."

BTW criticizing the way Jr talks isn't going to change anybody's mind. Everyone knows he flubs up frequently.

And I think it's better to show Bush he's a phony by showing he's a phony, not saying he's a phony.

For instance Kerry could ask the rhetorical question, "Why did the President say he hoped to avoid war with Iraq? Was he trusting a madman?"

[despairing optimist]

13. Kerry is too smart to take that bait

Besides, probably half the people in the country mispronounce "nuclear." They identify with * already. Why give him their sympathy vote?

It is impolite to correct an adult's pronunciation unless (a) it seems that he/she is asking for help; (b) he/she is in grammar or conversation class; or (c) what he/she has said is confusing enough to ask him/her politely to repeat what he/she meant to say.

[Strawman]

14. Kerry should ask Bush questions in his responses

and then get point out that he is not answering them when Bush gives his canned repsonses. I know he can't directly cross-examine Bush, but there are ways to press him and Kerry should try to do that as much as possible. Ask him why he ignored warnings from Richard Clarke and the Clinton administration about Osama bin Laden. Or why he was pressing Clarke and others for a link to Iraq when we had been attacked by Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan? Ask him about the differences in the supplemental appropriations bill and why it was so important to him to have a bill that allowed no-bid contracts for Haliburton, and why it wasn't important to him that all our troops going into Iraq have body armor. Kerry needs to raise the issue of the 87 billion vote himself and turn it into an offensive argument. He needs to go on offense and stay on offense.

Then tie it all together and frame it by saying something like, "The American people are tired of hearing your excuses, Mr. President. You haven't been able to give a direct answer to a single question I've asked tonight or in this campaign. All you have to offer are excuses and misinformation. My fellow Americans, if you don't think you need a President who can provide answers, and if you like hearing excuses, then by all means vote for George Bush. If you'd like to hear some answers that make sense and if your tired of the excuses coming out of this administration on the economy and on Iraq, vote for me this November."

If both sides just recite their talking points, it's nothing but noise to undecideds, and that's a win for Bush. I don't want to hear any talk about setting expectations too high. John Kerry is smarter, a better speaker, and is on the right side of every issue. I expect a knockout.