The VP Debate
In the first few days after the Palin pick was announced and the cascade of stories about her past grew, the expectations about her convention speech dropped, seemingly by the hour. Someone wrote that her speech would be viewed as successful if she avoids spitting up on herself. As we know, she delivered the speech with much bitchiness and sarcasm with most pundits saying she "energized the base". (As a side note, if the speech she gave at the convention did indeed energize the base, then the base is pretty lame, I mean, seriously!).
So in the past few days she has made several major gaffe's, the Katie Couric interview standing out, as well it should.
Just as it happened prior to the convention, expectations have dropped sharply ahead of this weeks debate, to the point that if she avoids spitting up on herself, many will judge her debate a success. James Fallows mentioned this earlier today too: http://jamesfallows.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/09/the_looming_problem_for_biden.php
I suppose you just have to shake your head at all of this. Obama was absolutely correct during the debate, our standing in the world IS low and it's because of Bush & Co.
With McCain and Palin in office, we would become the laughing stock of the world. We will get the president we deserve, I just hope we deserve an intelligent, even-tempered president and not an unhinged idiot.
So in the past few days she has made several major gaffe's, the Katie Couric interview standing out, as well it should.
Just as it happened prior to the convention, expectations have dropped sharply ahead of this weeks debate, to the point that if she avoids spitting up on herself, many will judge her debate a success. James Fallows mentioned this earlier today too: http://jamesfallows.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/09/the_looming_problem_for_biden.php
I suppose you just have to shake your head at all of this. Obama was absolutely correct during the debate, our standing in the world IS low and it's because of Bush & Co.
With McCain and Palin in office, we would become the laughing stock of the world. We will get the president we deserve, I just hope we deserve an intelligent, even-tempered president and not an unhinged idiot.
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From:
Head of State
http://headofstate.blogspot.com/2008/09/ready.html
Sunday, September 28, 2008
"Ready"
John McCain chose the woman below as his Vice Presidential candidate.
He is 72 years old. He has been treated for a very serious illness. Four times.
He says that Sarah Palin is "ready to be President."
We are currently in what may be the most serious economic crisis in American history.
PALIN: That's why I say I, like every American I'm speaking with, were ill about this position that we have been put in where it is the taxpayers looking to bail out. But ultimately, what the bailout does is help those who are concerned about the health-care reform that is needed to help shore up our economy, helping the—it's got to be all about job creation, too, shoring up our economy and putting it back on the right track. So health-care reform and reducing taxes and reining in spending has got to accompany tax reductions and tax relief for Americans. And trade, we've got to see trade as opportunity, not as a competitive, scary thing. But one in five jobs being created in the trade sector today, we've got to look at that as more opportunity. All those things under the umbrella of job creation. This bailout is a part of that.
Read the above again.
Carefully.
Palin will no doubt be prepared with crisp, coherent responses for Thursday's debate. However, the above indicates that this is not a mind that is prepared with the breadth and depth of understanding and knowledge to take on the duties of the President of the United States at a time of financial crisis.
Unlike others, you do not need to act on impulse.
For your country and future.
Think.
(Transcription of Couric interview from Fareed Zakaria, Newsweek)
Cite:
Head of State
http://headofstate.blogspot.com/2008/09/ready.html
September 29, 2008 7:27 AM | Reply | Permalink
George Bush thought it made perfect sense!
September 29, 2008 8:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
With the McCain camp knee deep in quicksand I bet at the VP debate Sarah Palin is going to play the sex card against Biden and accuse him of being a misogynist.
I hope the Obama camp is prepared for these charges, its really all the McCain camp has got going for them in Palin's defense.
September 29, 2008 8:25 AM | Reply | Permalink
Hi Everybody!!!
Why don't we do a hybrid of both plans? We can put Pops McCain into a limited depth of quicksand, with strict environmental oversight while creating spin to get the MSM accusing Joe Biden of sexism. That way the quicksand will carry us through Thursday until the sexism charge kicks in, which will then create new spin for the media!
Debate crises solved! I'll see you bitches at the debate.
xoxoxo,
Sarah (2009-2010ish).
September 29, 2008 12:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
Biden is going to be one of the more difficult people to paint as a mysoginist -- he may have 'courtly' old-fashioned manners that some will take as demeaning, but those are his manners with most everyone, nothing that will be unique to Palin. And his record on support for women's issues, and of good, level interactions with many strong women, is long and solid.
I'm a little more concerned about his showing disdain or shock at some of the idiocy she's capable of saying (and it could be a challenge - look at the expressions on Gibson and Couric's faces), but you know he's working on that and, reputation aside, he's got one of the best poker-faces around. I realized that watching him on MTP as Brokow was asking pretty upsetting questions about his son.
Best guess -- he will not *avoid* direct contact with her (a la McCain) but it will be at a minimum and his answers will more showcase his own background and knowledge to heighten the contrast without direct attack or wrestling match. Strange as it seems to political junkies, about half the nation doesn't know enough about Joe Biden to have an impression one way or another.
So, perhaps the more important task he has is to make that introduction, no matter who his opponent might be. I think some people who havce only heard the 'bloviator' cracks will be quite surprised ... in a positive way. To the extent that he can convince folks that Obama/Biden is just plain *superior* to McCain/Palin, it becomes less important that the full depth of her problems be exposed and dwelled upon.
That said, it's a TOUGH assignment - for anyone. I'm glad it's Biden handling it rather than Bayh, Kaine, etc. Biden has many more 'gears' and can attract attention to himself without being negative toward his opponent (something he did very well in the primary debates). And I think he's enough of a pro to know that there is going to be SOME shocked, horrified reaction from the peanut gallery, no matter how well he does.
All that said, I'm going to be a nervous wreck watching!!!
September 29, 2008 9:08 AM | Reply | Permalink
Every time I see Palin (or hear that irritating voice) I am reminded of this:
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=lj3iNxZ8Dww
September 29, 2008 10:12 AM | Reply | Permalink
Great post Elizabeth2...unfortunately for me, you've taken away many of the things I wanted to post..oh well, read her take, it's excellent!
September 29, 2008 10:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think the VP debate will be more of a contest over who can seem more blue collar. Both will be promoting their working class roots and folksiness.
September 29, 2008 1:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
Anyone remember the episode from the last season of The West Wing called "Running Mates"? Leo McGary, the Democratic Veep candidate is performing dreadfully in mock debates. Despite best efforts, word leaks to the public. Then when the debates take place, McGary is brilliant, completely outperforming expectations.
There's a scared inner part of me that Palin has been rope-a-doping the press so far. That "on the night" she will exceed all expectations.
After all, as has been pointed out, this is a woman with lots of TV experience, who defeated the incumbents within her own party to get the Governorship. She's not a complete fool.
I hope I'm wrong.
September 29, 2008 1:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
You're wrong. A rope-a-dope as "effective" as that she may have played is not going to be overcome by a competent debate performance. Rather, it will look like inconsistency -- that Palin-McLame have in common being consistently erratic.
One day they're competent; next day they can't miss the corner in a round room.
September 29, 2008 1:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is Sarah Palin debating during her run for governor: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1-B-OyQ-KI. She is not pretending to be someone with no real knowledge of the world.
September 29, 2008 1:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sometimes Biden gets flustered in the presence of women. Will this be the weakness?
There certainly is no reason for him to go easy on her or alter anything he says for fear of anything the republicans plan on doing anyway...which will be as unsuccessful as their other tactics and strategies.
September 29, 2008 3:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is no rope-a-dope. Have you seen her interviews? There is no way she will show up to the debate. If she does, that is the end of the McCain campaign.
September 29, 2008 5:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Let's just be sure she's not wired with one of those little transceiver things Bush wore in 2004 in a debate with Kerry - Maybe that's why she's been in Alaska for a few days and off the trail - She's having it implanted.
http://dir.salon.com/story/news/feature/2004/10/13/transmitter/index.html
September 29, 2008 5:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Let's just be sure she's not wired with one of those little transceiver things Bush wore in 2004 in a debate with Kerry - Maybe that's why she's been in Alaska for a few days and off the trail - She's having it implanted.
http://dir.salon.com/story/news/feature/2004/10/13/transmitter/index.html
September 29, 2008 5:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
It looked like McCain was wired Friday. He had a weird expression when he leaned sideways and leered into space for a disconcerting amount of time. Very strange.
Palin shouldn't be underestimated. These people have no scruples whatsoever. She'll do whatever it takes to pull it off.
September 29, 2008 6:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
so sorry for double post
September 29, 2008 5:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Just think if Hillary was the VP nominee...sigh.
September 29, 2008 5:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
I was in favor of a dark house vp candidate who made a good speech at the Dem convention (which I watched on commercial free, babble free, crawl free cspan), is advising the campaign and also was advising Kerry in 2004:
Retired 3 star Army General Claudia Kennedy, directed Army intelligence, first woman 3 star general, doesn't seem to have any significant baggage. She was born in Frankfort Germany but I THINK of American parents.
Her selection really would have demanded a much more dignified campaign than what we have to endure for 35 more days. She's never run for public office, so what you have to endure on the campaign trail could have considered too much for her.
September 29, 2008 7:18 PM | Reply | Permalink