I can't realistically comment on Sarah Palin's performance in the debate tonight. The woman is so clearly artificial and over her head, and I cannot even stomach any more of the lies and crap so blithely delivered.
Joe Biden clearly demonstrated that he is far better prepared to serve in the office of Vice President. And I will say this. His personal history is so heartbreaking that few people could endure what he went through in 1971/72. After his precocious election to the Senate from Delaware his young wife and infant daughter were killed in a car crash and both his young sons were nearly lost as well. That is what he referred to when he choked up, and was the most powerful moment of the debate for me. This man is real, he is sincere, he is authentic, and I respect him more now than I did at 8:59pm.
One more thing: that same moment was Palin's "Dukakis" moment. In his 1988 debate against George Bush, Michael Dukakis was asked how his anti-death penalty position would hold up if his wife were raped and murdered. His soulless, bloodless response shocked and dismayed many people who wanted to see that he had some passion and humanity. Palin's complete inability to register any sympathy following Biden's emotional struggle showed one or both of two things: she wasn't listening, or she didn't care. And either one exposes just how callous and shallow this upjumped double-AA politician really is.
1 hour ago
4 comments:
I hate to say it, Joe, but your review is a little over the top in how glowing it was towards Biden. Yes, he does have a sense of genuineness and authenticity, yes, he does have a touching personal story, yes, he is a very knowledgeable man and offers an articulate voice on issues facing the nation, and yes, he is a great leader in the Senate on the Democratic side and a worthy candidate for VP. But his performance last night was as flat and uninspiring as Palin's was effervescent and magnetic, and, yes, even Reaganesque (note that that is not a good thing in my book, but good for many Americans who stunningly still believe that Reagan was a great president).
Despite the fact that on paper Biden absolutely demolished Palin in his answers, and despite Palin's seeming inability to speak in complete and coherent sentences, on TV Palin was able to communicate her ideas and message far better than Biden. Biden definitely didn't change anyone's mind out there; his message was one of preaching to the converted. Liberals will say that his message was articulate, persuasive, and on-target, and indeed it was. But for independents and Republicans, Palin most certainly changed some minds out there after being absolutely caricatured and roasted in the press and by bloggers, satirists, and late night talk show hosts. She demonstrated that she is a tough and formidable opponent who can speak effectively on the issues she cares about, and who, most importantly, can connect with people on a visceral level. Again, this has been the key to Republican success in the past. The Democrats need to shed their Mondalesque, Goresque, Kerryesque tendencies to focus merely on the cerebral, and need to connect to the hearts of the voters. Obama has done this in stump speeches but has yet to do this in debates. Now it is up to him in his upcoming debate to produce the kind of visceral performance that Palin (and Reagan) completed with such success.
Hey Joe -
My take on the debate can be perfectly explained by quoting Warren Spahn on Willie Mays. "He was something like zero for twenty-one the first time I saw him. His first major league hit was a home run off me and I'll never forgive myself. We might have gotten rid of Willie forever if I'd only struck him out." - Biden still won the debate and I think Obama will roll to victory next month but Palin did OK last night. UNfortunately, if she had struck out we might have gotten rid of her forever but now I am afraid I will be hearing a cacaphony of "youbetcha's" and "doggones" for years to come now
Wow, James, are you sure you're OK? I mean, wanting to keep your hopes from getting up is one thing, but being so constantly morose takes all the joy out of life.
I certainly don't lump Biden or Obama in the Kerry/Mondale/Dukakis class. For one, they're more talented, and for two this is a different time. Comparing Palin to Reagan is unconscionable; to borrow from Jelly Roll's baseball analogy it would be like comparing Jacoby Ellsbury to Joe DiMaggio at this stage of their careers. She wasn't Reaganesque, she was Buchananesque with a sprinkling of Anne Coulter. Being visceral is nice, but being visceral and dead wrong about everything is something again.
Cheer up - would 300 EVs make you happy?
Obama is great in stump speeches, not so good in debates. He was lackluster in the Dem. debates in my opinion...Hillary was far better. Honestly, I'm really not morose, I'm a guy who loves the blessing of life but who isn't afraid to admit when people need to see through the Obama-worship for a moment to see that McCain and Palin are for real and could actually win this. Now, do I feel heartened at recent polls? Of course! Does that mean that I'm ready to jump to say that it's all over but the shouting, that Obama wins with 350 + EVs. Not yet. Palin kept the ticket alive for McCain last night. Now we see if Obama can finish the job in the next two debates and do what Biden was unable to do: i.e. deliver the final knockout punch that will finally "close the deal" for good in all of these toss up states.
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