Plan on Kerry losing tomorrow night.

[Walt Starr]

I figure the deck is being stacked as we post.

Number one reason, the "retooled stump speech." The plan of attack is now to go after Kerry to stop the bleeding from the fact that re-election campaigns are referenda on the incumbents.

Number two reason, the audience is being stacked with "soft Kerry" and "soft Bush" supporters. What is REALLY happening is the "soft Bush" supporters will be hard core dyed in the wool PNACers who are after Kerry. I wouldn't be surprised if there was a Swift Boat Liar or two. This is to nullify the effect of the town hall format generally being about the interests of common people which, by virtue of the issues presented, tend to support Democratic positions over Republican positions.

Number three, the moderator. I expect collusion between the GOP and Gibson. Call me a pessimist, but I no longer trust any media whore.

Kerry is going to have to go on the attack from the outset and push off the Freepers who will question his Senate record and the Vietnam issues. This is not going to be a cake walk and I sincerely hope they are preparing for a battle royale. A friendly game of chess this is not!

In closing, we must plan for the worst while hoping for the best.

[Hello_Kitty]

1. I'd like to see Kerry answer a Swift Boat Traitor

He'd eat their lunch.

[Democrat 4 Ever]

4. I am afraid you a right.

Short of Bush pulling out a knife and start stabbing everyone in the front row they are going to give the debate to Dubya. The bar is set so low for this bozo all he has to do is keep from drooling on himself and learn not to talk to the bug in his ear.

Can't believe after four years of this nonsense some people still think he is a viable candidate.

[dansolo]

67. Keep from drooling on himself

But that would be hard work!

[unfrigginreal]

2. Kerry's attacks must be measured and only towards Bush, not a questioner

In this debate it's crucial for Kerry to go in with a mindset of 'the customers always right', even if he receives questions from the freepiest freepshits.

There is no room for a "you're not listening" answer from Kerry.

[CarolynEC]

3. I think you're right when you say...

... that JK has to be prepared to get tough. VERY tough. This campaign is still, to a great extent, a referendum on who is strong and capable enough to protect us from terrorists.

But we also have to recall that he is not talking to Bush during the debate, and not talking solely to the people posing questions. He's talking to the millions of people watching on TV.

So he's got to -- just as he did so beautifully in debate #1 -- use this as an opportunity to connect directly with them. Answer the questions posed, of course, but use each question as a springboard to get his overarching messages across.

Turn the boat toward the enemy fire, JK! :)

[papau]

9. I agree - Kerry must continue to show he is tough n/t

n/t

[trogdor]

61. I think we already know Kerry isn't a wuss.

[CarolynEC]

63. You're right. We do know that...

... I'm speaking of the "undecideds" in the TV audience who might still be a bit brainwashed by all the Bushco conditioning they've undergone for the last year.

:)

[lefthandedskyhook]

5. Concerns noted - one other factor to consider...

John Kerry is not a fool. He will not walk blindfolded into an ambush. All the help in the world will not turn *bush into a mature human being.

[Cocoa]

6. absolutely right

chimps are dangerous when they're cornered, expect Bush to turn in a great performance. If Kerry even holds his own, it will be a massive victory for our side.

[Carni]

55. LOL! Let's hope he loses it and flings dung at the audience!

Beats his chest, screeches then scampers off the set!

Better yet...maybe he'll bare his teeth at the moderator LOL

[seabeyond]

7. i feel it is set up too.

and it is out to media to declare bush the winner, saw it last nite. all bush has to do is go in and repeat his stump speech bullshit and not answer any questions and be hallow and empty, but with a smile and a good ole boy attitude and he wins

i am also feeling this time he is getting the questions ahead of time. they are not going to play by the rules and allow the same thing to happen. then further with gibsons behavior with the kerry interview, a bunch of shit

[NewYorkerfromMass]

19. They are getting the questions ahead of time

I believe. I know they are written down in advance and questioners must stick to the original wording when they ask them.
I believe the candidates are not cold when the questions come.

[nostamj]

32. no. the moderator sees them in advance

and selects which will be asked... according to the 'rules' but the candidates are NOT supposed to know them in advance.

that assumes bushco will play by the rules though...

[NewYorkerfromMass]

33. Well, at least it means you have to know how to write to ask

That will help minimize the freeper component.

[AntiCoup2K4]

62. Not neccessarily

Rove (or their local Grand Wizzard of the KKK) could write the questions for them.

[WI_DEM]

8. I think after two debates which went well for Dems

that the media will begin whoring for Bush no matter what because the "horse race" is all that counts--and if Kerry continues his momentum then Bush will continue to fall like a rock. They can't let this happen.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

10. Kerry will take on each questioner and provide reasoned responses...

...that will blow away their rationale.

Inexperienced questioners are NOT going to be able to best Kerry, a man that has been thoroughly seasoned by decades of debate.

Look also for FratBoy to get nailed with at least one question that he will absolutely butcher.

[lancdem]

11. Is John Gibson the moderator?

That is a problem.

[Thrill]

26. You peole are paranoid

Gibson has ALWAYS been just as tough on Republicans ans Democrats. Collusion between the GOP and Gibson? Come on for goodness sakes.

[lancdem]

40. I didn't realize it was Charlie Gibson

John Gibson works for Fox, hence my initial alarm. I don't have a problem with Charlie Gibson.

[Fluffdaddy]

12. If you are scared get a Dog, Lets not look for reasons to Lose

We have them on the run. No one said this will be e-z. And I will be on the edge of my chair also. But For the first time in 2 years I feel we have a real shot at removing this buffoon

Maybe hard-core Kerry folks will be in the audience also.

Suck it up we are in the final leg.

[meg]

13. Kerry will win anyway

I believe Charlie has given Bushies the questions. I believe Charlie stacked the deck with freepers and anyone who can embarrass Kerry he could find. I believe Charlie will run the debates in Bushies favor.

With all of that said - ask a snarky Bushie question and Kerry GETS TO ANSWER IT ON LIVE TV.

Give Bushie a softball question and let him give a well-rehearsed speech.

Kerry - presidential and refuting the very lies Bushie is speaking.
Kerry - refuting snarky questions.
Kerry - questioning Bushie - W= wrong, believe your eyes not sound bites

[9119495]

14. Will anyone watch a Friday night debate?

Isn't that time to "kick it?" Escape? Grab some drinks with friends? No matter who wins, this one may be irrelevant.

[lancdem]

15. Good post

Mike McCurry said in an article that he expects Bush to be declared the winner by the pundits, no matter what happens. There's a reason Kerry is preparing very thoroughly for this debate. He has to be prepared for every curveball.

[indie_voter]

16. Maybe, but

It seems different this year! I remember the media spinning the Bush wins during the 2000 election.

They tried this year. They tried to spin a Cheney win Tuesday night. However, too many people have been tuning in to watch first hand, which makes it that much harder to spin.

Bush will be better than he was last Thursday. Kerry will be faced with some nasty questions about his Vietnam days. This won't be easy, BUT this is also a grand opportunity for Kerry to show the country what he is made off.

Good solid (hopefully eloquent) answers to these questions can put the questions themselve to shame (not to mention put them to rest).

Personally I don't think it is a bad thing for hard questions to be asked, it can work against the Bush campaign and alienate the independents/undecided watching.

I hope Kerry will take the opportunity to slam Bush in his replies, bring up the lies and distortions each time he has to answer one of these questions.

Kerry is used to dissent, Bush is not. Kerry has been handling hecklers, Bush hasn't. I am hoping there are some split screen moments and Bush's true nature is shown while Kerry is answering nasty attacks. In other words, if Bush is seen gloating or smirking over while Kerry is answering personal attacks, Bush won't look good.

I guess what I am saying is...Bring it on. ;)

[Blue_Roses]

17. I agree and I'm glad you said it!

people seem to think that this will be a cake walk for Kerry and it won't. Bush will be prepared this time, o doubt about it.

[lancdem]

42. It doesn't matter what we think

all that matters is that Kerry is ready, and I'm sure he will be.

[Fluffdaddy]

18. I been reading all the Right wing-nuts forums................And

They are scared to death. They feel everything is against them even Fox-news. Every report that comes out is against Bush an the war. This is going to come down to the wire.

[zulchzulu]

20. Assume that people are stupid/uninformed

I've seen Kerry in a few town hall-style formats and he is very strong. He can be a little long-winded and wonkish, but also is very approachable and knowledgeable.

This debate will have time limits unlike campaign-style events, so he will have some control in his answers.

If he can answer questions succinctly and without too many acronyms, he will seriously kick Bush's ass.

[autorank]

21. Kerry will be better; * wll be the same or worse.

Kerry smells blood. He's a great closer. Hold a very positive thought, keep up the e-activism, and watch the show.

[Jeff in Cincinnati]

22. Don't worry about Kerry...

Unlike Bush, Kerry has been dealing with tough questions and hecklers throughout the campaign. It comes with the territory when you don't require Loyalty Oaths from the people who attend your events. Kerry is not going to wilt under a tough question.

Bush, on the other hand, hasn't been exposed to a hostile audience from years. He has more to fear than Kerry does.

And Charles Gibson? What a pointless little fuck he is -- Kerry has nothing to fear.

[Joe Turner]

If the debate is rigged in Smirk's favor people will sense it

The American People have a good sense of fair play. If they watch a debate where most questions are designed to embarrass Kerry, or if the moderator shows obvious favoritism towards Smirk it will backlash on Smirk.

This is not to say Smirk's handlers aren't working on some illegal/unethical way to give The Idiot an edge. They probably are.

[ScreamingMeemie]

23. After listening to Bush yesterday in Michigan...the man is this close

to a nervous breakdown. I am cautiously optimistic. The "emperor" is almost naked. :hi:

[umtalal]

50. what happened?details please n/t

[aden_nak]

24. Kerry can handle more than Bush, plain and simple.

Do I expect there to be more tough questions leveled at Kerry than at Bush? Yes, yes I do. I have more or less taken that on as a given. Even if the deck isn't stacked, the media seems to have agreed to "take it easy" on Bush, as if we have to give him an equal shot at the Presidency even if is far less intelligent.

But the flip side of this is that Kerry is far more capable of handling these sorts of questions and setups than Bush is. That's the reality. Bush bristles and turns catty even in the face of NEUTRAL questions that contradict his edicts and declarations. If he is forced to deal with questions that are even moderately challenging, the real George W. Bush will surface.

And I'm not just talking about the George W. Bush that doesn't know what sovereignty means, or the George W. Bush that is fighting terrorist who attack "at the whim of a hat". Don't get me wrong, he'll be there, too. But the public is going to see the George W. Bush that either cuts off or demeans reporters and newspeople when he doesn't like their tone. I'm talking about the George W. Bush that mocked Karla Faye Tucker, the woman he had sentenced to death row, because she begged for her life.

Stupid and Mean is a dangerous combination. And it is going to blow up right in Bush's face. Gone will be the audience questions who start with telling him what a great leader he is. He's going to feel like he's dealing with hostile journalists. And if he treats normal American citizens, on live television, the way he treats those journalists when he loses his cool. . .

I sure hope he doesn't let the front door hit him on the backside in January.

[Lerkfish]

47. from your lips to gods ears, I hope that is what happens.

[Phillycat]

25. Kerry is a closer and has taken the time to prepare for this debate.

He is strong, capable, and ready for anything. He'll once again mop the floor with the Idiot in Chief.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

27. I plan on Kerry looking like the hero he is tomorrow night

There is a difference:

Kerry can face the enemy.

Bush has to be hidden from disagreement.

Kerry is articulate.

Bush is not.

Kerry can use real language to get to his opponent..Bush must memorize and TRY to deliver pat phrases.

Bush will talk about his home ownership and fundamental philosphical differences...he isn't going to focus on Iraq...he is going to take obscure votes to show people that Kerry has tried to harm them...Kerry needs to be prepared with some ZINGERS...but I still thnk Kerry will connect...

[Kadie]

71. I agree. Very well said. n/t

[blm]

28. kerry would win if Bush had the whole audience filled with freepers.

He has the truth and the KNOWLEDGE on his side and he is FEARLESS in the face of any enemy fire.

Kerry does NOT FOLD.

[rockymountaindem]

29. I have faith in Kerry.

He is an intelligent man who is prepared by well-meaning, experienced people. He exceeded my expectations in the first debate, and I think that he'll do fine no matter what he's confronted with. Let the Freepers try to get in the audience and throw him curve balls. Kerry can think on his feet, and I don't think he'll have any problems responding to critics. At the very least, his non-answers will sound better than any dodges Bush has to do. Don't forget, Bush can't talk.

As for low expectations, I don't think so. I bet people will be looking for Bush* to mess it up some more.

[n2mark]

30. Another agree

I agree that this debate will be a tough one for Kerry. shrub will know the questions ahead of time, the audience will be stacked against Kerry and shrub will walk away the winner. I'm really uncomfortable with this debate.

[Rockholm]

31. Maybe Kerry Should Pull A Fast One......

If it is obvious after a few of the "pre-picked questioners" really are indeeds plants by the RNC, Kerry should pull a fast one.
"Gee Charlie, I think I would like to choose a random person from the audience with a real question, as opposed to the unbiased folks you have chosen for me."

[July]

38. Is anyone going to try to identify the questioners?

Do they have to give names and hometowns?

Our side is getting better at exposing the other side's fraud, so if there is any at this debate, I hope somebody's going to be jumping all over it.

[stopbush]

34. I couldn't disagree more. Unless Kerry is drugged, he will once again

use bush as a slopsink mop.

Kerry is on the attack. He will stay on the attack. Domestic policy is bush's WEAK suit in a dead man's hand (and house) of cards. bush and the freeped audience can say whatever they want. What they are not prepared for is a response to their mendacity. All Kerry needs to do is cite the record and tell the truth and bush is toast.

It's like 300 people witnessing a murder. The killer is standing over the body with a smoking gun. Who ya gonna believe? The killer, or your own eyes?

[yellowcanine]

35. Kerry will kill any swifties with kindness - he will ask them about their

service and thank them for it. Cheer up - this is not some doofus we have as a candidate.

[Walt Starr]

36. Like I said, plan for the worst and hope for the best

Things generally work out better than you plan for.

[Texas_Dem]

37. I think the media will be more forgiving of Shrub

this time. Bet they are already thinking up the headlines. BUSH COMES BACK STRONG IN DEBATE, etc. etc.

[July]

39. Sooner or later they will wise up to the fact that people are ignoring

their conclusions.

Bush has jumped the shark. No matter what the headlines are, people who've dumped him have dumped him for good.

[TheDonkey]

41. The media also will try to spin a Kerry loss badly

so they can hype up the 3rd debate.

BUT if Kerry wins so decisively like he did the first time the media and the pukes will go into pure-panic red alert. I'm not betting bush will be so dumbfounded trying to stay "Presidential" this time. He's going to fight dirty.

[ILeft]

43. Bush will deliver his campaign speech and that's it. Bush wins.

The media will report on a "much improved performance by a President who went into the first debate exhausted from the demands of campaigning while carrying out the emotionally draining Presidential task of meeting with disaster victims early that morning. Tonight the American people saw the George Bush they have come to admire, trust, and want to have a beer with!"

He is much safer delivering his prewritten and well rehearsed campaign speech (including occasional complete sentences and semi-coherent utterances) than trying to think and speak on his feet. Any criticism of Bush not directly answering questions or rehashing his campaign speech will be completely overwhelmed by the praise for his clarity, blah, blah, blah...

I agree that it's unlikely Kerry can beat the media in this debate.

[snippy]

44. Bush will look bad.

He will start out doing well but won't be able to maintain the fictional role he has been instructed to portray. He will attack Kerry more harshly than he has in the past and then he will smirk and bob his head briefly before remembering that he has been instructed not to smirk. He then will try to wipe the smirk off his face and try to appear intelligent and thoughtful.

Kerry will point out that Bush is reduced to attacks because he can't run on his record which will make Bush scowl and attempt to interrupt. His beady eyes will be shifting swiftly around the audience looking for supporters as his blinking becomes more and more rapid. He will start to say something that varies from his prepared script but then catch himself and be at a temporary loss for words until he remembers his lines.

All of this will be hillarious though somewhat pathetic and the cameras will catch it. Bush will realize that things are not going well and he will attack more stridently and then strut and smirk and blink and bob his head. There may even be a brief flicker of panic in his demeanor. All of this will alienate or make uneasy everyone except the most devout Bush supporters.

[Walt Starr]

45. Is Bush capable of not smirking?

I doubt that.

I do not doubnt the media whore's post debate fellatio. Look at how they attempted to prop up the naked emperor after the debacle of the first debate!

[jbond56]

59. 1 major change to ponder.

He has a record. This is new. Never had that before. I know he was Gov. but in TX the Lt Gov has more power. D-Rs getting along in TX was not something he started. He sure took credit for it.

Then again how could he not do better.

I think 43 will try to hard and it will hurt him. Then will show up with a completely different style in the last one. We know how that can happen.

He came on talking about hair in a "Major Policy Speech" it was a mulligan and he sliced it at best.

I think Kerry will also improve.

How bout a little hope. Take a look around I think we saw another flop when it came to steady resolve.

Its hard work to give the polished speech in front of the faithful. Its hard work to trick the media into airing a 50 min stump speech.

The public might lag behind bit they are starting to realize the emperor has no clothes.

[cmf]

46. I agree

All of the brouhaha the Bush* camp was making over the format was to distract people from the fact that they were going to stack the audience with hardcore neo-cons. I get the feeling that Kerry is totally being set up.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

48. I Can't Disagree More...

If Kerry can't beat the Idiot In Chief three times in a row he doesn't deserve to be president...


However I am supremely confident Kerry will rip him a new asshole or open the scar he left there in the first debate...

[NoBorders]

49. media is looking for any opening to trash Kerry at debate

he'll have to have a great night to keep the whores at bay.

[Carni]

51. If for no other reason--the media likes a "horse race"

Or so they keep saying...(God forbid they just admit they are overpaid whores that don't want to let go of that tax cut for the elite few)

I am SURE you are correct and that the deck will indeed be stacked against Kerry tomorrow night.

I also fully expect some jack ass (probably an amputee from "Nam" in a wheelchair) to raise a stink and accuse Kerry of being a traitor in an unruly and mellodramatic fashion at some point in the evening.

Let's just hope Kerry is centered and can make the best out of a very slanted situation!

Bush is looking very cocky and pleased with himself these last two days so I am quite sure they have something up their sleeve!

[LSK]

52. your kidding right?

You forgot that Bush will be there. ;)

[Terran]

53. I don't think Charlie Gibson is a typical mediawhore

Over the yhears I've watched him on GMA, and he tends to ask tough questions, no matter who he's interviewing. And I've seen him ask Admin officials some VERY tough questions. Don't assume he's a shill for the White House.

And I also have to say that I think the audience being hand-picked to stack against Kerry is pretty paranoid. So many people here moaned about the first debate in advance and it was a huge winner for us. I think this one will be too.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

58. He's No Media Whore Or Republican...

I saw him interview Ann Coulter yesterday...

Rather than get in a pissing match with her he just let her speak...

Between her answers and his facial expressions she hung herself...

[The Chronicler]

54. I can't imagine Kerry "losing" vs. Bush.

Kerry is just that much better. I expect for Bush to come out full throttle with the attacks, but I dont think it will be anything that JFK cannot handle.

[RoadRunner]

56. Kerry is a closer.

Unlike *, Kerry gets better as the campaign progresses, just like he did in the primaries.

You're right that the media will spin it for *, but I'm getting a feeling that the media is largly irrelevant in this campaign. The folks that stay glued to Fox and CNN all day have already made up their minds. What matters is what ordinary folks are saying and doing.

I talked to a young waitress this week on a business trip. I asked her who she's voting for, fully expecting her to say she doesn't vote or doesn't care who wins. She gave me an earful, though, going on and on about how it's people like her that will have to pay off *Bush's deficits and people like her brother that will die for *Bush's lies. Early voting started in New Mexico last Tuesday, and she has already voted.

Pissed off waitresses have more power than all the media propaganda combined.

Kerry will do us proud Friday night.

[bushisanidiot]

57. People. AWOL has no notes and no teleprompter. He HAS to hit a grandslam

this time to make up for his slaughter last week.

there's no way in hell he's gonna be able to touch Kerry.

Tomorrow will seal AWOL's defeat. I'm starting to think that idiot really doesn't want the job anymore anyway.

[cthrumatrix]

60. it's a stacked audience... media will NOT let awol fall this time

no instant polls unless AWOL looks good... they will protect the puppet much more this time.

Look for Charlie to piss you off.

[bushisanidiot]

65. We're talking apples & oranges. Reality vs. the pundits spin.

I totally agree that it will be "spun" that AWOL wins if he is able to keep himself from picking his nose on camera.

But in reality, there's no way that dipshit can beat Kerry in a debate. He wasn't fit to be Kerry's waterboy in Round 1 and he's not fit to hold Kerry's spit bucket in round 2.

It's going to be a knockout, but I agree that the pundits will see it differently.

[H2O Man]

64. Brother Walt !

I appreciate that Kerry will be going up against a "stacked deck" in the debate on Friday, but it still comes down to John Kerry and George Bush. And we can be fully confident that John is fully capable of debating George under any circumstances. Yes, the media will try to spin the confrontation, as they did with the VP debate on MSNBC. But the public still knows exactly what they saw, just as they will know exactly what they see Friday night!

Also: Bush is under pressure. And the fellow does NOT do well under pressure. He needs an entirely scripted setting, and unless Kerry is gagged and chained to a chair, he's going to upset any plan George's handlers have.

[spanone]

66. No, No, No, plan for the BEST!!!! Momentum is in our direction

Go Mo!!!!!!!!!! Kerry has THE TRUTH on his side.

[no name no slogan]

69. ALWAYS plan for the worst, but expect the BEST

Anybody who's done any work with disaster recovery knows that you ALWAYS plan for the worst possible scenerio, no matter how remote it may seem.

Seeing as our opponents are not above lying and dirty tricks, we should be well prepared to fight back at them-- no matter who has the momentum.

Does that mean we should give up? Hell NO! It means that we should EXPECT Kerry to do his best and outsmart the Asspuppet in Chief. However, we should be prepared in case something goes horribly wrong.

[Ksec]

68. Kerry is a champion debater. You should never underestimate him

Hes in closer mode. Stand back and watch him whoop ass.

[RummyTheDummy]

70. Maybe so. But Kerry will overcome it all and skull fuck Chimpy

End of debate.