My prediction: Cheney will try to soften his image tonight....

[West Coast Democrat]

I could be wrong, but I don't see how he can afford to be his old self and go on the attack in this sort of a forum, with so many people watching on TV. He already has very high negatives.

Who else thinks this will be Dick's tactic tonight?

[gristy]

1. Can someone tell me what time it starts?

Thanks.

[West Coast Democrat]

2. 6:00 PST is my understanding

[atommom]

3. I agree. If he goes about things in his usual grumpy way, he'll

look even worse next to sunny John Edwards. (I'm still hoping he doesn't do a good job of pretending to be nice...)

[Hobarticus]

4. He'll try, but he's too much of an arrogant hothead...

My money's on him completely going apeshit and trying to bludgeon Edwards with his microphone.

[atommom]

13. God, I hope so! :D nt

[liskddksil]

18. especially with Leahy staring him in the face

[Leilani]

35. My money is on exactly the opposite...

I have watched Cheney since the 70s & have NEVER, EVER seen him go apeshit.

And no, he s not a hothead...he is cool & calculating; he will be in control.

Edwards will beat him on debating points...the failure of Bush/Cheney in all areas. The facts are on Edwards side.

[A-Schwarzenegger]

5. Yes. As somebody said,

he's going to wear a flowing lime kimono to the debate
for just that purpose.

[deadparrot]

6. Probably...everything else is a bust.

I think he can be a pretty smooth talker if he puts himself to it.

[graywarrior]

10. He won't be able to resist being patronizing

He's an arrogant prick.

[deadparrot]

12. But will the mediawhores spin it that way? nt

[dogtag]

15. I hate to admit it, but he can have this weirdly

soothing, monotonous drone that almost puts one to sleep. It has a hypnotic effect and he's worked on it for a long, long time. It's a good technique and I used to use it myself to calm down upset clients.

Edwards is on to him and won't get sucked in like Lieberman did in 2000.

[West Coast Democrat]

16. What's the best method for Edwards to use against this tactic?

[dogtag]

21. JE just needs to find a voice timbre that doesn't sound

like he's 'speechifying' or talking at many decibels higher than Uncle Dick, but he can't be lulled into matching his schmaltzy tone. JE is too smart to be sucked in. I'm not worried.

[geek tragedy]

7. He'll be 2000 Dick.

[DrWeird]

8. My prediction is he'll fail miserably...

at trying to soften his image.

There's absolutely no way he'll beat Edwards on likeability.

[ewagner]

9. Don't think he can

he's got to do two things:

1. Scare the hell out of everybody while implying that Edwards doesn't understand the risks of "terra"
2. Project a tough, no-compromise personna.

If he tries to soften his image, he'll undermine Bush*'s tough talk..

[DenverDem]

11. . . . and fail miserably."

evildick doesn't have it in him. Negativity oozes from every pore. The contrast to Johnny E will be night and day, dark and light, evil and good.

[West Coast Democrat]

14. So the next question is, if he fails to soften his image....

how much will that hurt the ticket?

[Geek_Girl]

17. It should be an interisting debate

Cheney needs to soften his image and Edwards is going to come out swinging.

I wonder how Cheney's going to manage to soften his image while being pounded by his opponent. It should be very interesting to say the least.

:crazy:

[leftofthedial]

19. pajamas, a smoking jacket and a pipe

the Hugh Hefner thing.

Come sit on Unka Dick's lap and let me tell you a story . . .

[chefgirl]

20. I think you're right

I think what Old Dick is going to do is be very deferential, and obsequiously 'tolerant' of Edwards.

He'll drone on and on in that monotone of his, coming across as the patient 'parent' to the impetuous child he will attempt to make Edwards into.
With intonation and insinuation he will try to make light of every charge Edwards might level against him just as you would when a 5 yr old tries to argue you into letting them do something you dont want them to do. You listen, trying to show them that you respect that they have an opinion, and then you calmly, firmly stick to your guns and cut the rug out from under them with just a bit of a knowing chuckle.

Its exactly what he did with Lieberman (I just watched their debate again the other night) and Lieberman was completely taken aback by it. The difference is, while Lieberman actually had the years of political experience to counteract Cheney's game, and didn't, I'm afraid Edwards' apparent youthfulness is going to work against him.

That said, I absolutely adore John Edwards...would love to have seen him win the nomination, but I was very aware that it was probably too soon in his career given his relative inexperience. It may very well work against him tonight too.

My fondest wish, however, is that Edwards gives us all a taste of what made him such a highly successful trial lawyer. The big, bright, beautiful smile that hides a pit bull. He just might be able to throw Cheney off balance if he does.

Bottom line, though... I think Cheney is smart enough not to underestimate Edwards, and we will see Cheney's best stuff tonight.

-chef-

[hippiegranny]

22. John Edwards' youthfulness?

He's 51 years old and the Big Dick is 63. They are practically contemporaries. JE has the fabu genetics quotient going for him, but he ain't no "youth!"

[West Coast Democrat]

25. That's true....Cheney only looks like an 80-year old!

63 isn't that ancient!

[chefgirl]

30. NO, he 'aint no youth'

You're absolutely right about that, but then again, have you taken a look at Cheney lately?? Compared to that, Methuseleh would probably come off as youthful.

Like it or not, that IS how people percieve Edwards, and Dick is an OLD hand at this.
My feeling is that Cheney is going to try to insidiously patronize Edwards, and thats a very difficult hurdle for anyone to jump. If you try and combat it, you come off as 'sensitive' to it, and if you don't you almost fall into the trap of confirming it in peoples' minds.

Hey, I'm ALL for Edwards, in case you didn't read any further than the word 'youthful' in my first response, but I also believe Cheney is a LOT smoother, slicker and greasier than people on DU are willing to give him credit for.

Im just sayin...

-chef-

[West Coast Democrat]

24. The Lieberman-Cheney debate was a real snoozer....

and seemed to have absolutely zero effect on the campaign. I don't want a repeat of that!

[jacksonian]

32. have to admit i worry about this

Cheney is such Washington vet. A slimy, slippery bastard with a lifetime of breathing evil, like any corporation lawyer Edwards has seen times 10. David against Goliath, hoping for that good shot.

But you know, people don't really vote for vice presidents. Bush may avert disaster (and maybe not, too) but he can't really win tonight. He gonna have to do that himself vs. Kerry.

[RaleighNCDUer]

23. Hard to see, the Dark Side is...

[BootinUp]

26. EXCLUSIVE: Here is his softer image :-)

[West Coast Democrat]

27. Is that Dick, or Karen Hughes??!!!

[BootinUp]

28. I know, with Dick's plastic surgery its hard to tell

LOL

[baltodemvet]

31. OMG! He's such a cutie!

I could just sodomize him.

[Warren DeMontague]

29. You Mean Like This?

[mtnester]

33. Edwards has just GOT to get the "It is ironic we are having this debate..

In a city that has been declared to be the poorest city in the United States...THAT is a direct result of the actions of you and the POTUS"

GOT to get that poorest city statement in there..MUST do it first

[sherilocks]

34. If Cheney can soften his image he'll look

like the Pillsbury Doughman with an evil face.