No gaffes in last night’s debate? Darn right!
By Jimmy Orr | 10.03.08
If the debate last night was a football game, Chris Berman would not have been able to yell out his trademark, “Fumblllllle.” Although he would be able to say “rumblin, bumblin, stumblin” a few times, but not that many.
The expectation was a train wreck. With Joe Biden’s frequent missteps and Sarah Palin’s sketchy performances in recent TV interviews, the night seemed as if it would be rich in miscues, foibles, and Homer Simpson-like “D’ohs”.
Debate watching parties sprouted up across the nation. People could download their own Palin Bingo cards eager for the predictable phrases to come from the Alaska governor’s mouth . If you had a card with the words “maverick,” “drill baby drill,” “darn right,” “I’ll betcha,” and I can see Russia from my house “doggone it” — you would have won big. She said all of them.
Plus, if you were playing in the lightning round, there were even more nuggets like “git down to gittin’ business done.”
NASCAR
Newbies to the political scene say they watched the event because we are at a critical time in our nation’s history and nothing is more important than a substantive debate on public policy. That’s a good thing.
But there were plenty of viewers who, like NASCAR fans, say they watch for the racing, not the wrecks.
Palin bein’ Palin
Conservatives calling for Palin to abandon her handlers and “be herself” got to see a more relaxed version of the Republican vice presidential nominee.
It was as though she had an epiphany that it was OK to be the governor of Alaska and former mayor of Wasilla.
Example #1: After Joe Biden explained his vote on the Iraq war, Palin responded, “Oh, man, it’s so obvious I’m a Washington outsider, and someone just not used to the way you guys operate.”
Example #2: Responding to moderator Gwen Ifill’s question as to whether there was anything Palin had promised to do as vice president that would be rescinded as a result of the financial crisis, Palin said, “There is not. And how long have I been at this, like five weeks? So there hasn’t been a whole lot that I’ve promised…”
Example #3: Responding to Ifill’s question on what the “vice presidency is worth,” Palin produced the most comedic moment of the night. She took a shot at Biden (perhaps unknowingly) for his statement - back in 2007 - that he wouldn’t want the VP job. When there was mild speculation over her being a dark-horse candidate months ago, she had a similar reaction saying that she didn’t even know what the vice president did.
Last night she explained that her answer “was a lame attempt at a joke and your’s [Biden’s] was a lame attempt at a joke, too, I guess, because nobody got it.”
Maverick
The Vote is guessing that the McCain team must have focus-group tested the word “maverick” and the company responsible told them it was OK to use 60,000 times in a week.
It was only mentioned 15 times last night. A couple times even by Joe Biden. Sometimes it flowed well in a sentence. Sometimes it was painful.
Where “maverick” worked:
“I think that’s why we need to send the maverick from the Senate and put him in the White House, and I’m happy to join him there.”
Where “maverick” didn’t work:
“And I’ve joined this team that is a team of mavericks with John McCain, also.”
Where “maverick” worked quite well:
“As for disagreeing with John McCain and how our administration would work, what do you expect? A team of mavericks, of course we’re not going to agree on 100 percent of everything.”
Where “maverick” was a disaster:
“Also, John McCain’s maverick position that he’s in, that’s really prompt up to and indicated by the supporters that he has.”
Biden’s use of maverick:
“Look, the maverick — let’s talk about the maverick John McCain is. And, again, I love him. He’s been a maverick on some issues, but he has been no maverick on the things that matter to people’s lives.”
The great part about that statement was Biden’s insertion of the words “I love him” right before the slam.
It’s like when you are talking to a friend about someone and you don’t want to sound too harsh. So you preface your remarks by saying, “I love him like a brother, don’t get me wrong. But … (insert body slam here).”
No more Couric?
After last night’s performance, Palin just might be out of the woods. That doesn’t mean the poll numbers are going to flip around. But maybe, just one day soon, there won’t be any further installments of the Katie Couric - Sarah Palin interview. Although it would be ratings extravaganza.
NY Times
Even the McCain campaign’s favorite newspaper had some nice things to say about Palin’s performance.
“Ms. Palin spoke far more fluidly and confidently than she had in her devastating interviews with Katie Couric of CBS,” writes TV columnist Alessandra Stanley. “Ms. Palin did stumble into a few loop-the-loop non sequiturs, but mostly she stuck to practiced talking points.”
“She was friendly and respectful to Mr. Biden,” she continued. “Then, every now and then, she cocked her head, winked, and nudged him hard — like a little sister who knows her older brother cannot hit back.”
If the poll numbers start moving in the other direction, you can bet Obama-Biden will hit back. Right now, they’ll probably just leave her alone.
<< Biden’s supreme challenge: no gaffes | MainComments
2. newsandverse | 10.03.08
TWO WRONGS MAKE A RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT
Spoken by a presidential candidate to his running mate after a debate:
Your match before the TV throng tonight,
Was to show if I was wrong or right
In my selecting you to ride along,
In hopes that you’d turn out more right than wrong.
You showed us all that you are strong with fight
And that you try to be less wrong than right.
But I am still prepared to smite the gong
If you ever get the Bill of Rights all wrong.
http://www.newsandverse.com
Light verse, ripped from the headlines
3. Matt | 10.03.08
Listening to Sarah Palin talking, I feel like I’m watching a TV sitcom spinoff of the Coen Brother’s, “Fargo.” The only difference is, none of it is remotely endearing. The woman is atrocious, and I thank God she’s not ready and never will be ready to be President. That woman’s voice makes my fillings itch.
6. Dr. Donna | 10.03.08
Why America’s Elite Women Hate Palin and why they want YOU to HATE her TOO:
It seems the Seven Sisters Sisterhood can’t stand Palin. You know the type…Two kids max, “career” moms from Carnegie Hill to Capitol Hill with cell phone yapping Caribbean nannies pushing their crying Masters of the Universe down urban Park Avenues while mama is doing a power lunch.
But the rest of America’s women can easily identify with and look up to Palin… this REAL woman who actually takes care of her own children, cooks, cleans, drives the kids to school, then herself to work, AND governs a state. What disgusts these elite women most is how polished and accomplished Palin is without having the coveted prep school and Ivy background. She is a complete anathema, stranger and outsider to them for not being part of their Sisterhood and not buying into the indoctrination & culture of 70s Hardcore Elitist East Coast Feminists.
Sarah Palin, bright, honest & straightforward, is highly dissimilar to the usually highly connected Ivy bred women that dominate mainstream media. As opposed to these stale, overproduced stereotypical women who are RAISED & GROOMED for POWER, Palin arrives as a breath of fresh air. She’s a truly AUTHENTIC, strong and forceful American woman in the long tradition of accomplished American females like those who contributed SIGNIFICANTLY to the creation of this country and whose time has come to rise to positions of LEADERSHIP…not POWER for power’s sake.
7. Teri B. | 10.03.08
I thought she laid the folksy act on pretty thick, and her accent seemed thicker than ever. I actually found it pretty excruciating to listen to for 90 minutes.
Other than the overly cutsy “dog gonnit” Joe Six Pack nonsense, she didn’t do much differently than she did in her debates running for governor, which was answer different questions than she was asked when she didn’t know the answer, and unleash a BS storm, laced with outright untruths and misrepresentations. Tragically, too many people in this country easily fall for that kind of thing.
Can’t we just put her on a reality show where she belongs, instead of letting this actress hold high office? Then all the folks who like her can still watch her act every week, but we won’t be governed by fools - again. I’m really sick of getting what they deserve.
8. crossroads | 10.03.08
She sounded like an over-rehearsed HS freshman giving a report, where she’d lose her way verbally, and stagger back to where she left off. I’d give her a C, which is higher than was expected, but next time (as in never) she should have a better understanding of her material. Oh, and answer the teacher’s questions when asked directly, don’t avoid them.
9. Glen | 10.03.08
Sarah is definately not the airhead the caricature the Libs have painted her as
Drill Baby Drill
10. John | 10.03.08
It’s scary how such a Palin performance where:
- little to nothing substantive was said
- she avoided answering several questions (not to mention at one point she even directly said she wasn’t going to answer it)
- she spoke on wanting to EXPAND the power of the VP position (a scary prospect after Cheney’s disastrous disrespect of the Constitution)
- all of the winking
- her off-topic returning to energy policy discussion when she didn’t have anything to offer to the current topic
- the rehearsed, memorized script delivery she gave throughout the night
When all of those things and more are considered, it’s scary how her performance can truly be viewed as a positive for the GOP. True, the bar was set (by her) extremely low, and she may have exceeded it. But it was not a convincing performance giving comfort that she’s ready to assume office, far from it.
By the way, the most comedic moment of the night in my opinion was: when Biden claimed the McCain/Palin Health Care plan to be “The ultimate ‘Bridge to Nowhere’”
11. Michigan Disappointment | 10.03.08
Didn’t anyone catch Palin’s explanation related to the Executive branch of the government. She responded that among other things, she was a former business owner, referring to being a past executive. (ouch!) She made one thing obvious to me during the debate. She is naive and uneducated regarding our government and how it functions. High school children have a greater working knowledge. From a presentation standpoint, someone needs to tell her to quit winking when she’s attempting to make a point. These are serious times and “Joe Six-pack” and “Hockey moms” are not taking things lightly. This was a travesty and she failed miserably in her effort to convince me that she should be trusted with the vice presidency.
12. Dawn | 10.03.08
As an educated mom who has worked in a very high end “elite” position in corporate and who is now a home schooling mother, I find Palin NO REPRESENTATION of the everyday woman. I am NOT a “folksy” kind of “honey” “sweety” “icky” speaker, nor do I respect that in a woman. For her to gain my respect, she would do better to know her stuff and demonstrate that in an educated, straight forward manner. All of which has NOT been shown to date.
I am particulalry bothered that McCain and Palin are trying to reinvent history and themselves in the eleventh hour of the campaign.
Lastly, I, too, have a child with very extensive special needs and find that aspect of her campaign abhorrent. That she should put politics, even those of the United States, above the needs of her special needs child is sickening. As he is 4 months old, she has no idea of what is coming and is therefore, in no position to help those of us who have older children. Should they make it into office, she will just begin grappling with school and life issues when the term is over. THAT is when true knowledge of advocacy and needs become apparent to parents of special needs. That she will be gone during the crucial early intervention period for this child, when every study done shows that mom is the biggest motivator and the largest indicator of a special needs child’s success is sad.
13. Dawn | 10.03.08
PS. I’ve never had a nanny or any other such nonsense. And I clean my own home, cook my own meals, and drive my other child to school.
14. sendone | 10.03.08
Palin’s performance (and it was a performance) amounted to no more then not being an embarrassment to herself or her party.
She avoided most of the hard questions and just stuck to her scripted talking points, reverting to her “hockey mom, just a regular gal” talk whenever she felt out of her realm. Nothing wrong with being a hockey mom or regular gal but that does not qualify you to be a V.P.
She made lots of promises with no information on how those promises would be kept.
I thought the moderator was not the best. Biden was asked to go first on several of the questions all in a row with Palin only having to respond. Then when she did ask Palin the question first it was a “softball” question about what do you consider to be your weak point.
Palin is a right wing extremist that is very unqualified to be a heartbeat away from the presidency. Her performance at the debate confirms this.
15. Mike M | 10.03.08
Because Palin didn’t stumble badly, everyone says she did well. She only beat expectations, kind of like choosing the stock that loses the least in a dwindling market. After some settling of the political winds, people will begin remembering what she actually said and compare her to a standard, not to a single poor interview. She reminds me of a car salesman, telling you about gas mileage when you ask about roominess and talking about the paint colors when you ask about warranties. “Well, gosh, it comes in like 300 colors and you want to make sure you’re choosing the right color.” That’s what buttons the Republicans are going to try to push with her gun-toting mama image.
16. sendone | 10.03.08
Palin’s performance (and it was a performance) amounted to no more then not being an embarrassment to herself or her party.
She avoided most of the hard questions and just stuck to her scripted talking points, reverting to her “hockey mom, just a regular gal” talk whenever she felt out of her realm. Nothing wrong with being a hockey mom or regular gal but that does not qualify you to be a V.P.
She made lots of promises with no information on how those promises would be kept.
I thought the moderator was not the best. Biden was asked to go first on several of the questions all in a row with Palin only having to respond. Then when she did ask Palin the question first it was a “softball” question about what do you consider to be your weak point.
Palin is a right wing extremist that is very unqualified to be a heartbeat away from the presidency. Her performance at the debate confirms this.
17. Steve | 10.03.08
Although this, like most of the mainstream media’s coverage of the campaign, was anti McCain/Palin, at least it wasn’t breathless with hate and made valid points. But saying that the condescending and snide article written by that tabloid journal, The New York Times, had some nice things to say about her is disingenuous and insulting. It’s that kind of propaganda masquerading as journalism that’s giving the media a bad name.
18. Tom in California | 10.03.08
“Doggone it!” “Noo-cue-ler.” Girlish little winks at the camera. (I counted four of ‘em, and probably missed some.) Jeez, it is pathetic that a major political party would be running somebody like this for high office!
19. Robert | 10.03.08
This woman was a BAD choice.
She is woefully unprepared, inadequate to the task at hand, and frankly, if she really is raising her own kids, doesn’t have the TIME to be VP of the US.
If McCain really wanted a strong female presence that America could count on to help run this country, he would have chosen Condoleezza Rice.
That’s a smart lady who knows what it takes to travel the world and put forth America’s interests.
I can’t shake the mental image of Palin trying to hold high level diplomatic talks with Palestine and Israel while nursing the new baby and keeping the other children from hitting each other.
But still, even with Ms. Rice, this ticket would still be inadequate, because the man on the top isn’t much better. Paranoid, irrational, hot-tempered, McCain to me looks like a man entering the first stages of dementia. Even if he’s not, we are still talking about a sick old man who finished at the BOTTOM of his class, and who’s military experience consisted of crashing 5 American warplanes before being held as a prisoner of war through the entire conflict. Frankly if a prisoner exchange had been offered, we might have said no, just to save money on planes.
This is the best the Republicans have to offer? Bush, Cheney, McClain, Palin? Three idiots and the son of Satan. Nice.
What is wrong with Republicans? If you ran a business, you would want to hire smart people to work for you, right? So why are so many of you unwilling to hire smart people to run your COUNTRY? Why in the WORLD do you value FOLKSINESS over INTELLIGENCE?
20. lucy2008 | 10.03.08
Well, this is an election year that always surprises.
Mrs. Palin certainly showed up for her Ms. America VP debut and provided a lot of folksy over the top swagger and feistiness. I give her that, but that is it.
Senator Joe Biden was knowledgable, firm, and presidential (let alone vice presidential). He answered the moderators questions with insight and depth by speaking to an adult audience about his and Senator Obama’s record, policies and vision going forward for people like me.
I am a 52yr old working mother with a job and finances at risk. I take this election seriously. Putting Daffy Duck on the VP ticket for the amusement and rah! rah! cheering of the right wing Republican base is horrifying. We are the laughing stock of over half of our nation and a laughing stock of the world. Her candidacy mocks our constitution and democratic process. Her candidacy mocks many generations of pioneer farmers and working mothers in my family who had voted Republican since Abraham Lincoln’s candidacy.
21. LIZ | 10.03.08
MATT……I coudn;t agree with you more. I am from Minnesota (where the fargo movie was made) and although I don’t talk like that (I made it a goal never to speak like that) I AM SURROUNDED by people who speak with Sarah Palin’s accent. I have heard outsiders complain about it and I can fully understand them now. Hearing her speak was like nails on a chalk board!I was questioning whether I was listening to a presidental debate or a PTA/city council debate in Fargo, MN.
22. Curious Orange | 10.03.08
I thought her performance was nauseating.
Winking at the camera and never answering a question honestly. Ick!
23. PacificGatePost | 10.03.08
AMERICA IS ABOUT TO MAKE A HISTORICAL DECISION ON ITS WAY OF LIFE
Numerous forces are at work, pressuring American voters into a decision in a time of stress.
http://pacificgatepost.blogspot.com/2008/10/vote-critical-decision-in-dangerous.html
Not a time for knee-jerk reactions and emotions.
24. Jo | 10.03.08
Sarah performed well, stuck to talking points, but didn’t answer questions and it was obvious she was following scripted talking points. A good performance does not indicate intelligence, the ability to lead or good critical thinking skills.Bush can put on a decent performance too, and we know how much substance he had. Plenty of “airheads” can perform, but they can’t think, are not knowledgeable and are not suitable to hold national office.
We do not need someone that can “perform” or repeat talking points to appeal to Joes six-pack in the oval office.
We need a world-class leader. Intelligent, knowledgeable, educated and articulate. We are tired of the worship of ignorance, and the embarrassment of having leaders that act like cowboys with their “dogonnit” and “shucks”. That is not who I want determining my future, or the future of this country.
Liberal women do not hate Sarah Palin, they know what it takes to compete in the world. Sarah is not well educated, is not well informed, has a very provincial view of the world and lacks the wisdom to know that she can be wrong. Her personality is similar to Bush’s, certain that they are correct when they are wrong, and a desire for the power to enforce their personal beliefs on the rest of us.
25. jack | 10.03.08
I thought they both did well. The problem with Biden is that he is a card-carrying member of the Washington establishment. Smooth and senatorial, I haven’t been convinced he’s tackling the basic problems the affect America. His Bosnian work is admirable. His work on woman’s abuse, while you can’t argue with it, is one of about a billion programs which handle that already. I understand he’s gotten lined up with lobbyist money, credit cards, banks etc.
Palin is a reformer to the core. I think she’s just what America needs in Warshington. The monied elite with the Ivy League degrees don’t know what Main Street is all about. Joe Biden’s been a Senator forever, don’t tell me he’s a lunch-bucket guy, it’s not possible. Anyway, his record is way too liberal. We need to bust out of the iron grip the elite has on media and government, and get it into the hands of someone who “gets it”. Palin and McCain get it - they don’t like the free-spending ways and the lobbyist incredible influence. Look at the McCain Feingold bill if you don’t think McCain is a reformer. Look at his correctness on the surge if you want someone who can handle foriegn policy. Look at his attempt to reign in Fannie Mae - rejected by Democrats like Frank and Obama (Obama receive 125k from Fannie Mae, c’mon, he’s for change?)
I dunno. Those smooth-talking democrats make me reach to check my wallet. Remember, Clinton’s promise of a middle class tax cut? That disappeared about a month after he got into office. Don’t buy that rhetoric.
What I do like about Obama is he’s black, and that would be good for America. Also, he’s a great speaker. It just scares me what the Democrats believe in an activist government, which is already so hugely wasteful and expense.
26. murr | 10.03.08
Look, she answered very few questions, just avoiding some and on others just announcing she isn’t interested in answering them. Each time she did, it looked like she was looking up the note card she wanted to read from. She inserted her little “say it ain’t so joe” and her “there you go again” just as she was coached, but apropos of nothing, as if since no real opportunity to insert them were going to appear, she would just throw them in anywhere. She delivered her vapid folkisms on cue. She had neither facts nor figures on a single thing, repeated one non-truth after another (see the morning fact checkers), and utterly failed to name one specific way McCain’s presidency would differ from Bush’s on any of the current urgent issues. But she didn’t stammer in the process. Therefore it was a tie???? Hello. Is anyone awake out there at all?
27. Inlandia | 10.03.08
I was completely embarrased by the folksy-isms of Gov. Palin last night. I felt it was demeaning to the office to which she aspires. Don’t we try anymore as a people to improve ourselves? Are we so insistent on “being accepted for who we are” that we forgot to set some goals and reach a little higher?
I’ve been where she is–hauling kids around, a soccer mom, managing a family while working toward my career. But if any of my children in the back of the van had uttered slang like that, I would correct them, telling them that you’re judged by how you speak and I don’t want people judging you badly.
She’s cartoonish in her mannerisms, which distracts us from judging her on her own merits–where the judging should take place, I think.
28. Carol | 10.03.08
No gaffes?
General McClellan (mentioned 2x as commander responsible for Afghanistan) served under President Lincoln and died in the late 1800s.
300 years off and wrong in crediting Ronald Reagan for the coining the phrase city on a hill.
Pledge to turn the nation into a city…
Admittedly this performance was vastly superior to her prior ones but her ignorance on major issues is still legion.
29. Daylight | 10.03.08
It’s reported in today’s LATimes that the Palins have “a half million dollar home on a lake with a float plane at the dock; two vacation retreats;… and an income last year of at least $230,000″. If this is true, what gives ‘Ol Sarah the right to slaughter the English language to pretend she’s a “joe six pack” person? Seems to me she’s in a rather enviable economic position.
30. ruthlesslogic | 10.03.08
@ Dr. Donna:
The overprivileged women you describe with such vitriol account for an extraordinarily small percentage of the female population in the U.S., so why does their opinion matter to you? If nothing else, though, you should check your premises: the vast majority of the women you’re describing tend to be free-market republicans and anything but “feminist.” Whatever they think of Palin is irrelevant; they’re still going to vote the party line.
And more importantly, what is WITH the defensive caricaturing? Are you jealous of the advantages wealthier women have or something? Because your post has a very “sour grapes” flavor to it. The fact of the matter is, you can’t possibly know what these so-called “elite” women think, nor what “the rest of America’s women” think either (as if there are only two types of women). You and your circle of associates? Sure. Opine away. But don’t presume to speak for me and mine, none of whom are nanny-hiring, Park Avenue-dwelling, power-lunching, Ivy league graduates.
31. midwestmidwife | 10.03.08
To #6 Dr. Donna, Please speak for yourself and not all “the rest of the American woman” whom you said “could easily relate and look up to Sarah Palin” I do not relate to her in any way, shape or form! She makes me cringe with horror over her trying too hard to fit some mold- not sure which..she is a true “wannabe” and a chameleon. She wears the tough, hunting, fishing babe when it suits; yet she is so into her fashion, her hairdo, the tattoo lip liner, the luxury living….where were the children, who was caring for them while she was governing/being executive and Todd was drilling or fishing? (Listen to some Alaska constituents, they were out partying and getting pregnant) please no more fakey, cutsey, snideness!! The whole folksy act is like a version of HEE-HAW. I am going to beat my head on a wall. I find it interesting you chastise the ivy-league, east coast whatever you said- yet your “nom de plume” is Dr. Donna. Is that elitist?? How we do cling to our titles…
Here are some demographics to plug in your the “rest of the American women equation”: Our family of 6 farms in KS, homeschools our children of which 3 were born at home with husband delivering, we shoot predators in our sheep, nearest neighboring farm is 1.5 miles, attend UMC, 4-H family, both parents attended land-grant Universities (they were east coast), native to NC and VA (God Bless them, both are looking kind of blue!!)husband works for a power generation station. We support our Democratic woman Governor, Kathleen Sebelius and our Democratic U.S. Congresswoman, Nancy Boyda. They are strong, authentic American women who are in touch with middle America. They can articulate, discuss and debate on specific issues. They are women who can be looked up to and related to by other women. Too bad women equal to them on record and in decorum couldn’t have been picked by McCain.
This from a blogger on the NY Times site:
Sarah crammed for the exam and she passed. Now I want to see her have one more interview with Katie Couric and see if she can answer any more questions without the deer in the headlight look.
It’s amazing how the pro-Sarah’s are cooing over a candidate that clearly is not qualified for second highest office of the USA. What pleases me about this VP debate is that Biden clearly showed his 30 years of experience and Sarah clearly showed her ability to learn what to say in 3 days.
NOW we are finally going to set our sights on the real people we should be looking at and that’s McCain and Obama. I will be watching both upcoming debates and would expect that McCain needs to learn how to look his opponent in the eye instead of ignoring him even when Obama was talking. At least Sarah had the decency to “face” Biden, McCain can learn from “her” on that.
32. Arwen | 10.03.08
All Gov. Palin proved is that this former beauty pageant contestant is still used to getting by on her look.
All of that “aw, shucks, ain’t I just too cute” mugging for the cameras only proves it.
And after 8 years of cowboy folksy, you would think America would have had enough of that down-home, Joe Six-Pack charm.
33. Sam from Seattle | 10.03.08
She pleased her base, mainly by not embarassing herself and by being “aggressive”.
However most of us in the middle are now concluding that she can fake her way through a presidential debate and/or a campaign event — much as George Bush did throughout his presidency. We also know after eight years of this stuff is that this type of folksy shmolksy “leader” without any real depth is not what we want and must avoid at any cost.
34. Ahmed M. Karadakhy | 10.03.08
I just wonder; could Palin arise all this controversy and cause all this headache for many if she was not Sarah, i.e. if she was not a woman?
35. erik | 10.03.08
When she starts speaking English, rather than pander to bumpkins, I will then start listening to her. She is even more of a joke now…….
36. Sick of it! | 10.03.08
Sarah Palin must think we are fools! You can’t go to school, take a test, and give answers that don’t apply to the questions. You would fail miserably. Does think we can’t tell the difference? It was insulting! These questions were given to them without each of them knowing what the questions were for a reason, and that is to test them. Not to give them something to dodge. Do we really want someone who doesn’t know what what the limitations of the V.P. is, or what foreign policy is , or what is happening in the world around her, or pretty much any major Supreme Court rulings, and so on and so on? Do we really want someone who needs to be trained in what to say and what not to say?
Last night it would have been better for her to say that she did know the answer to the question, at least that would have been honesty. I am more likely to vote for an honest candidate who doesn’t pretend to have all the answers than to vote for a candidate who does know the answer, but is dishonest.
Look I’m not a Democrat I am a Republican, but I can’t stand by that. We all want change and change is inevitable. However, if in the horrible event the president was to die could we afford the change to Palin? We need to think this through. If you think the last eight years were bad because of ignorance and or deception then what do think the end result will be with much more of the same.
37. P from NM | 10.03.08
#6 Donna:
You’ve bought into the political handlers’ vision of the USA — a place where We the People are either Liberal Snobs, Soccer Moms, Joe Six Packs, ad nauseum.
Give yourself and the rest of us a little more credit. Try, just once, to grasp this concept: the fact that you have a high opinion of Palin as a vice presidential candidate and I don’t doesn’t mean that one of us is an idiot. It means that we are two people who probably have many things in common who happen to disagree about whether Palin or Biden is likely to make a better vice president. Was that so painful?
38. Texas Doc | 10.03.08
Well golly jeepers there America it shouldn’t be to hard to distinguish between real change and the wortheless drivel of self proclaimed Maverickists. C’mon folks, enough is enough. If I have to suffer through more of the same EYERAK, EYERAN, and NEWKUHLER, my head will explode. Lets give the smart guys a chance to undo the Republican mismanagement that has nearly destroyed this country, yet again (think great depression, savings and loan scandal, Iran-Contra, asleep at the wheel before 9/11….the list goes on). McCain and Palin have clearly shown us what a disater they would be for our coutry. Any number of terrorist attacks would pale in comaprison to the destruction they would subject our country to.
39. Dean in Texas | 10.03.08
God, what short memories Americans have. When Dubya started out, he too was a plain-talkin’, regular guy. Turns out this plain talk is the result of having scrambled eggs for brains.
I don’t find anything endearing or good about having another simpleton anywhere near the whitehouse.
40. GRY | 10.03.08
gosh, golly gee willikers- I’m gonna vote fer her anyway, cause she’s so goll darn cute.
41. Flex | 10.03.08
As a veteran for 25 years and a Mccain supporter, it hurts to think that it is possible for Gov. Palin to be my Commander-in-Chief. I truly wanted to believe in her, however, she failed the Commander-in-Chief test by not answering the questions. to be president, you must be able to answer questions, even if it is “I don’t know.” She was able to memorize her lines and did not try to stray away from them. i am very disappointed in the moderator for not forcing the issue of specific answers. I may not vote for Obama, but I WILL NOT VOTE FOR MCCAIN…choosing Gov. Palin shows he lacks judgement and put himself before our country…shame on him!!
42. Mr. Biker | 10.03.08
WOW!
Comments from above include “But the rest of America’s women can easily identify with and look up to Palin… this REAL woman who actually takes care of her own children, cooks, cleans, drives the kids to school, then herself to work, AND governs a state. What disgusts these elite women most is how polished and accomplished Palin is without having the coveted prep school and Ivy background.”
and
“Sarah is definately not the airhead the caricature the Libs have painted her as”
To the first comment, Palin is probably exactly like that, although I’d add that she seems like a cutthroat politician who will do anything she has to in order to get elected. By now, it’s obvious that the word “elite” is a code word for “educated.” Educated she’s not.
As someone pointed out to me, if you found out you had cancer and went to a doctor, would you want the Harvard educated, wonkish doctor working on you or the guy who barely made it through med school because of his party habits - but seemed like the type of guy/gal you’d like to have a beer with?
If she’s so folksy, so down to earth, so real, why won’t she allow investigation into her alleged ethics violations, using the same illegal tactics the Bush administration used over the last 8 years. Do we want more people running the country who BELIEVE they’re above the law?
My only disappointment last night was Joe was too nice and didn’t ask her that question.
As for the second comment, Palin proved last night, without a shadow of a doubt, that she’s an awesome beauty pageant contestant; She spit back memorized lines instead of answering the questions, and made cutesy excuses for not responding to real issues.
She cemented her reputation as an airhead. If you can’t see that, you’re not educated enough to have the critical thinking skills to make good judgments. How can I surmise this? Easy. Did you vote for Bush in the last two elections? If you did, you clearly don’t have the skills to judge good character. So vote for Obama/Biden, because those of us who went to college and are skilled workers were taught the tools necessary to make good, quality decisions.
What we all learned from last night: Joe Biden is a statesman, Sarah Palin is a hockey mom.
Who do you want to run the country?
43. Lisa | 10.03.08
Amazing how many words it takes for the liberals out there to sputter out their complete contempt for Sarah Palin. Funny and sad at the same time. Me thinks you do protest too much. “See ya” in November! Haha. Dems: Meow!!!! GOP: Wow!
44. Bernie from LA | 10.03.08
Dr. Donna,
Do you really want a president that’s just “one of the girls”? You do know that she could very well be president. McCain hasn’t yet released his medical records (d’ya think he’s hidin’ somethin’?), but it seems he might have had a mini-stroke the other night- that should give you a bit of pause… (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=haIAN02tlLM). If you vote McCain/Palin, you really are potentially voting for a President Sarah Palin. Not a good idea.
Sarah Palin did a great job last night. She didn’t babble incoherently about anything- that’s really great. Clearly a somewhat functional human being. But Presidential? I just don’t think so- do you really? Really!?
You claim they’re offering change?! Maybe a bit of a regressive “change” back to the times that women’s health issues were scoffed at and lumped under the title of “hysteria” and we all believed that dinosaurs walked with humans. Sorry, that’s not the kind of change that will make a difference- not for me, and not for you- she’s NOT on your side.
Start thinking for yourself, Dr. Donna, and you might find something else going on out here in the real world. Unless you LIKE our endless occupation of Iraq, our failed strategies to combat terrorism, our current economy, the destruction of our environment for the sake of the oil company profits– unless you LIKE back alley abortions, women having to PAY for investigations when (god forbid!) they get raped, and the cowardly, indiscriminate slaughter of animals- you won’t vote for the Republican, John McCain and the Separatist, Sarah Palin. These people are NOT YOUR FRIENDS!
45. tango | 10.03.08
Palin did very well last night. Mostly because the bar I (and alot of other people) set for her was low. In my opinion, she’ll be OK as VP.
As for Biden, on the other hand, he never really explain why Obama was not qualify to be President, then he is (when Biden become a running mate). And his reason for voting for the war in Iraq, and then against it was really unbelievable (did he really read/understand the bill/resolution before he voted for it). If this was a few years ago, Biden will be called a flip flop. Furthermore, at the end, when Biden asked us through his own experience not to question other’s motive, I wish he would tell us the truth about the motive behind his actions/votes. I expected more from Biden than just voice box for his party.
47. David | 10.03.08
We are in a scientifically & technologically advanced country facing fierce competition from abroad. The last person in the world we need in any high office is some idiot that actually believes dinosaurs walked the earth with mankind, as Sarah palin does. Give me a break. The dumbing down of America just keeps on rolling.
48. tdub | 10.03.08
Sorry, I don’t grade on a curve. Palin did a good job, showed herself as intelligent, but up against what Biden said and the lowered expectations of her performance, she still didn’t strike me as “presidential”. We heard too many pat talking points, instead of articulated, thoughtful answers and analysis. I am sure she makes a good Gov. of a relatively small state, but I am not getting what some pundits and the public are so excited about. I don’t need a president or vice president who has the potential of being a trainwreck–not at this important time for this country.
49. Reagan Democrat | 10.03.08
I look forward to the day when a woman will be elected to one of the two highest elected offices in our great nation.
I hope it will not happen this year.
I’ll wait for one of the many women in the public or private sector who can serve with intelligence, curiosity about the world, dedication to the improvement of the lives of all Americans, and open-minded goodwill towards all of us.
Ms. Palin is the political equivalent of empty calories - fun for the short term. regrettable for the long term.
50. Markus | 10.03.08
Some of BIDEN’s Gaffes last night:
1. Complained about “economic policies of the last eight years” that led to “excessive deregulation.”
Truth: Biden voted for 1999 deregulation that liberal groups are blaming for part of the financial crisis. The law allowed Wall Street investment banks to create the kind of mortgage-related securities at the core of the problem now. The law was widely backed by Republicans as well as by Democratic President Clinton, who argues it has stopped the crisis today from being worse.
2. Warned that Republican presidential candidate John McCain’s $5,000 tax credit to help families buy health coverage “will go straight to the insurance company.”
Um Duh: Of course it would, because it’s meant to pay for insurance. That’s like saying money for a car loan will go straight to the car dealer.
PALIN: “Barack Obama even supported increasing taxes as late as last year for those families making only $42,000 a year.”
3. BIDEN: “The charge is absolutely not true. Barack Obama did not vote to raise taxes. The vote she’s referring to, John McCain voted the exact same way.”
Truth: In the March 14 budget resolution supported by Obama and Biden, McCain actually did not vote.
Biden is a bobble head, Obama hasn’t any more experience than Paulin, and McCain looks like a good candidate for a Gieco commercial…just needs a little more hair.
Whats an independent to do?
51. Patrick | 10.03.08
@ #27 Jack
Credit where credit is due: the “Warshington” made me laugh out loud. That was hilarious.
But! It should be pointed out that McCain cosponsored the Fannie and Freddie reform bill over a year after it was dead and buried (http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/who_caused_the_economic_crisis.html). This was when Fannie and Freddie had already started showing signs of trouble. In my personal opinion the addition of his name was purely political.
Additionally, Obama has received the majority of funding from lower level employees of Fannie and Freddie, not from the higher ups. Now, on the contrary Rick Davis (McCain’s campaign manager and long time adviser) received $30,000.00 a month totaling $2,000,000.00 to lobby AGAINST tighter regulation on their behalf.
And finally, with regards to the Biden/Palin VP debate, I must say, Palin did nothing to quell doubts of her readiness in my eyes. She refused to answer questions she didn’t rehearse, and what she DID say was a broken record of McCain commercials. The thought of her as President of this country is down right terrifying.
52. Dano | 10.03.08
I would like to make three points, all related to the partisan divide, but only indirectly to the debate.
First: Gov. Palin talked last night about how the surge has worked. I’ve heard this over and over and over–would someone please explain to me WHY it worked, and HOW it worked? I try to stay on top of things, but I have never heard a word about this, beyond a mention of a new “secure and hold” approach. What could 170,000 troops do that 140,000 couldn’t? Am I right to suspect that the real change resulted from buying off–bribing–the groups who opposed us? Clearly, things are better in Iraq, at least temporarily, but I think its mostly because after four years of abysmal leadership in both the armed forces and Washington, those in charge finally appointed a good commander–Petraeus. The surge didn’t work; good leadership worked, and it was a long time coming.
Second: Although the Republicans are the more aggressive deregulators, I didn’t ever see too many Democrats fleeing from Wall Street money. The Right may be the instigators, but the Dems are surely complicit. At a certain point, it’s not “The Republicans support big business” and “The Democrats support the middle class”–its “Elected officials work to further their own interests–doing what is best for their constituents is secondary.” In my view, the cause of the current economic meltdown is not the Republicans or Democrats (although both are culpable)–it’s money in politics.
Third: I’m a liberal, a progressive, a Democrat. I never voted for a Republican in my life. But I must agree that there is some merit to the conservative view that government is sometimes stupendously wasteful of taxpayer money. I think government can and should pay a huge role in minimizing human suffering, but to win the support of the people, the Democrats have to be ruthless in their efforts to ensure that all of the people’s money is spent wisely. This is what the Dems need to work on.
As for Palin, she is absolutely appalling. I can’t think of another developed country where a person so transcendently unqualified could be taken seriously. But–she isn’t taken seriously; it’s over; the Right is getting what it deserves; hallelujah.
53. Dano | 10.03.08
I would like to make three points, all related to the partisan divide, but only indirectly to the debate.
First: Gov. Palin talked last night about how the surge has worked. I’ve heard this over and over and over–would someone please explain to me WHY it worked, and HOW it worked? I try to stay on top of things, but I have never heard a word about this, beyond a mention of a new “secure and hold” approach. What could 170,000 troops do that 140,000 couldn’t? Am I right to suspect that the real change resulted from buying off–bribing–the groups who opposed us? Clearly, things are better in Iraq, at least temporarily, but I think its mostly because after four years of abysmal leadership in both the armed forces and Washington, those in charge finally appointed a good commander–Petraeus. The surge didn’t work; good leadership worked, and it was a long time coming.
Second: Although the Republicans are the more aggressive deregulators, I didn’t ever see too many Democrats fleeing from Wall Street money. The Right may be the instigators, but the Dems are surely complicit. At a certain point, it’s not “The Republicans support big business” and “The Democrats support the middle class”–its “Elected officials work to further their own interests–doing what is best for their constituents is secondary.” In my view, the cause of the current economic meltdown is not the Republicans or Democrats (although both are culpable)–it’s money in politics.
Third: I’m a liberal, a progressive, a Democrat. I never voted for a Republican in my life. But I must agree that there is some merit to the conservative view that government is sometimes stupendously wasteful of taxpayer money. I think government can and should pay a huge role in minimizing human suffering, but to win the support of the people, the Democrats have to be ruthless in their efforts to ensure that all of the people’s money is spent wisely. This is what the Dems need to work on.
As for Palin, she is absolutely appalling. I can’t think of another developed country where a person so transcendently unqualified could be taken seriously. But–she isn’t taken seriously; it’s over; the Right is getting what it deserves; hallelujah.
54. Liz | 10.03.08
I’m a young liberal independent but I know a lot of mature conservatives. They kept telling me to just wait and see - Palin’s “the real deal” (oddly enough, Oprah’s words about Obama)and that she would knock my socks off.
Like others, I found her folksy babytalk patronizing, nauseating - and very fakey fake.
I expect a certain amount of question-avoidance from politicians, but I was shocked at the number of times she returned to her canned talking points. She even used it as a point of pride that she wasn’t going to answer the questions the way we wanted - I find that so insulting. The whole time I felt like the audience was being handled like a room full of school children.
The other day George Will made a comment about the maturity level of American consumers - roughly speaking, he said that an inability to delay gratification is a mark of childishness. And look at our credit crisis - it’s shown just how childish we’ve been, and has revealed the emperor on wall street has no clothes. And now we have a VP candidate that winks and smiles, babytalks buzzwords and - Stepfordwife-like - reminds us that we’re the biggest and bestest country in the world. Golly! Who wants pie! Is this a coincidence? The lowest common denominator VP candidate?
Is that what America has come to? A bunch of irresponsible kids that can’t handle nuance, subtlety, sophistication - complicated ideas? A society that completely devalues education? I thought it couldn’t get any worse.
I am so dismayed by my older friends that think Sarah Palin is a solid candidate. These are intelligent people. It beggars belief that they hear her speak and think she’s any good - let alone sincere. If Palin isn’t a simpleton, she sure treats Americans like they are.
I think McCain and Palin will probably win - in which case, God save us.
55. jomama | 10.03.08
“Obama receive 125k from Fannie Mae, c’mon, he’s for change?”
Actually Obama received that 125k from individual employees that worked at Fannie Mae. It wasn’t lobbyist money, no matter how many repub’s try to spin it.
56. Alex | 10.03.08
Oh golly gosh darn right, you betcha!
Sub-prime mortgages? Energy!
Pakistan? The maverick can take care of those evil Iranians!
Ready to be president? About as ready a Miss America contestant.
57. Rationalist | 10.03.08
Has anyone managed to find out Sarah Palin GPA from (any of the 6) colleges she went to? I am willing to bet she is another ‘C’ student just like Bush brain. By defnintion, a C student gets 1 out of every 4 questions WRONG! We need a leader who is an ‘A’ student! You know, one who is right MOST OF THE TIME (> 90%)! All she did last night was repeat the same campaign speech she has given a dozen times. Oh, and just FYI, we have had 8 YEARS of nothing BUT tax cuts and YET, hundreds of thousands of jobs have DISSAPPEARED!! And yet she still said 15 times that “lowering taxes will create jobs”. Saying something repeatedly does NOT make it true!
58. GodWho? | 10.03.08
Excellent Job Sarah.
I’m so proud that a short-term Governor can so quickly ingest talking points, and then to regurgitate them so robot-like. Really quite good, gives me hope for those debate students out there.
Of course if she shared her actual positions on issues it would drive the majority of the world to drink or worse. But hey, narrow is as narrow does.
If her life philosophies (developed from reading ‘everything’) hadn’t already made me want to absolutely puke, her performance last did. We don’t need another puppet; we need independent thinking. We don’t need another evangelist; we need someone who understands ‘hell’ is just down the street - right now.
I only wish to The Goddess these “doggone ‘mericans” get a clue. There is no more time, even according to the psychotically worshiped fictional literature - the bible.
Good luck everyone, we’ll all need it with this… person… on the ticket (as if mccain isn’t bad enough).
59. kathleen | 10.03.08
The bar was so low for Palin that reading cue cards correctly,(no matter the question!) and adding some “folkseyness” was a success to the GOP.
Let’s not forget so easily how illiterate she is on…..nearly everything. She gets by, she’s cute(which is very sexist and the gop is using it!) Does the public really want a leader who is ‘just like them’…and not the smartest ‘them’?
Wait until something really important needs to be accomplished.
Wait until there is a very complicated set of decisions to make.
Wait until we are in deep international concerns.
Wait until our ecomomy futher tanks.
Do you really think Palin is up to the task? Remember McCain refuses to release his medical records. Hmmm..
60. Gonne Yeats | 10.03.08
Can somebody please explain something to me?
Am I supposed to vote for John McCain because Sarah Palin didn’t make a fool of herself?
61. Lisa | 10.03.08
Hey all you hyperventilatin’ Libs: take a look!
“It’s amazing, you know, she’s been thrust into the national spotlight with very little preparation and I think that, all things considered, you saw a very composed and effective debater last night.”
- Hillary Clinton on Sarah Palin’s debate performance.
tee hee. See ya!!!!
62. Danny Monny | 10.03.08
After the debate, I listened to some TV pundits talking, big names like Charles Gibbson, Tom Brokaw, David Brooks, etc… They all talked about how briliantly Sarah Palin has performed and kind of gave the win to Palin. They are either biased or have poor judgement. What were they thinking? This is not beauty contest nor is a high school debate contest. This is the VP debate of the most powerful nation on the earth. Is this the best our country and democracy can offer to the world? Man oh man, talking about respect by the world? How can the rest of the world take us seriously? So VP Palin goes on a foreign trip and winks winks and gets lost in conversation because there is not going to be any prepared talking points.
63. sparklingcider | 10.03.08
I’m a woman from Texas and very Republican in very many issues…yet I was offended by Ms. Palin on so many levels last night. One of the most important things my mom (and yes, she cooked, cleaned, and drove my sister and I around as we grew up; she also managed to instill in both of us the values of hard work and education–we both managed to attended ivyleague caliber schools despite our background) taught me was when someone asks you a question, you answer it. To avoid the question shows disrespect. And what Ms. Palin did last night was show that she had little respect for not only the moderator, but her entire audience. Is this the kind of person we want to represent our country?
64. laucarlson | 10.03.08
It continues to bother me that the baby is used as a prop–tossed around like a rag doll. Why isn’t grandma holding Trig, instead Sarah handing him off to the little sister? That is such callous disregard for his safety. It’s been very conspicuous that father Todd, and Sarah’s parents (the baby’s purported grandparents) ignore the baby. He’s merely a stage prop, they don’t seem caring at all. Their particular behavior regarding that child is very odd. No infant carrier? Images of her toting him off the airplane and down the stairs–where’s the child safety seat? Seems very theatrical and not realistic. It’s clear that because he has Downs they do not really care for him.
65. Ron | 10.04.08
Someone please tell me why Sarah Palin is allowed to lie and no one calls her on it. She recently did a Fox interview where she rattled off a few Supreme Court cases and told us everything that she reads. Both questions that she could not answer for Katie Kouric. She failed the exam…. went home and memorized the answers… and then passed the test….. well almost. She says that she reads the New York Times…..I don’t know anybody that reads the New York Times who doesn’t do it every day…… SHE is a liar and now nobody wants to hurt her feelings especially Rich Lowry.
66. Just Joe | 10.04.08
“Another example of elitism is labeling Sarah Palin “uneducated” merely because she speaks with a northern mid-west American accent.”
-MateInSix
Weren’t you just talking about straw men? How easy double standards are to find. Sarah Palin is uneducated because a high school senior could more accurately state the Constitutionally-mandated role of the Vice President. I never thought I’d see the day people calling themselves conservatives would support such a person. America deserves better.
67. Marianna Pierre | 10.04.08
As I recall, the constitution doesn’t have an education qualification for becoming president or VP, only an age qualification and birth. So our founding fathers did not think that education should limit someone from becoming president. As most of the well educated and success minded people will note most of the wealthiest people in the world were not well educated. It is arrogance of the highest order to think that your degree and your ivy league school makes you better to lead than a self made, self educated, person of a high degree of character. While all of you are congratulating yourselves on how special you are and more qualified to lead than Sarah Palin, I’d like to see how many times you’ve lied, cheated, and stolen from others to get where you are today.
As an American woman who has raised five children, 3 with disabilities, home schooled my children and others with special needs, started non-profits, worked as a community organizer for creating empowerment among housing authority residents and helped many low income families find their path to self employment and becoming small business owners, it wasn’t my non existent ivy league credentials that opened those doors for me to be able to serve those less informed of opportunities. It was my heart for people just like me.
There is a tone that is being allowed to draw a long blast in the ears of everyday Americans among the media and that tone says, “You are not worthy of consideration.” That my friends IS the glass ceiling talking. It is the tone that has told us all of our lives that we can’t be anything because we don’t have.. Whatever it is your paid for, bought education people think it is you have over us. Most of you work for someone else and don’t have the guts to make it on your own and wouldn’t know how if you had to. You need to remember that it is your credit spending habits that have caused us to get into this mess, not the people making under 30K a year that laugh at the idea of someone offering to loan them money on a credit card for 25% interest. It’s you who make 250K a year that are 2 million in debt that caused this problem. It’s you who need to go borrow, borrow, borrow so your kids can have 300-dollar shoes and I pods, not us. It’s also you who contribute less than 1% of your incomes to charity.
All you have been saying to the group of people that identify with Sarah Palin as a regular person who has worked hard and been dedicated to her community and has an approval rating of over 80% is that you are not going to allow people of character to govern your out of control lying, cheating, clawing your way to the top, haughty selves because no one is going to tell you to quit what you’re doing and be self sufficient.
But I am here to tell you that the rest of us have had it with you and your prideful lust to be better than the rest of us. You smell like Paris Hilton and you screw people like a diseased prostitute, spreading your greed between your teeth. You want people to respect you and answer your questions? You don’t deserve respect. You haven’t earned it. Sarah spoke to the people that she works for, she doesn’t have to acknowledge your arrogance or your set ups.
America would be blessed to have a woman like Sarah Palin running this country and if she doesn’t get that chance then my family is moving to Alaska where the people know how to value someone that works for them.
As for the rest of you, you can stay in the lower 48 where gun sales are up and ammunition is on back order.
68. Lucca | 10.04.08
How could Sarah Palin have won the debate when she never actually answered any of the questions????
All her cutesy little words, folksy lingo and eye winks did nothing to help the debate either.
She never explained what her and McCain’s plans were for Iraq, the economy, health insurance, social security etc.
Joe Biden won this debate hands down! He was knowledgable, informative and fully explained his view on the issues and the plans that he and Obama would implement after winning the election.
69. Gary | 10.04.08
Just a thought.
In the movie Jerry McGuire, I believe it was “show me the money”, in politics (poly-ticks = polyester + bloodsuckers herein referred to as pt’s) and power it becomes follow the money. The old Cliché “Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely” always seems to be apparent when you step back and try to determine the hidden agenda of the proposal being put fourth by the presenter.
Example:
How much did cigarettes cost before the government went after the Tobacco Companies, moreover, what do they cost now? How do they spend the revenue? Not always for the intended purpose as the proposal was put fourth by the presenters, seemed like a good idea at the time, but it gives them power with possible legitimacy and position to move to the next great cause to exploit. I.e. Drug Companies., Insurance Companies, Doctors, Baseball, Football, Microsoft even Religion you name it they will find it; you will love this yes-even prohibition, now that one worked!
Their cohorts in all this is the “illegitimate in birth” talking heads and media “elected elite” who present it in such a way they even start to believe their own rhetoric, and when they start having to defend their position the result is madding. The extremes on both sides always seem to gain a platform in which to further their agenda. I believe that is called denial and I wonder if an intervention would help, you know what I mean “Vote”. One cause of the oil crises is the various groups of people now in position to tell us to inflate our tires, drive less, and sue or tax the oil company’s (same-thing). I wonder how many flew home burning all that fuel while we were tuning our cars and checking tires and filling our tanks with $$$ gasoline.
The scary part the pt’s are involved in everything even without expertise in the subject armed with only what someone with and agenda or incoherent truth (the list is to broad to inject here) is feeding them. Question, would they perform brain surgery on themselves if someone convinced them they could. In other words it is like me trying to write this note, it is quite apparent I do not have the skills. Even with spell-check, the sentence structure must be quite laughable; I cannot see it, can they?
Here is the solution. The American people need to use their common sense, dig deeper and lead the slick media; pt’s etc it is our right and let us not forget what makes this nation great, trust and verify everything. As the price of oil drops in the interim, do not become lax we are cooking frogs here, keep the heat on the pt’s and “elect leaders” for this country, which is going to be a feat in itself, as there do not seem to be any in sight. The only solution may be an end run with a T-Boone or the ex Shell CEO, the likes of a Gates, Jobs, someone creative and not a victim, again watch the agenda follow the money, and dig and vote.
“In the end we the people in charge are paying for all this. The questions are we getting what we are paying for, or what we deserve because we are not paying attention”.
“We may not be able to drill our way out of this but we can Vote our way out of it” now there’s a thought We have until November to study for the final exam; if we fail then we will have to take the class over. I ask what the price will be then.
As you just witnessed what one “elected elite” said we had to pass something, the market went down, they immediately started prepping us for we are not done yet were going to need more, Cocktails’ any one.
It kinda of looks from here if you like what we have now keep on keeping on !!
Do you see that big Cheshire cat grin now?
70. Roger Glenn | 10.04.08
From a debate scoring standpoint, I thought Biden won rather handily. Palin’s answers were normally O.K. from a verbal fluency perspective (a couple of gibberish exceptions), but she lost points for:
1) evading questions and nongermane responses, that is, she often treated the occasion as an intermittent speech, rather than a debate, by brushing off questions and delivering unrelated talking points instead, or by interjecting such talking points abruptly and out of context. He concluding responses were especially flawed. First, she responded to the self-reflection question about her “Achilles heel” as if she had been asked to describe her greatest strengths. Biden at least began by addressing the question before shifting from vices to virtues. Second, when asked about an prior opinion that had changed, her response was completely evasive and seemed to deny, in Bush-like fashion, that she had ever had such an experience.
2) Palin’s answers tended to lack substance and detail. With only a few exceptions, Biden consistently offered the more precise and intellectually serious responses. If we weight content more heavily than form, then Biden’s margin of victory widens.
71. HockeyAin’t Cheap | 10.04.08
2008 8:33 am
Lets not forget that she is also stalling an investigation against her using McCain’s operatives. Joe-six-pack my foot - she is Cheney in skirts.
Look at this http://www.adn.com…
Please forward this information and sign this petition
http://www.alaskatroopergate.com/
— HockeyAin’t Cheap, Fairbanks, AK
72. Jim Ostrowski | 10.04.08
http://www.lewrockwell.com/blog/lewrw/archives/023336.html
No gaffes? Are you kidding?
73. midwestmidwife | 10.04.08
Marianna (#74) Kudos to you and your honest living & unselfish care of children. BUT, I think the broad brush you are painting “most of you” with is dangerous. For example, I have lived and worked among Amish and Mennonite neighbors for my entire adult life. We barter, shop locally at their bulk markets, trade chickens for sheep or equipment, share work, etc.. Our family lives simply. Since leaving the Cooperative Extension Service, I too have worked extensively with non-profits in mostly volunteer capacity. I work for the local food pantry, Love,INC, 4-H, Methodist Missions, to name a few. I work as a doula and midwife, often for barter. I find Sarah Palin an extremely unbalanced and dangerous choice for Vice President of the United States. Her lack of knowledge on key issues for our country is frightening. She does not speak to this common woman (or man in my husband) I am sure you are familiar with Proverbs 16:18 “Pride goes before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.” I hope this is not the case with Sarah Palin, but she appears to be the one prideful and boasting. I take your comments as judgemental, ranting and spiteful. I am sorry you are so filled with discontent. I pray you and Sarah will be doing well in Alaska by the time snow flies here in Kansas.
74. BOB D. | 10.04.08
Palins debate performance makes it obvious to the Palin-haters that she is capable enough to be president. Now they have to revert to not to subtle sexism (”well, she’s just not capable. I know it. That all”).
Meanwhile, I’d like to see some comparison of Palin’s first nation debate with that of Barry Obama’s. That’s too much to ask for. Barry does not compare well in this measure so of course we are not going to see that in any main stream press.
It is fine you you just like liberal Democrat men more than conservative Republican women — just be more intellectually honest if that is your bias.
75. Markus | 10.05.08
Hmmm, the most common theme in these 80 posts above is that the Governor didn’t directly answer the questions. I guess she should’ve done like ol Joe–and just made one up.
Jeesh, just do a Live or Google search on: Biden’s Gaffe’s.
Or is it true that Osama, er Obama supporters just want someone that’ll tell them what they want to hear? Regardless of fact?
Seems that way.
-Markus
76. Ming | 10.05.08
12. Dawn | 10.03.08
Thank you Dawn. You summed it up for me.
74. Marianna Pierre | 10.04.08
I don’t believe anyone is saying that Palin needs to be an ivy league graduate. But she was clearly SOOOO ILL PREPARED to deal with Katie Couric’s qentle questioning ( and yes, Katie was gentle and could have been much tougher ) then I question whether Palin is smart enough.
My father and mother both only had High School education, the rest of their education affected by the world war II, but they retired a multi millionaire because he worked hard, built his business and was smart, interested and learnt from the university of life. Palin knows less than my father did.
I have a special needs brother so I do know what special needs children might need by way of speciall assistance. For both Sarah and Todd Palin to take on a demanding job when your special needs child is only 4 months old (and not 4 years old) displays your values as parents. Sorry, no pass.
77. Dave C | 10.06.08
These are not “personal” attacks against Obama…these are the facts regarding his associations and decisions on who he is politicaly. Palin is not attacking his cred because he has children or that his parents were not exactly the best “roll models”.
If you think our country is in trouble now (with a Domocratic Congress), just wait until we have a Dem President too! There will be no “balance” of any kind and that spells disaster!
Why do so many people associate the financial crisis we are in with Geroge Bush and the Republicans? Try reading some facts and learning the truth “for once” on who voted for what over the last 7-8 years. It’s all documented if you care to look. Don’t just listen to what they say in a speech or on TV debates…go look up the real answers for yourself. Why did the Dems vote against any reform or oversight 3 different times, starting in 2001, when the Republicans warned of potential problems within Fanny and Freddie? Who got the MOST money from these institutions? Who was it that said: there is nothing wrong with Fanny and Freddie and we shouldn’t be wasting time sounding alarms when the housing market is strong.
Don’t just walk blindly into “the Obama light”…do your homework and make an intelligent decision.
DC
78. eb | 10.07.08
Sarah Palin showed herself to be a great salesperson in the debate. It didn’t matter that she didn’t have any in-depth knowledge, she succeded at delivering her points, crafted to fit into the time-slice of the debate format. If you didn’t listen too closely, the sales pitch and attitude she affected made you feel like you were watching a real winner.
Like any sales person worth her salt, she maintained great eye contact with the customer and made them feel at home with disarming mannerisms (this makes you feel like she’s of your own kind, not an “elite”). She had a great smile and great “energy”. She was truly a fresh face with a bright and professional-looking performance - but it was not the performance of a world leader, rather a PR agent.
There was no indication of any problem solving ability or any seriousness about any issue - no pause to consider any question - the answer was delivered like a quote out of the sales brochure. The sales tactic requires that nothing negative is ever admitted - she has never changed her mind and she has no weaknesses. She only wants to look forward and never back. Because the future can’t be independantly verified by a skeptical customer.
Next she will say - this document is just a standard legal document - sign here, with your vote - and i promise you’re going to love it!!
79. Carlos Navarro | 10.09.08
Sarah Palin’s theatrical descents from airplanes holding her baby, her skirting questions with memorized scripts, her studied folksy talk, her going for the jugular while smiling sweetly, the barracuda glare behind her spectacles—-all this might charm and energize the social conservative base, but it’s not going to sway many independent voters. Her shallow grasp of the substantive issues aside, the more independent voters get to know the real Sarah Palin, the more she will turn them off. John McCain made a huge mistake letting his handlers pick the lip-stick, pit-bull, barracuda hockey mom as his running mate. If he loses the election, it will be largely because of her.
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Jimmy Orr has worked in politics for the majority of his professional career working for two U.S. Senators, two Governors and one President. Most recently, Orr served as White House Spokesman and Internet Director for President George W. Bush and Special Advisor to Governor Schwarzenegger for Internet Communications.
David Cook is Washington bureau chief of The Christian Science Monitor and host of the Monitor's newsmaker breakfasts. He was the Monitor's editor from 1994 to 2001. Cook is a graduate of Principia College, served in the U.S. Army, was a Bagehot Fellow at Columbia University, and is a member of the Gridiron Club, Washington's oldest journalistic organization.
1. PulSamsara | 10.03.08
Haven’t we had enough illiterate bumpkins in office for the past 8 years ?
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Why would America REWARD complete Republican failure ?
We wont.