Jeez- What A Time To Lose My Internet Connection!
Been down all night, until now, and now it’s time for bed – but a quick thought. I agree with the conventional wisdom that Palin did better than expected, but Biden did well, too…this is twice now that Palin has come through with everything on the line, whether you love her or hate her…but alas, I have to go to bed now, so more tomorrow…
Your thoughts?
I think Palin was coherent, which is great for her. She was also clearly pounding on talking points and just plain ignoring questions she didn’t want to answer. Very little substance to her, but she came off as fairly polished. Given the low expectations, that’s all to the good for her.
I think Biden was just incredible. For a guy who tends to talk in circles and/or say crazy things, he pulled out all the stops for this one. He shredded McCain’s health care plan in about 45 seconds, blew Palin out of the water with his sheer knowledge of and comfort talking about foreign policy, and (while the issue itself is pretty small-potatoes) his dismantling of Cheney’s ludicrous claim about the Vice Presidency residing in the legislative branch was the single-best answer of the night. Biden, unbeknownst to many, is a very good debater in a way almost no American politicians are, but tonight he took it to a new level.
Palin, given what we thought was going to happen, did very well. Biden delivered a tour de force. After watching Obama and McCain, neither of whom is any great shakes in a debate, this was wildly entertaining television.
Much better debate, you are correct…
I agree that this was very good and that both candidates handled themselves well and better than the conventional wisdom predicted. Btw, what is wrong with “talking points”? A less derisive description is “staying on message”, isn’t that the point of these events, from the candidates point-of-view? And don’t all candidates ignore questions they don’t want to answer? I think you’re seeking an ideal that doesn’t exist.
This was an entertaining show that means very little and will have no impact, positive or negative, on the race. These debates, scripted and managed as they are, are nothing more than an interesting sideshow. I do wonder why we waste our time with them, other than for the entertainment value (sorta like watching NASCAR in the hopes of seeing a spectacular crash).
How about all this populist horse poop:
Biden: “you’ve seen what’s happened on Wall Street”
Biden: “letting Wall Street run wild”
Palin: “there was greed and there is corruption on Wall Street”
Biden: “You had actually the belief that Wall Street could self-regulate itself”
Biden: “Letting Wall Street run wild”
Palin: “Stop the greed and corruption on Wall Street”
Palin: “Corruption and the greed on Wall Street”
Palin: “Get rid of the greed and corruption on Wall Street”
Palin: “We have got to not allow the greed and corruption on Wall Street anymore”
Palin also blamed someone, can’t remember who – “banks” maybe, for forcing bad mortgages on folks. Sheesh.
In this campaign Obama has attacked McCain as being the same as George Bush. The often cited evidence being McCain’s record of voting with Bush 90%, or more, of the time. In the debate Palin attacked Obama’s voting record on a host of issues. Biden’s defense is that McCain voted the same as Obama. So, if A=B and B=C then A=C and Obama is the same as Bush?
Powerline has a decidedly different take on Biden’s Cheney takedown:
http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives2/2008/10/021676.php
For bone-chilling incoherence, my favourite of the night was this exchange
though I thought her explanation of the constitutional role of the Vice President,
was satisfyingly Cheney-esque.
I’m afraid her invocation of Reagan’s apocalyptic opposition to the enactment of Medicare was a little to recherché for most of the audience. But still, all in all, a very satisfying debate performance.
I think a hearth LOL is in order (or is that more of an ROFL?). Which is the better Palin: the real one of Tina Fey?
Sheesh. “hearth” should be “hearty”, “of” should be “or”.
Biden did well because he lied/screwed up facts from start to finish but did it so confidently that it looks like he knew what he is talking about.
Nice planned tears too.
Impressive to some, I guess.
Not to mention the Palin vodoo doll he had concealed under his podium.
You could see her wince in pain, as Biden uttered the phrase, “government of Spain,” while shoving a hat-pin through the doll’s abdomen.
No, I think you’re confusing it with the voodoo economists on McCain’s staff.
Is it 24 or 25 lies Biden has been caught in since last night?
Big whoop, they both told lies:
http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/factchecking_biden-palin_debate.html
This is not surprising, after all this is a debate. There is not an impartial jury that checks the facts after each answer in situ. “Beep! Sorry Senator, that Spain thing was pure spin… Gong! Sorry, Governor you completely evaded the question.”
I would argue that we judge the debater’s tactics, response times, poise, etc., more than the “facts”, at least during the debate.
Debating in front of millions is I’m sure no easy task. I’ll give both candidates credit for an interesting meeting. They both exceeded my expectations (though they were rather low).