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!
See what others have said
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Trackbacks
- Webloggin » Biden Making It Up as He Goes Along - Parsing words
- The Pinch Collar Came Off Tonight « Mcnorman’s Weblog
- Jules Crittenden » Car Crash Liveblog
- Michelle Malkin » SARAH ROCKS!
- Palin does more than hold her own. She cleaned house tonight. « The Right Daily
- Post Debate Roundup : Stop The ACLU
- Frank Luntz Group: Palin Wins : Stop The ACLU
- House of Eratosthenes
- no media filters; just Sarah and Joe « at home with Guinever
- BatesLine
- SARAH ROCKS! By Michelle Malkin | Saint Sarah Palin
- How some Christian bloggers scored the Biden v. Palin debate | blogs4God
- Another liberal double-standard. Surprise! « The Right Daily
- Sarah Rocks The Debate | Faith and Facts
- SARAH ROCKS! « Thoughts Of A Conservative Christian
- We’re HAPPY as Hell! « Mark Epstein
- Sarah positively KILLED at the debate last night… « Illiberal Virtuosity
- Palin vs Biden: Vice Presiential Debate « BUUUUURRRRNING HOT
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Ifill only complimented Biden. What a hack…
He needed it
Yah, selfish is exactly what he meant. His son is at risk.
The lady wins.
Overall, she did OK…had plenty of opportunity to send a flurry of zingers (Joe’s a great straight man), but I guess chose not to.For that , she gets “class” credits.
Biden is trying to cop a feel! get back jack thats our sarah
Bottom line – Sarah took the show. Biden flustered, angry and rambling (overtime and got more.) Sarah quick, to the point and smiled as she bit Biden where it hurt the most.
Awesome debate. Palin floats like a butterfly and stings like a bee.
Biden can’t keep his eyes off of Gov. Palin. “Tune in Tokyo…”
Okay, get ready for Steponallofus, Olbermen, etc. to launch into how terrible she was… expect it!
I give Gwen Ifill an F. Terrible job of moderating. This should be her last foray away from PBS.
Kondracke: “She didn’t make a single mistake”. I concur.
Hilarious!
afterwards could Biden have squeezed her upper arm any more than he did—I think he was impressed
Did I hear Ifill say she can’t stand up?
What does Kathleen Parker think now?
All in all, I think Sarah did great, even with Gwen writing the “shining Obama’s knob” book.
Palin was incredibly impressive…. all heart, that one.
Her best assett is her ability to be a REAL person
I was even impressed with the moderator. Somebody tell me where she was partisan without having some kind of balance in the next few momente of her involvement.
Governor Palin is holding her sweet baby…love it!
What I would give for a cable channel right now…stuck with CBS…I really cannot stand Katie…
nlebou … Ifill has a broken leg right now
I agree zombywolf. I kept thinking that throughout the debate.
How is Obummer ready? Man, Biden bloviated over his time limit, didn’t he?
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.”
Maybe if more Congressman did question the motives of other Congressman, there would be less corruption and thier approval rating would be higher than 14%.
Stand up Gwen, let em see ya!
Kirsten Powers doesn’t think Palin was prepared? Oh, geez! Dem hack.
Kirsten Powers says no Gaffes for sarah, but I also notice Joe looking worried on the right screen
I know she has a broken leg but who did she say it to?
*arghhh*
(knocks over wine glass… make that “moments”)
Kathleen Parker is checking the Fanny Farmer cookbook for crow recipes.
You know something, Biden looks like a guest star from an old re-run of the ’60s TV sci-fi show “The Invaders”…(better check the length of his ring finger to make certain he wasn’t one of the aliens)
Great performance! Answered a couple of questions – if anyone wondered if Ifell was in Obama’s pocket, the disproportionate deference to Biden clearly shows her bias; and can Palin ‘handle’ the job, yes!
the good job comment was to Biden
She might be thinking she now knows what her foot tastes like.
Great debate! I think Sarah won hands down. She kept Biden on defense a good deal of the time. Not only that, but BO and JB are still running against Bush and she called him on it.
Been great everyone, have a great night!
BarryF Kirsten said she wasn’t prepared for Couric but was prepared tonight.
I want Tonya Reiman to translate the body language of Joe Biden PUTTING HIS HANDS ON PIPER’S SHOULDERS while appearing to “school” Sarah on some unknown subject (finger pointing). Sarah had her hand on Piper the whole time, as if to “protect” her.
I wanna know if I’m right in reading that.
WHOO HOO! Sarah Palin for President!!
Why can’t she debate Obama?!
I noticed this too.
Joe sure is the rambler isn’t he. He also doesn’t get much right. But everyone will focus on Sarah, and fortunately she didn’t get anything wrong. They know Joe is just slo-Joe, so why question all the errors of fact Joe made.
No wonder Joe got so many votes when he was running for president.
Be a fun radio day tomorrow.
I wish I could have heard the exchange btwn the families on stage afterwards. Sarah looked really uncomfortable and like she wanted to get out of there FAST
Yep, for sure.
Ah. Okay. Thanks, nlebou. I missed that aspect of her comment then.
I think I just took a full body heave when I saw Biden touch Sarah’s arm. Ewwwwwww!!! Get away from her, you old fart.
This guy really has no sense of personal space.
SARAHCUDA doesn’t kiss @$$, SHE KICKS IT!
Senator Lieberman just sang praises for Governor Palin..Senator McCaskill is a hack..
Governor Palin did great! Joe Biden is still the political boob. (FDR television comment, telling a paraplegic guy to stand up, Obama is “neat and clean”, etc). Imagine if Palin had said even half the moronic things Biden has said. Yet, he gets a pass.
This woman rocks!
Oh yeah – Ifill broke her ankle like a day or so ago, that’s why she’s sitting down.
Kennedy Laughed and smiled – Nixon Scowled
Reagan Laughed and smiled – Carter Scowled
Clinton (Mr.) laughed and smiled – Dole Scowled.
Palin laughed and smiled – Biden scowled (even with the help of his maiden aunt running the show.
Folks – Palin is the winner, no matter what the cockeyed screwed up MSM says. Main Street gets it – and it should bode well for her and John McCain on election day.
Quite to the contrary. Biden left the stage just as fast as she did. I would have to assume it’s SS protocol for both candidates.
Well I saw this as a contest between Palin and Obama.
Both debated surrogates: old senators.
Sarah Palin won hands down in that contest.
“You did great.” to Biden.
All she said to Palin is “I wish I could stand up.” (Ifill)
Interesting
vsatt….after she thanked the moderator, first question to Todd was “where are my kids?”
Sarah called Joe senator Obiden. Too funny, but funnier still, I just saw Geraldine Ferraro call him Senator Obiden also. the wife and I just about fell out of our chairs.
SUmmary of debate…
Sarah = sniper rifle from 1500 meters
Biden = Shotgun from 1500 meters
I really wish she could debate Obama.
Ugh, focus group time.
Adrenaline rush can do that. I wouldn’t fault either one of them for that.
Frank Luntz’s focus group has Palin winning hands down.
I heard that too TexasEngineer
SHOCK! Luntz focus group picks Palin as winner!
She is all class this one. Great job Sarah!!!!!
I wonder how the Hillary supporters will view this.
Ahhhhh. One of Luntz’s audience brought up how the MSM interviews have been edited and this wasn’t. Yep.
Luntz does not believe it but check Rasmussen over the weekend. batter days are ahead.
I know mom24ks — isn’t that baby just adorable? And growing? He’s quite the chubby boy.
I can’t stand focus groups, but it is interesting that almost everyone thought Palin won.
She did an amazing job.
Votes are up on drudge – nearing 60,000 votes, and Palin has it 75% to 23% (the other 2% is neither).
“Stand up Gwen, stand up…oh God love ya…everyone stand up for Gwen”!
“Can you tell I’m new at this, Gwen”?
“Never have debated anyone with a superior intellect before.”
But she just looked very uncomfortable when she was holding Trig and talking to his family. I don’t trust the Bidens and I want to know what they were saying to Sarah. She wasn’t intimidated by Joe for a moment during the debate. I’m thinking something brought out her mother-bear instincts afterwards.
Niters folks. Great live blog as always. God bless us all.
Palin’s “personal responsibility” statement seemed to resonate with Luntz’s group.
IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ME ME ME MEEEEEEEEE!!!!!
Unless I am mistaken, I think this will be the first 1,000 comment thread here at Michelle’s signature site.
Nice to see a young black women say she changed her mind TO McCain.
so, here’s my questions for all of you…does this debate help McCain’s campaign? or does McCain’s campaign even need help?
FoxNews is spinning this as an overwhelming Palin victory.
Good!
Luntz says keep watching the numbers there is going to be a shift
Helps
If there was a way to verify it, I’d bet money that Bill votes for Palin…
Great coverage, THANKS!
No zorro the pres. debate went over 1000
Salt, my sister-in-law, who was a major Hillary supporter and has never voted anything but Democrat is voting for McCain/Palin, because of Sarah Palin. She also indicates that several of her friends that are like her are doing the same.
Heck. I’m voting for Palin and the old white guy running with her.
I think she did well, Biden perked up a few times, but his voice sounded tired. It was a slugfest. I give the advantage to Palin, but I felt that if she said “maverick” one more time I was going to open a vein. It may or may not have been mine.
Zorro, we went over 1K on McCain/Obama I
Yea, like kill it!
It’s not, but definitely in the top 5 I would guess.
Agree with Michelle Malkin: Sarah Palin rocks.
Palin scores big time! Favorite shot of ole Joe: his ricktus grin while moving his collar away from his throat. He wanted to jump over the podium and muzzle Sarah as she gutted Obama’s record on Iraq.
Prayers answered tonight…I knew she could do it!
She’s good. Positive, clear, honest, inspiring. Conservative.
Even Greta is championing Palin…
Go to drudge and take the poll
He accidently got a better group this time. Or Sarah knocked it so far out of the park it’s hard for anybody to deny she won.
You are mistaken. Mick vs Obie blew this away. The site performance sucked tonite until 10 pm… probably dropped traffic…
SCOREBOARD = SARAHCUDA!
‘nuf said!
BarryF my 72yr old mom has been a Dem all her life and an avid Hillary supporter. She told me 2 weeks ago that she will be voting for Sarah.
Already did Mercy4Me…and I’m seriously thinking about going and giving some more $$$ to Palin/McCain
CNN.com live.. the liberal woman just couldn’t bring herself to say Palin won.. basically admitted it about 5 times indirectly, but when pushed, called it a tie. pfft.
mercy4me..thanks for answering..I think McCain’s either blown some chances with the financial mess, or has been the victim of terrible media coverage…Either way, he’s got a winner with Governor Palin..
Good Night, all..it’s been a blast!
Don’t forget moral