Is it just me? I think that this is pretty boring compared to the Presidential debate. *yawn*

It's boring because there isn't anyone to really make fun of. It's between Uncle Scary and Jack Smiley - about as interesting as watching paint dry.

Still, I expected more from someone who made a career of handing doctors their a**es on plates.

It got a little better toward the end.

Personally, I enjoyed the debates and thought the candidates were well-matched. I thought both candidates did a better job of actually answering the questions presented them than either of the presidential candidates (though Edwards fumbled on that one a few times). I thought Cheney came off as much better prepped and knowledgable than Bush. Still, I think Edwards put forward a great defense.

My heart says it was an Edwards win, but really I think it was a draw.

Anyway, kudos to both of the candidates.

Cheney was MUCH better than I thought he would be. Over all I thought both were well prepared and well spoken, although I thought Edwards appeared slightly better briefed.

I think Edwards got off topic a little too far on occassion. It was impressive that Cheney knew when to just shut up -- you don't see that often in a politician.

However, while it was very close, I thought Edwards won by a nose. The "instant" polls agree -- but I'll be interested to see what they say after people have time for a little reflection.

It was a great moment on both parts when Edwards was gracious about Cheney's lesbian daughter and the later simply said thank you. Impressive.

Over all a much better show than I expected.

I honestly fell asleep in front of my TV. But I was tired and kinda sick to begin with.

I'll give it to Cheney for being more prepared to handle backlash better than his running mate. But then again I only caught a few minutes. I was a little squemish because Edwards came off as a whiney child in the beginning. Perhaps it got better in the end. I sure hope so.

The oddest thing I heard was Cheney saying he didn't aspire to be President and that made him a good Vice President. I have heard him say before that he does not want to be President. Yet, if something happens to Bush, he IS President. I don't think he should continually point out that he doesn't want to be President.

The "we have a plan for that" from Edwards was getting old. I think it's intentional, as a "theme" from the campaign, but I found it annoying. I don't want to hear "we have a plan", I want to hear the plan only. Is it meant to be a modification of "I have a dream"?

I think both were better at avoiding questions that they didn't want to highlight. I'd say it was a pretty even match as far as their debating skills. I still agree with more of what Edwards said.

Dee

ABC polls say Cheney wins
 

http://abcnews.go.com/sections/polit...ll_041006.html

Oct. 6, 2004— Dick Cheney prevailed in the vice presidential debate with help from a more Republican audience — and more support from his ticket's side than John Edwards got from his. Among registered voters who watched the debate, 43 percent said Cheney won, 35 percent called Edwards the winner and 19 percent called it a tie. One factor is that more Republicans tuned in — 38 percent of viewers were Republicans, 31 percent Democrats, the rest independents.

cBS says Edwards won
 

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/...in641817.shtml

A CBS News poll of 178 uncommitted voters found that 41 percent said Edwards won the debate, versus 28 percent who said Cheney won. Thirty-one percent said it was a tie.

Cheney, 63, and Edwards, 51, sat a few feet apart around a semicircular table on a stage at Case Western Reserve University. Gwen Ifill of PBS, moderator for the evening, faced them.

The debate format encouraged give-and-take, and neither the vice president nor Sen. John Kerry's running mate shrank from the task.

"Frankly, senator, you have a record that's not very distinguished," Cheney said to the North Carolina lawmaker after accusing him of a pattern of absences in the Senate during his one term.

Talk about close...

Just for fun, I took a look at the webpages for NBC, CBS, ABC, CNN and FoxNews, looking for their stories on who won. The results, while totally unscientific were interesting.

An NBC voters Poll showed Edwards the winner, while a poll of NBC commentators gave the win to Cheney overwhelmingly.

The CBS Undecided Voters Poll quoted above showed Edwards as the winner.

The ABC Voters Poll, also quoted above, showed Cheney the winner.

CNN did not do a poll, but quoted both the CBS and ABC Polls.

Fox also didn't have a voters poll, but said that the consensus of their commentators was that Cheney won the Foreign Policy (first) part of the Debate and Edwards won the Domestic Affairs (second) part of the debate.

I'm not sure I've ever seen anything quite like this. Obviously, both candidates scored some big points with various groups.

The Vice President should not be in the media. The Vice President should not be essentially sitting there for four years playing PR games and trying to be President. It used to be that if you were a rising star in your party and were highly capable but didn't have everyone in the party loving you, then you were made VP. Before this administration, a few Vice Presidents had chosen instead to work on their resume rather than the tasks assigned to them.

Frankly, I am glad that Cheney has chosen to serve in his role and not just smile in front of a camera.

-Rudey