Vice Presidential Debates

[BDBionic]

Although there was indeed a less clear "winner" - which is to say both men did well and it wasn't like the first debate where it was plainly obvious Kerry did extremely well, while Bush did quite poorly - I found this quite interesting...

The Cheney quote:
"The first time I met you was when you walked on this stage tonight."

Buuuut...



Addressing the National Prayer Breakast, Cheney said: “Thank you. Thank you very much. Congressman Watts, Senator Edwards, friends from across America and distinguished visitors to our country from all over the world, Lynne and I honored to be with you all this morning.” [FDCH Political Transcripts, Cheney Remarks at the National Prayer Breakfast, 2/1/01]

So either Cheney's only real zinger during the debate was the product of a calculated lie... or a flat out bad memory.

Well then.

[Lee]

Well i have only just gotten a chance to watch the debates but the one thing that stood out extremely for me was the body language that Cheney was using.

For almost every answer he gave to a direct question, he put his hands close to, or over his mouth.

In body language pshycology that means someone is lying $0.02

Regards,

Lee

[Chris Alan]

I missed the debate.. so I have no comment

[neilxod]

Good Morning All

I figured as long as I was sitting shiva for poor Rodney last night I would watch the debate.
First.....did any bodynotice that the moderator said that this is "he first and only VP debate" Well, it can't be the " first" if it's the only........and then we were off to the races.

Lee has an excellent point about body language. Mr. Chaney did keep covering his mouth...a sure sign of speaking a falsehood. He also didn't take his 30 seconds to speak again on the gay marriage issue. I found that strange.

Edwards spoke to the issues, answered the questions and kept his cool. Polls show him the clear winner and maybe...just maybe we're in for a change after November!

I'm always open to opposing views...if you agree with me!! LOL

N.

[Harlan]

What a score on that screencap, Brian! Thanks so much!
Yet another example of "misleading" when it furthers the current admin's campaign agenda.

Considering Cheney has been in politics since 1969 when he served under the Nixon administration - about the time Edwards was learning to drive, to me, that made last night's match up like an evening at the actor's studio with Ben Kinglsey on one side vs Matt Damon on the other comparing the finer points of their craft.

Did anyone else notice how few times, if ever, Cheney even brought up the name of Dubya? Makes ya really wonder who is watching the shop doesn't it?

Cheney gave the performance the Bush campaign wanted...that of a steady, experienced, seasoned politician who makes crumpy old Mr. Wilson look like Jerry Seinfeld! When Edwards said in his closing remarks "I don't think American can take 4 more years of that" I think he's giving a large part of the country what it wants...change.

Can't wait to see how Friday's debate plays out!

[Marc]

I dont know about anyone else but I got excited about the 2 questions dedicated to gay marriage.
To me this is BIG BIG BIG.

To have 2 politicians from both sides BOTH saying that gay people should be respected and have our rights was very exciting.
Theyre against marriage, but equal rights is a big start, and they both came across as sincere.

Especially a stone faced old pro like Dick Cheney agreeing with gay rights and not fighting it at all. He's very respected by conservatives, so to me, this is a big deal.

I dont think "Gay" would ever even be said in previous debates, nevermind having 2 questions dedicated to them, so we've come a LONG way :thumbsup:

[Gary-Alan]

Originally posted by Marc

Especially a stone faced old pro like Dick Cheney agreeing with gay rights and not fighting it at all. He's very respected by conservatives, so to me, this is a big deal.

You know I caught something in his remarks that made a mark in my thoughts. And I'm not sure if it went past others... Cheney, after explaining he believed that freedom belongs to all, that the constitional ammendment is the president's agenda, that he is only supporting the president.

In his 30 seconds afterward, I think that all he could have said was thank you to Edwards - especially if this was an issue which he didn't believe in.

And don't worry I haven't changed my vote LOL I just thought it was on par with what Marc saw

Gary-Alan

[BDBionic]

Although I believe Cheney is sincere about his wanting the most for his daughter, there was also some calculated politics in his not saying much more on the issue of gay marriage and just thanking Edwards for his comments.

He couldn't risk ticking off his conservative base, and so it would have been a bad move on that front to have gone in to it any further. By not saying anything more, he avoided making the conservative elements of his own party any more uncomfortable with his views of his daughter and her sexuality.

[Gary-Alan]

Originally posted by BDBionic
Although I believe Cheney is sincere about his wanting the most for his daughter, there was also some calculated politics in his not saying much more on the issue of gay marriage and just thanking Edwards for his comments.

He couldn't risk ticking off his conservative base, and so it would have been a bad move on that front to have gone in to it any further. By not saying anything more, he avoided making the conservative elements of his own party any more uncomfortable with his views of his daughter and her sexuality.

Absolutely! I just thought it was interesting that he did get his views across without going to far.

As far as I'm concerned doting father lands far behind, calculated politician.

GA

[BDBionic]

this right here is hilarious

[Jasun]

I don't know.. I didn't expect many fire works and there weren't... they're both good debaters, and they're both dull as dirt. But Dick Cheney really comes across as an unlikeable jerk, doesn't he?

And Edwards reminds me of John Davidson.

But Whatever. I can't wait for Bush to be sent packing.

[BDBionic]

Cheney also urged everyone to go to

FactCheck.com

in response to Edwards' Halliburton statements last night.

Indeed... I urge everyone to go there. I sure as heck hope a whole lot of people were moved by Dick Cheney to indeed go to that website and check out what's there.

[Jasun]

I know.. that's so funny. He was trying to say "net" but he's old... you gotta cut him some slack.


HA

[desslock]

Originally posted by BDBionic

The Cheney quote:
"The first time I met you was when you walked on this stage tonight."
So either Cheney's only real zinger during the debate was the product of a calculated lie... or a flat out bad memory.
Well then.

I really was surprised when Cheney made that statement. I knew that surely there were some minor instances somewhere showing them together. In fact the instance that immediately came to my mind was the swearing in for Elizabeth Dole.

The Vice President serves as the President of the Senate. And at the beginning of every term, a newly elected junior senator is escorted by that state's senior senator up to the well of the chamber. Then the freshman puts their hand on the bible, and the vice-president swears them in. This is been the proceedure since 1789.

So obviously Cheney was going to be swearing her in, with fellow North Carolinean John Edwards (the state's senior senator) looking on.

Of course I know all this because I am such a geek and attentively absorbed this detailed Senate history in Robert Caro's biography of Lyndon Johnson - LBJ: Master of the Senate -
http://texana.texascooking.com/books...fthesenate.htm

Steve