VP Debate Thread / Is John McCain...

[williambraskyiii]

the best political team on television just reported that Joe Biden is NOT wearing pants. Uncommitted Ohio Voters had a strongly negative reaction to that breaking story...

[Jack]

I suspect there will be some fact-checking that proves him wrong on some of this stuff, but it seems like Biden is just hammering McCain/Palin on numbers and facts. Whether he is right or not, he sure says it with authority. Palin, well golly, she sure is folksy. Unfortunately, she is also not drooling all over herself, so I guess she might be "winning." I have never seen someone so blatantly disregard the question asked though- it is one thing to take the question and pivot, but she pretty much says "I don't like that question, so I will answer what I want to answer."

[williambraskyiii]

no, no, no - not ENERGY!

[TC]

We now know why they went after Ifill, it's so she can ignore the topics and talk about energy every question.

[williambraskyiii]

yes!!! the return of nuke-U-lar!!

[jerseyhoya34]

I do have to hand it to Palin. She's doing a decent job to the extent she can, but she is in the danger zone now.

[Bando]

An observation: Palin is clearly relying on notes. So much that to my ears, she seems to be driving every answer back to her notes rather than using them as an aide.

[Boz]

For some reason tonight, I just can't get "Fargo" out of my head.

I can't figure out why.

(Palin does sound too rehearsed, but she is doing fairly well. And hasn't gotten tripped up on foreign policy. They're both relying pretty heavily on notes, but Biden is better at it and not checking - as obviously - when it's his turn to speak).

But one thing is pretty clear. Sarah Palin is not speaking to a single member of Hoyatalk right now, for her or agin' 'er.

[SFHoya99]

What, Boz, you aren't folksy? What about cute? Everyone likes cute. Not Alicia Silverstone in Clueless cute. More like kittens.

[williambraskyiii]

She's doing well.

[Bando]

Oct 2, 2008 21:11:50 GMT -5 Boz said:

For some reason tonight, I just can't get "Fargo" out of my head.

I can't figure out why.

(Palin does sound too rehearsed, but she is doing fairly well. And hasn't gotten tripped up on foreign policy. They're both relying pretty heavily on notes, but Biden is better at it and not checking - as obviously - when it's his turn to speak).

But one thing is pretty clear. Sarah Palin is not speaking to a single member of Hoyatalk right now, for her or agin' 'er.

Gee willickers, I don't doggone know why ya said that, doncha know?

[Boz]

OK, I just had to laugh about the whole "Achilles Heel" question.

(first of all, dumb question)

I don't know if Gov. Palin misheard it, but she kinda screwed the pooch on that one. But hey, never mind the question, full speed ahead. ;D

But then, I thought Biden was going to nail it, and he gave that awful job interview suck up answer. Well, my Achilles Heel is I'm too passionate.

They both made me laugh a little on that one.

Someone needs to do a word cloud on this debate. Those are always fun.

[Jack]

Oct 2, 2008 21:11:50 GMT -5 Boz said:

But one thing is pretty clear. Sarah Palin is not speaking to a single member of Hoyatalk right now, for her or agin' 'er.

I don't even have a kitchen table.

[GIGAFAN99]

Krusty vs Ralphie is almost unwatchable.

JB: "Oh crap I said the loud part quiet and the quiet part loud!"

SP: "My cat's name is Mittens."

This seems a little mailed in. Maybe Biden's mind is on the Phillies since he's from Scranton and Sarah Palin's is on how thankful we are Shane Victorino's mother is pro-life.

OK that last part is probably just me.

[guru]

Palin is doing OK, but she needed to do "great" to have a shot at stemming the Obama campaign momentum, and she certainly hasn't done that. This race is pretty much over.

By the way, anyone else watching CNN. I've been staring at these pie charts the whole debate and still have no idea WTF they mean. I do see the word "Begala" up there, though, which is distracting, because it always makes me think "edited." I don't know why, but it does.

[Bando]

Like last week's debate, I think this changes nothing. Biden was gaffe-free and made Obama's case better than Obama, while Palin exceeded the low expectations set for her and continued to play for the base rather than independents. Since no change is good for Obama, as he's ahead, advantage Dems.

[GIGAFAN99]

Oct 2, 2008 21:29:21 GMT -5 guru said:

Palin is doing OK, but she needed to do "great" to have a shot at stemming the Obama campaign momentum, and she certainly hasn't done that. This race is pretty much over.

By the way, anyone else watching CNN. I've been staring at these pie charts the whole debate and still have no idea WTF they mean. I do see the word "Begala" up there, though, which is distracting, because it always makes me think "d-bag." I don't know why, but it does.

I don't think she could have done well enough to make people forget about the economy. McCain's only hope is that the economy goes away as an issue within the next, oh, day or so. Then he has 30 days to close the gap. Possible? Sure anything is possible. But really, the Democrats are finally cashing in the "wait until it gets so bad they have to vote for us" strategy they've been holding to for 40 years.

[Boz]

First, GIGA, absolutely hilarious.

Second, guru, I wouldn't count those chickens just yet. This is still going to be a very close election.

But I wanted to ask a question. This is not a slam on Biden, even though he said it. Biden had a very good debate. And everybody says it.

But does anyone really believe "this is the most important election you have ever voted in or will ever vote in?"

I sure as hell don't. No matter who wins, Iraq policy is not going to change that much. No matter who wins, we are going to have a tough economy for a while. Obviously, I support McCain's policies, so I enthusiastically want him to win, but the most important election ever?

I wish people would stop saying things like that.
(EDIT: what I mean to say is not that it's NOT important, but that it's a Presidential election, man; they're ALL important)

(Granted, I've voted in a few more of them than some of you, so if this is your first or second election, maybe it IS the most important to you).

In summation, Palin's a hottie.

[jerseyhoya34]

Oct 2, 2008 21:29:21 GMT -5 guru said:

Palin is doing OK, but she needed to do "great" to have a shot at stemming the Obama campaign momentum, and she certainly hasn't done that. This race is pretty much over.

By the way, anyone else watching CNN. I've been staring at these pie charts the whole debate and still have no idea WTF they mean. I do see the word "Begala" up there, though, which is distracting, because it always makes me think "d-bag." I don't know why, but it does.

I like this take, guru. I thought Palin performed admirably and was put in a tough position having to debate Biden. She was not going to win the debate, and I don't think she did. But, she did the best she could and should be congratulated for that.

The folksy approach to foreign policy just is not attractive in a potential commander in chief. Biden had command on every issue of consequence and had a statesmanlike performance. I think people underestimate his appeal to swing voters.

[The Stig]

I thought both did very well. Biden gave some of the hard, direct attacks that I missed from Obama in the last debate. Palin showed a lot of composure and played her folksy self. She didn't answer any questions, but nobody does that in a debate.

I thought Ifill did a poor job. She wasn't biased, but she didn't seem to control the debate very well.

Best moment of the debate was Palin: "John McCain has tapped me." Attaboy John!