Cheney Edwards tonite - a few thoughts

[lil-petunia]

I've thought long and hard about what might happen, what I hope does NOT happen and what I would like to see from Mr. Edwards.

before I get there, though, my thoughts on what to expect from Cheney.

He has been practicing his approach for this debate for the past year, appearing in public, getting on TV, answering, or rather, selecting parts of the question he wishes to answer. He has this serious corporate gravitas that cannot be ignored, especially when he couples it with "I get secret information that you will never see, so I know more than you."
He is very, very good with that approach.

He is also a pig. Powerhungry, self-satisfied and always searching for weakness in an opponent. He will be smooth, polished, confident, dangerous.


Mr. Edwards looks too young. Too inexperienced. Too naive. If he wants to win, he has to convince the public that he not only understands the policies, but can explain why today's policies are so dangerous to the US. Not direct attacks on Cheney, they will only backfire. Rather, he needs to show that he can step up should Rove's surprise be to assassinate Kerry. He has to appear as though he has the experience, the knowledge, the insight into what is expected of a president, then criticize the Bush team for letting us down so badly.

But, VERY FEW, if any personal attacks. Of course, if Cheney lets his attack dog attitude sneak out, he should have a devastating response at the ready.

[Kikosexy2]

1. I expect..

tricky Dicky to snarl as usual. As long Edwards can keep Dicky snarling (Halliburton, Halliburton, Halliburton, duck-hunting, Halliburton, war-profiteering) then JE should be alright. Good pointers you brought out also.

[Jack from Charlotte]

19. Cheney has several HUGE problems in a debate regardless of the opponent

He's defending The AWOL/moron. Here's his record. How can this be defended?

1.He turned the largest surplus in history into the largest deficits in history.

2.After being attacked by Osama bin Laden Bush took troops out of Afghanistan where Bin Laden is hiding to attack Saddam Husein. This is like Roosevelt attacking Iceland in response to Japan attacking Pearl Harbor. Just because congress gave him the AUTHORITY to go to war with Iraq doesn't mean he had to use it. We gave him a drivers license. We didn't give him permission to drive the car off the cliff.

3.Bush is the first President since Herbert Hoover to have a net jobs loss. There's been several bad wars and bad economies since then but every other president presided over net new jobs.... except Bush.

4. Bush is also the first president since Herbert Hoover to preside over a net DECREASE in the stock market. Anyone planning on using a 401K account for retirement didn't even get a Small amount of growth. They worked 4 years and have less for retirement than when Bush took office.

Defend that. Anyone?

Kerry and the Dems should have run an add saying saying just that so every single moron republican would even know by heart these four facts.

[ChickMagic]

2. I've had the same concerns

But I'm comforted by the fact that Edwards, in his legal career, has gone up against people just like Cheney and won.

[Cat Atomic]

3. I wonder if Cheney can be baited as easily as Bush?

Kerry kept Bush angry the whole time with his suggestion that Bush is stupid, and then later when he suggested Bush Sr. was a better president.

Cheney's obviously got a temper, and it comes out when people talk about his war profiteering and corruption ("go fuck yourself"), but I wonder if he could be made to lose his temper on television?

[prayin4rain]

4. I expect that Cheney will break down and admit everything he has ever done

wrong, and then probably start ratting out his friends too...

[MajorFlaw]

7. No, no, no. He is saving that trick for his debate with future A.G.

Spitzer.

Where are my manners, Welcome to DU!

[prayin4rain]

9. LOL...and...Thank You :)

[dogtag]

5. Edwards is actually 6 years older than Jack Kennedy was

when he ran for president. But bringing up the name Kennedy in a vice presidential debate is not a good idea. LOL.

Cheney is only six years older than Bush. So much for the grandfather crap!

Cheney has looked like an old man since he went bald during the Ford administration. Gravitas? More like Grave-itas.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

6. Just for old time's sake...

(It was tacky for Quayle to call him "Jack," as if he was a friend of his...that would have set ME off)

From the Bentsen-Quayle Vice Presidential Debate
October 5, 1988
Hosted by Judy Woodruff

QUAYLE: I have far more experience than many others that sought the office of vice president of this country. I have as much experience in the Congress as Jack Kennedy did when he sought the presidency. I will be prepared to deal with the people in the Bush administration, if that unfortunate event would ever occur.

WOODRUFF: Senator Bentsen.

BENTSEN: Senator, I served with Jack Kennedy, I knew Jack Kennedy, Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine. Senator, you are no Jack Kennedy. (Prolonged shouts and applause) What has to be done in a situation like that is to call in the -

WOODRUFF: Please, please, once again you are only taking time away from your own candidate.

QUAYLE: That was really uncalled for, Senator. (Shouts and applause)

BENTSEN: You are the one that was making the comparison, Senator - and I'm one who knew him well. And frankly I think you are so far apart in the objectives you choose for your country that I did not think the comparison was well-taken.

full transcript: http://www.debates.org/pages/trans88c.html

[DixieDem]

8. Say What???

>> Mr. Edwards looks too young. Too inexperienced. Too naive.

Mr. Edwards can definitely hold his own. Research his NC bid for senator and you'll see exactly what I mean.

Why isn't the current administration going after his trial lawyer experience? HINT - Because they'll lose big time if they try go there.

Edwards is scaring the shit out these people. Probably even more so than Kerry!

[lil-petunia]

18. I agree with you - I am simply repeating what

has been hinted at elsewhere.

A lot of good points here, especially about his attack dog mentality (cheney's)
But I love how the pund-twits have been down-playing Cheney. At the same time, they have been putting Edwards on a pedestal, hoping he falls.

This forum will take on a whole different feeling for the public. Tables, seated speakers, seeing the corporate Mongo, defending against unwarranted attacks by the evil lawyer.

It will be very interesting. I suspect that Edwards will either nose him out, or win by a huge margin. He is one smart dude. But no one can misunderestimate the games and surprises, the attacks and the lies of these Rovian ogres, especially the guy pulling all the strings, Cheney.

[pacalo]

10. On the other hand, the coWard has been practicing as much & he bombed.

The disastrous duo has over practiced, if you ask me.

As for Edwards' youthful appearance & "inexperience", it is precisely that presumption that has his opponents underestimating him. Edwards is a successful litigator against corporations -- people like Cheney.

[Bucky]

11. Sadly, audiences always want to believe the handsomer of two debaters.

This applies to both Edwards and Bush in their respective debates. Bush lost because he's a pampered li'l dope who is never exposed to critical input or challenging thoughts. Kerry won on pure merit. Cheney has that same advantage, but Edwards has many of Kerry's minuses (such as a tendency to over-explain). Edwards also has Bush's disadvantage in that, as a fairly pretty man, he's more used to being listened to and more used to being fawned over. That can be a real Achilles heel if not checked by rigorous preparation.

I'm pretty confident Edwards will hold his own and will say what he needs to say to our base. But Cheney, unlike Bush, actually knows his job and can be a formidable opponent. I think the way to get Cheney is to get under his skin, attack his vanity, make him snarl. I'm not sure Edwards is egocentric enough to do that.

[K-W]

12. Edwards is an extremely talented trial lawyer, Cheney is an ogre.

Lets not get too crazy with our handicapping.

[FlemingsGhost]

13. Edwards/Cheney ... 10 minutes of televised calisthenics.

"You okay, Dick? You look a little pale ..."

[bobthedrummer]

14. I concur, Cheney is a PIG.

A war profiteering war criminal too, imho.

[LisaLynne]

15. I think Edward's ...

manner will help him. As others have pointed out, he's an experienced trial lawyer. He has seen Cheney's type before. He has beaten Cheney's type before. Cheney isn't as stupid as b* (who realistically could be?), but it's not going to be enough. I do feel sorry for Edwards having to be on the same stage as Crashcart. That sort of evil is probably not very pleasant to stand next to. :scared:

[OneTwentyoNine]

16. Edwards will be fine,he's done some debating before.....

As a lawyer in front of jury's he's had to do some incredible "debating" with the other side.

Edwards will come off as young,energetic,wanting to get this country on the right track. Cheney will come off as the scowling,hate filled,War monger that he is--well unless you count VN, the War he wanted no part of.

David

[n2mark]

17. A clear choice

As viewers watch the debates tonight, they to look beyond the words:

They need to look at the mentality of the resident in the WH and his health, he has not given and is refusing to disclose his physical results until after the election. So... many questions should be asked.

Our VP is questionable because of his heart problems. If it was only one incident of a heart problem that is not so much a problem, but four? I'm troubled! If he cannot stand during the debate possibly because of his heart, makes me wonder about his physical strength during another attack.

We have a resident and vice resident who are not in the best of health, this should trouble all voters.

Kerry disclosed his physical... all is okay.

Although I've not seen Edwards physical, he is young yet and am giving him the benefit of the doubt.