Tonight's debate: a lil apprehension

[Domitan]

Here's hoping for a major sweep! However, I just hope that the Kerry team is not too overconfident about tonight. If Kerry is less than stellar and Bush is better than a nincompoop, imagine the sickening spin that might ensue in favour of Bush? Remember how Kerry was underestimated in the foreign policy debate and how exceeded expectations made Kerry look extremely favourable to the undecided (he did well on his own, mind you). The media buzz is that this is Kerry's strongest area...so if expectations are not met, I don't look forward to the media blitz afterwards.

[Francine Frensky]

1. repubs have spent 30 years setting the stage for tonights debate

Remember, the republicans are 30 years ahead of us in setting the verbal "framework" for domestic issues so their ideas sound better than ours. They have the buzzwords, we have the ideas. Which will sound better in a debate?

Kerry's good, solid ideas, won't make a dent in their framework. Bush has all the buzzwords at his disposal. "tax relief", is a republican phrase that reminds you that you are being tortured when you pay your taxes. Gay marriage? Guns? God?? republicans now own those topics because they framed the issues first before we got our message out to americans. They can say two words and instantly get their message across to people who have been bombarded with carefully-crafted right wing messages for years.

This one will be difficult for kerry to stay in. It will sound ok to most of us, but for the average joe, they will like bush's slogans better.

Read George Lakeoff. Seriously, we may lose the election tonight on empty, but clever, slogans and Lakeoff may be the only guy who can get us back in the game in ten years.

[secular_warrior]

5. Republicans understand the power of wedge issues

Democrats have been the minority for a long time for many reasons, and one of the biggest IMO is the fear of "wedge issues". The party has had this wimpy mentality of wanting to please everyone/not wanting to offend anyone. However, this approach usually works in reverse.

Our biggest, most effective wedge issue was populism, which the party has avoided (until this election) for fear of being called "class warriors". The Republicans devised their own populist rhetoric and have pulled off the impossible: getting the poorest to passionately cast their vote for a party concerned with the richest.

[NoBorders]

9. i'm reading lakoff now

it's disturbing how effective the right has been in building their political domination. there is much work to do. but at least we know the process!

[fugop]

13. Not so sure about that

Before the first debate, I thought the same thing. Sound bites seemed likely to win over Kerry's substance. But the past two weeks have shown that people - at least thus far - have been looking beyond the bites. Kerry won the first debate, which was George's strong suit, and Kerry won the second, which was George's format. If JK doesn't get cocky, this should be his best topic AND format. I'm cautiously optimistic - but nervous nonetheless.

[apnu]

18. but remember the advantage of the challenger.

Bush has to defend himself. He can't always attack. He has to respond with terms like "I've done so and so on Health Care, vote for me" and all Kerry has to do is say "You suck, your health care sucks too" which is exactly what all challengers in such debates against an incumbent do.

So Bush has to puff himself up and look pompous while he does it. He also has to explain how and why his policies are good. But since he's got no clue what his policies are... he can't explain his own shit.

[Onlooker]

2. Kerry has to win and the Democrats must spin

The latest Gallup poll showed that the number of people who thought Kerry won the second debate climbed over the last few days. That's probably because of spin, some of which we participated in by going to online polls and writing to editors and tv stations. The spin is at least 50% of a victory, apparently.

[flamingpie2500]

3. Forget the media blitz--do what I do--hit the puter and pound the polls!

[Name removed]

10. Deleted message

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[flamingpie2500]

15. Makes me feel active--not passive. Bunk or not.

[librechik]

17. but they get covered. It's the only thing that counts

and everyone ignores the disclaimers, Just like Wolfie does when he feels like it.

[MoonRiver]

4. Here we go again.

:eyes:

[bunkerbuster1]

6. All Kerry has to do is look Presidential

Kerry needs to convince a relatively few "leaning towards" voters that he's strong and resolute. That's it.

Bush will, of course, speak in Rove-coached soundbites. And I'm sure that Kerry will zing him back. But he has to trust his instincts that have guided him thus far not to sink the the Chimperor's level.

That is all he needs to do. The rest is up to us--pound the online polls, continue to be upbeat and convince America that change is going to happen, and we'll be a stronger, better country for it.

Not that hard, really. Bush is back to the pig farm, 'splaining this latest fuckup to Poppy, in three weeks if we just hang in there.

[DrFunkenstein]

12. Hey, That's What I Was Going To Say!

I agree with you 100%, but only because you stole my idea and wrote it down first.

But the thought of a Bush family curse - 4 and out - is a delicious scenario.

[Dob Bole]

7. It's normal...

let's hope for the best!

Personally, I'm more concerned about this Sinclair thing than tonight's debate. But we have several avenues of dealing with that available to us.

[calimary]

8. Whaddya mean, a LITTLE apprehension?

Back to the manicurist I go to preserve my acrylic nails. If it weren't for them through all these debates, I wouldn't have any nails, PERIOD. I'm what you might call a wreck.

[Rambis]

11. Some dumb ass poll said

81% of the people surveyed said tonights debate will have nothing to do with whom they choose. You know you are going to pull that donkey lever. Coach: No one is paying you to think, just do it son! Sign your commitment to your team. Pink: I might play ball but I will never sign that! (Throws loyalty oath to George Bush at the coach)

Shit I already voted for christ sakes! It's a no brainer folks- Kerry in a landslide!

[venus]

14. The thing that bothers me is the job loss numbers

keep getting adjusted downward. Last week, there were only 1.6 mil jobs created under Bush in the past four years. Then it was reported there were 1.7 mil. There was a net job loss over 900,000 now it's only around 800,000. Pretty soon it will be down to only 500,000. That kind of puts a damper on our argument IMO. Even though with the additional 900k jobs Bush would still be negative job creation.

[Mad_Dem_X]

16. I'm trying to stay confident

I know Kerry will be articulate and strong...my respect and admiration for him has grown so much in the past few weeks. My only hope will be that viwers see past *'s empty rhetoric and truly see that Kerry would make the far better President.

[Nashyra]

19. I pray that they have an ace up their sleeve

Not that Kerry really needs it, he can do more of the same and still win or tie, but it would nice to see Kerry come out with something that "cleans *'s clock" especially something the repukes don't know aboput.