Palin, Biden go on attack in sole debate
By Susan Milligan and Scott Helman
GLOBE STAFF
WASHINGTON Vice presidential candidates Joe Biden and Sarah Palin sparred over the economy, energy, and Iraq tonight, attacking the records and proposals of the other party's presidential nominee as each sought to claim the mantle of defender of the middle class.
Neither candidate committed the kind of serious error that some pundits had predicted. Biden avoided the run-on speeches and gaffes that have gotten him into trouble in the past. Palin, whose inexperience and uneven performance in recent interviews led to questions about her credentials for the job, delivered clear and folksy responses on topics familiar to her.
While both candidates largely avoided making direct attacks on each other, both slammed the other party's presidential candidate on a slew of issues.
McCain, Biden said, is "out of touch" on the economy, and "wrong" on Iraq. Palin countered that Democratic nominee Senator Barack Obama wants to raise taxes a charge Biden vehemently denied and fails to see the success of the surge in Iraq.
"Your plan is a white flag of surrender in Iraq," Palin said.
The debate, at Washington University in St. Louis, was a critical test for Palin, who had performed well in debates in Alaska but was under pressure tonight to show her range of knowledge. While Palin several times gave one-sentence answers to questions, then followed with a longer discourse on a topic to her liking, such as energy, she did not commit an obvious stumble.
From the debate's opening moments, Palin immediately sought to employ her folksy approach when asked to assess the economy. Filling her remarks with "darn right"s and promises to "talk straight," Palin underscored the self-described "hockey mom" credentials that have made her a political icon of social conservatives.
"Go to a kids soccer game on Saturday," she said. "Turn to any parent on the sidelines and ask them: How are you feeling about the economy? I bet you're going to hear some fear in that parent's voice."
Palin went on to echo McCain's contention that Washington had been too lax on the country's financial industry.
"The federal government has not provided sound oversight," she said.
Biden retorted that McCain has been an historic supporters of deregulation a charge Palin did not answer directly and reminded viewers that McCain just weeks ago said the "fundamentals of the economy are strong."
"That doesn't make John McCain a bad guy, but it does point out he's out of touch," Biden said.
In one of the few direct shots at the other debater on stage, Palin reminded Biden that he had called it "patriotic" to raise taxes. "In the middle class of America, which is where John and I have been patriotic is saying, government, you're not always the solution. In fact, you're often the problem," Palin said.
Biden immediately defended himself, saying that Obama's tax plan would cuts taxes for 95 percent of Americans, and raise them only on people making more than a quarter of a million dollars a year. "Where I come from ... that's called fairness. Simple fairness," Biden said.
The heavily hyped debate presented unusually high stakes for a vice presidential face-off, with McCain and his supporters hoping that Palin could again be a game-changer for the struggling campaign. While the Palin pick was an enormous boost for McCain in September, exciting social conservatives and drawing women to the ticket, the Arizona senator's poll numbers have faltered over the past two weeks as the economic crisis has deepened.
With surveys showing that voters put more faith in Obama to fix the economy, McCain has seen his support drop both nationally and in critical battleground states such as Virginia, Colorado, and Pennsylvania. In a surprise move, McCain's campaign disclosed today that it is effectively pulling his campaign operation out of Michigan. The states of North Carolina, Indiana, and Florida once considered long shots for Obama are newly competitive.
The McCain campaign had hoped that Palin, with her spunky speaking style and solid conservative credentials, would win over conservative women, Westerners, and evangelicals. But recent polling indicates that she, too, is losing ground among voters, a majority of whom, according to some surveys, question whether the self-described "hockey mom" and former small-town mayor is qualified to take over as president.
That is in part due to a handful of unflattering TV interviews Palin has given since McCain tapped her as his running mate, in which she could not name any magazines or newspapers she regularly reads, could not cite a Supreme Court decision other than Roe vs. Wade with which she disagreed, insisted Alaska's proximity to Russia gave her foreign policy experience, and struggled to offer cogent answers on the economy and geopolitics.
Biden, meanwhile, was in the delicate position of having to criticize the McCain-Palin ticket without appearing to bully Palin, which would surely turn off some female voters. He had already gotten himself in hot water after she was picked when he described her as "good-looking," even though he meant the line to be self-deprecating.
That was just one example of Biden's major potential threat in the debate his propensity to make embarrassing gaffes. He made several substantial errors in the weeks after his nomination in August. He criticized an Obama campaign ad, then later admitted he hadn't seen it yet. He said President Franklin Roosevelt had gone on television when the stock market crashed in 1929, but Roosevelt wasn't yet president and television barely existed then.
Despite the serious policy issues which divide Biden and Palin, tonight's debate also was characterized by a more obvious difference: gender. Each candidate faced challenges because of it, according to political analysts and gender studies specialists.
The debate was only the second general election face-off involving a female candidate the last one, between Democratic vice presidential nominee Geraldine Ferraro and Republican George H. W. Bush, was nearly a quarter century ago.
Ferraro got sympathy from some female voters when she pointedly told Bush not to "patronize" her during a discussion of foreign policy in 1984. Democrat Hillary Clinton scored points when her GOP opponent in the 2000 New York Senate race, Rick Lazio, walked across the debate stage and waved a piece of paper in her face, asking her to public ally pledge to reject "soft money" contributions in her campaign. The moment which some female voters described as reminiscent of their husbands waving a credit card bill in their faces became a turning point in a campaign that launched the former First Lady's career as an elected official.
Voters still see a female politician as a woman first and a candidate second, said Ruth Mandel, director of the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University.
"I don't think we're close to crossing the threshold for gender invisibility," said Mandel, a specialist in women candidates and voting patterns. "Most especially in the case of Sarah Palin, the marquee above the stage is lit up with woman, woman, woman'" in part, Mandel said, because Palin herself has underscored her role as a mother in addition to her job as governor.
But Clinton's participation in more than 20 Democratic presidential debates during the primaries has helped "paved the way" for Palin to display herself as a potential vice president, with less of a focus on her gender, said Harrison Hickman, a Democratic pollster.
Voters are "going to evaluate her pretty straight up," he said. "There's not gong to be any affirmative action fudging in the grading."
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Palin need to quit!!!!
Gov. Palin hid her lack of knowledge with quick talking and not answering questions. Folksy doesn't cut it.
Raise the taxest for some and not all is fair? I don't make over $250,000, but I don't see why people who work hard, and are successful should be punished for that.
Simple fairness would be everyone have the same tax rate.
I though Joe Biden was his usual self. He has experience but said "I did" about a thousand times. I know his record, he did not "do" all he claimed to have done.
He is the same old Joe.. a good guy buy but sucked into the "I gotta support Barrack" at any cost.
I liked Sarah Palin's direct and "one of you" responses. She was articulate forthright and i think she was the better, fresher candidate. She has good experience, she is smart and articulate. While Joe has been in government for 30 years and I appreciate his position, he made me tired with his I" did's".
His party has had control of the house and senate for tha last four years. They have been pathetic. Just blame President Bush instead of doing the work of the people. Harry Reid is a disgrace and Joe seemed in step with that.
Steve in Idaho
Steve
Saying Palin won this thing is like saying the Holocaust never happened. Of course people believe the later to be true because its so absurd that one wouldnt say it unless of course the Holocaust wasn't true. So if you believe Palin won than you are either anti-semtic or an idiot.
I think that Palin did a great job and I am soooo tired of the media being so negitive toward the republican nominatees can we be so bipartisan in this critical time we realy need change and that is to leave total government out of the picture and let the people govern thank you!!!
I love Joe Biden. He was beautiful tonight and the clear winner of the debate. Sarah Palin, thankfully for her self esteem, did redeem herself after the Katie Couric interviews in which my stomach turned for Palin as I watched. Palin is not even close to being qualified, she was snide, sarcastic, insensitive and at times almost mean. However, the expectations were so low that by not talking in unfinished sentences and bizzare incoherent thoughts, Sarah did okay for McCain. Funny how some of her positions are not McCain's but that's okay. I think that Palin's beautiful newborn son deserves and needs the full attention of his mom way more than America needs Sarah Palin.
No question who won this one. It's obvious that she blew Biden away. He could not wait for the debate to end and get off the stage. Sarah Palin proved to the country that she is not only capable of being V.P. but that she would be a great V.P. She also attracted a lot of undecided male voters. Go Mccain/Palin !!!!!!!!!
McCain and Palin are the team that USA need for this time.
I vote for them.
being able to make shallow statements without humiliating yourself does not qualify one to be 2nd in command. Palin can't handle the job and McCain has thrown away all integrity to win at any cost. I would have considered voting for McCain in the past but no way now. Fortunately, Obama is inspiring and Biden an excellent complement. I actually feel hopeful about our future. OBAMA/BIDEN 08
Oh please.....this woman is no more qualified to assume the presidency than Minnie Mouse. Truly sad that this ignorant and illiterate individual has risen to this point.
Hello?! Sarah Palin's MAJOR gaffe: she doesn't have any concept of the Constitution and how the founders of our country set up our government to ensure checks and balances on power. The executive, legislative, and judicial branches are SEPARATE. NO, we cannot be "flexible" or expand the power of the Vice-President to the legislative branch. This is a BIG EXAMPLE OF IGNORANCE in Palin. She's no Cheney, but sometimes dumb can be just as dangerous as stealthy. She evidently didn't remember this from high school.
There should be a major outcry over her air-headed remark about expanding the powers of the V.P., good God!
No more seat-of-the-pants cowboy ad hoc off-the-cuff ruling by executive fiat with no respect for the law! I want a President and Vice-President who have a deep understanding how our democracy came to be and who will safeguard it against ignoramuses! Palin is another Bush: likeable at a barbeque and no clue about the weight of power and law. And it's "nuclear," not "nucular." Just like Bush. Not again!
I was very disappointed in the obvious "preferences" given to Biden by the moderator.
Palin makes alot of nice noise but constantly fails to answer the questions of the moderator. She exaggerates her previous experience as mayor of a hick town in which only 10% of the homes had proper sewers She also approved the bridge to nowhere which she denies. She says she got rid of corruption in Alaska but could not do anything about Senator Stevens who controls all the patronage in Alaska. Biden won the debate by a mile.
Hello?! Sarah Palin's MAJOR gaffe: she doesn't have any concept of our Constitution and how the founders of our country set up our government to ensure checks and balances on power. The executive, legislative, and judicial branches are SEPARATE. NO, we cannot be "flexible" or expand the power of the Vice-President to the legislative branch. This is a BIG EXAMPLE OF IGNORANCE in Palin. She's no Cheney, but sometimes dumb can be just as dangerous as stealthy. She evidently didn't remember this from high school.
There should be a major outcry over her air-headed remark about expanding the powers of the V.P., good God! The one moment when she went off-script...
No more seat-of-the-pants cowboy ad hoc off-the-cuff ruling by executive fiat with no respect for the law! I want a President and Vice-President who have a deep understanding how our democracy came to be and who will safeguard it against ignoramuses! Palin is another Bush: likeable at a barbeque and no clue about the weight of power and law. Not again!
Funny how people attack her as being inexperienced and a heartbeat away from the presidency, when their candidate has even LESS experience and is only a gullible fool's vote away from the presidency.
Palin was the clear winner bringing straight talk. As A lifelonf democrat and lesbian it was good she called out Biden/Obama's position against gay marriage. Obama for the people?
How much Change does he really stand for?
GO SARAH! She proved she could hold her own and capable of being VP.
McCain/Palin ticket...I will be voting for you.
I'm not super while about any of these two VP canidates, but I find it very disturbing
that Palin ducked and dodged quite a few questions that really needed answering, yet! the coverage is givng her high marks.
On the other hand Biden was so concerned about offending his female political rival that she diminished his 30 years as a Senator down to a state Governor .....like Alaska
Palin looked she was in A beaauty pagent! If she winked and smiled or mentioned maverick or John McCain one more time I thought I would puke!
She is a fresh face but that don't cut it. The best thing Joe Biden said was
that "Cheney was the most dangerous V.P. in the history of this country".
Amen!
Ask yourselves what did Palin tell you tonight that you did not already know....Did you get facts, figures and numbers or just convention talking points?
If you think Palen won, you're going to get it when McCain takes office. You have to be a complete idiot to vote for him. He is going to drive our economy into the ground. That's really sad if she attracted many undecided male voters. She hunts wolves out of a helicopter...for fun. Who would want this woman to run our country...not me.
She had me until she mispronounced "nuclear"... twice.
I kept asking myself throughout the debate, "which one these two candidates could truly fill the shoes of the President if something should happen to our leader. I think that Joe Biden would be the better choice.
No question that Obama/Palin are the Team America this time!!!! Who" won"? WE DID!
Biden was gutted by the Moose Hunter! Obama, your next!
Sara Palin was great tonight I believe she won the debate. McCain and Palin are the most qualified to run our country in a time like this. I vote for them. Sarah is really connected to the middle class. I believe that she has struggled in life before and knows how it is. Obama and Biden scare the crap out of me. They or I guess I should say Obama doesn't have a clue. I believe Obama is an evil person who will tell you anything to get your vote. Then when he gets in he becames Bid Laden or some other horrible person. Go Sarah
Biden was gutted by the Moose Hunter! Obama, your next!
It seems that, for the most part, comments released by pro-Biden supporters have the gramatical skills of a 2nd grader or a foreigner just learning the English language...probably against their will! Govenor Palin is on the fast track for The White House along with McCain,so get over it and get on board with the rest of the educated here in the USA!
Anyone with a brain that watched the debate should have seen right through Palin. She failed to answer direct questions or skidded over them like so much ice on the road. She could only find refuge in what she knew - energy and blowing the big oil companies skirts up as governor. She knows so, so little about the WORLD. We are talking about this person possibly in the lead seat and she will fail. Peppering her speech with "gosh's" "darn right's" and "I'm just like you" as she looking into the camera was nauseating. SAY YOU INSTEAD OF "YA", you hick. She like Bush, does not know how to even pronounce NUCLEAR!!!!!. sheeNOT.she
Palin did a great job and she is not afraid to do the right thing. I wished the liberal media would leave her alone. She was the David against the giant Goliath (Barack and Biden) I am voting for her. Barack has pretty speeches but does not walk the talk. He is not to be trusted.
Can't wait to see what is posted about this story Friday morning/afternoon. It seems that open-minded people post in the evening and the Obama lovers come out during the day.......when the rest of us are hard at work.
Biden did nothing but lie, talk about Obama and give that fake smile.I am surprised he didn't say anything too dumb tonight. Maybe because he wasn't allowed to rant for too long.
Palin may not have experience being a Senator, but I think that is a good thing. We need someone fresh with fresh ideas that has not been tainted like so many of these other politicians.
Good job Sarah!
Palin should have retorted to Biden's "bridge to nowhere" with, "which one Joe, the one you voted twice for, or the one in your state?". When he talked about "reaching across the isle" she should have reminded him of his mean spirited partisianship in the 9-11 commission hearings. I think Biden won tonight, though not significantly. He is knowledgeable, and let's face it a long-time, well trained and rehearsed "politician", so all considered, Palin held her own, but needs to answe questions, needs to answer them more specifically, and needs to learn to mask her stress/emotions on camera. Insofar as who voted how many times this way or that, well, numbers and staticis dont lie, but unfortunately politicians do..........
I watched the debate tonight from Canada with great interest and amusement. Sarah Palin left me speechless but not in a good way. Her performance reminded me of the poorly equipped member of a high school debating team, adding some spunk and color but with no real substance. Does this woman have a clue? Biden on the other hand, is eloquent and clearly knows the issues at hand. Really America, is there any question who should be running the country? I don't think so.
@Steve in Idaho
If being "one of us" was a qualification, then why do politicians waste their time with running for office, learning foreign policy, conducting interviews and trying to make a name for themselves? They should just select the candidates at random from the census records. George Bush was also considered to be "a guy I could have a beer with" and see how that turned out. Also, the Dems only gained a simple majority in the House and Senate 2006 so it has not been 4 years and they do not have a veto majority.
Anyone who misconstrued tonights performance by the Alaskan governor tonight as anything but scary should get their head examined. Palin could not deviate from her set talking points and when forced to do so she changed topics or offered no information at all. Her only major blows were showing that Biden changed his stance on Obama. A compromise for a VP ticket, hell I'd do it too. Then what? I'd rather a VP who who can articulate our issues rather than having to give foreign diginataries a folksy story of "how we do it in Alaska, aye."
Wow, some people commenting here must have watched a different debate. Seriously, the "folksy" non-answers were so infuriating. Biden even called her on it. lol
Are you serious with your headline that Biden and Palin "battled over change"? Do you really think for one moment that Sarah Palin represents, in any credible sense, change? There is a difference between her talking about change and the record that she and John McCain are running on. It's pretty clear by now that both McCain and Palin will try to pass offf anything that sounds good as the truth. Have the people who write boston.com's headlines not been in touch with reality for the past 8 years? McCain/Palin and change? Give me a break.
Palin had to study because their votes were dropping. She still didn't seem to be answering the questions. Palin's strategy was to avoid questions that she didn't know about and run her mouth on something else until the time ran out. The something else that she was read to about before the debate. McCain...He is Bush. Are we, the United States of America, happy with what George W. Bush has done for our country? I THINK NOT! My job is great, but others are in distress. Help them, I will by voting for Obama.
It's stunning. Palin didn't say a SINGLE THING. All she did was make generalizations and other meaningless comments in an attempt to make a pitch to voters who can't realize how ignorant they are.
Are elections really about just making an appeal to the general public? Are debates really just meant for politicians to make it sound like they're nice friendly chums, as opposed to leaders with a vision as to what's right for the American people? Vote for Palin and your answer is yes. I, on the other hand, would like to see someone who is smart and knows what's right for the country. Maybe having popular elections isn't the right way to determine our leaders anymore.
The polls are in, and they unanimously confirm (CNN, CBS, HCD Research, Knowledge Networks) Biden as the clear winner of tonight's debate amongst independent and undecided voters. Thats 2-0 for Obama/Biden.
Scoreboard!
Job well done by both of these candidates! Sarah Palin has gone from 0 to 60 in 5 weeks and that is no easy task in the world of Presidential politics. She was well coached, rehearsed, and managed to let her personality shine through. Joe Biden was confident, poised, polite, and authoritative. His 30 years in politics made this debate appear to be a stroll in the park. If you have a strong political bent left or right it is obvious who won. Your candidate! If you are politically neutral and seek the best candidate then maybe we all win because their motives are patriotic even if judgement is challenged. Either way what a change!
Barak Husien Obama has never worn a military uniform. Needless to say he never had a real job. He attended the finest private colleges and you are telling me that he understands the middle class needs and is prepared to be Commander and Chief. What world do you live in? Both Mccain and Palin are so closely related to everyday Americans how could you even consider Obama as President. Biden on the other hand is closer to main street Americans,unfortunately he's on the wrong ticket. But he did once say that he would be proud to be a running mate of John McCains. Did'nt he??? Oh yeah,one more thing McCain is a "real" American hero. And right now this country needs a hero.
Both potential veeps did well tonight, but Biden won. Palin spoke with little of the awkwardness of the Couric interviews, but that's because the format allowed her to say several times, after a 1-sentence response to the question, "What I really want to talk about is [insert well-rehearsed talking point here]." Biden did the same thing, but only once.
Both mostly praised their prez candidates in preformed fashion, which was boring but expected.
Steve in Idaho,
The democratic party has been in control for 2 years, not 4.
The only reason you right-wing nut-jobs criticize the Democratically controlled house and senate is because the president has vetoed all bills that help main street except the ones that put more recruiting stations on them.
Get your facts right my man!!!!!
Note that the Dems who run Congress have an even lower approval rating than Bush.
You do not want Dems having a monopoly on two branches of government with numbers that low.
Hell, look at the pork-laden "rescue" bill that's being touted. The work of dems, trying to get repubs to pass it.
Let the economy fail. Who cares? Some rich folk lose everything and come down to the ghetto with people like me. Big whoop. Let the foreigners divest themselves of American investments. It frees us from their influence. It will be cost effective to have our jobs back here at home, and maybe, MAYBE we will act as responsible citizens this time around, instead of mindless consumer cattle herded around in order to pay off our debts to these foreign investors.
We can kick the illegals out of our fields when our companies fold, and take back our jobs. We have become soft and complacent. Give up your Starbucks and your Oreos and get to work, you lazy bums.
Go McCain/Palin, and I pray to God our economy collapses. Like bad tasting medicine, it will be unpleasant, but it will be for the best.
Do I need Joe Six Pack to become VP or president? If so I think Lary the cable guy is better suit cause he is funny and doesn't know jack other than a funny guy with a beer.
TPE,
Biden slaughtered Palin. The independent polls already show it. The only problem is your republican dark side won't admit it.
By the way, Palin has hunted Moose but never killed one. Get your facts right.
nuc u lar? send this girl back to second grade!
Way to go Joe!
Joe Biden was the clear winner if you are judging by substance. Some may think Palin won on likeability but she was completely vacuous!
Biden obviously knows what he is talking about, especially when it comes to foreign affairs and I for one, find him likeable! Palin constantly veered off topic and the answers she gave lacked any meaningful content. She gave lots of repetitive one-liners but no real answers.
These two were a stark contrast. Biden showed that an executive can be down to Earth and remain composed while speaking intelligently! The American people don't need any more baby talk/Bush talk/straight talk...whatever you want to call it. We need to hear the facts and real solutions not more vacuous sound bites and empty promises!
Good Job Joe! You Rocked it Tonight!
Seriously, McCain Palin? Are you people out of your minds??!!!
Palin:
"I can see Alaska from my window" and my foreign experience involves waiting for "Putin to stick his head in the airspace" and having "trade missions with Russia." I'm a hockey mom! I love my kids. Did I mention my 17 year old is pregnant. -and if she were raped I'd force her to keep the baby. Roe vs Wade, of course I disagree with that. Just like I disagree with..uhm... other cases, in that big court... what's it called.... well, whatever"
...and don't bother asking her about the bush doctrine.
Watching her blabber on useless single sentence, after sentence with her fake sweet-home Alaska jargon about information she obviously didn't know until the McCain campaign fed it to her 3 days ago (all the while shaking their heads in disgust with how uninformed and unprepared she is for the VP position) was seriously agitating and left me with a sour taste in my mouth. I cannot believe there are people in this country that think this woman is ready to be president. Are you out of your minds!?
Obama and Biden will bring the change this country needs to get it back on track. Reaganomics don't work, Republicans, ask any economist and he'll "tell it to ya straight!" Neither do any of the republican policies Bush has enforced on our country for the past 8 years. Seriously, take a look around. Does it look like the current system is working? McCain, don't answer that...
I don't LOVE Biden and Obama (I was actually a Hillary supporter) but I know one thing for sure. I do not want my country to go to Hell. And that's just what'll happen if we keep electing officials with the same tired old policies that do not reflect the changing times. What's worse is there is a huge possibility McCain might die, if mistakenly elected, in office. And then we'd be stuck with a hockey mom from Alaska as president: it's a rags-to-riches fairy tale gone terribly wrong.
It's obvious that McCain did not pick her for her experience. If he had picked a prominent, accomplished, informed vp, I might feel differently about his campaign. But Palin was picked just because she is a woman, to win over disgruntles supporters (NOT ME!!!). That's it. There are plenty of accomplished women out there that I'd love to see run for office. She isn't one of them. Being on the pta doesn't qualify you to be president. Janice Dickenson is on her kid's pta, Lord knows we wouldn't want her in the White House.
People, please get acquainted with these candidates and the work they have done. Palin and McCain will just be Bush Cheny all over again, with a possibility of another great depression, no reproductive rights for women, no gay rights at all and unending, meaningless war. Not to mention, as she called it, "nucular" war with Russia if Palin ever catches Putin in our airspace.
Do the right thing. Vote Obama, Biden '08 =]
oh for chrissakes, she's a moron.
there's no way that woman could be leader of the free world....
Palin is a fool. She reminds me of a guy who tried to sell me a car but didn't know anything about the car. It's great that she's a 'hockey mom' but I don't want suzie homemaker in the Vice Presidency, I want a real politician. Hillary Clinton should kick Sarah Palin's ass for setting back the hopes of a female politician becoming President or VP. Obama/Biden is the ONLY logical choice for this country's future. That or ask the English to come back...
Seriously, McCain Palin? Are you people out of your minds??!!!
Palin:
"I can see Alaska from my window" and my foreign experience involves waiting for "Putin to stick his head in the airspace" and having "trade missions with Russia." I'm a hockey mom! I love my kids. Did I mention my 17 year old is pregnant. -and if she were raped I'd force her to keep the baby. Roe vs Wade, of course I disagree with that. Just like I disagree with..uhm... other cases, in that big court... what's it called.... well, whatever"
...and don't bother asking her about the bush doctrine.
Watching her blabber on useless single sentence, after sentence with her fake sweet-home Alaska jargon about information she obviously didn't know until the McCain campaign fed it to her 3 days ago (all the while shaking their heads in disgust with how uninformed and unprepared she is for the VP position) was seriously agitating and left me with a sour taste in my mouth. I cannot believe there are people in this country that think this woman is ready to be president. Are you out of your minds!?
Obama and Biden will bring the change this country needs to get it back on track. Reaganomics don't work, Republicans, ask any economist and he'll "tell it to ya straight!" Neither do any of the republican policies Bush has enforced on our country for the past 8 years. Seriously, take a look around. Does it look like the current system is working? McCain, don't answer that...
I don't LOVE Biden and Obama (I was actually a Hillary supporter) but I know one thing for sure. I do not want my country to go to Hell. And that's just what'll happen if we keep electing officials with the same tired old policies that do not reflect the changing times. What's worse is there is a huge possibility McCain might die, if mistakenly elected, in office. And then we'd be stuck with a hockey mom from Alaska as president: it's a rags-to-riches fairy tale gone terribly wrong.
It's obvious that McCain did not pick her for her experience. If he had picked a prominent, accomplished, informed vp, I might feel differently about his campaign. But Palin was picked just because she is a woman, to win over disgruntles supporters (NOT ME!!!). That's it. There are plenty of accomplished women out there that I'd love to see run for office. She isn't one of them. Being on the pta doesn't qualify you to be president. Janice Dickenson is on her kid's pta, Lord knows we wouldn't want her in the White House.
People, please get acquainted with these candidates and the work they have done. Palin and McCain will just be Bush Cheny all over again, with a possibility of another great depression, no reproductive rights for women, no gay rights at all and unending, meaningless war. Not to mention, as she called it, "nucular" war with Russia if Palin ever catches Putin in our airspace.
Do the right thing. Vote Obama, Biden '08 =]
The bottom line
"Do you really want a President with a Bucket List" quote by Chris Rock
Palin = the Peter Principle: people rise to the level of their incompetence.
She's a proof positive (in her "ability to debate" ) that too many Americans are suckers for the "emotional appeal" technique of debate. The truth is that her technique does little more than throw "red herrings" into her discussions with "hockey mom" and "Joe six-pack" (?) allusions. She's NOT like me; I can think and I'm informed. (Want me to list what I read?) Bottom line: She has no substance.
I need discussion on the real issues. Obama and Biden have certainly delivered on this front, for sure.
Palin reminds me how illiterate too many Americans have become and how far critical thinking skills have fallen in this country.
Palin intelligent? How can anyone forget those interviews? The one and ONLY VP debate can't erase those! The interviews show the real Palin. And the reality is that our country COULD very well end up with yet another George W.
Why would anyone in this country wish for this???
this country
Palin = the Peter Principle: people rise to the level of their incompetence.
She's a proof positive (in her "ability to debate" ) that too many Americans are suckers for the "emotional appeal" technique of debate. The truth is that her technique does little more than throw "red herrings" into her discussions with "hockey mom" and "Joe six-pack" (?) allusions. She's NOT like me; I can think and I'm informed. (Want me to list what I read?) Bottom line: She has no substance.
I need discussion on the real issues. Obama and Biden have certainly delivered on this front, for sure.
Palin reminds me how illiterate too many Americans have become and how far critical thinking skills have fallen in this country.
Palin intelligent? How can anyone forget those interviews? The one and ONLY VP debate can't erase those! The interviews show the real Palin. And the reality is that our country COULD very well end up with yet another George W.
Why would anyone in this country wish for this???
this country
I'd like to answer Laura's post about why families who earn more than $250,000 should feel that they should contribute more. I now earn that, but I've lived my life as a waitress and a teacher who married someone who was once an illegal alien, now a citizen, and became a successful manufacturer. Guess what- we both worked hard, saved twelve years before we could afford a modest house in a middle class community( where we still live), had two kids and later, had a lot of luck with our business. We know we have a cushion and other people don't. We know that if our neighbor is hungry and desperate, none of us are secure. Biden is right: it is fairness. I can pay for my child's education but my neighbor can't. Is his child less worthy? No. We've been amazingly blessed; I don't need a tax credit. But the middle class and the poor deserve a break too.
Democrats have been drinking too much "kool-aid" again if they think Obama and Biden have a clue!
Palin referenced the American male as "Joe Six Pack"
Who is Joe Six PAck?
I love that the candidates are focused on families...however, as a single person who gets healthcare from my employer and who cannot afford a median priced home in my geographic area (neither can 88% of my fellow citizens)...what have I learned? My initial reaction is that while both parties are focused economically on two-income families, I would be better off (or at leat not worse off) under the Democrats.
How could anyone think vacuous Palin did "well?" I'm an independent. I get that some of you on both sides will blindly root for your "team" no matter how inept their performance, but give me a break. The contempt for intelligence, thoughtfulness, open-minded thinking, worldliness and education that's taking our country by storm is very frightening. Why do you think America is falling further and further behind in terms of innovation?
Having just watched tonight's "debate," I don't know how any reasonably intelligent, thinking person -- no matter their political persuasion -- could look at and listen to those two people onstage and come away thinking that they would rather have Sarah Palin as second in command in the White House for the next four years.
A question that occurred to me: If McCain had selected someone else as his VP candidate and if he were to be elected, would he choose Sarah Palin to be a member of his Cabinet because of some sort of perceived expertise that she has that would help him run the country?I think not
Palin showed me she was able to cram for her test, the debate, and regurgitate the information as she was taught to do - even if her answers didn't match the questions asked. Will her new-found knowledge help her in her next interview with that "mainstream media" she appears to hold in disdain?
By the way, wasn't she a journalism major in college?
Palin showed me she was able to cram for her test, the debate, and regurgitate the information as she was taught to do - even if her answers didn't match the questions asked. Will her new-found knowledge help her in her next interview with that "mainstream media" she appears to hold in disdain?
By the way, wasn't she a journalism major in college?
I got nothing from either candidate other than "My guy is better than your guy." It was nothing more than a 90 minute infomercial.
While Joe has been in government for 30 years and I appreciate his position, he made me tired with his I" did's".
His party has had control of the house and senate for tha last four years. They have been pathetic. Just blame President Bush instead of doing the work of the people
Your opinion is somewhat less persuasive due to your inability to use a calendar, or count to 2.
Did we all watch the same debate? Sarah Palin came across as canned, vacuous, and scripted, to the extent that's possible in a debate. She didn't answer the questions. She said nothing of substance. She revealed the abysmal depth of her ignorance about everything from the Constitution to foreign policy. She offended and patronized the audience with her cutesy, folksy little winks and tics. As a middle-class soccer mom, I find her attempts to identify herself with "hockey moms" and "Joe Sixpack" terribly condescending. She is not a "regular person" -- she is a governor, with all the perks and privileges of the office. (When do you think she actually last attended a hockey game?) Moreover, I don't want a "regular person" and "Washington outsider" as my president or vice-president; I want someone exceptional and brilliant who knows how to get things done in Washington. Only one party's candidates fit that description, and it ain't the GOP.
More should be noting that in Palin's single 'gotcha' moment, that some conservative commentators have been touting, she got both the name (General McKiernan, not McClellan - the latter was a civil war commander) and the details wrong. An own goal gotcha if anything. Most of the rest was miscellaneous sound bites pasted together by misplaced also's and there's.