CNN Aired Picture of Cheney and Edwards taken Together Some Time Ago

[deckerd]

In response to Cheney's biggest (and from what I can tell most effective) blow of the night, "I'm the President of the Senate
and the first time we've met is when I sat down tonight."

Is this true? If so, Dem spinners might wanna do something with
this... unless they are sooo defensive that they're trying to
eke out a technical state-to-state victory on Nov. 2.

Defensiveness would explain (yet again) why Edwards (like Kerry)
refused to hit Bush hard during the VP debates (and Cheney) on
issues like:

* Zarqawi and Little Tora Bora (anticipating that the admin is
now trying to capture Zarqawi at this late date before the election)

* Coming out in front on the Beslan issue and tying it to homeland
security

* Tying it to Bush's asinine statement that we can't afford domestic security improvements.

WTF is wrong with Dem strategists???

I expect they won't use this either, if the story is accurate (how could it not be? Never met Edwards in the floor of the Senate?)

[aquart]

1. Mrs. Edwards reminded Cheney of the last time they met.

So, no. Not true.

[fizzana]

2. The Democrats need to hammer this one incessantly

It shows that they will lie about anything and everything. It's black and white - he lied through his teeth.

Let the debate be remembered for only one thing - that Cheney lied about having never met Edwards prior to tonight. It's a slam dunk and no-one can argue about it.

It should be talking point # 1 tomorrow.

[deckerd]

4. Our greatest enemy is ADD

I volunteer for a group where follow-through -- and the inability or reluctance to sustain righteous indignation about an issue long enough to make a difference (on the assumption that righteous indignation about such puny, tinfoil-hat matters as Little Tora Bora and Cheney pretending he never met Edwards is somehow beneath our dignity and a distraction from the "real issues") is a problem. I diagnose the Kerry camp with this ailment. When and if Kerry wins it will be in spite of the "no need to press that point, we've got him on so many other issues which are less controversial" mentality. Hey -- we carry on in spite of it too.

So, I heartily agree.

Also, hammer on:

1. Mixed Messages -- turn this against Bush dammit

2. Beslan massacre -- tie it rhetorically to Bush coddling Zarqawi dammit. Too late now?

3. Little Tora Bora -- Edwards DID say, for the first time in the campaign, that the
administration has "created a terrorist haven in Iraq where there wasn't one before."
But he needed to repeat such statements for emphasis and, being a trial lawyer, I am surprised Edwards did not.

4. "I DON'T KNOW HOW HE PLANS ON PAYING FOR ALL THESE (domestic security measures),
I MEAN THE TAX IMPLICATIONS AND ALL"

Why won't Edwards DESTROY Cheney by forcing him to defend that statement by Bush? Why can't he do so TOMORROW? What's WRONG with these New Democrat type Strategists? Are they trying to throw the election? No WAY they're holding this in reserve to use against Bush later!!! It'll be OLD NEWS in less than a WEEK ---damnit!

There, I said it, I feel better now.

[krkaufman]

3. See LBN

It sounds like the Kerry Campaign quickly distributed the photo to the media, and are following-up w/ add'l info.

[Reciprocity]

5. Coming up after commercial>