In debates, expect the unexpected

Christian Science Monitor ^ | September 7, 2004 | Godfrey Sperling

[OldFriend]

IMHO, these debates will be meaningless. Other than to reinforce Kerry's constant blowing in the wind.

[IamConservative]

"According to Kerry's personal friend and debating coach at Yale."

Two thoughts on this:

1) I also heard this same coach say that Kerry always wanted to go first because he could only debate from the script. He could not adjust his dialog as he went to incorporate rebuttal of someone going before him. This is exactly what I observed when he debated O'Neill. How many times did Kerry say: "to get back to the point." This was just a way to get back to the script.

2) Men without solid core values and principles are never good debaters IMO. They have no natural reactions to things. They have to process all of their thoughts through the filter of political correctness.

This journalist is suggesting that the "intellectual and nuanced" Kerry is going to get his clock cleaned. Bush's moral clarity and values will win.

[Einigkeit_Recht_Freiheit]

"Every question asked Bush can simply point out the LACK of a Kerry record on the topic"

Are you suggesting that Bush simply use each question asked him to attack Kerry? Not a good strategy. This whole election is about the President. It is him or not him, Kerry is just the guy filling slot 2. If Bush wants a real mandate he is going to have to figure out how to communicate what he has done. It can be said simply, but it needs to be clear. Just attacking his opponent will leave him wide open. If you want a recipe for disaster they should listen to you.

I am glad you are not his coach.

[Einigkeit_Recht_Freiheit]

"Plus, his wife sucks!"

Don't be a jerk. If it were Republican Senator Heinz from PA running for President you would say the exact opposite of his wife.

Leave the woman be. She isn't Hillary and attacking her makes Pubbies look petty and mean-spirited. Her second husband is bad enough that we can concentrate on him.

[Einigkeit_Recht_Freiheit]

I've already seen the MSM talking up how "Bush has never lost a debate". They know how bad of an idea it is to pump up expectations for their own candidate again.

Look to hear about Bush's debating successes and prowess leading up to the events themselves.

[Theo]

[Bush] may not understand or deal with nuance the way Kerry does

Hm. A subtle way of saying Kerry's smarter. I just don't see that. Kerry is more "arrogant," but "smarter"? Suppose it depends on how one defines "smart"....

[Mr Ramsbotham]

Kerry has changed his position on many of the issues and it makes it much more difficult to be coherent.

Consider, too, that in the debates Kerry will be seen on a nationwide platform. He won't be able to tailor his remarks to a particular segment of the constituency, but will have to be all things to all people.

[HamiltonJay]

No, I did not say that was the ONLY thing he should be doing. If you read the entire post you would have read that Kerry will be on the defensive the entire debate, because he has taken both sides of nearly every major issue.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

So much gamesmanship.

Kerry will need all the help they can give him.

[1066AD]

I read elsewhere that JK's father used to almost always mock his opinions on world affairs etc saying they were "sophomoric". Maybe that word would trigger some interesting responses from Kerry LOL

[1Old Pro]

Nixon was supposed to demolish Mr. Kennedy. At least, that was the talk among the press - and hence that was the opinion that the public was reading and hearing.

Just goes to show, it it goes back at least 30 years, DON'T TRUST THE PRESS.

The media is almost always wrong. they think Kerry is ahead and will win. Imagine their "surprise" when Bush wins in a landslide. The only other people who will be surprised are the people who rely only on NBC, CBS, and ABC and AP stories in their local papers.

[r9etb]

There's a little-reported fact about Bush's campaign stops, that will probably be the deciding factor in these charades they call "presidential debates."

One of the things Bush does, is take unscripted questions from the crowd. Apparently this is a pretty standard thing. What that means is, he's been practicing for the debates for months, now. He's not only figured out what people are interested in, he's also figured out how to answer these questions in an affable, understandable manner. (You see the positive results of this at work in his more recent press conferences.)

Kerry's going to come off as a stilted, pompous ass.

[MistyCA]

Exactly. Thank you. :)

[MistyCA]

Excuse me. I am not generally one to say things I do not believe. I may be a jerk, but I do not LIKE Terayza Kerry because of what she personally stands for. She has a lot of money behind her that supports a lot of things that I believe are not good for this country. I believe it is a bad idea to have her in the WH where she can further her own personal agenda regardless of who her husband is. JMO. You do not have to agree with me, but I am entitled to my opinion. Thanks.

[MistyCA]

You have a good point.

[sargon]

Can you refer me to any articles regarding alleged voter fraud in the 1960 Presidential Election? I'm not aware of this notion...

[HamiltonJay]

The controversy surrounding the 1960 election is pretty well documented with arguments for both sides... here is one that is out there http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/Lobby/2897/index44.html

[Einigkeit_Recht_Freiheit]

You are certainly entitled to your opinion. But, rather than use expletives (which reflect poorly on your character rather than hers) perhaps you can try expressing your displeasure relying upon solid facts and thus stop diluting the quality of the Free Republic content.

You are excused.

[YaYa123]

Kerry's handlers will warn him to avoid long, run-on sentences. They will instruct him how to avoid looking pompous and condescending. Kerry's handlers will give him jokes, snappy one-liners, but he'll blow the delivery. Kerry's wild hand and arm gestures will look even more out of sync in a debate than they do in campaign speeches. Kerry's disdain for Bush will look like disrespect for the presidency. Kerry will lose his temper.

Bush will be Bush. Voters will join Poppy Bush in saying, "That's my boy!

[cyncooper]

I disagree. Four inches is hardly towering over.