As we all bide our time for the first debate and its possible impact on the election, we are torn as to what John Kerry should do in the debate. Ann Richards has some important insights into George Bush. I would guess Al Gore does too.
Ann Richard’s advice

Ann’s observation is that George Bush goes for the most simplistic statement of any issue and just moves on from there. Since journalists cannot or do not challenge him, he gets to leave the statement out there for consumption. Examples are Bush’s allegations that somehow Saddam Hussein was tied to the attack on the World Trade Towers and that Iraq was one of the hot beds of terrorists organizing against the United States. Sadly, those untruths remain part of the American belief system.

Bush blows over the subtle distinction that Saddam Hussein was an enemy of the United States and Osama bin Laden is the enemy of the United States. For Bush it is all the same and he is not going to get bogged down with details. He is a big picture guy with strong beliefs that will produce a positive result if only everyone will leave him alone and let this play out. You can almost hear him say “Stop bitchin. I got it covered.”

This is Kerry’s challenge. Kerry must take on Bush under the ridiculous rules of so-called debate and yet not reinforce the sense that Kerry will get lost in the details and bore most Americans. So here is the deal: Kerry must master the art of the simple.

Kerry must label Bush’s response as simple. Start an answer with “President Bush gives a simple answer but we all know that is not the situation.” And, “Oh, President Bush gives us another simple solution to a very difficult problem.” And, “Same old single note, when we need a new song.” And, “Must be nice to see the whole world with a simple, single view like a child.” And, “Simple solutions usually produce complicated results – look at the mess in Iraq.” And, “Oh Bush’s simple one size fits all solution. Responsible adults know this is not the answer.” And, “The simple thing for President Bush to do is attack me because I understand and he doesn’t.”

Now the line that I wish Kerry would use and I know he will not. (I have worked in too many campaigns and most advisors are scared of their own shadows.) “Convictions and beliefs are great but they are useless if the leader is incompetent.”