Originally Posted By chickendumpling I finally got a bit of time to actually look at her debate style. Given her national interviews, lots of people have extremely low expectations of her. I know I did. But now, on review, I think she has been *seriously* underestimated and if you think she's gonna do poorly come Thursday, you are gonna get punk'd. She's been in at least 22 debates in her gubernatorial race. Did you know that she had that kind of experience? I didn't. And as a former TV sports anchor, cameras aren't gonna make her nervous. Here is the full video of one of her gubernatorial debates courtesy of C-SPAN, it's about 90 minutes...: <a href="http://tinyurl.com/65ez2k" target="_blank">http://tinyurl.com/65ez2k</a> (given her lack of national interviews this is a great interview to watch because of the number of issues covered, btw.) (there's a snippet that's about 10 minutes long but I'm gonna post that separately in case the youtube comments don't meet community standards) Given the anticipated format of the VP debate and her prior debate experience, she's gonna do GREAT. Of course, Biden has a lot more experience than she does but all that does is manage expectations in her favor even more! She is going to do so much better than people think and she is waaaay more political savvy than folks are realizing. It reminds me of one of my all time favorite SNL skits of Ronald Reagan (this is only a partial of the skit but it was all I could find): <a href="http://tinyurl.com/3tn8gq" target="_blank">http://tinyurl.com/3tn8gq</a>
Originally Posted By chickendumpling Here's the youtube vid I promised: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1-B-OyQ-KI&NR=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...-KI&NR=1</a>
Originally Posted By hopemax I don't think very many people think Sarah Palin is incapable of answering questions within her "sphere." Social issues like abortion, right to die, gay marriage. Or Alaskan issues. The issue is how big is her "sphere." Where she has gotten into trouble is when we enter the area of foreign policy. The limited answers she has given about the current financial crisis, haven't been promising either. While I'm sure there will be some questions regarding social issues and energy (something she should know something about as well), if the Presidential debate is any indication the bailout is going to be a key topic, as well as foreign policy issues like the Middle East, Afghanistan and Russia. If she cannot answer the questions that are of the most concern to Americans, it will not matter how well she answers the rest.
Originally Posted By DlandDug Pity the VP debate is really just a sideshow. Of course, with all the interest Palin has created, this may not be the case this year. I would guess that Biden's handlers are fretting over what tone to take with her. If he's too rough he'll look like a bully, and if he's too deferential it'll look like she's calling the shots. I will go out on a limb here and predict that the most memorable moment in any of this year's debates will be a bone-headed statement by Biden.
Originally Posted By mele <<I would guess that Biden's handlers are fretting over what tone to take with her. If he's too rough he'll look like a bully>> Argh. I find it so ridiculous that this matters at all. How exactly does the need to be protected so much make Palin capable of being VP? (Not arguing with you, Dug.)
Originally Posted By mawnck Prediction: Friday here in Laughing Place World Events will be particularly combative. Squeamish, beware!
Originally Posted By DlandDug >>How exactly does the need to be protected so much make Palin capable of being VP?<< Has nothin' to do with Palin, and everything to do with our public. Remember when George H. W. Bush took on Geraldine Ferraro and was accused of being too rough on her? Personally, I think Palin wouldn't mind at all going head-to-head with Biden, or any other one of the guys. But she, too, has to be careful. Otherwise she gets accused of not being a "real" woman.
Originally Posted By mele <<Has nothin' to do with Palin, and everything to do with our public. Remember when George H. W. Bush took on Geraldine Ferraro and was accused of being too rough on her?>> Nope, too young for that. ;-) It's just such a sexist situation no matter which side is doing it. Frustrating.
Originally Posted By Mr X ***Remember when George H. W. Bush took on Geraldine Ferraro and was accused of being too rough on her?*** He dug his own grave on that one with the off the cuff, off color commentary at the end. What exactly is the format for this debate, anyway? Can the candidates address each other directly? If so, if I were Biden I would not rest until she either directly answers the question at hand or is forced into a "lemme get back to ya". Every time.
Originally Posted By hopemax > What exactly is the format for this debate, anyway? Can the candidates address each other directly? Originally, it was supposed to be like the Presidental debate, both sides get 2 minutes and then 5 minutes to directly engage each other. However, about a week ago, the McCain campaign asked for a change in format. They felt the 5 minute engagement would put the inexperienced debater, Palin, at a disadvantage. The Obama campaign did not protest and the 5 minute period has been decreased to 2 minutes.
Originally Posted By mele Hm, not real bright of Obama to agree to that especially considering Palin is supposedly a real politician and leader and apparently has lots of good debates under her belt. The more this drags on, the angrier it makes me.
Originally Posted By Mr X So basically Palin gets the bulk of her time to blather on with the talking points, whether they answer the question or not, and Biden then has about one minute to question her? Lame.
Originally Posted By WorldDisney LOL, Mr. X did you forget the thread I made that you commented on dealing with Palin's special treatment for the debate? But yes, its limited time now. Personnally, looking at Obama and McCains debate, it problably doesnt matter as Obama and McCain pretty much proved and time goes over anyway when they want to get a point across. Also maybe its a good thing we dont have to listen to her ramble on trying to uttered out things she barely knows about.
Originally Posted By oc_dean >> I think she has been *seriously* underestimated << You hardcore Republicans just don't give up, do you? You can have an Axe murderer on your ticket .. and you'll defend him/her from here to doomsday. Palin is going to have such a hard time answering any question. I almost feel sorry for her.
Originally Posted By WorldDisney Looking at how horribly she did on CBS, its going to be a hell of a turnaround between then and this week if she all of a sudden come off as poised, confident and well informed on the issues. Maybe it will mean they got her better tutors lol.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 >> I think she has been *seriously* underestimated << <You hardcore Republicans just don't give up, do you?> I don't think chickendumpling is a hardcore Republican, dean. Indeed, I think he (she?) is just saying what some of us liberals have been saying: don't assume that just because Palin has looked so bad in her interviews that she'll look bad at the debates. She might, she might not. She has shown in Alaska that she's comfortable with the debate format, and they did get THIS specific format to be altered to be more to her liking. She might do just fine. It's still possible that she'll get a question out of her comfort zone and it will be obvious she knows little about it. But we shouldn't assume that. Indeed, by lowering expectations too much, there's the danger that if she gets by without drooling (or a flat-out embarrassing moment) that she'll be seen as "holding her own" with Biden, and thus essentially winning, even. And so you see a lot of Republicans busy lowering expectations, talking about how she's going up against the mega-experienced 30-year senator Joe Biden, and how can our poor Sarah ever hope to compete? Conversely, you see Democrats trying to raise expectations, pointing out that she has done quite well in Alaskan debates, and does tend to come across well when she's in her comfort zone. We shouldn't expect that Biden will win handily, because if he doesn't, then Palin "wins," sort of. Such is the weirdness of our politics.
Originally Posted By velo who will be the moderator for this debate? And, were the questions given to the candidates in advance? (sorry, out of the loop here). The thing is, Palin learns her lines very well. The onus is on the Moderator to try to throw something "unprepared" in there, I think. Or, to ask her to be more specific...
Originally Posted By RoadTrip Palin has about as much knowledge of international affairs as Reagan did when he ran for President. Seems to me he did OK. Fortunately Presidents have folks like the Secretary of State, Secretary of Defense, etc. to do the heavy lifting for them when they are in office. Bush's main problem was listening to Cheney and Rumsfeld instead of Powell.
Originally Posted By mawnck >>Looking at how horribly she did on CBS, its going to be a hell of a turnaround between then and this week if she all of a sudden come off as poised, confident and well informed on the issues.<< I still maintain that her performance will depend on how much coaching she receives beforehand - the less, the better. And confidence has never been an issue with her. She's psychotically confident. Like W. Of course, the dittoheads will consider it a Palin win if she doesn't set the backdrop on fire. It's mostly on Biden, to not make a fool of himself.
