I tend to agree that Kerry isn't worth Bush's time. The problem is, if Bush backs out, then the news media will swarm and say that Bush is running scared and can't face a debate on the real issues. Bush should debate Kerry. He would absoulutely trounce Kerry. All Bush has to do is ask specifics about his plans for the economy, Iraq, and the WOT. Kerry has no core platforms. All he'll do is bitch that Bush is ruining everything and look like Capt. Queeg doing it. Bring him on.
Therein lies the rub... Bush's team (James Baker, et al) is negotiating debate format - right now the format does not have a section where the candidates ask each other questions, just the moderators or "town hall audience members". The moderators proposed by the supposedly bi-partisan debate committee are from CBS, NBC and PBS. Under this format, Kerry will only see softballs.