We Op-Ed Election '08 LiveBlogs – Vice Presidential Debate

Comment by Gray Kane on September 30, 2008 at 2:41pm

Sarah Palin has to prove she understands the questions and possesses the intellectual authority to lead this country. She returned with her irritated, grimacing father-figure to her second interview with Couric. He loomed behind her, authenticating her statements. But if he passes away, can she face the world on her own?

Because of how low expectations are for Palin's performance, the audience's expectation for Biden is set ridiculously high. Biden has to emphasize the gap between her understanding and his. When she makes statements that meander and convolute her point, Biden has to acknowledge them as directly as possible: "What you just said doesn't make any sense, Sarah. You're randomly listing talking points as if they answer the question. But they don't." If he tries to be too respectful and fails to directly acknowledge when her statements sound idiotic, Biden can lose this debate by not meeting the audience's expectations. The audience expects to see as visibly as possible the gap between their abilities. If they can't, Palin wins.

Comment by Elan Barnehama on October 1, 2008 at 11:52am

Sarah Palin’s recent interviews have embarrassed (exposed) her and, frankly, embarrassed our nation. She’s raised concerns about her interest and grasp of complex issues causing even members of her own party as well as conservative columnists to call for her to resign. Rather than entering the VP debate with little to prove, Palin must meet growing expectations. In an effort to protect Palin, the debate limits candidate interaction. This turns out to be a plus for Biden. He need not confront Palin. He simply needs to answer questions by explaining his views and thinking, and then wonder aloud what Sarah might think of the issue. Then, sit back and listen. Let Palin be Palin, her supporters say. I agree, and I hope Joe Biden does the same.

Comment by Damian G. on October 1, 2008 at 11:51pm

I actually wrote a post on this very subject. Granted, it's on my regular blog, but it's just as relevant.

http://conservathink.blogspot.com/2008/09/sarah-i-knew.html

Comment by Unionlady on October 2, 2008 at 5:47pm

I have my doubts about Ms. Palin's ability to win this debate and even more doubts about her ability to lead this country if something was to happen to John McCain. I have been on the fence for several months about who to vote for. I have been a loyal Democrat for many years. This election has really sadden me because these are the four best people that either party could come up with to run for the office of President and Vice President. Shame on us!

Comment by Gray Kane on October 2, 2008 at 8:30pm

This is the video in which Gov Palin appears to endorse Hamas. More importantly, however, notice how she loses track of the question in a desperate attempt to discuss only her talking points. This strategy is what endangers Gov Palin's performance tonight. When she sacrifices a real answer to the question in favor of a talking point, she runs the risk of doing something as ridiculous as endorsing Hamas.


Of course, the other aspect we have to look for tonight is whether or not Gov Palin's problems are merely her discomfort with talking points. Gov Palin may not know key factors about these questions that trouble her--in this case, who Hamas is.

If a Palin gaffe happens, that'll be the essence of what we have to figure out: Did the gaffe come as a result of Gov Palin's discomfort with talking points, or did it come from her poor understanding of the issue?

Comment by Gray Kane on October 2, 2008 at 8:42pm

Rod, McCain was damned if he did, damned if he didn't. Unfortunately, as Maddow just pointed out, rather than coming out full-heartedly on side or the other, McCain's strategy is to take a contradictory position and to confuse his conflicting constituency that he's on all of their sides simultaneously.

Comment by Gray Kane on October 2, 2008 at 9:02pm

For the past few years now, we've heard arguments that the Reagan coalition is fracturing. Strangely enough, I've heard Libertarians come out with strong support for Sarah Palin. They leap to point out that Alaskan Republicans who didn't like her dismissed her as a Libertarian. These Libertarians argue, perhaps due to her husband's activity in the Alaska Independence party, that she's one of them, and that the recent Republican call for her to resign from the campaign is merely the neocon backlash to the Libertarians' rise to power.

I find the argument strange. Palin's administrative history shows she whole-heartedly supports (and depended on) excessive federal spending. Not to mention, isn't it obvious that Palin's interviews are hurting McCain's chances in Nov?

Comment by Unionlady on October 2, 2008 at 9:09pm

I thought this was suppose to be a Vice Presidential debate not lets discuss what the Presidential candidates are gonna do for the American people.

Comment by Elan Barnehama on October 2, 2008 at 9:09pm

the first use of the word maverick. let the drinking games begin

Comment by Gray Kane on October 2, 2008 at 9:11pm

If she mentions soccer moms or hockey moms or joe six pack one more time.... boy, she's laying it on thick!

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