How will Kerry perform in the next debate?

[question everything]

It is supposed to be about the economy where we think that Bush is more vulnerable. It is supposed to be a Town Hall format - whatever that means - where Bush, supposedly, can use his "likability" compared to Kerry "aloofness."

Any ideas?

[coloradodem2005]

I always thought Kerry did well in a town hall format.

I can see someone getting up and confronting Bush about their unfortunate situation that started under him, and maybe asking "What are you going to do to help me?" Bush will stutter and Kerry will take over and give him a good answer, making Bush look bad and himself look good. I could see it happening. Maybe it won't. But it would be cool if it did.

[question everything]

14. From E.J. Dionne

Bush is a gifted and disciplined stump speaker who can stir and amuse his carefully screened crowds and produce sharp, clean sound bites that are a producer's dream. But the Bush of Thursday night looked nothing like the Bush of the campaign trail. Ill at ease and often halting, he turned in one of the worst public performances of his presidency.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20041003/news_mz1e3dionne.html

[shadu]

1. Kerry will be ready

bush is gonna get an old fasion' ass kickin'

[nodictators]

12. Kerry beat the crap out of William Weld in their debate

And Weld is a Repub, but reasonably intelligent and not a right-winger.

Kerry is Awesome in debates!

[The Chronicler]

2. The problem for Bush is that Kerry's been doing these town hall

things for over a year. He'll be ready.

[papau]

10. True - but Bush is good at tear jerk stories and will do well also

In 2000, the town hall format made Bush look "caring".

It was/is a con - but one he is very good with. You still hear media saying that you look at him and you know he is talking to you from the heart.

I had a boss like that once - as his number 2 I found that he practiced the con in front of the mirror in the morning! He was trying to mentor me into being a better manipulator of personnel!

[The Chronicler]

11. He tried to do this at the first debate and bombed

The "Missy Johnson" story or whatever. He was just mumbling around and looked bizarre.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

3. Kerry should watch out for

plants by Rove/Repukes. I figure they will try to ask some divisive questions about abortion/same sex marriage. Kerry should be ready-as I'm sure he is.

[madmom]

4. what next debate?

I think the chimp will go AWOL again.

[WilliamPitt]

5. Depends on whether chicken-ass shows up

[CarolynEC]

6. Kerry "aloofness" is a myth -- a total media creation

Look at the way he's connected with huge crowds in city after city all across America.

But hey, if people want to believe the voters haven't seen through Bush's "aw-shucks" play-acting yet... well, then I think the next debate is gonna be another fun one to watch!


Note to self: Buy extra popcorn this time -- we spilled so much last time, rolling on the floor laughing :D

[carpe_vinum]

9. Note to self:

I won't need as much wine this time. I drank too much last Thursday night figuring I'd need fortification to listen to Bush. Turns out I didn't need it after all. The humor took the edge off his annoying voice.

[carpe_vinum]

7. I'll admit I'm a little bit nervous about it

While there is certainly no shortage of poor performance in the domestic arena to attack, I think Bush has done a much better job of having his actions fly under the radar. Iraq is kind of tough to hide where his consistent anti-women policies, for example, aren't headline news. I'm afraid that Kerry's attacks will be too broad. He needs to bring up specifics and detail how they affect individuals. Not easy to do in 90 seconds. Particularly since Bush has provided so much ammunition. Where does one start?

Case in point, I was a bit disappointed that Kerry did not respond to the "denigrate the military" tidbit by providing a laundry list of the Bush administration's cuts to veterans and military families. Nor did he point out that Bush threatened to veto the $87B. I think Kerry needs to get very very specific.

I think he should repeat his performance in terms of his demeanor, concise speech and starting off on the offensive and keeping it there. He needs to keep this focused on being a referendum on Bush's pathetic tenure.

[GreenArrow]

8. 'bout the same as he did last Thursday

.

[question everything]

13. Thanks, all. I needed this. n/t

[private_ryan]

15. he has to make W nervous before starting

see he is self-conscious and screws up even more.
see: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x963104