Does Cheney's composure and articulation in debate hurt Bush?

[Oddman]

Edwards won the debate but Cheney (looking like the Wicked Witch of the West wringing his hands over and over) did not embarrass himself and spoke clearly and forcefully. Will the comparison between Cheney and Bush hurt Bush in the race?

[Boomer]

1. I wondered abou that also

Kerry, Cheney and Edwards all outshone Bush. When even the vice-president is a stronger figure than the incumbent, you really have to wonder.

In fact, Ann Richards made a comment to the effect that it's really frightening just how much influence Cheney has on Bush. He kept repeating how much Bush depends on him, as if this is a selling point rather than a warning flag.

[Oddman]

3. Right - and Cheney talked about how he has nothing to lose because

he won't be running for president in '08. THAT is a scary thought. I can do anything because I can't be held accountable.

[IHaveADream]

9. *snort*

[booksenkatz]

2. I thought Cheney got rattled plenty of times

There were moments when I actually feared for his health. Also, don't mistake smooth lying for "articulation." He lies as easily as the rest of us breathe. All of that mumbling and sneering was a huge turnoff. The grinning, kill-happy Fraud King has his work cut out for him on Friday and, as he has in everything else in his life, he will fail miserably.

[jimshoes]

4. I think if anyone was wondering

who the brains of the repub ticket is, need no longer wonder. It's obvious who has command in their secret dealings or foreign and domestic policy matters. Junior is just there for photo ops and fund raising.

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

6. And Jaysus! Don't forget Jaysus!

Last night I didn't hear any code words like "transformational power of freedom" or references to praying with (or loving) war widows. And I don't think either man called upon any higher powers to bless America. Which was refreshing.

[IHaveADream]

5. I don't think Cheney did a very good job - but he didn't kill himself

either. It does show who is obviously "in command" and that bush is nothing but a puppet of Cheney. Whether the public views it that way is open to debate! Kerry still trails in the polls 45 to 51 % - I think it can be made up in time and Edwards only helped the cause.

[depakid]

7. Contrasts

They're kind of a funny thing. Edwards is clearly in Kerry's shadow... but is (or should) Bush be so clearly in Cheney's shadow?

[IHaveADream]

8. Exactly - shouldn't the vice president be in the shadow of the

president?

[cali]

10. Absolutely

The stature gap isn't between Cheney and Edwards- it's between Cheney and bush. People who watched last week's debate between K and B, and also watched C and E last night, will inevitably make unfavorable comparisons between the top man and his henchman.

[CityHall]

11. JEB?

So will Jeb be running in '08 or '12? Or will we have martial law in six weeks and there won't be any more elections?

[Trailrider1951]

12. Heheh, if you really think about it, what you saw last night

was actually a debate between a PRESIDENT and a Vice President hopeful. There is now no doubt whatsoever who controls the decisions in Washington. Let's fire Cheney and tell him to take his puppet with him!

[Jawja]

13. I don't think it HELPS

* for Cheney to come across as mean, scowling, and not very healthy looking as he did last night.

I don't think it HELPS * that folks think that the scowling, mean and not very healthy looking old man is really running things.

[bigtree]

14. I thought Cheney was rambling and boring. No sound bite answers

No knock me over lines. I thought he looked old and defensive.

[lil-petunia]

15. but he was so much better than his partner. puppet. whatever.

I've been writing LTTE on just this point. clearly Cheney runs the WH, not the shrub

[KittyWampus]

16. Articulation? He Mumbled Throughout.

[Shopaholic]

17. We really need to float this idea--

of course Cheney looked "in command"--he's been running the government for the last four years!

[Francine Frensky]

18. Of the four men, bush is the outlier

the other three are serious and statesmanlike and intelligent, bush is just not any of those.

[liberal_in_GA]

19. My husband and a friend (both independents)

said the same thing--this was clearly a debate between two men of equal intelligence (albeit one is a lying sack of shit) and it only underscores how pathetically Shrub performed with Kerry. They thought it was a draw, and it can only help us.

Edwards showed he has the chops to deal with that evil fuck, and he certainly is more presidential than the "president." We REALLY didn't expect Heart Attack to be as stupid and inarticulate as Shrub, did we?

[Oddman]

20. That's the thing - nobody did!

Everyone perceives Cheney as the man in charge and it was still an Edwards win in the debate. Now poor junior will have to be compared to Cheney again this Friday.


George Bush is a MASTERdeBATER

What on earth is my hand doing? Bad hand - bad!