Originally Posted By chickendumpling LOL at both of you. Now look at that - laughter and smiley faces in WE. Priceless.
Originally Posted By Inspector 57 <<So I guess I'm saying that her skill might be there, but the McCain campaign has squashed her real sense of self and given her a labotomy or something so she won't go off-message.>> Yes, verbal skills, self-confidence, and the proper level of preparation are all critical elements of successful debating, aren't they? But I believe that substance is the most important element: you have to know your subject matter. And that, imho, is why she has performed so poorly to date in her vice-presidential campaign appearances. As X and others here have written, I hope the debate will be conducted in such a way that neither candidate will be allowed to substitute charismatic style for substantive responses.
Originally Posted By Inspector 57 <<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...>> I agree with and really appreciate your thoughts about expectations and the likely perceptions regarding "victory" in the debate, Dabob. One of my concerns is that Palin will come off as poised and semi-credible, thereby alleviating a lot of people's anxiety about her ability to perform. I'm worried that people will get such a deep sense of relief over her speaking ability that they will forget about her actual beliefs. By the way, Dabob, chickendumpling is more of a woman than you could ever hope to be.
Originally Posted By mawnck >>Now look at that - laughter and smiley faces in WE. Priceless.<< Nothing like a little old depression to bring out the best in people.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 <By the way, Dabob, chickendumpling is more of a woman than you could ever hope to be. > Cool - 'cuz I don't hope to be. I kinda thought she was, but didn't want to assume. Anyway, let's hope Palin isn't held to the "if she doesn't drool, she wins" or the "if she doesn't commit a major gaffe, she wins, even if she demonstrates no command of the issues and just regurgitates talking points" standard. And I'm going to hope Ifill holds her feet to the fire a little if she's evasive (Biden, too), but unfortunately, the format they got the Obama team to agree to allows for less of that than others. We'll just have to see on Thursday...
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <<<The real test, though, will be how she comes off to moderates.>> < This moderate wanted Lieberman....I didn't get either VP choice - think they both picked the wrong person.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <I'm worried that people will get such a deep sense of relief over her speaking ability that they will forget about her actual beliefs. < not going out on a limb to say this will happen - but it surely could, and since so much thesedays are popularity contests vs. content - you could be right. Remember her VP nomincation speech is what set this up - people didn't expect muchor know what to expect andshe exceeded expectations and suddenly she was on a roll. Again, was far fromthe choice I wanted as VP - but so was the Biden choice. What the hell were McCain and Obama thinking ? if Hillary and Lieberman were the two VP choices I'd feel a whole lot better about nothing flying to far in one direction or another politically...
Originally Posted By chickendumpling << I hope the debate will be conducted in such a way that neither candidate will be allowed to substitute charismatic style for substantive responses.>> <<I'm going to hope Ifill holds her feet to the fire a little if she's evasive (Biden, too>> I'm not so sure that's going to happen. I think Ifill leaves it to the listener. Here is an excerpt from a recent Washington Post interview that makes me think that: Questioner: "One thing I have noticed during the brief interviews I have seen Palin give is that she doesn't really answer the question. Does Biden do that too? I always think the person who clearly answers the question asked wins a point, even if I don't like their answer! Gwen Ifill: I have discovered that really skilled politicians have a way of failing to answer a question in a way that most folks don't notice. If you are noticing, that means she is not doing it right. I have discovered that careful listeners tend to notice. And they make their judgments based on that. " link: <a href="http://tinyurl.com/4wlpgn" target="_blank">http://tinyurl.com/4wlpgn</a> That being said, Ifill has always struck me as an intelligent, well-prepared person so I'm hopeful she'll ask good follow up questions of both candidates.
Originally Posted By chickendumpling <<Again, was far fromthe choice I wanted as VP - but so was the Biden choice. What the hell were McCain and Obama thinking ?>> I'd love to see a topic on this.
Originally Posted By chickendumpling <<Dabob, chickendumpling is more of a woman than you could ever hope to be.>> Thank you?
Originally Posted By DAR You know what I'd like to see at Thursday's debate? Not the standard answers that are always given, but an 8 Mile style rap contest where isssues are discussed and the other person gets dissed.
Originally Posted By chickendumpling That doesn't generally go well for Republicans... <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdvHwtRdg_I" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...HwtRdg_I</a>
Originally Posted By SingleParkPassholder "This moderate wanted Lieberman....I didn't get either VP choice - think they both picked the wrong person." We can agree on that, too. McCain should have picked Lieberman, and I wanted Obama to pick Richardson. Neither charismatic, but both principled and qualified.
Originally Posted By SingleParkPassholder Hit submit too soon. I would have been content with either ticket. Instead, we see McCain sell his soul and Obama play it uber safe.
Originally Posted By hopemax > and I wanted Obama to pick Richardson. I think Richardson with be the Sec. of State.
Originally Posted By Inspector 57 Dabob2: <<I think he (she?) is just saying...>> I-57: <<Dabob, chickendumpling is more of a woman than you could ever hope to be.>> Dabob: <<Cool - 'cuz I don't hope to be. >> chickendumpling: <<Thank you?>> LOL! Thank you, you two. I wanted to clarify for the audience that chickendumpling is a woman, and I felt comfortable enough with both of you to have some fun with it. Thanks for your good-natured responses. But now that I think about it... It doesn't really matter what gender a poster is, does it? Damn my whole midwestern "polite" neurosis!
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <You know what I'd like to see at Thursday's debate? Not the standard answers that are always given, but an 8 Mile style rap contest where isssues are discussed and the other person gets dissed.< Would be better for Biden as opposed to how kids for years have settled it on the playground - he'd get his butt kicked I believe -- anything would be better than yet another debate where no one answers anything
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <Hit submit too soon. I would have been content with either ticket. Instead, we see McCain sell his soul and Obama play it uber safe.< what game from hell would Obama pick Biden for anything... back to my "what the hell were they thinking " - kinda tells me the 'party' picked both candidates for them
Originally Posted By Inspector 57 <<back to my "what the hell were they thinking " - kinda tells me the 'party' picked both candidates for them>> I'm thinking that both VP picks were inspired choices. Obama needs "white," "experienced," and "boring" to quell fears and stabilize his ticket. For better or worse, he has to appease the undecided voters who might have a bit of prejudice-related anxiety in them. (So choosing an Hispanic running mate? I don't think so.) McCain's choice is ingenious in a more complex way. The introduction of Palin takes the focus off of the fact that he is not the "outsider" that he has painted himself to be. And it subtly but surely directs the whole election discussion to more of a "People" magazine level than a substantive one. He can skate while people make jokes about dogs and lipstick and criticize Palin's non-existant qualifications and gossip about whose baby it really is. A classic magician's trick, isn't it? "Take a look at my lovely assistant (so that you don't notice I can't really do the magic I've told you I can do)." He is SO throwing her to the wolves to save himself. She is SO 'gasming that her political aspirations have been so unexpectedly accelerated. Mutual using. It's a beautiful thing.
