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Debrief from St. Louis
Friday, October 03, 2008
WNYC's political director, Andrea Bernstein, reports from St. Louis on the local reaction to last night's Vice Presidential debate.
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Joe Biden won the debate hands down. Palin isn’t ready to play baseball at the major league level. She needs a few more seasons of Class A ball with the Wasilla Polar Bears before she earns a tryout from the NY Yankees.
Palin’s answers were as light as helium and as insubstantial as cotton candy. She’s unqualified to be VP and unprepared to become Prez if McCain were unable to serve out his term. McCain disgraced the Constitution and his military service by choosing Palin as his running mate and owes the nation an apology.
McCain put his ego first and his country last when he selected Palin.
Palin lacks the mental horsepower required to be VP.
The CPD created a CLIFF NOTES debate schedule -2 90-min presidential debates with questions by Celebrity Journalists,1 townhall debate, 1 90-min vp debate with questions by a Celebrity Journalist
Every listener and commenter should contact CPD
Commission on Presidential Debates
1200 New Hampshire Avenue, NW
Box 445
Washington, DC 20036
and demand an UNCUT, UNABRIDGED, FULL-LENGTH debate schedule for 2012
We need 8 or 9 single issue debates running 3 hrs each where presidential candidates get questioned by panels of think tank scholars and print reporters who are experts on economics, foreign policy, energy, healthcare, etc
Same for VP candidates – 3 or 4 single issue 3 hr debates with questions from expert panels
As celebrity journalists, Lehrer, Schieffer, and Ifill have a superficial, wafer thin understanding of the issues. They need to step aside and make way for the experts.
Trying to cram everything into 4 90-minute debates is like trying to pour 15 lbs of sand into a 3 lb bag
I was a annoyed with the discussions after the debate. Clearly Biden was much more informed, and better all around. They lowered expectations so much that as long as Sarah Palin didn’t have a major blunder she came out with a positive review. Come on, don’t we have higher standards than that? She didn’t even answer the foreign affairs questions. Whenever she got stuck she just went back to a scripted campaign speech. She was so casual with her, “You know”s and “Man,” and “Gee wiz.” If it had been a job interview I would think she wasn’t taking it seriously. Is she going to talk that way to foreign diplomats? Don't we need someone in the White House who can pronounce the word, "Nuclear." She's worse than Bush. We need to repair our reputation in the world, not damage it further.
Who won the debate? Apparently those who want or need to make the stretch are telling us that Palin succeeded by not performing miserably. Can we really afford to set such a low standard for our leaders?
Separate this debate from all of the hoopla, examine it on its own and what you have is a poor showing by a candidate for VP. It's that simple. All you have to do is read the transcript...
http://elections.nytimes.com/2008/president/debates/transcripts/vice-presidential-debate.html
I predict that biased Lehrer & Bernstein will go into damage control for Biden. They will ignore all of Biden's factual gaffes and attack Palin as they do frequently. Biden is a perfect example of why people hate Wash DC politicians. He votes for the war resolution, aggresively defends it's validity then midstream changes his position during the battle. Talk about stabbing the troops in the back! How can anybody trust Obama/Biden they will say anything to get elected even if they contradict themselves doing so!
Thanks for your live commentary on-line last night. It made the debate much more fun.
Two questions:
what was up with the wink?
Palin claimed that it is contradictory to call for change and point fingers backwards (if that's physically possible). If you have no understanding of how we got where we are, how are we to believe that someone claiming to not be a "washington insider" isn't repackaging the same garbage? haven't we been here before? you betcha we have.
Newsday: "Palin recaptures the magic"
Washington Post: "Palin digs herself out"
New York Daily News: "Sarah Palin holds her own against Joe Biden"
Watching Washington (NPR): "What Sarah Palin did seem to prove is that she's qualified to be a vice presidential candidate."
******
Really? Have our expectations become so low that a candidate for public office need only smile, wink and act folksy so as to charm middle America?
Her answers were rarely relavant to the question at hand; she merely repeated talking points. And she didn't even do that well. She still rambled (slightly less than in the Couric interviews, but they were rambling nonetheless). The non sequiturs and phrases like "you betcha" and "doggone it" made me think I was watching Tina Fey on stage.
If our expectations are so low, it's no wonder that public discourse continues to descend to a level of absurdity.
ms palin raised robotic spontaneity to superhuman levels not seen since the tic-tac-toe playing chicken they used to have in the glass box in chinatown.
FYI - before someone mentions this:
Bosniak is the correct term for Bosnian Muslim.
Just pointing it out, because I thought it was a gaff untill I used the google.
in the flirting with millions contest, call me crazy, but palin's eyes won out over biden's winning smile...
Palin performed brilliantly given her relative newness on the national stage.
She came across as what she is: A young female politician with enormous potential -- an authentic person.
Is there some debate rule that says the moderator cannot say "Thank you for that information, but the question was xyz. Would you like to answer that for us?"
This was a 90 minute marketing opportunity for Sarah Palin. Joe Biden took it, no question. He was thoughtful, well informed, responsive to the questions and intelligent.
And that wink almost made me fall off the couch in disbelief!
She did a great job of answering her own questions...
Palin is EXCELLENT at parroting the Republican Talking points without any sense of reality!.
I under Sarah Palin's folksy and friendly veneer I detected a hard layer of disdain and nastiness. I don't think she will help change the nasty partisan bickering in Washington should she get there.
Re: Brian's opening comment
It's quite amazing what photographs do not capture. Do you know what happened to the chinese protester with the shopping bag in Tiananmen Sqaure 19 years ago? After the famous photo was taken, he climbed on the tank, and then got in.
What was that about? Who was this guy? Was he actually just a soldier late for work?
Don't you wish that you knew?
Apparently, the fact that Palin was not a total train wreck by the end of the night makes her supporters shout “victory”! The fact that Biden gave good, thorough answers “as expected” is frustratingly overlooked. It’s an unbelievable double standard. I suppose they’ll be REALLY impressed if she actually ANSWERS a question the next time she’s interviewed. Our political standards have become painfully low. It’s embarrassing.
McCain's handlers won't allow Palin to give any more media interviews. From now until Election Day, they'll limit her appearances to rallies in the reddest of the red states.
Despite her rootin' tootin' tomboy persona, Palin is too much of a coward to face questions from the media.
Swoonie...u are crazy! ;) Vote 3rd party
Should the moderator have asked Palin to respond to the questions? What's the protocol here?
Peter from Flatbush- Glad to see that you are a resourceful person - You are able to use The Google. You should go work for the McCain campaign to help them decreaese their level of incompetence
Palin is a walking talking mccain robot, spouting buzz words and catch phrases!
She didn't mispronounce anyones name!....my god and you are the political expert!
Brian,
Hilarious!
Too funny how you started your show today. Right on!
Thanks
ok if we agree that she made herself look competent, she still did nothing for mccain!
Gwen Ifill did a terrible job as a moderator.
She refused to hold Palin to answering the questions asked.
Was she afraid of being accused of being an Obama supporter if she acted as a moderator?
Leo - My google acumen couldn't help McCain get a better grip on facts. Its because facts work against him.
Palin was obviously just reciting the talking points that her handlers had conditioned her with, so similar to the way that George Bush has been handled. I'm sorry that I listened to the interview on the radio rather than watch it on television; it seems that the wink was the defining moment.
Andrea Bernstein,
Sarah Palin did mispronounce Gen. David McKiernan's name. She called him Gen. McClellan.
She also said he did not say a surge would work in Afghanistan, although he did say that.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/01/AR2008100100789.html?hpid=sec-world
Sick of the folksy, I am okie from skokie attitude facade from her and the war stories from mccain.
she was off topic most of the time and thought she had the right to refuse/evade the questions asked by the moderator.
she tried to stay on energy where she is comfortable just like mccain sticks to the war, prisoner of war montage.
She could memorize lines and not screw up once!
So many in the media have been congratualing her as though she did good in an high school play. So what. She is still embarrassingly unprepared to be (god forbid) president of the US.
I am actually now thinking of getting myself a pitbull. They seem very easy to train.
With the economy the way it is, I don't think her cutesy routine is going to impress anyone. "I've been at this for gosh 5 weeks" - hmmm, you've only thought beyond Alaska for 5 weeks, that's what you're telling us. Lame lame choice.
I guess we'll find out how much America likes getting lied to right in the face with such a cynical smile and a friendly wink. It is really gross to campaign in a way that counts on the voters being stupid or uninformed, and pumping out half-truths to keep them that way.
Really, this was just more rhetoric from a bunch liars. However, despite not answering any questions, you have to be out of your mind to think that Palin in any way, shape, or form won this debate. My favorite part was when Biden schooled her on the fact that the vice presidential powers are not meant to be extended by consitution. How does that not scare people, that she'd really want to give more authority to the VP a la Cheney.
The gay marriage debate made no sense. It was pure semantics. It was a shame to hear it, and that the everyone plays right into this whole ridiculous denunciation.
But worst of all was foreign policy on both ends. More fear. But when Palin says she is learning foreign policy via Kissinger, that's the scariest thing of all. Biden knows more and may have a willingness actual diplomacy, but he's strong proponent of nation building (which has been proven to work--chuckle) Have fun voting.
Gwen Ifil was a real let down, not getting answers to her questions.
The folksy thing is just too much.
And the winking thing was weird.
Her closing was just incoherent.
Welcome to the United States of Dumb.
Sarah Palin was great. She may not be as articulate as Joe Biden but she was far more down-to-earth, more sensible on the issues discussed, and far more honest.
Though I am most likely voting for Obama, I do like McCain. I don't agree with most of Palin's positions on social issues but most of those key issues were not discussed last night.
Joe Biden on the other hand is a total hack and a phony. I wish that Barack could have chosen someone who wasn't an entrenched Washington insider. I would have liked to see Barack pick someone like Mike Bloomberg. Oh well.
Since when are the candidates allowed to choose which topics to answer? Sarah Palin repeatedly reverted to the energy topic. Why did Gwen not steer her to the question asked? I expected more of Gwen Ifil. We NEEDED more of Gwen. I think she was cowed by the threats of her own conflicts of interest.
It looks like Palin passed the white knuckle test, but she did not pass the bar for being qualified to be VP or P. Many of her answers were gibberish, though not as bad as Couric, and she simply did not answer many questions.
Palin showed that she's a quick study.
But this more generally on the debate, between Biden and Palin last night but between the two camps in general: why is the Iraqi contribution to the (provisional) success of the surge never invoked? As I understand it, it is the combination of the Awakening groups, and the Sadr ceasefire that has actually brought about a reduction in violence, something fundamentally tied to the transfer of responsibility for ending violence from the occupation to the country itself. As with so much of the debate points on either side, the argument is stripped of its complexity, and never mind the old historical narrative of American Exceptionalism transformed into America the Global Liberator here. Isn't understanding the interaction between nations (not between the "good" and the "evil"), the complex interactions that create our actual reality (viz. the global spread of our credit crisis), what it would really mean to go beyond partisanship?
I think the whole debate was crystallized in a single question that Gwen asked both candidates toward the end of the debate.
She referred to each of their perceived Achilles' heels: Palin her inexperience and Biden his lack of discipline and then asked each one what they consider to be their actual Achilles' heels. Sort of a hokey, job interview type of question, I know, but one that could allow them to show their humanity.
Palin answered first and her answer to me indicated that she didn't understand the question. She blathered on about "gettin' things done, bein' a maverick", etc. Biden knew that she didn't understand or answer Gwen's question and slyly referred to that in the beginning of his answer, but didn't point that out directly, because of course that would be seen as a personal attack and belittling to Palin, which would play right into her hand.
As always, if you're actually paying attention, to the people, the policies and what's actually happening to our country, the choice is easy.
SHE WANTS MORE POWER THE CHENEY....STOP HER!!
Anyone think the VP needs more power? This abuse of power dreck has to stop.
Biden lured Palin into one logical trap after the other.He schooled her. At the end of the debate, she had unwittingly supported civil rights for gays, showed her lust for Cheney's power pants, and suggested that McCain should "leave," quickly corrected by "lead." For anyone with the critical ability to read between the lines, the debate was a harbinger for an administration that would make Bush look introspective.
Anyone who gives Palin credit for her debate performance is being way too kind.
Katie Couric had trouble keeping a straight face during her interviews with Palin. If you watch Couric's mouth during the interviews, you'll see she makes little frowns as she listens to Palin's gibberish.
To people who say Sarah Palin succeeded last night ... what is the standard ... not breaking down and crying??????? Unless one's standards are that low, the substance (or lack of it) of what she said was appalling.
The fact that she actually could string words together for the full debate (nearly all of which were clearly spoonfed to her by handlers) may keep the race from becoming an absolute debacle for McCain, at least for now, but in surviving the evening Palin did nothing to alter the feeling that she is not qualified to be vice president (or president). She also did nothing to reassure the country that McCain is equipped ... or even inclined ... to reverse the policies that have made the current administration such a disaster.
(note ... I am a different Robert from Manhattan)
I watched the debate in a bar in Brooklyn. It was crowded with folks watching the debate together.
There were lines of Palin's that made the crowd laugh. In light of the upcoming comedic writers coming on as guests---it was a defense mechanism to laugh at G.W.B. In a way, that placated the population, allowing the horrors of his administration to go on. We felt helpless.
I like to laugh, but outrage is sometimes a more appropriate response. I don't want to laugh through a Palin Vice Presidency.
Joe from Brooklyn couldn't be more right:
"She didn't mispronounce anyones name!....my god and you are the political expert!"
The standard for the 2nd most powerful position in the free world is PRONUNCIATION?!
The media needs to start doing its job again and raise the standard of discourse and expectation.
Palin was able to skate by with lame answers because of the idiotic time constraints - 90 second answers over the course of 90 minutes.
Ifill didn't have enough time to redirect Palin to answer the questions she evaded.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0KFOwshkpA
I found th "if you must take the presidency" most disturbing in that Palin said she'd take her own course, being a "team of mavericks."
Shucks, now, guys: doncha think our Sarah was darn good, the way she was handlin' those Washington insiders? Wink, wink. . . Doncha love the way she was braggin' about her energy?
I'm seeing all this praise for Palin... did we see the same debate? She wasn't a wreck, but lets be honest.. she didn't impress. She came across like a rookie Sales Person... sticking to the sales pitch, and dishing out the same retoric. I found so many of her answers to be fluff... no substance.. and confusing. I am an undecided republican, and I gotta tell you.. after seeing her handle that debate, I'm doubting John Mccain's decision making. I think she's tallented and has potential.. but no where near ready to be Vice President. So McCain's first big decision is to pick a running mate that is not qualified to be Vice President.
not only did she mispronounce names she is another republican that cannot pronounce NUCLEAR!!!
Three debate comments:
1) Gwen Eifel overdid it being on good behavior.
2) I was struck, from a semantics point of view, at Palin's frequent use of the word "also," where the word absolutely wasn't needed. It suggests that she was getting through the debate simply by stringing ideas together, with little ability to reason through them. She paraded information, rather than analyze it or see how ideas are connected. As Brian says, she was coached to dance around subjects, not assess them.
3) On several occasions, Palin did her best to suggest that Biden's views really were closer to her & McCain's. He deidn't jump to the bait.
Brian- MCLELLAN ISN'T MCKIERNAN, which is worse than mispronouncing.
The moment where Biden choked up about raising his kids felt like the only authentic moment of the evening to me.
I'm glad Biden also went after the Maverick title. I feel like I am watching Top Gun!
Jesse Califano: 'The unspoken word- written'!
Is the Brian Lehrer 'show' actually considered 'journalism' by any intelligent person in America with more than a high school education?
Bernstein: 'Katie Couric did a great job...'?
How stupid is this comment?!
There is a difference between a journalistic interview- and an crude interrogation!
CORRECTION
ALASKANS HAVE BEEN GETTING THAT OIL CASH FOR DECADES.
SOME PEOPLE MOVE THERE FOR IT.
Garbage.
Her performance was good as a performance... she was engaging and yes, pretty, almost charming.
But actually listening to what she said? My goodness, what an empty vessel she is. Her answers show that she knows very little about pretty much anything. Constitution. Foreign affairs. Economics. All either canned responses from the talking points she had on the desk in front of her, or wandering dodges of the question.
But really, we should not be blaming McCain for choosing her. She is what America wants. Folksy. Down home. Not too knowledgeable and boring. And so, a brilliant choice.
When we as a people are more demanding of our leaders we will get better. But for now, Americans-- especially Republicans, based upon the presidential candidates they have chosen since 1999-- want ignorant buffoons who are or can simulate down home folksy values.
When do we become the Brazil of North America? I'm putting together a pool.
I'm confused, why is the media not harder on Sarah Palin? The way she speaks and acts on stage is unprofessional. I don't think the winks and the "can I call ya Joe" and the "gosh darn" tone is appropriate. She is a candidate for the vice presidency, not the PTA. This all reminds me of one of those cheesy movies like Legally Blonde, where someone who is feisty and inexperienced turns around and wins over the system b/c of their "straight forward" talk. Sarah Palin said it best herself, that she is removed from Washington, I say so far removed that she has no right to be VP, and it only underscores the bad judgement of John McCain.
How appalling that our expectations are so low that anyone could judge her appearance as a success. Underlying her question-dodging is a level of snarkiness that will be unleashed full-force should she ever (heaven forbid) be VP. bi-partisanship will be out the window sooner than she can say "hello, my name is Bridget to Nowhere".
Re: windfall taxes - Alaska has a different "ownership" structure where the state is owned in some way by the residents. The windfall tax is less a tax than the owners getting a bit more from their land. I don't know how it is set up exactly, but it isn't a tax.
Did Sarah Palin know what the phrase "Achilles' Heel" meant?
Watching the VP debate, it occurred to me that for those voters who, for whatever reason, say they feel "uncomfortable" with Obama, that Biden is the only person on either ticket who looks, talks and acts like the kind of candidate people are used to. Do you think that could sway some voters who say they are undecided but on policy would be closer to the Democrats?
it's sad that brian can only address the radical insanity of palin's "i'll answer what i want" statement as a joke. imagine if biden had said that? wow.
http://dispatchesfromthejazzunit.blogspot.com/2008/10/freedom-from-choice-sort-of.html
I couldn't believe the commentators afterwords either. Was anybody watching the same thing I was? She didn't answer a single question. Had no explanation of policy plans, or specific ideas. She had 5 talking points and inserted when applicable. She winked at the audience, you betcha. Very unprofessional. Is she going to do that in a speech at the UN? She didn't know how many troops we have in Iraq, or the general's name in Afganistan. She didn't even read the constitution (at least the part about the VP). Doesn't she know what comprise each branch of government? And tax cutter? My ass. Alaska does not have a sales or income tax. What the hell does she have to cut? How on earth could Geraldine Ferraro state she thought Palin was qualified for VP. Is there a standard that should be upholded? If she can't answer a question directly at a debate, which is kind of the point, how can she be able to engage other dignitaries in any informed and competent way. Who calls themselves a maverick ever 10 minutes. Isn't that a little self congratulatory. Now, I'm going to go around and tell people I'm the smartest person of the world. I just don't see how people can take her seriously. I had elementary school teachers with more self awareness.
At times the political handlers go overboard when controlling their candidates. Biden seemed too careful and restrained in his responses to Pallin's remarks. He could have challenged her limited experience or questioned her lack of knowledge of foreign affairs without seeming to attack her. By keeping his attacks solely on McCain, he was a gentleman but failed to point up Pallin's weaknesses. Did anyone else notice that Pallin didn't understand Ifill's question about her "Achilles heel?" She didn't seem to know what it meant.
How utterly sad that the whole point of the Vice Presidential debate was whether the candidates would meet expectations. This is a serious contest about serious issues when our country's future hangs in the balance.
I'm disappointed that Ifill did not persist in asking Sarah Palin to answer the question asked.
From WashingtonMonthly.com (if you go to the site there are links to all the comments - there are more than 1500 characters allow:
"THE MEASURE OF MENDACITY.... At one point in last night's debate, towards the end, Sarah Palin insisted that Joe Biden "supported John McCain's military strategies pretty adamantly until this race and you had opposed very adamantly Barack Obama's military strategy." This, of course, is ridiculous, and Josh Marshall labeled it "her biggest whopper."
To be sure, it's right up there on the list, but was it her biggest whopper? That's hard to say; there are so many to choose from."
Why accept the categories and expectations of the Republican spinners? So what if Palin was not as bad as she was on CBS news - she was still glib, vague, and buffoonish. She acted not like a national leader but like a host of "Hee-Haw." Biden wiped the floor with her by presenting a dignified persona and answering questions with seriousness and detail.
Robert from Man....Ya this was clearly a case of a bar being set really low and not having to do much to succeed (but not win). The pundits are salivating over what was a 45 minute campaign speech...You think we'll see her again? They may keep her out of the spotlight (at least talking situations)...she did her job and whick her away
Towards the end, Palin commented about how her role as mother and her connecting with regular people prepared her for the Vice Presidency. In response, Biden made some comment to the effect that he resented the implication that as a father he didn't have the same life experiences. What was that all about? I heard her comments as being about her. He seemed to have heard them as an attack on him.
Palin had 3 personalities throughout the debate
1. That annoying bully hockey mom
2. The nervous personality a la Couric fumbles
3. The scripted robot where at moments I thought her arms would start doing a robot dance.
She constantly contradicted herself on the issue of less government in people's lives but yet say her and McFailing here going to bring government and people together, mixed message?
This country does not need a good old average american that's "just like you" that's exactly how Bush sold himself. The issues this country faces are much too complex for someone that has only had 5 weeks of Washington experience. This may be a stretch but for those Palin supports who are naive enough to buy her spiel take a deep look at groucho marx's saying "I refuse to join any club that would have me as a member." :-)
I think we saw a very well trained Palin puppet last night. Thank god for note cards. I think the fear in her eyes of repeating the bobbles in her recent interviews showed through her eyes, and that in and of itself proves to me she is not qualified for the job.
I don't understand how anyone could say they don't understand Obama's positions on the issues. After how many months of debates and speeches and all the newspaper coverage? Anyone interested in Obama's positions could go to his website and read them, by the dozens.
I have been listening to commentary on the debate last night, and I am dumbfounded. Was anyone else watching the same debate as I was? Palin showed herself to be incapable of providing an answer to nearly every question she was asked. While Biden provided a straightforward response to most of the questions, Palin answered nearly every one with stammering, generic rhetoric.
There is something really wrong with this country if Gov Palin is considered to be a qualified applicant for this office.
OMG did Brian just say she only got it wrong by a littl!!!! Jeez
Joe Biden was debating a script last night. Questions were posed to Palin and when there wasn't an appropriate response in the script she return to old and unrelated talking points. Palin's winking and "you betcha" speak is insulting to voters with half a brain.
Ya Brian this woman (Phyllis) talking is right on....do not cozy up to palin just cause you like her dancing act
No Andrea, no gender gap here! All Female right here and I agree with the guys!
Palin mastered talking points and bumper sticker slogans. She hasn't mastered an understanding of the issues. She's a rank amateur politician who's way in over her head.
http://dispatchesfromthejazzunit.blogspot.com/2008/10/freedom-from-choice-sort-of.html
THE NAMES DO NOT MATTER!!!!!!!! WE HAVE THEM WRITTEN DOWN SO IF WE NEED THEM WE HAVE THEM!!! IT'S THE ISSUES PEOPLE!!!!!
I'm a male. And I think Palin was wooden and the media is way too sycophantic with her.
Brian,
re: the US Commander in Afghanistan. It's not only that she twice confused his name, it's that she got the FACTS wrong. Don't you think that's worth mentioning. The General clearly states in the NYT article that the "surge" concept will NOT work in Afghanistan.
For all the people complaining about the Sarah Palin's low expectations, blame SNL and Tina Fey. Republicans are the ones laughing now.
Details of Sarah Palin's policies? Sarah Palin has no detailed policies. All she did was recite generalities and well-rehearsed talking points. No policies.
Do we Really need another person in the white house who can not pronounce Nuclear?
What amazes me more than how low the bar was set is that everyone thought Palin would flub. The format of a debate is nothing like an interview format. The interview with Katie Couric was one on one, face to face. Katie could turn the spot light on her and push her for more details if/when Palin skirted a question. The effect was a deer in headlights. Other than some side comments about not really answering the question, there is really no follow up in a debate and, as Palin said herself, she could choose the topic if she wasn't interested in answering the question asked.
I agree with a caller who said that she was like a wind up doll. She would answer for 3 seconds and then turn towards camera a recite all the key words over and over "American people" "corruption" "greed" "our freedoms" etc. Karl Rove would be so proud.
"Not as dumb as we thought" does not a victory or vice president make.
Andrea: Please, less armchair psychology and more discussion of the policy substance. I can muse abut what taps into the American mindset as well as you can. But none of us really knows, right? So stick to what they candidates said, or didn't, about what they plan to do.
Gwen was horrible.
They could have replaced her with a flashing light to let Biden and Palin know that the time was up. The light bulb would have asked better follow up questions as well.
And regardless of the format, Ifell could have pointed out that the questions were asked to be answered not to be avoided.
I think Palin did fine (because expectations were so low). But not sure she helped McCain's case. So is she (with the Republican operatives) setting herself up for 2012? She's clearly the new face of the party, a woman, young. And the GOP desperately needs that.
I agree with your caller Phyllis!
I think we all knew that professional sound byte programmers could teach her to answer a list of possible questions. As it turned out, they taught her 5 answers and told her to recite those answers in spite of the question asked. This is meeting expectations? I can recite the ingredients from the Per Se cookbook. Would you let me cater your wedding? I can see a courthouse from my window, would you let me file motions in your death penalty case?
Sarah Palin has shown an ability to robotically regurgitate GOP talking points. That's great. She'd make an adequate press secretary. But does anyone really think she's qualified to be a 72 year old tortured cancer survivor's heartbeat away from the presidency?
To wit. As a mayor and a governor blah blah blah. Maverick. Blah blah blah. Washington outsider. Blah blah. Iraq. Blah blah. Middle class. Blah blah blah wink. My family. Blah blah blah. Maverick. Blah smile blah.
Fortunately, we'll never see her asked an unscripted question again...EVER. Her appearances will be limited to Rotary Club functions, Wal-Mart openings, and Fox News propaganda.
Andrea, when you comment that voters "don't know where Obama stands", do you ever think that this is just code for people who are too racist to vote for him?
And no matter how many speeches Obama gives and information that is out there, they keep using this excuse as cover for the big question -- are you willing to vote for a black man?
Brian,
I really appreciated Biden's comment at the end of the debate where he reclaimed the right of men to be primary care takers. As a woman it is offensive to me that Palin uses her life experience of being a mother as the ultimate trump card. His comment reminded the American public that he is multi-dimensional
Also, I found it gross Palin used a flirty and sex approach to express her womanhood in a forum where she needs to come off as a leader -grounded and ready to make hard decisions. In my mind, a mother who thinks of her family first (or in this case her country first) is not worried if she can capture the attention of the men in the room.
I think most of the people posting here are convincing themselves of something they already believe.
Sarah Palin has an 80% approval rating as Governor as Alaska; she's a bona-fide, successful politician. She may not have Joe Biden's smooth, used-car-salesman gift of gab but what she does have is a record of success.
Indeed, Caribou Barbie proved that she can give a memorized speech very well, and look cute doing it. The dilemma facing America is: How can the campaign process be brought to a point where the smartest and best people become our leaders, instead of electing our "best buddies."
Joe Biden was very kind, a true gentleman for not CRUSHING her. He didn't even call her out for the mcclellan mispronounciation, clearly he could have.
The whole debate was MOCKERY of a debate.
Palin didnt answer anything; just blabbed on in Newspeak
Ifel didnt hold Palin to actually ANSWERING anything
Biden was the only SINCERE thing about the debate.
BRIAN, do you have a crush on Sarah? "She only got it wrong by a little bit...?!?!?"
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