If you have a clear message, things like lights don't matter.
When you're hoping to debate with fluff, then little things like lights DO matter.
Both Bush and Kerry are fucking butt weasels (sorry sluggo)!!
CORAL GABLES, Fla. ? Sen. John Kerry to debate organizers: Let's go light on the lights.
Advisers for the Democratic presidential candidate demanded Thursday that the lights signaling when a speaker's time has expired during debates with President Bush be removed from the lecterns because they are distracting. The commission hosting the debates refused.
Bush's campaign accused Kerry, known for favoring long sentences and statements, of trying to violate debate rules against windy answers.
An angry exchange between representatives of the Kerry campaign and the Commission on Presidential Debates (search) took place just hours before the candidates were to meet at the University of Miami for the first of three debates, according to several officials familiar with the meeting. Kerry's team threatened to remove the lights when they visit the debate site with the candidate later in the day.
"We'll do what we have to," Kerry strategist Tad Devine (search) said after his meeting with the commission. But he also suggested the dispute will pass once Kerry's team makes its point. "We'll beat them over the head a little bit, then we'll see what happens."
The commission's executive director, Janet Brown, did not return a call from the AP seeking comment.
It's not unusual for the campaigns to haggle over the smallest debate details, but not so close to the event.
The commission placed the lights on the lecterns in clear view of the television audience and those in the auditorium.
An agreement between the Kerry and Bush campaigns required camera-mounted timing lights for each candidate "positioned in his line of sight." It also specified that timing lights "shall be placed such that they are visible to the debate audiences and television viewers."
Mark Wallace, deputy campaign manager for Bush, said Democrats sought the change "because they don't want the American people to know that Sen. Kerry can't follow the rules."
Kerry's team contended that the agreement doesn't specifically say where the lights should be placed, and it said putting them on the lecterns creates a distraction. Devine said the agreement includes a picture of the lectern that doesn't include the lights.
The Bush team pushed for the lights in negotiations with Kerry advisers. "The Bush teams wants to debate about things like this to distract from the real issues," Devine said.
The commission is a nonprofit and nonpartisan corporation that has sponsored all the presidential debates since 1988.
source
If you have a clear message, things like lights don't matter.
When you're hoping to debate with fluff, then little things like lights DO matter.
Both Bush and Kerry are fucking butt weasels (sorry sluggo)!!
I dunno Jumper, I'm kinda in favor of anything that keeps politicians from rambling on and on and on and on.
Short, sweet and to the point.
Maybe they should skip the debate and have a hot dog eating contest or something more entertaining like that.
How about a potato sack race. LOL!
[img]tongue.gif[/img] [img]cool.gif[/img] [img]smile.gif[/img]
How about Jell-o wrestling?
Seriously, I'm not surprised that Kerry doesn't want lights. Did you see his interview with Diane Sawyer? Talked and talked and didn't say a thing. Tonight will be the end of his candidacy, he couldn't debate himself out of a paper bag. Dubya's going to make mincemeat out of him.
Trav you posted it, what are your opinions on it?
I happened to be distracted by the lights, but more telling is that Kerry for the most part abided by the time limit. I did notice that Bush on several occasions had time left over, which is interesting because he repeatedly requested the additional 30 seconds to rebut Kerry.
I think Bush looked exceptionally bad in this debate. The polls reflect a 20 point gap among independents in favor of Kerry.
Bring on the next debate. I can't wait.
<font color="#000002" size="1">[ October 01, 2004 07:25 AM: Message edited by: reason ]</font>
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">The lights didn't bother me at all, both went over at times and when they ended before the red light came on, the both looked as if they had nothing to say.Originally posted by Jigsaw:
Trav you posted it, what are your opinions on it?
I turned it off half way through. There was nothing new, everything they said has already been said. Bush looked nervous and is not a great speaker, Kerry was an outstanding debater in collage. So what.
Does the fact that being a good debater in collage where you have to debate both sides of the same issue make you a good President? Not at all.
Does not being a good public speaker make you a bad President? Not at all.
An interesting fact is that after the Kennedy/Nixon debate, people who listened on the radio thought Nixon won and people who watched on TV thought Kennedy won. Why is this? Nixon won the intellectual part of the debate, but his handlers didn't understand the impact of television. Nixon had a heavy beard and tended to have bags under his eyes, Kennedy was tan and fit looking and wore makeup.
Like my Father, I need to shave at least twice a day while someone with light hair and a light complexion would only need to shave once a day. What does this have to do with our abilities?
In today's politics Abraham Lincoln would never have gotten out of Illinois and George McClellan would have won the Presidency.
<font color="#000002" size="1">[ October 01, 2004 07:56 AM: Message edited by: travelinman ]</font>
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I think Ronald Reagan proved the value of public speaking and good communication for a president.Does not being a good public speaker make you a bad President? Not at all.
As I've said before, one of Bush's major failings is to adequately articulate satisfactory reasons why we are in Iraq and his plan for victory.
To stand up on the podium and repeatedly say "This is HARD WORK!" doesn't cut it. We've got over 1,000 dead in an increasingly dangerous situation. I don't need someone to tell us it's "HARD WORK." I need someone to tell us how we're going to win. He didn't do that.
<font color="#000002" size="1">[ October 01, 2004 08:06 AM: Message edited by: reason ]</font>
True, but neither did Kerry.
Does Kerry really expect us to believe that Europe is going to come into Iraqi and help. Please give me a break.
You need to look at history.
Do you think FDR had a plan to win when he declared war on Japan? It was not until three years later that we started winning and I doubt that FDR developed that plan. That's what Generals are for.
Using your logic and going back to the Civil War. Lincoln should have not won a second term and McClellan should have been the president because approximately 620,000 men-360,000 Northerners and 260,000 Southerners-died in the four-year conflict. Lincoln didn't have a plan until he gave Grant command and while Grant was a successful General he was an terrible President.
Actually I would have liked McClellan to win. He would have hemmed and hawed and appeased until Bobby Lee Kicked his ass and I could be living in the CSA.
My thoughts on the debate:
Number 1#: Bush got his clock cleaned!!!
I consider myself an independent. Today I also count myself as one of the 20 percentage points favoring Kerry.
Trav said one doesn't have to be a good speaker to be a good president. Unfortunately, I don't get to sit with W in the oval office and see his command of things. I only know what of him what I see. And what I saw was a deer in the headlights, confused, stumbling, inarticulate, wishing he were anywhere but there president.
I agree with reason, you cannot keep repeating "it's hard work" and expect that to resonate with anyone but the terminally stupid....or oklahoma! [img]wink.gif[/img]
IMHO, if you have the strength of your convictions and the absolute belief in your purpose; that you did the right thing, then you shouldn't have any problem answering those softball questions Leherer threw out last night.
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