Rekna

How do you think Bush will do in debates once they start. It is no secret that Bush hates fielding questions. He rarely holds press conferences and when he does he usually gets questions in advance. Do you think he will do well in the debates with very little practice with thinking on your feat? In addition people are going to ask the questions he has avoided in the past. I am very curious to see how he will do.

Strange Famous

It is hard for him, I think in the past his misunderstanding and misuse of words seemed to people almost endearing, but now the mood has changed, and he is going to really struggle to joke his way out of some of the questions he will be asked.

The war has divided America, and I feel there is going to be a backlash against Bush and everything he represents - privalege, corporate America, financial scandals, cutting welfare to fund huge military expansion... the American people, I feel, will reject Bush.

__________________
"Do not tell lies, and do not do what you hate,
for all things are plain in the sight of Heaven. For nothing
hidden will not become manifest, and nothing covered will remain
without being uncovered."

The Gospel of Thomas

Mojo_PeiPei

If Bush sticks to his guns and doesn't try to impress anybody he'll do fine.

__________________
To win a war you must serve no master but your ambition.

sabatoa

------------------------------------------

theusername

Bush should not participate in debates against Kerry, its that simple. It is always a disadvantage to the incumbent to debate because it puts the incumbent on the defensive, ALWAYS, whether the President has done a great job or a bad one.

Bush is also not a great speaker as we all know and he jumbles his words sometimes. Dont know much about Kerry's public speaking skills.

Ustwo

Kerry always has other people introduce him, with a big fanfare. The reason is Kerry is a horrible speaker, far more wooden then Gore. Bush has nothing to fear with looking bad debating Kerry.

__________________
Agents of the enemies who hold office in our own government, who attempt to eliminate our "freedoms" and our "right to know" are posting among us, I fear.....on this very forum. - host

Obama - Know a Man by the friends he keeps.

Rekna

I would be very upset if Bush didn't participate in debates.

seretogis

Bush will do fine, I'm sure. Most likely, the Democratic candidate will get nasty / hateful and that will drive more undecided votes to Bush, in sympathy.

__________________
seretogis - sieg heil
perfect little dream the kind that hurts the most, forgot how it feels well almost
no one to blame always the same, open my eyes wake up in flames

ChrisJericho

It will be very interesting to watch Bush in a debate. He has a difficult time thinking on his feet. I doubt Kerry will give him much trouble, but could you imagine Dean debating against Bush? THAT would be hilarious !

__________________
"A casual stroll through the lunatic asylum shows us that faith proves nothing." - Friedrich Nietzsche

seretogis

"WHERE WERE YOU WHEN I WAS IN SOUTH DAKOTA, AND NORTH DAKOTA, AND IOWA, AND MISSOURI, AND CALIFORNIA, YEEE AWWWHHH??!"

__________________
seretogis - sieg heil
perfect little dream the kind that hurts the most, forgot how it feels well almost
no one to blame always the same, open my eyes wake up in flames

james t kirk

Bush will get destroyed.

Pure and simple.

I am looking forward to it. You wouldn't be able to script this kind of comedy.

Ustwo

Thats what they said in 2000, instead it was Al Gore the 'experianced' debater who looked bad.

__________________
Agents of the enemies who hold office in our own government, who attempt to eliminate our "freedoms" and our "right to know" are posting among us, I fear.....on this very forum. - host

Obama - Know a Man by the friends he keeps.

mml

Bush is actually a better debater than people think, and he has a much better grasp on the issues than he did in 2000. He has an odd (to me) sort of appeal that makes people like him. He doesn't come across as superior or high-handed. I look forward to the debates. If Kerry is the nominee, don't sell him short. His debates against William Weld in 1996 were tough, thoughtful and vitally important to his reelection. Although they were a bit repetative on issues. He can loosen up. If the nominee is Edwards, I think Bush will have his hands full. Edwards is a great speaker and can really think on his feet. I have no idea about Clark, but he has not impressed so far. Dean would be interesting because you never know what is going to come out of his mouth - he could score some great points and then jam his foot halfway down his throat on the next question.

__________________
Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so."
-Douglas Adams

Arsenic7

It's rather sad that the very fact that Bush is so average comes off as a plus to many americans. Personally, I'm of the opinion that our president should be a very exceptional individual.

__________________
This is no sig.

Mojo_PeiPei

We want someone who we can relate too, who we "think" understands us. What turns people off is smug smarmy bastards.

__________________
To win a war you must serve no master but your ambition.

Kadath

It's all about expectations. Since no one expects Bush to look like anything but a clown, the fact that he can string a sentence together without falling over will impress the masses. Plus stupid people see him as "just folks." It's sort of depressing.
What I want is someone smarter and more capable than me. What turns me off is a moron.

__________________
it's quiet in here

goateebird

At debates:
Kerry > Bush
As we all know, Bush is not quick on his feet in interviews, debates, and at fielding questions. But Kerry is very comfortable in the role.

At speeches:
Bush > Kerry
Kerry is not a great speaker, he seems very detached and aloof. But some of Bush's speeches have been extremely good, recall some of the post-9/11 speeches he gave.

We'll have to see what directions the campaigns take.

Ustwo

While you would think such a thing would be very easy to arrange, it doesn't appear that any of the democrats running are very bright.

__________________
Agents of the enemies who hold office in our own government, who attempt to eliminate our "freedoms" and our "right to know" are posting among us, I fear.....on this very forum. - host

Obama - Know a Man by the friends he keeps.

james t kirk

You think George Bush can relate to you???

Ummm, he comes from one of the richest families in America and never worked a single solitary day in his life till he was in his 40's when daddy got him a job at an oil company (which he bankrupted.)

You think he knows what it's like to bust his ass for minimum wage??

No way. Not that Kerry or Dean know what that is like either. Gephardt does. He's the son of a milk man.

But these other clowns were born with platinum spoons in their mouths.

Ustwo

And ironicly a republican milkman who hated his union if you believe what the rest of his family says

__________________
Agents of the enemies who hold office in our own government, who attempt to eliminate our "freedoms" and our "right to know" are posting among us, I fear.....on this very forum. - host

Obama - Know a Man by the friends he keeps.

fnaqzna

This article pretty much sums the differences... http://www.opinionjournal.com/columnists/pnoonan/

jcookc6

Doubt there will be a debate between these two, unless it is one where the questions are submitted beforehand. Then they can be coached on how to answer.
All I can imagine everytime Kerry Says "There is only one thing George Bush understands, Bring it on", Bush must think, What the fuck is he talking about?

hannukah harry

haha... in that case neither sides looking to good right now!

__________________
shabbat shalom, mother fucker! - the hebrew hammer

Ustwo

People expect debates these days, so I doubt either of them could say no.

__________________
Agents of the enemies who hold office in our own government, who attempt to eliminate our "freedoms" and our "right to know" are posting among us, I fear.....on this very forum. - host

Obama - Know a Man by the friends he keeps.

powerclown

He has been successfully unimpressive for years...

Kadath

Aw...you said I was smarter and more capable than any of the candidates! You're the best, Ustwo.

__________________
it's quiet in here

mml

The debates are already scheduled. The first debate will take place Sept. 30, 2004 at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Fla., followed by a second meeting Oct. 8 at Washington University in St. Louis. The final debate is scheduled for Oct. 13 at Arizona State University in Tempe.

A debate among the major party vice presidential candidates will be held at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland Oct. 5.

All debates will be televised nationally starting at 9 p.m. Eastern Time. (Thanks to FoxNews.com) Here is the link:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,102396,00.html

And as far as the comment that none the Dems running are very bright, give me a break. Clark is a friggin' genus (top of his class at the Point, Rhodes Scholar) and Dean, Edwards and Kerry are all very bright. By the way I am not someone who thinks Bush is an idiot.

Sparhawk

Based on his performance with Russert yesterday...

-Here's the prognosis: not good.
-Really, Doc? How long have I got?
-'Til January 20th, son.

*they both cry*

__________________
"In Iraq, no doubt about it, it's tough. It's hard work. It's incredibly hard. It's - and it's hard work. I understand how hard it is. I get the casualty reports every day. I see on the TV screens how hard it is. But it's necessary work. We're making progress. It is hard work."

Boo

IMO - Kerry will resort to being nasty and ultimately lose, and not just the debate. I would rather see Dean against Bush. I think it would be a closer match and better for the American people. At least it could bring up some positive dialog.

__________________
Back button again, I must be getting old.

Sparhawk

Huh? Did you mean it the other way around? Kerry and Edwards both have their own harsh criticisms of the president, but they haven't been nearly as harsh as Dean has...

__________________
"In Iraq, no doubt about it, it's tough. It's hard work. It's incredibly hard. It's - and it's hard work. I understand how hard it is. I get the casualty reports every day. I see on the TV screens how hard it is. But it's necessary work. We're making progress. It is hard work."

mml

I am not sure I agree. I would like to know the rational behind this. Dean has tended to be the most critical, "nasty" of the Dems. I do think this campaign will get nasty regardless of who the Dems select as their nominee, and Bush has an established history of getting down in the mud.

bt8624

I work in a downtown ER...you would be shocked to see how many 20-30 year old healthy people come in with medicaid and welfare....if you ask me...it could use some belt tightning. It's to easy for people to get, and that is not what the programs were intended for. Wars always have countries divided, its a matter of opinion that you are allowed to have. Although this one was and still is favored more than it's not.

bt8624

Yeah Dean's temper is scary for a man who's running for pres. Kerry will be hurt mostly by his mind changing he does so often.

Superbelt

Yeah I heard Dean once bit the head off a goat while complaining about Bush.