Vice Presidential Debates
 

Anyone going to be watching tonight? I dont think these debates get the ratings of the Presidential debates ....
Being that Mr. Edwards is a trial attorney, I believe he will win on style, but I think Cheney will win on substance.

Dem vp hopeful John Edwards cut to the chase last night on ABCNEWS NIGHTLINE:

ABC'S BOB WOODRUFF: "He has avoided the kind of negative attacks that can make national news, although recently, he has stepped up his rhetoric."

SEN. JOHN EDWARDS (D-NC) (clip of a speech): "I'd say if you live in the United States of America and you vote for George Bush, you've lost your mind."

WOODRUFF: "There's been criticism that you have been too soft."

EDWARDS: "Do I seem soft to you?"

END
Tue Oct 05 2004 08:57:47 ET

http://www.drudgereport.com/flash2.htm

This should be an interesting debate....

Cheney isn't hugely charismatic, but he does have a great sense of humor. I enjoy his public speaches and really like his use of humor. Edwards seems young and fairly callow in the political arena. However, I think Edwards will win in the "style" area because of his youth and acting skills.

People thought Kerry won the first debate due to the fact that he "looked" Presidential. Forget about the fact that the man has no concept of what "Bilateral" means.

Very true...in debates people focus on things like facial expressions, and mispronunciation of words etc. instead of substance.

That's what happened in the Nixon-Kennedy debates. Kennedy had just come back from Florida, and was rested and tanned. Nixon was his usual pale, dreary self...made worse by a recent bout of the flu.

Those who heard the radio debate thought for sure Nixon had won. Those who saw it on TV, however, said Kennedy had won.

Actually, I saw the Nixon/Kennedy debates. Kennedy did look relaxed and in charge, but the real problem for Nixon (at least from a visual perspective) was that he was sweating profusely above his upper lip. He "looked" as if he was uncomfortable with his own answers.

Actually, he looked dishonest to me, but I was about 15 or 16 years old then for whatever that's worth. I suppose the fact that he was dishonest might color that memory in retrospect.

Anyway, I can remember those TV pictures of that debate vividly.

I think this debate could be interesting... more interesting than the Bush/Kerry one. Halliburton questions could come up, so could thoughts about gay marriage (Cheney's daughter is a lesbian).

Does anybody know if they have the same rules as the other night? I want to see these two ask each other questions!

Dee

Cheney has pretty much been percieved as the administrations hatchet man. (Not a criticism, many VP's/running mates are)

It will be interesting to see if he ratains that role or lightens up some -- and whether Edwards will continue as the smiling optomist.

The only thing I've heard about rules is that the Bush folks insisted that the two be seated behind desks, so that Edwards can't walk around and do his trial lawyer thing -- a role that the VP is not as comfortable in.

I think they will just argue about Halburton the most of the time.

yep you're probably right

If there was a pulitizer for understatement of the year, you would win.

Anyway, on the serious topic:
Does anybody know the rules of tonights drinking game, I mean debate?

If they do that, Edwards will come off as a petty demagogue.

Can't be any worse than Bush calling Kerry a flip flopper the whole debate. People gotten so used to the flip flopper thing people don't care as much anymore. I bet next debate the flip flopper thing will stop.

I'm watching it now, and I hate to admit it but he came off like that early on in this debate, minutes before he even had a chance to mention Halliburton. I think he's singlehandedly undoing any lead Kerry might've gained as a result of the Presidential debates last week.