Will Bush back out of the upcoming debates?

[giant_robot]

Well, we all saw what happened Thursday night, and the consensus, even among some of the right wing media, is that Kerry got the better of Bush. So what now? Does Bush dare go into the lion's den again, or does Karl Rove have some tricks up his sleeve?

Will Bush back out of the upcoming debates?

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

1. He has to show up for at least one more debate

If he backs out now, he will look like a chicken

[Jack_Dawson]

2. Kick for "Cocksure", and

It wouldn't surprise me if we have a "national emergency" right before the next debate that will require the president's immediate attention...

[JohnnyCougar]

3. Other - He'll start a war and say he's too busy.

Probably with Syria or Iran. Hopefully not North Korea.

[wryter2000]

4. No because he doesn't dare back out

I think he'll hope for Cheney to undo some damage. Cheney's perfectly loathsome to everyone but his wife, but he isn't stupid enough to eff up as badly as * did. Then, * will start making excuses ahead of time for why he won't be his best...visiting hurricane victims, busy keeping us safe from terra, besides (gosh-golly-shucks) he never was as good a debater as that fancy-pants elitist from Taxachusettes.

It won't save his miserable hide, but I don't think he'll dare to back down unless he can point to some national emergency...such as his copy of the Pet Goat going missing.

[giant_robot]

7. I thought he might use the cutaway shots as an out

technically, that's a violation of the 32-page agreement, and Bush said he wouldn't participate in future debates if the rules were broken. His campaign doesn't seem to be jumping on this, though, so I think he'll be showing up for the next two debates.

[jerryster]

5. N/S

He can't back out. That would be political suicide and he knows it.

[punpirate]

6. I think Bush has been...

... well and truly hoisted on his own petard. If he backs out of the debates, for whatever reason, people will relate that choice to his poor performance in the first one.

If he tries to manufacture a national emergency excuse, people will relate that to all the other emergency scares, and believe that the administration has manipulated the public for political gain. They'll begin to question everything the administration has said (as well they should have, all along).

No matter which way he turns, he gets more dirt on him. That's what happens when you've dug yourself into a deep hole.

[mrbassman03]

8. His only choice is to beat Kerry in a debate...

and it doesn't look like that will happen any time soon...

[Mortos]

9. Cocksure

is my favorite new adjective to describe Bush. I used it in an editorial I wrote for DU:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=103&topic_id=75582

cocksure

adj : marked by excessive confidence; "an arrogant and cocksure materialist"; "so overconfident and impudent as to speak to the queen"; "the less he knows the more positive he gets"

[Doosh]

10. he can't! his lead has evaporated! BUSH NEEDS THIS MORE THAN KERRY

kerry already left a great first impression and totally clobbered Bush, now it's dimson's turn to play catchup.

[sherilocks]

11. He'll place a call to the White House and

threaten to bomb it and immediately depart for his bunker.