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thoughts on a debate and an award

Before moving on to the debate, Jessica and Tania have resurrected the ROFL Awards and I awarded this month’s virtual trophy to The Well Read Hostess for this post. WRH makes me laugh out loud even when she’s writing book reviews. Okay, I only skim those for the funny parts, but everything else is hysterical. You may also recognize her from her hysterical comments on Nutmeg. You can read all the awarded posts here.

And now it must be done…

Palin did not fall head over heels down a flight of stairs, but I think she broke a heel on the bottom step.

I think many of us were surprised by the performance Sarah Palin gave last night. She was poised, charming, and prepared. She did not shock with her utter stupidity. But did she undo the damage she’s done to the McCain campaign? That remains to be seen.

Joe Biden, aside from that light bulb smile, did not shine for me. Although he was right on with all of his answers, he just didn’t have the presence on stage that I was hoping for.

Sarah Palin had presence, although I don’t think you pass a test when you don’t actually answer the questions being asked on it.

Without a doubt, she is an excellent memorizer. She also did a pretty damn good job of sinking her pretty little teeth into Joe Biden.

Joe Biden, on the other hand, was a complete gentleman. I was surprised he was capable of keeping his cool when there were so many places he could have just slammed her. He was respectful, even when she misnamed and misquoted leaders. He stuck to factual rebuttal. I think, all else aside, these two men are raising the bar for future campaigns.

Palin’s strongest moment was when she said, “For a ticket that cares so much about change, you spend a lot of time looking back and pointing the finger.” Even I’m getting a little sick of hearing this argument.

What is it with this ticket and the winking? At least when she winks at me I don’t feel dirty, like I’m Monica Lewinsky holding a cigar. It’s more like we’re sharing a moment - do you have any freaking idea what I just said because lord knows I don’t?

Sarah Palin’s last answer on the role of the vice president put her right back in the crapper for me (along with her ridiculous non-answer on Israel.) Nobody is going to change the constitution of the United States to give this woman more POWER.

Biden had the most real moment during the debate, I think making the connection with the people, when he choked up over nearly losing his son. Palin tried to play tit for tat by immediately mentioning special needs children, but she was dispassionate and cold in her delivery.

Bottom line - yes, she proved she is capable of being the vice president. Of the PTO. Of the United States? I don’t think so.

Editor’e Note (that’s me): I had to share this brilliant summation of the debate.

This entry was posted on Friday, October 3rd, 2008 at 8:10 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

21 Comments so far

Natalie October 3rd, 2008 9:47 am

I have my own take on the winking and now I feel bad and dirty, but not too much so. I didn’t find a thing about that *gosh darn* moose booger woman charming. I thought her down home demeanor was all contrived. And her voice is like nails on chalkboard.

As far as her ability to debate goes, I thought she sucked. Oh, she certainly knows how to avoid a question and use her talking points for effect, but debate? No. Biden had a lot more substance and I wish he had bitten back a bit more, but I think he was given specific instructions to tone it down with her. It’s a sad day when someone can be declared the winner of a debate, simply because they didn’t fall flat on their face.

I think you are right, Obama and Biden are setting a wonderful example for debate, but I’m afraid if they don’t win next month, they won’t set the standard.
Nutmeg October 3rd, 2008 10:01 am

Natalie, you are absolutely right on the winner. Let me be clear - Joe Biden won that debate hands down. This is the barometer I tend to use when deciding - who shoveled more bullshit? No doubt Palin left a pile of steaming crap on my living room floor. Biden stayed on point, stuck to ACCURATE facts, avoided rhetoric, and refused to be bated. I do respect that he handled her with kid gloves - because he would have been hung on a cross if he hadn’t. But I have seen him speak when he’s been much funnier and way more passionate. I wish they hadn’t dampened that in their attempts to protect Palin from herself.
Natalie October 3rd, 2008 10:39 am

I really wish there were going to be another VP debate, because I think the kid gloves would come off and Palin would be reduced to a blubbering mess.

I’m feeling rather mean today, but I’m angry. I’m tired of the Bullsh!t Express.
April October 3rd, 2008 10:51 am

I was dreading this debate because I knew all Palin had to do was stand upright and she’d exceed expectations. I also knew she’d start off with being a mom. That’s all well and good, but Biden impressed me by not coming across as a bully, which was my fear about him in this debate. I was afraid of falling out of love with him, as I did at the DNC. But I’m still in love. It seems the debate has not moved the numbers, and that’s good for us.
hanlie October 3rd, 2008 10:55 am

Even I have written about this today! I thought Biden was very charming and real. And he certainly knows what he’s talking about. She looked panicked a few times and didn’t answer a bunch of questions. At least she wasn’t confrontational, because when she attempts that, she just comes across as bitchy.

But yeah, Obama and Biden raised the bar…
robin October 3rd, 2008 12:57 pm

When watching political debates, we all look for what we want to see. I tried to step back and watch from the point of view of the average idiot american, of which there are lots. You know, the people who voted for Bush. Twice. And, from their point of view, I (sadly) have to say, Palin won. I mean, she said “dog-gone-it,” for crying out loud. She smiled, and winked, and shucks, she was one of us. Or, more accurately, one of THEM. You know. The people who will vote for McCain because of her. Frankly, I’m a little bit scared.
Georgine October 3rd, 2008 1:07 pm

I don’t know about not showing her utterly idiotic side…Can someone please tell Gov. Palin that the word is nuclear and not nucular…!? There are just some things I can not take!
Nutmeg October 3rd, 2008 1:26 pm

I just said the same thing to my mom, George! I can’t take 8 more years of NUCULAR!!!
Kelly October 3rd, 2008 1:43 pm

Hey Meg. My commentary is up! Also, I, like Natalie, pretty much didn’t find Palin down-home and friendly at all. It seemed more like a schtick than anything natural. Joe did what he had to do. He was in a tough spot. He had to show his command without looking like either an intellectual or a bully. He toned himself down, but he had to.

The format favored her, but he still pulled it off. The polls show the same thing, thank God.
All Adither October 3rd, 2008 2:07 pm

Sadly, I missed the debate because my child was puking (I know, my whining about this is getting old). But I’m catching up on what happened by way of the very useful interweb.
Shelly October 3rd, 2008 2:50 pm

I absolutely agree with you. I believe she only succeeded in the debate because expectations were so low. But the winking!!! OMG - what is it with the winking??!!!
ilinap October 3rd, 2008 4:44 pm

Palin was deemed a success simply because she did not drool on the podium. To compare her to Biden is not comparing her apples to his oranges. I think she was too much like a girl from Petticoat Junction. She is frightfully inarticulate, unworldly, and trite. I am beyonding detesting her; I fear her. Mostly, I fear the people who revere her.

As for Biden, I think he hit a home run. He proved that he knew his shit and did not cave or lose his famous temper. And that part about his family was better than if it were scripted. Showing he is human at such an intimate level was no comparison to Palin’s contrived folksiness.
Aubrey October 3rd, 2008 4:51 pm

It helped that the bar had been set so low for her. Even though my mind was made up b.p. (before Palin),I was hoping to hear some sort of genius spew out of her mouth. Instead, I found myself pulling my hair out because she WOULD NOT give a straight answer on any of the questions. I did not find her endearing and I certainly didn’t relate to her as an average, middle class American. IMO, she looked a fool.
Clayjack October 3rd, 2008 6:06 pm

Keepin’ it real, yo. FactCheck.org (thanks to WRH’s reference to it a few weeks ago, btw) shows they both blew it on factual information.
Nutmeg October 3rd, 2008 6:22 pm

Last time I checked the numbers on who got the facts wrong (7:15 pm on factcheck.org) it was Biden 5 to Palin 12.
Clayjack October 3rd, 2008 7:44 pm

“Biden stayed on point, stuck to ACCURATE facts”

Is “accurate” scored on a curve, maybe?

I need to start avoiding all political posts, I think.
Dee October 3rd, 2008 8:18 pm

As a foreigner here I just cannot understand how she could have gotten away with setting her own standard for answering (not) questions and just repeating herself. The moderator and Biden were extremely generous to her. As Aubrey said the bar has been set much too low and if someone doesn’t speak out (to hell with the kid glove treatment) the notion of the idiot American voter will continue to spread. A spade must be called a spade.
Loved Biden’s response to the VP question and his reference to Cheney. He should have point the finger right back at Palin for agreeing with that dangerous man.
monstergirlee October 3rd, 2008 11:53 pm

Sarah Palin as potential president scares the hell out of me.
I’m glad Biden acted as a gentleman. (first time here from greeblemonkey site)
Coast Rat October 4th, 2008 3:05 pm

“Bottom line - yes, she proved she is capable of being the vice president. Of the PTO. Of the United States? I don’t think so.”

Sounds pretty accurate to me.
Bill Austin October 5th, 2008 4:12 pm

Your site has won a Blog of the Day Award (BOTDA)

Award Code

Thank you,

Bill Austin
maggie, dammit October 5th, 2008 7:02 pm

OMG I read this two days ago but got distracted by the awesome link at the bottom and forgot to come back and comment.

Our local newspaper’s front page screamed, “Palin holds her own in debate” — it made me so fucking furious. Yeah, the potential VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES had better HOLD HER OWN in a lousy debate! WTF? It was such a telling headline. It says it all, in my opinion.

thoughts on a debate and an award

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