VP Debate Blog

[MannyIsGod]

I know its early to start this but I wanted to talk about it before it actually starts. I didn't want to wait 10 hours just to post these things.

First of all, I really don't believe its possible for Joe Biden to win this debate, but its extremely possible for him to lose this debate and to lose it hard. There is just nothing he can do in order to come out ahead here. The expectation game is so low that he has incredibly little to gain and everything to lose.

Now, that being said, modern presidential (and vice presidential) debates are simply a matter of playing prevent defense for 90 minutes. You're not likely to see these 2 engage each other directly very often and you're not likely to see heated exchanges. If you do, it is likely that Biden will come out behind; not because of anything he does or doesn't do but simply because he's up against a woman and because the expectation games.

And before any resident feminists (or Republicans in feminist clothing) chide me for saying its different because Biden is facing a woman, all the evidence points to this being the case. Barak lost voters in the primary season when he was snarky and confrontational with Clinton and we've already seen Republicans go to the "Thats sexist" card. Biden must NOT appear to be condescending in anyway.

There's a school of thought emerging that perhaps Palin can't really win either. That because the press has been so bad and that the expectations have been lowered so much that her ceiling has been lowered as well. No matter what she does in this debate, some of the negative feelings that she's an idiot will follow her. I'm not sure how much i buy into it. I do feel that Palin can score a win and make the American public forget about the interviews and the stupid answers and I tend to feel that the Dem base will always view her as an idiot but I'm not so sure how much of that translates into the middle ground. What I've learned about undecideds, moderates and independents is that they want to love everyone. They're likely to look for a reason to like that adorable Palin and her accent regardless of how many times Tina Fey comes back to SNL.

I'm not sure whats going to happen. I really have a hard time beliving that Palin is really that stupid. Its a hard pill for me to swallow that someone with a college degree, a career politician, and holder of a governorship cannot name a single supreme court case outside of Roe v Wade. I can name several that I both agree and disagree with just off the top of my head. I want to believe that this has been a miscalculation from the McCain camp regarding the expectations game. But then I look at our President, Dubya. And when I do that, I realize that mother er probably can't name a supreme court case either. Maybe not even the one he's a party in.

Anway, I think Palin makes it through ok but there are no earth shattering moments. And more because I'm going to DVR the Office and watching this will delay my watching of it, I want some damn made for TV moments but I don't see them coming. If we're lucky, we'll get some verbal diareah flowing from Palin's mouth and see the polls respond to that, but she's due a bit of luck herself and I wouldn't bet on that happening.

I pray she truly is Bush in drag.

[JoeChalupa]

I think Biden could easily win by simply showing his knowledge of the issues and keeping his answers short and to the point. I think both will be attacking the presidential candidates and not each other. Look for Palin to get in more jabs at Obama AND Biden's lack of executive experience. Palin pretty much just needs to come off as more likable and she'll do fine. Not necessarily a win on the issues but a win for McCain's base that is so desperate to see her shine again as she did during the convention.
This will be very interesting and look for Palin supporters to say she won and Biden supporters to say he won.
But I agree that the advantage is clearly in Palin's favor.

Palin is FAR from being stupid. You don't win an election by being stupid....well, with the exception of GWB that is.

[mrsmaalox]

Biden must NOT appear to be condescending in anyway.

Definitely his biggest challenge. He has yet to completely salvage his reputation after his treatment of Anita Hill at the Clarence Thomas hearings.

[Findog]

Compare and contrast their answers to Couric on the SCOTUS question. That's how tonight will play out...that and she'll have a couple of zingers.

I hear that they want her to be a conservative attack dog. She would be better advised to keep the partisan attacks to a minimum and demonstrate she is competent.

[clambake]

i officially like her better than mccain, now.

he told that damn story about Eisenhower and Normandy AGAIN, today.

jesus.

she needs to do outstanding just to slow the bleeding.

[SnakeBoy]

Its a hard pill for me to swallow that someone with a college degree, a career politician, and holder of a governorship [you forgot 80% apporval by the people she serves]cannot name a single supreme court case outside of Roe v Wade.

You just showed that she is not stupid. It's amazing the left is going to keep on with the "she's stupid" attack when it's clear McCain has blown this election. She's has no experience dealing with the media at this level and she choked. That's not stupidity, just a lack of experience in dealing with this level of media pressure. Add to that the challenge of trying to be champion of McCains "vision" which even he has yet to articulate except for "fight, fight, fight, I'm a maverick". VP's never determine outcome of a presidential election anyway so why the hatred of her to the point of still trashing her when the election is really over.

Best I hope for is that she does a fair job so she doesn't get permanently damaged politically. So that she has the option, if she wants it, to polish her message and make a run at getting the nomination in 2012. Maybe that's the real reason for the irrational hatred on the left and the desire to see her destroyed now. Obama & obamabots seem to have a problem with women who don't know their place.

The idiotic talking heads keep showing quale getting slammed with the "your no kennedy" line and then saying McCain's chance of winning is in Palins hands. If they had any sense they would remember that Quale actually became VP. Definitive proof that the VP performance has nothing to do with McCain winning or losing. In the end, people vote for president not vice president.

[Anti.Hero]

I agree. Screw McCain at this point. Just save face enough to return to beautiful Alaska.

[jman3000]

I just don't want her to say "maverick" and I don't want him to say "change". I'd be happy with that.

Also I'd like for her words to be muted and voiced over by somebody who speaks a less migraine inducing style of English.

and for his eyes to actually be visible and not look like he's always squinting. TIA.

[Findog]

I just don't want her to say "maverick" and I don't want him to say "change". I'd be happy with that.

Also I'd like for her words to be muted and voiced over by somebody who speaks a less migraine inducing style of English.

and for his eyes to actually be visible and not look like he's always squinting. TIA.

But how bout that head of hair??? He's got some dynamite plugs.

[clambake]

she needs to do well just to halt whottts meltdown.

[101A]

I just don't want her to say "maverick" and I don't want him to say "change". I'd be happy with that.

Also I'd like for her words to be muted and voiced over by somebody who speaks a less migraine inducing style of English.

and for his eyes to actually be visible and not look like he's always squinting. TIA.

I'm taking a drink every time the word "change" is uttered tonight. Gonna have the mini-fridge stocked up, and right next to the recliner.

[boutons_]

I'm reading several debate prep articles that say the expectations for pitbull are now so low based on her Couric, etc screwups that she can only upvalue her cheapened currency tonight.

Her approval ratings in Alaska are almost entirely based on hitting the oilcos for more money (while also giving the oilcos a $500M subsidy to build a pipeline), but her Alaska approval ratings are down from 80% to mid 60s since she got sucked into McLame's losing campaign. In Repug-corrupt Alaska, she seems to be a polarizing figure, not a uniter or aisle-crosser.

Apart from supporting resource exploitation, including breaking law in publicly supporting the gold mine project, she has be silent on nearly all other issues.

[florige]

she needs to do well just to halt whottts meltdown.

You can bet Whottt is going to TiVo this ing debate....

[SnakeBoy]

Also I'd like for her words to be muted and voiced over by somebody who speaks a less migraine inducing style of English.

I like her voice just fine, she's alaskan and sounds like it. I find it more annoying when Obama is on the stump and thinks he's on a roll and breaks into his Pastor Wright routine..."C'mon, I'll change the economic POLICAY, the foreign POLICAY, the welfare POLICAY, Ah mean C'mon ya know"

[JoeChalupa]

Whottt will be during palin's answers.

[JoeChalupa]

Her voice can get on ones nerves though.

[florige]

Whottt will be during palin's answers.

[SpursFanFirst]

it is likely that Biden will come out behind; not because of anything he does or doesn't do but simply because he's up against a woman and because the expectation games.

And before any resident feminists (or Republicans in feminist clothing) chide me for saying its different because Biden is facing a woman, all the evidence points to this being the case. Barak lost voters in the primary season when he was snarky and confrontational with Clinton and we've already seen Republicans go to the "Thats sexist" card. Biden must NOT appear to be condescending in anyway.

I'm not saying I disagree with what you're saying, but do you think there's any man out there that Obama could have picked that could have taken on Palin directly and won a debate without losing support?

I ask because I truly think Bayh would have been an excellent choice for Obama for so many reasons...one of them being his charisma.
I think he could have taken on Palin without offending female voters and without looking like a jerk.

[MannyIsGod]

I'm not saying I disagree with what you're saying, but do you think there's any man out there that Obama could have picked that could have taken on Palin directly and won a debate without losing support?

I ask because I truly think Bayh would have been an excellent choice for Obama for so many reasons...one of them being his charisma.
I think he could have taken on Palin without offending female voters and without looking like a jerk.

Maybe only Richardson cause his hispanic is a semi counter to Palin's vagina but not really. Nah, Hillary would be the only one on fair ground there. It is what it is.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying anyone should feel sorry for the white male in the fight. Far from that. He just needs to be aware of the way public perception goes.

Timvp hit the nail on the head when he spoke on how this country views affluent white women. Its a good thing Palin isn't making any plans to travel to a certain island nation because if she dissapared in Auruba McCain wins in a landslide.

[jman3000]

there's going to be a debate watch party over at the Bijou if anybody is interested in going.

[SpursFanFirst]

Timvp hit the nail on the head when he spoke on how this country views affluent white women. Its a good thing Palin isn't making any plans to travel to a certain island nation because if she dissapared in Auruba McCain wins in a landslide.

[FromWayDowntown]

I think that if Biden is substantive and focused on what Obama is instead of trying to demonstrate what Palin isn't, he can come out of the debate okay. I think that's particularly true if Palin's tack is to repeatedly attack Obama and shy away from substantive answers. If Palin is on the attack and Biden tries to meet her on those matters, he'll lose; if Biden strays from substance and starts moving into personality during the debate, he'll lose; if Biden tries to compare himself with Palin during the debate, he'll lose.

If I'm in the Obama campaign, the time between now and Election Day is about my message and very little about dealing with Republican attacks. That's true of both my nominee and his running mate.

If I'm in the McCain campaign, I'm unleashing Palin to be that pitbull who is always on attack and I'm selling the sizzle.

[Findog]

I think that if Biden is substantive and focused on what Obama is instead of trying to demonstrate what Palin isn't, he can come out of the debate okay.

Which is exactly what he'll do.

If I'm in the McCain campaign, I'm unleashing Palin to be that pitbull who is always on attack and I'm selling the sizzle.

Wrong. She needs to show she knows the issues.

[ChumpDumper]

[baseline bum]

Palin's not going to win over any undecideds with the pit bull act, which I'm 99% sure is going to be her strategy tonight. Everyone but the right believes she's an idiot, and if her performance tonight is a reprisal of her speech at the RNC, she will do nothing to answer those questions about her competence to lead this nation.