Norah O'Donnell, MSNBC, says Bush may call off second debate..

[kentuck]

Because they want questions from more friendly questioners and do not wish to accept questions from a hostile audience, as they say they did in the same type format in '92. They may be looking for an excuse? Believing they stand a better chance with their propaganda at work in the media than taking a chance with another debate. It may be too much of a gamble for them. Norah may be right about this.

[wryter2000]

1. If he does, we've won

No other way to spin it. That's out-and-out surrender. However, as many pointed out yesterday, if he can manufacture a national emergency, he might squeak out.

[Philostopher]

7. Maybe he'll fly out to put his hot air

up against Mt. St. Helens. He can hand out bags of ice for people to pile up around their houses to hold back the lava.

No disrespect intended to those living near MSH -- that's gotta be scary.

[Maestro]

74. Exactly!

Cancel I say. Nanny-nanny-boo-boo, fraidy-cat!

[blondeatlast]

80. "Surrender" is right, and it's the meme.

We need to use it "voficeroufsly."

[wryter2000]

100. Or...

"How can he stand up to terrorists if he can't stand up to questions from regular Americans?"

[oregon_dem1]

114. I like it.

He's sending us mexed missages.

[MexedMissage]

169. Hey! I resemble that remark!

:D
|
|
V

[Cascadian]

84. It will just show he doesn't have the brass to take it.

It will show he cannot handle Kerry. Of course the Rove-ians and their Fox News/CNN cohorts will spin it all. Like he had the flu or choked on another pretzel or something like that.

John

[othermeans]

96. Remember those Kerry hecklers showing up at all the rallies?

Perfect practice for JFK to hone his rhetorical skills. He handled them like a pro. Hard to be sharp in a debate when all you ever get at your rallies is a pat on the back from your supporters. Kinda makes you stupid(er).

[Carla in Ca]

137. I agree...if it is canceled, they won't be able to use

media to 'spin the propaganda because they would all be talking about this. Either way, his loss, our gain.

[Catfight]

170. Yes, he'll have egg on his face and branded a coward. He has to

show up.

[girl gone mad]

2. It means they don't think..

Bush's performance was an anomaly, and they know he won't be able to do any better.

[aldebaran]

42. They're just lowering the bar

There's no way they can pull out, it would mean throwing in the towel.

They're just setting up the spin machine- "The audience was hostile, Democrats cheated by smuggling in partisans".

If they really wanted out, they'd stay quiet, and set up a red alert, but they probably know they'd be called on it.

They're screwed, and know it, and are just hanging on now, hoping against hope for a crucial Kerry error.

[wildflower]

47. Yes, we should be careful, it may be the expectations game. n/t

[durablend]

71. Can't lower the bar much further...

We're already close to digging in bedrock.

All Bush has to do is not fall off the stage and he's won. :dunce:

[MasterD]

160. Kerry and Edwards...

..walked into a bar.

They would've walked under it, but it was lowered for Georgie...


(BU-DUH-BUMP!)


Thanks, folks, I'm here all week! Don't forget to tip your server...

[RoyalWickedness]

162. LMAO!

First legitimate laugh I've had all day, thanks.

[calimary]

3. WHOA! Kerry should show up, anyway. Or have something like it

all to himself.

Oh LORD I hope they call it off! WHAT a PR bonanza that will be for us Dems! Oh PLEASE call it off! PLEEEEEEEEEZE!!!

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

15. Exactly. Brilliant.

Let John Kerry have a dialogue with America. What a coup that would be.

[girl gone mad]

24. Yep.

Kerry should show up and answer all of the questions on his own.

Bush probably put some rule against that in the 32 pages, however.

[doni_georgia]

Absolutely! Kerry shows up and answers EVERYONE's questions

honestly. God! That would cinch it for Kerry.

Seriously, though, I think it far more likely that the Busheviks will try to get the format changed or at least try to prescreen the questions, and stack the hall with Bush supporters.

[LTR]

105. He should name a new opponent

I nominate Badnarik or Peroutka.

:evilgrin:

[napi21]

41. And still have both podiums....showing one EMPTY!

I doubt the debate committee would let that happen, but could Kerry call his own and still have it televised?

[Melch]

85. How about putting a little George doll on the empty seat

and having someone come up and pull its string every time its his turn?

[cmd]

90. Make it a bobble head

just like the real thing.

[calimary]

132. How 'bout a photo - or one of those lifesized cardboard cutouts with which

tourists like to pose for picture-taking purposes? They could just position a headshot of bush on a small picture-holder, ON the other lectern, which is otherwise empty. Well, actually, it'd STILL be empty even if bush stood there.

And Melch - Welcome to DU!!!

[klyon]

94. cracked me up

very funny
KL

[Seabiscuit]

95. How about a live chimp?

as in a live chimpanzee with a banana and a dunce cap and t-shirt which reads in big yellow letters "AWOL" perched on Dubya's podium.

[Narraback]

125. In a flight suit!

nt

[wryter2000]

101. Welcome to DU, Melch

:hi:

[RevCheesehead]

104. What a delightful post from a "Newbie!"

Welcome to DU, Melch! :hi:

[qanda]

144. Yeah! It could keep repeating...

"This is hard work" "Mixed messages" "9-11 changed everything" "My opponent flip flops"

[jmowreader]

159. I know just the doll, too...

Plastic Turkey Bush!



Kerry will walk over, pick up the Plastic Turkey Bush doll, and say something to the effect of "My opponent is just as phony as that turkey he was posing for photos with on Thanksgiving last year!"

[On the Road]

167. Welcome to DU, Melch

:toast:

[BarbaRosa]

168. How about an empty cowboy hat

pretty much what we have anyway.

[H2O Man]

76. Yep. This is an old tactic.

Bush is going to look weak if he shows up, and weak if he pulls out. Either way, he focuses attention on the fact he is weak. And the Kerry campaign is going to highlight the fact that Bush looks weak.

[krkaufman]

92. dupe comment. n/t

[demigoddess]

115. I agree, free publicity and free air time. Lots of chances to make his

point and they can always play bush's reactions from the first debate as his part.

[progdonkey]

126. YES! with a TV Loop of Bush

Kerry should arrive at the Townhall venue, and in Bush's place they should set up a TV with a loop of Bush from the first debate. Kerry would answer a question, and then say, "If my opponent had the guts to be here, I think this is what he'd say..." and then play footage from the first debate of Bush saying "September 11th" or "it's hard work," etc.

It's a stupid gimmick, and it serves Bush up to ridicule, but how are the right-wingers supposed to respond. "Sure, the President did poorly in the first debate, and so backed out of the second, but it's un-presidential of Kerry to make fun of him"?

[Vincardog]

147. Exactly Kerry says let us take this time to talk about YOU and Your problem

ms. Then let the audience bitch about how their life has gone to hell with The Idiot Bush at the helm

:toast: :bounce: :toast: :bounce:

[RoyalWickedness]

163. Yup, Kerry should show up anyway

And have an empty lectern/chair where Shrub SHOULD have been. Take questions from all comers. Man, would that fry Shrubbie's tiny little testicles.

[Carni]

165. I agree totally--he should say "apparently Bush was serious...

when he stated in front of his hand picked crowds that I should debate myself...and now I will be happy to take your questions because apparently this President is afraid to talk to you!"

[Racenut20]

4. Just another example of cowardice.

[displacedtexan]

5. Aw!!!!!!!!!!!!! Daddy had a bad time debating in '92????????????

Poor widdle biddle Georgie!!!!!!!!!!!

Da big bad Democwats don't like him!!!!!!!!!!!!

[senseandsensibility]

44. LOL

I have always been seriously dismayed by how infantile * is, and how the corporate media babies and pampers him. They've done it from day one, long before 9-11, and before he even was selected. He is literally treated like a two year old by the media.

[tblue37]

141. I wonder whether his handlers are having trouble

getting him to agree to attend the second debate. A spoiled brat like Bush might just refuse to put himself through it again. His handlers can't force him to; they can only cajole him.

[rocktivity]

54. "WAHHH! Displaced Texan is picking on me!"

"Displaced Texan, you're MEAN! I'M TELLING MY DADDY ON YOU! WAHHHHHH!!!!"

:headbang:
rocknation

[goclark]

57. Photo of the real Chimp

Congratuations on the photo...

Shows it all, mean, drunk,coward, child like, growing older by the second,scared, doesn't like people, is not warm and open, hates his job and wants out now!

We want the real MELT DOWN!!!

[RevCheesehead]

107. Here ya go:

Separated at Birth? Dr. Zaius and Shrubby

[Aviation Pro]

133. Zaius was...

...benign.

[Gabi Hayes]

116. jesus!! that's even worse than the Mark Crispin Miller book cover!

[Aviation Pro]

136. Striking resemblence

[Maiden England]

6. I hope so....

send a clear message to the American public about how to act in the face of adversity. Just what we like to see in a commandeerer in chief.
How about JK just turns up on his own....now THAT would be cool.

[leetrisck]

26. No - republicans would say he's

just debating himself - they would really try to do a number on him as they have already. Pay for a 30 minute speech or something like that but not an "empty podium" debate - after all, we've really already had that with the first one.

[Catch22Dem]

31. He wouldn't be debating himself if...

He was answering questions from the audience.

[sonicx]

39. If Republicans try that, all Kerry has to say is...

"bush wasn't man enough to show up"

bush hits the mat. game over.

[wryter2000]

102. Hey, sloppy

Welcome to DU :hi:

[calimary]

134. Well, Welcome to BOTH of you, Gabi AND sloppyliberal!

Good posts, too (two?).

I am in a good mood today! LOTS of Kerry bumper stickers and yard signs in the part of West Hills where I went to a baby shower today. Then, back to my neighborhood, and home, and my husband greets me wearing his John Kerry and John Lennon t-shirt, and we go to the grocery store and another woman and I share cheers over the Kerry buttons we both have on, before we get to the checkout counter and the checkout guy talks about meeting Kerry once and how thrilled he was, and how he was bummed that he didn't get a photo of it. He said he thought Kerry was gonna take California, but he was worried about the rest of the country. I told him to hang tough - that one more debate oughta do it...

And in fact, one scrubbed debate because his lordship decides not to show up, and I'd bet that WILL do it.

I suspect we'll know a lot more later on Tuesday night or by Wednesday morning, depending on how well Edwards does against cheney. If it's another rout, the bushies are in trouble.

[JPJones]

8. Good. If Bush cancels the debate, he loses the election

Mr. Toughguy is really a pussy. Two-faced.

[xray s]

9. oh please call off that debate!!!

I really want President Kerry to have a veto proof House and Senate!!!! :)

[BluegrassDem]

14. True?

Is this true? Did she say this today? I've been watching MSNBC and I haven't heard anything like that on there. I just can't believe they would pull out. It would be so politically damaging!

[kentuck]

20. "Tell us something we don't know" on the Chris Matthews Show...

on MSNBC...this AM.

[CatWoman]

25. link

Bush May Duck Out of Kerry Debate

By Mark Sage, PA News, in New York

President George Bush might try to dodge one of three live TV debates with election challenger John Kerry, it emerged today.

Republican officials said the president may back out of the second of the debates, due to be held on October 8 in Missouri.

It comes as the election campaign grew increasingly vitriolic, with vice president Dick Cheney suggesting that by voting for Senator Kerry, Americans increased their risk of facing another terrorist attack.

But Mr Bush is also starting to feel the heat, with fresh questions about his national guard service and the impending publication of a potentially damaging book.

The second campaign debate is due to be held at the Washington University, at St Louis in Missouri. The first debate will be on domestic policy and the third on foreign policy.

Republican officials insisted that the president was not afraid of going head to head with Mr Kerry.

http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=3469967

[ncgrits]

62. Repugs say he may back out AND he's not afraid . . .

Geez. Which is it!?
And now that this is out there, how can they create a plausible emergency?

sure seems like they're screwed all the way around!

nothing quite like a win/win or lose/lose!! ;-) situatuion!

[faithnotgreed]

75. right on - win/win or lose/lose!

welcome to du

[calimary]

138. Welcome ncgrits!

Good to have you here!

[blondeatlast]

82. "Surrender" is the meme.

We must use it"voficeroufsaly."

[bagnana]

77. I think this is based on old information.

I remember seeing something like this before the debates started. Not since then.

[lefthandedskyhook]

118. Am I missing something?

That article is dated September 8.

[PassingFair]

143. This was clearly written

before Thursday...

[Bandit]

166. This is an old article. It was written before the first Debate

There were those rumors floating around before the first Debate but I doubt they are saying that now.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

67. What was the context of this?

[kentuck]

68. It's part of the weekly show of Matthews....

He asks his guests for news or rumors of news that we haven't heard about.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

69. How was the show today?

[wryter2000]

103. Hi, Bluegrass

Welcome to DU. :hi:

[calimary]

135. Welcome, BluegrassDem!

So many great new people here!

[blondeatlast]

81. Indeed, indeed! nt

[shadu]

10. People will freak if he pulls that shit!

O Man he is going to get creamed!

[nodictators]

61. Bush to "Cut and Run" from the Debates? HA-HA-HA

If he does run (as he did on 9/11, for instance) he'll go from ChickenHawk to ChickenShit!

Of course, he really get creamed in the first debate:

• Non-scientific Slashdot poll had him losing to Kerry by more than 3-to-1
  
• Chicago Tribune Interactive poll on who won the debate had Kerry with 72% and Bush with only 28%.
  
• And in the Newsweek poll, 61% said Kerry won the debate and 19% said Bush won.
  http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=584&ncid=584&e=4&u=/nm/20041002/pl_nm/campaign_newsweek_poll_dc
  

Gee, with those numbers, he really ought to run back to Craford and hide under his bed until the election is over.

[Auntie Bush]

97. Newsday headlines......BUSH FLIP FLOPS

[BOSSHOG]

11. THE MOST POWERFUL MAN ON THE PLANET AFRAID

to take questions from American Citizens, even if they are hostile? We can add COWARD to liar and corporate criminal and military deserter and drug abuser and religious hypocrite and MORON.

[Demi_Babe]

19. you got that right

[sfecap]

12. I hope he does...it will cost him the election!

Please, chimp....show the country what a coward you are!!!!

[kentuck]

13. I remember he didn't show up at the NAACP...

Because he said they were not a "friendly" audience.

[JI7]

16. pack the audience with Republican partisans and Kerry would STILL

participate.

[blondeatlast]

83. YES! nt

[cardlaw]

17. Please oh please

I can see the spin now: How can we trust Bush to stand up to the terrorists if he won't stand up to the American people?

[shanti]

18. that's what i predicted

during the first debate....chimpy does NOT want to go through that hell again!

[in_cog_ni_to]

21. PLEASE, chimpy, cancel the debate!

He would never hear the end of it! I honestly wouldn't be surprised if he cancels them both. If he does cancel them, John Kerry should go have a Town Hall meeting anyway. Would that make the chimp look bad, or what?

[mumon]

22. I saw that debate last night

It was an eye-opener.

But the audience was hardly "hostile" to Bush- they were quite tame, actually.

The real issue was Gore's interrupting, which made him lose a bit on style.

But, on substance, Gore gored Bush.

Most ironic thing from the debate- Bush mentioned that to intervene militarily, we needed a "clear objective" and an "exit strategy."

Kerry should use this to show Bush's flip-flopping.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

23. The Chimp can't pass up another chance to go AWOL

Going AWOL is in his blood. If he does avoid the next debate, it means that he is even more psyched out by Kerry than I thought.

[unfrigginreal]

27. Please, Please, PLEASE pull out you scumbag coward

I can't wait to read your statement on why you're afraid to take questions from the electorate.

[BOSSHOG]

28. Deserts the Military to avoid a drug test

SKIPS THE DEBATE BECAUSE HE HAS NO SPINE.

Run away sissy boy. I guess you don't want to be president of all the people huh!

[BluegrassDem]

33. It's an OLD article

That article talking about Bush ducking a debate is old article. That was before the debate negotiations took place. Bush will be at the second debate, unfortunately.

[sendero]

29. If he cancels..

.... he is all but conceding the race IMHO.

[MidwestTransplant]

30. I just can't believe they would do that

it would be suicide. This may be part of their expectations game.

[Rose Siding]

32. If he does this, hanging the "wimp" tag on this Bush will be even easier..

than it was with the last one.

[troublemaker]

34. I hope they do. Please, please, please...

[CatWoman]

35. link

Bush May Duck Out of Kerry Debate

By Mark Sage, PA News, in New York

President George Bush might try to dodge one of three live TV debates with election challenger John Kerry, it emerged today.

Republican officials said the president may back out of the second of the debates, due to be held on October 8 in Missouri.

It comes as the election campaign grew increasingly vitriolic, with vice president Dick Cheney suggesting that by voting for Senator Kerry, Americans increased their risk of facing another terrorist attack.

But Mr Bush is also starting to feel the heat, with fresh questions about his national guard service and the impending publication of a potentially damaging book.

The second campaign debate is due to be held at the Washington University, at St Louis in Missouri. The first debate will be on domestic policy and the third on foreign policy.

Republican officials insisted that the president was not afraid of going head to head with Mr Kerry.

http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=3469967

[calimary]

140. It IS a story from September 7th. Even so, it doesn't reflect well.

Yes, it's a month old. But what it shows is what sore losermen they are - that if they don't get their own way, they're gonna take YOUR ball and go home.

They just DON'T want to play if it's a level playing field. They can't win on merit. They can't win on the issues. They can't win in a fair fight. They can't win with unmarked cards and unloaded dice. They can't win on an even playing field. To win, they have to cheat.

[flordehinojos]

36. If bush is looking for a way "graceful" way to bow out of the other

debates, does that mean that we have to look forward to a bush orchestrated terror attack? He is capable of such a thing, just to get his way! :)

[Wilber_Stool]

37. My advice

Stay out of tall buildings. Damn, ain't I the smart ass today.

[ropi]

38. If he does

PLEASE KERRY...GO ON TELEVISION AND ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS...DO NOT ALLOW FOR IT TO BE CANCELLED

and..

all kerry has to do is point out that Shrub does not hold true to his values of honesty and intergrity by not showing.

[pacalo]

40. One word: coWard

[funky_bug]

43. They can't afford to cancel the debates now... they blew their chance

My hubby and I were just talking about this yesterday. We both believe that the GOP had every intention early on to cancel the other debates. They figured they would just lay Kerry to rest in the first debate, then cancel the other two on a violation of rules. Now that Kerry has effectively slaughtered Bush, they cannot afford to cancel the other two debates. With a definitive Kerry win being portrayed left and right, they will look like the chickens that we already know they are. They blew the chance to cancel, and now they are going to HAVE to follow through and hope they can capitalize on Kerry's new image as a master debater.

[n2mark]

45. Second Debate

No way will this happen, but there might be feelers out there for reactions. My feeling is shrub will be strong in the second debate, he is great at BS and a great actor. He feels he can fool most of the people all the time, that he will try to do. As long as he feels he can fool most of the time, he thinks he won.

Who won that debate?

Shrub is going to take the gloves off and could be over-confident and cocky! Perhaps Rove will do some mind control with the Shrub to make him confident. All I can think of is Rove, CIA, FBI and mind conrol.

[n2mark]

48. Who won?

that debate? I meant to ask who won the debate between Gore and Shrub in the 2000 town hall forum?

[kentuck]

49. Isn't that the one where Gore invaded his "space"?

In an attempt to intimidate him. :)

[MADem]

46. They floated this BEFORE THE FIRST DEBATE

...actually, in the WAPO. It was buried DEEP in an unrelated article. The money quote:

With both candidates planning to spend much of Tuesday preparing for the first debate, officials of the Commission on Presidential Debates said the Bush-Cheney campaign is leaving open the possibility of pulling out of the second or third debate because the commission has decided not to sign the debate agreement between the two campaigns. The nonpartisan commission said the campaigns' request for such a signature was a first since the nonpartisan group was formed in 1987. Kerry's campaign said he will debate in any case, but the Bush campaign has sought assurance that all of the restrictions on the format will be enforced.

The cite: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A55224-2004Sep27.html

Note the headline says nothing about weewee weaseling out of the debates. But it is important to remember that the GOP launched this turd well ahead of time to see if it would float. This indicates to me that they knew the debates might be problematic, and they were trying to lay the groundwork to slither away early on. Unfortunately, the lamestream media was more focused on the punching and jabbing by the apparatchik, and did not play up this angle. But it shows you that weewee's team was frightened WELL BEFORE the first question in Miami.

[tjdee]

50. Oh PLEASE do this, you cowardly piece of poo.

A hostile audience, sniff sniff, it's hard, it's hard work....

What a WEENIE!

Honestly, I don't know how any Bush supporter can hold their head up proudly after that ridiculous display, and if he backs out of the next debate because he doesn't want to answer questions, when it has already been announced by Jim Lehrer and seen by 62 million people....

Bush is the punkest ass EVER.

[private_ryan]

51. Rove doing some lowering of expectations

please don't be so gullible. Cancelling it woudl be a disaster

[sontec]

52. a ROVE trial balloon

[wryter2000]

108. Welcome, Sontec

:hi:

[calimary]

145. Welcome to DU. I had wondered about that, myself.

Something our GOOD friend, kkkarl, might float just to see if it's even slightly viable as an option - ANYTHING to steer his beloved bushie out of the rough waters. ANYTHING to avoid the situations where junior has to work without a net, OR hand-holders. OR scriptwriters. OR coachers. OR spinners. OR after-the-fact explainers/apologists/excuse-makers. OR cherry-picked questions. OR cherry-picked audience members. OR signed loyalty oaths from the audience. rove knows junior CAN'T work without a net. We knew this already. But EVERYONE who watched last Thursday night saw it before their own eyes. georgie-poo can't survive on his own.

[Renew Deal]

53. That would end the election.

Bush would be finished.

[WilliamPitt]

55. Please please O please

let them bag the Missouri debate. Instant swing state, just add water.

[slinkerwink]

56. they're trying to lower expectations

and the GALLUP-picked audience WILL be friendly towards Bush since there's a Republican bias with Gallup.

[BootinUp]

58. It will cost them the election if they bail

simple as that.

Americans don't like monarchies.

[incapsulated]

59. Do it and he's toast

So, he should, like... just quit now. :)

[mountainvue]

60. I say let him.

Muahahahahah!

[CrowNotAngelGRL]

63. Oh please

you know he wants more reps there because he did so poorly at the last debate. He really is turning into a pathetic man and if he does backout of the debate's that should prove he is hiding. All he knows is scripted speech's.

[rullery]

64. If Bush is afwaid, he could take big bad Cheney with him.

Just as he did with the 911 Commision, when Bush was afraid to go before them alone, he took Cheney with him. Perhaps he will do that at the second debate. Then if he gets questions that are too hard for him, he can have Cheney answer them. Perhaps Bush could even sit on Cheney's lap, like the dummy he is. It really amazes me how we ever got such a cowardly incompetent for our president!

[Yuugal]

65. chickenhawks showing their feathers

They were scared before the first debate and they are even more scared now. They know they cant pull out without looking terrible but they also know Bush is gonna get slaughtered again.

[wryter2000]

109. Welcome, Yuugal

:hi:

[ThePhilosopher04]

66. If he does show up, he'll be like a gambling addict...

chasing his losings. He's in a bad position either way he goes, but I'm not so sure he wouldn't be better off not showing up.

[Dr Fate]

70. "Chicken George"-is this how he handles pressure?

When faced with a challenge, he hunches, grimaces, then goes off to hide?

Not too presidential.

[MockSwede]

72. W is for Wilted *

If they think they can get away with that maneuver then we will have to make the BIGGEST most vocal SPAM campaign to point out that he's 'holing up' in the WH just like he's got the military holed up in the Green Zone in Iraq, just waiting for Nov 2 to pass.

New meaning to CYA (cover up your own lame ass).
Nov 2 WILL come and he'll be in the unemploy(able) line.

[Teaser]

73. Trying to lower expectations...don't help them.

Trumpeting this news simply helps Bush lower expectations.

[Crunchy Frog]

99. That's right. Bush remains a master-de-bater.

He hit some snags on his first one, but I fully expect him to pull himself together for the next two. The format for the next debate strongly favors Bush and may leave Kerry floundering.

[seraph]

78. Here's why

The problem with the next debate is the audience.

The * team wants "soft Bush" and "soft Kerry" audience members. They are trying to manufacture a problem on the part of the debate commission to save Shrubby's sorry ass from another whoopin.

Problem is, there are no "soft" supporters in this election!!

Duh!
:argh:

[kentuck]

86. Yes, that is how Norah explained it ....as "soft" supporters.

Thanks!

[bullimiami]

79. then kerry should go himself

and answer questions for the duration.

[ollie3]

87. Debating is....HARD WORK!!!

Seriously, I think this is a ruse. They want to lower the expectations for Bush, yet again. Spread the rumors that he won't show. We fall for it, call him cowardly. Then, of course, Bush shows that this isn't true, he shows up....and by just showing up, he now exceeds expectations. Get it? Slippery folks, these....

[wryter2000]

110. Howdy, Ollie

:hi: Welcome to DU

[catmandu57]

88. IF the chimp*

crayfishes his way out of this debate he's fucked and everyone knows it. If he goes go through with it he's going to get his ass handed to him. He hasn't a domestic policy, and after owning the government for the past two years and having a pitiful domestic record he should be having nightmares.
You can bet if they do the calculas and he does the second no way in hell there is a third.

[opihimoimoi]

93. Caught between the ROCK and a Very Hard Place....Of course he

can't back out...that would be disastrous.... for him... and if he does show up, its another drubbing...the man had a lifetime to prepare for this kind of confrontation....but didn't.

He doesn't read, remember.... that leaves him with a very poor info base... meaning he is an Airhead Prez...and one cannot cram all that info into him in 2 or 3 weeks. This is why he is reduced to memes and repetition. He cannot think fast enough...stuck on 1st gear.

But if he backs out now, its Worse....HE WILL BECOME THE FLIP FLOPPER.. a phrase that will Haunt him to the Nov Loss. Ironic isn't it, its their phrase and it will come back full circle...

And so, its his election as an incumbent to lose....and he will unless he can weasel out of this predicament somehow....He must have an eneromous thirst for a drink jus about now....

[kentuck]

89. No doubt, they will do what they think is in their best interest....

And I'm sure they are weighing the pros and cons of withdrawing from this debate. They do not wish to lose two out of three. They would rather narrow it down to two debates with a split. That would be their preference. But they must also weigh the damage that may be done if they withdraw. They are confident they can spin it that it was not an appropriate or fair set-up, if they decide to withdraw. Its possible they may be doing it to lower expectations but I rather doubt that. So, I would say the odds are better than 50/50 that they may in fact withdraw from the next debate.

[wildeyed]

91. Well if he can't defend himself from John Kerry in a debate,

how can he defend the country from al-qaeda?

[Davis_X_Machina]

98. What happens when you sit on a lead...

....and the lead isn't actually there?

They're looking at Rasmussen and thinking "Kill the clock. Four corners till Nov."

[BlueNomad]

106. Forget the swagger and the sourpuss pursed lips...

He will be slammed with the grand titles WUSS and WIMP for the remainder of the campaign.

Undecideds for one (who claim they need more info) will not look kindly on that move. Besides BUSH already looked completely petrified the first time out. I don't think you get 62.5 million folks watching the first one and think you can sneak out of the second one... Now maybe they think they can claim cheating in the first one--but I doubt it. In the words of my boy kerry, Bring it On...Personally I can't wait for these little cretins to try something. They look pathetic. YOU LOST--Shut up and Suck it Up!

[Flubadubya]

111. SURRENDER MONKEY...

That's what the Freepers have been calling the French... I think it fits Georgie MUCH better!

[TrustingDog]

139. lol - shit eating surrender monkey.

[nolabels]

112. "questions from more friendly questioners"

They have questions from more friendly questioners at the unemployment department }(

[Supersedeas]

113. Norah is just testing the waters for KKKarl

[Stephanie]

117. Norah O'Donnell did everything she could to excuse the Chimp's performance

She said he was at a disadvantage because of the podium's height! LOL! Excuses, excuses. Bush is Dumb as a Box of Rocks and a shorter podium is not going to make him any smarter.

[deutsey]

119. If he does, I believe it's time to hammer him with "Chicken George"

Like in '92, where ever he goes someone in a chicken suit is there taunting him (or his followers, since the "chicken" won't be allowed into see His Majesty).

[Arugula Latte]

120. "W" is for Wishy-Washy Wimpy Wussy-Pussy!

Braaaaaaaak! Buk! Buk! Buk! ...

[Kingshakabobo]

124. "W" is for Willie the Wimp n/t

[Clinton Crusader]

121. this may be screamingly obvious but...

Would NOT the sheeple THEN see that all these events he has are STAGED, invite-only events and he's AFRAID to take questions for people who havent signed a loyalty oath?? Or is that TOO freakin obvious for John Q. Public?
:kick:

[Hubert Flottz]

122. aWol Again?

A coward never changes his stripe...err...streak!

[West Coast Democrat]

123. Rove & Co are probably weighing the pros and cons if this right now....

What would make * slip more in the polls, showing up to debate and looking like an idiot again, or calling off the remaining debates and looking like a wimp?

It's a lose-lose situation for them, and they're probably doing polls on it now to determine which way to go.

[phish420]

127. That would be beautiful!

[Supersedeas]

128. the townhall is only open to those who sign loyalty oaths-Welcome to

Bush Country and Bush Democracy

[SoCalDemocrat]

129. They already skewed debate #2

The audience was supposed to be independents. Instead Bush changed it to light partisans for Bush and Kerry, whatever that means.

Now he's just wetting his pants and is afraid because Kerry is going to destroy him on the Economy. There's also so much interest I think numbers may not actually drop in debate #2.

I hope he does ask for a cancellation, then it goes through anyway. Ratings will be through the ROOF!

[Gloria]

130. The WH astrologer is telling him not to go...seriously, if he DOES

do the 10/8 debate he will be creamed. Not only does his 2nd Saturn return become exact at 20:11 Central Daylight Time (8:ll pm--just as the debate starts) but he has some extremely nasty 3rd house stuff begging to be triggered.

The Saturn return, BTW, is the shit hitting the fan if he hasn't done his homework for the past, oh...about 28-30 years (whenever his first Saturn return occured. It's time to pay the piper.

[kentuck]

131. Ooo-ooo...that's some bad shit to cope with....

If there is one aspect in your chart that will knock you on your ass, it is a Saturn conjunction. For real....

[KoKo]

156. Great News, Gloria...thanks for the heads up! I was hoping for something

from the stars to give him another flub up.

[VOX]

142. The Chimp-In-The-Bubble can't survive in any real-life environment...

If it hasn't been scoured and scrubbed by Uncles Dick and Karl, it's just not friendly enough for His Chimpiness to make it on his own.

This is one sad act that he's got going -- our **pResident**, afraid to discuss the issues with his challenger.

Must hate him for his freedoms!

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

146. The shrub just can't quite get it up for a good session of

masterdebation???

So sorry. It was there, and I went for it.

[librechik]

148. I will be collecting bets in the Lounge, once this is confirmed n/t

[progressivebydesign]

149. For real?? they don't want "hostile" questions?

They mean. they don't want softballs... Bush is scared, this is hilarious. PLEASE PLEASE cancel the debates, Karl...

[Doosh]

150. Bush needs this more than Kerry, why would he cancel

it would just give the appearence of Bush being uncertain, afraid. This is not the image they want to project. It'll be better for them if Bush showed up and got shellacked again instead of just quitting altogether.

[Lefta Dissenter]

151. as fun as this thread is,

I am truly worried about a 'terror attack' sometime... oh, say like on Thursday. There's no way the 'commander in chimp' could abandon the country to go to the debate - he'd have some important presidentin' to do! (like reading The Pet Goat or something)

[johnnyrocket]

152. This is un-effing believable! CAN'T THESE PUKES PLAY FAIR!

and by the rules, with common decency and on the level!??!!?!?

It's almost like if they lose power, they won't have enough time to cover up all the evidence on all the crimes they've committed since in power.

[mitchum]

153. I truly hate that chickenshit coward

Anyone who supports him has to be a fool or a fascist

[DemFromMem]

154. Too late

I know this was an issue last week. But now that he was destroyed in Debate 1, if he pulls out of Debate 2, it looks like he's afraid. When he was the favorite to win the debates, he could have gotten away with this.

Bush now needs the second debate to help him show that he was just having an off night. Doubt he'll want to give up that opportunity.

[deadparrot]

155. I doubt it'll happen, but

I would be the happiest person in the world to admit I was wrong if * would do so. I'll be sure to pray on it tonight. :)

[gardenista]

157. This is Rove lowering expectations and planting the seed that the Qs are

skewed.

[Roland99]

Any links to articles post-debate mentioning a possible cancellation?

[DinahMoeHum]

158. Bawk bawk bawwwwk! Chickenshit George. Bawk bawk bawwwk!

:evilgrin:

[MallRat]

161. Patience, patience everyone. Don't let them lower expectations!

Don't pounce on this until they actually, truly, really announce that they ARE pulling out of the debate.

Hold your fire. We don't want to get burned here.

-MR

[Carni]

164. Mark my words... there will be no second debate

I am imagining the "Kerry cheating" bullshit was phase one of operation bush is WAY too stupid for his handlers to coach before Friday.

I have been expecting this since Kerry did well at the first debate.