Bush Afraid to Debate Kerry

[PalJoey]

Posted: 9/8/04 at 11:19am

Scaredy cat.
Bush likely to bow out of one debate

[Matt_G]

Posted: 9/8/04 at 11:22am

He's a little bitch.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 9/8/04 at 11:23am

Wow. If Bush is so confident and a man who has such strong courage of convictions, why is he so afraid?

The emperor has no clothes, folks.

[SonofMammaMiaSam]

Posted: 9/8/04 at 11:33am

Because he's an illiterate who can't even put two scripted words together let alone speak extemporaneously in a debate setting

[Plum]

Posted: 9/8/04 at 11:54am

I don't get why he won't do it. To me it looks like it would be to his advantage. Kerry is stiff as a board (to put it kindly), and Bush always benefits from the low expectations set for him. "Oh, look, honey! He almost strung together a whole sentence by himself! He much be much smarter than we thought!"

[Zola Q. LaPlaya]

Posted: 9/8/04 at 12:45pm

Plum's right. Bush's folks missed this one big time. The expectations on Kerry (since the race against Gov Weld and the primaries) are huge, and everyone expects the president to look like a dope. All Bush needed to do was show up and act nice (like Reagan did against Mondale) and people would say he won.

Now, it just looks like he's trying to get out of another tour of duty.

[BT]

Posted: 9/8/04 at 12:47pm

This Washington Post story makes it seems like poor W is not having a bad day. Awwwww

www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/politics/administration/whbriefing/

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 9/8/04 at 2:39pm

I LOVE how the one W wants out of is the one where the audience, that his people don't get to prescreen, is able to ask questions. Updated On: 9/8/04 at 02:39 PM

[Rose_MacShane]

Posted: 9/8/04 at 2:45pm

Because then he might say something stupid.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 9/8/04 at 2:57pm

might??

[Rose_MacShane]

Posted: 9/8/04 at 4:09pm

That was loaded with sarcasm, broadwayguy2. When *doesn't* that trained monkey say something stupid?

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 9/8/04 at 6:44pm

Exactly--they can't keep out people who might ask something critical. They can't guarantee a crowd to start chanting "4 more years" over any criticism. Bush can't take the heat.

[Zola Q. LaPlaya]

Posted: 9/8/04 at 6:46pm

Bush, schmush.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 9/8/04 at 6:46pm

bingo.

[shesings]

Posted: 9/8/04 at 7:22pm

I'm really hoping the debates give Kerry a big boost. I don't see how it couldn't since Kerry is an intelligent man and well ... Bush ... isn't! Hopefully Kerry will try to be as animated as possible as to not bore everyone to death!

[thirdrowcenter]

Posted: 9/8/04 at 7:30pm

The incumbent has less to gain from taking part in the debates. As you may recall, ex President Clinton bowed out of the third debate. Will Kerry actually flip flop during the live debate? Tune in.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 9/8/04 at 7:34pm

ooh--good one! Are you going to wear flip flops on your hands and gaily chant, "flip flop! flip flop!"? That was super cool on the RNC!!

[Auggie27]

Posted: 9/8/04 at 7:40pm

I'm in the minority -- I think the debates will actually HElP Bush. He's not beloved for his intellect or way with words. He's got these startling numbers because he seems accessible, ordinary, and a phrase I loathe: a straight-shooter. He makes fun of his own errors, and I think even a gaff would be laughed off. No one expects him to be expert at anything -- merely "honest with the people."

He survives by hiding behind the illusion of (another freshly loaded word:) "resolve." That inflexibility, never changing your mind, never admitting a tacticcal error suggest strength. The debates will enforce this view of his "character: -- if he ends up babbling and blowing a spit bubble.

[Mythus]

Posted: 9/8/04 at 7:42pm

Bush is a girly man!

[thirdrowcenter]

Posted: 9/8/04 at 8:11pm

Kerry will come off as Thurston Howell III. I hope he gets an opportunity to say "Gengus Khan" during the debates.

[LadyGuenevere]

Posted: 9/8/04 at 8:13pm

^ I always laugh when I hear him say "Jenjhis Kahn" on those commercials.

Posted: 9/8/04 at 8:14pm

Auggie - you and plum seem to be on the same wavelength, and I'm afraid there's great merit to what you say.

[BT]

Posted: 9/8/04 at 8:23pm

I'd be afraid to debate Kerry if I were Bush. I mean, did you see what his wife did to that photographer that ticked her off? If Bush disses her hubby, Theresa will go ape sh&^ on him. He couldn't ever survive that attack.

[LadyGuenevere]

Posted: 9/8/04 at 8:24pm

Yeah, and that will make Theresa look SO much better.

[BT]

Posted: 9/8/04 at 8:27pm

Well, I'd vote for her before either of the men who happen to be running...