95 Comments

1. Vodkapundit » Debate Drunkblogging — LIVE!:

[...] by Stephen Green on 02 Oct 2008 at 06:47 pm Click here, my drinking [...]

Oct 2, 2008 - 5:47 pm 2. Capt Nemo:

Be strong, Stephen.

Oct 2, 2008 - 5:48 pm 3. Jaci:

Yay!! NOW I’m ready.

Oct 2, 2008 - 5:49 pm 4. julie:

I had to turn the sound off of Bill. And still I heard him! “For the Folks” and all.

Oct 2, 2008 - 5:49 pm 5. Jaci:

You honestly would rather watch CNN? Granted, there’s more to laugh at….

Oct 2, 2008 - 5:50 pm 6. equitus:

Greetings. A prediction: Because of the hoopla (relatively speaking) concerning the press’s treatment of Palin and Iffilll’s conflict of interest, both will be on their best behavior tonight.

Oct 2, 2008 - 5:58 pm 7. julie:

nervous now…

Oct 2, 2008 - 6:02 pm 8. Obi's Sister:

Dang, I was hoping Ifill would have been replaced at the last minute!

Oct 2, 2008 - 6:02 pm 9. equitus:

“Nice to meet you. Can I call you Joe?” Hmmm.

Oct 2, 2008 - 6:03 pm 10. Steve:

Bush’s fault.. That did not take long. Take a shot

Oct 2, 2008 - 6:04 pm 11. Capt Nemo:

“Can I call you Joe?”

Oct 2, 2008 - 6:04 pm 12. jaymaster:

Biden is knocking me out already. Zzzzzzz

Oct 2, 2008 - 6:04 pm 13. I am getting drunk:

Biden looks like shit.

Oct 2, 2008 - 6:05 pm 14. jpe:

Y’know, I’m about as faithful a (D) as there is. But this is the go-to place for drunkblogging. It’s just not even close. When I wonder if a debate has started, my first instinct isn’t to check the tv listings, but to see if the Vodkapundit has started the pre-game.

So: well done, sir.

Oct 2, 2008 - 6:05 pm 15. Steve:

Biden has worked against Partisanship Who knew?

Oct 2, 2008 - 6:07 pm 16. jaymaster:

Biden: “I have as many friends on the Republican side of the aisle as I have on the Democrat side”. Unspoken “Zero.”

Oct 2, 2008 - 6:09 pm 17. I am getting drunk:

Biden was just eyeing up Palin on the split.

Oct 2, 2008 - 6:12 pm 18. BeeJiggity:

What’s with the “john” stuff again?

Oct 2, 2008 - 6:15 pm 19. jaymaster:

Wow, they’re all rattled now. This could be fun!

Oct 2, 2008 - 6:19 pm 20. Lisa:

Palin’s holding her own so far.

The left will make fun of her and hate what she is saying.

The right will be nodding.

Oct 2, 2008 - 6:19 pm 21. Capt Nemo:

So, what’s everyone drinking tonight?

Oct 2, 2008 - 6:21 pm 22. MEC2:

Something to think of the rest of the night…

How Mitt Romney would be thrashing Biden on the inside baseball of the current financial mess.

Oct 2, 2008 - 6:21 pm 23. I am getting drunk:

Hey JOe! EXXON EMPLOYS PEOPLE!!!

Oct 2, 2008 - 6:21 pm 24. Allie:

Biden is too glib. His off-camera smiling comes off as condescending. On the other hand, Palin comes off as gutsy. Go get ‘im, girl!

Oct 2, 2008 - 6:24 pm 25. Sarah:

I like watching CNN’s version because you can put the thing on mute and just look at their body language, the “uncommitted Ohio voters” positive/negative tracking lines, and read the captions when something happens that makes the lines go wonky. For instance, men don’t like whatever the heck it is that Biden said twenty seconds ago, but women dig it. A lot. Makes me look forward to listening to the C-SPAN recording tomorrow.

(note: Palin may have stronger positives with men than women in general, but she seems to do a better job with women on most of what she’s said so far.)

Oct 2, 2008 - 6:25 pm 26. mishu:

Biden needs to clear that dry booger out of his nose.

Oct 2, 2008 - 6:28 pm 27. kat:

If Lenders can adjust the PRINCIPAL, who is taking the hit?

Oct 2, 2008 - 6:30 pm 28. johnr:

So is Ifell as stupid as she sounds? SHE sure can’t speak without a teleprompter…
John

Oct 2, 2008 - 6:32 pm 29. equitus:

Palin keeps forging ahead to the next topic before Gwen can even ask it. Precognitive?

Oct 2, 2008 - 6:33 pm 30. Steve:

This will soon be known as the Obama and O’Biden ticket

Oct 2, 2008 - 6:37 pm 31. tanstaafl:

It all seems quite mechanical so far, more mechanical than the recent Presidential debate.

Oct 2, 2008 - 6:39 pm 32. Kevin of Southbank:

An Australian perspective is at http://www.slanderyou2.blogspot.com

Oct 2, 2008 - 6:46 pm 33. Capt Nemo:

She says ‘nukeular’. Beautiful.

Oct 2, 2008 - 6:50 pm 34. mishu:

Gwen keeps baiting Sarah to say nucular.

Oct 2, 2008 - 6:57 pm 35. Antoine Roquentin:

Stephen –
You mention a new brand of vodka. I suggest Chopin, I’m on my second….and after this debate I’ll need 2 more.

Oct 2, 2008 - 7:01 pm 36. roywood:

1. I noted, with a little horror, that Palin said “nukeular.”

2. I need to pour myslef a drink (or 2) after hearing Biden say that he and Barry want to give a bankruptcy judge the power to change the PRINCIPLE (not to mention the interest rate) on a home loan.

Oct 2, 2008 - 7:03 pm 37. equitus:

“Bosniacs”?

Oct 2, 2008 - 7:03 pm 38. BigDale:

Personally I think Palin’s keeping this guy rattled and if she was weak on a point or two, I agree with a comment I heard earlier; the moose are running scared right about now.

Oct 2, 2008 - 7:03 pm 39. John:

Bosniacs? Didn’t he play linebacker for Okklahoma about 20 years ago?Or was that Steve Jobs’ partner at Apple?

Oct 2, 2008 - 7:03 pm 40. Antoine Roquentin:

Sadly, the debate looks like a dead heat thus far. I say that considering Biden looks like he has taken every chance and Palin has missed more than few chances at a haymaker.

Oct 2, 2008 - 7:03 pm 41. Jim T:

Just keep thinking about Admiral Stockdale and his “Who am I and why am I here?” Perot still got 19% of the vote, which was probably his top. It ain’t over ’til it’s over.

Oct 2, 2008 - 7:04 pm 42. zeppenwolf:

> how is this playing at home?

It’s kind of symmetric to the McCain/Obama debate.

The main issue is how well each candidate does “his” job:

McCain may have “won” the debate, but Obama did far more to present himself as presidential as opposed to some newbie risk

Biden is “winning”, with his very practiced schlok-talk, but Palin is doing far more of her “job”– she is handling it capably, and can effectively wipe out all the obsession with her gakking the Katie interview…

My two.

Oct 2, 2008 - 7:05 pm 43. Capt Nemo:

My take (I’m a sane libertarian), Sarah didn’t blow the roof off, but she recovered her brand. Oof, she just nailed him on his Iraq vote.

Oct 2, 2008 - 7:05 pm 44. Ryan:

On COIN, Palin scored a direct hit. Biden was left double-clutching in his response (such as it was). I think she was pretty uncertain early on–and her delivering answers directly to the camera comes off pretty canned and unauthentic–but now she seems to be getting under Biden’s skin, and I rather like it.

Oct 2, 2008 - 7:05 pm 45. k. pablo:

“Bosniaks”?

Oct 2, 2008 - 7:07 pm 46. Jaci:

It’s true, Sarah’s going into robot mode too often and letting the easy punches go, but Biden has been double-talking and referring to himself in the third person (a troubling sign) way too much. If she kept off script and did more of that “I’ll answer the questions the way I want” then I think she’d get a clear win. Right now, objectively, it is close. Or, closer than I would like.

Oct 2, 2008 - 7:07 pm 47. AJ:

Biden looks at notes and recites talking pts, while Palin speaks, factually, from the heart. The former plays in elite liberal coastal cities; while the latter plays to middle America.

Oct 2, 2008 - 7:07 pm 48. MathMom:

Palin is strong. She does not look like she has memorized talking points. Biden, unfortunately, was sufficiently medicated before the debate, and he has not swallowed his foot. Bummer.

Oct 2, 2008 - 7:08 pm 49. Scott:

Biden sounds good, but he’s just making things up. If only Palin wouldcall him on it and stop saying”nucular”.

Oct 2, 2008 - 7:09 pm 50. julie:

She’s doing a good job at drawing out Biden’s and Obama’s differences. I wasn’t aware they were quite so sharp.

Oct 2, 2008 - 7:09 pm 51. David B.:

I’m a conservative Republican, and love Palin, but it seems that Palin is playing on the Obama/Biden field, playing defense, rather than being on offense. If she’d go on offense (free Sarah!), I think she’d be doing better.

Oct 2, 2008 - 7:09 pm 52. scott:

Well, I was looking for a much stronger display from Palin. I expected Ifill to be stacking the deck as well. So far I’ve seen Palin give a much weaker showing than I was hoping for and Ifill, while she’s thrown a couple of softballs out there, hasn’t been as partisan as I expected. Biden is comin out on top in this debate so far but only because, imho, Palin is letting a bunch of open shots at Biden and Obama slip by w/o comment. This debate is, overall, a disappointment so far. The one thing that is patently a win for Palin is the factual points she does make. Biden is making statement after statement that his record doesn’t back up. Unless the flow of the debate changes though I see this is an overall win for Biden. Not sure that helps Obama though. We’ll see.

Oct 2, 2008 - 7:10 pm 53. Grant Gold:

Palin is blowing it. Biden has rattled off numerous already easily bunked comments and Palin is either giving a pass or totally ill-informed and not pouncing. And for crying out loud . . . we get it . . Palin = Energy. Sodding bust his balls for crying out loud. I want new politicians of integrity to call bullshit on all these teet sucking do nothings. Seriously, the term career politician says it all. Hell no, you should be making a career out this. I want ball busting. Our politicians are a cancerous rot of thieves for Christ’s sake.

Oct 2, 2008 - 7:10 pm 54. equitus:

She winked at me! *swoons*

Oct 2, 2008 - 7:11 pm 55. Valerie:

Friendly steel. I like that.

Oct 2, 2008 - 7:11 pm 56. Murph:

So far Palin is holding her own – and considering the pre-debate spin that’s a win for Team mcCain.

Oct 2, 2008 - 7:12 pm 57. Allie:

Palin is appealing in a very direct way. If it were a sports event, everyone would be rooting for the underdog Palin. Will that translate into votes?

Oct 2, 2008 - 7:12 pm 58. Pete:

Man, I was nervous about how Palin would do, but I am relieved tonight. They both sound competent, but she looks better. Like in the rest of life, tie goes to the hottie.

Oct 2, 2008 - 7:13 pm 59. Leland:

At home? It sounds like Biden can say whatever he wants whether true or not. At the same time Palin simply refuses to pounce on libertarian softballs! Biden said, “McCain has supported deregulation” Palin should have said “Yes, he did! And he supported more regulation of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. McCain believes in regulating government and releasing Free Markets”. Biden talked about cutting taxes and helping Middle Class, but then attacks energy companies for global warming. Palin should have said, “How can you help the Middle Class by limiting the supply of oil and raising prices on the basic needs of the Middle Class?” Heck, even Ifill at least challenged the “Middle Class” rhetoric as class warfare.

Is it just me, or was anyone else hoping that when Biden rebutted and still couldn’t say the “Commanding General’s” name, that she would say, “It’s McKiernan, Joe, his name is McKiernan.” And this from LAT: More U.S. troops needed in Afghanistan ‘quickly,’ general says

My wife made a good comment though… too bad both of them aren’t running at the top of the ticket. This debate does seem far better than a week ago.

Oct 2, 2008 - 7:14 pm 60. Antoine Roquentin:

Palin seems to have come on much stronger the last 10-15 minutes. She has the appearance of someone having fun which wasn’t present early on.

Oct 2, 2008 - 7:16 pm 61. dcc:

I think Zeppenwolf is on the right track. Biden is doing a better job in a traditional debate sense, but Palin is not coming off as the bubble-head the media have made her out to be. I do wish she would slow down when she speaks. She’s clearly a bright person, but she’s not quite ready for this level and little things like speaking too fast count and they are hurting her.

I suspect that some of the people who were getting spooked after the Couric interview, etc. will feel comforted by this.

Oct 2, 2008 - 7:18 pm 62. zombyboy:

I don’t know if it’s a home run, but I have to admit that I’m liking Palin a little more after tonight and I think she’s doing a damned fine job. I don’t know if she’s scoring more points, but she’s making her case for being a personable, serious, smart politician.

Not perfect, but good. I just don’t know if it’s quite good enough.

Oct 2, 2008 - 7:19 pm 63. GoldenGreg:

No bias at all, that must be the reason Palin is asked each question first so Biden can get the last word? It is pissing me off!

Oct 2, 2008 - 7:20 pm 64. Randy G:

Palin is more relaxed and natural.
Biden in a black suit, what is more insider than that.
Palin seems genuine while Biden seems insider politics.
I’d rather have a free spirit than a purchased insider.

Oct 2, 2008 - 7:20 pm 65. equitus:

Biden’s Achille’s heel? “I care too much.”

Oct 2, 2008 - 7:22 pm 66. AJ:

“tie goes to the hottie.”

The sexist liberal media wont be that kind — since she’s a Republican.

Biden’s cliches are out of control.

Oct 2, 2008 - 7:24 pm 67. Palin does more than hold her own. She cleaned house tonight. « The Right Daily:

[...] it, Michelle!  Sarah-cuda!  No ned for “drunkblogging” tonight. [...]

Oct 2, 2008 - 8:20 pm 68. Jules Crittenden » Car Crash Liveblog:

[...] Vodkapundit drunkblogs it. [...]

Oct 2, 2008 - 8:23 pm 69. JMS2008:

I haven’t read all the comments, so someone might have mentioned this, but Palin did one thing she absolutely needed to do and that is what she said specifically on climate change and energy. She hit a home run when she talked about relying on foreign countries for energy, countries which do not have the stringent regulations that we have in America. If we rely on foreign sources of energy, we are actually paying other countries to pollute our planet to a far greater extent than we would if we produced the energy ourselves. I wish she had hammered that home more during her closing.

I also, by the way, loved when Biden said Bosniacs. Sounds like a species of space alien out of Star Trek. I loved even more when Palin said, “Senator O’Biden.” That was perfect.

Oct 2, 2008 - 8:24 pm 70. lee:

Joe Biden looks like he could play the evil corporate type in a hollywood film, lol.

Oct 2, 2008 - 8:25 pm 71. TeamPlayer:

Guys, Gals, can we agree that the tenor of this debate was just fantastic. Biden was just tremendous and the comments about him on the top of the ticket might be dead on. I was really impressed with him. Gov. Palin did a good job preparing for tonight. I think she dissembled a bit more than Biden but really, she restored confidence in her abilities. This was a good debate and I was so happy because it didn’t have a venomous undertone. I wish the punditocracy could convey as much civility and gravitas as these two tonight. Good job!

Oct 2, 2008 - 8:35 pm 72. Palin Eats Biden’s Lunch « The Rhetorican:

[...] tonight.  I’m at work and couldn’t watch, but I followed it on the blogosphere (mostly Stephen Green’s drunkblog of the debate and on Ann Althouse’s [...]

Oct 2, 2008 - 8:40 pm 73. Opinionated Jackass:

What’s up with Biden’s eyelids? He should sue his plastic surgeon.

Oct 2, 2008 - 8:48 pm 74. MathMom:

(sorry this is late – couldn’t post for an hour or more)

I’m getting tired of the word “Maverick”. The CNN lines are flat when Palin uses it. I think she missed a few chances to mention that freeing 50 million people from brutal regimes in Afghanistan and Iraq, and that might just be worth the money we’ve spent. Is it a fear of giving Bush any credit for anything?

Oct 2, 2008 - 8:53 pm 75. whitehall:

Mostly I heard too much “Blah, blah, blah!” from both sides. Biden is so contentless in most of what he says. Palin, as others have noted, is good when she is speaking for herself, and a bit blah, blah, blah when she defends McCain.

Biden gave the best, most cogent, performance I’ve ever seen him do – but that is intentionally damning with faint praise.

Are we supposed to believe that Democrats are the lower taxes party? Pleazzze.

Biden throws out so many contrafactuals that Palin had to call him on it and she did with her “Pundits tomorrow…” line.

Palin on points.

Oct 2, 2008 - 8:55 pm 76. MathMom:

My final point: I wish Palin would have made her introductory statement, and ended with a comment to Ifill: “On a personal note, Ms. Ifill, I congratulate you on your forthcoming book about Senator Obama”, and maybe slyly mention the Inauguration Day rollout…

I can dream, can’t I?

Oct 2, 2008 - 9:16 pm 77. peter jackson:

It would have capped it off well if Palin would have turned to Biden and said “You know Joe, your ticket is upside down. You should be debating John, and I should have been debating Senator Obama tonight.”

The first five minutes you could see Palin struggling to keep her lips from shaking. She then went all robot and gave the same answer to about three or four questions and was letting so many easy opportunities to hand Biden his nut-sack that I was yelling at the television. But by the last half she finally went off-script and regained her confidence. By the end she was having fun. the tie may very well go to Palin, we’ll have to see It’s a shame there won’t be a second VP debate.

Oct 2, 2008 - 9:39 pm 78. Marc Malone:

Sadly, I can’t play, because my computer monitor IS my TV. I love this drunkblog stuff. You guys are hilarious.

I realized later why she asked if she could call Biden “Joe”. She was setting him up for the “Say it ain’t so” line.

Bosniac? Braniac’s Biden’s brother.

Fox had an interesting interview with Palin’s former Governor race opponent. He’s cheering her on! He made a great point. Watching Biden’s reactions, he knew exactly how he felt. He had the same reaction during his debate with her. You’re all prepared; got your facts in order; you’re more experienced; and she clobbers you on personality.

Don’t get on Joe for leering. Sounds like many of you here are doing likewise!

Karl Rove ripped up 10 pure factual errors on Joe’s part. There’s no way for her to rebut them. She simply lacks the history. She’s staying on point. It would’ve been nice to see her shred him, but I think a debate on details would be a losing battle with him. She’s doing an Obama. When you’re a lightweight, stick to a few facts and speak in generalities. Bob and weave. You don’t have a knockout punch. Don’t get in a slugging match with a guy who greatly outweighs you.

Oct 2, 2008 - 9:40 pm 79. Marc Malone:

I saw some of CNN’s broadcast. I like the Ohio voters graph. The Men LOVE Palin. Interestingly, the women like Biden. They really responded when he choked up and otherwise seemed like a sensitive and regular… um… Joe.

Can’t wait to see if the MSM bothers to fact-check tomorrow. I think some will, because the debate story is too huge to ignore. It’ll make some sales, if they can drag the story out a couple days. They may think it won’t affect the campaign. They may or may not be right.

Oct 2, 2008 - 9:45 pm 80. Willmoore Kendall:

Everytime Joe Biden “spontaneously” cries in front of TV cameras, drink.

I think the guys who sleep under the overpass are the only ones who can keep up.

Oct 3, 2008 - 2:51 am 81. SAF:

While the debates might provide good theater it is a poor way to size up a candidate. All you need to do is check the track record. Is it consistent? Does it support your positions? Does it make sense?

Biden may lie but its his track record I don’t like. Does it really matter that Biden thought George Washington used Sprint instead of Verizon to phone home about chopping down the cherry tree?

He may know more about foreign policy but his application of that knowledge as exemplified by his voting record shows a lack of judgment.

Oct 3, 2008 - 3:59 am 82. TeamPlayer:

Malone, the CIA factbook indicates Bosniac as one of the 3 major ethnic groups. Willmoore…just disgusting.

Oct 3, 2008 - 4:43 am 83. Debate reaction « The Eclectic One:

[...] the Republican side though explains a great deal about Palin’s continued popularity. From VodkaPundit: 8:17PM Hair down, hair up, Palin still has that Naughty Librarian thing going on. To be more [...]

Oct 3, 2008 - 5:03 am 84. What Am I Missing? « Ennuipundit:

[...] Am I Missing? Stephen Green essentially sums up my [...]

Oct 3, 2008 - 6:27 am 85. Christopher:

Did nobody notice the fact that Palin kept dodging the questions? To the point where the moderator had to ask her, after a long ramble, “so governor Palin do you have anything to say about (insert the relevant topic)?”

Oct 3, 2008 - 7:46 am 86. kd:

Not only did Palin dodge the questions, she announced her intention to ignore them and use the time to speak directly “to the American people”. How are we to take this? Contempt for the moderator, or the debate platform itself? Contempt for her opponent? Arrogance? (i.e. What I have to say is more important than any darn debate, doggoneit) Instructions from Rove-like handlers? Or jus’ good ol’ Sarah bein’ a fiesty maverick, by golly?

If Sarah Palin represents the future of American politics, I weep for this country.

Oct 3, 2008 - 8:44 am 87. MW:

kd: I would take it as contempt for the moderator to a slight extent, but also towards the media in general. Well-earned in both instances.

Oct 3, 2008 - 3:19 pm 88. Marc Malone:

Kd, I feel the same when I see Obama. He, too, dodges questions and such. This is standard poiltical stuff. Were I her, I’d do the same, talking about the things where I’m strongest.

Did Mrs. Ifill ask how the energy crisis affects the foreign policy issue? No. How about how it affects the balance of trade? No. How about how it affects people’s pocketbook? No. Very little of the issues were playing against Obama/Biden’s weakness: energy.

The majority of the “debate” seemed to be about foreign policy. What a surprise. The bias was subtle.

Oct 3, 2008 - 4:42 pm 89. Pink Pig:

I missed all of the audio and most of the video of this debate, so I can only comment secondhand, but I have a couple of points to make.

1) Palin is absolutely right to pronounce nuclear “nucular”. That’s the standard pronunciation in flyover country (which will decide the election) and those who say “nu-cle-ar” come off as affected snobs.

2) Somebody (I think Obama in the first debate) pronounced Taliban as “ta-LIB-an”, which is possibly slightly closer to the correct pronunciation than “TAL-i-ban”. But I remember when Kerry pronounced Genghis Khan’s name “Jen-ghis”, which is again probably a bit closer to the correct pronunciation than “Ghen-ghis”, but it made him sound like an effete snob. (Well, maybe he is, after all.)

He could of course make up for it by referring to “Eye-raq”; I doubt that McCain would be willing to match that one.

Oct 3, 2008 - 7:49 pm 90. Pink Pig:

I should probably add that Jimmy Carter grew up with the “nu-cu-lar” pronunciation, but somebody must have raked him over the coals about it, because he ended up pronouncing it “nuc-lar”. He couldn’t have said “nu-cle-ar” if his life depended on it.

Oct 3, 2008 - 7:52 pm 91. Freedom is just another word...:

Biden wanted to ask spunky Palin for a date. In his eyes and his smiles.

Oct 4, 2008 - 5:28 am 92. Boris:

Even for inebriated commentary, this was shallow and vapid. If you guys want credibility, stop doing these things.

Oct 4, 2008 - 1:07 pm 93. Marc Malone:

Geez, Boris. It’s drunken blogging. It’s SUPPOSED TO BE shallow and vapid! It’s fun! Buzzkiller!

Oct 4, 2008 - 10:54 pm 94. movie fan:

it would be dangerous for the GOP to reschedule another VP debate… the more unscripted air time Palin gets, the more time people will have to realize that she couldn’t answer a question about any of the major issues if her life depended on it. the prospect of her becoming the Commander in Chief is frightening

Oct 10, 2008 - 11:05 am 95. Marc Malone:

moviefan – Please! Just how well did BIDEN do? He simply made things up as he went along: simply lied through his teeth. If Palin had talked like that, she’d've been hounded from the ticket, and you know it!

Oct 10, 2008 - 3:20 pm