Today, I knew the vice presidential debates were on, but while filling out my absentee ballot and voting on the measures, I forgot about the exact start time and only caught the second half of the debate. Both Fox News and ABC concluded that Vice President Cheney won the first half of the debate on geo-political questions while Senator Edwards won the second half of the debate focused on national issues (health care, etc.).
During the second half of the debate, I thought both did well, however, one can't help but notice how young Edwards looked next to Cheney, and quite frankly, how inexperienced he seemed. But what really annoyed me was when Edwards broke the rules of the question (stupid rules, but rules nonetheless) twice and joked/laughed/apologized boyfully each time. It just didn't seem like he belonged there - it didn't seem like he really understood the gravity of the situation.
And then, towards the end of the debate, when it came to health care, Edwards kept using the quote, "When choosing between [Insurance/Drug] companies and the American public, this President chose the [Insurance/Drug] company." It's as if every choice made by the president was opposed by 100% of the American population. Finally, Edwards ended his tirade with a sort of, "we will give everything to everyone," argument. But, quite predictably, he failed to mention where the money would come from to pay for universal health care. He failed to mention that allowing drugs in from Canada would stifle innovation (though I'm sure we can all agree that profit margins are too high for the drug companies - but they do need to make money for R&D). What he basically laid out was a welfare state, however, he didn't enlighten us all as to where the welfare would come from - even though we all know the answer - higher taxes.
URL: Commission on Presidential Debates
During the second half of the debate, I thought both did well, however, one can't help but notice how young Edwards looked next to Cheney, and quite frankly, how inexperienced he seemed. But what really annoyed me was when Edwards broke the rules of the question (stupid rules, but rules nonetheless) twice and joked/laughed/apologized boyfully each time. It just didn't seem like he belonged there - it didn't seem like he really understood the gravity of the situation.
And then, towards the end of the debate, when it came to health care, Edwards kept using the quote, "When choosing between [Insurance/Drug] companies and the American public, this President chose the [Insurance/Drug] company." It's as if every choice made by the president was opposed by 100% of the American population. Finally, Edwards ended his tirade with a sort of, "we will give everything to everyone," argument. But, quite predictably, he failed to mention where the money would come from to pay for universal health care. He failed to mention that allowing drugs in from Canada would stifle innovation (though I'm sure we can all agree that profit margins are too high for the drug companies - but they do need to make money for R&D). What he basically laid out was a welfare state, however, he didn't enlighten us all as to where the welfare would come from - even though we all know the answer - higher taxes.
URL: Commission on Presidential Debates
posted by Blake | 20:00
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