Sarah vs. Smirky: Vice presidential debate thread
Are you ready? I’m praying and pulling for Sarah Palin. I know you are, too. Let’s go.
8:01pm Eastern. Will Gwen Ifill disclose or won’t she?
Nothing.
The candidates walk out. Sarah looks lovely and confident.
She asks Biden, “Nice to meet you. Hey, can I call you Joe?”
First question: The bailout.
Biden launches into a Bush attack. He sounds tired recyling his tired, corporate-bashing talking points.
Palin’s turn. “Has this been a good time or bad time for the economy. Ask parents at their kids’ soccer. Fear about borrowing money, paying for inventory. Our economy is hurting. Government hasn’t provided proper oversight. Segues to McCain sounding the alarm on Fannie/Freddie reform.”
Trumped Biden on connecting with ordinary Americans. Excellent answer, much better job than Biden at pushing McCain as a leader on “reform.” (Ok, well except for the fact that McCain voted for the bailout behemoth.)
Biden responds by quoting McCain on touting the fundamentals of the economy.
Palin says McCain was talking about the American workforce being sound. American workers. That’s what he meant. What I’ve done as governor and mayor is putting partisan politics aside to get the job done. Obama’s a partisan. Get done to getting business done. Tired of politics as usual. I respect your many years in the Senate, but people are craving something different. Something new.
She is on.
Take that, doubters.
Q: Who’s responsible for the subprime crisis?
Palin agrees there were predatory lenders, greed, and corruption. Echoing McCain. “We need to band together and say never again.”
9:10pm Eastern. Excellent – she’s talking about personal responsibility. Don’t get in debt. We can learn good lessons.
Palin is fresh, cogent, on message.
Biden looks tired. Did I mention that?
He’s laughably asserting that Obama was warning about the subprime crisis two years ago. Now, trying to come across as the Everyman’s crusader.
Palin zeroes in on Obama’s tax increase votes – 94 times. 94 times. That’s not what we need to create jobs. Government’s going to have to be more efficient – and do more less if that’s what’s needed.
Biden protests the tax increase charge and pushes McCain as reckless deregulator.
Palin is not intimidated. “I may not answer the question the way the moderator or you want, but I’m going to answer and talk straight to the American people.” Reiterates the tax increase charge, then cites her experience as mayor and governor.
Ifill gets testy. Cuts Palin off. Turns to health care. Smirky smirks. Goes back to taxes. This is good for Palin.
Palin takes issue with redistribution of wealth. “You said paying higher taxes is patriotic. In the middle-class, where I’m from, that’s not patriotic. You’re the problem.”
She is rolling him.
“Age of Obama” asks if she’s interested in defending McCain’s health care plan.
I am, says Palin with a glowing smile. Cites $5,000 tax credit for health care, budget-neutral. Purchasing across state line. Affordability and accessibility.
Biden: “I don’t know where to start.” Tries to out-blue-collar Palin. Wah. “We don’t call that redistribution. We call that fairness.”
Boy, he looks and sound tired. Don’t you think?
Biden rails another few minutes and calls McCain’s plan the “ultimate bridge to nowhere.” Laughter from audience.
Ifill gives the next question to…Joe Biden. A lot of smoke blown and then he stumble “character, char-, characterize.”
Man, he’s tired.
Palin reminds Biden that Obama voted for oil industry tax breaks in energy legislation a few years ago. “I had to fight them…What I had to do was break up a monopoly. The people have to come first. Obama voted for that plan. I, as a governor, had to undo that.”
Ifill: So there’s nothing you’ve promised as a candidate that you would take back to pass the bailout plan. No, there’s not. How long have I been at this? Five weeks. So, there’s not a lot that I’ve promised. Nothing I’d go back on. And nothing that McCain has promised that he wouldn’t go back on, either.
Biden acknowledges that Palin opposed windfall profits tax. He acknowledges that she fought the oil companies as governor. “I give her credit for it.”
Round to Palin, again.
9:30pm Eastern. Ifill asks about climate change.
As the nation’s only arctic state, we feel the impacts. I’m not willing to attribute everything to man’s activities, but there are changes going on. I don’t want to argue about causes. I want to get to positively changing the impacts of climate. (Yikes.) First garble. “We’ve got to become energy independent.” I understand why she’d be a little tied up here — her position has been opposite on McCain’s.
Biden is trying to draw a contrast between Obama and McCain on this. McCain is right next to or to the left of Obama. Always has been. Give me a break. Biden complains about “Drill drill drill.”
Palin corrects him: The chant is “Drill, baby, drill!” And we hear it all across the country. Obama and Biden have said no to any alternatives. They’ve likened drilling to raping. Palin points out that Biden opposed clean coal. Biden says he was taken out of context.
Ifill rescues Biden and switches to same-sex benefits coverage, “like they have in Alaska.”
Biden goes on and on. Yes. Would you support expanding that to the rest of the country?
Not if it leads to redefining marriage. Says she wants to be straight up that she opposes same-sex marriage. Clear: “I am tolerant.”
Biden echoes. He is against it.
“Age of Obama” says: Wonderful. You agree.
Moves on to foreign policy. You both have sons in Iraq. Surge/Iraq question:
Palin: Touts McCain on the surge. We have got to win in Iraq. Senator Biden, I respected you when you called Barack Obama out on that. You said it was political and it would cost lives.
It would be a travesty if we quit now in Iraq.
Good answer, great delivery, great dig at Biden.
He winced.
Score!
Biden: “We will end this war.”
Palin: “Your plan is a white flag of surrender.”
She should have said: You will end this war? Well, we will WIN this war.
She adds another dig. Reminds Biden that he said he would be honored to run on a ticket with McCain. And reminds him that he said that Obama was not ready to be commander in chief.
Biden smirks.
ZING!
Ifill moves on to Pakistan and Iran. Which is a greater nuclear threat?
Biden brags that he’s been working on this for a long time.
We know, we know.
Biden attacks McCain on Pakistan.
Palin: Both are extremely dangerous, of course. Iraq is a central front in war on al Qaeda. Gen. Petraeus tells us, don’t believe it.
Palin goes after Ajad on his annihilation of Israel rhetoric. Ajad, Castro brothers, Kim Jong Il – Obama says he’d meet without preconditions.
This is beyond naivete and poor judgement. It’s downright dangerous.
Good. Good. Good.
Ifill cites Kissinger as pro-engagement. Palin says no, I had a great meeting with him. He doesn’t support Obama’s position.
These people hate America. Hate what we stand for. Hate our tolerance and respect for women’s right. Can’t sit down with them on the presidential level. Diplomacy is necessary. It’s hard work by serious people with sanctions backing you up before summits take place.
Excellent.
Biden blusters. Mentions McCain/Spain remarks. He wouldn’t even meet with Spain!
Ifill moves on to Israel – one state or two state solution.
Palin: Two state. Israel is our greatest ally. They succeeded with Jordan, Egypt. In a McCainPalin administration, that commitment is there to stand by Israel.
She is on.
Biden: No one’s a bigger supporter of Israel than me! Resorts to his bash-Bush retreat.
Palin: Enough is enough with your ticket looking back and pointing blame. For a ticket touting change, you have too much looking backward. We’re going to forge ahead and make sure our country comes first. Change is coming!
Great smile.
9:57pm Eastern. Palin brings up Afghanistan. The same surge principles in Iraq need to be applied to Afghanistan.
Palin rips Obama for saying troops killed civilians and tore down villages.
SCORE. YES. MORE!
Sarah rocks.
9:59pm Eastern. Biden is ranting about McCain on arms control regime.
Palin corrects Biden on applying surge principles/counterinsurgency principles to Afghanistan. Clearing, holding, rebuilding the civil society. It can work. They’ve not said anything different but that.
Biden is at a loss for words. He can’t defend taking the general out of context.
SCORE!
10:03pm Eastern. Ifill asks about Biden’s record of intervention. He blusters about Darfur and Bosnia.
Palin stays on message: “It’s obvious I’m a Washington outsider. You were for the war and now you were against it. You supported McCain’s strategies. You were for it before you were against it.”
SCORE!
On Darfur, I’m with you. Cites what she did as governor in supporting humanitarian efforts.
Excellent. Keeps hammering her executive experience and record.
EXCELLENT!
Ifill asks if there are lines that should be drawn. Biden: Sure. He then denies that he ever supported
McCain’s strategy.
10:06pm Eastern. I beg to differ. We’ll know the truth. McCain’s been there. He’ll know how to win a war.
Ifill asks about differences between vp and prez. What would we different?
By the way: A reader e-mails that he’s keeping count of the times Biden gets to rebut versus Palin and has it at a 6:1 ratio.
Natch.
Biden concludes he’s agree on everything.
Palin says we’re a ticket of Mavericks and what do you expect? Of course, we’ll disagree. I’ll keep pushing him on ANWR.
Good.
One thing I’ll continue: Reforming Washington. Bringing Wasilla Main Street. Government, get out of my way.
Biden: Can I respond?
Ifill: Please.
(Thinking: “Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease!”)
10:11pm Eastern. Palin turning on the charm. “Say it ain’t, Joe!” You did it again. Looking backwards again! Palin praises Biden’s wife for her career in teaching, mentions teachers in her family, shout outs for her brother, dad, and third-graders at a local school in her hometown for watching the debate. They get extra credit.
Ifill brings up Palin’s joke on vice presidency.
Palin: It was lame joke. So was yours (to Biden). But nobody got it. Either of ours. (Laughter.)
Charming, relaxed, self-confident.
Did I say: Sarah rocks!
Oh, and did I note: Biden looks tired despite his tan and what looks like Botox work on his unnaturally smooth forehead. It’s…weird. Kerry-esque.
Palin is talking and Biden keeps smirking.
Biden calls Cheney “the most dangerous vice president in American history.”
Ifill: The conventional wisdom is that Palin’s Achilles’ heel is lack of experience and that Biden’s is lack of discipline. What are your real Achilles’ heels?
Palin: My experience, my connection to the heartland of America, cites her biography. She didn’t hear the rest of the question.
Biden: My Achilles’ heel – “my excessive passion.”
Gag.
Biden pours on his “I’m a real guy, too.” He seems pissed, pardon my language, though she did nothing to attack him personally.
He’s offended that someone’s claimed the Real Person mantle that he thinks he alone possesses.
Palin is on message with McCain as maverick and reformer.
Biden is waking up. He’s really angry now. I’d say he’s scowling, except his mouth can’t really move. Biden trying to paint McCain as Eeeeeevil.
Final question: Can you think of a single issue that you were faced to change because of changed circumstances?
Biden has a ready answer. He’s talking about a judicial pick, cites his opposition to Robert Bork…cites his judiciary committee chairmanship.
Palin: There are times as mayor and governor that I wanted to zero-base budget or cut taxes more, but on major principles, no, nothing I’ve ever had to compromise on.
Ifill has another question after her final question: How will you change the tone in Washington?
Biden blathers about working together, a Jesse Helms anecdote, never questioning others’ motives. Blah blah. “That’s the fundamental change Barack Obama and I will bring. Not questioning others’ motives.”
Bull crap!
Joe Biden, meet Stanley Kurtz.
Palin stays on message: Support a ticket that creates jobs, reins in government spending, energy independence.
Conclusion.
Palin’s up. She likes these forums. No filtering by the mainstream media (ZING!). John McCain and I will fight for America. I know what the hurts are, I know the challenges, I know the blessings. I’ve always been proud to be an American. (Unlike, ahem, Mrs. “America is Downright Mean.”) There is only one man in this race who has really fought for you. And that man is John McCain.”
Excellent.
Biden’s up. Can he not bash Bush in the next 90 seconds.
He’s tiiiiiiired. Gravel-voiced. Deflated.
But his forehead is really smooth.
Biden ends with a “God bless America” and a “God bless the troops” — the kind of thing the Christian-bashers would flog Sarah over.
Bottom line:
Sarah rocks. Biden’s tired.
***
My quick post-debate analysis is here: Sarah rocks!
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Bring it
Go Sarah!
Expectations couldn’t be lower. Bring it on!!!
Beauty and the idiot.
Let’s get it going.
She is so disarming… “hey, can I call you Joe…”
Bring it, beyotches.
Can I call you Joe? Nice one Sarah.
Blame Bush right out the gate.
When will we get the Supreme Court question… “Who lead the Supremes”… lemee guess… Diana Ross?
Is his time up yet?
Blah Blah, Bush is bad…blah blah
Worst economy of the last 8 years according to Joe. Didn’t stop him from getting his big ole house built, huh?
Oh she ask and Obama just assumed he could call McCain John. Manners how nice.
Tenn,
I’d worry about any Dem that didn’t throw Bush under the bus.
Seriously, he already lost me. zzzzzz
Nice touch, “Can I call you Joe?
And Biden is off and blabbering
Biden sounds congested, might be full of $hi+?
So far, so good.
hmm… maybe early to make the soccer parent reference?
Sarah? Is that you?
There you go Sarah! Bring back to reality… the People!
Oh no, she’s going off topic from the start.
All right. Sarah brings up what McCain didn’t in his debate.
Sarah looks tense
I’m too nervous—sheesh
Nice.
On Gov Palin: Was wondering where she was going, but now I see. Not bad invoking normal people first in the context of her entire answer.
Good response, Sarah on 1st Q.
She’s gotta change her focus point. She has to look at Gwen and Joey over there.
milktoast answer, c’mon Sara, call him out, i’m getting discouraged.
Biden started off blame Bush…PUH-LEASE!
Clue to Joe…President Bush ain’t running again.
Look at plugs giving Sarah the stink eye. She hit him in the gut with the “colleagues didn’t want to do anything” comment.
Biden reached across the aisle his whole career? Huge lie.
OMG he never fails to mention the violence against women. It applies to everything.
Biden’s rambling again…
Tazed,
She’s nervous. She’ll warm up.
I hope she reminds him all night that John McCain was trying to regulate and the Democrats were blocking for the down fall of our Financial Structure.
Yes, she finally gets to the calls for more oversight in the past!
Sarah looks confident tonight…hopefully this is a good sign….
I’m a bipartisan beyotch. Let me slap myself already. Get over yourself Joe.
Augh!!!!!
Sarah gives no specifics- missed mentioning low point mortgages, fraud as causes of bad economy
Noting McCain’s raising the alarm about the GSEs was good.
She’s making good eye contact with the camera as well. Something that Obama was noted doing. Biden is locking on with Ifill much as McCain was criticized for doing.
I wonder if that will be noted by the media? Nah…
She is rushing….
She needs to slow down and be down town America… More Will Rogers.
Obama just said that the fundementals were strong on Sunday.
Biden won the first round, imho.
Joe just got spanked
“He was talking about… and talking to the American workforce”.
Great response.
Ugh, team of Mavericks
Biden reaching across the aisle?? OMG, I can’t believe he’s spouting that crud!
Nice retort.
How long are the libs going to use the 100,000 cops line? it never happened!!!!!!!!!
he winked at her
She speaks with the conviction of a cult member…going to be a long night for Biden.
Set the record straight on what McCain said Sarah. Good work.
Good dig from Palin on Odumbo — partisan, 96% voting with liberals.
Sarah!!!!!!!!!!!!!
respond to Biden!!! Don’t just spew out the mantras!!!!
John McCain, we are going to hear his name over and over again tonight.
Yeah!!! Put the bipartisanship aside. Put the crap aside!!!
Ha!!! New blood. I love it.
ZING!
Nice closing line.
Biden= Lame. Sarah=Awesome!! You go girl!
What debate are you watching?
She’s looking right at the camera or Joe. Good!
Ifill already snarky.
Oh please name names here.
Who was at fault…. Hmmm. Let me think… DEMOCRATS in congress!
Palin says BO 96% votes along party line – no one can say that about McCain.
Oops, I meant partisanship. Bad me. Bad me.
Blew it. The corruption in congress is the core issue.
How about the corruption in WASHINGTON!
Predatory Lenders, Ok, What about ACORN?
Palin blaming “predatory lenders” and the tired, tired wealth-envy word…”greed”. There is no such thing as greed.
Never again..nice
OMG, please just call the dems out on this. someone needs to, PLEASE
Say something about personal respons — thank you.
Joe is nodding in agreement!
She needs to say liberal. Over and over.
Sarah cites the slogan of The Holocaust Museum in DC: “Never again”.
McCain / Palin can’t win on the “new blood” message. That’s Obama’s message.
I’m watching the VP debate on Fox, Rhoades.
stop picking on the lenders! people take mortgages, buy cars, run up credit cards
She blamed the predatory lenders?? I think I just heard Michelle’s head explode.
…my wife says I have to come have dinner and have FAMILY time. lol
I will tape and comment later…
)~
Family always comes first…
(DAMN)
Personal responsibility? You don’t say!
At least she’s coming around on personal responsibility.
I’m glad she’s addressing what ordinary Americans can do to help this economy.
Personal responsibility. Good.
she’s blaming lenders…she is not going to strike…
Are you a member of the brain impaired press.
WHAT A LIE- McCain warned about subprime long ago.
Fact check! Obama warning about sub-prime crisis 2 years ago… as a card carrying member of ACORN?
Regulate government plugs. Deregulate Wall Street.
Blame the dems please. Oh lord he’s talking about deregulation. Such garbage.
Answer Biden’a attacks on this or lose this election
wow – I wonder if slimy Joe can back this claim about Obummer and his warning sub-prime up with facts…
Obummer warned about sub-prime mortgages? Wow….
HOLY SMOKE!
How did she get stuck with that old guy in the ticket? She’s making Joe look like a dead fish.
srhoades,
Obama said nothing of the sort. He said that his policies would provide the good fundamentals to allow the economy to grow.
McCain’s commercial lied.
Will no one call the Dems on their rudeness? He’s Senator McCain to you, punk.
As long as we stay domestic, Sarah stays in the game…so far so good.