Free Advice for Karl Rove: Kerry's Inherent Debating Limitation (scoring a debate knock-out)

TBA | 10-12-04 | Jonathan M. Stein

[wildbill]

The President should take away Kerry's ability to use both sides of the issue. In every debate issue, Kerry will make a strong statement like: I will never cede control of our military...BUT...(and then goes on to the opposite side of the issue.)

If the President points out Kerry's continued use of "BUT" early on, he'll either make Kerry take a one-dimensional stand or he'll be identified as the guy who always qualifies his answer.

Another benefit: Kerry is so used to using this type of argument that he'll be thrown off-stride, always thinking about how he can't use "BUT" and it will destroy his composure.

[Hatteras]

"As to Rush, I like listening to Rush but he's not always the first to notice something. < grin >"

You are right about that. As a matter of fact I have heard him on more than a few occasions proposing questions that he already had the answer for and his answers were, almost word for word, right off of that morning's FR discussion.

[Tweaker]

"Actually, the phrase "cut the mustard" is a corruption of the old military phrase "cut the muster." It is an attack on leaders who are two incompetent to select able subordinates before going into battle."

Yes Sir it is, but since most are familiar with one corruption or the other shouldn't he use either or? I guess I should have been more clear. Of course he may have wrote it down so fast that he simply left out the "the"

[jmstein7]

Yup... NEVER repeat an opponent's charge.

[Keith]

I still like..."Is that your final answer?"

[Free Vulcan]

"Senator Kerry is wholly limited, in his debate performance, to criticizing the President -- there is nothing more he can do; he has no other weapons in his arsenal."

I figured this out around May. It's so bad that every time he comes on TV everyone at work cringes, and I start yelling 'Somebody give that man a giant cup of STFU,' and everyone laughs in agreement.

[wildbill]

I didn't read all the posts before I put my two cents in--BUT you and I have the same idea. We almost wrote the same words about how it would affect Kerry's response.

This would be so simple for Bush to use as an attack mode. The publich would start listening for Kerry's BUTS and it would help beat his butt.

I don't want to sound egotistical but somehow we need to get this brought to the attention of Rove, etc.

[jmstein7]

LOL! Good advice... but I'm not really an HTML person. I have no idea how to start a 'blog or website. I would need some serious help to do that.

[Morgan in Denver]

Agreed, again. I do like listening to Rush. He's been great over the years and he provides one of the few resources for conservatives to say "Yeah!, Me too!"

When Bush wins reelection he will owe a debt of gratitude to all the talk show hosts, cable TV, and the conservatives on the Internet who have kept the debates honest. (Well, as honest as possible.)

[kitchen]

The words "I have a plan" won't cut it, and they have become such a joke that they can't save him.

Every time some knucklehead tells me about a Kerry plan, I just ask them to enumerate the key points.

(((( crickets chirping ))))

Third party observers usually break into hysterical laughter.

[kingu]

"Even after the largest attack on our country in over fifty years and fighting two foreign wars, we've been able to crawl out from under the dot com bust and revitalize the economy. We've put forward real reforms, reducing the burdens not only on our seniors, but we've also reduced the burdens on all families.

"Senator, we've heard that you've plans. We've all heard it. Every reply includes that you've a plan. Maybe it's like his plan to be absent from the senate more than Senator Gone, his vice presidential candidate. I believe we're talking about domestic polices, which require action. Rather than talk of plans, I'd really like to hear about your accomplishments, like what I just spoke of."

[SaintDismas]

"Actually, the phrase "cut the mustard" is a corruption of the old military phrase "cut the muster." It is an attack on leaders who are two incompetent to select able subordinates before going into battle."

Thats pretty funny. Did you get that from a bathroom reader? LOL I have one that has nothing in it but old Texas sayings. The prez ought to use, "Jest becuz you put yer boots in the oven don't make it bread"

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Ping.

[Morgan in Denver]

I don't know if any Bush people will read this. Hope so, but nobody knows for sure. I do know Carl Rove has done well so far and it appears he is taking most ideas seriously, and not blowing them off the way Kerry would do.

[dmw]

wildbill said: I don't want to sound egotistical but somehow we need to get this brought to the attention of Rove, etc.

Yeah, I agree wildbill! I have been trying to find an email for Karl for a long time and have not been able to do so. Best thing we can do for now is send stuff to Peggy Noonan who does have contacts with the Bush folks and hope she will pass some of the good stuff on to the right people.

[Ditto]

Any comments or suggestions?

The "there he goes again" line was from the 1980 Carter/Reagan debate, not the Mondale debate.

[dmw]

That's a good one! Never heard that one before. :-]

[TheKost]

Great post,
I was thinking Bush needed to point out early on that although Kerry speaks elegantly and confidently he does not have anything of substance to say. Saying "I have a plan" does not tell anybody anything. So John what's the plan? Kerry says he's got a plan to fix health care, Well he hasn't submitted it to the senate. He is a senator, he can submit a bill. His record proves he is not a leader with any substance to his positions. If he did he would have submitted a lot more bills in the senate. Instead he barely shows up for work.

Maybe Bush should say:
"I will respond to that question how my opponent has been answering all of his. I have a plan that will end world hunger, bring world peace, and clean the environment. I have a plan that will replace gasoline with water, end poverty, and bring social equality to all. I have a plan and my opponent is the incarnate of Satan. Thank You."

[Morgan in Denver]

Don't forget Bill Bennett. Bill said, on air, that he had contacts with the Bush White House.