I thought the Vice Presidential Debate last night was much more lively and animated than the Presidential Debate last week.

Bush was defensive through almost the entire debate. He seemed a little baffled, and often seemed to be reaching. Cheney, on the other hand, was well-briefed and had a remarkable command of policies. However, he seemed like a growling, scowling old man.

Edwards also knew his stuff, from terrorism to Israel to healthcare. And, of course, he was a charming, charismatic lawyer. Both men offered some great one-liners as they accused each other of contorting facts and traded accusations.

In one of the more awkward moments of the debate, Cheney tried to make the point that Edwards was an absentee senator by saying "The first time I ever met you was when you walked on the stage tonight," even though there was evidence that they had.

Edwards' campaign later provided a transcript of a February 2001 prayer breakfast at which Cheney began his remarks by acknowledging the North Carolina senator. The campaign said the two also met when Edwards accompanied the other North Carolina senator, Elizabeth Dole, to her swearing-in ceremony.

Another question touched on by Edwards was whether Saddam Hussein had anything to do with the September 11 attacks specifically. The vice president stated emphatically that he had never suggested a connection between Iraq and September 11.

However, in 2003 he did say that if efforts to establish democracy in Iraq succeeded, "We will have struck a major blow right at the heart of the base, if you will, the geographic base of the terrorists who have had us under assault now for many years, but most especially on 9/11."

Don’t fudge the facts, candidates. With videos and the internet today, it’ll come back and bite you in the butt.