Republican front runner leaves rivals in the dust by not showing up; turns out he's a genius.

The press was ready. Megyn Kelly was sharpening her teeth after the last debate where Trump side stepped her and then launched an attack on/with 'blood coming out of her... whatever'. Trump got tossed the sexist card, but the public caught wind that Megyn Kelly was simply a blond bimbo that did not earn any sympathy. Touché.

The rivals were ready. Suffering embarrassing polls number, the 'back pack' of Marco Rubio, John Kasich and Chris Christie needed something big in order to reverse their fortunes before the Iowa caucus. Earlier on, the three had skirmished with the Donald only to have their poll numbers drop. Kasich was the more aggressive in the dust up, but was famously stumped by the Trump, for his involvement in Lehman Brothers almost taking down the economy.

The runner-up was ready. Ted Cruz, just two weeks ago, was rattled by the Trump during the last debate. Trump who Invoked 9/11 to defend Ted's question on his New York Values, unseated and surprised the national debate champion.

It seems like this next debate was going to be the epic dust ups of dust ups.

And then... Donald Trump folded.

Leaving everyone, from Kasich to Fox network and Cruz absolutely constipated. The only candidate who touted unpredictability as a strength had done it again. He had bluffed and folded.

It was a master stroke. Genius.

It was a no-gain, all risk debate. The tier-two candidates, having little to lose would go all in for a suicide dust off. The attacks would be brutal, shocking and given how few days were available, desperate. They'd say anything. Promise to give out missile launchers to every 2nd amendment loving Citizen , give the military a death star and cut taxes to -1%.

Fox news, smarting from the lost to Trump earlier, would land a couple of cheap shots. Then hide behind the curtain of media (you wouldn't hurt a girl would you? Especially a good looking blonde. Right?).

And then there was Ted, who was rocked. Trump is good, but a debate champion he is not. The talented wordsmith was caught off guard the last round, underestimating the bombastic Trump only to be tossed akin a white belt against a judo world champion. With the stakes so high, you could expect a the debate of his lifetime. Ted would be ready this time.

The stage was set. Lights, camera, action. Modern day gladiators with more political blood than the Game of Thrones. The field was deadly, the odds stacked heavily against Trump. Even I was wondering how would Trump get out of this one.

But now with Trump folding on the last debate, his rivals and fox are left looking at the ground or looking at each other.

The first thing that happens is that all the air in the room gets sucked out. Republican debates this cycle were getting well above 21 million. The first debate was above 24 million. Big Bang Theory only grosses 20 million. Coverage immediately drops as Trump who is not only the front runner, but the most sensational individual who's name does not end with a 'Kardashian' or is undergoing a sex change is not on the line up. Nobodies going to watch a non-Trump debate. Who's going to care?

Debate fatigue. Even I questioned how close the last debate was from this debate. A mere two weeks. Audiences already OD on Trump have heard all that needs to be said.

Next. Fox immediately loses its pants. Roger Ailes (the CEO of Fox) must be fuming mad. The network stands to lose over 15 million dollars, estimating $250k for each 30 sec bock during 30 minutes of Ads. But more importantly, the guile of Trump to boycott be busy doing something else sends the message that Trump does what Trump wants to do. The general public are indifferent, while his supports love him even more.

Without the fresh meat. The situation gets desperate. Ted Cruz now becomes the prize and in an increasingly more desperate situation, the attacks will now focus on him. His Iowa lead is a prize worth gunning for, but more importantly, anyone who takes him down continues to the next round survivor-ish style.

Trump does not need to play this round.

He's got the patience to duck being called a Chicken. He hits when there is an opening with bombastic and outrageous lines. Now, he has the wisdom to know when to hold and when to fold. He has Floyd Mayweather the heck out of this debate. He's up on points, with nothing to gain. He's going to sit back, while his rivals tear each other to pieces. This man... is a genius.

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/donald-trump-quite-simply-genius-no-show-lionel-yeo-caia