VP Debate, Brief Thoughts
I'm halfway around the world and staying too busy, I haven't had the TV on all week and have hardly looked at a newspaper, never mind a blog. Tonight there is going to be a debate between Sarah Palin and Joe Biden, the two major parties' candidates for Vice President of the United States of America, and I'll miss it.
At first glance, you think, how can this even be called a debate? A debate is when two knowledgeable, intelligent, and articulate people with different points of views attempt to put their views in a favorable light, with the ostensible goal of persuading the other person. That won't happen tonight. Tonight is going to be a caricature of a debate.
Conservatives don't like it when liberals typify them as unintelligent, but that is going to be at the center of the tension this evening. Oddly, the worst thing Biden can do tonight is to make Palin look stupid. I say "oddly," because in a normal world you win debates by making the other person look stupid. In a real debate it goes like that, it won't tonight. Palin will have memorized some sound-bites, maybe she will even remember the locations of foreign countries and the names of their leaders; I'll bet her scriptwriters have slid a couple of sledge-hammers up her sleeve, but -- there's a reason the Republicans have not allowed her to speak freely to the press. She's cute, she's from a small town, she has problems with her children, apparently an affair she's trying to keep under the carpet, she's a regular walking Jerry Springer guest, and Biden is going to have to be careful, he's got to treat her as if she were his equal.
George W. Bush was elected, we have been told, by people who voted for the person they would most like to have a beer with. It doesn't occur to some people that anybody would be better qualified than themselves to run the country, they believe that their world is the world. Those people are going to take offense if Joe Biden knows things that Sarah Palin doesn't, or if he understands theories of political science that she has never heard of. In this crazy world these kinds of things actually count against you. It seems to me that a democratic republic relies on the wisdom of the citizens to elect the best leaders, but that form of government is vulnerable when the people decide to promote mediocrity, when ordinary people assume that they and people like them have all the qualities necessary to lead. That can happen when intelligence and education lose their prestige; it is one thing to say that ordinary people are "just as good" as extraordinary ones, it is quite another to say that ordinary people are just as qualified to lead the country as people with knowledge, intelligence, and experience. It will be interesting and important tonight to see how it goes.
At first glance, you think, how can this even be called a debate? A debate is when two knowledgeable, intelligent, and articulate people with different points of views attempt to put their views in a favorable light, with the ostensible goal of persuading the other person. That won't happen tonight. Tonight is going to be a caricature of a debate.
Conservatives don't like it when liberals typify them as unintelligent, but that is going to be at the center of the tension this evening. Oddly, the worst thing Biden can do tonight is to make Palin look stupid. I say "oddly," because in a normal world you win debates by making the other person look stupid. In a real debate it goes like that, it won't tonight. Palin will have memorized some sound-bites, maybe she will even remember the locations of foreign countries and the names of their leaders; I'll bet her scriptwriters have slid a couple of sledge-hammers up her sleeve, but -- there's a reason the Republicans have not allowed her to speak freely to the press. She's cute, she's from a small town, she has problems with her children, apparently an affair she's trying to keep under the carpet, she's a regular walking Jerry Springer guest, and Biden is going to have to be careful, he's got to treat her as if she were his equal.
George W. Bush was elected, we have been told, by people who voted for the person they would most like to have a beer with. It doesn't occur to some people that anybody would be better qualified than themselves to run the country, they believe that their world is the world. Those people are going to take offense if Joe Biden knows things that Sarah Palin doesn't, or if he understands theories of political science that she has never heard of. In this crazy world these kinds of things actually count against you. It seems to me that a democratic republic relies on the wisdom of the citizens to elect the best leaders, but that form of government is vulnerable when the people decide to promote mediocrity, when ordinary people assume that they and people like them have all the qualities necessary to lead. That can happen when intelligence and education lose their prestige; it is one thing to say that ordinary people are "just as good" as extraordinary ones, it is quite another to say that ordinary people are just as qualified to lead the country as people with knowledge, intelligence, and experience. It will be interesting and important tonight to see how it goes.
posted by JimK at 6:23 AM
46 Comments:
On the thread below, Anon cut and pasted: she held her own or better in the crush of debates, upending Alaska's political establishment in the process with a one-two punch in the primaries and fall election.
Oh yeah, they love her plenty in Alaska, but in the lower 48, not so much. She created some buzz and a convention bounce for McSame when she was introduced to the national stage, but as her Rovian handlers have "let her out" for interviews, they are learning what a liability she is. That's why for the last installment of her Couric interview, they sent McDaddy along to babysit.
McCane had criticized Obama for saying he was willing to send US troops into Pakistan in pursuit of Bin Laden and Al Qaeda without permission from Pakistan. Mac said something like **you don't announce that you're going to attack another country.**
But in her first interview with Charlie Gibson, Palin said the exact same thing as Obama, that is, she said she supports sending US troops into Pakistan without permission. When Couric asked Palin about her apparent agreement with Obama and disagreement with McShame, McBush called that "gotcha jounalism."
No, that's good journalism, plowing through the spin to get to the facts voters want to know.
Fact: Palin supports Obama's plan to have US troops track and capture our enemies hiding out in the tribal regions of Pakistan without Pakistan's permission.
Here's information about the latest poll showing how voters in the entire nation, including the lower 48, view Sarah these days.
Skepticism of Palin Growing, Poll Finds
By Jon Cohen and Jennifer Agiesta
Washington Post Staff Writers
Thursday, October 2, 2008; A01
With the vice presidential candidates set to square off today in their only scheduled debate, public assessments of Sarah Palin's readiness have plummeted, and she may now be a drag on the Republican ticket among key voter groups, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.
Tonight's heavily anticipated debate comes just five weeks after the popular Alaska governor entered the national spotlight as Sen. John McCain's surprise pick to be his running mate. Though she initially transformed the race with her energizing presence and a fiery convention speech, Palin is now a much less positive force: Six in 10 voters see her as lacking the experience to be an effective president, and a third are now less likely to vote for McCain because of her.
A month ago, voters rated Palin as highly as they did McCain or his Democratic rival, Sen. Barack Obama, but after weeks of intensive coverage and several perceived missteps, the shine has diminished.
Nearly a third of adults in a new poll from the Pew Research Center said they paid a lot of attention to Palin's interviews with CBS News's Katie Couric, a series that prompted grumbling among some conservative commentators about Palin's competency to be the GOP's vice presidential standard-bearer. The Pew poll showed views of Palin slipping over the past few days alone.
In the new Post-ABC poll, Palin matches the Democratic vice presidential candidate, Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr., on empathy, one of McCain's clear deficits against Obama, while fewer than half of voters think she understands "complex issues."
But it is the experience question that may prove her highest hurdle, particularly when paired with widespread public concern about McCain's age. About half of all voters said they were uncomfortable with the idea of McCain taking office at age 72, and 85 percent of those voters said Palin does not have the requisite experience to be president....
Continues
Do you think Palin can even find Pakistan on a map?
Sure she can. She has TWO foreign countries as next-door neighbors. She knows a lot about foreign policy. She has trade agreements; probably goes over to Canada to borrow a cup of milk or sugar when she runs out, y'know?
Seriously, as amusing as it is to take potshots at this woman, do not underestimate her. She is in this race and she is not good for the women of America.
"Tonight there is going to be a debate between Sarah Palin and Joe Biden, the two major parties' candidates for Vice President of the United States of America, and I'll miss it."
You should be able to get on youtube minutes after it's over, Jim.
"A debate is when two knowledgeable, intelligent, and articulate people with different points of views attempt to put their views in a favorable light,"
You're in for a surprise. The debate is not about any subject other than who will be the best leader of the country. That's what is being argued. Palin is knowledgeable and articulate about that and intelligent about everything. Americans have rejected Biden repeatedly has a candidate for the Presidency.
"Conservatives don't like it when liberals typify them as unintelligent,"
Like? It's a falsehood. Who likes that? You?
"apparently an affair she's trying to keep under the carpet,"
I haven't heard of that. Guess I'm not knowledgeable.
"Biden is going to have to be careful,"
Yes, he does. Since he's been the VP nominee, he's said a lot stupider things than Palin. The press has ignored them because their "story" is how stupid Palin is.
Tonight, a record setting number of Americans will have their sets on and the press won't be able to cover up Biden's errors.
"George W. Bush was elected, we have been told, by people who voted for the person they would most like to have a beer with."
Yes, we have been told that by the same group that has been ignoring Biden's gaffes and Obama's inexperience while special featuring stories highlighting Palin's gaffes and inexperience.
Actually, it was more like Gore and Kerry are the guys you'd least like to have over to watch the game.
Truth is, the Democrats' last decent nominee was Walter Mondale.
"if he understands theories of political science that she has never heard of"
Ivory towers theories are all very nice. Palin has demonstrated extraordinary political skills. Those who share her beliefs know she will get results. "Theories" should have practical applications.
"It seems to me that a democratic republic relies on the wisdom of the citizens to elect the best leaders, but that form of government is vulnerable when the people decide to promote mediocrity, when ordinary people assume that they and people like them have all the qualities necessary to lead."
Sorry, Jim, but Biden is mediocre. Palin is excellent. Those with the most "knowledge and intelligence" are rarely the leaders. Leadership has many other components. If not, Jimmy Carter and Henry Kissinger would be destined for Mt Rushmore. And, of McCain, Obama, Palin and Biden, the senator from Delaware has demonstrated the least leadership ability, by far.
"That can happen when intelligence and education lose their prestige;"
Those two things haven't lost their prestige at all. There is simply a recognition that they are not the sole factors on which to choose a President.
"it is one thing to say that ordinary people are "just as good" as extraordinary ones, it is quite another to say that ordinary people are just as qualified to lead the country as people with knowledge, intelligence, and experience."
No one is saying that. Palin's advantage is that she is an extrordinary individual who hasn't lost touch with the ordinary man.
Neither is this a new concept. Everyone is familiar with Kipling: "If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch;"
Can anyone say that describes Joe Biden, or, for that matter, Barack Obama?
"It will be interesting and important tonight to see how it goes."
Yes, it will.
"in her first interview with Charlie Gibson, Palin said the exact same thing as Obama, that is, she said she supports sending US troops into Pakistan without permission. When Couric asked Palin about her apparent agreement with Obama and disagreement with McShame,"
McCain also supports sending US troops into Pakistan without permission. His point was that to make it a major topic of discussion in a presidential campaign is undiplomatic. McCain realizes we have a new regime in Pakistan and saying we're planning to invade is inflammatory and not a good way to start off relations.
While Palin should have shown more discretion, she was responding to a reporter's irresponsible question.
Obama, on the other hand, brings this sensitive subject up unprompted, demonstrating again that politcal gain is more important to him than being a responsible citizen.
"Seriously, as amusing as it is to take potshots at this woman, do not underestimate her."
Whadda y'know?
A TTFer who is knowlegeable, intelligent and articulate.
Personally, I think that if Palin is as smart as I think she is, she'll let Biden shoot his mouth off.
And if Biden is as smart as I think he is, he won't fall for it.
He's even more gaffe-prone than Dan Quayle ever was, but he's as smart as Quayle too. And if you ever listened to the speech Quayle made here in Australia defending the indefensible US trade policies of the time, you'd realise that no-one gets to be nominated as VP these days without having considerable nous.
We expected a joke, based on MSM's depiction of him. He wasn't. Unprincipled, slippery, capable of uttering the most amazing lies, but knowledgeable and intelligent too. Biden reminds me of him.
Here we go again... another round of democrats kicking some elephant butt!
I hope Palin will be able to find where the debate is.
Here is the note from the "red box" of the pro-hate MCPS Curriculum (CRC*rAzY) group:
Fight to let Montgomery County citizens vote on 'gender identity' bill continues
ADF attorneys file new suit to keep Montgomery County Election Board from disenfranchising 900,000 voters before Nov. 4 election
Ruth Jacobs and Theresa Rickman must be upset that they can't see everyone take a shower at the same time to look at their genitals. I'd personally like some privacy while in the shower, thanks.
They LOST...accept it!
btw, guys, just in case you were wondering if Congress has its priorities straight, you'll be pleased to know they included a repeal of taxes on the sale of wooden arrows designed for children's toys in the bailout bill
you think I'm making it up?
wish I were
Palin Bingo
The news just said McCain is giving up on Michigan and moving staffers to Wisconsin, Ohio and Florida.
"Palin is knowledgeable and articulate about that and intelligent about everything."- cmon, Anon, you don't believe that. She couldn't remember the name of a single newspaper or magazine to lie about and say she read. She has no problem telling untruths so why couldn't she come up with a single name? That doesn't even require intelligence.
Tish- I don't underestimate her handlers but on her own- she would already be sunk.
Don't vote for the McSame/Failin ticket!
@9:10PM ET
OMG, this is so exciting.
I finally understand what the Superbowl means to straight guys!
Sarah Palin:
dog gone it, shout-out, and a second wink!
WHAT. is this for real?
She is a mess.
she won
Yes, she won at memorizing her entire speech. Congrats, she can read.
Something that she needs to realize is that she is speaking at a VP debate, not a gosh darn PTA meeting.
she said "nu.cu.lar"
let's not be sexist
joe rehearsed and memorized too
he just didn't pull it off as well
The Vice-Presidential Debate
We cannot recall when there were lower expectations for any candidate going into a national debate than preceded Gov. Sarah Palin’s appearance in Thursday night’s vice-presidential debate with Senator Joseph Biden. That’s a big plus: all the candidate has to do is show up, say one or two sensible things and avoid an election-defining gaffe.
By that standard, the governor of Alaska beat expectations. Senator Biden did as well, avoiding one of his infamous gaffes, while talking confidently with a clear grasp of the big picture and the details. But this debate was more about Ms. Palin than Mr. Biden.
Just as she did at the convention, Ms. Palin showed that she can deliver prepared remarks with enthusiasm, wit and a fluency in the language of class warfare. She nearly always referred to Americans, especially middle-class ones, as “we” or “us,” and tossed in references to hockey moms, soccer moms and Joe Sixpack at seemingly every opportunity.
“Go to a kid’s soccer game on Saturday and turn to any parent,” she said, after being asked for her assessment of Washington’s handling of the financial bailout. She added, “Betcha you’re going to hear some fear in that parent’s voice.”
But she offered few to no details when it came to giving concrete answers on how she and Mr. McCain would address the financial crisis, help Americans avoid foreclosure or what programs would have to be cut to address the country’s disastrous fiscal problems.
Indeed, Ms. Palin’s primary aim seemed simply to repeat the same thing over and over: John McCain is a maverick, and so is she. She is a governor. She understands Americans. To stay on that course, she had to indulge in some wildly circular logic: America does not want another familiar Washington figure. But they want Mr. McCain (who has been in Congress for 26 years).
Ms. Palin sounded like a prairie populist when she said Mr. McCain would “demand” strict oversight of Wall Street. In virtually the next breath, she said government should “get out of the way” of American business.
There were also occasional, disturbing flashes of the old, pre-campaign Sarah Palin. When asked about the causes of global warming, Ms. Palin suggested that man had some role — but she wasn’t saying how much.
In the end, the debate did not change the essential truth of Ms. Palin’s candidacy: she can learn her talking points and make a good impression under controlled circumstances. But Mr. McCain made a wildly irresponsible choice when he picked someone with far too little experience or evident knowledge for the post. That choice shattered the image that Mr. McCain created for himself as the tempered, seasoned, experienced man of principle and judgment. Picking Ms. Palin was either an act of incredible cynicism or appallingly bad judgment.
The ensuing weeks cemented those images in our minds. Ms. Palin initially injected some energy into the McCain campaign, especially among members of the right-wing Republican base, who never liked or trusted the Arizona senator — and still do not. Then, she began lurching from one embarrassing public appearance to another, culminating in her shocking performance in interviews with Katie Couric. In those exchanges, Ms. Palin was inarticulate and shockingly unable to answer the most basic questions about government policy and even her own political philosophy.
The Republicans have tried to present the negative reaction to Ms. Palin as a matter of liberal elites sneering at someone who does not share their privileged backgrounds. That is a distraction. The problem with Ms. Palin’s candidacy, which she underscored in her appearance at the debate on Thursday night, is not that she didn’t attend a fancy school or go backpacking in Europe after college. It is her disdain for knowledge, education, experience and contemplative leadership.
WSJ
Though Gov. Palin held her own in most cases, it was clear that Sen. Biden had a deeper understanding of many of the issues. He offered a detailed critique of the Bush administration policy on the Middle East. He noted, for instance, the fallout from supporting Palestinian elections that wound up legitimizing Hamas, a terrorist group.
Gov. Palin's response hit on none of the substance but suggested that Sen. Biden and his running mate spend too much time pointing to problems in the Bush administration.
"There's just too much finger-pointing backwards," she said.
Sen. Biden replied that to develop new policy, one must understand what went wrong in the past. "Look, past is prologue," he said. "Facts matter."
I just posted this at Soulforce, I thought some of you here might appreciate it:
"Race" Race. (Warning, VP debate-aftermath rant ahead...)
Yes, Anon, she won. She didn't drool, as Dana Milbank said.
Full CNN transcript of Palin, Biden debate
I loved Palin's cutesy, winky-poo, I'm a regular six-pack guy like y'll approach to serious issues, y'know? (She was pretty, though, although I couldn't see the image of the Virgin Mary hidden in her locks that someone reported several days ago). She was scripted and coached to the nth degree, and like a fairly good actor, she memorized quite well (that's how beauty queen contestents are coached)... so it is no wonder that whenever she was given a question that she hadn't memorized the answer to (I caught her on several occasions leafing furiously through her "prompt book" to find indexed answers) she would immediately divert the discussion to her "area of expertise" (energy decisions??? oh, puleeeeze.
Imagine...a half-step from the Presidency. But then, that's pretty far-fetched, given the trend of the polls now and the mood of the country.
Love Michigan
How about "Palin the Platitudinous"? Very slick, very polished, very empty!
I say let's elect her Mayor of any burgh in Maryland to give her some real experience in being an "executive" with real governing challenges.
As a blogger at the NPR web site put it:
"Sarah Palin = Wassila
Wassila = Small Town, USA
Small Town, USA = the Heartland
The Heartland = guns/religion
Guns/religion = "Bitter"
"Bitter" = Barack
Barack = foreigner
Foreigner = other countries
Other countries do not ≠ America
Wassila vs. The World"
(http://www.npr.org/blogs/daydreaming/2008/09/wassila_vs_the_world.html)
Despite your sexist depiction here, Palin demonstrated that the media spin only works when they are allowed to edit the footage.
I personally thought Biden won on points because Palin let him get away with things like misrepresenting McCain's position on taxes, health care and deregulation. Still, it was very close and that's saying something because Biden had an excellent performance.
On style, Palin won. It's matters because the Presidency is, in large part, a leadership position. This is where George Bush's weakness is. She looked straight into the camera and at the American people and never had a hesitant or inconfident or unappealing moment. Biden looked at Ifill throughout, creating the impression that he was looking down on us all. He does get points for general graciousness though.
What does everyone think of the fact that the candidates were miked and you could hear the small talk they engaged in before and after the debate? I've never seen that before. Did you notice that Palin came through clearly and you could barely hear Biden?
I personally think it was a failed ambush by the media, hoping Palin would say something stupid when she didn't think anyone could hear.
I heard on the TV (Channel 7) and radio (WTOP) that polls say respondents by a factor of 2 thought that Biden won. I, as my colleagues predicted, was long in bed.
I'll watch some of it on YouTube, but I already know how I'm voting.
My vote may count this year. I could be the guy who decides who will be our next president.
rrjr
By the way - the debate was carried live on ABC - that's the Australian Broadcasting Corporation - TV.
btw, when I said earlier that Biden won on points, I was speaking overall
on the Iraq war, Palin nailed Biden for his comments, just last winter, that Obama was not qualified to be commander in chief and for voting for the Iraq war
Biden was stupid enough to try the famous John Kerry line that was against it even though he voted for it and Palin said, "gee, I guess I don't have enough experience in Washington because I don't understand why someone would vote for something they are against"
Andrea- anon
Good one- she didn't drool! But she did wink- what a joke she is? The intellectuals among the Republicans are mortified by this woman.
Harry Truman, one of Ms. Palin's heroes, once said: "If you can't stand the heat in the kitchen, get out."
You said "Despite your sexist depiction here, Palin demonstrated that the media spin only works when they are allowed to edit the footage." (What Palin said in her interviews with Katie Couric, for example, were what she said...they were not edited comments!)
Ms. Palin's record as a PTA member, Mayor of a teeny Alaskan town, and Governor of the 4th smallest state (in terms of population) and her comments in the public arena are subject to attack, criticism, analysis, interpretation, and whatever when she presents herself as a candidate for public office..regardless of the fact that she is a woman. What we expect of male candidates we should also expect of female candidates...that's not sexist.
I am sure, "Anonymous". you adhered to this political reality when you criticized Senator Clinton. I guess that makes you a "sexist" too.
Diogenes
Yeah, "anonymous", you caught that remark too: Palin said, "gee, I guess I don't have enough experience in Washington because I don't understand why someone would vote for something they are against"
I was hoping that Sen. Biden would point out to her the several reversals her running mate has made regarding the "bailout" situation. (He even said that, while voting for it, he was against it, hoping that Bush would veto it anyway.) How's that for a colossal "HUH"?
"Good one- she didn't drool!"
Unfortunately, Biden did.
Do you see him after the debate? He wouldn't leave her alone.
They had the mike truned off at that point but I can read lips.
He asked her what her sign was.
Good thing Biden had Secret Service protection or he would have had his lights punched out by Todd!
"What we expect of male candidates we should also expect of female candidates...that's not sexist."
Please. The media has not been reporting every slip Biden makes to some airhead media ditz like Katie Couric.
Why not?
Why does no one ask Biden or Obama what paper they read? Palin didn't want to specify because we all know that reporters were planning to get out the Alaskan paper she reads and attack it.
Part of the constant line of the media is that unless you work in Washington or come from a big state, you can't possibly be literate and informed. She was smart to note she reads a variety of sources.
Meanwhile, here's the sexist depiction I referred to:
"I loved Palin's cutesy, winky-poo,"
Could you imagine anyone saying that about a male politician?
Other than Barney Frank, that is.
I saw Frank being interviewed on Fox last night and going apoplectic because the reporter brought up the fact that Frank was telling people this summer that everything was fine at Fannie and Freddie Mac and elderly retirees lost millions relying on his advice.
If McCain doesn't go after these Dems for their role in this financial mess next Tuesday night, I'm not going to bother to vote for him.
We'd be better to let Obama get elected and pull a Jimmy Carter and come back with a four years more experienced Sarah Palin in 2012.
The person who said this:
here's the sexist depiction I referred to
Also said this:
Do you see him after the debate? He wouldn't leave her alone. They had the mike truned off at that point but I can read lips. He asked her what her sign was. Good thing Biden had Secret Service protection or he would have had his lights punched out by Todd!
...some airhead media ditz like Katie Couric.
It's clear which commenter is fixated on depicting women as objects of either attraction or derision.
LOL, Bea.
I was wondering before I hit 'publish' if you guys would call me on the 'airhead media ditz' remark and decided, like Barney Frank, to roll the dice.
btw, what do you think of Couric's interviewing skills?
I think Couric's interviewing skills are a lot better than Palin's. I like the way Couric followed through when Palin gave her a non-answer.
"Anonymous" troll:
I can indeed refer to Palin as cutesy, winky-poo because she is a child-like naif in an adult world. That is not sexist. And calling her pretty is a value judgement, not sexist. You, for example, definitely are not pretty.
Your comment about Barney Frank, on the other hand, merits the definition of homophobic, which you definitely are.
Love Michigan
Two quick polls indicated that Biden fared better in the debate. A CBS News/Knowledge Networks Poll found that 46 percent of uncommitted voters who watched the debate thought Biden won, with 21 percent siding with Palin. A CNN poll found respondents judging Biden the winner by a margin of 51 percent to 36 percent but calling Palin more likable by 54 percent to Biden's 36 percent.
"I can indeed refer to Palin as cutesy, winky-poo because she is a child-like naif in an adult world."
That's a complete mischaracterization and due to your sexist attitude.
Palin was confident and gracious. And completely unintimidated by the closest thing we have to royalty in this country, a U.S. Senator.
btw, you guys may be interested to know that Fox News, which has a generally more Republican viewership has also determined Biden won
Point is, do you win if everyone says you did or do you win if your image has been transformed for the positive?
I say Palin made fools out of the media pundits who insisted she wasn't up to the job. She may not have won but she wasn't far off and she did alot better than several individuals from the past who have actually been elected VP.
The idea that she is unqualified for the position is now ridiculous.
That's the impact of last night.
She's not qualified for the position. She can't even handle softball questions like 'what newspapers do you read?' from Katie Couric without getting so "annoyed" she can't respond.
Palin Says Couric Interviews Colored by Annoyance
By Howard Kurtz
Sarah Palin, clearly pumped over her debate performance, has offered her first explanation for her less-than-stellar appearances with Katie Couric: She was ticked off.
"The Sarah Palin in those interviews was a little bit annoyed," the Alaska governor told Carl Cameron of Fox News today. "It's like, man, no matter what you say, you are going to get clobbered. If you choose to answer a question, you are going to get clobbered on the answer. If you choose to try to pivot and go to another subject that you believe that Americans want to hear about, you get clobbered for that, too."
The Couric questions that Palin could not answer, or chose not to answer, including one about what Supreme Court decisions she disagrees with other than Roe v. Wade, and another about what newspapers and magazines she reads.
"In those Katie Couric interviews," Palin said, "I did feel that there were lot of things that she was missing in terms of an opportunity to ask what a VP candidate stands for, what the values are, represented in our ticket." Those subjects, she explained, included Barack Obama's positions on taxes, spending and Afghanistan.
"So I guess I have to apologize for being a bit annoyed, but that's also an indication of being outside the Washington elite, outside of the media elite also," Palin said. "I just wanted to talk to Americans without the filter and let them know what we stand for."
The Fox interview may represent a new Palin media strategy of making her available to journalists and commentators deemed more sympathetic. Since the governor's widely panned interviews with CBS's Couric and ABC's Charlie Gibson, she has spoken to conservative radio hosts Sean Hannity and Hugh Hewitt.
So if she can't handle questions from Anon's favorite **airhead media ditz**, how's she going to handle questions by an outfit like the Alaskan legislature as they investigate Troopergate, about which she once said, "Hold me accountable." Oh that's right, they're not "sympathetic" so she won't talk to them either.
After abandoning Michigan, "the McCain campaign now says that it will focus on three states to attain victory: Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Pennsylvania. According to the RCP polling average, Obama currently leads in Minnesota by 5.0%. McCain also trails in Wisconsin by 5.0%, and is back 7.9% in Pennsylvania. RCP rates all three as leaning blue."
"She's not qualified for the position."
Compared to who? She's perfectly qualified, you dingbat.
Sitting around in the Senate for 36 years doesn't make you a good executive. Managing people does. Indeed, the whole point of this election is that people want to move on from the status quo wisdom that is so perfectly represented in Joe Biden.
They want a new outlook and a fresh pair of eyes on our government.
"She can't even handle softball questions like 'what newspapers do you read?' from Katie Couric without getting so "annoyed" she can't respond."
There's actually not any law that says that vice presidential candidates have to answer insulting questions from airhead media ditzes. I'm glad she gave the answer she did. She should have walked out on Katie Snowflake.
Please find me an example of any other presidential or vice-presidential candidate in history being asked that question.
Maybe someone should ask Katie to give us an example of an issue she understands. Or a book she's ever read.
"how's she going to handle questions by an outfit like the Alaskan legislature as they investigate Troopergate,"
Even if Palin did exactly what she's accused of, she did nothng illegal. The legislature is perfectly entitled to investigate the incident when considering whether the law should be changed but she acted in accordance with the law.
In my neighborhood, they get it. A state trooper who drives around with an open bottle of beer, that used his taser on an 11-year-old boy and who threatens violence on the father of the governor deserves to have his resume updated. The trooper himself has expresses remorse over his actions. He gets it.
Sarah has fought the old guard in Alaska and won. They're looking for revenge.
"She's not qualified for the position."
Compared to who? She's perfectly qualified, you dingbat.
I guess that's up to the voters to decide, meathead. This voter thinks she is not qualified for the position, and I'm not the only one.
Sitting around in the Senate for 36 years doesn't make you a good executive ...people want to move on from the status quo .
John McCain sat in Congress for 26 years and until a few weeks ago, proudly called himself "a deregulater." He is the status quo people want to move away from.
They want a new outlook and a fresh pair of eyes on our government.
Yes they do and they do not want a 72 year old pair eyes that see 90% of everything exactly like Dumbya does. That's why Obama climbs higher in the polls every day and why the McSame campaign has given up trying to tell voters why he's the "new outlook and a fresh pair of eyes" they need. McShame's Rovian handlers have decided now is the time to attack the opposition to take the focus off their own missteps. As the Washington Post reports today Sen. John McCain and his Republican allies are readying a newly aggressive assault on Sen. Barack Obama...With just a month to go until Election Day, McCain's team has decided that its emphasis on the senator's biography as a war hero, experienced lawmaker and straight-talking maverick is insufficient to close a growing gap with Obama It will be interesting to see if this latest gambit of desperation works any better than the others they've tried.
There's actually not any law that says that vice presidential candidates have to answer insulting questions from airhead media ditzes
That's right, point for AH, there is no law they have to answer any question. But there are years of tradition for candidates for high office to sit down for interviews with members of the national media so voters across the nation can learn what makes these candidates tick. I don't know of any other candidates who feel "insulted" by follow up questions, questions that are intended to show Americans who these candidates are and what they believe so citizens can decide if they want to vote for them or not. Palin's Rovian handlers seem to keep saying "Pay no attention to that [woman] behind the curtain."
She should have walked out on Katie Snowflake.
Sure, if she can't stand the heat, she should stay out of the kitchen. You are too funny, AH. You think the pit bull in lipstick should walk out on an interview by someone you refer to as an "airhead" and a "ditz." IMHO, walking out of an interview with her tail between her legs doesn't sound like something a very brave pit bull would do.
Please find me an example of any other presidential or vice-presidential candidate in history being asked that question.
Most candidates are happy to discuss their reading and research on issues that effect our nation. Remember Bush's summer reading list with Camus' "The Stranger?" Not Palin though. It seems to me she's all fluff and no substance.
But strangely, after chiding Biden for it the other night, she does like to do some "looking backwards" at her own track record, except for those pesky parts like Troopergate, or her bridge to nowhere flip flop, or her environmental record flip flop, etc.
Maybe someone should ask Katie to give us an example of an issue she understands. Or a book she's ever read.
Why? What office is Katie running for?
Even if Palin did exactly what she's accused of, she did nothng illegal. The legislature is perfectly entitled to investigate the incident when considering whether the law should be changed but she acted in accordance with the law.
Then she should be able to put the matter to rest by being accountable and cooperating with the investigation. Stonewalling just makes her look guilty.
"This voter thinks she is not qualified for the position, and I'm not the only one."
You're a Democrat and a very liberal one.
As John McCain has not done a very good job of illumnating so far, the Democrat running for President on the other side is not qualified in any way that Palin is being attacked for being unqualified. His biggest qualification is that he has criss-crossed the country neglecting the service his constituents elected him to perform and instead promoted himself. He has been practiced his speechifying but accomplished nothing. He has pursued self-interest while Sarah Palin has been faithful in the task given her by voters.
I'll have to quote the Bible on this principle:
"To him who is faithful with a little, much more will be given."
I'd like to do the usual point by point takedown of your inane post but this is an uncommonly beautiful day.
Go be part of it.
It sure was a beautiful day to spend outdoors, AH. I spent it at lots of doors actually, canvassing for Obama/Biden. So many Virginians are sick and tired of the GOP -- several of them reminded me "Regime change starts at home!" Who could have predicted the Old Dominion would ever get so close to turning blue?
Vice Presidential candidate and Alaska Governor Sarah Palin has been getting more negative attention than positive attention from the media. For example, last Saturday Palin made her late-night entertainment debut on Saturday Night Live. Instead of commending Palin for playing along or mentioning that her appearance gave SNL its highest ratings in 14 years, the press criticized her for her appearance. Palin has been under constant attack; the media has bashed Palin for her performance as Governor of Alaska, the pregnancy of her unmarried 17-year-old daughter, and even her character. The media has stooped to new lows by implying that the United States would self-destruct should Palin have to replace McCain as president. As is typical with unbalanced news-reporting, these attacks are misconstrued half-truths. In fact, Sarah Palin has a large number of admirers who commend her for her persistent effort to improve the state of Alaska. Other admirers point to her unwavering support of the disabled population and her push for the interests of special-needs individuals, like those with autism and Down syndrome. Many more followers put their trust in Sarah Palin because she advocates for personal responsibility and financial freedom. Palin opposes the elimination of cash advances, a legitimate and invaluable resource because people have the right to financial freedoms and the right to choose to get a payday loan.
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