The VP Debate - a wee bit of a rant
Update 4: October 5, 2008 @ 7:15pm
This definitely goes up top! You know Saturday Night Live had to do a Biden/Palin VP debate spoof and they did complete with Queen Latifah as Gwen Iffil ;)
Enjoy.
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A nice debate flow chart from the HuffPo.Yes, I watched the VP debate between Joe Biden and Sarah Palin live on Friday morning with a group of Obama supporters at a local restaurant near my apartment. (Remember, Seoul is across the dateline.)
All I have to say is "you betcha!" I'm going to rant here for a bit, so be warned.
Biden won hands down and the polls show that others agree. (Forbes, CNN, CBS and Chicago Tribune)
He countered her spin with facts. He countered her attempts to relate to the American voter with vivid examples of how he, too, understands the average American. Unlike his opponent, he did not blatantly disrespect Gwen Ifill by saying he'd answer questions how he wanted to answer questions nor did he shamelessly flirt with the viewing audience. ~wink~
This is the thing. If Michelle Obama chose at any point to lace a speech with any trace of Ebonics or throw a little wiggle in her walk and a hair flip or two, the media would have a field day and the backlash would be incredible. Michelle would be attacked for not being enough like a First Lady and she'd certainly be accused of not being classy. However, Palin can be "folksy" and wink at the camera and simpletons give her a high five for it. Sure, many say that she's just "being herself", but that's the antithesis of a formal setting. I'm sure I can't be the only person who sees how off-kilter that is.
This was a debate and debates have rules. You answer the questions and if you're unresponsive then that's a problem. Palin said she would not be "answering the questions the way the moderator would like." If she wants to talk to the American people then she ought to get out there and talk to both the "liberal media" and more conservative press. If she wants to talk to the American people then add tons more public appearances onto her schedule. However, a debate is not the place to say what you want when you want.
People are saying that Palin did well. Okay, but realize the bar was set so low that all she had to do was show up, look presentable and hold her own. She did that. By that appallingly low standard, she did well!
It's truly amazing how things are spun in her case: low standards is now the standard!
:::ExpatJane - disgusted - drops the mic and walks off stage:::
More stuff:
HuffPo - As Palin Refused To Answer Questions, Ifill Should Have Pushed Back
LATimes - Sarah Palin's in Carson tomorrow -- will she answer your questions?
SF Weekly - The Real Loser of Palin vs. Biden: Gwen Ifill
Undercover Black Man: Gwen Ifill becomes the story
boiling mad:Biden K.O.'d Palin
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Update 1 - @ 9:17am
Like with McSame's first debate, the McCain/Palin campaign jumped the gun with their ads.
Check this one out: Famous Person loves Palin:
"Famous person", eh? It looks like they jumped the gun again and couldn't wait for the end of the debate and the inevitable discussion that follows for a famous person to say something good before releasing the ad.
~wink~
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Update 3 - 10:28pm - Some Video from MSNBC
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I seriously love that flow chart - I put it up on one of my blogs too. And I agree that the bar was set entirely too low.
ReplyDeleteAnd that ad is just ridiculous.
(P.S. I've been following your blog but in my Google Reader bc when I try to open it at work it crashes my IE. Works at home though!)
Thanks for following my blog!
ReplyDeleteFirst, I apologize that it's pretty much the "ExpatJane Supports Obama" blog these days and rarely deals with me being here in Seoul, but I really feel strongly about this election and how important it is. I felt strongly about the two previous ones too, but others didn't agree and look at what a mess we've got. What's so scary is I was near tears in 2000 when the result was announced and I said I wasn't moving home until George W. Bush was no longer president. Funny, that has pretty much come to pass.
I heard about the flow chart on a forum and I'm sure the folks at the HuffPo don't mind as long as you say where it's from. Take it and post it to your heart's content ;)
I know I've been waiting for "Famous Person" to say how good I am too! I'm so jealous "Famous Person" noticed Palin first!
Yeah, my blog has a few widgets and what-not that might crash a browser. It happened to me somewhere in the States too. It's primarily technology, or, the lack of it. South Korea has high speed Internet for all pretty much, so pages load fast and easy. You just have to acknowledge that your work computer is evil ;)
agreed, agreed, agreed. And if Joe Lieberman had thrown in a wee bit of kibbitzing here, a kvell there, there would have been (un)holy hell to pay. It's like the world is saying there's nothing cuter and more harmless than an unqualified rural white woman. I feel sick thinking that she could be called upon to represent me. My mother and I agreed that while my 8 y/o niece talks too much about horses and smencils sometimes, her public speaking skills are quite a bit stronger than SP's.
ReplyDeleteThanks for letting me vent!
I want everyone to vent. I want people to vent and ask questions about how the hell Palin can be taken seriously as a VP candidate. She does have executive experience and I won't slam her for that because no one else on the Democratic or Republican ticket does.
ReplyDeleteHowever, she's astonishingly ignorant on many important issues from federal judicial history to foreign policy. She might be a quick study but I don't want someone who is merely a quick study leading my country or my federal legislature. Also, she complains that when asked about her sources that she didn't want to name them but I suspect the reality is she doesn't have any.