Postscript to the Postscript

The post debate spin is for all practical purposes, a draw. Raw meat GOP partisans seem impressed with Cheney's Grim Reaper act, but he didn't do much for anyone else. Edwards held his own--he wasn't outstanding, but he made no serious mistakes--and Cheney's attempt at creating a "defining moment" fell flat because it was, well, a lie.

If I was a Democratic spinner, I'd point this out. Yes, there were other lies--Saddam and 9/11, Saddam and Al Qaeda, Cheney attempting to say that he'd "never had business relations with that company...Halliburton..." But I'd start with the flat out lie about when Dick Cheney met John Edwards, and note that if Dick Cheney will lie on national television about something so trivial in an attempt to score cheap political points, then how can anyone trust him on matters of national importance? If this was a trial, the Vice President would have, at that moment, truly destroyed his credibility.

It's too bad Edwards decided not to pursue this--instead, he made some decent points about Cheney's abysmal voting record when he was a representative. Not bad, but calling the guy on a lie would have been better. Cheney would've really had smoke coming out of his ears.

Oh, and here's James Wolcott's take on last night's show. Short version: Cheney was a cranky old man who was up past his bedtime.

And he lied.