Networks balk at Bush-Kerry debate agreement

[ellsworth81]

http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/09/28/debates.television/index.html

(CNN) -- Although the Bush and Kerry camps have meticulously crafted an agreement on the rules for this year's presidential debates, the television networks broadcasting them refuse to go along with the plans. .........

are there any chances that the networks wont broadcast this, or that would be plain foolish?

[nonamerasian]

The rules are its noose.

Networks may be more enthusiastic if they loosened it a bit.

[Yeahman]

The networks should come together and setup their own independent debate organization that writes all the rules.

[ism]

These debates are just simulataneous press conferences, which isn't too surprising considering how orchestrated Bush's speeches are. All his White House press conference questions are pre-screened, which is a necessity when he is simply not a talented speaker. Kerry's got some funny provisions in the agreement as well. The New Yorker (http://www.newyorker.com/shouts/content/?041004sh_shouts) has some highlights:[...] candidates shall not remove shoes or throw same at each other during debate. Once a debate is concluded, candidates shall be permitted to toss articles of clothing, excepting underwear, into the audience for keepsake purposes.Does anyone really want their underwear?Candidates shall at no time insert fingers in their own throats to signify urge to vomit. Candidates shall under no circumstances insert fingers into opponent’s throat.

[...] In the event that perspiration is unavoidable, candidates may deploy one plain white cotton handkerchief measuring eight inches square. Handkerchief may not be used to suggest that opponent wants to surrender in global war on terrorism.

Neither candidate shall mention the word “Vietnam.” In the event that either candidate utters said word in the course of a debate, the debate shall be concluded immediately and declared forfeit to the third-party candidate

[Yeahman]

You do know that the New Yorker article is a joke, right?
White House press conference questions aren't pre-screened. That's why Bush stumbles so much. But if a reporter asks a tough question, he isn't gonna get called on ever again.

[Mr.Lum]

They screen the reporters.

[Faithless]

I heard an interview with George Stephanopoulos who said that Kerry should pass beyond some of those debate restrictions.

As I understand it, this debate is really about foreign policy. That being the case, then shouldn't there be more debates to talk about all the other key issues?

[nonamerasian]

It's an okay debate so far.

Kerry is pwnning Bush at the moment. They are talking war.

Bush may rebound when the topic changes.

[TB4000]

Not much of a change...Kerry seemed to have the upper hand for much of this debate. Bush has a bad habit of stammering and getting his phrases twisted when he speaks.

[nonamerasian]

He wasn't doing that in the beginning. I was very impressed.

The stammering came later, once it was pretty much clear to onlookers that Kerry won this round of the debates.

[ShortNBitter]

I dunno I liked what Bush had to say about North Korea alot. The part about the Sudan genocide was actually pretty interesting for me. In my opinion, Kerry messed himself over for bringing that up and then not really having a stance on it when the moderator asked him about it. Of course, it was alot of what we had been hearing from them the past few months.

My fav Kerry moment was whne he quoted Bush Sr's book. Another pretty clever thing he did was talk about how he talked to a soldier and the soldier was like "we need help." Bush tried to do the same thing later on with a girl or wife, but it dint come out too well. Lol it was even funnier though when Kerry countered that by reminding us that he is a veteran XD

[Mr.Lum]

Bush had funy expressions, rolling eyes etc. He was quite disrespectful.

[nonamerasian]

He became more tactful as time went on.

[ShortNBitter]

Disrespectful >? Kerry = Disrespectful ;\

[Mr.Lum]

No................Bush was.............

[ShortNBitter]

I beg to differ ;p

[Mr.Lum]

How was Kerry rude?

[nonamerasian]

A summary (http://www.melvindurai.com/debate.htm) of the debate.....Somewhat. :biggrin:

[ShortNBitter]

He was mean XD;; lol just kidding ~ I dont really feel like arguing about whether Kerry was rude or not.