[Industrialblog,
October 5, 2004]
Unflappable Cheney: Slight edge on points
John Edwards always reminds me of the kind of actors cast as villains. I mean, you know by the third act it'll turn out he's sold his soul for Satan and secretly funds the KKK, all while seeming an innocent and sweet guy.
I'm not saying he is. That's just what he reminds me of.
Cheney, on the other hand, is an actual grown-up, possibly the only one of the four candidates to qualify for that title. He did a good job defending himself from Edwards' various rhetorical tricks, manipulations and machinations ... but to give the devil his due, Edwards didn't come off as a light-weight. He came across as a manipulative lawyer and a bullshit artist.
Unfortunately, sometimes Edwards was right and Cheney didn't do a good job answering legitimate criticisms. Edge to Cheney, but Edwards didn't make any major screwups, either.
I'm not saying he is. That's just what he reminds me of.
Cheney, on the other hand, is an actual grown-up, possibly the only one of the four candidates to qualify for that title. He did a good job defending himself from Edwards' various rhetorical tricks, manipulations and machinations ... but to give the devil his due, Edwards didn't come off as a light-weight. He came across as a manipulative lawyer and a bullshit artist.
Unfortunately, sometimes Edwards was right and Cheney didn't do a good job answering legitimate criticisms. Edge to Cheney, but Edwards didn't make any major screwups, either.
I don't completely agree with manipulative lawyer and a bullshit artist. However, the longer I think about it, the more I think that Edwards won't much help the ticket via the debate performance but Cheney will. So, on those grounds, Cheney did better than Edwards. Polls will tell.
Cheney has a certain style and presence that works for him and it is different from Bush, Kerry, or Edwards. That sets him apart and makes him more effective.
Edwards could have been done better by being less lawyerly and more Clintonesque.