A VP Candidate to debate with Cheney

[MessiahRp]

I keep thinking to myself that whomever our VP candidate is, they need to be strong debaters and moreso be willing to attack and do it in a way that doesn't hurt the very reason they are charming for the position.

As much as I hate Dick Cheney the man is cutthroat and would slaughter certain Dems in an actual debate.

Unfortunately I see John Edwards as one of those. I like the man a whole lot but he never really grabbed an audience that he wasn't speaking to personally. He also plays the nice guy too well and I think Cheney would tear him apart in a real debate. I also have doubts about Wes Clark because Wes is such a nice guy and he's so new to the political forum that I wonder if he could debate in a vicious right wing forum that the Media will create for Cheney.

The more I think about it the harder the choice is. Let's face it Cheney will flat out lie in every statement he makes, but the media will eat it up. So then the issue is, can we counter him in aggressive fashion with facts that make him look inept?

Who do you think could be aggressive enough to take Cheney down?

Rp

[Frances]

1. Edwards is the best choice in my opinon

He went up against some big-time opponents and won some important cases.

Remember the "winner" of the debate will be the person that the Americans trust the most. I think Edwards will make points while at the same time showing a huge contrast between his demeanor and Cheney's.

[Darkamber]

2. I think you are underestimating Edwards...

You can not judge Edwards by his actions during the democratic debates. He would not attack another Democrat. However, he has had 20 years in the court room presenting his cases and convincing the jury (us) that his case is the right choice.

If you are looking for someone to fight in a negative way, then there is Gephart. But remember his "miserable failure" line? He went for the throat, but I just cringed when I heard it and all my support for him faded.

Edwards would do very well to point out lies and back it up with facts and come across higher then Cheney. You can win a debate with out an all out attack. You can kill with a smile. And that is Edwards...

[wtmusic]

3. Cheney is a paper tiger

and would fold like one in a debate.

Like most Repug idealogues, he's very tough behind closed doors but has no balls face to face.

[Kurt Remarque]

4. edwards and wesley clark are his only choices

[DMX]

5. Tom Vilsack

Tom Vilsack of Iowa, the man is great as a debater and a fiery one at that. He will rip Cheney into shreds.

[Paradise]

11. oooh, he sounds good!

wish i knew more about him. will do some research.

[welshTerrier2]

15. I think Vilsack is the frontrunner

i base this on virtually nothing, of course ...

it seems like the search still is going on but the way they leaked Vilsack's name on the list of "maybe's" gave me a "vibe" that he was the frontrunner ...

i think Edwards, Gephardt and maybe a "player to be named later" are still on the list ... my take: clark, graham and richardson are off the table ...

and btw, McCain is still on the maybe list ...

again, this is all just wild speculation but that's how i'm setting the odds right now ...

[jpgray]

6. A trial lawyer tends to have some debate experience. :-)

I have no particular preference right now for VP, but I think Clark and Edwards would be among my first choices, based on what they bring to the ticket in personal history and geographic strength.

[displacedvermoter]

7. I think General Clark would more than hold his own

in a debate with a bully like Cheney. You don't make 4-star general without the ability to deal with bluster. I don't think he'd intimidated.

Edwards still my first choice, I think he'd do well in a "debate" format with Cheney, and he brings excitement. Number of good choices, and I think all will look real good when compared to Cheney. I hate to say it, but they may still have to go for broke and replace Cheney. I hope not, as he is a real drag on the whole GOP, but if much more gets out about Halburton, energy policy, Nigeria, Novak leaks, whatever else, he won't even be a good fund raising guest.

[ezee]

8. EDWARDS

would be the best choice. He is a fighter(20 yrs in courts makes one that) and is very eloquent. He will smile at cheany while going for the jugular!

[Kahuna]

9. Wes was only nice to Democrats. He was very harsh..

on bush and Cheney and their repig henchpersons. Don't worry about Wes being too nice.

[Old and In the Way]

10. Make Dick explain why his company was trading with the enemy

in 1998. Circumventing a US embargo on Iraq to reap $24MM in profits.

Let him explain that to the American people.

[indie_voter]

12. Wes Clark. n/t

[Leilani]

13. 4 Stars vs 3 Deferments

Wes Clark vs Dick "I had other priorities" Cheney.

[hippiechick]

14. Clark

would have the cojones to look Cheney dead in the eye with those steely baby blues of his and scare the livin' crap outta the ole geezer. He wouldn't have to say a thing, the debate would be over.


:hippie:

[trickydick]

16. John (W-Gate) Dean for Veep

Not Howard, Not McCain... John Dean would focus the campaign against GW and secrecy in the WH.

-- I'm new to this list and they won't let me start a separate post on this, so I'm adding the suggestion here.
I'm not a registered voter, although I contemplated registering and contributing to Howard Dean. I'd consider registering and voting for John-John if Kerry could make an out-of-the-box choice like that.

[hippiechick]

20. Why aren't you a registered voter ?

:shrug:

[Padraig18]

26. Republican and convicted felon.

Oh yeah, he'd be a GREAT fucking choice! :eyes:

[mountainvue]

17. Wesley Clark.

[Auntie Bush]

18. Wes Clark is the only one aggressive enough to take

Cheney down. Look how he has already accused Bush of all the things Richard Clarke is now saying. Wes has proved he has the courage by attacking the Bush administration all through the primaries...and in a gentlemanly manor. He must be chopping a the bit ready to go all out and cut Cheney down to size. He's an experienced warrior and a fighter! He could dazzle Cheney with his knowledge of the military.

Edwards is a very nice man and will make a great presidential candidate in the future...especially when the world is more peaceful and we can concentrate on domestic issues. Like after we have 8 years of Kerry to settle down the Middle East turmoil. Right now I don't think he is experienced enough in foreign affairs to handle Cheney. Remember he is the instigator and controller of the whole Iraq war and it would be difficult, if not fatal, to have Edwards debate Cheney....who is truly a vicious liar. It won't do Edwards any good to be a better debater if he lacks the military and defense know how. I would really FEAR an Edwards/Cheney debate. :scared:

I think Kerry realizes all this as he has already chosen Clark to be his surrogate while he was on vacation.

[Cuban_Liberal]

19. You don't become a successful trial lawyer by being a poor debater.

Edwards would make Cheney look like the greedy, evil swine that he is.

[citizen snips]

21. Edwards.

With Edwards trial lawyer experience he will leave Chaney in the dust.

[Dinger]

22. Wes Clark, No Doubt-Did You See Him On Faux "News"?

Geez, he kicked David Asman's ass! I have that sucker saved! Wes is only nice to Dems, not repugs. The thought of him against bu$h was making me drool, but actually, against cheney might be even better.

[newyawker99]

25. Hi Dinger!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Hippo_Tron]

23. Not that hard to debate a dick... Anybody Kerry picks should do fine...

Chenney is about 1 cut about Tom DeLay, if that. People know he's an asshole and thus Bush is needed to be his mask.

[Auntie Bush]

27. Cheney (even though he is a dick) is an excellent debater.

I feel sorry for the person that has to debate him. :scare:
Whom ever is chosen will have to know their stuff!
He has a sharp, stinging lying tongue that ought to be shortened.

[fujiyama]

24. Clark has improved his debating skills

since he stopped running. He's improved greatly and seeems more relaxed on those appearences I've seen such as on Scarborough and Covuto. Those guys are ass holes that too, and I'd say he handled himself pretty well.

A candidate with strong national security experience is needed to go after Cheney. Also the candidate should be sharp as hell. Cheney is a crooked son of a bitch, but isn't a pushover in any way. Clark can make a sharp contrast with Cheney regarding the protection of our country. Cheney will repeatedly try to tie in Iraq with Al Qaeda -- and this is something Clark has consistantly spoken against.

However, I'm sure Edwards would do a fine job as well, but he hasn't been as strong a critic against the war as I'd prefer and I don't think he can make clear why Iraq should NEVER have been the focul point on the War on Terror.

[floridaguy]

28. Wes Clark (n/t)