Kerry Accepts Debate Schedule

[Rose Siding]

PHILADELPHIA -- Democrat John Kerry on Thursday accepted an independent commission's schedule for three presidential debates and one vice presidential showdown.

"These commission debates have become an important tradition in presidential campaigns and voters depend on them to help inform their choice," Kerry campaign manager Mary Beth Cahill said in a statement.

Presidential debates are traditionally preceded by delicate negotiations and attempts by both campaigns to manage expectations. By accepting the commission's recommendation, Kerry has opened the bidding for this year's debates.

Bush's staff could not be reached immediately.

http://www.newsday.com/news/politics/wire/sns-ap-kerry-debates,0,4624761.story?coll=sns-ap-politics-headlines

[Parche]

1. Bush

That is because they are scared to death of a debate

Kerry and Edwards would make idiots of them, not that they already are.

[jab105]

14. DO NOT lower expectations on the chimp in chief...

it always happens, and its our fault...Bush SHOULD win the debates, hes been president for 4 years now...if Kerry wins fair and square, then he gets full credit for winning!!

[FrankBooth]

2. 3 Debates?

I would be very surprised if Bush agreed to 3.

[calico1]

3. Yeah, let's see what excuses they come up with.

Maybe they will claim the debates threat National security! :eyes:

[CO Liberal]

4. I'd Be Surprised If Bush Could COUNT to 3

:-)

[zbdent]

5. Didn't Kerry say that he would debate W any time, any where

any amount of times?

Of course, watch W try to weasle out of the schedule.

[calico1]

7. Meant to add also

I think its great Kerry accepted right away. Shows confidence.

[sniffa]

6. bush agreed to aLL 3 debates

but onLy 1 debate wiLL incLude kerry (as weLL as severaL of the third party candidates). the other 2 wiLL be with an opponent (arguement) made compLeteLy out of straw.

[TA]

9. I heard he also insisted the he would have to sit on Edgar

Bergen's er Dick Cheney's lap.

[PopSixSquish]

8. I Think that if Bush Tries to Get Out of the Debates

The Kerry campaign should say that the good Senator will still show up at the appropriate place and time. And take questions from both the news media and the public.

[emulatorloo]

13. send it to the campaign - great idea n/t

[OSheaman]

10. Remember the last time Bush skipped out of debates?

The Al Gore campaign made a big deal out of it. They even had a Javascript counter on their website to count the days:hours:minutes:seconds since Bush had refused to debate Gore. It hurt Bush in the polls, too, as I remember correctly. They can't afford to have that happen *again*, especially now when he is looking so weak.

[AlGore-08.com]

12. Yeah, they can't afford it, but they'll still try to weasel out of it

They'll also insist on all kinds of stupid conditions, like who can moderate, and try to drag out the negotiations as long as possible.

The big problem will be the networks: will they cover the debates? Last time NBC tried to weasel out of covering two of the debates, because they conflicted with baseball playoffs.

[zbdent]

11. I asked it before

Will Bush be allowed to bring in Cheney, just like the 9/11 commission hearing?

[dignan27]

15. nah but

it will be brought to us by fox news with impartial sean hannity as your moderator

[MaineDem]

17. Welcome to DU!

:hi:

Did you ever live in Massachusetts? We have friends with that last name.

[dignan27]

18. nope sorry

but thanks for the warm welcome

[NMDemDist2]

24. welcome to DU dignan

:hi:

[SidDithers]

16. Will Boosh ask for joint debates?

So he can bring Cheney, à la their 9/11 commission appearance?

Sid

Edit: nevermind, zbdent beat me to the punch :)

[thecrow]

19. The time to debate has come?

How can we get out of this one, Karl? Dick?
Oh of course!
A Terra alert!

[Q]

20. Isn't this 'commission' made up of Democrats and Republicans?

- If so...how can THIS be called 'independent'?

[Bandit]

21. I am sure Cheney will have to appear with Bush* so everyone can see

their "body language". If they allow any debate at all. It is not like the GOP and their thugs to allow debate. Anyone who doesn't toe their line is a traitor.

[ignatius]

22. I hope they check Bush's ears for wires,,no feed from Rove or

Karen..let's see what Chimpy has to say all on his own.

[democrat_patriot]

23. Still NO word

from * camp?

Trying to figure how to spin "he's busy those days"??

[geek tragedy]

25. Bring 'em on!

As aWol would say.

[dwheelock]

26. Kerry afraid of real debates -watch Butsch follow

I'm disappointed to hear Senator Kerry announce he plans to participate in events staged by the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) when a new, truly non-partisan organization, the Citizens Debate Commission (CDC) has set up debates for 2004.

Kerry should commit to the CDC's debates and pressure Bush to engage in real, substantive debate, rather than the scripted sound bites that the CPD events yield. It's to Kerry's advantage as well as being the right thing to do.

ReclaimDemocracy.org and Open Debates are two excellent sources to learn about the many serious problems with the CPD and the importance of the CDC. Among them is allowing discussion of numerous critical issues excluded from discussion under CPD control.

We should insist Kerry reconsider his plans and instead commit to the Citizens' Debate Commission events.


Rosina die Kuh

[geek tragedy]

27. Are you going to circulate a Nader petition too?

You forgot the part about there being no real difference because both parties are owned by corporations.

[Buns_of_Fire]

28. Debates haven't been quite the same

since control was taken away from the League of Women Voters. But, hey, you take what you can get. :shrug:

Welcome, by the way. :hi:

[Taylor Mason Powell]

29. I've predicted for a while and I reiterate:

I think Bush will at most agree to one debate. It's too risky for him. No upside. He's gonna get clobbered! Kerry has too much ammo, and he's too smart. And I don't buy this stuff about "don't lower the expectations bar for Bush!" Regardless of what anyone's expectations are, there is no way Bush will come out of any debate with Kerry looking good AT ALL.

In 2000, Bush could give the appearance of "holding his own" because as far as anyone knew at the time, the stakes weren't all that high. I submit that even those of us who knew that Bush was awful didn't know just HOW awful he'd turn out to be. And, more importantly, now Bush has this four-year record of incompetence and evil for all to see.

So I say - don't hold your breath for three debates. I hope there will be, really. But I'm thinking George will weasel out of at least one, possibly two of them.