Posted on 09/30/2004 11:16:08 AM PDT by 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.
ROFLMAO
I had a thought about this whole Kerry/light thing: Isn't this just typical of that campaign? I think it is. In four different ways:
1. It is sneaky. Kerry and company have pulled sneaky stuff like this before. They have little respect for protocol. Remember after Bush's convention speech -- Kerry was so desperate to get into the news cycle that he broke a long-standing tradition over remaining silent during conventions. He did the same thing to Edwards when the latter won the South Carolina primary. Remember? Edwards was giving his speech -- which everybody said was very important, that he get onto the cable news networks as a victor. Kerry, who won another state or something, decided to speak earlier precisely so he could bump Edwards off the tv.
2. It is half-cocked and last minute. How many times has Kerry left important stuff like this to the very last minute? The word is that he was working on his convention speech until the very last day.
3. It is self-defeating. Kerry's goal today is to engender headlines tomorrow like: "Kerry did great!" Obviously, he wants to get rid of the lights because they will make him look long-winded, thus hurting the possibility of that storyline. But by removing the lights, he redirects the headlines *precisely toward* his long-windedness. Tomorrow, this little stunt is guaranteed to find its way into the papers.
4. Points 1 through 3 are obvious. It is not just that it is sneaky, half-cocked, and self-defeating. It LOOKS that way. This is the real cardinal sin of politics -- and one of the reasons Bush is already a leg-up in terms of this debate (six 1/2 hours before it begins!). Because it seems so stupid, petty and small -- it makes for perfect fodder for the Bush campaign. Can you imagine the chuckle lines Cheney can get over this?
The Kerry/Edwards campaign is simply incapable of controlling its image. This is the worst campaign in modern American history. I think it is worse than McGovern/Eagleton-Shriver. Never did a candidacy have as much potential as Kerry/Edwards in the beginning, and squandered it so foolishly and so thoroughly. Kerry might win more states than McGovern, but his campaign is much worse.
You know what the debate comission should do? If Kerry attempts this...the commission should simply cancel tonight's debate and make a huge stink. They should cancel it anyway since the networks aren't going to follow the rules either!
AH, THE ORANGE GLOW MAKES SENSE NOW!!!
Only a DemocRAT would try to unscrew a light bulb with a screwdriver.
"I voted for the lights before I voted against them!"
That's funny. Thanks
Actually, I hope his campaign does this. Lehrer probably won't say anything... much. And Pres. Bush will dutifully say much more in his allotted time. You will have Pres. Bush obeying the rules and keeping above the fray, looking presidential as he always does. Kerry always whines about everything and he will showing what he always does. Tomorrow, the pajama-cladded bloggers will have a field day and it will be picked up by internet users and the cable news outlets. Kerry's supporters will love it and everyone else will see him for what he is. I don't see a downside here for the president at all.
The best thing to do would be for the debate comission to simply attempt to cancel the debates!
So how many democrats does it take to remove a light bulb?
Looks like the "Screwdriver" will be the beverage of choice for the drinking game tonight.
My husband has "Vietnam" as his word.
I have "I have a plan" as my phrase.
Off to get some Absolut.
Bush should have a pocket full of yellow flags to throw when Kerry goes long.
Previously known as the Toricelli Maneuver...
Just like a liberal. Bring a screwdriver to a hammer fight.
What time are the debates on tonite?
Line of the day
First the Kerry campaign decides to dye their candidate to make him look tanned and all it will succeed in doing is having people focus on the phoniness of Kerry.
Now they are bringing attention to the timing lights, in a fight they can't win, and all it will do is add focus to how often Kerry speaks over the time limits and breaks the rules.
Great entertainment!
9 eastern, 8 central
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