Does this guy have a newspaper column on work release from a mental institution somewhere?
Posted on 10/06/2004 10:23:13 AM PDT by Area Freeper
John Edwards was puppy-dog happy to be debating last night. Dick Cheney was the old hound who, only because he had to, agreed to show up and fetch some answers. So both men lived up to type and hype. Neither one stomped the other, but that doesn't make it a tie game. Republicans are still in trouble.
After the veep venom fest, the GOP team is walking wounded. Democrats have the momentum, and Edwards stayed on offense most of the night. He went hard after the key to victory - sounding almost Republican-tough about killing terrorists.
Cheney's job was to stop the bleeding that started with last Thursday's presidential debate. John Kerry's strong performance, at least compared with President Bush's lackluster one, helped to push the race back to neck and neck, which is why Edwards mentioned "last Thursday" six times by my count.
Cheney actually did far better than Bush did against Kerry. But the talking abilities of Edwards the trial lawyer gave him a built-in advantage that Cheney could not overcome.
Not that he tried very hard. Although the vice president came equipped with some zingers, such as the number of times Edwards has missed Senate meetings, his body language - from slumping a lot to slumping a little - spoke louder.
So did his hands. He went from clasping and wringing them to propping up his chin while he talked. At least twice he essentially passed on a chance to speak, suggesting he either couldn't be bothered or had nothing to say. It was not an inspiring performance, even though he scored solid points to those paying close attention. He drove home repeatedly, for example, the charge that Kerry's record showed him too inconsistent to be commander-in-chief.
Unfortunately for Republicans, a TV debate puts the emphasis on TV. And Edwards looks better, sounds better and comes across as more engaged and engaging. He leaned forward and became animated, conveying energy and the promise of change. He conceded he lacks Cheney's experience, but sought to make it a virture, saying the U.S. "can't take four more years of their experience."
And Edwards zeroed in on a few key tasks. He repeated several times that he and Kerry "have a plan." He used the phrase talking about Iraq, about health care, the deficit, jobs, even on lawsuits. I got the sense somebody told him the word "plan" tested well in focus groups.
Edwards' other task was harder - to convince voters he and Kerry would be tough on terror. Polls have shown huge gaps on that issue, and it remains the final obstacle for the Kerry campaign. Millions of Americans who have doubts about Bush's policies have greater doubts about Kerry's leadership.
Edwards confronted the issue, saying how tough he and Kerry would be. "I would find the terrorists wherever they are and kill them before they do harm to us," Edwards said.
If that's the quote of the day, the whopper was Edwards' claim that "John Kerry has been completely consistent about Iraq and so have I."
The election season has obviously taught Dems the public is more serious about terrorism than the party was just months ago. That Kerry and Edwards are now talking tough is a welcome change.
They should leave it at that. They shouldn't insult voters by insisting they've been saying the same thing all along. Even a donkey knows that's not true.
Sounds like the old Russian Pravda. Quite delusional!
Guess that's why all the polls have Cheney winning, Bush's lead recovering, and the Dems frothing. Yep, sure signs of the GOp "losing" in my book.
I don't think this person watched the same debate that I did. Or it's spin at its most extreme and exaggerated.
why do you waste our time by NOT POSTING the BARF ALERT?
BS
I probably would have helped the author if he didn't watch the debate on acid.
I want what ever they are smoking.. it must be very good
they sure didn't watch the same debate I watched
Does this guy have a newspaper column on work release from a mental institution somewhere?
Wow, someone was smoking some good hashish last night while watching the debate.
Cheney took Edwards to the woodshed last night... if it had been a boxing match Edwards manager would have thrown in the towel by the 3rd round.
Edwards looked like the unworthy and unexperienced pretty boy, won't be re-elected to his own seat, should have never won it in the first place 100th rate want to be Senator that he is.
Cheney, like Bush, looked bored, tired and not motivated. Several times, he had his hands to his jaw which impaired his speech. I have seen him talk and he is capable of better.
I'm with you - barf alert!!
Photo of Michael Goodwin
Not to their left wing. I'm sure those 500,000 protesters at the Repblican Convention are feeling stabbed in the back about now. The big question is: how many of those will now vote for Nader, or just stay home?
The one thing Bush and Cheney have done right in these debates is to force Kerry and Edwards to take a moderate-conservative stance instead of trying to have it both ways. They might pick up a few undecideds that way, but they are surely alienating a significant slice of their base.
I don't believe the GOP is in trouble BUT I do think this race is a lot closer than I would like it to be. If Karl Rove has an October surprise I hope we see it soon.
LOL. This reads like a DUmmies thread.
You mean we wasted a whole bottle of wine celebrating? Did I miss something? Were there 2 VP debates?
Yep if we tell a big enough lie long enough some one might belive it.
On MY planet Earth the VP won.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.