They arrived today, and they look extremely sharp.
The only downside is the timing: The next three days, we’re going to be deep in the throes of Ariel’s Bat Mitzvah this Saturday (and if you’re one of the invitees and you’re going, “Oh my God, is that THIS weekend?!?” the answer is yup.) So as soon as that’s wrapped, I start signing them and shipping them out immediately.
PAD
9:10 Got back late from bowling but am going to take another whack at a blog. This has been perceived as Darth Vader vs. Luke. Let’s remember that the first toe-to-toe in that battle went to Vader.
9:13 Nice that Cheney says that Osama is such a priority, considering Bush said that Osama is no longer a priority.
9:17 Edwards should really be emphasing that the “global test” is a philosophy dating back thousands of years, rather than acting defensively against Cheney’s charges of Kerry being weak on defense.
9:21 The hope was that Cheney would come across as cranky, irritable and old. Not happening so far. Thus far it’s still terrorism 24/7. But now Cheney is trying to back off and avoid repeating the more incendiary things he’s said, such as that we’re more likely to be attacked if Kerry’s in charge. Let’s see if Edwards nails him on that.
9:23 Edwards is still spending too much time defending Kerry rather than attacking Cheney. Ah, okay, now he’s talking about Cheney cutting weapons systems. Still, I wish that Edwards would make a mention comparing Cheney’s draft dodging versus Kerry’s service if we’re going to talk about track records.
9:28 Edwards is answering the question of how we’re going to get other countries to join in the reconstruction.
9:33 Thus far Edwards and Cheney are spending most of their time calling each other liars, which gets kind of tiresome. They’re both flinging around facts and figures that, I strongly suspect, are both wrong. It’d be nice if one of them could present an absolute slam dunk lie that would leave the other sputtering.
9:38 Cheney’s continuing to present himself carefully and well. Clearly he’s trying to avoid the gaffes, the impatience and profanity that’s gotten him press before.
9:39 Edwards should be doing this more and more: Hit on Cheney’s background with Halliburton.
9:41 This is in Edwards wheelhouse. The attorney slamming at an overinflated and dubious corporation.
9:43 It’ll be interesting to see if Cheney defends the Saudis.
9:45 Let’s see if Edwards has a comeback for the “Senator Gone” thing.
9:46 No, not really. He spent his time attacking Cheney’s voting record. On the one hand it was smart to be aggressive; on the other hand, it leaves Cheney’s charges unanswered.
9:49 Nice way that Edwards very offhandedly pointed out that Cheney hadn’t really answered the question about Cleveland.
9:50 Unfortunately Edwards isn’t really answering the question vis a vis Cleveland. Impressively, he actaully did a worse job answering it than Cheney.
9:57 No, freedom for everyone is not unrelated to the subject of gay marriage. Freedom means freedom.
9:58 This is the most bloodless political debate I’ve ever seen. It’s almost as if everyone’s TOO calm. The talk comes across as sharp, but there’s no passion.
10:00 Edwards is trying to walk an extremely fine line. I’m willing to bet that both Kerry and Edwards do believe in a right to gay marriage, but if they come out and say that, they risk offending…what? Seventy percent of the people? Still, I wish they had the guts to come out and say, Yeah, we support it, that’s one of the reasons we’re different from the GOP, we really believe government shouldn’t be telling people what they can’t do if they’re not hurting anybody.
10:02 This one is right in Edward’s wheelhouse as he answers the question about medical liability suits. His idea about holding lawyers responsible for frivilous lawsuits is extremely good. Definitely an Edwards win on this one.
10:08 Cheney turned the charge about increasing medicare back on Edwards with the comment about the 1997 law causing it (presuming that’s accurate…and since Edwards didn’t really have a comeback for it, I’m going to have to assume it was.)
10:11 Watching Cheney thus far compared to watching Bush during his debate should pretty much verify, once and for all, who is actually running the country.
10:15 I think it’d be cool if Edwards said, “I don’t have a long resume like Cheney’s. On the other hand, at least my resume doesn’t have me shaking hands with Saddam.”
10:22 Anyone notice that Edwards looks like he’s holding the buzzer to answer a “Jeopardy!” question?
10:18 I still have trouble not giggling considering George Bush as “commander in chief.” I keep thinking of him leaping into action on 9/11 in the Florida classroom. Watching Cheney, I can again see why Bush was able to sit around while Cheney leaped into action.
10:21 “The best defense is a good offensive.” Wow! I’ve never heard that before! What an original thought!
10:25 Cheney is making no effort to defend Bush’s flipflops. Let’s see if he does or if he just keeps attacking Kerry.
10:27 Cheney pretty much blew that question.
10:29 I suspect Texas democrats would have something to say about Bush allegedly having “reached across the aisle” in Texas to Democrats. I susp
10:30 Yes, exactly. Cheney saying he has no idea why America is so divided is just being disingenuous. Bush has consisted appealed to the most extreme factions of this country; how can he possibly wonder why such catering to right wing extremism and neocon philosophies could possibly splinter him from the rest of the electorate?
10:35 Good closing speech by Edwards.
10:36 Cheney plays the fear card. Naturally. Edwards speaks of hope; Cheney speaks of fear.
This one is much tougher to call. Edwards more often than not held his own, but Cheney simply came across as the more experienced statesman, even though I wouldn’t trust him further than I can throw him. Those who were hoping to see youthful exuberance triumph cleanly over a cranky elder were disappointed. As before, “winner” vs. “Loser” is still a fool’s game to call, but I think Cheney is going to benefit far more from this go-around than Edwards.
PAD
Previously held along Fifth Avenue, NYIBC enjoyed a new location in the heart of the NYU campus. From the point of view of having Caroline with us as Kathleen, Ariel and I did the fair on Saturday, it was a vast improvement. Why? Because at one point I was able to take Caroline to the playground in Washignton Square Park so she could romp on jungle gyms and swings for half an hour while Kath and Ariel saw sights.
I did the pre-arranged signing at Midtown comics, which went quite well, I thought. A goodly number of folks showed up, including quite a few “Fallen Angel” fans (Yea!) Saw Kyle Baker signing at the DC booth, and Chris Claremont swung back by the Midtown Booth with his twin sons in tow. Elayne Riggs was there as well, although I didn’t see Robin.
I figured we would just be there Saturday, but I saw that one of Ariel’s favorite writers, Tamora Pierce, was going to be at a booth signing Sunday. So back we went into the city today so Ariel could meet her (she also met Ann Martin of the “Dollhouse” and “Babysitters Club” books). This time around the Haumans were there, and Mike Gold and his wife, as was Joe Kubert whom I said hi to, not to mention Don Slott of “She-Hulk” with whom I chatted for a time while Evan Dorkin of “Milk and Cheese” fame autographed nearby.
I took Ariel over to the signing. Tamora Pierce was friendly and engaging, answering Ariel’s questions and talking about writing in general. And I said to her, “Actually, I’ve written a few books about knights myself. I wrote a book called ‘Sir Apropos of Nothing,'” figuring the title would amuse her. She looked up at me and said, “You’re Peter David?!” So that was cool.
PAD
Peter will be signing at the Midtown Comics Book from 4 to 4:45 today. We will be at the book fair today but not tomorrow. You can wish Ariel a good Bat Mitzvah and see for yourself how cute Caroline is in person. I’ll be there too.
There’s nothing more moronic than watching pundits or news agencies run around asking “Who won the debate?” because, if it had been a real debate rather than a sort of shared press conference, there would be no question. A proposition would be put forward (usually beginning with the word “Resolved”) and at the end a panel of judges, keeping careful score of logically based argumentation, would announce who won.
That doesn’t exist here. In this case, there’s only one measure of success: Whether the small group of undecided voters was swayed one way or the other. The election’s not going to be decided by people like me, who thought that Kerry overall gave a polished, professional and–most important–presidential presentation, because I was rooting for Kerry anyway. And it’s not going to be decided by Bush supporters who came away declaring that Bush triumphed because they were–I dunno–watching another debate entirely, through glasses so rose-colored that Elton John would consider them too gaudy to wear.
No, this election is going to resolved by some guy named Mel, driving a Dodge Durango in Scranton, who might have twigged to the notion that Bush has globally done for America what the Boston Strangler did for door-to-door salesmen, but still hasn’t been able to move beyond the devil one knows versus the devil one doesn’t. The question is whether Mel was watching and whether he was swayed one way or the other, or will even show up election day.
If enough Mels vote for Kerry, Kerry won. If they vote for Bush, Bush won. It’s really the only verdict that matters.
PAD
• 
Recent Comments