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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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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This “debate” is a draw. Both Palin and Biden had their moments. For us conservatives we are stuck with the worst Presidential candidate in Republican history and that in the end is why we are going to lose big on November 4th.
Judge Bork??? That was 21 years ago!!!
LOL Biden is saying now that his biggest change in ideology is that he now gives a litmus test to judges? Whoa, I think he’d better shut up now.
Joe just admitted ideology is how he “advises and consents” on judges….not qualifications.
Translation: Biden only likes the liberal judges.
In Biden’s term in the senate, what decision on civil rights did he not like?
Joe’s 2 minutes sure seems a lot longer than Sarah’s 2 minutes …
Biden, proud of Bork incident.
You’re right about Bourq (sp), Joe… He is a Constitutionalist.
Man..that dress makes her butt look so good!
…..did I say that aloud?
I was a single mom when my 2 boys went to college and they did the same EQ
6:1, according to Michelle’s e-mail.
That’s Biden’s idea of change.
As in change the subject.
EQ – me too, paid my own way. It can be done.
VSR
“I fought Bork”…abortion comes up as weak flanking maneuver
Sarah..”quasi-what”?
I don’t compromise on my principles…hope the muck diggers don’t disprove this
Tragedy for political expediency. Will this man stoop to new lows to grasp political power?
Poor ol’ Joe…Oh … to be a fly on the wall in the Obama media room…
Go Sarah Go!!!!
Senator Biden, please. Don’t remind us that you turned Judiciary into a three-ring circus. Don’t remind us that your Judiciary committee spread absolute nonsense about Judge Bork. It’s wrong and immoral.
(also bad for my BP)
She doesn’t ramble. She gets it right the first time.
Wha? I’m Joe Biden and John McCain approved this message….
I don’t get it. Biden gets to answer all the questions first, and then rebut them after Palin. I hope someone is keeping track of minutes allotted for each.
Yeah ..saw he was about to cry …he should Sarah is back all the way !
Plugs the uniter.
“I’d feel like myself er, a jerk.”
Sarah Palin has done as good a job in this debate as Dick Cheney in 2004.
Those people around the table aren’t look for anything but the freaking government to stay out OF THEIR LIVES, Joe.
Get a clue. You may be speaking for the sheeple, but for the rest of us, we don’t want your handout.
What the hell did he just say? Round about way.
I’m sorry, I’m still googling “Bosniacs”. Did I miss anything?
No, but they must be populated with people from Minnesota
Don’t flame me, please
It’s not the midwestern part that bugs me – it’s the “gosh darnit”, gotta, gonna, dernit, gee whiz elmo (I made that one up) that makes her sound like a bubblegum pop star and not a future Presidential candidate.
“you walk the walk” Ka-blam
Morgan, I agree. She’s exceeded expectations.
Biden is now talking about changing Washington…what a joke, he and Barry are part of the damn problem there…Sarah talks about bringing people together to do it…policies and proposals…not just saying it, but doing it…
AHHHHH!!!! Joe, it’s the Congress… you know… YOUR JOB… to set the budget for the President to vote on! How can you not even understand the requirements of the job you currently hold!
Is it my imagination or is Sarah always seems tobe looking directly into the camera and Joe Snarky is glaring down at Ifill – with daggers in his eyes – looking for maybe some friking help??
lol, awesome…
OH LOOK – JOE gets the last word.
On the question about what past decisions Biden would have changed?
That was the weirdest, most rambling answer. Until he mentioned Supreme Court justices, I had no idea what he was talking about.
Sarah’s answer was excellent.
Slams the MSM!
“You get the chance for the first closing statement…”
Oh, brother!
That lousy liberal hack!
She just pimpslapped the MSM! DAMN the gal is GOOD….
Biden went first and now gets to go last? Hmmm.
Candidates leave the podiums, Sara says to Joe as he leaves, sorry, do you want your a$$ back? She handed it to him.
Biden’ll have the last word again, but that’s okay. You can tell Biden did a lot of rambling and Sarah Palin scored time and again.
Bravo, Gov. Palin! Skip the MSM!
Oh!!!! “The filter of the mainstream media.” You know that had to hurt Gwen Ifill and her commrades.
Palin just referred to the “Mainstream Media”. Rush is loving it…
Closing statement…Joe gets last word AGAIN
Please don’t tell me it’s ladies first, if so, give her the choice
So, Cheney is the most dangerous Veep ever? Remember, when the times get tough the tough get going. And I’ll take Cheney and his shotguns over Aaron Burr and his duelling pistols any day.
Good shot at the MSM Sarah!
Biden smiles like a used-car salesman.
“Filter of the mainstream media” – yeah. That’s an UNDERSTATEMENT. They’ve filtered her like bad coffee.
My vote goes to the first candidate who stops referring to me as “middle class” and calls us “middle income.” I have more class in my pinky finger than, say, Paris Hilton.
Nice work – Palin just called out the media filter. No kidding.
I love her. She is just a ray of sunshine. Like Ronald Reagan, who she just happens to be quoting.
Score — proud to be an American dig.
Joe Biden:
“I haven’t changed in 35 years so don’t look for me to change now.”
Barrack Obama for change.
Barrack won’t take my guns Biden.
I promise there will be no coal Biden.
Now who did not vet his running mate?
Awesome closing statement from Palin.
Renewed ticket. BAMMMM! Good job Sarah!
YES!!!!!!!
Sarah calls out MSM !! She likes talking directly to the people without the MSM filter telling people what they heard.
On October 2nd, 2008 at 10:29 pm, Mixer14 said:
Is it my imagination or is Sarah always seems tobe looking directly into the camera and Joe Snarky is glaring down at Ifill – with daggers in his eyes – looking for maybe some friking help??
yep, I noticed Snarky is cocky!
Joe will never close like Sarah. Great remarks.
Eeeeeewwwww!
reign in government spending, reduce taxes, energy independence…cool!
OUCH..cut on the mainstream media…cool!
always proud to be an American…cut on Michelle my Belle… cool!
yes indeed, frontier guy… does he want it shined first?
Excellent job Sarah
Excellent closing statement!
She zinged the media!!! HAHAHAHAHA!!! And she invokes Ronaldus Magnus once again!
God Bless America!!
Yes, Gwen, thank you for giving all the help you could give Biden
joe got first word and last
Actually, I just saw the term in Wikipedia and Britannica, there is a term called Bosniaks (or Bosniacs), and Biden was right.
As idiotic as it sounded, the term replaced the reference to muslims in the 90s.
I personally have never heard anyone use it until tonight.
During this debate, that has been very true.
Change, change, change
I still ask: Change to what?
More class warfare from Biden, /yawn
Joe and Obie are still running against Bush… hahahaha
New nickname:
“Ramblin’” Joe Biden.
I am pleased with Sarah Palin’s performance tonight.
Good closing statement by Sarah…strong and proud!
OH, God, not the im a regualer guy Joe, Please, you are so not like me!
Is it me, or is Biden getting a lot more time than Palin?
SCRANTON……ok, my neighborhood, same thing
DRINKS UP
You are absolutely right on that point. I worked at DOJ and helped develop the software for the “100,000″ new cops. NEVER HAPPENED!!!
Bosniaks… damn, who would have thunk it. Thanks for the research BlameAmericaLast.
Take THAT, Sandra Bernhard, Matt Damon, etc., etc., etc……
They base success on whether someone can pay their mortgage?????? That’s rich.
Him and his Dem cronies in congress set up a system ensuring that many would get a mortgage and NOT be able to pay for it!!!!!
MSM will still call it a win for Joe
Luv ya, Sarah! You did well!
Selfishly, may God protect our troops? What? How is that selfish?!
Tie, so Sarah wins
She was good, but he got the last word too much. Funny that happens with a moderator who is writing an Obama book…
Sarah shoots, she scores! Game over!
he did not convince me with the bo is ready to be the next president…i did not believe he even believed it.
IMO: Sarah wins hands down. Don’t expect to hear that from the MSM.
Yes…I heard that…and I second that!
Katie Couric is a hack.
Great performance from Palin, I would have liked more attacks on Biden/Obama but maybe thats my problem.
I wsant to know how the time ended up being divided up between the two. Biden seems to have had a lot more time, from my perspective.
I missed it: did Iwful compliment Palin, too, or just Biden?
Joe wanted to turn the handshake into a hug. Can’t say I blame him.
…Gwen says to Joe.
Great job Sarah’Cuda!!!
Wow! Biden wasn’t nearly as stupid and inarticulate and annoying as normal. I wonder if they finally got his meds right?
Biden:
“We believed it and we did.”
The MSM is going to look really stupid if they claim Biden won this debate.
Sarah did an awesome job.
Not holding my breath.
Shepard Smith said Sarah was wrong about being at “pre-surge levels” in Iraq.