USA Today piglet says Cheney has it all over Edwards in the debate

[Gabi Hayes]

unbelievable

he has more gravitas

Edwards is too insubstantial, did NOT do a good job tearing up the junta, compared to what Cheney did with all his lies, distortions, and fearmongering

Edwards will suffer from the sitdown format (WTF is UP with that ridiculous POV? did they expect Edwards to do HANDsprings onstage?)

Cheney's lowkey style will fit the sitdown much better than Edwards' dynamicism

some other points, but I can't remember them. I didn't hear one thing positive she had to say....I missed the beginning, so perhaps she did balance it out, but what I did hear was quite the load of fertilizer

PLEASE don't throw poor, helpless Johnnie Boy into that Cheney briarpatch! he don' stand a chance, do he?

[utopian]

1. We heard the same kind of shit about the first debate

From all indications, Cheney is not smart man. He's going to come off mean old bastard that he is, and Edwards is going to shine.

[lancdem]

Good

Lower expectations for Edwards is just what we want. Remember, going into the Bush-Kerry debate, polls showed people expected Bush to win. That helped Kerry immensely.

[Mike L]

16. I agree. Build Cheney up.

[dave123williams]

2. Their overconfidence is their weakness....

Edwards may very well SMEAR Cheney...

[geek tragedy]

3. This is where expectations should be.

Cheney is the defending champ--Edwards is unproven.

Cheney was easily the best debater of the four candidates in 2000. He can say the most outrageous things without blinking.

Let's hope the media frame this accordingly.

[johnnyrocket]

4. Cool, more 'lowered expectations'...

so when Edwards kicks Darth Vaders ass it will be doubly nice! Like last Thursday!

[Atman]

5. They are right, partly

"Edwards will suffer from the sitdown format (WTF is UP with that ridiculous POV? did they expect Edwards to do HANDsprings onstage?)"

Edwards is a trial lawyer. His strong point is pacing, gesturing, talking to a jury from standing position while he moves around...he relies strongly on gesture and body language. Cheney is being positioned at a table, like sitting across from your dad getting lectured. He leans on his elbows and speaks sternly at you/his opponent. It makes him come across as tough, strong, yet patriarchal. Republicans love that shit...they need daddy figures to tell them who the boogie men are, and that they'll be protected.

Sorry, this format really, really does strongly favor Cheney.

[athena]

11. Even if it were a stand-up debate, I doubt that

Edwards would have been allowed to move around much. He's been practicing. He'll be able to gesture just as well in a sitting position.

[zauberflote]

6. In complete 'agreeance'

This is fantastic news. With Cheney expected to kill, Edwards will knock him for a loop. Edwards has no where else to go but up in the debate. Don't ya love overconfidence?

[Malva Zebrina]

7. I don't get the impression that Edwards will blink

I think he is smart and fully aware of the challenge. I think
Edwards will walk all over the criminal Cheney.

Cheney may not collapse as Bush did, because he is a seasoned veteran of the spin--but I have all confidence that Edwards will not be overwhelmed by Cheney's lies and will prevail.

Besides he is so visually appealing over the snarling, ugly, fat and satisified Cheney.

I expect Edwards will make us proud just as Kerry did. He has the advantage and will go for the jugular. He does not need to be aggressive--only has to do what Kerry did--tell the truth.

[notadmblnd]

13. Edwards is an Attorney

he knows how to aruge. Whats even more important is that he knows how to listen. IMO Edwards will be able to trap cheney with his own words. I have every confidence that Edwards will do just fine.

[athena]

8. We may be worrying unnecessarily about lowering expectations.

The shrub administration's expectations of democrats are already low. These are some incredibly arrogant people. These are the people who think G-d has appointed them to carry out His wishes on earth. How else can one explain the shrub's miserable performance in the first debate? I predict that both Cheney and the shrub will show up unprepared for the rest of the debates. They are so certain they will win this election that they won't know what hit them.

[Eric J in MN]

37. The issue is the pundits' expectations (nt)

nt

[childslibrarian]

9. Great

Then when he whoops Darth's ass they will have to eat crow...

[Walt Starr]

10. EXCELLENT!

The lower the expectations for Edwards tomorrow, the better we'll be!

[bagnana]

12. Cheney will be better than Bush and the stark

differences between him and Edwards will be interesting. I hope Edwards wins and goes on the offensive against Cheney. However, I am not as scared about this debate because VP debates are not decisive in elections.

I AM WORRIED ABOUT FRIDAY, HOWEVER. I am sure Bush will be prepared for that one, and will harp on all of the wedge issues that are difficult to answer. Kerry has got to be prepared and willing to piss some people off and back up his past positions without equivocation: "I am pro-choice." "I am for the death penalty" "I am for civil unions" (or whatever his issue is on that).

[clydefrand]

14. Which of these definitions fit Cheney?

Substance; weightiness: a frivolous biography that lacks the gravitas of its subject.
A serious or dignified demeanor: “Our national father figure needs gravitas, he's pitched himself as the kid brother” (John Leo).

I don't think he has much substance that Edwards can't refute with the facts. I certainly don't think he acts in a dignified demeanor; ie. Pat Leahy go f--- yourself.

I believe Edwards will do fine. I've been watching him defend Kerry. I think his bite is even stronger than his youthful good looks.

[dogtag]

15. Cheney will make a joke about being picked as

the veep candidate because he, like Edwards, is so good looking. Bet on it...he's been doing it on the stump and it always gets big laughs. I hope JE has honed a good comeback.

[Qutzupalotl]

17. "Right, if they were going for substance, they would have picked

Dan Quayle."

How's that?

[polmaven]

23. EXCELLENT!!!

That is one of the best I have heard during the campaign...I LOVE IT!!!

Have you suggested it to the campaign???

[Peanut Gallery]

33. That is good, *lol*

n/t

[Princess Turandot]

46. Edwards could say.."I've met Dan Quayle, although luckily..

I didn't have to work with him, But even so Mr. Cheney, you are no Dan Quayle."

[notadmblnd]

19. Edwards comeback should be... in his dreams

nt

[speedoo]

20. Well, Cheney picked himself.

Lots of possibilities for a rebuttal there.

On Hardball, David Bois, who is a very good attorney, makes a pretty good case for Edwards doing well.

[dogtag]

22. Yep, I was watching Tweety tonight and was

struck by the contrast of the two attorneys. Ginsburg, a discredited slimebag who has been involved in dirty repuke tricks for two decades. David Bois, honorable man who has a solid record of accomplishment.

Ginsburg lies and snarls. Bois speaks in measured tones and tells the truth. Makes me so glad to be a Democrat.

[Eric J in MN]

36. Instead of a joke, tell the truth about how Cheney became the

vice presidential nominee.

He said he wasn't interested in being vp to get the job to choosing one, then gathered dirt on applicants and said only he could do it.

[Francine Frensky]

48. George Bailey vs. Mr. Potter -- spread the word!

Saw this on this board yesterday, and I think it's a great image, usually it's used to describe the difference between dems and repubs, but right here in this debate, it will be in front of the American people, on their tv screens.

If Cheney beats up our guy, then he's mean old Mr. Potter. If Edwards holds his own, then he's the good guy with the heart that's big enough to win, no matter how bad things get.

Either way, the point here is VISION: Cheney has that Potter-like vision of what the world could be, but it's the democrats/Bailey's of the world that have made America the greatest country in the world.

If you love America, thank a democrat. Because before we took over in the 30's, America was NOT the greatest country in the world.

[PsN2Wind]

18. But wouldn't you love to hear Edwards say

"Mr. Vice-president, I'm having a little trouble understanding you, could you please speak out of the other side of your mouth"?

[txindy]

25. Ha!

Yes, yes, I would, actually. Very much! ROFL!

[John_H]

21. The USA Today is right. Email this to everyone you know. Edwards is toast.

and tell all your friends that too.

[Name removed]

24. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Zomby Woof]

26. a million laughs

The obsession with Jane Fonda is not healthy. Perhaps you fantasize about her taking you over her knee... :spank:

Kerry served in Nam, Bush was AWOL at home. No contest, you lose! ;-)

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

28. You people really are desperate after seeing that Chimp deconstruct

last week, aren't you?


Sniff....kiss him goodbye...he's toast...the rest of America is not as ignorant and racist as you and your CONFEDER8 brothers who also got their fucking ass kicked BTW

[alcuno]

29. Your guy truly sucked in the debate the other night.

GET OVER IT!

[ZombieNixon]

31. I hope that neocon enjoyed his visit

</sarcasm>

[gordianot]

27. Cheney has to sit down?

Does that help his pacemaker?

[arewenotdemo]

39. bwahaha

:)

[Julien Sorel]

30. I actually agree about the sitdown part.

For one thing, I'm not sure Cheney could stand for a full 90 minutes.

[C_U_L8R]

32. The Law of Gravitas

What goes up must come down. Right?
Well... Cheney is going DOWN !!

(and he won't bounce either)

[alcuno]

34. Welcome to DU, C_U_L8R

The thing about Edwards is that he was a trial lawyer. Unlike Cheney, they do their homework.

[VOX]

43. Welcome, C U L8R...

C_U_ around?

Cheers, :toast:

[Eric J in MN]

35. Cheney tainted our intelligence to start a war and make his

Halliburton stock options go up.

I call him a war criminal.

The pundits call that "gravitas."

[gavodotcom]

42. Cheney is a taint.

They call it "gravitas" because it's a buzz word. It's an ubercool buzzword. Gravitas is the new black. Now if someone can have dynamic gravitas, now that'd really be something.

[yardwork]

38. Cheney is the greatest debater that ever lived

We thought it was chimpy but we were wrong.

Pass it on.

[pacalo]

40. Edwards has won court cases against corporations. 'Nuff said.

[TankLV]

41. We had it already?

Geesh. I must've missed it.

Why bother even having elections when they know all the results!

Oh, wait, they're repukes.

Nuff said.

[VOX]

44. This is such BS, but fine, keep those expectations down...

It's all look better tomorrow! :thumbsup:

[SoCalDemocrat]

45. Excellent. Cheney will crush Edwards!

That's what we want to hear.

The minute after the debate, all we want to hear is Edwards crushed Cheney! DU members will be key to making that a reality.

[highnooner]

47. It would be funny as hell

if Edwards pulled a Perry Mason on Cheney making him admit that he actually knows that there are no ties to AQ and Iraq and Saddam and WMD. Cheney has steadfastly held that position. Edwards should hit him hard with, "where's the evidence?" pulling out sources of info. It will make Cheney explode!

[C_U_L8R]

49. Yes Funny and Satisfying

There is nothing like seeing a GOOD lawyer in action.
He might start with a strong claim... like "Today I'm going show you that Dick Cheney is unfit for command, etc" Then the fun begins. It's all about laying out the evidence and building the case for us... the jury. Some bits will be provocative, some may seem unrelated and some will be designed to throw the defense off their game. The evidence may argue that Cheney is corrupt, a hypocrite, a warmonger, out of touch, etc... But the real beauty will come in summation... where all these little bits of info will be expertly weaved together so that there is only ONE undeniable conclusion... that Dick Cheney is an untrustworthy, evil man who has committed the most treasonous crimes against the American people. Then it's up to the jury to pass judgment.

It's going to be an entertaining (and important). I hope everyone is as mobilized as they were last Thursday. Don't forget that the freeps will try to slam every poll and spin the argument in the wrong direction. Remember we are on the side of truth... but we need to fight for the truth to heard ! Go ! Go ! Go !


(PS I'm not a lawyer but an artist.... if there are any lawyers here in the house, please expand on the fine art of argument... fascinating stuff)

[Maestro]

50. While true the criminally insane

can seem very astute and cunning, let's hope Edwards stands his ground and frustrates Dick so much that he pops. Not likely, but Edwards can win this if he doesn't let Dick overwhelm him with lies that Dick can state without blinking. Dick could beat a polygraph test, he is so cold.