2008 VP Debate: October 2nd, 9 PM EST

Bucklion · #1 (**permalink**) 09-29-2008, 08:17 AM

Starting the official thread now:

Will McCain be whalin' about the perfomance of Palin?

scooter1369 · #2 (**permalink**) 09-29-2008, 10:52 AM

This could be really interesting, or really miserable.

But how bad would Biden look if the VPILF holds her own against him?

Bucklion · #3 (**permalink**) 09-29-2008, 11:01 AM

Well of course he's going to "look" bad against the DILF (debaters...). What he has to do is get the conversation into specifics to be efective...Palin is good at being effusive, but not at being specific. She's "issues" over "substance" from what I see...in other words, she knows what she believes, but not necessarily how to articulate its implementation. I would argue Biden to be the opposite...low on hyperbole, boring perhaps, but devastating with specifics. If he aviods hoof-in-mouth disease with any "darlin'" or "sweetie" references, he should rule the day if he can press her on anything.

Perhaps the moderator will be most important in this debate, because they will be responsible for the content of the debate. If ig goes Leherer-esque with the candidates able to challenge each other, Biden will have a major advantage, but if it is pontification and move on, Palin will be able to do fine with that, especially if not pressed. I don't know who the moderator is off the top of my head, but that will be very important.

CCI · #4 (**permalink**) 09-29-2008, 11:20 AM

Maybe she will metion the middle class

McCain sure and hell didn't.

jlb1705 · #5 (**permalink**) 09-29-2008, 11:36 PM

I think all Biden has to do to be successful here is to state his postion, support it with two specific items and then say, "...And I'd be interested to know what Gov. Palin has to say about this."

Biden can be rather verbose. I think if he stays out of his own way, and more importantly, out of Gov. Palin's way - he wins this one in a walk. One commentator I heard today observed that Gov. Palin seems to abhor silence, and when she's expected to speak she sometimes fills the space by being redundant and speaking entirely in talking points. If you think about the Couric interview, that may be why it was such a disaster for Palin. Couric asked the question and then kept her mouth shut and just let Palin go, even when it was obvious she had run out of things to say. I'm not fully aware of what the debate format will be, but I think Biden would be well served to put Palin in that kind of position as much as possible.

The moderator will be Gwen Ifill of PBS. I think she'll ask some tough questions of both candidates. I just hope she makes both of them follow through with a real answer instead of letting them deflect to some biographical bs about hockey or moose hunting or Scranton, PA or riding the Amtrak.

BUCKYLE · #6 (**permalink**) 09-29-2008, 11:44 PM

Is there going to be a bikini portion?

Jagdaddy · #7 (**permalink**) 09-30-2008, 05:57 PM

This should be a train wreck. If I was Biden, I'd say as little as possible and watch Palin crater, but it's Biden so the odds of that happening aren't very good. I just hope that there aren't one or two idiotic soundbites that get all the post-debate media coverage.

CookyPuss · #8 (**permalink**) 09-30-2008, 07:08 PM

I think the fact that a very smart woman in Gwen Ifill will have an impact. If it was a guy giving Palin a "beating" with the questions it would be one thing, but an intelligent woman could decimate her without looking mean or sexist. (Not saying it will happen, but it is a possible dynamic).

CCI · #9 (**permalink**) 09-30-2008, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MuckFich06

I think the fact that a very smart woman in Gwen Ifill will have an impact. If it was a guy giving Palin a "beating" with the questions it would be one thing, but an intelligent woman could decimate her without looking mean or sexist. (Not saying it will happen, but it is a possible dynamic).

I agree, this can go either way. One thing for sure Palin will either make or break tonight. Let's see what she really is made of when she is put on the Hawt seat.

edit: thought it was tuesday night

Gatorubet · #10 (**permalink**) 09-30-2008, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CCI

I agree, this can go either way. One thing for sure Palin will either make or break tonight. Let's see what she really is made of when she is put on the Hawt seat.

I have been waiting all day for this tonight.

Here's a video from the debate studio...

CCI · #11 (**permalink**) 09-30-2008, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gatorubet

Here's a video from the debate studio...

The latest CNN poll states that Tumble weed is winning by a land slide

Tresselbeliever · #12 (**permalink**) 09-30-2008, 09:00 PM

I bet Palin is fully prepared for all the tough questions like, "what would you do as the governor of alaska, if you see KGB agents handing out Russian passports on the street corners of Wasilla like they did South Ossetia?"