Chimp will inadvertantly break the rules first, and there's our chance.

I guarantee he's going to put on the plain spoken cowboy act and say "what I'd like to know is..." or "I wish the senator would tell us..." and then attack Kerry. When it's his turn, Kerry should say,"The president has just asked me a question. And Mr. President I accept this modification of our agreement, and I'll answer the question and then ask you one." Then he should ask chimp about his flip flops. "Which of these positions is your current one, Mr. President?"

Let chimp protest and look like a puss. Let Lehrer interrupt and have Kerry say, "He asked me a question. I agree to the change in format. Unless the president is afraid to be asked questions, that seems fair to me."

Outstanding!
W is for coWard.

that hypothetical questions are ok (as in, directed at the moderator or god or the bottle of scotch), but direct questions to the opponent are NOT ok.

"what I'd like to know is..." or "I wish the senator would tell us..."
those are hypotehticals unless Bush uses "you" referring to Kerry.

Msongs
Riverside CA

byt the way this is NOT a debate, it is a parallel press conference.

I think the first part should be a little simpler. No "the president has just asked me a question. And Mr. President I accept this modification of our agreement, and I'll answer the question and then ask you one." No talk of rules. No wimpy sounding, long-winded "he broke the rules and I accept a change...yadda, yadda, yadda." It plays into the stereotype Bush is using on Kerry.

Just answer the question, then immediately ask Bush a question (preferably short and to the point, but hard-hitting). If Bush or the moderator then bring up the rules after Bush just broke 'em then Kerry wins points just on appearances of unfairness.