I don’t know what I was expecting with the veep debate. But I didn’t think it would be so painful to watch Palin try to sound intelligent. She really does make George Bush look like a mental giant. I want to take her seriously but she only has one move. When the going gets tough she goes cute, folksy, populist. And then she says something embarrassing. Her answer on the bailout was just unintelligible. It just won’t play in the Oval Office. Do you want to put her a heartbeat away from the presidency?
Palin looks like a moose caught in the headlights
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Palin makes you appreciate the polished b.s. of politicians.
In light of that, her lack of couth could be seen as charming and refreshing (smile, wink, grin). But it isn’t. Instead of coming across as real and honest, it comes across as shallow and lacking. This woman is well prepared to lead the PTA, not the USA. -
Palin scored, if that’s what you call it, when she admitted she’s a Washington outsider when chiding Biden on the war issue. Good point, but not enough, because she can’t follow through with much more than to say John McCain is a war hero who knows how to win a war. Palin’s problem is that she brings nothing to the table but the message, “I’m ordinary. I’m regular. I’m like you, and I have nothing to say. Doggone it, Joe.”
She scored again when she got people to laugh about her failed joke about what a vice-president does. But there’s got to be more to her than that. Seeing Palin tonight, it finally should sink in. McCain’s choice for running mate was irresponsible and unforgivable. -
How can this not be an embarrassment for Palin and the GOP. She even got the name of General David McKiernan wrong. Was she thinking of the Bush press secretary Scott McClelland? Oh boy, the GOP has to stretch to praise her performance tonight. By any measure she gets a C-, D+. Biden gets a B+.
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The problem with Biden tonight was that he didn’t want to look too condescending to Palin. Let the bloggers go after her. Biden did try to outsmile Palin in a “kill them with kindness: way. It made him look fake and insincere.
But it was obvious he was smarter and better prepared to be VP than his opponent. He was substantive and passionate. Biden is also at a disadvantage because he’s a politician during a time when people dislike politicians and Congress.
That’s a huge opportunity for Palin. But she can’t take advantage of it. She can only smile that smile. If she were smarter and more skilled, she’d truly be dangerous. Her time may come still. If she’s the GOP hope for the future, say in 2012, there’s probably no person better who would best exemplify America and its sad state of decline.
In that sense, she may ultimately fail up and give us the leader we deserve. -
One note on Gwen Ifill. She was good and fair. And she stayed out of the debate.The moderator’s job really is to seek balance, keep time, and keep the pace going. There’s lots of ground to cover without making sure the host/moderator gets in the act.
I’ve moderated a few political debates in my time, and they’re tricky. Insert your self and you can throw off the debate. There was no trick questions, no “what if Kitty was raped (Dukakis) question?” No Trooper-gate questions. No animal rights, why do you kill moose questions. You know, the really challenging news-making surprise questions. Ifill played it safe, which made for a predictable debate.
Still, it would have been great to hear Palin put on the spot. But as we all saw, she has trouble even with the softballs. Oh, doggone it, Joe. -
It’s amazing how the day after pundits are spinning some kind of line how Palin held her own. Held her own? You mean she didn’t wet herself on stage? Palin wins on hair and make-up. But you can’t really believe she held her own? If she did, then the GOP is totally bankrupt of talent and leadership. Is this the best it can offer? Oh, wait, no, that would be George W. Bush….
All the nice comments about Palin shows she is becoming something she can’t if she’s to have ANY credibility at all. She’s becoming a Washington insider.
(Isn’t that cute?).
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