VP Debate Thoughts
Posted by Chris Connolly on 10.02.2008
Quick thoughts on tonight's little get-together...
To put it simply, Sarah Palin once again rose above the naysayers and delivered. She was very energetic and came across as very personable. Aside from a few shaky answer deliveries and one or two outright question dodges, she was pretty damn good. She was thoughtful and intelligent in her answers, especially when they got to the foreign policy part of the debate. Palin was great when she was going after Biden and Obama on their records as well. One thing that really stuck out to me was that compared to Biden, she came off as much more positive. While the answer blaming the current economic crisis entirely on Wall Street was cringe-inducing, overall she kicked ass.
Joe Biden on the other hand was not so great. First of all, Article 1 of the Constitution covers the legislative branch, and you'd think that even though he was a terrible law student he would have known that one. Also, the tax rates he referred to under Reagan were the rates in place when he took office, so they were really Carter's tax rates. He also spent a lot of time lying about his record, McCain's record and Obama's record. I could go on all night about those things, but the big thing I took away from watching him tonight was how he spent 99% of the debate attacking Bush and McCain while spending almost no time talking about what he and Barack have planned.
The bottom line is that Palin delivered and Biden bumbled and stumbled. After that performance, McCain has to find a way to get her on the TV more without playing "gotcha" with some MSM hacks. Have her call in to Rush and Hannity. Put her on with shows that aren't going to softball her but at the same time not sandbag her either, like Kudlow, Cavuto and O'Reilly. Hell, put her on Regis, but tell The View to fuck off. She's too dynamic a personality to only be doing rallies.
Palin was terrible. She dodged numerous questions, and he answers had little substance.
How many times did she say maverick? You know who's a maverick. Dirk Nowitzki. As Biden said, McCain and Palin are hardly mavericks when it comes to the big issues.
And I'm sick of all the pundits saying Palin appeals to small town people. I live in a small town, and nobody talks like her. The Republican Party is so cynical. They try to appeal to the lowest common denominator, so they scrounge up a dimwit for VP. It's really insulting.
Posted By: matt (Guest) on October 03, 2008 at 12:16 PM
Wow..that debate from Bizarro world must have been amazing.
Posted By: Eric (Guest) on October 03, 2008 at 12:40 PM
The section he was referring to was Article 1. It's section 3, you might want to get your facts straight. But then again you thought Palin was pretty damn good so I shouldn't expect much. Section 3 - The Senate
The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, (chosen by the Legislature thereof,) (The preceding words in parentheses superseded by 17th Amendment, section 1.) for six Years; and each Senator shall have one Vote.
Immediately after they shall be assembled in Consequence of the first Election, they shall be divided as equally as may be into three Classes. The Seats of the Senators of the first Class shall be vacated at the Expiration of the second Year, of the second Class at the Expiration of the fourth Year, and of the third Class at the Expiration of the sixth Year, so that one third may be chosen every second Year; (and if Vacancies happen by Resignation, or otherwise, during the Recess of the Legislature of any State, the Executive thereof may make temporary Appointments until the next Meeting of the Legislature, which shall then fill such Vacancies.) (The preceding words in parentheses were superseded by the 17th Amendment, section 2.)
No person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty Years, and been nine Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State for which he shall be chosen.
The Vice President of the United States shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no Vote, unless they be equally divided.
Posted By: Wall Street B (Guest) on October 03, 2008 at 01:45 PM
...Seriously...
Posted By: PJ (Guest) on October 03, 2008 at 03:23 PM
Chris,
We've had email exchanges before and we've had disagreements as well, but I've always respected your perspective.
But seriously...
Palin rose above naysayers and delivered? After a string of horrible interviews loaded with nonsensical sentences to nowhere (which she of course claimed is the result of 'censorship'), what else was she going to do but "rise above expectations." She was a national joke before hand; the only way she could have gotten any lower was if she ate her own baby on television.
And frankly, I'm not sure what debate you were watching, but by and large, polls indicate that of the people watching the debate, most thought Biden won pretty handily, averaging 50% for Biden to Palin's 21%.
Really, dude, at least go into these things and watch them with a clear and open mind.
Right now, you sound like you're angling for a job with FOX News.
Posted By: Brandon Crow (Guest) on October 03, 2008 at 04:35 PM
Tell me exactly where in the debate that Palin talked about what she and McCain have planned. I really would like to know because I have not once heard anything other than "we will reform this, we will reform that", without saying exactly what they plan to do.
And just because she went out there and didn't fall over herself doesn't mean a thing, I love how we are hearing that because she was able to stick to the talking points she was given and not sound like a complete idiot, that she won the debate. I came away not knowing anything more about the McCain/Palin ticket than I already knew.
Also Biden was right when speaking about Article 1 of the constitution in relation to her wanting more power in the senate.
Posted By: John R. (Guest) on October 03, 2008 at 04:42 PM
I'm not going to waste any time.
You're deluded. Plain and simple.
Posted By: MDK (Guest) on October 03, 2008 at 07:07 PM
Chris Connolly must be on 'shrooms...
Others have already nailed his shoddy rationale to pieces, so I'll just use Connolly's own words against him here:
"McCain has to find a way to get her on the TV more without playing "gotcha" with some MSM hacks. Have her call in to Rush and Hannity. Put her on with shows that aren't going to softball her."
Right...all of the MSM are hacks because Palin can't put together a coherent English sentence! Also, notice how he suggests putting Palin on shows that 'won't softball her," then proceeds to say, with a straight face, 'like Hannity and Limbaugh.'
Hahahahahaha! Connolly, get real.
Posted By: Connolly On 'Shrooms (Guest) on October 03, 2008 at 09:02 PM
Connolly, you're the most pathetic Kool-Aid drinker in the world. I bet your brain has a high-speed Internet link to RNC headquarters for instant talking point dissemination.
Posted By: EPIC CAT (Guest) on October 04, 2008 at 12:41 AM
Shrooms, your lack of reading comprehension astounds me.
Posted By: Chris Connolly (Registered) on October 04, 2008 at 11:49 AM
STAY CURRENT