Eric Alterman's column today makes this statement:
In re the debates, the Democrats got snowed again, I'm afraid. The candidates are not allowed to address one another and the town-hallers are not allowed to ask follow-ups. This will allow Bush to make all manner of ridiculous statements-- "We had to invade because he would not allow the inspectors in" or "We have already found weapons of mass destruction" and there will be no way for him to be called on it. To call these "debates" when the candidates cannot even address one another is, of course, inaccurate, but since the Kerry campaign is pinning almost all its hopes on them, this is bad news indeed.
(More below the fold)
I think the only way to handle this eventuality is to be ready to play by Republican rules. Bush has all his stock cliches, distracting malaprops and outright lies all memorized for debate regurgatation. Kerry can play by the same rules. We know Kerry's people read this site....use this diary to suggest distracting one-liners for Kerry that will throw Chimpy off his talking points. Once he's rattled, he doesn't recover well.
Talk amongst yourselves.....