Yes, Palin "beat expectations". About the only way she could not have is if she had gone out there, hitched her skirt, and taken a dump on the stage.
The Republicans who are celeberating this only show just how ridiculous their ticket is, and how little they understand of the real issues and stakes here. They are certainly free to "grade on a curve" if they want, but "not being as big of a joke as she was before" is not a very good standard of success.
Voters don't grade on a curve -- they look at the whole person. And the person Palin showed us last night is one who is not ready for high office. She acted mostly like a robot reading programmed lines, and needed her crib sheet to even attempt to respond to the most basic issues. Her response on the role of the vice-presidency shows that she understands little to nothing about the Constitution.
In the real world you don't get to "cram". You don't have the luxury of reading off crib notes.
She still can't hold a press conference to answer tough questions but we're supposed to believe she's going to make critical decisions and take on Washington? Who is really stupid enough to believe this? Only people who either can't think or choose not to.
Palin's overall attitude, with the plasticky smile and goofy lines, seemed to be that leading this nation is a big joke. But she is the joke -- one that makes a mockery of McCain's claims about the importance of the job he seeks. Anyone who thinks that it's a good idea to support a candidate who bluffs her way through easy questions is not a patriot -- he or she is someone who puts winning an election ahead of the good of the country.
Showing posts with label vice-presidential debate. Show all posts
Showing posts with label vice-presidential debate. Show all posts
Friday, October 3, 2008
Thursday, October 2, 2008
MediaCurves Snap Poll - Biden Crushes Palin
I'd say no big surprise, but given how many Americans fall for Palin's cutesy down-home charm bullshit, I never assume anything any more.
Initial VP Debate Thoughts
They say that the first rule of the VP is "do no harm". This reflects the fact that few people will vote for a candidate because of his or her VP, but many might vote against a candidate because of one. It was for this reason that some of us said earlier that even if Palin did okay it wouldn't matter a great deal.
Well, she did "okay". And it won't matter a great deal.
No major gaffes, but it's also quite obvious that she is totally clueless, especially on foreign policy. She proved again tonight that she has charisma and she can regurgitate talking points, but that she has no depth of understanding of important issues at all.
IMO the story tonight isn't Palin -- it's Biden. He got no attention coming in, and IMO he came across as prepared, intelligent, experienced and very human.
Well, she did "okay". And it won't matter a great deal.
No major gaffes, but it's also quite obvious that she is totally clueless, especially on foreign policy. She proved again tonight that she has charisma and she can regurgitate talking points, but that she has no depth of understanding of important issues at all.
IMO the story tonight isn't Palin -- it's Biden. He got no attention coming in, and IMO he came across as prepared, intelligent, experienced and very human.
VP Debate - Live Blog #10
Last question about reaching across aisle. Nice answer from Biden on respecting others and not questioning motives.
Palin mentions appointing people of different views. Then on to the boring ramble, attacking Obama blah blah.
Closing statements. Too bored of Palin's talking points to even pay attention. Honestly. Biden was a bit more honest in speaking to the viewing audience.
Overall -- Palin did fine, Biden really connected I think.
Palin mentions appointing people of different views. Then on to the boring ramble, attacking Obama blah blah.
Closing statements. Too bored of Palin's talking points to even pay attention. Honestly. Biden was a bit more honest in speaking to the viewing audience.
Overall -- Palin did fine, Biden really connected I think.
VP Debate - Live Blog #9
Ifill asks Palin what her Achilles' heel is since the convention wisdom is that it's her experience. Rather than answer, she defends her experience! And then 80 seconds of bland talking points.
Wow Biden just got very emotional, even choked up.
Palin with her phony smile and maverick BS again. Snore.
She's trying to make points because other politicians support McCain? Lieberman?! LOL. More rambling about bipartisanship.
Biden attacking the maverick thing. McCain voted against health care and education, etc. Nice specifics.
Asked if they had to change a view.
Biden mentioning views on assessing judicial appointments. Rather dense example, hard to understand.
Palin mentioning not vetoing certain budgets she didn't veto to get along, but says she hasn't had to compromise on anything -- so she never changed her mind on anything? How Bush-like!
Wow Biden just got very emotional, even choked up.
Palin with her phony smile and maverick BS again. Snore.
She's trying to make points because other politicians support McCain? Lieberman?! LOL. More rambling about bipartisanship.
Biden attacking the maverick thing. McCain voted against health care and education, etc. Nice specifics.
Asked if they had to change a view.
Biden mentioning views on assessing judicial appointments. Rather dense example, hard to understand.
Palin mentioning not vetoing certain budgets she didn't veto to get along, but says she hasn't had to compromise on anything -- so she never changed her mind on anything? How Bush-like!
VP Debate - Live Blog #8
Now she asks how a Biden admin would differ from an Obama admin.. he basically ducks question and repeats Obama's platform.
Frankly, my main observation here is that Palin got all the attention going in and she is doing "okay" but Biden has been fantastic.
Same question to Palin. "Team of mavericks" so they won't agree, but then does same thing as Biden. Good tracker reaction on keeping government out of the way. But they don't respond well when she attacks Obama/Biden.
Biden talking about going forward, much better response from women.
Palin doing that nauseating "aw shucks Joe" thing. Makes me want to hurl!
Palin talking about education, talking points galore.
Ifill challenging each on earlier comments about serving as VP. Palin gets good audience reaction on a joke.
Ifill asks Palin if she agrees with Cheney on if the VP is part of the legislative branch and she mentions the Constitution is "flexible" on this? WTF? Now she's rambling about her experience.
Biden says Cheney is perhaps the most dangerous VP in history -- strong reaction from tracker. And very forcefully shows that he knows what the Constitution says.
Frankly, my main observation here is that Palin got all the attention going in and she is doing "okay" but Biden has been fantastic.
Same question to Palin. "Team of mavericks" so they won't agree, but then does same thing as Biden. Good tracker reaction on keeping government out of the way. But they don't respond well when she attacks Obama/Biden.
Biden talking about going forward, much better response from women.
Palin doing that nauseating "aw shucks Joe" thing. Makes me want to hurl!
Palin talking about education, talking points galore.
Ifill challenging each on earlier comments about serving as VP. Palin gets good audience reaction on a joke.
Ifill asks Palin if she agrees with Cheney on if the VP is part of the legislative branch and she mentions the Constitution is "flexible" on this? WTF? Now she's rambling about her experience.
Biden says Cheney is perhaps the most dangerous VP in history -- strong reaction from tracker. And very forcefully shows that he knows what the Constitution says.
VP Debate - Live Blog #7
Ifill asking Biden about his history of supporting intervention. He's defending his position on Iraq pretty well. Arguing in favor of helping in Darfur to stop genocide. Very strong racker response, esp with women.
Palin acting "aw shucks" because she's a Washington outsider. She says if you vote something you should say why (he did!) Rambling. Says she agrees with Darfur (reading off paper).
Now Biden is back on Iraq and hammering McCain, comparing him to Cheney, not Bush. Palin lamely accuses Biden of essentially lying, then switches to McCain "knowing what evil is" and back to word salad.
Palin acting "aw shucks" because she's a Washington outsider. She says if you vote something you should say why (he did!) Rambling. Says she agrees with Darfur (reading off paper).
Now Biden is back on Iraq and hammering McCain, comparing him to Cheney, not Bush. Palin lamely accuses Biden of essentially lying, then switches to McCain "knowing what evil is" and back to word salad.
VP Debate - Live Blog #6
OMG. Ifill asks Palin about when nuclear weapons should be used and her answer starts out with
basically saying "nucular weapons are bad". Then rambles about rogue nations and changes subject to Afghanistan. Constantly reading off notes. She's clueless. Going on about surge principles being used in Afghanisan.
Biden says "facts matter", says the Afghan commander says surge idea won't work in Afghanistan. Now Biden is hammering McCain on arms control. Talks about Obama reaching across to pass law against proliferation.
(I gotta hand it to Biden. Must be hard to keep his cool and not get frustrated arguing with such a cluebot.)
Biden keeps hammering on McCain and Palin never calls him on anything -- not on her script. Looks really bad.
basically saying "nucular weapons are bad". Then rambles about rogue nations and changes subject to Afghanistan. Constantly reading off notes. She's clueless. Going on about surge principles being used in Afghanisan.
Biden says "facts matter", says the Afghan commander says surge idea won't work in Afghanistan. Now Biden is hammering McCain on arms control. Talks about Obama reaching across to pass law against proliferation.
(I gotta hand it to Biden. Must be hard to keep his cool and not get frustrated arguing with such a cluebot.)
Biden keeps hammering on McCain and Palin never calls him on anything -- not on her script. Looks really bad.
VP Debate - Live Blog #5
Palin going on about Obama meeting with "enemies". Nearly verbatim repeating what McCain said in last debate.
Biden refuting on facts. Emphasizing how our allies want us to talk to adversaries.
Palin is referring to her notes more and more. Talking about Israel, wants to build embassy in Jerusalem.
Biden comes across as knowing his stuff on the Middle East. Says Bush policies an abject failure.
Ifill asks Palin if she agrees, again she says "no" for two seconds, then changes subject. Smiling constantly, so phoney! Now she's rambling about change and blah blah, talking points.
Mavericks, ruffling feathers, blah blah. Pass the word salad.
Biden saying he hasn't heard about McCain's policy differences from Bush. Very strong reaction from trackers.
Biden refuting on facts. Emphasizing how our allies want us to talk to adversaries.
Palin is referring to her notes more and more. Talking about Israel, wants to build embassy in Jerusalem.
Biden comes across as knowing his stuff on the Middle East. Says Bush policies an abject failure.
Ifill asks Palin if she agrees, again she says "no" for two seconds, then changes subject. Smiling constantly, so phoney! Now she's rambling about change and blah blah, talking points.
Mavericks, ruffling feathers, blah blah. Pass the word salad.
Biden saying he hasn't heard about McCain's policy differences from Bush. Very strong reaction from trackers.
VP Debate - Live Blog #4
Now we move on to "Eye-raq". Palin asked about withdrawal plans, goes on about surge again and now attacking Obama for voting against the troops. Tracer indicates not many buying it. Now rambling.
Biden responds that Obama's plan is consistent with Bush's, McCain is odd man out. Says McCain voted against same amendment. Good reaction from trackers on calling for timeline. Says they will end the war.
Palin stumbles responding, claims Biden is waving white flag of surrender! Bad reaction from people on this. Now spouting talking points again. "We'll go when they're ready". Etc.
Palin complimenting Biden but attacking Obama. Biden repeating again that McCain voted against funding etc. Now going on about how McCain has been wrong about the war.
Strong reaction from trackers for Biden emphasizing need to focus on Afghanistan and Pakistan. Says Iran is dangerous but secondary.
Palin responds, reading off paper. Says Patraeus made Iraq central focus on war on terror, not McCain. Focusing on Iran, talking points about Ahmadinejad. She keeps saying "nucular". Clueless.
Every time Palin attacks Obama the trackers drop. People just don't seem to buy much that she says.
Biden responds that Obama's plan is consistent with Bush's, McCain is odd man out. Says McCain voted against same amendment. Good reaction from trackers on calling for timeline. Says they will end the war.
Palin stumbles responding, claims Biden is waving white flag of surrender! Bad reaction from people on this. Now spouting talking points again. "We'll go when they're ready". Etc.
Palin complimenting Biden but attacking Obama. Biden repeating again that McCain voted against funding etc. Now going on about how McCain has been wrong about the war.
Strong reaction from trackers for Biden emphasizing need to focus on Afghanistan and Pakistan. Says Iran is dangerous but secondary.
Palin responds, reading off paper. Says Patraeus made Iraq central focus on war on terror, not McCain. Focusing on Iran, talking points about Ahmadinejad. She keeps saying "nucular". Clueless.
Every time Palin attacks Obama the trackers drop. People just don't seem to buy much that she says.
VP Debate - Live Blog #3
Climate change question.. Palin rambling, saying it doesn't matter if man made or not. Talking about energy again. Good grief.
Biden flatly says it is man made. Attacking McCain on alternative energy.
Aside, Biden's "women" tracker is consistently higher than his "men" tracker. For Palin, often opposite. Example: Palin says "drill baby drill" with a cute smile -- the "women" tracker dives. They do NOT like her schtick.
Ew, "nucular".
Same-sex benefits now. Biden supports, says no difference between same sex and hetero in Obama admin. Says it is supported in Constitution.
Palin hedges against it, but emphasizes "tolerance". She's talking about her "diverse" family and friends. Trackers like her comments about not supporting anything but one man one woman as marriage. Biden says same thing.
Palin is reading off paper! She can't even answer a "do you agree with this" question without referring to her notes!
Biden flatly says it is man made. Attacking McCain on alternative energy.
Aside, Biden's "women" tracker is consistently higher than his "men" tracker. For Palin, often opposite. Example: Palin says "drill baby drill" with a cute smile -- the "women" tracker dives. They do NOT like her schtick.
Ew, "nucular".
Same-sex benefits now. Biden supports, says no difference between same sex and hetero in Obama admin. Says it is supported in Constitution.
Palin hedges against it, but emphasizes "tolerance". She's talking about her "diverse" family and friends. Trackers like her comments about not supporting anything but one man one woman as marriage. Biden says same thing.
Palin is reading off paper! She can't even answer a "do you agree with this" question without referring to her notes!
VP Debate - Live Blog #2
Ifill asks the "what would you give up" question again.. and Biden doesn't answer it. :)
Every time Palin mentions McCain the tracking lines dip into the negative. Palin now going on about what she did in Alaska.. virtually no response from the trackers.
Palin asked what she would take off the table, she says nothing, negative reaction from trackers. She blames Obama for supporting bill helping oil companies.
Palin gets asked a question about mortgage bill.. answers it in two seconds, then rambles talking points for 90 seconds.
Biden talking about bankruptcy help. Palin responds and completely changes subject to energy! The tracker goes as negative as I've seen all night. Recovers, they like her talking points. Is she on a teleprompter?! Ramble ramble...
Every time Palin mentions McCain the tracking lines dip into the negative. Palin now going on about what she did in Alaska.. virtually no response from the trackers.
Palin asked what she would take off the table, she says nothing, negative reaction from trackers. She blames Obama for supporting bill helping oil companies.
Palin gets asked a question about mortgage bill.. answers it in two seconds, then rambles talking points for 90 seconds.
Biden talking about bankruptcy help. Palin responds and completely changes subject to energy! The tracker goes as negative as I've seen all night. Recovers, they like her talking points. Is she on a teleprompter?! Ramble ramble...
Live from St. Louis... It's the Sarah Palin Show! :) -- VP Live Blog #1
Well, that's what we've been jokingly calling it around here. I even made popcorn. :)
Here are my comments. I'm watching on CNN which has the "uncomitted Ohio voters" live tracker which is quite interesting.
Nice intros, Sarah Palin and Joe Biden greeting each other warmly. Palin asks Biden if she can call him "Joe", very cute.
First question abut the bailout... good answers from both.
Palin is exact opposite of McCain: he never looked at the camera, she is glued to it!
Biden attacks McCain on his "fundamentals of economy strong" line. Palin responds about McCain meaning American workers (cough). Then goes on about "Maverick" nonsense again.
Question to Palin about cause of economic problems. Palin blames predatory lenders. Groan, Joe Sixpaakc and hockey moms again. She wants "strict oversight".
Biden is mostly focusing on the moderator, and attacking McCain. Pretty much ignoring Palin. Hammering on deregulation. Hits him on the deregulating health care thing.
Now Palin is responding to Biden. Claims they voted for biggest tax increases. 94 times (she says over and over). Repeats stupid lie about Obama raising taxes on those making $42,000 a year.
Biden refutes that.. attacks Palin for not answering question about deregulation. She replies openly saying she wouldn't necessarily answer the questions posed! Biden smiles. LOL
Now talking about taxes, Ifill challenges each on class warfare. Biden going about how middle class will get lower taxes.
Palin attacks on the "paying taxes is patriotic" thing. Nice coaching. :) Claims Obama's plan is "redistribution".
She's talking about McCain's health care credit plan. Her smirking, smiling style I find SO annoying.. she's so plastic.
Biden.. nice line about how people have to pay $12,000 in health care but McCain gives only $5k, calls it "ultimate bridge to nowhere"! Crowd laughs.
Here are my comments. I'm watching on CNN which has the "uncomitted Ohio voters" live tracker which is quite interesting.
Nice intros, Sarah Palin and Joe Biden greeting each other warmly. Palin asks Biden if she can call him "Joe", very cute.
First question abut the bailout... good answers from both.
Palin is exact opposite of McCain: he never looked at the camera, she is glued to it!
Biden attacks McCain on his "fundamentals of economy strong" line. Palin responds about McCain meaning American workers (cough). Then goes on about "Maverick" nonsense again.
Question to Palin about cause of economic problems. Palin blames predatory lenders. Groan, Joe Sixpaakc and hockey moms again. She wants "strict oversight".
Biden is mostly focusing on the moderator, and attacking McCain. Pretty much ignoring Palin. Hammering on deregulation. Hits him on the deregulating health care thing.
Now Palin is responding to Biden. Claims they voted for biggest tax increases. 94 times (she says over and over). Repeats stupid lie about Obama raising taxes on those making $42,000 a year.
Biden refutes that.. attacks Palin for not answering question about deregulation. She replies openly saying she wouldn't necessarily answer the questions posed! Biden smiles. LOL
Now talking about taxes, Ifill challenges each on class warfare. Biden going about how middle class will get lower taxes.
Palin attacks on the "paying taxes is patriotic" thing. Nice coaching. :) Claims Obama's plan is "redistribution".
She's talking about McCain's health care credit plan. Her smirking, smiling style I find SO annoying.. she's so plastic.
Biden.. nice line about how people have to pay $12,000 in health care but McCain gives only $5k, calls it "ultimate bridge to nowhere"! Crowd laughs.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
What It's Like to Debate Sarah Palin
A former debate opponent speaks.
Sounds great: she knows how to "win" a debate without actually saying anything of substance. Our nation really needs another leader like that, doesn't it?
Sounds great: she knows how to "win" a debate without actually saying anything of substance. Our nation really needs another leader like that, doesn't it?
Monday, September 29, 2008
McCain Camp Working the Refs on the VP Debate
Blah blah blah.
Americans are counting on Gwen Ifill to be objective in helping us learn as much as possible abotu Sarah Palin, since the Keystone Kops Kampaign sure as hell isn't.
Americans are counting on Gwen Ifill to be objective in helping us learn as much as possible abotu Sarah Palin, since the Keystone Kops Kampaign sure as hell isn't.
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