Prediction #1: Romney will refuse to participate in debates

[GarroHorus]

Romney knows he would lose badly, so he simply will not agree to debates.

Prediction #2: The media will cover for him and blame it on Obama.

There's nothing the media loves more than tearing somebody down and for Obama to have a single term would be the greatest tearing down they ever reported.

[randome]

1. I'll grant it's possible.

But I think the GOP would lose more of the faithful because of it.

[LonePirate]

2. Great. Let Obama speak and field audience questions for 90 minutes.

Rmoney backing out of the debates would only be good for us.

[RZM]

3. Wrong on both counts

No way a candidate would duck the debates. And if they did, the media would tear them apart for it no matter who they were.

[Capt. Obvious]

7. That worked well for John McCain when he tried it

[Capt. Obvious]

4. "Prediction #1" "Prediction #2"

So there will be more?

I'm going to keep score.

(I'll just go ahead and put this one down as miss - a twofer)

[unblock]

5. incumbents are already well defined and usually benefit quite a bit from no debates.

debates are a huge opportunity for challengers, especially when the corporate media can paint rmoney as the winner regardless of performance. no doubt obama will sigh or something and the press will be all over him for that.

rmoney will no doubt THREATEN not to debate, and will negotiate some favorable terms, but in the end, he needs to have the debates.

[Wounded Bear]

6. Probably wise...

Obama would mop up the floor with him.

It would probably be worse than Cutie McPalin v Biden.

Would the media let him get away with it? All too likely IMHO. I'd like to think he took a hit for something like that, but RePub candidates get fitted for their teflon suits pretty early.

[HooptieWagon]

8. Or....

He'll participate in the debates, look like a complete buffoon, and M$M will fawn all over his outstanding performance in winning the debates.

[WI_DEM]

13. this is more likely. They will low ball expectations and if he doesn't faint on stage

they will give him the debate.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

22. Which, of course, will not track with the public opinion polls

n/t

[Politicalboi]

16. Just like they did for

Bush. It wouldn't surprise me if Rmioney backs out of the debates. He's a coward.

[bluestateguy]

9. I don't see any of that at all

There have been debates since 1976. Ronald Reagan, ahead by 20 points in the polls agreed to two debates.

[Swede Atlanta]

17. Actually the first debate was in 1960....

between Kennedy and Nixon. I think you are right there were no televised general election debates then until 1976 and have been ever since.

Personally I don't think the debates actually advance an exchange on ideas. What they can do, very effectively, is shine a light on the candidate personally. It shows their body language, their ability to answer questions, their ability to respond to attacks, their overall demeanor.

That is where you would see a cool, calm, collected Obama speaking clearly, intelligently, factually and optimistically. From what I have seen of RMoney, he will come across shrill, spouting talking points but no facts, mumbo-jumbo, etc.

[edbermac]

10. No way. If he does, he can kiss his campaign goodbye.

The media will tear him a new one and so will the Republican Party. It would be political suicide.

[WI_DEM]

11. Not a chance...he will try and limit the debates, of course,

and put restrictions on format, but to pull out completely would hurt him with the American people and even the media would have harsh words for him. Every election since 1976 has had debates, even St. Ronnie debated. The only time a major candidate tried to avoid a debate was in 1980 when President Carter pulled out of the first debate because John Anderson was invited. It hurt him at the time.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

12. Why debate? Since Rmoney already agrees that the pending "free-trade" agreement should be

signed, that The Deficit is the major problem, that there's not enough votes to close GITMO, that the Bush tax cuts for the super-rich should be extended, that the wars in the Middle-East should be continued, that the banksters should not be prosecuted, and so forth with respect to other nominal "Republican" positions, doesn't Rmoney already know that he is going to lose to the incumbent because all such issues have already been co-opted and triangulated?

Doesn't he already know that Obama is going to win re-election?

[steve2470]

14. There's no way he would skip the debates

He would be labelled as a coward by most. It's possible he would, but extremely unlikely.

[SoutherDem]

15. I think debates will occur

but, as in times pass, they will be so structured we might as well run campaign ads and go home.

Debates may have a good sound bit for the news to use, but nothing important.

I find most debates a joke. If real questions are asked the candidates are allowed to side step the answer.

Then of course the news networks will declare a winner. As if the best performer of 90 minutes of weak questions and not holding the candidate's feet to the fire means shit.

[hughee99]

18. If the media is so willing to cover his ass, why would he refuse the debates?

He's do better to participate in a rigged one where he has all the questions well in advance and where candidates aren't allowed to talk directly to each other.

[HopeHoops]

19. Why can't Rmoney hold a debate with himself? He's been on both sides of every issue.

[Ship of Fools]

20. Perhaps he'll refuse, knowing that

all the election fraud going on right now will CARRY HIM INTO THE WH, ANYWAY.

Sometimes I think this really is what's going to happen. Just a thought.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

21. No candidate for POTUS would turn down the debates

The optics would be horrible (and Dems would tear him apart). I have little doubt that the press will lower expectations for Romney in the debates (and probably look for a lot of little things to nitpick Obama on) but no way will Romney avoid them IMHO.

[stevenleser]

23. I think he thinks he has a chance in a debate based on how he shut down Gingrich and Santorum

he is wrong, but I think that is how he sees it.

[Herlong]

24. Prediction #2

Last edited Fri Jun 15, 2012, 10:03 PM - Edit history (1)

Robme will appear in every debate(not the strange robot version we see everyday), and all mainstream media will swoon and call him the winner, just like in 2000 and 2004.

[GarroHorus]

25. There is only one way that happens

No instant polling like was done in 2008. In 2008 they always fawned over McCain until the instant polling demonstrated beyond a shadow of a doubt that Obama had clearly wiped the floor with McCain. That instant polling came back so quickly they had to change their narrative within 15 minutes of the end of the debate.

If they kill the instant polling, you are correct.

[Herlong]

26. So you agree 2000, 2004 reporting on actual debates was rigged?

n/t

[GarroHorus]

34. Damned straight, but the instant polling held their bullshit in check.

Once the instant polling showed Obama mopped the floor with McCain, they had no choice but to change their tunes.

[1-Old-Man]

27. His Ego will have him drooling for a debate, and he'll think he won no matter what happens

The man is pure arrogance, his ego will make him go, hubris will give him the illusion of having won. Nothing could keep him away.

[Taitertots]

28. Prediction - He will "debate" but it will just be more of his pathologic lying

A debate doesn't bother someone who isn't bound by the concepts of rational discourse and intellectual honesty.

[Auggie]

30. Agree. Facts mean nothing to the repukes anymore.

[bigwillq]

29. I think you're wrong on both counts

But we shall see.

[Mike_Valentine]

31. No and no on both...

No candidate would be taken seriously...

[Motown_Johnny]

33. Welcome to DU!

But you might want to think about not using your actual name for a screen name.


I knew a girl named Misty Valentine once.... no wait, twice. Any relation?

[Motown_Johnny]

32. Televised Presidential debates are part of our culture now.

I don't see how even Rmoney can back out.

If he tries to then Pres. Obama should still show up and answer questions with an empty podium on stage next to him.

We could then photo shop in an empty suit and claim the Rmoney really did show up but nobody noticed.