Kerry Debate Predictions (—it only counts if it's BEFOREHAND!)

My brainium | 09/30/04 | Daniel J. Phillips

[BibChr]

Having predictively nailed John McCain, I'd like to offer my brief thoughts on what Kerry will do tonight, and invite yours.

Today's Democratic Party's notion of Real Leadership could be defined thus: the ability to say, with the most nuanced conviction, "Wahh!!"

And so, since the Swift Both Vets' ads and Bush's ads have scored some tellingly accurate direct hits, and since those hits have cost Kerry dearly, I think this is Kerry's biggest plan. I think that he is being advised that the knockout punch will be to cry and moan and complain, and to put the President on the defensive. He will whine that the ads are mean-spirited and despicable. He will bellyache that they're the worst he's ever seen. And since evidently this vampire hasn't yet been staked with sufficient authority, he will whimper that (sing it with me) his Patriotism is Being Questioned.

The design of this will be to force the President to be on the defensive, to apologize, to disown.

Now, what Mr. Bush should say (but won't) is to ask, "So let's review. I'd like Mr. Kerry to say what I have said so far, repeatedly, about his patriotism, and about these ads. And if he can't, I'd like him to explain why anyone should think he'd hear tonight what he's failed to hear for lo these many weeks."

Or he should say (but won't), "I support Mr. Kerry's right to free speech. Does he not support the same right to other veterans, if that speech is critical of him?"

Or he should say (but won't), "I have wondered again and again: what exactly did Mr. Kerry mean when he said, 'Bring it on'? Now all we hear is 'Call it off!'"

Or he should say (but won't), "Someone should tell Mr. Kerry that being President is a rough job. It inevitable involves being the target of a lot of harsh criticism. If he can't take the pressure at this point, when he is selling his strength of character to the nation, perhaps he should reconsider his own immediate career plans."

So, Kerry will say "Wah!" about twelve different times, in about twelve different ways. I'm betting that's his main plan.

His other supposed knockout punch will be to ask where bin Laden is.

[Tarpon]

MSM says Kerry wins. Too easy.

[BibChr]

LOL!!!

[rocklobster11]

The main thing that will hurt Kerry is that he will try to convince people that he has had a consistent position on Iraq and hasn't flip-flopped. He is incapable of admitting error, and so he will get bogged down in trying to explain the nuance of voting to give the President the autorization to go to war but not intending for the President to actually use the resolution to actually go to war.

He also tends to repeat phrases like "I have been perfectly clear" or "Let me be perfectly clear..." or "I have one positions on...", when it is obvious to voters that he is not clear and that he says whatever is politically expediant.

Having said that, my prediction is that he will be at least a little clearer than he has been in the past and that the talking heads will say that he won the debate and that they expect him to pull even or ahead in the polls. However, I think he will attack too much and leave the voters with the impression he is too full or gloom and doom, and thus the talking heads will have to alter their analysis several days after the fact.

[ImProudToBeAnAmerican]

sKerry will huff and puff - and break out in an orange sweat by the end.

President Bush will be calm, collected, on message - and win with his grin!

sKerry is a self appointed phony - he can barely do MSM polished sound bites. No way he can last into the late rounds.

All of Bush's efforts are working - domestically and internationally. He'll drive these body punches home all night.

Each debate will cost sKerry a couple poll points.

[COBOL2Java]

I predict two things:

1. Kerry will win the debating points, but Bush will win the political points.
2. The talking heads (at least those in Kerry's Peanut Gallery) will be spinning like Whirling Dervishes.

[.cnI redruM]

Kerry will bore Bush until he falls asleep. cBS will report that Bush appeared disinterested in the plight of the common American.

[ArrogantBustard]

Kerry's going to contradict himself within the debate.

[Kryptonite]

Kerry will try to be calm and speak in a Reaganesque way so the audience will be charmed by him.

Kerry's version of "calm" is to be downright condescending and arrogant. I've been saying since spring that by the time the debates come around, he'd be recognized as the most arrogant and pompous politician the US has ever seen. Nothing that happens tonight is gonna change that exceptionally accurate perception.

What will change in the debate? Kerry will look more PHONY than ever.

[camboianchristmas]

So, Kerry will say "Wah!" about twelve different times, in about twelve different ways. I'm betting that's his main plan.

I would give Bush major bonus points if he got Kerry to liken him to "jenjis khan". That would make me laugh for a week.

[small voice in the wilderness]

I predict two things:

1. Kerry will stride in.
2. Kerry will limp out.

[kevao]

* 12 or 16 years from now, the Establishment Media will liken some GOP candidate's debate performance to the hapless and disasterous performance turned in by John Kerry in 2004.

LOL! In the past few days, I've seen some of the very same Lamestream pundits who four years ago argued that Gore had won the debates, now trying to lower Kerry's expectations by reminding us how WELL Bush did in the 2000 debates.

[madison46]

Kerry's going to try his logic from his Monday speech, and Thurs or Friday speech. He could use something about how if we can't secure an opening of a sweage plant, how can we support the elections.

Mr. Bush's retort should be easy and should paint Kerry as the defeatist...Bush 'America should recall that my opponnent thought the uptick in violence before the hand over in power in June shold have stopped that event. Now here we are in an uptick in violnce before the elections and again my opponent is ready to surrender to the terrorists' goal'

That should be his retort anytime the elections are brought up.

Kerry will try to score with the 'more troops' and he will quote McCain or Hagel or Lugar...That's a toughie on McCain and Hagel (who I hope take a punch in mouth)..Lugar can be countered by talking how kerry hasn't shown up for any meetings. In fact that could be the counter period. Say McCian and Hagel (which I don't know) no kerry have not shown up for any breifings. McCain and Hagel, and I don't know, aren't on Lugar's comittee.

Kerry may try to say Bush mislead us...Bush can say, 'Well you voted for it as well'

Bring up 'allies'..(easy) Bush replies don't denigrate Britain or Aussie's. And what is my opponent gong to do 'say wrong war, wrong time, wrong place...won't you join us?'

Some traps for Bush. Many for Kerry.

[christie]

.
Kerry will lose because he can't remember what he said yesterday and he lies. He will be confronted with his lies and slander.

They connected the dots in 1998 but Senator Kerry and MSM can't seem to connect the dots in 2004.

"Connect the Dots...Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden"

http://www.archive-news.net/Articles/SH040923.html.
.

[Nosterrex]

I appreciate everyone's optimism; however, I think that you're underestimating Kerry. He's going to do much better than you think. He's going to go to the right of George Bush on Iraq and the war on terrorism. He won't mean it, but he's going to say it. He's going to say that Bush isn't tough enough, and Kerry will be more aggressive. Wait and see if he doesn't go that way.

Kerry's real problem is credibility. Can you trust him to mean what he says? It all comes down to that one point.

[epaul]

He's gonna sweat regardless of botox etc.

[southernnorthcarolina]

Kerry, who despite his many faults is no idiot, certainly recognizes that two of his biggest vulnerabilities are being seen as a flip-flopper, and being perceived as humorless.

Therefore, I predict that early on, he'll try to address those two problems with an attempt at self-depricating humor: when asked if he agrees with a certain concept or statement, he'll say "yes and no" in an attempt to draw a laugh from the audience.

Will it work? Ummmmmmmmm, no.

[varon]

Kerry will once and for all eliminate any doubt that he is a flip-flopper. He will walk away from the debate having proved beyond a shadow of doubt that he is a total flop.

[Remole]

Kerry will attempt to lower the status of W. by peppering his statements with "you," even though the debate rules forbid direct person-to-person remarks. Mr. Lehrer will direct a question to Kerry, but Kerry will spend his time answering the question looking back and forth at Lehrer and Bush, and will be saying " . . . and you, Mr. Bush . . . " at least 5 times in the 2-minute span. And each time he says, ". . . and you, Mr. Bush . . . " he will direct his fist-with-thumb-up gesture to the President.

I'm not sure how W. will respond. At first, I think he'll let it go, hoping that the TV audience will get tired of it as it tired of Gore's sighs; or that the audience will see the not-so-subtle disrespect to the president in those gestures and in calling him "MR. Bush." But eventually W. will bring out the stilettos and start calling him "Mr. Kerry" because he has not Senate record to run on

[shield]

Folks who watch will walk away voting for President Bush.

[Twinkie]

When asked where Bin Laden is, what Prez Bush should say (but won't) is "Bin Laden is hiding in Sandy Berger's pants!"