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EDWARDS OUTMATCHED
New York Post ^ | 10/06/04 | DAVID WINSTON

Posted on 10/05/2004 11:26:39 PM PDT by kattracks

JOHN Edwards' imper sonation of an attack dog in last night's debate was a little like watching a yapping terrier taking on an old Golden retriever. Dick Cheney was calm, collected, thoughtful and incapable of being ruffled.

Edwards had his talking points down pat. He came out of the box with a tough attack on Cheney, claiming, "You are still not being straight with the American people" on the question of Iraq.

That was just his opening act. He followed with 90 minutes of harsh attacks in which he questioned the judgment, integrity and truthfulness of both Cheney and President Bush. He lived up to his reputation as a silver-tongued trial lawyer — but, in the end, he simply couldn't close the stature gap with personal attacks.

What the vice presidential debate showed was that clever quips and overdone charges are no substitute for strong leadership and a lifetime of experience in public service and public policy.

Cheney scored a number of direct hits on Kerry-Edwards. Most important, he put Edwards on the defensive by immediately putting Kerry's 20-year Senate record on national security issues back in play.

[snip]

But it was Cheney's listing of Edward's sorry attendance record on the Intelligence Committee and on the Senate floor that seemed to take Edwards aback — as did the devastating comment that in nearly four years presiding over the Senate, Cheney had never met Edwards until last night. It was clear the young senator was caught off guard without a prepared quip.


(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...


TOPICS: Editorial; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: vpdebate

1 posted on 10/05/2004 11:26:40 PM PDT by kattracks
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To: kattracks; All; Hi Heels

Got to these websites and be sure to vote.

//www.msnbc.msn.com/ Chaney losing.

http://www.foxnews.com/ Chaney losing.

http://abcnews.go.com/

http://www.cnn.com/

http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/home/main100.shtml


2 posted on 10/05/2004 11:32:41 PM PDT by cowboy_code (Live by the Code!)
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To: kattracks

I thought one of Edwards' most bizzarre comments was the thing about how a thirty year resume doesn't mean you have the wisdom or qualifications to be President. Or something like that. He said it twice. The first time he said it I thought he was talking about John 'effin. Cheney had just been railing on Kerry's record and Edwards came out and said that, and my thought was that he was agreeing with him--that Kerry's long career in the Senate didn't mean he was qualified.

Was I the only one that found this comment odd?


3 posted on 10/05/2004 11:32:50 PM PDT by CalRepublican
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To: kattracks

I'm telling you guys, the left is going to rip Cheney for that "never met Edwards" comment with that picture.

See link below

http://p089.ezboard.com/fbadgermaniacsfrm15.showMessage?topicID=520.topic


4 posted on 10/05/2004 11:33:47 PM PDT by SideoutFred (Reporter is Tom Hayes)
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To: kattracks

This man is no Tarheel! He must be one of those South Carolinians impersonating a genuine Tarheel!!! ;-)


5 posted on 10/05/2004 11:35:28 PM PDT by HitmanLV (I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed or numbered. My life is my own.)
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To: SideoutFred

If they do, they're just have to accept that maybe their boy isn't memorable.


6 posted on 10/05/2004 11:36:04 PM PDT by conservativepoet
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To: SideoutFred

Yeah so it was a ceremonial occasion. Did Little Johnny ever do anything to get himself noticed? If he and John F*ckin' have one thing in common, its the absence of distinguished service in the world's pre-eminent deliberative body.


7 posted on 10/05/2004 11:36:44 PM PDT by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives On In My Heart Forever)
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To: kattracks

Headline should read, Edwards Overpaid.
That is both for his current job as Senator where he never shows up, and for his job as trial liar. The man made millions for doing nothing productive, while brave men fight all over the world keeping him safe and make 25K if they are lucky. Productive men build things. Build bridges, tunnels, roads, buildings. And these men, while they may earn a good salary don't earn millions using false science and getting their nails buffed.


8 posted on 10/05/2004 11:37:46 PM PDT by ProudVet77 (02NOV04 - Welcome to reality Senator Kerry)
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To: SideoutFred

I looked at the picture--it doesn't show that Cheney even saw Edwards, much less met him or even spoke to him. The DUmmies are going to have to do a lot better than this.


9 posted on 10/05/2004 11:38:46 PM PDT by OH Swing Voter
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To: ProudVet77

Interesting debating point:
I thought Cheney did not use his time to the utmost as he declined to use his 30 seconds to defend Haliburton or the GOP position on gay marriage. Now I understand it was pure genius and pure self-discipline to allow Edwards's cheap shots to stand as a price for keeping the debate on the most advantageous issues: the war on terror and the war in Iraq. That took ba**s!


10 posted on 10/05/2004 11:41:10 PM PDT by winner3000
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To: OH Swing Voter

It is becoming more and more obvious, Edwards got clubbed like a baby seal. Cheney's comment about never having met Edward until tonight was a dagger. This was the "you're no Jack Kennedy" of the debate. The pundits efforts to try to 'prove' that Cheney was in the same room with Edwards in the past don't change the rhetorical impact. And since Clinton proved that you can be 'alone' and still be with somebody, it will be hard to disprove anyways.


11 posted on 10/05/2004 11:42:09 PM PDT by bpjam (I don't know what a neo-con is and neither does anybody else.)
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To: SideoutFred

Let them. It only goes to show Senator Gone was hardly ever in the Senate doing his job! Pointing out a prayer breakfast three years ago after being chastised for missing many critical votes in the Senate only emphasizes that he wasn't there doing his elected job!!!


12 posted on 10/05/2004 11:43:07 PM PDT by landerwy
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To: kattracks

I missed the live broadcast but I just caught a replay. I just hope they have whoever coached Cheney coaching Bush now. He kicked the crap out of Edwards.

Hopefully this heralds a new debate strategy. All Bush needs to do is stick with the facts.


13 posted on 10/05/2004 11:43:40 PM PDT by MattAMiller
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To: SideoutFred
I found this snippet most interesting (emphasis mine)

The Boston Herald's Mike Barnicle: "I Thought That Cheney Came Incredibly Well Prepared. Very Substantive, The Research That He Had Done--The Opposition Research Was Clearly Top Shelf. He Has, For That Format, An Amazingly, Amazingly Familiar Way About Him. It Was As If He Was There With Dr. Phil Being Interviewed. For A Guy Whose Reputation Is So Dark, So Brooding, He Was Very Comfortable, I Think, To The American Television Audience." (MSNBC's "After Hours," 10/6/04)

Isn't the "opposition" usually considered the party OUT of office?

14 posted on 10/05/2004 11:46:45 PM PDT by Don W (Representative Charles B. Rangel, (D,NY), the author of the bill, who ended up voting against it.)
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To: SideoutFred
I'm telling you guys, the left is going to rip Cheney for that "never met Edwards" comment with that picture.

I thought perhaps you were correct, at first. Upon further reflection, that simply sets up an even better rejoiner, i.e. "Perhaps he was there, and I'm sorry, I just didn't notice him. I didn't recall any votes he participated in, nor any legislation he authored. Of course, I could be wrong.."

Puts the onus in the correct location, i.e. Edwards sorry butt. Make Edwards defend his 5.5 wasted years in the Senate, and even better, Kerry's 20 some years as well. You see, this is the one, single point I've been screaming about (to myself). Kerry, and now Edwards rant about "Bush lied", they rant about everything that has gone wrong, but they have done nothing in the past 3.5 years to make a difference in the War on Terror (i.e. true Islam).

Edwards and Kerry hold rather special offices. They are one of 100 U.S. Senators, and Kerry is a tenured committee chairman. They aren't "Mr.", but "Senator". The could have been down on the floor of the Senate, pushing legislation and "Sense of the Senate" resolutions, every day for the past 1400 or so days of Bush's Presidency. They may not have won everything, but they would have made an impact, if only they were at their jobs, working in the Senate. Neither did. They did nothing for 3.5 years but talk, and no amount of talking now will convince most Americans that they have "a plan", much less that they can execute on their intentions.

Kerry and Edwards are truely dangerious, naievely idealistic, leftists.

SFS

15 posted on 10/06/2004 12:04:35 AM PDT by Steel and Fire and Stone
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To: SideoutFred
Let them. It will just reinforce that:

1) Edwards wasn't bothering to show up to do his job in the Senate.

2) Edwards is not worth remembering.

If the rats were smart, they would simply ignore this debate.

16 posted on 10/06/2004 12:05:36 AM PDT by AndyTheBear (Jesus would have driven a pick up truck, like all the other carpenters.)
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To: CalRepublican

Edwards brought a knife to a gunfight. While VP Cheney listened patiently, almost paternally to the Senator's whoppers, fibs and flat out lies.

Then politely b**ch slapped the young upstart time and again.

Altogether, one of the best VP debates I've heard in quite awhile. Even when Gwen Ifill tried so hard to throw grenades Cheney's way. That were easily deflected.

Jack.


17 posted on 10/06/2004 12:06:11 AM PDT by Jack Deth (Mostly Harmless)
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To: CalRepublican

Good point. I suspect that poor little flustered Edwards was using the wrong talking point at the wrong time.


18 posted on 10/06/2004 12:07:25 AM PDT by AndyTheBear (Jesus would have driven a pick up truck, like all the other carpenters.)
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To: SideoutFred
This is a popcorn fart. Cheney met him a couple of years ago in a minor way and forgot. Edwards was being criticized for wretched Senate attendance, which is true.

What is more important, a Senator's performance of his duty or remembering a couple of trivial path crossings? Let the left spin it. In fact, let them jump up and spin on it.

19 posted on 10/06/2004 12:08:56 AM PDT by Anti-Bubba182
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To: SideoutFred

No, they are not.

They have a picture of him in a ROOM with Cheney from February 1, 2003, and that's GOOD for Edwards?

Think again.


20 posted on 10/06/2004 12:10:03 AM PDT by Howlin (What's the Font Spacing, Kenneth?)
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To: ProudVet77

But he can channel the spirits of unborn babies from beyond the grave. That's gotta be worth something.


21 posted on 10/06/2004 12:10:04 AM PDT by AndyTheBear (Jesus would have driven a pick up truck, like all the other carpenters.)
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To: kattracks

Excellent save his snotty comment about terriers...all of the breed would rip the throat out of any dog or human who got in their way....that's why they are terriers..used to hunt fox, bear, underground critters ( like badgers and weasels) and of course we all know the American Straffordshire more commonly as the "pit bull"


22 posted on 10/06/2004 12:14:51 AM PDT by jnarcus
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To: ProudVet77
Productive men build things.

Yep. And blood-sucking society-destroying shysters like Edwards sue and screw them out of their just rewards.
23 posted on 10/06/2004 12:17:00 AM PDT by broadsword (Weren't there a couple of giant Buddhist statues in Afghanistan? What happened to them?)
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To: SideoutFred

Cheney isn't presiding over the Senate there. Being at a prayer breakfast does not make Edwards' voting record any better.


24 posted on 10/06/2004 12:22:14 AM PDT by Republican Wildcat
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attendance record, that is.


25 posted on 10/06/2004 12:22:32 AM PDT by Republican Wildcat
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To: SideoutFred

Of course they are, so what? Edwards obviously didn't make an impression on him at that breakfast! I don't recall meeting people I have met in the past either if it was just a brief encounter. I think most American's have had that experience.


26 posted on 10/06/2004 12:26:48 AM PDT by ladyinred ("John Kerry reporting for spitball and typewriter duty.")
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To: kattracks

John "a boy named sue" Edwards was lost because there wasn`t a person in a neck brace and monetary compensation for his client involved.


27 posted on 10/06/2004 12:42:07 AM PDT by Imaverygooddriver ( What`s the difference between Windows XP and John Kerry? Windows XP works once in a while.)
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To: cowboy_code

Need a lot more Freepers to take the time to vote.


28 posted on 10/06/2004 12:42:12 AM PDT by Arizona Carolyn
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To: kattracks
He came out of the box with a tough attack on Cheney, claiming, "You are still not being straight with the American people" on the question of Iraq.

Cheney: SIT BOY!

That's it, good posture!

Now be good or I'll punish you!

29 posted on 10/06/2004 12:43:31 AM PDT by EGPWS
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To: kattracks

he questioned the judgment, integrity and truthfulness of both Cheney and President Bush.

I guess this man showed his true colors of his own judgment, integrity and truthfulness. How dare a nobody like him that was picked for his looks to get the women vote question the integrity of our leadership.


30 posted on 10/06/2004 1:33:03 AM PDT by garylmoore (Repeat: They made a mistake, they didn't count of George W. Bush.)
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To: SideoutFred

Edwards had time to attend a prayer breakfast but no time to attend senate business. Interesting defense.


31 posted on 10/06/2004 1:35:50 AM PDT by Raycpa (Alias, VRWC_minion,)
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To: Don W
[The Opposition Research Was Clearly Top Shelf.]

Isn't the "opposition" usually considered the party OUT of office?

Not necessarily, but in any case that's not how he meant it. He's not calling Cheney "the opposition" here. Instead, he's invoking the common phrase, "opposition research", which in business means researching your competition so that you can counter them in the marketplace. It has also been used in political contexts for ages, with pretty much the same meaning.

In this context, when he says "the opposition research", what he means is "the opposition research [that Cheney has done]", i.e. the research that the Republicans have done on their opponents (in this case, Edwards/Kerry).

"For A Guy Whose Reputation Is So Dark, So Brooding, He Was Very Comfortable, I Think, To The American Television Audience."

Translation: Mike Barnicle made the mistake of believing the liberals' own spin, and is shocked to discover that Cheney isn't actually the monster the left accuses him of being.

32 posted on 10/06/2004 1:45:19 AM PDT by Ichneumon ("...she might as well have been a space alien." - Bill Clinton, on Hillary, "My Life", p. 182)
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To: ProudVet77
  
NAOMI! NAOMI! NAOMI!

WHAT'S A GLOBAL TEST?




                                               
33 posted on 10/06/2004 1:53:17 AM PDT by devolve ( -HEINZ-KERRY - LIFESTYLES Of The RICH & FLAMING! - http://pro.lookingat.us/ThisOldDump.html --)
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To: kattracks
Edwards called the maniacs who have been beheading AMericans INSURGENTS.

Not TERRORISTS, but INSURGENTS.

Nope, no terrorists here, just them there insurgents.

34 posted on 10/06/2004 2:11:03 AM PDT by Benrand
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To: Raycpa

Well, I guess Senator Edwards used them all up in Feb 2001, 'cuz tonight he didn't have a prayer...


35 posted on 10/06/2004 2:28:34 AM PDT by bt_dooftlook ((Kerry/Edwards - We'll open up a carafe of whoopass on terrorists!))
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To: All

The Dems better let this issue drop if they want to minimize damage. More talk and, Bush/Cheney will not only point out Edwards', but also Kerry's, lack of attendance at security committee meetings and for Senate votes, etc.


36 posted on 10/06/2004 4:16:36 AM PDT by Loyal Buckeye ((Kerry is a flake))
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To: kattracks

JOHN Edwards' impersonation of an attack dog in last night's debate was a little like watching a yapping terrier ...


... taking on an old Golden retriever. Dick Cheney was calm, collected, thoughtful and incapable of being ruffled.

37 posted on 10/06/2004 4:25:16 AM PDT by gitmo (Thanks, Mel. I needed that.)
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To: SideoutFred
#4...that may be....

...but Cheney still got his point across!

Obviously he didn't meet Edwards in session, clearly telling the world Edwards didn't show up!!

Meeting Edwards at a prayer breakfast or Elizabeth Dole function, clearly shows Edwards appearing at functions but not being present when he was suppose to be representing his constinuency.

The Dems can't use this and expect to hold water.

38 posted on 10/06/2004 4:33:22 AM PDT by Guenevere
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To: winner3000
That's what I thought at first, why didn't Cheney engage him. But then I realized Cheney had just shut the whole subject down on Halliburton by directing people to an independent factcheck.org site and it Halliburton crap was never was effective again. Brilliant.

On the gay daughter, Cheney just thanked Senator Gone and went on. Senator Gone was at a loss for words, usual position for him, and the debate moved on.

Interesting how Cheney ran the debate isn't it.
39 posted on 10/06/2004 4:34:39 AM PDT by snooker (French Fried Flip Flopper still Flouncing, be careful out there.)
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To: SideoutFred
Entertaining to read. I notice the left socialist rats do not get the point. Cheney meant working in the senate. Senator Gone. This is a brief meeting at a social obligation and that's why Cheney didn't recall seeing him. He doesn't recall seeing him in the Senate working on issues for his constituents. There's the difference. Typical for the left not to get it or ignore that fact.

The left is like the National Enquirer. They are full of that gossip and exaggerations.
40 posted on 10/06/2004 4:36:52 AM PDT by GodBlessUSA (Support, Prayers and Thanks to our Troops.)
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To: kattracks

Cheny was FANTASTIC last night. I'm so happy. He got in some great slams at Edwards that I will be talking about all day!


41 posted on 10/06/2004 4:36:52 AM PDT by BunnySlippers ("F" Stands for FLIP-FLOP ...)
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To: MattAMiller
I just hope they have whoever coached Cheney coaching Bush now.

It's not just coaching. Cheney has always been a cool inteviewee in command of the facts. He doesn't get rattled and he rarely gets off-message. I think he's just a natural, although there's no doubt some coaching going on there too.

42 posted on 10/06/2004 4:38:43 AM PDT by RogueIsland
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To: kattracks

Silky Pony, down! Silky Pony, down!


43 posted on 10/06/2004 4:39:40 AM PDT by rabidralph (All in all, gas is still cheaper than a cup of coffee at Starbucks.)
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To: snooker
On the gay daughter, Cheney just thanked Senator Gone and went on.

Edwards' remarks on Cheney's daughter (who I think was in the audience) were one of his low points. He obviously hoped that GOP supporters didn't know this and were going to be shocked and horrified by it and immediately change their votes to the Dems, whose children's sex lives have not so far been discussed. That was why Edwards wasted so much time rubbing in the fact that the Cheneys have a gay daughter.

Cheney's response was pure class. In my mind, it exposed Edwards' attempt for exactly what it was. I'm sure Cheney really wanted to leap across the table and throttle the smarmy little twit.

44 posted on 10/06/2004 4:40:50 AM PDT by livius
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To: kattracks
Edwards appeared to be a head-bobbing, rapid eye-winking, arrogant, high school sophormoric pinhead of a twit.

His attempts to engage Vice President Cheney directly fell flat and a debate scenario is absolutely not the place for one candidate to bring up the other's personal family affairs. Cheney thanked him for the comments as regards his family, but it was noticeable that Edwards had crossed the line of propriety.

Edwards lost the debate, not only because he is a millionaire, leftist, absentee senator-- who will be surely defeated in his next senate try-- because his claim to fame has been his ability to rack up personal injury lawsuit settlements.

I'm certain today he's holding hands and gazing up at his idol awaiting a patting of his head for his "performance" and enjoying his doggie biscuit reward.

These two mates are the phoniest and dangerous candidates to ever run for the nation's highest offices. The worst part of this fiasco is that there are almost half of Americans (and many illegal aliens abetted by the RAT party) who will vote for these fools.

45 posted on 10/06/2004 4:43:20 AM PDT by JesseHousman (Execute Mumia Abu-Jamal)
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To: livius
Yep, it was down low. To use ones family to try and score points is gutter ball low, even for a lawyer. Cheney knocked it out of the park. Substance and style beats yapping empty suit lawyer every time.

Dan Quayle can now hold his head high.

46 posted on 10/06/2004 4:53:04 AM PDT by snooker (French Fried Flip Flopper still Flouncing, be careful out there.)
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To: SideoutFred

Don't worry about "Never met You" attacks.

Cheney is from Wyoming, fly-over country.

Out there "meeting" someone is more than being at the same program someplace in Wash, DC.

For us, you meet someone when they make an effort to sit down and have a chat.

For pity's sake, there are only 100 Senators and it's been 4 years. If all Edwards can say is that we went to the same prayer breakfast and to the same celebration once, and the fly-over guy says "I never met you." then they've never sat down and chatted.


47 posted on 10/06/2004 4:57:52 AM PDT by xzins (Retired Army and Proudly Supporting BUSH/CHENEY 2004!)
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To: kattracks
I also thought the Veep did a terrific number on Silky. Listening to Chicago's CBS radio affiliate this morning, though, I was surprised that they hadn't found a single person who thought Cheney had won the debate. Or, if they did, they didn't choose to put it on the air.


I am shocked. Shocked.

Michael M. Bates: My Side of the Swamp

48 posted on 10/06/2004 4:58:47 AM PDT by Mike Bates (You're getting drowsy. You will buy my book, you will buy my book, you will buy my book. . .)
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To: kattracks

Edwards showed up to a gunfight with a pocket knife.


49 posted on 10/06/2004 6:52:10 AM PDT by American Vet Repairman
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