posted
Ooh, I'm excited about this one. Starts in 90 minutes, right? The trial lawyer vs the elderly pit bull. This may be the one to watch. Anybody else going to see this one, or are you just waiting for the Bush-Kerry debates?
Posts: 2804 | Registered: May 2003
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posted
Last time around, the VP debate was much better than anything the Presidential candidates ever did.
Lieberman was great, and Cheney was so good that he actually had me thinking he would be a better candidate for Pres than Bush was. Of course, I know better now.
Posts: 1652 | Registered: Aug 2003
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posted
This should be entertaining, if nothing else. WTOP said this morning that Edwards' trail lawyer experience is part of the reason that the Bush campaign would not agree to a town hall-style debate--very very wise move.
posted
Ah, thank you very much vwiggin. I was having much trouble with the times BBC was giving because I forgot that GMT is skewed from the five hour time difference I usually add on for british time.
posted
It's interesting to watch. Edwards charming nature and speaking ability makes him tough, while Cheney's experience and speaking ability make him tough as well. Fun to watch, much better than Bush vs Kerry.
posted
*nod* I just checked in during the commercial. They both speak better than their respective presidential candidates. Of course, with Edwards I get the sense that it's style more than substance. He knows what the party line is and how to put it well. Cheney, on the other hand, sounds good but didn't answer the questions put to him while I was watching. He basically talks gibberish well--and redirects things well to typical republican party lines and scare tactics about democrats weakening us militarily.
Posts: 13680 | Registered: Mar 2002
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posted
sigh... Wish this were a PresidentialDebate. Both VicePresidential candidates seem more on top of the issues than either of the Presidential candidates.
posted
I like how Cheney stops when he's done, often before the red light even comes on. Bush should take notes.
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posted
Aaaand... Haliburton rears its head. Cheney dodges. Although I don't know that he should have gone into that tangent in a 30 second rebuttal.
Posts: 2804 | Registered: May 2003
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posted
Heck, they should be allowed to pinch-GOVERN. Of course, you can argue that Cheney already does.
Seriously, I've been saying for over a year that, once Kucinich was out of the serious running (i.e. almost immediately), Edwards was the best candidate the Dems could put forward. He's pretty much everything that Kerry isn't, which is why I'm still so baffled by Kerry's nomination.
Posts: 37449 | Registered: May 1999
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I've been watching - well, I'm listening now, since the TV's in the other room. But it does seem that Cheney is giving the stronger performance, but it's not going to be a slam-dunk, like the first debate with Bush and Kerry.
Frankly, so far it's what I expected - I felt that this would be a debate that wouldn't be characterized by uneven performances.
Cheney's tough and he has his s__t together.
Part of me wonders if it's helpful in the end that Cheney comes across as so much more competent than his boss.
Posts: 4344 | Registered: Mar 2003
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Kerry: When I said I was against the war, I was talking to antiwar crowds. When I said I supported the war I was talking to audiences that were in favor of it. That's not flip-flopping. It's pandering. And I think Americans should know the difference.
The Washington Post helped me get this excerpt on Bush:
quote: "Saturday Night Live," which gave Al Gore a world of hurt in 2000 by lampooning his sighs during a debate, opened its new season with a skit in which a Bush impersonator lamented: "Frankly, I don't know why my opponent wants this job, because it's hard!"
"So your plan is to crush terrorism by coming in on Saturdays?" asked the character playing moderator Jim Lehrer.
The Bush character replied, with reluctance: "If that's what it takes."
This is a tough call, because both candidates really appear to be speaking to issues -- and, consequently, whichever argument you're predisposed to find more compelling is likely to seem like the "winner." I think we need to locate an undecided voter and ask him. Posts: 37449 | Registered: May 1999
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posted
I gotta agree with the people handing this to Cheney. Since I initially posted, he's kept up the heat. He's relentless. He's pretty unflappable.
Confirms my belief that Cheney's the one that's really in charge.
Edit to add: I guess in terms of "winning," I'm really thinking of that group of undecided voters and trying to put myself in that very strange world they live in. ( ) I think for people still making up their minds Cheney had the edge - and face it, those are the people who count the most.
posted
I don't think it's a slam-dunk like I saw in the other direction last week. Edwards is doing a very good job, but I really feel like Cheney is staying a step ahead of him. Maybe I'll be able to be more precise about this in 20 minutes when I'm not dividing my attention.
Posts: 2804 | Registered: May 2003
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posted
I find it amusing the best Cheney could come up to attack Edwards's record with was lack of elected political experience (which everyone should know from the Bush campaign in the 2000 race doesn't really matter ) and absences during an election year (which is typical for every congressperon facing a contest).
Edwards's attacks on Cheney's record, on the other hand, reflected substantial problems.
Posts: 15770 | Registered: Dec 2001
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posted
I'm not undecided, but I support Kerry very reluctantly...I disagree with a lot of his policies but he's unfortunately right about the war. It looks to me like the debate is a draw...both candidates are doing a good job, though each shows weakness from time to time. Edwards has a problem with using up all his time, but at least he does it by having something substantial to say. Cheney looks good by being succinct, but sometimes it's because he doesn't seem to have much to say.
Both of them keep looking exasperated and contemptuous...if only one of them were doing it that would look bad, but since they both are......
Posts: 1114 | Registered: Mar 2004
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posted
You know, I think a joint debate (Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates) would be very telling. I think it would reveal some important dynamics.
Posts: 15770 | Registered: Dec 2001
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"Oh, sorry, I didn't mean to say John Kerry. "Him", does that make you happy? John Kerry. John Kerry. sorry."
Posts: 2804 | Registered: May 2003
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posted
I agree fugu13. I thinking that would not only be interesting and informative, it would also be highly amusing.
Posts: 8473 | Registered: Apr 2003
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posted
Edwards seems to be outplaying Cheney a bit, but overall this debate is pretty bad. Both candidates are ignoring the questions and focusing on twisting their opponents' record around. Both are basically misusing facts to the point where it's hard to say what's what.
The presidential debate last week was much more revealing about actual position differences.
Incidently, what's with these questiosn? Is the moderator trying to incite attacks? Asking TWO questions trying to get Cheney to call "part of the problem" (or to get Edwards to accuse Cheney of saying that)?
Posts: 2432 | Registered: Feb 2001
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posted
If Cheney has a problem, it's that he keeps putting his hands on his face and looking down while he speaks. His main problem is that people don't consider him as forthright and scrupulous as Edwards, and his body language doesn't help with that.
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WTOP said this morning that Edwards' trail lawyer experience is part of the reason that the Bush campaign would not agree to a town hall-style debate--very very wise move.![[Smile]](smile.gif)
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That was harsh.
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