Bush's debate tactics are predictable....

He will be on the offensive. That is something you can put in the bank. He does not believe in doing anything from a defensive posture. So Kerry can expect to be attacked by clever one-liners that Bush has mastered over the course of the campaign.

He will repeat several times examples of Kerry "flip-flopping". He will attempt to draw a comparison with himself as a decisive and firm leader. This is predictable.

He cannot admit mistakes. He will attempt to justify the invasion of Iraq and the capture of Saddam Hussein as part of the war on terror. It doesn't take a personality profile to understand what Mr Bush will want to talk about in the debate. He is a simple person and he will stick to a simple plan of attack.

bullying behavior. Then Kerry can push his buttons and make him mad and then the asshole is toast.

:)

Jeff Greenfield on Aaron Brown's show last night? He did a pretty even-handed piece on debate styles of Bush* and Kerry. The most profound thing he said, IMO, was how good Bush* is at "staying on message." He played clips of the debate with Ann Richards where Richards pointed out that Bush* had no experience in government and had failed in every business venture he had ever been in. She did this twice.

The first time, Bush turned it around to say that Richards was "distracting" by "attacking" him and not talking about the issues of welfare, taxes etc (note: I'm doing this from memory so this isn't verbatim).

The second time Bush* rolled over for the sympathy vote. "These personal attacks, I find...er....ummmmm....astonishing." He then went back right on script...talking point after talking point totally unrelated to Richards' charges.

Staying on message is his strength. He memorizes the talking points and only has to find a segue from the question to the talking points.

The format is such that the moderators can't call him on it. Kerry will have to use his precious time to do it himself.

"home preparation" sound bites.
* can't really think by himself.

Press the chimp's buttons until he flies into a dry-drunk rage. You know he will, just look at his pissy, passive aggressive response to questions about his corporate bed buddy, kenny boy.

Attack the smirking little bastard and watch him spin.. wheeeeee...

angry...which won't be hard...Bush doesn't like to be told he was wrong...Kerry doesn't have to be attacking him but just keep bringing up the truth..BUSH hates the truth thrown back in his face

HARD...I mean just to put him all out there and still come off looking like the nice guy. I don't want him huffing and puffing like Gore but I just want him to cut Bush with words time and time again.

fix it by planting a questioneer in the 3rd debate to "ask" "You don't REALLY enjoy killing people, do you?"

is how Bush will try to come off with this "folksy" persona that people in the south relate to. They don't care that Iraq is being burned to bits--no--they just care if the president looks like he can be your best friend:eyes: ...bunch of morons...

Karen Hughes and Rove will definitely be putting all they can to get Bush to look like your average down-home guy. They know it works around here and they will push it to the hilt. Also, they will try to make sure he gets those stupid, cocky, sarcastic comebacks to demean Kerry.

Kerry needs to get Bush on the defense early on.

:shrug: He will be in his element. No real questions asked. Only those he has been prepping for now for several weeks and he does manage to stay on topic. Kerry will not be able to directly question him or even address what is said. Kerry will be at a distinct disadvantage and Bush* will win by default. then I would imagine he will not have the other two debates because they won't be about terra.

regularly and rhetorically ask, "What's THAT supposed to mean?" to remind viewers and listeners that * doesn't answer his questions. He picks the answers he wants and ducks the original question as if it were the last year of TANG. Hold his feet to the fire, John, and you're halfway home.

Everytime he responds, Kerry should say he can't understand how what Bush* just said had anything to do with the question he was asked.

Bush* never answers a question, he just goes into one of his rote responses. Kerry should never let that go unchallenged. And Kerry should answer all his questions directly and with short sentences!

Eventually, Bush* will either have to ad lib answers (and then he'll flounder) or continue with his evasiveness (in which case he'll look ridiculous).

I hope the Kerry camp is on to this.

Nice point.

debates by some news person. Talked about how Bush will do the tough bit, etc. but then said, "but, you know, this is the first time anyone all these years has stood face to face with him and actually challenged or accused him of anything". Indeed----the whole media has given him a pass. No one dare breathes a word about him. If Kerry can nicely say "Hey Asshole you're a fucking loser and you have fucked up this country", it might make the boy king come unglued. One other point: Kerry can say after George yells "stay the course", 'what course; we don't have a course; we are adrift; it's hard to stay on a fantasy', etc.

to be hassled directly about his record. Who knows how he's going to respond if Kerry hits him hard.