How Palin Screwed Up Big Time in the Debate
Sarah Palin is being graded on a serious curve in the post-debate discussion and analysis. There were easily a dozen things in the debate (some specific and some running throughout) any one of which would be the subject of endless post-debate analysis and questioning of basic fitness for a normal candidate:
--Her frequent use of cue cards, especially on foreign policy, where she often seemed to be reading her answers word for word.
--Her ignoring questions where she didn't have a rehearsed answer ready, and using unrelated "verbage" instead, like answering a question about the bankruptcy bill by talking about energy.
--Confusing McClellan/McKiernan and misstating his views on applying the surge tactics to Afghanistan.
--Did she not come out for equal legal rights for gays? Anything short of marriage is ok, right? Is that really her position?
--Winking while answering the question about succeeding McCain.
--Her tone-deaf robotic non-recognition of Biden's emotional moment.
--We need a stronger VP? Really? Let's poll the American people on that and see how many agree.
--Her creepy, almost chirpy answer on nuclear weapons -- "the be-all, end-all of too many people." She's all folksy all the time, unable to convey a sense of gravity even on a topic like this.
--Botching McCain's position on bankruptcy and mortgage adjustments, as Eric pointed out this morning.
Well, it took a few days for the fact that Obama won last week's debate to penetrate the media narrative. So perhaps over the next few days the "Palin did ok" narrative will yield to reality also.
I may be alone in this (I haven't read it anywhere!), but I think McCain ok'd Palin's "VP oughta have more power" proposal/threat because he knows anyone who is excited about this ticket is excited about her, not McCain. He won't be up to the job but she, with her "fresh face and fresh ideas," IS.
This is beyond terrifying.
Plus: her suit made her look like a mid-level Death Star employee.
October 4, 2008 2:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
I must confess that I find Gov. Palin likeable, entertaining, and somehow intriguing. She has a certain quirky, spunky aspect to her. I was actually sort of rooting for her to not make a complete fool of herself in the debate, and she cleared that rather low bar. There is no doubt that when she has her wits about her (she doesn't always - another oddly INTERESTING element), she is a good "communicator" in the modern sense: Knows only one or two things, but knows them well, and understands intuitively how to handle TV to promote her assets and obscure her many weaknesses.
That said, one unfortunate fact intrudes ("and facts are stubborn things"): W must imagine what it would be like if the worst happened all the way around, and in 6 months she actually WAS the President of the United States. (??)
No, me neither. She just is not ready at this point in her life. That is reason enough to get on past this interesting, entertaining diversion, and back to the real issues of the campaign.
October 4, 2008 8:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
Sarah Palin will not be ready at any point in her life. As W. has shown, there are plenty of folks never cut out for the job, and no amount of time, opportunity, on-the-job training, or whatever else can change it.
October 4, 2008 10:21 AM | Reply | Permalink
Folkys sense of gravity concerning nukes is a red flag!
Currently, the USAF is having serious problem with personnel entrusted to guard and maintain nuke weapons under their command. And these are people who are trained to handle these weapons. Tossing Palin into this mix is a nuclear cocktail!
Nukes require a specific level of competence, especially when it comes to deploying them. Folky, down-to-earth, main street logic is a nuclear incident waiting to happen.
October 4, 2008 10:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
I have a friend who loves karaoke night down at the local bar. The only problem is that he is not a very good singer, but it's obvious that he is not aware of this. Nevertheless, he is my friend and I clap louder then anyone else in the joint. That's the feeling that I got watching Gov. Palin up there on stage struggling to find enough words to run-out the clock while Sen. Biden delivered clear responces with ease. In all fairness, Sen. Biden has been speeking on the floor of the Senate for decades and Sen. Obama has been speaking publically through college, the Illinois Legislature, and the U.S. Senate for nearly a decade. Both are quite comfortable at the podium, but Gov. Palin simply does not have that experience. It is shameful what the McCain machine is putting this woman through. It's clear that she is either on a need-to-know basis within the campaign or out of the loop entirely. Can you imagine how embarassing it must have been for her to learn via the midia that the campaign had abandoned not one, but two states? - OMG! - If I were her, I would tell McCain "Thank's, but no thanks!" I high-tail it right back to Alaska. That's all I have to say...
Chico Brisbane.
October 4, 2008 11:49 AM | Reply | Permalink
CB,
I very much agree. I think we tend to forget that it's not HER fault we all (including her) have this problem. It's Sen. McCain's fault. With all the talk about McCain as a proven "leader", what can we make of his ONE conspicuous public decision to date as a candidate, in terms of its benefit to the country?
October 4, 2008 2:00 PM | Reply | Permalink