An unspun debate opinion

[spinbaby]

I watched the debate last night on CSPAN, went to bed, and haven't heard any comments from news media nor read any comments on this site since I watched the debates. I consider myself, at this moment, to be uninfluenced by spin.

I think it was a draw.

Both Cheney and Edwards were on top of their talking points. however, Cheney was better at replying with very specific numbers or "facts" whereas Edwards' replies tended to be a bit more general. Even when I knew that Cheney's facts were wrong, he was very specific and stated them with great conviction. He never ever let go of his main point (terror, terror, TERROR!).

Cheney looked sullen and couldn't quite get that sneer off his face. He looked as if he might have indigestion. I don't know if someone told him to look "serious" or what, but he came off as looking quite unpleasant and dissagreeable.

Edwards started off cheery but seemed somewhat nervous and rushed. He soon settled into his game, though, and was just downright pleasant to listen to.

Overall, I think Cheney was a bit better as a debater but that it didn't matter because Edwards came off sounding a lot better.

Now I'm going to go see what the morning media spin is.

[ScreamingMeemie]

1. I think Cheney dodge every question...and it showed.

CBS telephone poll of undecideds gave it to Edwards. Sure, we're all biased here, but those people weren't. People aren't buying what "Grandpa" Cheney is selling anymore. His 9/11-Iraq denial did him in...point blank.

[evilqueen]

2. My immediate impression...

was that Cheney sounded fairly smooth, confident, like he believed what he was saying, etc. And to people who weren't especially paying attention to the news of the last five years, that may be how he sounded to them. Then you start checking on the facts and you find out Cheney lied numerous times and Edwards didn't.

I don't think American citizens like the idea of our leaders lying to us all the time, which this administration seems to do regularly. The main things I think this administration stand for are:

1) Corporate profit, no matter the cost in human life, and no matter the ethics involved.
2) Greed. They're going to suck as much wealth out of poor people as they can before they get thrown out of office.
3) Lies. These guys are pathological liars. They lie so much, it begins to sound convincing if you aren't aware of the truth. Obviously they've already convinced themselves.
4) Hypocrisy. It's ok to give tax cuts to the wealthy because we're sheltering our corporate liabilities off-shore and using our subsidiaries to illegally trade with our enemies. So in effect they'll pay no tax and continue to present what they do as "hard work" even though they're on vacation about half the time. These guys don't know what "hard work" is. I say we hand them each an empty rifle and drop them off at Falluja... it'd make the ultimate Reality TV program.
5) Creepy. This bit about "practicing their love on" people is just plain creepy. These are the same guys that refused to call what happened at Abu Ghraib "torture"... remember that.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

3. I thought it was a real yawner.

Two politicians playing their parts. Cheney was less grotesque than usual and Edwards looked and sounded like a good cheerleader. I managed to watch the whole thing but kept looking at the clock.

[deutsey]

4. From what little I saw of the debate

I liked what Edwards was saying for the most part, but I think his delivery was less than sterling. I was particularly put off by his repitition of certain phrases and points. Because he was a trial lawyer, I expected him to give a much smoother delivery, resembling Kerry's last week. Still, he was a helluva lot better than Bush last week.

Cheney came off to me as his usual smooth self, so smooth, in fact, that he was downright boring (again, I didn't see the entire debate, just the last 20 minutes or so). I think while his delivery was a little better than Edwards', Cheney's substance was deeply lacking.

Overall, from what I saw last night and the excerpts I've heard on Democracy Now this a.m., I think Edwards won but not by much. Just my opinion based on what I've seen of the debate.