LOL! Bush is not allowed to stand on a riser to look taller!

[Stephanie]

Reading the debate agreement - this cracked me up. From page 21:

http://www.pbs.org/now/politics/2004MemorandumUnderstanding.pdf

....No candidate shall be permitted to use
risers or any other device to create an
impression of elevated height, and no candidate
shall be permitted to use chairs, stools, or
other seating devices during the debate.

Good one, Vernon Jordan!

[gospelized]

1. they fixed that

by standing them 10 feet apart. if they manage to even fit them both in one shot, they'll be too far away to really notice.

[napi21]

15. A FIVE inch difference is going to be noticable even at 10 feet!

An inch or two, I agree, wouldn't be noticed, but 5 inches will show...even at a distance!

[Cassandra]

2. Just as well...

* would probably just fall off of it anyway.

[Triana]

18. ...and this would be a problem...

why? (if W fell off)...?

I think it'd be amusing, if you'll excuse my schadenfreude.

[Cassandra]

24. Not for us...

but would be a "downer" for *.

[madmom]

3. what about cowboy boots?

[Stephanie]

6. It's true - they should have stipulated "no high heels"

Although, Kerry has a good six inches on him.

Also, Kerry's taller.

[demwing]

8. I GET it!

took a sec...

[VOX]

11. Stephanie!! tisk-tisk...

Very funny, though! :toast:

[Stephanie]

14. Tsk all you want

But in your heart you know I'm right.

[LoZoccolo]

22. Or stiletto-heeled KISS boots. n/t

[Malva Zebrina]

4. Rove will lower the podium by a foot or so--probably have a carpenter

saw it off.

[rndmprsn]

5. Shrubs inflated ego might give him and inch or two...

only to have kerry chop it down!

[displacedtexan]

7. Podiums will be 50" tall on the audience side. Interesting.

The podiums shall measure
fifty (50) inches from the stage floor
to the outside top of the podium facing the
audience and shall measure forty-eight (48)
inches from the stage floor to the top of the
inside podium writing surface facing the
respective candidates, and otherwise shall be
constructed in the style and specifications
recommended by the Commission, shown in
attachment A. There shall be no writings or
markings of any kind on the fronts of the
podiums. No candidate shall be permitted to use
risers or any other device to create an
impression of elevated height, and no candidate
shall be permitted to use chairs, stools, or
other seating devices during the debate.
(ii) Each podium shall have installed a fixed
hardwired microphone, and an identical microphoJ
to be used as backup per industry standards.
(iii) The podiums will be equally canted toward the
center of the stage at a degree to be
determined by the Commission's producer. The
podiums shall be ten (10) feet apart; such
distance shall be measured from the left-right
center of a podium to the left-right center of
the other podium.
(iv) The moderator will be seated at a table so as
to be positioned in front, between, and
equidistant from the candidates, and between
the cameras to which the candidates direct
their answers.

[sistersofmercy]

25. Oh If we know the height of the front of the podium we can estimate

bush*s height after the debate! I do not believe he is 5'11, he's definitely shorter. My guess is 5'7 or 5'8.

[tomfodw]

9. Only girly-men...

...care about such trivia. Real men face off in the ring with their bare knuckles, as God himself intended.

Seriously, this is all such amazing nonsense (from both camps). Just show up and talk.

[Beetwasher]

10. He Wears Thick Soled Shoes and Lifts Inside of them Though

n/t

[Johnny Arson]

12. Holy Crap!

"No... tangible things may be brought into the debate by any candidate"

Does that include clothes? This could be the most memorable debate of all time!

[Stephanie]

13. Well I hope it includes ear bugs

and transmitters.

[Francine Frensky]

16. or any other device to create an impression of elevated height

those are the key words. Better make W take his shoes off, maybe we can get an airport screener in to check 'em out.

[magnolia]

17. I believe that...

...at the very beginning they shake hands. So the first thing viewers see is Kerry, looking stately and presidential, towering over the little weasel. That handshake may be the picture used when reporting on the debate.

[Stephanie]

19. They stipulated to that, too

They shake hands, then they have to immediately return to their podiums. No lingering!

[Stephanie]

20. And that's "the chubby little weasel"

He's piling on the pounds - looking dumpy.

[LoZoccolo]

21. Ha ha ha ha!

That's funny just for the legalese.

[foo_bar]

23. how does a "reality"-watching democracy function?

Imperial Rome had a similar approach to voyeurism without watching Caesar. Is TV meant to be a distraction, or is politics the distraction in pursuit of formulaic happiness?