VP debate

[Harrison]

Well, I'll give credit where credit is due: Palin held her own.

Yeah, she didn't get stomped quite the way I thought she was going to.

Biden clearly was more well rounded, informed, and experienced speaking in such a manner.

I am seriously surprised at how well she picked up the pace since her previous flops. Anyone saying she completely failed this debate is a biased jackass, same goes for anyone who says she won it.

I'd give my tip of the hat to Biden, surely. He was concise and to the point. I remember a few handful of blunders, but they were minor.

Palin F'd up BIG with the spiel on more power to the V.P. bit. This is my own personal opinion and I didn't see much mention of it after the debate, but I thought it was huge. Especially after saying how much you want to reduce the government's influence on the day to day lives of your average citizen.

[Harrison]

P.S. After listening to Biden tonight, I am more at ease with the thought of Obama winning.

P.P.S. After listening to Palin tonight, I am more at ease with the thought of McCain winning. (Though to a lesser extent. I think she could be a decent politician if she got some experience in and appeared more like she did tonight.)

[araby]

We drank every time we heard "um".

I really enjoyed watching it. I thought it was a good debate. She didn't answer some of the questions, but at least she admitted she wouldn't. He avoided foreign policy. I thought they were both very well composed and cool once things went moving.

At the mention of nucular I said out loud, "did she just say nucular?" ha! I see you all noticed that as well =)

but in spite of all the mavericks, the winks, the energy, nucular and Ronald Reagan, I thought it was a good debate. Even when Senator O'Biden almost dropped a tear. (and I almost did too.)

[Harrison]

I was pissed off at CNN for putting that fucking little graph on the bottom of the screen.

I was watching that and paying attention to what was triggering the rises and falls, male/female, than anything.

I'm going to watch it again without that bullshit.

[Gypsiyee]

I thought it was like watching a high school girl trying to win an argument over which pair of shoes was better, personally.

I'll give credit where credit is due - she did exactly what she needed to do to make the people who were already on her side clap and bark like seals at the TV. She was snarky and rude, and indeed the master of the non-answer. If I heard one more time about energy or Alaska, I would've puked. She was very well-scripted. One gem that I did find particularly interesting - when asked about agreeing with Cheney on VP power (which she agreed with, frightening) and the executive branch, she started rambling about executive experience as a mayor? Hello lady, stop talking for 2 seconds and listen to how stupid you sound. It'd be like being asked about the Judicial branch and starting to talk about how you saw an episode of Judge Judy one time.

Also, wtf with the winking and the shout outs? This isn't TRL, it's a VP debate. Really unprofessional and trying to abuse the fact that she has a vag. I hated the "Oh there you go again, Joe!" bit - it was incredibly juvenile, and again, she seemed to forget where she was. I also didn't like how she kept referring to herself as current middle class - she is not, and it's insulting for her to say she is.

While I certainly don't think she lost many votes, I don't think she gained any from true independents either. I think McCain fans and avid republicans will stay that way, but with the clearly overly conservative stance she took, she might've pushed those who are right leaning left on social issues, and still view McCain as a maverick, closer to the middle - I don't think she did anything extraordinary to cater to anyone but her own party. And I will give her credit - it wasn't nearly as disasterous as her interviews, but the bar was set so low it'd be hard not to exceed that.

I thought Biden did a fantastic job of being direct and not allowing her to use her snarkiness to intimidate him into not responding. He had a very delicate situation on his hands, and while he wasn't perfect (I kept thinking "stop saying you love McCain - we know you're friends and colleagues for years, but this isn't the arena to reiterate it) he walked the fine line of being aggressive without "bullying" her brilliantly. it's very difficult not to have extraordinary respect for him. He's sincere, honest, concise, and humble.

[Evermore]

she did hold her own but imo she was TOO well scripted. She really didnt answer anything outright and is about as articulate as Bush. I guess its a plus she didnt make up her own words. She didn't win any points in my book but she didnt lose any either. She doesnt understand the VP's role, and she said the VP should have more power? please. this debate made me realize how much we cant let McCain get voted in...

Oh Ashly you guys must have been loaded every time she spoke...

[ClakarEQ]

I was a bit disappointed biden didn't go after her more but I suppose that could have gone really bad if he had.

They both did ok, Biden is more knowledgeable, that is wtihout question, he did a better job, that is without question, every stat out there agrees, where Mindia gets his data and info, I'm shocked frankly.

I don't think she answered many questions and as a CNN reporter noted, she kept going back to her "state" her comfort zone, energy.

One thing that got under my skin, not really sure why, was her sexist comment that somehow just becuase she is a "Mom", that should would perform better and is more like your neighbor, could relate more to a moms loss, etc.

Biden, while I don't know his family background (i'll be checking wiki later) choked up a bit, I hope that wasn't for the camera, but again Palin implied she woudl be better because she is a mom and can understand better than a man (not what she "said" but is what she meant).

At the same time, I related some of the comments Biden made of McCain and our activities in Afg. were off base. He didn't lie to my knowledge but he did spin some numbers in an apples to orange statement regarding the amount of cash we've dumped into Afg.

Eitherway if there was a winner, it was Biden, but I also agree that Palin didn't lose and performed pretty good considering previous interactions with the media.

[vonkaar]

My quick opinion:
Biden addressed the points better... voters who actually have a brain and listen for that sort of thing definitely noticed.

Palin spoke to the uneducated masses better... voters who don't listen to the question, don't care about the answer and just want to smile along when they hear a motivational one-liner definitely noticed.

I don't know how Biden was able to keep his cool and not scream at the moderator, "SHE DIDN'T SAY A FUCKING THING! ANSWER THE FUCKING QUESTION, YOU DUMBASS GNOME!"

I was yelling similar things all night... If the question wasn't about energy, she dodged it - or somehow brought it back to that. They are seriously courting the dumbass voter with her.

[Diekan]

She basically spoke to the average voter.

[Gypsiyee]

Biden, while I don't know his family background (i'll be checking wiki later) choked up a bit, I hope that wasn't for the camera, but again Palin implied she woudl be better because she is a mom and can understand better than a man (not what she "said" but is what she meant).

it most definitely was not for the camera as you could tell from his abrupt attempt to regain his composure. he suffered a terribly tragic loss, and her insinuation absolutely disgusted me, and spoke volumes about her lack of research prior to opening her mouth. It was a terrible misstep for her to make that insinuation - against anyone else, perhaps it would've worked okay. Against Joe Biden, not so much.

[leah]

"SHE DIDN'T SAY A FUCKING THING! ANSWER THE FUCKING QUESTION, YOU DUMBASS GNOME!"

[Diekan]

Obama has this election in the bag. There's no way he's going to lose this. The GOP has had to have thrown this election on purpose, but what would the reason be? We all know the seat of president is a lot weaker than people think - he/she can't do jack or spend a dime without congressional approval. We also know that smoke filled, back room deals go on day in and day out in Washington. I don't know... not saying they are trying to lose intentionally, but I sure wouldn't be the least bit surprised if a story broke layout it all out lol.

The GOP is going to lose this election BIG.

[Ginzburgh]

Well, Palin was the clear winner as far as debating skills go.

I guess you're in the minority in every poll taken since the debate ended.

[Kramer]

One could ONLY think Palin won if they had VERY LOW expectations for how well she would do..... and that is exactly what happened....

no one is saying she sounded like a seasoned and articulate politician, they are saying they were suprised she didn't get WTFPWND.....

Big Whoop

it's a hysterical aspect of the reverse sexism, everyone who supports her is just afraid she is this frail little stupid thing and they hope the big bad men politicians don't take advantage of her AND THE PUBS KNOW THIS AND USE IT TO THEIR ADVANTAGE.

[Arlos]

Clakar, Biden lost his wife and his daughter to a car crash shortly after he first was elected to the Senate. He almost quit over it too, but was talked into staying. So yes, he did raise his remaining kids alone, and most assuredly knows what it is like to get that phone call saying something horrible has happened to your child. For Palin to insinuate that since he's not female he can't know, given what he went through, is truly vile.

-Arlos

[ClakarEQ]

Well that was sort of my point, I just didn't know the history, so thanks !!

Here is a compilation of Palin and the media, (although this was probably posted already I overlooked it)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olpCyDA4kYA

[brinstar]

She basically spoke to the average moron.

[leah]

heehee

[Arlos]

Huh? That makes no sense whatsoever.

-Arlos

[leah]

meh, i thought it was funny--comparing the main players to leo dicaprio characters; palin = gilbert grape's retarded brother, etc.

[Drem]

i thought it was funny

[Arlos]

Palin's Debate plan flowchart:




-Arlos

[Maeya]

Palin's Debate plan flowchart:




-Arlos

But John IS a MAVERICK! And they're going to REFORM! The MAVERICK WAY, gosh darnit! Cause REFORM is what a team of MAVERICKS like to do! MAVERICKS is all about teh REFORMS!!

[Martrae]

[Haylo]

Rofl that's great. I have to pass that around at work.