Cheney VS. Edwards

10/04/04 | Lothor

[lothor]

Does anyone have any views on Tuesday's debate ?

Do you think that Cheney will let things slide the way Bush did ?

I think it would be a great boost if Cheney could catch Edwards contradicting some of Kerry's viewpoints in the first debate.

Thoughts ?

[Crazieman]

Drudge thinks all Edwards has to do is repeat Halliburton. It would certainly preach to the democratic base.

[txjeep]

IMO, Cheney will mop the floor with tortboy.

[ArmedNReady]

Edwards is toast....French toast!

[Reagan79]

I bet Cheney does real well and stays aggressive and on message against Edwards. Boy Wonder is going to make some mistakes and Cheney will be there to pour on the gasoline. I am sure somehow the press will anoint Edwards as the victor, but this format bids well for Cheney. He is in command of the facts, foreign policy, and he has a silver tongue to boot. If you care about issues Cheney will do real well.

[Hugin]

I think both will be very sharp. Of course on issues Cheney will be right but don't expect Silky Pony to be a pushover.

[BARLF]

VP Cheney thinks johnjohn is cute as a buttom. He'll probably go easy on him.

[vrwinger]

1988 - Benson to Quayle: "I knew John Kennedy... He was a freind of mine... You're no John Kennedy..."

2004 - Edwards to Cheney: "I know John Kennedy... I can feel him talking to me right now..."

[You Dirty Rats]

Man v. Boy.

[Paradox]

Cheney will do better than Bush, but remember, Edwards is a trial lawyer, used to buttering up a jury. Those guys can convince you that the sky is red, and the grass is purple...

[plain talk]

Based on what? Edwards is a slick lawyer. This will be a repeat of last thurs. Edwards will win on style and Cheney will win on substance. Just like the first Bush / Kerry debate. For some stupid reason, the final winner seems to be the one who wins on style and is "perceived" to have won. The media has already made up its mind. Kerry wins 3-0 and Edwards 1-0. Done deal from a media / public perception standpoint. I wouldn't be banking on any wins from the debates. Bush is a slug when it comes to debating.

[RckyRaCoCo]

2004-Cheney to Edwards: "I've been in an ambulance, I know what it's like to be chased"

[sarasotarepublican]

Do you think that Cheney will let things slide the way Bush did ?

NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO!

[Legion04]

Cheney will pummel edwards...Cheney is an excellent speaker and will likely be pretty relentless when it comes to the issues on Tuesday, and these 2 guys will go at it without the same restrictions as Bush & Kerry.

[nisgro]

If there's anyone who can bring down Edwards, it's Cheney. Cheney has a very articulate way of dropping lines that insight liberals to a frenzy. Should be interesting.

[Camel Joe]

Actually they can only convince the idiots that aren't smart enough to get out of jury duty of those things. :sarcasm

[Blzbba]

Both appear to be pretty intelligent. However, Cheney's length of political experience, and the knowledge it has given him, will result in an ass-whupping of Edwards.

That's my prediction, at least.

[freestyle]

I think we would all be smart to expect that Chaney will lose this debate in disasterous fashion. Expect Edwards to look young and vibrant and win on both style and substance. Just believe it! That is what will happen.

Now, if you do this, you won't so easily jump ship when the MSM says Chaney lost. You may actually end up disagreeing with the MSM spin.

[DarthVader]

Cheney will shred Breck Boy like North Carolina pulled pork.

[LincolnLover]

Well, Gwen Ifill will be the moderator and she is free to ask questions on any topic.

Personally, I think John Edwards is in an impossible position. First, Dick Cheney is simply a better debator.

Additionally, Cheney won't make the mistake that the president did of not hitting on inconsistencies and hammering on appropriate talking points. Cheney will hit back, not only at what John Edwards has to say but on things Pres. Bush left unsaid last Thursday.

Finally, Edwards will have to defend John Kerry's record and inconsistencies. This is the real "big problem" for Edwards.

If John Kerry himself cannot clearly explain his own inconsistencies on issues, how the heck is John Edwards going to do so, especially when someone as sharp as Cheney is there to hammer him every time he tries?

[Inge C]

Chenywill stick it to Edwards, and make up for some of Bush's lost points

[visualops]

The Dems & MSM have been trying to paint Cheney as some sort of mean monster, but when he talks and answers questions he is knowledgeable, precise and unflappable. Someone either from DNC or Kerry campaign actually called Cheney "Dr. Evil" the other day. I am quite sure they have coached Edwards to pour on the charm to fool people, and also to make comments that are designed to try and get Cheney mad. But Edwards' slick lawyerly crapola doesn't have a chance against Cheney.

[areafiftyone]

As long as Cheney is prepared for Edwards bringing up the following things: Haliburton, Flip flopping, closed door meetings, Fear mongering and maybe if Edwards's is desperate, Gay marriage yada yada yada He's gotta be prepard for anything and everything. I am just quoting all the things the Dems want to hit Cheney on. I'm trying to think of more but I can't right now.

[No Blue States]

I think Breck girl is going to feel like Job did when God finally answered him.

[zbigreddogz]

He'll beat the tar out of him just like he did Lieberman.

[SwinneySwitch]

Can't wait for trial lawyer Edwards to bring up how Kerry is going to reduce health care costs!!

[LincolnLover]

"Drudge thinks all Edwards has to do is repeat Halliburton. It would certainly preach to the democratic base."

I hope he's right!

Look, Halliburton has done a fine job of defending it's proceedings with the government and Dick Cheney usually doesn't dignify such questions with a response.

He'll be forced to do so if John Edwards presses the issue, and it'll be to the Dem's disadvantage if he does.

Press Cheney on Halliburton, do it! Have him eloquently explain the long history KBR has in supporting America's troops in conflict after conflict. Make Dick say that he's not "still being paid" new monies by Halliburton, but rather annual installments of monies earned before taking office in 2000.

Counter with asking Edwards to explain the "funny money" games behind his setting up of a dummy corporation to avoid paying an estimated $290,000 in Medicare taxes in the two years before he ran for the Senate.

I don't think Edwards would ask further questions about Dick Cheney's financial affairs after receiving that question in return.

[Area51]

All Cheney has to do is at the first lie Breck girl tells he uses this line.

"Now look, this is the VP debates. This is not a summation in a 100 million dollar Civil suit you are attempting to milk out of some Company Like McDonald's for having to hot of coffee, or a parent sueing Wendy's because their kid became obese for eating 3 meals a day for years there.

You need to start telling the truth here. I know that is difficult coming from the Profession you are in, but this is life and death stuff. Being slick and pretty don't stop terrorists. Bill Clinton proved that!"

[NormsRevenge]

Debate? lol .. Is that what they are trying to call it?

Democratic vice presidential candidate U.S. Sen. John Edwards (news - web sites) selects some home-made berry pies with his wife, Elizabeth, at the Haff Acres Farm in Chautauqua, N.Y., on Sunday, Oct. 3, 2004. Sen. Edwards prepared for his upcoming debate with Vice-President Dick Cheney (news - web sites) while staying at the Chautauqua Institution in Western New York. (AP Photo/Don Heupel)

Democratic vice presidential hopeful U.S. Sen. John Edwards (news - web sites), D-N.C., and his wife Elizabeth greet the crowd at a Tennesee Democratic Party primary celebration in this Nashville, Tenn., Feb. 8, 2004 file photo. Sen. Edwards will face off with Vice President Dick Cheney (news - web sites) Tuesday Oct. 5, 2004, in their first and only nationally televised debate prior to the presidential election in November. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel/File)

[Paul8148]

Oh Cheney will win. He got an old school style about him. They have a great talk about his style on C-span this weekend. He takes his 90 sec and 2 minutes and builds up a logical point as he goes along in the point he is making.

[HenryLeeII]

I think it would be a great boost if Cheney could catch Edwards contradicting some of Kerry's viewpoints in the first debate.

Anything that either of the Dem nominees says must, by the laws of logic, contradict something that Kerry has said at some point during the campaign.

As far as contradicting something from the first debate, Kerry took the stance throughout the first hour or so that invading Iraq was a mistake, then at the end said it wasn't. But only 36 hours earlier, on one of the girly-man network morning shows, he answered the question of whether it was a mistake by saying it depends on the outcome in Iraq. So, no matter how Edwards answers a similar question, there will be an opportunity for the next GOP ad.

Edwards doesn't have much wiggle room before he runs against something Kerry has said, regardless of the subject.

[wiley]

Kerry wasn't debating. He was pandering. Bush stayed the course and was consistent. Bush is a class act and class wins out in the long run. Perhaps Bush could have done a better job of rebutting Kerry, but in a sense it's impossible to rebut a demagogue.

The general take on these debates is that they don't have much impact unless there is a genuine "Reagan" moment where Carter did a meltdown.

Bush held his ground and the worst any one can say is that he was off is game, or that debating is not his 'thing'. OTOH, having Kerry lay out his inconsistencies for the record is not a bad thing and in the long run Kerry's 'style' will play badly for him. He's all show, no go.

[mak5]

Yep, if Edwards brings up Halliburton, Cheney brings up tort reform. Fact is, there are few, if any other, companies capable of doing the work that Halliburton does. With time of the essence, who would Kerry/Edwards give the work to? Some affirmative action program?

[dartuser]

I hope you are all correct. Personally, I want to see Cheney pretty much IGNORE Edwards and conduct his debate with John Kerry tomorrow night. America is asleep, and there will be nothing to wake this country up if people look and see Edwards as a possible President over Dick Cheney.

Cheney is an experienced, poised, strong leader ... I really hope America sees the contrast between these two ...

I am very very nervous that Edwards will pull a Kerry and do much much better than anyone expects. Yes, he will lie, but hopefully Cheney will trash his lies in one sentence, and then go after Kerrys policies big time.

[LincolnLover]

"...Kerry lay out his inconsistencies..."

I really expect to see things Kerry said on Thursday--"global test" and others--to make it into every response Cheney makes.

Again, I think it's nearly impossible for Edwards to defend both Kerry's record in the Senate and inconsistencies made as recently as last week.

I expect Cheney to romp, but also expect the MSM to underreport and downplay the result.

[GraniteStateConservative]

Edwards, as a US senator from NC, was more hawkish on Iraq than Kerry was. It would be even easier to blast him with his own words.

[plain talk]

I agree with some of what you said. But the class act doesn't always win. Dole was certainly class and he lost.
I also don't recall a Carter meltdown in those debates. The bad economy and Iran did Carter in anyway.

If Bush allows Kerry to frame the debate between now and the election as being about him, he will have problems. He must frame the debate as being about Kerry and have more than 2-3 phrases to describe that. Although I believe Bush won the first debate on substance, there is the perception out there that he lost. In particular, Bush repeated many statements over and over. That was distracting and hurt him.

[areafiftyone]

I have no doubt Edwards will bring up Haliburton and also behind closed doors secret meetings. This will all come up. I don't put it past the Dems to even bring up the Gay Marriage issue. Also don't forget the FEARMONGERING!

[connectthedots]

Drudge thinks all Edwards has to do is repeat Halliburton. It would certainly preach to the democratic base.

If that is the case, all Cheney has to repeat is, "Trial Lawyer".

[Sir Gawain]

Just start asking questions on foreign policy and watch Edwards go down in flames. Cheney will win handily.

[mwl1]

The questions will be stacked against Cheney. He had better be ready not only to react, but to turn the conversation to the offensive... and trap Edwards on an array of Kerry flip-flops.

[SaveTheChief]

I think it is going to be a similar result as the first Presidential debate.

Edwards will have nothing definite to say. He will lie, manipulate facts, and invent them in order to reach out to those who are just enough gullible to believe the nonsense he will spew. He was a slimy trial lawyer, after all.

Cheney will be short, straightforward, and honest, and the media will spin it to nauseating limits.

Edwards will be pronounced the winner by the media, but this will not cause any real change in the polls.

Polling agencies will sample more Democrats, more "independent" voters, more unregistered voters, and less Republicans to create the illusion that the Democrats are gaining ground.

[contessa machiaveli]

i wish cheney was president and bush his VP. he's much brighter, glib, and engenders much more confidence. i've always found dubya's views on stem cell, abortion, and religion a bit too intrusive.
cheney is a pragmatist and doesn't seem to bother with social issues (or is at least, quiet about them).

[XJarhead]

The debate actually is a tremendous opportunity for Cheney to nail the Halliburton story once and for all. It's not that complicated -- he has no financial interest at all in Halliburton, and Edwards knows that.

[eeriegeno]

Can't wait for trial lawyer Edwards to bring up how Kerry is going to reduce health care costs!!

I don't think that Edwards will define how Kerry will reduce health care costs because that's also part of the 'secret Kerry plan' that we won't know until after the election!!!!

[Dems_R_Losers]

I will be surprised and extremely disappointed if Cheney does not remind people at least once that John Kerry voted against the 1991 Gulf War. Cheney was SecDef at the time and he can credibly talk about the gross inconsistencies of Kerry's two Iraq war votes, while subtly reminding everyone that he has infinitely more experience than Edwards.

I suspect that the idiots in the Kerry campaign will not be able to resist the urge to have Edwards chant "Halliburton" as many times as possible. Meanwhile Cheney will carve up Kerry like a Halloween pumpkin.

[Area51]

Mrs. Kerry: "Okay this is great for my lunch, but what about something for John."

[weegee]

The enemy of America (Islamist terrorism) is unlike our conventional communist enemies. There is no flag that they fly, no uniform that they wear and no terms to negotiate a peace. They seek to dominate the Western world, regardless how unattainable that position may be.

They did acheive a Western capital in Spain for a time until they were beaten back to the Middle East.

How many of the world's conflicts involve muslim nations and violence?

They strike civilian targets as much as they do military and government.

They do not play "by the rules". I would venture that our President is more open to genuine attack than at any time in our history (excepting lone nuts).

Now ask youself, is John Edwards a man capable of being president? This is what must be proven by John Edwards Tuesday night. We all know that Dick Cheney is quite capable of the job (even the leftist kooks who claim that Cheney is really running the show would admit it even if they disagree with his policies).

[weegee]

Keep a running score of how many times Edwards cheats by saying "See our website...".