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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That Obama book won’t sell itself, now will it.
Has anyone noticed that Joe has been getting the last word a lot, or is it just me?
I’m outta here sadly. I’m having reload problems and I have no patience to wait.
Good night folks.
thanks Michelle for the chance to vent.
Put a stamp on your Biden bingo cards. He just said God love him!
Biden acts like he’s running against McCain…not Obama V. McCain…
“An attack on out homeland will come from the hills of Afghanistan?” Huh?!
Our intelligence said recently that the Al Qeada leadership was having trouble commanding from anywhere. He’s lying.. They also don’t know for sure where Bin Laden is. He’s uninformed..
Dude, news flash: Osama is dead.
What is Pakistan? I thought it was Pockistan.
Hell, Joe… bin Laden thinks the major front in the war on terror is in Iraq, too. Idiot.
Well from the 15 minutes I saw of Palin trying to out-liberal Old Joe, I’m even more sure that I will not be voting for President McCain and Vice President Palin.
She’s not cutting the mustard. Sorry guys. Climate change is real?
Please.
That comment made me sick, and I’m not putting up with Donks and liberal Republicans anymore.
It’s truly time to move on from these liberal parties, and form our own conservative party.
KEYES ‘08
RWR
http://www.rightwingrocker.com
Palin – wtg!!! Iran can NOT get nukes. Obama says iran is a small country, small threat. Note the contrast.
I agree…she needs to be more of the pitbull at times…not necessarily muckrake, but “gentle” reminders past decisions of Biden and Sen “Present”
I would bet a million dollars – if I had that much – that somehow IFULLOFIT got the questions to the democrats beforehand. I don’t trust her.
She’s one of those leftist types who will do ANYthing to have Obama win.
All in all, I think Sarah Palin is doing well.
We’re spending 10 billion a month in Iraq. Just love those Dem soundbytes. Too bad this weasel loves earmarks like his good friend Obummer.
Did Smirky just say we need to build schools in Pakistan?
Obama/Biden now an imperialist? The US will take over Pakistan and appoint leadership there?
I cannot believe they would lecture a veteran and war hero on war conduct. And people actually listen to them. Unreal.
Why doesn’t Biden look happy…is he realizing that he is in a fight…WITH A SARAHCUDA!
Seems to have gotten through the Iran/Pakistan issue okay. Liked her answer, they are both a problem!!!
Ifill is constantly asking questions from the left. Her bias is so severe I am surprised she hasn’t tipped over off of her chair.
oh yes he did
morgan…My husband and I think he’s already gotten a look at the questions…he seems to search his notes for the right answer to use..but, did you expect anything else?
Go Governor Palin..no preconditions before meeting dictators…you go girl…gwen makes me want to puke.
Sarah is not coming across as someone who is unprepared and lacking in knowledge. The media must be very disappointed.
BIden’s botox is kicking in finally – according to hubby. It’s keeping the plugs in place nicely.
What? He did too say he would set down with that fanatic from Iran, Joe, without predondition, even! Idiot!
Plugs having to defend BHO on Iran…LMAO
face it folks. Obama and Biden would lie when the truth fits better…
this is a loser for him, everyone knows BO said it
Thats right Gwen, carry that water for Obama. Make sure that ‘no preconditions’ line doesn’t go unanswered.
Tomorrow, we’ll be hearing how she pronounced it “nucular”. Dammit.
Obama didn’t say he’d sit with Iran? Was he on the train when it was said….oh wait, he may have been running against him then…
Biden you LIAR! Obama did so say he was open to unconditional talks.. what a liar you are Biden!
BHO said he would have direct talks. I remember that well.
Is Joe suggesting that Obama will sit down with the Ayatollah?
Good comment from Sarah about the agreement between Petraus and Al Qaeda that Iraq is center of the fight on terrorism.
The EU diplomats in Iran aren’t getting anywhere, Joe.
This is driving me nuts. Gwen isn’t letting her answer Biden’s attacks. She needs to respond to this crap.
Rehashing of Kissinger/sit down with Iran talks by Biden. More distortions, and Ifill goes to the next question. Sure, Ifill is being objective here!
Is it just me guys or does O’Biden’s tucked up eye job and upward brows make him appear Vulcan-like – or should I say Romulan?
I note this site is
You guys must be very busy tonight with this blog’s traffic. Nice job and thanks!
Obama DID say that Joe. The president does not sit down with dictators. There are LOW LEVEL talks, never with the president.
Jojo gets the last word again
Did he just refer to himself in the third person?
Good comment from Sarah about Pakistan. Now Biden is lying that Obummer didn’t say what everybody knows he said about Iran.
Biden just realized he is not going to slam dunk this debate…
Biden dissembling about the administration…
Waiting on sound bite from the Gov. on rebuttal
I got knocked off and had a hard time reconnecting I guess the Server is really busy.
#423 It’s not a lie if it is said by a Democrat….
Also note that lie about America having only 3% of the worlds oil. That has been circulating out there and it’s not true. Just our shale oil equals the Saudi reserves.
Ballast. All that weight in the lower decks.
Uhhh, what’s that country north of Israel? Well played Sen. Biden. This one is yours to lose.
Note to Gwen: Just being rude and snippy does not make you even-handed and fair. Sarah’s doing well, but this so-called moderator is driving me nuts.
Too much finger pointing backwards from a ticket focused on change? Good one!
She’s right. It’s all Bush’s fault to these people. They’re always right, Republicans are always wrong. It’s ridiculous.
And I can’t stand Gwen Ifill, she is a joke.
What the hell is Biden talking about these negotiations? Talk, talk, talk.
Petty comment about McCain not sitting down with Spain’s socialist leader. I wouldn’t either. We no longer have anything in common with them because they don’t want to be involved in NATO.
Saying George Bush 7 times…
Good lord, Joe. Give it a rest.
Now Biden is sounding like a whiner…maybe he needs some cheese?
Notice that almost every time Biden tells a “big one” he says “the fact of the matter is…” Hey, is that one on the bingo card?
Country First and bipartisan and A Mavrick and Change is coming.
Biden, That is his prologue right, that was petty. And didn’t come off as dismissive as he thought it would.
Wow, the Governor is gracious and the Senator is snarky. I’m loving this.
You bet he did, 30 pcs of silver. Joe Biden’s down! (couldn’t resist a little Seinfeld humor)
Biden looking over at Sarah with a worried look on his face. He knows he’s in a fight he can’t win.
I was going to say that, but there’s just too much material.
Hating this lag……..wonder what the traffic like
Back to “4 more years” on foreign policy……if you keep repeating it, someone will believe.
A nuclear weapons release by US question? Admission of a return by Putin to Cold War II? Hoping to say the trigger is short?
Palin’s not letting Biden get under her skin, good work.
What the hell, yet AGAIN Ifill gives Biden the last word, this is getting ridiculous.
Tide is turning. The Gov is on fire.
Air raiding villages…killing civilians… Good one!
It’s the McCain camp that keeps hamstring itself. They know these moderates are big time libs and they go through with it anyway.
Oh! Call-out on the “air-raiding village and killing children” by Obama! Woooooooo hooooo!
Morgan,
I want a TKO!
Damn…she’s calling Obama out again about Afghanistan…wake up Joe…
OMG she cut her off again!
Who is George Bushis?
Ifill is terrible, typical liberal left winger.
I know this is really petty (I love Sarah Palin to death), but after 8 years of hearing it pronounced “nucular”, I wish she’d say nuclear correctly.
Biden is being disingenuous on the Al-Q thing— we have special forces in Afghanistan now. We are fighting terror there and in Iraq. Our troops have managed to keep them on the run all this time. It’s a slam to the Operation commanders to say that we aren’t deployed to the right areas in the Middle East. Oh, and backing up to the Global Warming B.S., I wish Ifil or Gov. Palin would have seriously called O’Biden out on that one and asked for proof. The Left asks us to prove that God exists because they say there is no definitive proof (though thousands of theologians and hundreds of millions of people around the world would tend to refute that claim), but the argument for AGW seems a lot flimsier to me.
I agree. Good one!
Ummm, isn’t more troops technically considered a surge Joe?
Three weeks in Iraq?
I noticed this too. Thought maybe my perception was skewed.
Say it again Joe!! We don’t have your kind of IQ! hahahaha
Oh, NOW they listen to the commanding officer.
How about explaining why you disregard what Gen. Petraeus report on the surge?
And they said the surge would not work in IRAQ Joey…. please sit down and shut up…Just the FACTS please…
Need the “JAWS” soundtrack…SARAHCUDA is stalking her prey…blood is in the water…
He’s losing it.
his time is up
Joe’s losing it.
He’s losing, and he knows it. He’s really getting pissed.
anyone timing the plugs comments? Has to be going over his, making me tired listening to him.
Don’t worry about your time being up, Jojo. Gwen will always let you finish. What a freaking joke.
Surge principal won’t work, but we need more troops? Did this retired officer miss something.
Now 3 weeks of Iraq spending equaled 6.5 yrs in Afganistan? really?
Love to see that number, me thinks a decimal point was moved
Sarah correcting Joe now on McClellan’s words
Wow. That sigh from Joe was telling. He’s getting tired.
did he just SIGH? hahah… what an ass!
OMG, Biden just sighed loudly when Sarah rebuffed him on Afghanistan!
Loud sigh just heard from Joe Biden. Dick Morris warned about that.
With all respect, Jimmy Carter pronounced it the same way, and he was a “nucular” scientist.
BSR
Hey, 30, where’s Soap?
Yeah, Joe is getting last word a little more often…
He’s giving her the stink eye again. Now he bares his fangs, er shows his caps, er smiles.
That’s the SECOND time Biden has himself acknowledged he’s going overtime, and Ifill lets it slide, but Palin has been cut off several times.. I hope Ifill never works in this industry again.
He just lost all the Gay votes..HAHAHAHAHAHAHA
once again he gets the last word…BS!