Presidential debates 2004.
Barring unplanned changes, the presidential debates for 2004 are set. (*)
- Thursday, 30 September 2004. First Presidential Debate. University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida.
- Tuesday, 5 October 2004. Vice-Presidential Debate. Case Western Reserve University. Cleveland, Ohio.
- Friday, 8 October 2004. Second Presidential Debate. Washington University in St Louis, Saint Louis, Missouri.
- Wednesday, 13 October 2004. Third Presidential Debate. Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona.
The election is on Tuesday, 2 November. If you haven’t already, remember to register to vote ahead of time.
Update: 7 September 2004. Bush would be foolish to try and nix the October 8th debate, as Matt Drudge is now reporting. (†) Bush’s excuse would be unwanted partisan questions from the audience. Kerry would be able to turn this around on Bush, calling him out as a coward. Liberal talking heads will try to link it to Bush’s National Guard service during the Vietnam War, and perhaps even the look of confusion in the Florida schoolroom after 9/11. Bush is not a fool, and I believe we are going to have all of the scheduled debates.
March 1st, 2004 at 16:27
Thanks for the info!
August 23rd, 2004 at 18:10
This infromation was really helpful!
September 5th, 2004 at 10:36
Great info. Can’t wait to see what happens in a debate between a man with 6 years of state level experience before beign elected and a man with prosecution experience and 20+ years in Congress. Conservatives should not be advertising these debates, you’re about to get embarrassed.
September 6th, 2004 at 00:24
I hope Mr Kerry is as over confident as Corey is . The month of august has left Mr Kerry babling incessantly about Vietnam and Little else .
The Rebublicans put on a great convention and now the Liberal Dems are struggling to Define who there candidate is. Dont you think its a little Late in the Game .
Final thoughts - Kerry has done little more than attempt to cruise into the presidency as the anti bush candidate . Its gonna take a bit more than that . The Debates will be interesting and I suspect with the Liberal medias help the race will be tight and the debates will be winner take all . If Kerry continues to underestimate the President hell be at home on nov 3 looking at all the medals of valor he was supposed to have thrown over the fence durring his vietnam war protests !
September 7th, 2004 at 12:48
It’s all about the facts and what you believe is right for this country and it’s citizens. Try looking more into each candidates back ground and accomplishments rather than
listening to what people tell you. Read more about both politicians and decide for your self what is right for you and for the country. Remember the election was never and
should never be about the popularity of candidate or choosing a party because he/she is of the particular ban wagon. Make the intelligent choice by using your own intellect to
select the candidate. It should be about the issues at hand, not about party affiliation, which decide the direction our future will go in.
September 8th, 2004 at 17:32
I agree with comments made by Steve. A presidential election should never be about which party you agree with…the idea of different political parties only serves to seperate and divide anyway…not to unite. So vote based on what each person has to offer…not whether they are republican or democrat. Vote on accomplishments..or in Bush’s case…lack thereof. Couldn’t even hang in the National Guard!
As for Kerry underestimating Bush? I don’t think so but we’ll see. In the end a debate with anyone about anything is never a good idea for Bush who’s vocabulary is lacking to say the least. Perhaps a less than stellar debate for Bush would be seen as a catastrophic success too.
September 10th, 2004 at 10:32
I think the liberials are the ones underestimating. Bush is an excellent debator and has never lost one. Kerry will now have to answer to his very liberal voting record in the senate. He will have to explain his two sided views on issues. He will have to explain his plan to create 10 million jobs.
Goerge is a straight shooter that stands by what he says even if the public opinion changes. This is something Kerry has not been able to do. His 4 months in Vietnam will be useless in these debates so he better start picking a side on issues and do it fast.
September 10th, 2004 at 23:37
Its debate time!
Yipppeee! Can’t wait to hear how “Prince George” tells us all how we will pay for his gloriuos adventure called “Bagdhad”!
How much more will he borrow from China to keep the dollar afloat?
What generation will pay it all back? Will I get SSI? Will you?
Oh and where is Osama? I hear hes alive…True? Well what happened to Afghanistan? Are we winning ? Is anyone voting? I want a full blown up picture of Donald Rumsfeld shaking Sadams hand!(1983) During the Reagan administration! Oh and hes smiling too! Gotta have that …makes me feel secure!Warm and fuzzy! You think Prince George will march on Iran? Who’ll pay for that? How many deaths?
Things that make me go Hmmmm?????????
Later
TF
September 16th, 2004 at 17:27
Republicans/Conservatives/Nazis are simply UNEVOLVED - which unhappily explains why they are all unenlightened, undereducated, soulless, sad, fearful, violent, angry, often sexless, ignorant, frustrated creatures. IT IS THE TRUTH. R/C/N’s- Accepted it, then at least try to correct yourself. It’s never too late….. & by the way….peace :)
September 17th, 2004 at 05:56
Would somebody please explain to me why it’s in anyone’s interest to vote for Bush
and his fellow republicans if you’re not rich???
Myths about republicans:
Myth #1: Republicans are more fiscally responsible.
Fact: The economy did much better under Clinton. The deficit went way, way down, and
employment and average salaries went up.
Since Bush has taken over, the deficit has exploded to new highs, which has really
hurt the economy.
Myth #2: Republicans better espouse family values.
Fact: The Family Leave and Medical Act, which was opposed by republicans, was passed
during Clinton’s term, allowing countless Americans to take time off from work for
family emergencies or births.
Myth #3: The republicans are better Christians.
Fact: The republicans has always passed bills favoring the rich, whether it be tax
cuts or loopholes. Conversely, the republicans have always voted to cut programs
aimed at helping the poor. I thought Jesus was kind to the poor!!!
September 17th, 2004 at 12:08
What lies at the root of a lot of our problems is George W. Bush’s black/white, good/evil approach to everything. The issues our country faces these days are intricate and complex. How do we pay down the trillion dollar defecit, while at the same time give the middle class the tax cuts they deserve? How do we keep jobs from moving overseas, while at the same time being helpful to business entrepreneurs? And how do we sock it to terrorist organizations, like Al Queada, while at the same time not alienating the nation of Islam so that we can finally dry up the poolo f would-be recruits? John Kerry has the intellectual ability to see all sides of an issue and come up with a comprehensive, well thought out plan that would answer these difficult questions. George W. Bush’s simple right/wrong spin on our nation’s woes may seem easy to grasp and a quick fix, but in the end it leads to bad policy that in turn leaves us vulnerable to a number of unpleasant side effects which occur because our current commander-in-chief never thought it out thoroughly.
September 22nd, 2004 at 10:17
To whomever made the dumb-*** comments under the title “pathetic conservatives,”
Your baseless namecalling speaks volumes to your lack of character. How can you finish off your belligerant quote with the word Peace, after throwing so many fighting words out there. The problem is not conservatives, it’s all closed minded extremists, like yourself, be it conservative or liberal. Face it: the free thinking moderates are the people who have the best views for this country and the world. If America had more free thinkers we wouldn’t have novinated duds like Bush or Kerry. We would have nominated people like Senators McCain (R) and Lieberman (D). Steve said it right in his comments. Everybody else here seems like they’re looking to pick a fight. All anyone does is name call. No one really wants to talk about the issues. How sad and disgusting that is.
September 22nd, 2004 at 12:55
Wow. I’m really surprised at the number of uninformed, ignorant, easily-swayed people living in this country. I am only 17 years old, and not even able to vote, and yet I know more about whats actually going on than most of the people I know that CAN vote. It’s very frusterating.
#1.) I am sick to death of listening to people blaming Bush for the economic recession. Following the Clinton administration and during the realy part of the Bush administration, the economy was doing well, granted. But does anyone remember anything about a certain September morning in 2001? I believe, if I’m not mistaken, that the buildings that were attacked by terrorists were the WORLD TRADE CENTERS! Even if they were not the centerpieces of our economy, a major attack of that magnitude on our nation will ALWAYS create turbulance in the economy! Because of the Bush’s policies, the economy is back on the rise! Of course, you never hear about that from the Kerry supporters, who will always reply that it’s not enough. I have news for you: THE ECONOMY IS NOT FIXED OVERNIGHT! That being said, we are making progress, and new jobs are being created every day.
#2.)Here are the basic Republican/Democrat stands on taxes, as unbiased as I can present them: Republicans historically favor cutting taxes to boost the economy, claiming that more money in the people’s pockets will lead to more spending. Their stand is to let the people spend their money how they see fit, not how the government sees fit. Democrats, on the other hand, historically raise taxes in order to provide people with more government-sponsored services (i.e. Healthcare). True, they are helping the public, but who pays for it? Thats right, the taxpayers.
#3.)Exporting jobs overseas, as Kerry so commonly criticizes of the president, is not neccessarily a bad thing. Think about it. Sending jobs overseas to help failing economies in other nations will only strenghthen the investing power of the people in that nation. In turn, when those people look to invest their money, where do you think they will look first? That’s right, the United States. Funny how that works in our favor.
#4.)John Kerry criticizes Bush on his conduct of the war in Iraq. Yet, when Kerry was in the senate, he voted AGAINST a bill that would provide our troops in Iraq with 87 billion dollars worth of critical supplies, such as body armor. Do we really want this man as commander in chief? He seems to have a history of turning his back on our country (i.e. Vietnam, not so patriotic, is he?).
#5.) I’m not even going to get into the misconceptions about the president’s motives behind the Iraq war. If you are one of those people that still think he went in to avenge his father or to take their oil, get your heads out of the sand. Saddam Hussein was a real threat to the world. He systematically decieved UN inspectors for over 10 years, and had a plan in progress to develop WMD’s. That much is proven. Based on that alone, going to war was necessary. Furthermore, the CIA provided the president with faulty information regarding the war, which is the cause of all the intel. reforms currently in progress. It was not the president’s fault that the CIA failed.
Now I would like to dispute what a few other commenters have posted.
First off: Ryan Pierce, since when does John Kerry have “the intellectual ability to see all sides of an issue and come up with a comprehensive, well thought out plan”? John Kerry sure can see all sides of an issue, and he also takes all sides of an issue. The current president, as much as you would like to make fun of him and incorrectly simplify his positions, stands by what he says. The same cannot be said for your golden boy.
Second, I would like to dispute Heather on what she calls “Myth 3″. Let me tell you something. Just from listening to you, I can tell that you are NOT a Christian. While I can’t speak for ALL Republicans, I can say with confidence that George Bush is 10 times the Christian that John Kerry is. Would Jesus support the mass killings of millions of unborn babies each year? John Kerry does. George Bush doesn’t. If you don’t think abortion is murder, than consider this: Why is it considered a DOUBLE homicide if Scott Peterson killed his pregnant wife? Why then, does the same not apply for a woman killing her own baby? Does the baby get to decide if it lives or dies? Not according to Democrats. So therefore, yes, I do think that Republicans are better Christians for the most part. Think about it. And furthermore, the Republicans do not always oppose programs aimed at helping the poor, they attack the problem from a less controlling standpoint (see #2).
There, I’ve said my peace. Man, if only I was 3 months older.
September 22nd, 2004 at 21:52
I’m looking for an answer to a question that I hope does not sound ignorant. To me it seems that the swift boat ad against kerry hurt his credibility even if it was not true (the swift boat ad)This mistake didn’t seem to be as scrutinized as when 60 minutes couldn’t prove the authenticity of the documents about bush and his service in the national air guard. Why does this mistake get more publicity, and did it hurt bush’s credibility as well?
just wondering
September 22nd, 2004 at 22:20
I think it may be because Kerry hasn’t fought back against the charges made against him, while Bush and his supporters fought back hard against the National Guard charges.
September 24th, 2004 at 18:16
To Casey
You have touched on part of the answer to your question in your question.
It comes down to very basic issues of “Truth, Integrity and Honesty”.
Kerry and his supporters tried to make 200 plus swift boat veterans sound like liars, but without any supporting evidence.
These supporters tried to make the claim that many of these witnesses to the events involving Kerry were ignortant of what actually happened because they weren’t on the same boat as he was.
I am a former firefighter, going to emergencies we often have multiple vehicles and crews on site, but we were always aware what was going on with these vehicles and crews.
These veterans were eye witnesses to the event that Kerry was involved with and my friend, to quote an old adage, “where there is smoke, there is fire”.
Add to it the fact that John Kerry repeatedly ignores or refuses to sign the form 180, thereby releasing his actual, factual military records is a very strong indicator he is not being honest.
George W. Bush on the other hand, has signed the form 180, releasing all of his records. The “FACT” of the matter is that he far exceeded his requirements for Guard duty, most likely because he truly enjoyed flying airplanes. The information is out there, one just has to read it.
If you want more answers to your question, I strongly recommend you read “Unfit for Command”. It is a book that has a great deal of documentation to support it’s claims. I find it to be a most disturbing account of someone who has been elected as a Senator, much less a president.
GW’s service record has been very well examined and detailed at length, there just isn’t anything there to dwell on.
The documents from 60 minutes were not “forged” actually, they are not copies of other documents, they are manufactured and totally false and unless I’m mistaken, is a criminal offense on several counts, such as impersonating a military officer which was an act of forgery. I believe fabricating government documents is also a punishable offense by law.
As far as hurting George Bush’s credibility, it is more likely that such repeated occurances of borderline or blatant lies and deceit on the part of Kerry, Democrats or their supporters will only help him
win the election.
For many people it’s not so much a question of Republican versus Democrat. It’s a question of Honesty and Integrity.
In conclusion I will say this, which ever party you may prefer, it is never wise to cut off your nose to spite your face.
Think about it.
September 30th, 2004 at 11:35
Referencing #9’s comments, what “hateful rhetoric”, and why must there always be a reference to sex, what does taht have to do with anything, and then using (nazi) in the same line with Republicans and Conservatives, unbelievable. You obviously don’t have a clue how horrible the nazi’s were. President Bush has been in office almost (4) years and no one’s rights have been affected, in fact the elitists (mostly liberals) have gotten away with so much more. They complain about everything, and expect the “sheeple” of America to give up their SUVs and conserve on gas, yet the liberals/actors drive around in their all important Limos, and have a fleet of SUVs for their staff but it is ok for them because they are the elitists !! We sheeple in places like Texas, Ohio, Wyoming don’t really count, because well we are not sophisticated enough. Well get ready for a rude awaking, we sheeple will take no more, we are the majority and we rule, (remember the movie Passion), WE SHALL PREVAIL, SO LET IT BE WRITTEN, SO LET IT BE DONE !!!!
As for #13 comments, well said, how impressive, a 17 yr old gets it, and ironically my own children (12 yrs old), have such clarity as this wonderful 17 yr old Mike.
***
#16 comments from Dusty, also well articulated. What perspective !!
President Bush will prevail, no doubt.
And remember this for all of you President Bush haters, he will forever be “Memorialized” because of 9-11, and he will go down in history as one of our greatest Presidents, protecting America from further terror. Every museum erected will have President Bush’s photos during our challenging month of 2001, every history book will have to refer to our wonderful President, that my friends cannot be changed, it is fact !
October 2nd, 2004 at 12:19
I must say I am highly impressed by Mike’s comments..I applaud your knowledge! Its very encouraging to see a young person such as myself (18) getting the issues right. I can’t help but shake my head at the liberal babble that has been presented on this site…Its actually very funny to me how things get so blown out of proportion…In this country you have your liberal extremists on each end of the country with a few thrown in between, but for the majority of this country is middle-class hard working folks who are sitting back keeping quiet, laughing at the Liberal attempts to gain power. They are only making themselves appear idiotic, digging themselves deeper into a pit of mire..Granted, I can’t say that I am smart enough to effectively argue points such as Mike, but I do know enough to not be fooled by the media. Regardless of your party, I do encourage all to vote…We have the privelage to do so thank you to ALL who have served, yes even Bush and Kerry themselves…Don’t waste it!!
October 8th, 2004 at 19:22
I have a few comments for Mike…
Comment #2 - The reason that we as democrats want taxes to pay for things is because of the social inequality of this country. The majority of our nations wealth lies in the hands of a lonely few. To expect someone is living on a minimum wage of $6 an hour to spend their money as they see fit, will not enable them to pay for health care. Have you ever lived without health care, I can bet that you never have. It is petrifying.
Comment #3 - Have you ever been out of the country? These jobs that are being created are not helping other countries, they are destroying them. We are taking advantage of their low rates of unemployment, cheap labor, lack of unions to protect themselves, and most times just pure desperation.
Comment #5 - Nobody here is saying that Sadam Hussein should have stayed in power, or that he was a good leader. The problem is, the imminent threat that George Bush described was not there. He went into a war at a time when we should have been spending our money and resources going after Bin Laden and his connections. George Bush took advantage of the ignorance of so many people and tried to convince us all that two middle eastern countries were the same, when in fact they are very very different, and incredibly unconnected.
Now to the last comment, which I cannot read even read without shaking…This is a right you should be talking about, you are not a woman who has just been raped, doesn’t have health care, and would probably live/die on the street. You are not a woman who is 13 years old that has sex for the first time, and gets pregnant…and until you are keep your veiws on abortion to yourself.
October 8th, 2004 at 19:50
A few comments for Mike
#2 - The Democrats do have a reason for charging taxes…And that is due to the incredible social inequality that exists in America. Asking people to pay for health care themselves, woud put people who make minimun wage out of the running for any kind of health care. I somehow doubt that you have ever lived without health care, and I am willing to bet you have never thought about it. It is petrifying.
#3 - First of all, what is your vision of a failing nation? And how exactly do you think our factories oveseas help them. Is it by taking advantage of their cheap resources, high unemployment rates, lack of unions to protect themselves, their inability to enforce the basic human rights that we take for granted (minimum wage being one), or just the plain desparity. Contrary to your belief, these people do not want more American factories in their countries, and it makes them resent us.
#5 - Nobody here is saying that Sadam Hussein was a good leader, or that he should be in power. The problem is that the imminent threat that the President so eloquently described was simply not there. We went into Iraq at a time when we should have been concentrating all of our money and resources on Bin Laden, and his connections.
We had the chance to get the entire world on our side, and we threw it away.
Now for your last comment, which by the way, I cannot read without shaking…You are not a woman who has been beaten and raped by her attacker and finds herself pregnant, you are not a 13 year old who has sex for the first time and finds herself pregnant, you are not a homeless woman who is with a child and has no access to health care, who cannot feed herself nor her unborn child, and until you are you have no right to prevent women such as these from making their own choice.
October 9th, 2004 at 12:25
In response to NICK:
I just stumbled across this webs-site looking up the topic of abortion in the 2004 debates. I, like John Kerry, am a Catholic. I don’t appreciate comments like, “Bush is 10 times the Christian John Kerry is”. What is that??? I can’t understand how you, who claims to be a God-loving Christian can be the most judgemental person around! You alone are responsible for yourself and your actions! If you believe there is a heaven after earth, that’s all on you! John Kerry had a very respectable response to the question of abortion last night in the debates. For those of you who believe abortion is murder, you alone, always have a choice! But not everyone in the world or this country thinks the way you do! Not everyone is allowed a choice! Obviously, you’ve never had a friend who’s gotten pregnant! Obviously, you’ve never witnessed what a horrible, emotional, and depressing experience it can be for someone! How dare you??? Why is that so hard to understand??? Freedom! That is what this country is built on! The freedom it allows! To take away that choice from people who live separate lives with separate beliefs is taking away their freedom! You don’t know the circumstances! It’s never quite that clear, like Kerry said! I myself, could never get an abortion! I was raised Catholic! I believe it is wrong for me! I have too many options available! If I were to get pregnant, it would be out of my own irresponsibility! And I would live with the consequences! Bush is a man! And a sheltered, privaleged man at that! His stance means nothing to me! He wages war! He okays the droppings of bombs that have killed 15,000 Iraqi civilians and provoked over 1,000 American deaths! “Bush is 10 times the Christian Kerry is”! Ha! That’s the most untrue and inaccurate claim! How could you ever say that?!
November 2nd, 2004 at 16:33
My comment is for “Mike”. I will just respond to a few of your comments. I see you have more time in your hands than I do.
You claim to have more knowledge than most people that you know can vote. Well, if you surround yourself with ignorant, uninformed and easily swayed people, then I agree with you. But the fact is that you don’t know much about what is really going on. And even though you say you wish you were three months older…you would just be an dumb 18 year old…no difference.
The fact is, that George Bush is the first president in 70 years to leave office with less jobs than he started with. And don’t give me any crap about September 11. We have gone through a civil war, a world war and even vietnam. And none of those presidents left office with such a bad record. This president doesn’t care about the economy, he wants to go to war, no matter what. It’s funny I didn’t hear you mention Osama “the real 9-11 mastermind” Bin Laden. How come he wasn’t caught. Well let me give you a little lesson son, he’s a business partner of the Bush family.
Have you ever heard of the September 11 commission? I guess not. This commission, along with many others unanimously agree that Saddam Hussein had NO weapons of mass destruction. The only thing he is guilty of is being an ass. But if we are going to destroy a country because of that, let’s go after Fidel Castro.
I suggest you read a little more and not allow to be esaily-swayed like your ignorant friends. It is time to get rid of this cowboy and put someone in office that will care about our country and do something about our economy. Let’s give Bush an X-box so he can go play cops and robbers with the Bin Laden’s.
And by the way, about your comment regarding abortion…the reason why Petersen is being charged with double murder is because the baby his wife was carrying was beyond the 6 month term. That makes that child, “legally”,a human being and not a fetus. In the state of California, an abortion can be performed up to the 2nd trimester. I guess overpopulation is not a word that’s in your vocabulary.
Nick
November 29th, 2004 at 18:10
I am just sitting here reading these past rants and have noticed one thing. I am tired of people
consistantly calling people names. Everyone has an opinion, if you don’t like it go away. It is
sad to say. Because I may feel differently than someone else, don’t call me dumb-*** or any other
name. You can look down this thread, and I don’t like to say this, but only the democrats seem to
resort of childish name calling. I have my opinions, I have my facts. If someone would like to
discuss them intelligently, with out name calling. Then I would love to do so.
So before I go. AND THESE ARE FACTS, I have a few things to add.
March-April 2000- Before Bush was in office, I lost $300,000 in the stock market. That market down turn
was on Clinton watch, and people are attributing it to Bush. Econ. 101
NAFTA- Bill Clinton’s watch. It was passed by a democrat president, during a democrat congress.
Kerry Himself said that he would have gone into Iraq. This was during a discussion broadcast with
Dan Rather. But he would have “kept pushing UN sanctions” before doing so. I have lost a few
friends before we went to war, because they were enforcing the UN sanctions. I doesn’t seem to
matter that Saddam was shooting down aircraft as he saw fit.
Kerry stance on the UN.- He thinks that the UN should have the right to tell the UNITED STATES
CITIZENS what to do. He wants them to dictate to us our policies. (Same interview with
Dan Rather). After WW1 we didn’t join the league of nations because they wanted to take things
away from us. Why do it now?
Bush- Home Land Security Act- It violates civil liberties. It should not exist, while the concept
of free information between government agencies should.
Now I feel better. I didn’t call any one names. These are some things I wish to talk about.
November 29th, 2004 at 18:25
Usually I censor profanity by inartfully placing asterisks in place of it. I missed it in the “dumb-***” example. Now I have corrected that.
So far I haven’t found a profanity filter for Wordpress, so this is still done manually.