The Debate

[ellen_datlow]

I watched it (first one in years) because I'm in California with
access to tv.

I was more ignorant about Biden than about Palin (I heard he was boring, a political hack, whatever). I've been following Palin's mishaps and Tina Fey's "parodies" of them since she was announced as McCain's running mate.

I think Biden was terrific--even though Palin did not respond to most of
the actual questions and only was able to stay with her script and unable
to improvise, he both responded TO the questions and responded to her
constant knocks at Obama. I was very impressed by Biden's knowledge of the issues, his passion (yes passion-not the showy hey I'm a patriotic Palinesque bullshitting kind), and his stature. I can see this man taking over for Obama if necessary. Gee, and he actually knows what a VP is supposed to do.

What this really showed me though is that while I don't think Palin is stupid,she is
woefully ignorant of anything going on outside of Alaska and NOT ready to be VP or President.

All the cramming she is admirable but the job of VP takes more than cramming. It takes experience and this debate really demonstrated how little experience she has.

Also, she needs to brush up on the constitution if she wants to be taken seriously. She'd like the constitution to give more power to the vp...and a special thanks to Biden for calling Cheney the most dangerous VP in history.

Comments

[kaolinfire.livejournal.com]

It scares me how many people think she did a great job, speaking "clearly and transparently" to "the heart of America". I've been reloading "recent news" on Google. Strong trend seems to be for Biden, at least (though we'll see what factcheck has to say about his statements... at least he made statements).

Your reaction is much in line with mine.

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

I think if the viewers read the the transcript or listen to the debate again, they'd realize she said nothing of substance. The cnn online poll has Biden at 78% to Palin's 22%.

[imago1.livejournal.com]

Palin gave a series of stump speeches instead of answers. She's basically receiving kudos for not bursting into flames onstage. Appalling.

[lizziebelle.livejournal.com]

I let out a wOOt when he made that comment about Cheney. It's about time that someone acknowledged his evilness.

[sunpony.livejournal.com]

Well, when you lower expectations and whine that everyone is beating up on you, and then do not burst into flames, you get snaps, esp. when you have a massive spin machine behind you clouding people's minds. . . .

[kara-gnome.livejournal.com]

I wonder how this started about Biden, as I've heard the same things, that he's boring and all. I've also seen him in two other news shows, and was completely blown away by how knowledgeable and *sane* he was on those shows, and I was so impressed with hime.

I couldn't watch the debate last night, but it's great to hear that he came off to you just as he seemed to me when I've seen him. I'm so glad!

[kara-gnome.livejournal.com]

him, sorry

[realthog.livejournal.com]

I think Biden was terrific--even though Palin did not respond to most of
the actual questions and only was able to stay with her script and unable
to improvise, he both responded TO the questions and responded to her
constant knocks at Obama. I was very impressed by Biden's knowledge of the issues, his passion (yes passion-not the showy hey I'm a patriotic Palinesque bullshitting kind), and his stature. I can see this man taking over for Obama if necessary.

Yep, that's more or less exactly what I thought after the debate.

[dustyskinandall.livejournal.com]

Exactly. People are thinking, "Wow! She spoke in complete sentences! She's Amazing!"

[plattcave.livejournal.com]

If I heard Palin say "nookyaler" one more time, I would have screamed.

Biden tearing into Cheney was the highlight of the evening.

[barb-krasnoff.livejournal.com]

I also didn't pay a lot of attention to Biden until the debate, and yes, I was impressed with his delivery. I realize, of course, that he also practiced and was coached extensively for this -- for example, I noticed he was careful to smile in a very friendly manner every time Palin said something especially obnoxious, probably as a reminder to himself not to attack -- but he seemed very comfortable with the facts he offered, as though he really knew them rather than having memorized them.

And yes, his reaction to the idea that the VP has a legislative role was impressive.

[foresthouse.livejournal.com]

and a special thanks to Biden for calling Cheney the most dangerous VP in history

Haaahaha. I missed the debate, but that's priceless.

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

I agree. The more I think about it she really was terrible. She did not respond to one question, honestly, on topic with anything more than platitudes and stump speeches. She provided no insight or information as to what she would do as VP other than look cute. She lost the debate.

[shunn.livejournal.com]

"This is not the train wreck you're looking for..."

"This is not the train wreck we're looking for..."

[shunn.livejournal.com]

I wanted to gag every time she winked at the camera, which was at least three times. It helped that I was watching in a bar with a table full of Obama supporters.

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

This is really weird, but I didn't notice her winking at all. I guess I was too intent on what she was babbling about.

[shunn.livejournal.com]

The winks caused quite a stir at our table. Here's a recap (I just wish you could hear what she's saying in the clips):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCunBErZZJE

[sunpony.livejournal.com]

I mean, a CNN commentator said that she defied expectations! Come on!

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

Oh man. That's just weird. Looks like a tic. There was a very sweet guy in college who starting winking hello to everyone he would run into. After a while it was so annoying you wanted to shake him and say STOP IT!! He finally stopped it. I think his girlfriend made him stop.

[shunn.livejournal.com]

I agree it's ridiculous that scoring a D is counted as a success for Palin. The Republican spinmeisters have tried pulling a Jedi mind trick on everyone.