The stage has been set to cancel the third debate

[Mortos]

From Drudge:

WASH TIMES: U.S. security officials are investigating a recent intelligence report that a group of 25 Chechen terrorists illegally entered the United States from Mexico over summer... Members of the group, said to be wearing backpacks, secretly traveled to northern Mexico and crossed into a mountainous part of Arizona, Gertz to report in Page One Splash, newsroom sources tell DRUDGE...

This is an interesting turn of events and the fact that it is the lead on Drudge site makes the cancellation theory all the more believable:

This site has been predicting a cancellation for over a week, see the reasoning here:

www.debatedodger.blogspot.com

From the Debate Dodger site:

The second scenario is even worse. The Bush team will create some sort of diversion to prevent the President from attending the debates. Whether it is an increased terror alert, security breech or something else it will be a total fabrication and attempt to trick the American people into believing that it is to DANGEROUS for the President to attend the debates.

This was written on October 4, 2004 by me.

The debate is in Arizona, so are the alleged terrorists. Hmmm, covenient for cancelling debates isn't it?

[clover]

1. the bulge mystery solved:

"Members of the group, said to be wearing backpacks. . ."

[Mortos]

12. kick

:kick:

[napi21]

2. Naw. Ain't gonna happen.

Shrub can't cancel without looking like a quiter!

I'm sure he'd like to, but his boys won't let him do it.

[Mortos]

5. If the President's life is at risk

from Chechen terrorists in Arizona, it would be foolish to let him anywhere near that university. This is not a matter of the President not wanting to debate, this is a matter of national security.

[napi21]

Ohhh! Does that mean he can't keep himself safe?

If so, how the hell is he going to keep the whole country safe?

This is supposed to be his strongest asset! I will keep you safe!

[aquart]

15. A coward and a quitter. Whatever happened to "Bring 'em on"???

Oh, that's right, George. Bring 'em on only works if someone ELSE gets to die.

Nope. He can't quit the debate. Hell, Kennedy went to Dallas. Did he get killed? Yes. But it was an unfriendly city and he went anyway. Because Kennedy was a real vet and he had guts.

George is a cheerleader and he hides under the bed.

See? It's actually WORSE if his life is really in danger and he runs and hides. The lives of our soldiers are really in danger. And there's no place for them to hide.

Oh, gosh, I almost hope he does cut and run. The image of a coward would destroy him.

edit: We wouldn't have to worry about destroyed Democratic votes. The Republicans would toss his yellow ass.

[Dem2theMax]

19. This is not meant to you Mortos, but that sentence just sounds

so funny. 'pResident life at risk from Chechen terra rists in Arizona.' What WILL they think of next? Actually, what WILL KKKarl think of next? Besides, they don't want him gone, they like him.
* makes their jobs so much easier.

[Mortos]

22. Remember

The story on Drudge is not real, it is made up. Just like this prezdent's image. But a lot of people believe that he is a resolute brave cowboy rancher. Never understimate the gullibility of the American public.

[TexasBushwhacker]

3. You know, they could have chosen anywhere

Arizona has been on alert before. Remember last summer when there was a warning about flying into Arizona, California and Nevada? In any case, it shouldn't be cancelled. It should be rescheduled for a different location. It can't possibly be that difficult and it's still 3 weeks until the election.

[LiberalFighter]

7. How long would it take to transport the stage set to a new location

I bet less than 24 hours if they really wanted to.

[The Jacobin]

4. This has stupid written all over it.

Why would Rove agree to this?

Bush has spend all of his effort on scaring the people about terrorists and trying to reassure us that he has the situation well in hand and can protect us better than Kerry.

Has Bush done his job so poorly that he cannot protect himself from terrorists? That goes completely against the whole stand of his campaign.

It would make him look like a fool even to those who think he protects the country from terrorists.

[PittLib]

16. hey there ...

welcome! :hi:

[4morewars]

6. Well, bush* IS a coward !

So I wouldn't be surprised. Plus, the people (rove) behind bush* know he is an idiot, and will lose this one too. And, we know how they are not ashamed to use the terra thing, so, I could see it happening.

[BMJ]

8. It would look too bad if * dodged the debate. He wont.

[Gabi Hayes]

9. I knew I should have said something right after the debate

it's exactly what I thought they'd do, to get out of humiliating him a third time

THEY know how atrociously he did, how INSANE he looked and acted

the MEDIA covered up just how horrible a fiasco it was

think about what Gore did four years ago

compare it to Bush's meltdown in front of Gibson; his near ATTACK on the man. can you imagine the never-ending hue and cry if Gore had done that?

instead, it's not being discussed at ALL, except in positive terms!

some dems have tried to make the point, like the gallant ron reagan, but they just pooh pooh him, when he's the ONLY one living in the real world on that sorry show (Oliphant excepted, but you won't see him again; count on that)

[Gabi Hayes]

10. wow...wait a minute! they'd REALLY have to trump things up

I forgot it's tomorrow!

[Mortos]

11. Isn't it weird the timing of this BREAKING STORY

on Sludge? This supposedly happened during the summer yet we are just now hearing about it? If a cancellation does happen, the debate dodger site will be vindicated and make national news. Come one Karl, don't let me down...you fucker.

[goodwalt]

13. You KNOW I'm with you on this, but

Chechen rebels? They could have turned the spin machine loose on "debate violations" and "biased questions", but Chechens will only be slightly easier to sell than Irish Republican Army infiltrators. Then again, they are having the debate at ASU, and those Chechens do hate schools....

[AVID]

14. I don't think so

[PCIntern]

17. The campus of the University

is in such lockdown that no one could get in - it is a virtual armed camp around the school and the candidates. Don't forget that militia is called in besides the Secret Service. Not that I'm saying that something can't happen, but to cancel becasue it may is a real slap in the face of the protective services and would not look real good since if they can't protect the President and the challenger from guys with box cutters or the equivalent, how can the country as a whole be safe. The debate will go on tonight.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

18. WTF?

Washington Times? Chechen terrorists? Backpacks? I need a drink.

[SoCalDemocrat]

20. Drudge makes me sick

He's trying to scare the soccer moms again into voting for Bush. First they released the phony school plans that supposedly terrorists in Iraq were using to plan attacks on our school kids. Then the FBI goes and ruins it by uncovering it as not terror related at all.

Now Drudge meister has to try and scare the mommies into thinking Chechyan rebels have infiltrated the U.S. so they can win independence from Russia by ... attacking U.S. schools!

People are dumb enough to believe this crap.

[Mortos]

21. We shall see very soon

Chechen rebels, Arizona, School? I know it sounds farfetched but we are talking about the Bush administration. If you are going to tell a lie make it a big one. What would be bigger than this?

[sendero]

23. Exactly what beef...

... do the Chechens have with us? What would their motivation be?

This is beyond ridiculous and it's sad that anyone would even float it.

[rob-ok-vin]

24. It is the most ridiculous story ever

but this is the administration that keeps upping the ante on foolish stories. And a large majority of America keeps believing them.

[Shopaholic]

25. I can see this scenario working for Shrub and then again, I can

see it working for us.

Firstly, Shrub can say that "We're under threat. The terrorists are everywhere, even right here in the US, but my opponent doesn't think they're real and believes they're a nuisance like prostitutes and gambling. But the problem, my fellow Americans, is that terrorists are such a problem that we can't even have a presidential debate! God bless the USA--excuse me while I go hide in a undisclosed location with the real president--Dick Cheney."

But here's the rub--if they do decide to pull this shit--this is what Kerry can hit back with "I thought you said invading Iraq would make us safer, Mr. President. If we can't even hold a debate here in the US, then how has invading Iraq made us safer? This president has not made this country safer. Our borders have gone unpatrolled--which is how these alleged terrorists have been able to sneak in to this country."

And then, of course, we can all accuse * of being a pussy because he's afraid of a few little terrorists. Can't he be a real man and show some bravery and ignore the "threat" to his personal safety and proceed with the debate? And then of course, we can point out that he flew all across the country, trying to get as far away as possible from the East Coast on 9/11.

If they do decide to cancel this debate, trust me my friends, we can spin this to our advantage and make * look like the complete liar & scaredy-cat that he is!

[donhakman]

26. Bush can both run and hide.

!

[yellowcanine]

27. Sorry - the fact that Drudge has it as a lead makes it LESS believable

Even the blind pig finds the acorn now and then so it can't be completely discounted. Think about it, how many times has Drudge actually been right on anything that wasn't already widely reported? And even when he is somewhat right, his headlines rarely are an accurate picture of the underlying story. Plus this is based on "newsroom sources" from the Moony Times? Take it with about 5 pounds of salt.

[LuminousX]

28. This completely misinterprets Chechen politics

Chechens have no reason to be here, that is as silly as saying the IRA (old school IRA) will attack in the U.S. to gain freedom from the U.K.

What if they are Al Qaeda sponsored, some might ask. Well, then, we blow away one of the GOPs biggest talking points about why we need Bush - there has been no terrorist attack on U.S. soil since 9/11.

The debate won't be cancelled.

If it is, I will formally acknowledge my wrongness.