A bold, unlikely, but freakishly possible suprise that could take place..

[GimmeDANEger]

During debate, Cheney has "heart problems" and is unable to continue. He is replaced on the ticket by Gulliani, Mccain, etc. Althought it's unlikely, I could seriously see them pulling this off.

[aquart]

1. Giuliani and McCain fail the impeachment insurance test.

Generally, given the choice, most Americans would prefer one of them to George.

I think George would rather be dead than run with either of them.

[smirkymonkey]

2. Yep, although I can't see him going willingly without some

big payoff in the form of serious behind the scenes power or serious $$$. If they try to force him out, I think he'll hit back in some way. People that positively evil and greedy don't just ride off into the sunset - his ego wouldn't stand for it.

[mahina]

3. Or lightning could strike him right up the ass.

That woud be amazing.
Or his underwear could spontaneously combust. That would have the added advantage of being humorous.
I feel some compassion about his heart condition but not to the extent that I would give him any advantage in the debate to offset the small possibility.
And his voters are gullible, I'll grant you, but that would just strain credulity. Way outside the range of the plausible even for the repubs.
They would just open his control panel and replace some hardware anyway, shouldn't take more than a minute. Doesn't he have a pit crew?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

4. His pacemaker shorts out

causing him to explode. Or maybe he just gets stuck in a program loop and keeps saying "Saddam did 9/11" over and over until his batteries run down, he slumps to the floor and is carted off.

[Arugula Latte]

6. One time, on America's Funniest Home Videos (Okay -- I watched it!!)

it's a guilty pleasure, I admit, but anyway, I digress. There was a video taken of the U.S. presidents' automaton show at Disneyworld or Disneyland. "Abe Lincoln," moving robotically, starts to slump, and slowly leans, leans, leans until he is almost horizontal with the floor. I want that to happen to The Big Dick.

[liberalhistorian]

5. What I find especially infuriating

is the total lack of attention to Darth Cheney's health as opposed to all the trees that were killed and ink that was spilled over Clinton's heart surgery. Yes, Clinton could have taken better care of himself and yes, it's certainly a wake-up call for him.

But what about Cheney? He's had FOUR heart attacks, two of them quite serious, and TWO heart surgeries, also quite serious. And all because he won't lay off the steak and fat and sugar and he hardly ever exercises. But you never, ever, ever hear anything about that, do you?

[bushwakker]

7. i believe he was in his mid 30's when he first had a bypass?

[punpirate]

8. I think he'll be cool, calm...

... and will repeat every one of the lies he's been spouting for years. He'll try to overwhelm Edwards with lies--so many that some will slip past in the give-and-take of the debate. The next day, the press will cheerily say, "well, they must have been true, since Edwards didn't challenge them."

Edwards is going to have to be sharp, quick and concise tonight.