vpdebate

I just spent the last hour and a half taking 12 pages of notes on the debate between Republican Dick Cheney and Democrat Joe Lieberman. My first comment would be that I would far prefer to be making a decision between one of these two guys than for our current choices.

As far as performance tonight, I'd say Cheney looked much better. He looked calm, relaxed, and friendly. But, never sloppy. He seemed sharp and on top of things, letting the right things go, but interrupting when he saw it neccesarry, like when Lieberman says Gore has good bipartisan record, and Cheney had to try to make it clear that he had no bipartisan leadership.

Lieberman, although not awful, looked a little bit more like the backed up old professor character. And, his voice sounded like he was sitting in the cold rain!

I just heard a CNN analyst say they'd make a good ticket, either Cheney/Lieberman or Lieberman/Cheney. I agree. I'd even be far more likely to vote Cheney/Bush than the opposite!

A few notes:

* Lieberman went over his allotted time much more often. He sometimes could not finish his point. Cheney's responses were much more calm, collected and appropriately timed. Neither seemed very coached, but Lieberman came closer.

* Cheney made a very big deal about saying he wants to leave the American people more of their income to themselves. He says, "We want Americans to keep more of what they earn, and they decide how to spend it."

* Lieberman rambled a bunch of numbers about tax credits. Cheney responded, "You'd have to be a CPA to understand what he just said." What's a CPA??

* Both said they would not interfere with the FDA decision about the abortion pill. But, why didn't Lieberman bring up the fact that Bush has indicated he will only appoint Supreme Court Justices that are anti-abortion which would bring about the reversal of Roe vs. Wade???

* When asked whether US military should me "warriors" or "peacekeepers" Cheney responded WARRIORS. Peacekeeping may sometimes be appropriate, but only under time limits he said. "The reason we have a militar is to be able to fight and win wars." But, says current administration has let the military become rusty, demoralized, and ill equiped.
Lieberman says military is the best trained and equipped in the world and is ready for any threat that may arise. He says he and Gore will keep it that way.

* Neither had any real problem with saying they'd "take out" Saddam.

* Cheney says drill for oil. Lieberman says make cars run better.

* Question: Can you catergorically pledge that no American will lose Social Security benefits?
The first word Lieberman said was, "Yes." Made it very clear that Gore will put SS funds in a dedicated "lock box" Says Republican privitization will jeapordize those funds
Cheney says SS WAS good, but they want to let people invest 2% of their payroll tax, leading to higher returns.

*Cheney said Bush is the man and runs Texas well. Lieberman said Gore is the man and runs policies well.
Cheney says Gore vehemently says Gore has no record for bipartisan leadership. Gore says he's great at it. CNN analysts says Lieberman is confused: HE is great at it, Gore sucks at it.

* Both are outraged by racial profiling.

* Both even said they personally support gay rights, but said legalizing gay marriage is a difficult issue. Lieberman says he is open to it and thinking about it. Cheney said, "We should do everything we can to tolerate any sort of relationship that people want to enter in to." But, he also seemed just slightly uncomfortable talking about it(this, obviously, is a very subjective observation.)

* Lieberman went out of his way to point out that he had both African American friends and homosexual friends.

* Both say they respect the other, but would bring more and better experience to the position.

I have personally met and like Lieberman. He's cool and smart with pretty good policies. But, Cheney made a very good showing of himself here, especially since I went in with a negative impression of him. He turned that around. I was impressed.

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