Vice Presidential Debate

[blupun]

We all know this was really where blood was going to be drawn (LOL). Due to the screening last night I got to catch only some of it.

Any comments on the debate?

[Peter Oberth]

i couldn't believe how much they were jabbing eachother, it was crazy. It was like a debate on Crossfire or something. It's tough for me to call a winner in that debate.

EDWARDS
NEGATIVE:
-He is the one that started the jabs it seemed.
-He never really defended any accusations. He seemed to do the political sidestep and reverse everything back on the President as opposed to actually defending his and Kerry's records.
-Like Kerry, he continued to use the word "kill" when referring to the terrorists. I didn't like the strong use of this word, it almost makes America sound barbaric. just saying "hunting themm down and punishing them" or something along those lines would have sufficed.

POSITIVE:
-He was very well spoken. Reminiscent of Clinton and Tony Blair; charismatic and likeable.
-I know this is petty, but he appeared younger and healthier. Cheney seemed out of breath at times and woudln't look at the camera. Edwards appears to be a better look for America.
-He didn't say "Weapons of Mass Destruction" too much.

CHENEY
NEGATIVE:
-In order to defend himself, it seemed that he would "make up" numbers in order put himself on top. From what I have heard, the numbers that Edwards gave off were true.
-Also, when defending that we aren't spending a lot of money in Iraq (compared the the $5 billion we spent in the Gulf War), he brought Edwards number of $200 billion down to $95 billion. That is still 19 times higher than the last war, which also had a considerable amount less deaths.
-On the issue of gay marriage, he wouldn't actually state HIS opinion, just saying that he has to support Bush's decision. His daughter is gay and I don't know any father that wouldn't support his daughter despite the ramifications. It made him seem weak and unable to think for himself.

POSITIVE:
-He is obviously a more seasoned politician.
-He defended Edwards accusations against him and the President much more than Edwards did.
-He didn't say "Weapons of Mass Destruction" too much.

and, the biggest negative of the night was the performance of Moderator Gwen Ifill. She seemed sloppy, TWICE screwing up on who was allowed to speak. Once, she let Cheney do a complete 30 second rebuttle when he wasn't allowed when, even after Cheney pointed it out. The second, near the end, allowing Edwards to do a rebuttle after he already had, even after he had pointed it out and then Ifill cut him off 15 seconds in, this made Edwards look bad and it wasn't his fault.

She also seemed to be asking a lot of biased questions toward Edwards, even going as far to say that one of Edwards & Kerry's plans was "naive." This seemed extremely inappropriate.

[Peter Oberth]

CHENEY'S CLAIM ABOUT MEETING EDWARDS DEBUNKED
surprisingly, this came from the very conservative Fox News.

Vice President Dick Cheney (search) said Tuesday night that the debate with Democratic Sen. John Edwards (search) marked the first time they had met. In fact, the two had met at least three times previously.

Cheney made the remark while accusing Edwards of frequent absences from Senate votes.

"Now, in my capacity as vice president, I am the president of Senate, the presiding officer. I'm up in the Senate most Tuesdays when they're in session. The first time I ever met you was when you walked on the stage tonight," Cheney told Edwards during the debate.

On Feb. 1, 2001, the vice president thanked Edwards by name at a Senate prayer breakfast and sat beside him during the event.

On April 8, 2001, Cheney and Edwards shook hands when they met off-camera during a taping of NBC's "Meet the Press," moderator Tim Russert said Wednesday on "Today."

On Jan. 8, 2003, the two met when the first-term North Carolina senator accompanied Elizabeth Dole to her swearing-in by Cheney as a North Carolina senator, Edwards aides also said.

[blupun]

Yeah that 'the first time we met was tonite' thing had me laughing just off the sheer stupidity of it....and I am sure we will get no 'well I was wrong' from Chaney as well.....after all this is the man who is cool saying 'F___ You' publicly on record...LOL


The big thing that had to come across for either side to have a win was 1) Chaney not come off as a 'grumpy old man' and 2) Edwards not come off as a total novice. From what I have seen --neither one did that totally but the more important thing like they said on the TODAY show---these debates have actually shown that there are differences between the two---and that should hopefully help those undecided to make up their minds.