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Drunkblogging the VP Debate
Did a sloshed Stephen Green of Vodkapundit commit more gaffes Thursday night than the candidates?
7:43PM Biden is still trying to sell the 16 month drawdown, without saying when those months would start. And Plain stumbled on her response. I’m still sad.
7:42PM Obama’s “clear plan” is basically the Surge while denying who got us the Surge to begin with. Will no one call him on this?
7:42PM Palin is stumbling on the rest of her answer, however, interrupting herself in the middle of slamming Obama. “Pulled punches” has been the theme for the Republicans in both debates so far.
7:41PM “The surge … has been proven to work.” So true! So out of date at this point! So sad.
7:39PM “I’m being as straight up with America as I can.” Would that the other guy were put on the defensive that way.
7:38PM Here’s what I mean. The question makes Palin spend most of her time defending herself as “tolerant,” instead of answering the damn question.
7:37PM You know what? Ifill is doing OK so far. If by OK, you mean, “Questions where it’s much easier for a Democrat to give a friendly answer.” I mean, “Do you support same-sex benefits” is a neutral question?
7:35PM Biden shook his head on Palin’s “clean coal” slam. But on that one, let’s let Joe’s gaffe-y record speak for itself.
7:34PM Palin: “It’s ‘drill, baby, drill!’” It was a weak slam, but it was something.
7:33PM Joe Biden promises to stop “greenhouse gasses from emitting.” I can’t think of a better example of acting locally — so shut up, Joe!
7:30PM But first, I must say that Palin is back in her comfort zone while talking energy — but she hasn’t yet once mentioned the Democrats’ attempt to completely shut down trillions in US energy production.
7:29PM Cautionary note: My first martini (following a glass and a half of a very nice, cheap Argentine Cabernet) is almost empty. I’ll miss a minute or two while I refill. Such is the price you pay for free entertainment.
7:28PM Ouch! Palin needs to stay OFF SCRIPT. She just mixed up Main Street for Wall Street and blew one of her better pre-programmed line.
7:27PM Palin is less than convincing when she’s parroting McCain’s lines about “greed and corruption on Wall Street.” At least, that’s how this libertarian reads it.
7:26PM Biden has an easy command of the facts, even when his facts are BS. Given the pressure on Palin, that’s probably all he needs to do tonight for a draw or better.
7:24PM Palin is talking energy — and it’s obvious she’s off-script, passionate, and *right*. More like this, please.
7:23PM I have to ask: Biden is winning at this point, but he seems bitter about being at the bottom of the ticket. Is it possible for Biden to win tonight and for Obama to lose?
7:22PM Biden admits Obama might have to “slow down” the promise to double foreign aid. And he did so without mentioning Obama by name.
7:21PM You’ll pardon me if I zone out while the candidates discuss the minutia of health care plans. Is this a Democratic Primary Debate?
7:20PM Biden doesn’t need to plug Pennsylvania, but he did anyway.
7:19PM When Palin is off script, she’s looking away from the camera. When she’s on-script, she looks, unblinking, at the camera. She’s better off-script.
7:18PM Whew! Palin is slamming Biden for his patriotic-for-paying-taxes gaffe. But the trick is, luring Biden into fresh gaffes. If she doesn’t do that, then I think she’ll have underperformed.
7:17PM “The superwealthy are doing… pretty well.” Best line of the night so far, and it was Biden’s. But he still hardly looks at the camera.
7:17PM Biden is selling Obama’s tax plan… while hardly mentioning Obama. This guy has got an ego. And this I say as a dedicated (if inebriated) egoist.
7:16PM First cutoff of the night is against Palin. Do a shot.
7:15PM First smackdown of the night, and it goes to Biden. His premise on deregulation is still bogus, but there’s no way to get past that in a strict-format debate.
7:14PM Palin sounds good for tax relief, but I’m afraid, so far, she’s the Nixon in a Nixon-Kennedy Debate.
7:13PM Biden is blaming everything on “deregulation.” Even though banking is one of the most heavily regulated industries, and the mortgage industry is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Democratic Party. The problem? Biden’s message resonates with the electorate.
7:11PM If I’m not mistaken, Biden just mentioned Obama. And it took only ten minutes!
7:11PM I like the fact that Palin is willing to tell people not to take on too much debt. But it’s an open question if that’s wise.
7:10PM Biden just forgot about the split screen, and was caught seething and sighing in Palin’s direction.
7:09PM Palin is very much on message, however. Everything comes back to McCain. But when will she dig her teeth into Obama?
7:09PM Palin deflected nicely, protecting her boss and herself. But she’s not blinking, at it’s a little unsettling. Is that just her, just nerves, or is she reciting her programed answers?
7:08PM Biden has “shrunk the gap” his entire senate career. I’m not sure what that means, other than he has a lot of Republican friends. Still unsaid: the name “Obama.” Said thrice: “McCain” Said twice: “Bush.”
7:07PM Boom. Palin is crediting the top of her ticket for his foresight. How long before Biden mentions Obama? Well, now he’s GOT to.
7:06PM Palin Speaking to the camera. She let slip a “betchya.” She sounds honest. I’ll wait before I say if she sounds credible.
7:06PM Biden doesn’t want “CEOs benefitting” from the bailout. Does he want to retroactively tax the Fannie/Freddie people back to the Stone Age?
7:05PM It’s all Bush’s fault!, is the answer. But he hasn’t looked at the camera. He seems evasive, although I doubt he means to. He’s just focusing incorrectly.
7:05PM Biden takes the first question. Was the bailout the best or worst of Washington?
7:04PM Both candidates look good, but there’s only one I’d like to nibble on.
7:04PM Ifill chose the questions, without any oversight. It’s the same way I drunkblog, only I come in with zero pretense of objectivity.
7:02PM Here’s Gwen Ifill. If she holds her book up to the camera, do TWO shots.
7:01PM Here’s how I handicap it. I’d like to see the Sarah Palin I saw oh-so-briefly in St Paul a few weeks ago. And I’d like to see the Joe Biden … well, I never saw a Joe Biden who didn’t crack me up, so that one’s a win-win.
7:00PM Here we go …
6:58PM If Brian Setzer was a Republican and did novelty songs, he’d have to re-record one of his Christmas classics as Everybody’s Waiting For The Man With The Gaffe. Pins and needles here, really.
6:57PM Surprise! Fox has on a pretty blonde. Wearing red, too. Is she expecting a chance to question Reagan?
6:55PM Mort Kondracke expects a “sober” debate. Who has his email address? I need to send him a piece of my … bar tab.
6:54PM On yesterday’s PJTV Blogger Whip, I put a hundred bucks on 11, for the over/under on Joe Biden getting cut off for going over his allotted time. You can play along at home.
6:52PM Carl Cameron has been following Sarah Palin throughout the campaign, and has some insights. I mention this only because, had I been following her even half as long, there would already be a restraining order.
6:51PM Jules Crittenden is liveblogging, too. But if he’s drinking, he’s keeping it a secret. On the other hand, he’s calling his the Car Crash Liveblog. Strap your helmets on, folks.
6:49PM Morris’s point is that the tall nail gets knocked down. But the MSM is going to play the role of hammer to Obama’s nail? I laughed so hard I (not quite very nearly) spilled my gin.
6:48PM More pregame action. Dick Morris thinks McCain is due to come back. By the Morris Rule, that means McCain is toast.
6:43PM A few minutes ago, however, it was pure joy watching Big Bill rake Bailout Barney Frank over the coals.
6:41PM Plus side, my martini is extra dry tonight. Minus side, since I watched on CNN last time, I’m watching on Fox tonight — and that means I’ve got to watch Bill O’Reilly’s pre-show. The things I do for you people.
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Stephen Green writes, broadcasts, and enjoys the occasional lovely adult beverage at the home he shares with his wife and son in Monument, Colorado.
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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…
Oct 2, 2008 - 6:32 pm 29. equitus:John
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 –
Oct 2, 2008 - 7:01 pm 36. roywood:You mention a new brand of vodka. I suggest Chopin, I’m on my second….and after this debate I’ll need 2 more.
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.
Oct 2, 2008 - 7:20 pm 65. equitus: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.
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