I JUST got a hilarious call from a friend!!!!

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

Ok my friend James just called me. I've known him since I was a kid and he PROMISED me he'd pay attention this year and pick a candidate and vote! (He hasn't voted since Ross Perot in 1992!!!!)

Well he called me and I even asked him to repeat what he said so I could write it down. Here it is. Chalk this up to ANOTHER "who'da thunk it?" thing that puts people over the fence to your side. I would have NEVER imagined THIS would do it:

"Ok (he's laughing) I have made up my mind for SURE! (he has claimed to know before then waffled) Oh geez, it's Kerry and Edwards all the way, hey can Edwards be president and Kerry vice president?"

Me: "Um no I don't think so, James, not at this point, why?"

James: "Damn, that Edwards was cracking me up!!! With all his laughing and saying 'Oh yeah I said his name again!'" (At this point James is laughing pretty hard)

Me: "Was that good or bad?"

James: "Hell it was hilarious. Man, ANYONE who can laugh at themselves like that and be that relaxed in a national debate, I want that person in the Oval Office. He was so cool about it, it just didn't bother him, he just sort of laughed it off. They talk about having a beer with Kerry or bush, damn, I wanna have a beer with Edwards! See, that's a guy that doesn't take himself too seriously. Cheney was just a blowhard."

He laughed for a bit more and I admitted I have always thought he had a self-deprecating sense of humor and liked him for it.

THAT sent my friend James over to the Kerry side. He was leaning, but Edwards' genuine laughter at HIMSELF in the debate really appealed to James.

[crispini]

1. that was one of my favorite moments of the debate.

what a charmer!

[WI_DEM]

2. Your friend is right

It was a human moment. Not a dumb human moment like the Chimp staring at the camera with a deer in the headlight look, but a funny and real human moment.

[knight_of_the_star]

13. There lies a difference

Bush makes mistakes and when he does he looks like a total doofus because he is about as smooth as heavy-duty sandpaper. Both the Johns have the skill and panache to slip up and land on their feet.

[LisaLynne]

3. That's great news!

And good for you for getting your friend interested and voting again!

[CrowNotAngelGRL]

4. LOL

Hey, whatever works!

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

8. No shit

then there's my friend who votes for whomever is "cutest" or has the cutest family. She is voting Kerry-Edwards this year (duh).

I find these reasons really ODD, but then I'm someone who likes to know what they are going to DO once they are in office.

Still, I didn't argue that with James. I just made him PROMISE he is voting Kerry. He did and was still chuckling.

[progressivebydesign]

5. I absolutely LOVED that part! Your friend is great! n/t

[Demi_Babe]

6. AWESOME

[cheshire]

7. Cheney could never do that, I loved him more at that moment too. honest.

[juajen]

15. Hey, I watched the whole debate

and can't remember that "moment". What was he laughing at?

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

18. Towards the end

he kept mentioning Kerry and it was some question where you couldn't mention your running mate.

Funny thing was cheney had NO problem not mentioning bush!

ROFL!

[deadparrot]

9. * looks like a fool when he fumbles, Edwards just looks adorable.

Very endearing.

Reading these posts, I'm almost positive that we're overanalyzing this. Its been a long time since I've looked at a debate without bias, but undecided voters seem to respond positively to Edwards, even when he screws up.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

12. Yep

I think I must have overly critical eyes, too, because I was a bit despondent at first, but then seeing the reactions of the five people I had over here really cheered me up, they LOVED Edwards.

(The women a bit too much.)

[merh]

10. Send this on to Kerry/Edwards campaign, they will love it!

Gosh I like your friends. Here is to you and your friends :toast:

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

14. They're decent people

now keep in mind, I'm not describing my republican friends! We don't even talk about this stuff anymore!!!

[merh]

19. Oh understand! I play cards with * supporters - over the last

couple of months we have had a pact that we will not discuss politics (though someone broached the debate issue last week and I was able to reference Kerry's drop kick of the shrub). Funny thing there are closet Kerry supporters in the group who call me about pro-kerry things, they just won't support him in the group.

[0rganism]

11. That's awesome!

In the end, after all the weighty complicated gravitas is long forgotten, it will be overall impressions and funny little details like this that are going to stick with people, and Edwards is takin' the nostalgia vote in a walk.

[Eye and Monkey]

16. hey James...cheers!

:toast:

[Fleshdancer]

17. Plus, this was in direct contrast from the slumped over grimacing ogre

Cheney's shoulders slumped lower and lower as the debate progressed. His facial expressions got more and more agitated. Compare this with Edwards who not only kept a relaxed composure, but was even able to laugh at his own "mistake".

And Edwards picking up his son and giving him a big hug after the debate was beautiful. I love his entire family. They all look so warm.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

20. Yeah

I'm sure the kids in his arms got a lot of approval from Americans, too.

[pansypoo53219]

21. edwards laugh is normal

georgie's has always been rather fake an annoying to me. let's hope edwards laugh appeals to more people too.