Warning: Rant enclosed - So who is gonna watch this "debate"?

[Jersey Devil]

I say "debate" only because that is what they are calling it, though the ridiculous rules that don't allow the candidates to talk directly to each other or ask each other questions makes a farce of the whole thing and just turn it into two 1.5 hour simultaneous press conferences.
OK, we (and all the other political junkies who have made up our minds long ago) will watch them but will anyone else? I don't mean that to be insulting (well, maybe I do) but if they haven't been paying attention to the issues up until now, why would they start now?

Rather, they will skip the debate, catch the Yankee/Boston/Giants/Cubs/Angels/A's games, toss down a few brewskis at Vinny's Boom Boom Room, watch a movie on HBO, and just continue to do the things they always do on Thursday night.

So then the big fight will be for the spin so each side can try to get the media to report that their guy "won" and influence the votes of those who don't know the issues, don't watch the debates and generally are totally apathetic, getting their news spoon fed to them in 5 minute doses.

Who is best at spin? That is what it will come down to. Who can influence the votes of those who couldn't give a shit. Some way to run a country. :grr:

Thank you for permitting me this rant without interruption.

[madrchsod]

1. i`m working

so i won`t see it...never have watched any of the debates. it`s a dog and pony show

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

2. It's all about the guy that sighs or sweats or looks at his watch

It will provide sound bites of Bush looking strong, confident, masculine, powerful (QUICK! Get the smelling salts! Chris Matthews appears to have passed out!)...

If Kerry hesitates for a SPLIT SECOND, you will see a Bush campaign commercial with Bush waxing philosophic over how we are free, the economy is growin' as mighty and tall as an ear of corn in our country's heartland, and let's not change war horses in midstream.

Then they'll cut to Kerry, and there'll be some kind of voice-over regarding his inability to lead. Because he paused before responding.

Worthless POS Karl Rove and worthless sack 'o' crap Karen Hughes are writing the commercial as we speak.

DON'T FORGET: Fox is controlling the cameras tonight.

[Burma Jones]

3. I'm not watching

My mind was made up four years ago.........

[Bill McBlueState]

4. this has been bothering me, too

No matter what happens, the story will be that Kerry made some minor mistake or another, and that Bush exceeded expectations. A handful of journalists will note that this is exactly what happened to Al Gore in 2000, but most of them will continue to report on Kerry's (insert inconsequential flaw), anyway.

That's all anyone remembers from 2000: Gore sighed a lot, and Bush strung a couple of complete sentences together and wowed everyone. Because that's what got repeated over and over again. It's just easier for a journalist to repeat "common knowledge" than to really analyze the debate.

sigh.....

[cheezus]

5. any time I can turn on TV and see John Kerry talking

I will. So yes, I'll be watching the joint news conference.

[Cha]

7. Yes, the Kerry part will be good!

I've talked to a lot of people in the store who are excited and couldn't wait for tonight's joint press conference..

I heard a little of some talking heads on charley rose last night who said ..the debates will be decided by the pundits afterwards.

I think he's wrong..just cause he was so smug.

[Norquist Nemesis]

6. I agree on the spin factor

It's exactly what happened in 2000. People who listened/watched said Gore won it...then the media took on the Republican canned talking points giving Bush's words a third rinse and repeat.

If our side is going to win the spin game, they are going to have to keep repeating:
1) John Kerry has been unchanging on his positions all along despite the Bush campaign's relentless attacks and character assassination.
2) The Bush administration has a record and it's taken us into a battle zone on all fronts, domestically and abroad. This election is all about who has a better plan and can steer the boat of this nation back on the right track to peace and prosperity. That person is John Kerry.
3) John Kerry speaks the truth, even when it's difficult to hear. The American people have seen through the rose colored propoganda that the entire Bush administration foists on them in their campaign to mislead.

additional notes/thoughts:
Do not use "Senator" Kerry. Use only "John Kerry" or "John Kerry and John Edwards"
Always use "Bush administration" or "Bush and the administration he put in place to run this country" (might Freudian slip and say "ruin" instead of "run")
Do not speak the words "flip-flop". Hit back with prefacing "Bush administration" as flim-flam pointing out early Bush team cover-ups like the Made in the USA labels on top of the made in Japan stamped boxes. (Remind them) Then on to point of Kerry message.
Remind the public that it's only been since the Bush administration started campaigning that we suddenly see Bush et al with numerous press conferences and getting in touch with citizens...but only those who are committed (dual meaning) Bush supporters.

[dicknbush]

8. I saw this professor last night talking about the "Debate"

He called it the "Presidential Introduction" not a debate. I don't think I am going to watch it. I really can't stand watching the lying son of a bitch anymore. I can't stand his voice I can't stand his body language I can't stand that smirk that basically says "I can't beleive I can say this crap and get away with it" I think I will go see a movie instead. I don't need anymore information I know hwat is at stke here and it isn't about Iraq it is about who is going to be appointing the judges for the next four years because those appointments will take us into the 2030"s and those are the decisions that will really affect our and our childrens lives.

[robbedvoter]

9. The Daily Show covers it live - Clark, Giuliani will comment

You may want to give Jon Stewart the ratings, if nothing else