# What tricks does GWB have up his sleeve for the debates. **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [September 29, 2004, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tricks-does-gwb-have-up-his-sleeve-for-the-debates/266730 "2004-09-29T21:46:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Debaser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3da27b/32.png) [@Debaser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Debaser)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2004, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tricks-does-gwb-have-up-his-sleeve-for-the-debates/266730/21 "2004-09-30T14:05:34Z")
**xtisme** is right about the O’Reilly interview. I watched all three nights of it and was shocked by how well Bush performed. I’ve never seen him be able to speak so clearly and so at ease in his own skin. I’m thinking that he’s either gotten a lot better at it, or he just never has been comfortable in front of the hostile press that he faces during a regular press conference. I was thinking that Bush would be hard pressed just to hold his own in a debate against Kerry. But, after him having a superb interview with O’Reilly makes me think he can do well tonight. Also, Kerry stumbled badly during his interview yesterday, and generally performed very poor. If Bush got a bounce out of the convention, I’m wondering how much of a bounce the O’Reilly interview will give him. Many more people probably watched it. O’Reilly will also re-air the interview the day before the election, and will also air one with Kerry if he does one. IMO, Kerry would be a fool not to. Too many people watch O’Reilly to let that go unchallenged. ---
**Author:** ![Debaser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3da27b/32.png) [@Debaser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Debaser)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2004, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tricks-does-gwb-have-up-his-sleeve-for-the-debates/266730/22 "2004-09-30T14:07:04Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > George, those flip flops belong on your feet, not mine." It will be interesting to see if they say something like this. The rules say that they aren’t allowed to address eachother. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2004, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tricks-does-gwb-have-up-his-sleeve-for-the-debates/266730/23 "2004-09-30T14:12:02Z")
> [@Debaser](#): > > the hostile press that he faces during a regular press conference. _snicker_ All of, what, Helen Thomas? Everyone else is too busy kissing his nether pucker to actually be hostile. ---
**Author:** ![Debaser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3da27b/32.png) [@Debaser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Debaser)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2004, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tricks-does-gwb-have-up-his-sleeve-for-the-debates/266730/24 "2004-09-30T14:12:28Z")
> [@rjung](#): > > And [Fox News operating the TV cameras,](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=5310361&postcount=61) it seems. You got a cite for that? On the radio this morning, they were saying that every network will have access to all of the feeds. They will air whatever shots they want to. There will be tons of cameras to choose from all over the place. Both Bush and Kerry will always be on camera. It’s silly to think that Fox would try and do something like you suggest. It’s silly to think that it’s even technically possible to do it. Every cameraman would have to be on board, and they would all do what? Swing the cameras away when Bush does something “unpresidential”? It just wouldn’t work. Even if they were able to, it’s silly to think that they could pull it off without it being completely obvious. This would cost them all the credibility that they have. You’re in real deep tin foil hat territory here. ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2004, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tricks-does-gwb-have-up-his-sleeve-for-the-debates/266730/25 "2004-09-30T14:24:11Z")
> [@Mr2001](#): > > I haven’t heard Bush saying “nucular” much lately. It might be better to do a shot every time he mentions 9/11. What, you want to cause alcohol poisoning? ---
**Author:** ![Mal\_Adroit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df788c/32.png) [@Mal\_Adroit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mal_Adroit)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2004, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tricks-does-gwb-have-up-his-sleeve-for-the-debates/266730/26 "2004-09-30T14:45:19Z")
_Question:_ This may have been discussed already, but what happens, exactly, in the event that one of them “breaks the rules” (questions the other directly, invades the other’s space, etc.)? Will there be a caning? ---
**Author:** ![Gest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9d8465/32.png) [@Gest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gest)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2004, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tricks-does-gwb-have-up-his-sleeve-for-the-debates/266730/27 "2004-09-30T15:01:07Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > _snicker_ > > All of, what, Helen Thomas? Everyone else is too busy kissing his nether pucker to actually be hostile. Was she on Letterman a month ago or so? She’s hot. In a MILFy kind of way. ---
**Author:** ![Gest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9d8465/32.png) [@Gest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gest)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2004, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tricks-does-gwb-have-up-his-sleeve-for-the-debates/266730/28 "2004-09-30T15:03:11Z")
Shit. I just did an image search on Helen Thomas. I need to state, for the record, Helen Thomas is NOT hot in any kind of way. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2004, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tricks-does-gwb-have-up-his-sleeve-for-the-debates/266730/29 "2004-09-30T15:03:27Z")
> [@Gest](#): > > Was she on Letterman a month ago or so? She’s hot. In a MILFy kind of way. [Ummm…](http://www.aeispeakers.com/Thomas-Helen.htm) ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2004, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tricks-does-gwb-have-up-his-sleeve-for-the-debates/266730/30 "2004-09-30T15:09:31Z")
**Lobsang** , as mentioned earlier in the thread, it is not free-form, one-on-one, or indeed much of a “debate” in the proper sense of the word. So W will have minimal if any chances to choke. More than about the content of their policies, these “debates” seek to provide the audience with a chance to get a “feel” for the candidates. Are they self-assured, are they shrill, are they overly verbose, are they aloof or are they friendly, what are their core messages, do they look and sound presidential. W really needs no trick other than to avoid saying anything extremely stupid or offensive in both form and content. It’s Kerry who’s tasked with projecting that he is the better man for the job. ---
**Author:** ![Debaser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3da27b/32.png) [@Debaser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Debaser)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2004, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tricks-does-gwb-have-up-his-sleeve-for-the-debates/266730/31 "2004-09-30T15:17:02Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > It’s Kerry who’s tasked with projecting that he is the better man for the job. Agreed. Bush is playing defense. All he need do is not screw up. It’s Kerry that needs to convince people. Also, Kerry has a history of slipping in the poles the more he speaks in public and he has low personal approval ratings. Even those voting for him generally don’t like him, they just hate Bush. I would imagine that Bush’s political advisors are telling him just to hold on and hope that Kerry shoots himself in the foot. All Bush need do is stay out of the way. ---
**Author:** ![Debaser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3da27b/32.png) [@Debaser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Debaser)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2004, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tricks-does-gwb-have-up-his-sleeve-for-the-debates/266730/32 "2004-09-30T15:19:07Z")
…slipping in the **polls**. D’oh! ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2004, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tricks-does-gwb-have-up-his-sleeve-for-the-debates/266730/33 "2004-09-30T15:26:47Z")
Darn those poles, anyway! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2004, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tricks-does-gwb-have-up-his-sleeve-for-the-debates/266730/34 "2004-09-30T15:36:18Z")
> [@Moody Bastard](#): > > _Question:_ This may have been discussed already, but what happens, exactly, in the event that one of them “breaks the rules” (questions the other directly, invades the other’s space, etc.)? Will there be a caning? The consequences are covered in the Patriot Act, version III. 🙂 WRT the O’Reilly interview… I watched most of it and wasn’t too impressed. Bush didn’t make any major mistakes, but he still sounded confused and nervous. And O’Reilly didn’t come back with good follow-up questions, either. As for the debates, I really think that unless Kerry WINS, it’ll be time to bring out the butter and jam because he’ll be toast. ---
**Author:** ![FlyingDragonFan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c89c15/32.png) [@FlyingDragonFan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlyingDragonFan)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2004, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tricks-does-gwb-have-up-his-sleeve-for-the-debates/266730/35 "2004-09-30T15:43:16Z")
> [@Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor](#): > > I predict Kerry will get his teleprompter hacked. It’s my understanding that they won’t even have pre-written notes, much less prompters. They are allowed to have an pre-examined pad of paper and pen to take notes with during the event. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2004, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tricks-does-gwb-have-up-his-sleeve-for-the-debates/266730/36 "2004-09-30T15:54:52Z")
Kerry will have to make sure he doesn’t look _that_ much smarter than Bush. Gore looked like a Brainiac, so GWB looked like a regular guy. Oddly, this worked. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2004, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tricks-does-gwb-have-up-his-sleeve-for-the-debates/266730/37 "2004-09-30T15:59:47Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Kerry will have to make sure he doesn’t look _that_ much smarter than Bush. Gore looked like a Brainiac, so GWB looked like a regular guy. Oddly, this worked. :smack: I remember the debates betwen Bush and Gore. Gore came across to me as naive and a bit annoraky. Kerry is nothing like that. He seems cool, intelligent, confident, likeable. ---
**Author:** ![duality72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duality72/32/3910_2.png) [@duality72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duality72)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2004, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tricks-does-gwb-have-up-his-sleeve-for-the-debates/266730/38 "2004-09-30T16:37:32Z")
> [@Debaser](#): > > You got a cite for that? > > On the radio this morning, they were saying that every network will have access to all of the feeds. They will air whatever shots they want to. There will be tons of cameras to choose from all over the place. Both Bush and Kerry will always be on camera. Here’s a [cite](http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=politicsNews&storyID=6370562) that a Fox News crew will be doing the camerawork, but you’re right that the other networks will be getting all of the camera feeds. It’s probably also notable that Fox does not plan to stick to the guidelines agreed to by the two parties, such as no reaction shots, an agreement Fox was never party to. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2004, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tricks-does-gwb-have-up-his-sleeve-for-the-debates/266730/39 "2004-09-30T17:00:17Z")
Also, the other networks are planning to stick their own cameras in there to supplement the pool feed. They are also refusing to play along with the agreement between the two candidates. I say good for all of them. They should not feel bound by an agreement that they’re a third-party to and had no input into. ---
**Author:** ![Debaser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3da27b/32.png) [@Debaser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Debaser)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2004, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tricks-does-gwb-have-up-his-sleeve-for-the-debates/266730/40 "2004-09-30T17:36:14Z")
> [@asterion](#): > > Also, the other networks are planning to stick their own cameras in there to supplement the pool feed. They are also refusing to play along with the agreement between the two candidates. I say good for all of them. They should not feel bound by an agreement that they’re a third-party to and had no input into. I agree. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tricks-does-gwb-have-up-his-sleeve-for-the-debates/266730.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tricks-does-gwb-have-up-his-sleeve-for-the-debates/266730.md?page=3)