Here's How Monday's Debate is Going to be set up....

[slinkerwink]

link here at:http://www.usnews.com/usnews/issue/031201/usnews/1debate.htm
<snip>
(Tom Brokaw)He will moderate and be the sole questioner of the candidates in Des Moines. Though some of the rules and format of the debate have been negotiated among NBC, the Democratic National Committee, and the presidential campaigns, Brokaw intends to do pretty much what he wants to do. And he has set an extremely high goal for himself and the 100 or so NBC employees who are actively working on the event. "I want," Brokaw tells the group, "to try to make it memorable."
<snip>

"I want it as free form as possible," Brokaw says at the meeting. "If you get into a metronome and buzzers and `It's Mr. Kucinich's turn; it's Carol Moseley Braun's turn', then it's not engaging." Elizabeth Wilner, 33, the NBC political director, who has obtained three debates for NBC this year, asks Brokaw whether the candidates should be told that they, too, have the ability to interject and be free form. "They should trust me to run the show," Brokaw says. "I don't want it paint-by-numbers. I want to break out of that."

Later, in his comfortable but modest-size office, filled with family pictures, awards, and memorabilia, Brokaw recognizes that candidates do hate surprises. "But, you know," Brokaw says, "that's part of the risk that they have to take. I mean, part of our job is to act as the advocate of the audience and the voters and try to draw them out so that voters don't get just an infomercial. Why give up two hours of your time as a viewer if you think you are going to get one canned campaign speech after another? It's hard to convince campaigns of this, but it's in their interest, frankly."

You guys really ought to read this article---it'll tell you what kind of a debate this is going to be....god, is it going to be ugly!

[slinkerwink]

1. :kick:

:kick:

[DrFunkenstein]

2. You Want To Make The Debates Interesting?

BREAK THE FRIGGIN' THINGS UP!!!!

The cattle call is UNBELIEVABLY BORING!!!!!!!!!!

[slinkerwink]

3. at least Lieberman won't be there talking about plucking the chicken....

;-)

[slinkerwink]

4. man, people should read this article....

it's going to mean fireworks between Gephardt and Dean...

[rumguy]

5. I did - Brokaw wants to make "news"

It should be interesting...I thought the speculation that Brokaw may want to get as close to the candidates as "decency" allows interesting...like maybe he'll go throw an arm around Dean and ask him why he's so angry.

[slinkerwink]

6. lol, now that I'd like to see

and for Dean to hug Brokaw back and say, "I'm not angry, just concerned about how Bush's doing to America"

[Zomby Woof]

8. but what was his excuse before Bush came along?

:evilgrin:

[slinkerwink]

12. Dean was governor of Vermont....that

is his excuse, and a damned good one at that.

[w4rma]

7. I hope they do *not* tear down one another.

They should realize by now that everytime they slam one another their message gets lost by the media who only reports the negative exchanges.

Please, please, please talk positively about yourself. Respectfully about the other Dems on the stage and tear down the Republican leadership.

If they did that, then this debate could be one that I could videotape and keep to show to friends.

[Rowdyboy]

9. Sounds intriguing...

Brokaw isn't my favorite so I reserve judgement.

[Kanary]

10. So, the Senators will be absent?

Kerry, Edwards will not be part of this "memorable" debate?

Kanary

[slinkerwink]

11. I just heard they'll be joining in from satellite TV

it'll be interesting to see how that affects the debate.

[xxqqqzme]

13. well, wonders never cease

Brokaw's takin' his head out of squatter's ass long enough 2 grace us w/ his presence. I'm surprised he doesn't have some 1 on 1, in-depth interview w/squatter lined up...especially w/ squatter's heroic return from that difficult trip to the UK.