"We're bringing a screwdriver" (Kerry Campaign threatens to sabotage debates)

WRKO radio - Boston | 9/30/04

[pabianice]

Heard on the hour's news:

The Kerry Campaign is now insisting that the warning lights mounted at each candidate's podium be disconnected before tonight's debate. All had previously agreed that there would be 15 second warning lights mounted at each podium to let everyone know that the speaker's time was ending. Kerry Campaign is now panicing at the thought that Mr. Debater will not have enough time for each answer he wishes to give, and are demanding that the lights be removed.

The debate organizers, to their credit, are refusing, since both campaigns agreed to have the lights. To this, a Kerry spokesman replied, "We're bringing our own screwdriver and we'll disconnect the light ourselves if we have to."

THIS is the true spirit of Campaign Kerry: 'WE get to make the rules and WE get to change them when we feel like it.' Just whom we need running the country.

[Palladin]

Exactly. Mr. 4-mansion billionaire-wife elitist thinks the rules do not apply to him.

Who wants a megalomaniacal elitist for President?

[TX Conservative]

Yeah, that 50,000 crowd in Ohio was just right-wing flunkies shipped in by Rove the wonder boy. <sarcasm off

[small voice in the wilderness]

LOL! There's not enough time in the world to teach 'em!

[Palladin]

Calling the Viking Kitties out on over_fifty!

How did you get to be so soon old, and not yet smart?

[fooman]

zot!

[Political Junkie Too]

In the spirit of fair play, I suggest the following compromise to reduce the light distraction:

1. when 30 seconds remain, the ultra-violet light goes on.
2. When time is up, the infra-red light goes on.

-PJ

[processing please hold]

Are you lost? Moveon.org is down the hall, third door to the left. You'll see the arrow pointing the way. Little yellow foot prints have also been put down just to make sure you don't get lost.

[Palladin]

Earth to over_fifty (and not any smarter):

Bush IS well-liked by the majority of thinking Americans. (This excludes all brain-dead Democrats such as yourself).

[kittymyrib]

If I were the President and JF'nK tried to back out of the signed agreement, I would simply say that this is an example of the typical Kerry flip-flop, and then I would walk off the stage until the lights were put back in place. They are pathetically trying to look tough like Reagan when he said, "I paid for this microphone!", however they AREN'T Ronald Reagan. They agreed to these terms and the president should be the tough one and make them follow every one of them, otherwise he will look like a wimp.

[small voice in the wilderness]

I think he's refering to his IQ, not his age.

[Doohickey]

Oh, geez. It would take at least 15 people for the focus group to determine who everyone feels about changing the lightbulb.

Assuming consensus can be reached, it will take 30 people to conduct the environmental impact study to determine if nocturnal endangered species have begun to inhabit the formerly lighted area, and to determine the most environmentally friendly lightbulb disposal method

Once all that is determined, it will require a team of 45 lawyers to set up a front company that will...

...hire a Republican to change the lightbulb.

[trentk]

I say they should give him all the time he wants...the longer this guy talks, the more trouble he creates for himself.

Ever since he found out that the main focus of this campaign was going to be terrorism and NOT Vietnam, he's been floundering around in uncharted waters. Some Naval hero.

[F.J. Mitchell]

The Kerry Campaign had better grease that screwdriver, because of where they will be wearing it after they try to use it.

[LibLieSlayer]

Sniff, sniff... Troll de jour?

LLS

[jer2911tx]

the kerry camp is afraid every time the light goes off kerry is going to ask if it's time to roll over to keep his tan even

[Quix]

SNOOTY, HAUGHTY, ELITE ARROGANCE

HAS ALWAYS

felt and behaved that way.

[Quix]

SO TRUE!

Perhaps W should make a statement of all the points he wants to make,

including that one . . .

and walk off and cancel succeeding debates because of the dirty pool and total lack of earnest cooperation of the other side. And, because the other side hasn't a clue about fairness.

[Attillathehon]

Reminds me of that old joke "You can unscrew a lightbulb" unless of course your a dumbocrat in which case you need a screwdriver to unscrew a pregnant chad - or something like that.

[cyncooper]

Bush's people have demanded a footstool so he won't appear so short.

That's a lie.

Do you figure telling a lie like that is equal to this nonsene the Kerry Kamp is carrying on about? I thought their guy was an experienced debater and all of a sudden lights on a lectern are news to them. The fact is he's a pompous ass. Your kind of guy, I take it.

[WashStateGirl]

An Article Linked To Now By Drudge Says In Part:

"An angry exchange between representatives of the Kerry campaign and the Commission on Presidential Debates took place just hours before the candidates were to meet at the University of Miami for the first of three debates, according to several officials familiar with the meeting. Kerry's team threatened to remove the lights when they visit the debate site with the candidate later in the day.

"We'll do what we have to," Kerry strategist Tad Devine said after his meeting with the commission. But he also suggested the dispute will pass once Kerry's team makes its point. "We'll beat them over the head a little bit, then we'll see what happens."