BUSH DUCKING DEBATE

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-21-2004
BUSH DUCKING DEBATE
78
Wed, 09-15-2004 - 10:45am

Presidential Debates and Missed Opportunities<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />


Wednesday, <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />September 15, 2004; Page A24


The president has been offered a rare opportunity to discuss key issues and concerns with Americans and appears to be leaning toward declining it . President Bush seems to be concerned about the town-hall-meeting format of the second debate, in which undecided voters picked by the Gallup Organization would ask the candidates questions. The Post noted that the Bush campaign is concerned that "people could pose as undecided when they actually are partisans."


Can't the president answer citizens' questions, partisan or not?


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I am extremely unhappy about the prospect of the president skipping the most critical of the three debates. But I am not surprised, given that the 1992 town-hall-style debate is largely seen as the nail in the coffin of his father's reelection bid and given the great pains the White House has taken to insulate President Bush from criticism and the opinions of Americans who are not vocal supporters.


Rather than canceling the town-hall debate, the Commission on Presidential Debates should leave an empty stool on stage next to the candidate who does show up. That might make for the most interesting presidential debate in years.


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A21915-2004Sep14.html?referrer=email


 

Donna

Patriotism means to stand by the Country. It does not mean to stand by the President. -- Theodore Roosevelt.

Donna

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iVillage Member
Registered: 08-28-2004
Wed, 09-15-2004 - 10:52am
I'm not the least bit surprised. One of my concerns has always been that he'd find a way to sneak out of the debates. It's typical Bush.

I have a question? Is there a good place to voice our displeasure with his refusal to take part in this debate?

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-04-2003
Wed, 09-15-2004 - 11:27am
<>

Yes Kerry can go anyway and turn it into a question/answer period.

The empty stool would be a nice touch. One question remains....if it turns out not to be a debate will the press even cover it? The only way it could be effective is that it gets the same air time as a usual debate.

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-16-2004
Wed, 09-15-2004 - 12:08pm
If it is not a debate, then it can't be covered by the media, or else they must allow for the same amount of time and coverage for the opposing candidate as well.

This is why the Kerry camp's thought to not accept the nomination at the Convention went away very quickly.

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-22-2003
Wed, 09-15-2004 - 1:42pm
Why am I not surprised?
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-21-2004
Wed, 09-15-2004 - 9:52pm

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I love it. That would make a real statement out our Bush who can hardly get through a complete sentence without botching it. The town hall debate is the only one I am really excited about, where they can actually ask real questions and see if he can answer them coherently.

Donna

Patriotism means to stand by the Country. It does not mean to stand by the President. -- Theodore Roosevelt.

Donna
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-28-2004
Wed, 09-15-2004 - 11:04pm
Would it bother you at all if Bush refused to debate? Just curious.


Edited 9/15/2004 11:05 pm ET ET by righton2004
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-05-2004
Wed, 09-15-2004 - 11:17pm
Will anybody be able to ask Bush question's or just reps like in his campaign q&a's? XOXO.
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-05-2004
Wed, 09-15-2004 - 11:20pm
It would me! To me it'd show he's a coward and he's hiding something and doesn't want to stand up and answer question's from the public who will be voting for him. In his campaigning he has these smaller stops where people are allowed to ask q&a's but the thing is you have to be a republican. In debates they will be asked all types of question's and there you can see both answers. Polls, ads, etc. don't do anything for me personally and debates will help me with getting answers for a lot of question's. If Bush can prove to me why I should vote for him then the place to do it is at a debate. He did debating last year with Gore didn't he? So why is he running away from them now? I'd be very disappointed if there are no debates this yr for some reason. XOXO.
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-21-2004
Wed, 09-15-2004 - 11:57pm

For the townhall type debate that he is trying to duck, yes, they would ask questions that both candidates would answer, unprepared questions.

Donna
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-02-2004
Thu, 09-16-2004 - 12:14am
Very interesting!You are quite right about the not thinking on his feet. It would be funny to see what would fall out of his mouth. My fav so far has been the one about the love afair the gyns have with the american women????? what was that? and the old time fav fool me once.

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