How Bush* can "fix" the Friday debate in his favor

[wellstone_democrat]

Despite the "screening" of the audience and Charles Gibson's undoubted (given his past performances with Bush*) propensity to lob only the softball questions to Bush* the Town Hall format is still too problematic in my view. There is too much that can't be completely controlled.

It occurred to me how they can get out of the bind without the dangerous move of cancelling: simply declare that the screened people had among them someone "suspect" and so, for that reason, the audience portion is cancelled and Gibson, Kerry, and Bush* only will appear. (Hey, it isn't like they have to publicly come up with a "terrorist" in this age of secret arrests....)

"Debate" proceeds but the "wild card" factor is almost completely eliminated. They can even claim that the "questions" Gibson gives each came from some sort of "citizen" group and how they "regret" that security forces them to do this....

Wadda ya think? (I'm off to a meeting so I'll check later to see if anyone else has thought of this or a variation)

[cthrumatrix]

1. pro repug Gallup is "screening the crowd" expect it heavy bush

[JuniorPlankton]

2. Just get * to talk on his own

no need for anything else. * will do the work.

[liberal N proud]

5. That would work if the questions are not scripted.

If Gallup screens the audience and screens the questions, they could either pump the audience with a question or supply them to bush.

[JuniorPlankton]

13. Still, there were no unpredicted

questions last week.
Put * and Kerry side by side, let them do their personal best.
Kerry wins because * is peddling a defective product.

[pmbryant]

3. Bush is the one who needs the debates now

The race's dynamic is now totally against him. The only thing that can shake it up majorly is the remaining debates. That is why Bush needs these debates more than Kerry, at this point.

Cutting out the public from this debate would be the ultimate in stupid moves. Both bad PR and bad strategy.

The GOP will put their faith where they've been successful the last few years: spinning the press afterwards.

--Peter

[TwilightZone]

4. It's too late to change now.

Don't expect any changes. The debate commission has no intention of changing the format, regardless of the level of whining about it by the Bush Administration.

[oasis]

6. Bush can't think on his feet. JK will shred him no matter what questions

are asked. It's take no prisoners time.

[sniffa]

7. yes, i have a question for the president

i just wanted to say thank you, i Love you, you're incredibLe, and that i'm praying for you.

[wellstone_democrat]

9. I've got a question for him....

"Are you really as wonderful and God fearing as my pastor says you are? Can you speak a bit about your "moral clarity" and "steely resolve?"


I bet anything there is a "question" along those lines...

[sniffa]

15. i dunno

that Leaves too much of an opening for him to screw up. take out the "?" part and you're on the money.

[whosinpower]

8. There will be plants

In the audience that will be picked to lob friendly questions to Bush.....

[KansDem]

10. Pardon my ignorance, but how much influence...

...does the moderator have in a "town-hall" format?

If its the citizens who are asking the questions, then what input does the moderator really have?

[Sydnie]

17. By now the audience has been chosen and

they have submitted their possible questions. The moderator (Gibson) will read the submitted questions and select those that will be used. That way, they can do the stage blocking for the cameras and the mics and place the "people with questions" where they can be seen on camera without a problem.

It is already out of the "people's" hands and squarely in Gibson's. It would be different if they had people line up at the mic and it was a first come first served deal.

[readmylips]

11. Little bush boy can only throw sound-bytes....

and perform like a tele-evangelist, acting and gesturing. This time, the world is looking and the American people want substance.

People on bush's side, of less substance and party do-or-die, will stick with him. Americans of substance, including Republicans moderates, will leave bush behind or kick him in the behind..for better words.

[July]

12. He needs the audience

to toss applause lines at.

[KharmaTrain]

14. National Free Beer Night

He makes an announcement that Anheiser-Busch...a large GOOP contributor will be giving away free samples of all their products for the next 6 hours. This Bud's for you!

[leftofthedial]

16. it will be a bush crowd

much like his campaign appearances

Personally, I don't think Kerry has a chance