What happened to Kerry's call for monthly debates w/ Bush?

[Dr Fate]

Any more word on this?

I think it would be a great talking point once Bush refuses- but Kerry has to talk about for it to work...

He needs to bring this idea back- and keep reminding interviewers that Bush "refuses to debate the issues Man to man..."

Now THAT would irritate Bush/Rove/media!!!

[FARAFIELD]

1. three beautiful words on that

CLUCK CLUCK CLUCK

[MoonRiver]

2. Buried somewhere in the Clarke/9/11 accountability swamp.

Why debate when one can just sit back and watch the opposition be sucked into it's self-created quicksand. :D

[Dr Fate]

3. There will be no monthly debates- Just Kerry challenging Bush to debate...

Bush will probably only debate once- 3 times max. The idea is to put Bush in a position were Kerry can accuse him of avoiding the issues...

The president who has taken more vacations that any Prez. in history will say "I dont have time for monthly debates..."

[Kathleen04]

4. I don't think Bush outright refused..but I think they put it on ignore...

Kerry should bring it up again.

[Dr Fate]

5. Kerry needs insist on a clear answer, w/ format & dates...

He needs to start bringing it up in interviews- say somthing like:

"The American people are tired of the attack ads- I think they would rather see us discusss the issues man to man. I'm ready whenever Bush is..."

"...people need to see us think on our feet and show command of the issues- Negative Ads wont show this ability- monthly debates will..."

"...It's not going to be a TV commercial in the oval office- it's going to be a person making real choices- the American people deserve to see that man debating the issues rather than hiding behind TV ads..."

Etc, etc...

[Kathleen04]

6. I wholeheartedly agree...

Kerry should at least insist on AN ANSWER. If he says no than the news story of the day will be "President Bush refuses to debate Senator Kerry".

If we get the debates then we have the upper hand because I think Kerry will perform well in the debates. If we receive a refusal to debate then I believe we will still have the upper hand because an incumbent refusing to debate the challenger just looks bad.

So, I think it's a win-win either way but Kerry and his team need to press the issue.

[patricia92243]

7. Sorry - but all new candidates challenge incumbants to debate and they....

never do, of course.

[Dr Fate]

8. Sorry, but Kerry can make it into a major issue this time...

...it's all in the way he issues the challenge:

I like "Bush refuses to debate the important issues, Man to Man"

or "Bush thinks he can be AWOL from debates on the issues that people care about..." (This would REALLY get the media buzzing)

or "People are tired of the negative ads- Bush needs to come out from behind his expensive TV ads and debate the issues, man to man"

Kerry can paint Bush as "hiding somthing", "Scared of Kerry", "relying on negative ads" and "Unable to think on his feet and answer tough questions" by bringing this challenge to light...

[Sanity]

13. No it won't ... The debate dance doesn't matter to anbody except

The party faithful.

[Dr Fate]

15. NOT if Kerry FRAMES it the way I suggest...

Do you have a specific rebuttal of any of my ideas?

The idea is to paint Bush as "unwilling" "unable" and "Scared" to debate the issues.

The idea is to expose the fact that he is counting on TV ads instead of "old fashioned debate"

The idea is to get the MEDIA to start talking about WHY Bush REFUSES to debate.

If you are going to shoot down my ideas, at least adress a specific one...

WHY should Kerry NOT continue to expose Bush as unwilling to to debate him, man to man?...

[sangha]

9. He's been repeating the challenge all week long

Both Bush* and Kerry have been campaigning on economic issues this week, and Kerry has been calling for a debate on economic issues every day, several times a day. There was story about it in Friday's (I think) NY Times

[Dr Fate]

10. Sweet- now he needs to start demanding an ANSWER...

"I've challenged Bush to debates several times, but he has avoided the challenge to come from behind his negative ads, and debate the issues man to man..."

[sangh0]

14. He has been demanding an answer

The media isn't reporting it.

[Dr Fate]

16. Then he is not doing HIS job- example...

If Kerry said "Bush wants to be AWOL from debating the important issues..."

Or "Bush is afraid to debate the issues because he cant think on his feet..."

or "Bush would rather hide behind negative ads becuase he is scared to debate me man to man..."

If Kerry REALLY wants the media to report it, then he needs to GIVE them somthing to report.

If he said it the way I wrote it, it would be the #1 topic on every news show for the next 4 days...

[Dr Fate]

11. kick

n/t

[Dr Fate]

12. kick

kick

[Piperay]

17. Debates are highly overrated

and since the media has the power in spinning them it's too much of a gamble to have more than two or three. :-(

[mouse7]

18. You mistakely imply Dumbya knows what month it is. n/t