Palin at the debate tonight, has the bar been set low enough?

shuamort · 10-02-08, 02:26 PM

Sorry for the loaded question, but I think it's accurate.

Palin has been having a month of gaffes that have just tickled her opponents. Her inability to name a news source she's read, not able to name a Supreme Court case outside of Roe v Wade, and whatever the hell this was. She's also faced a writer from the NRO asking for her to step down. This hasn't been good for her and it's painting her as incompetent, unaware, and uninformed for some.

It seems by all of these items, we've set the bar low enough so if she's able to at least answer questions directly, she'll have "won" the debate.

Of course, these are my perceptions of her, so I'll try and offer up alternatives in the poll in case you think my starting point is out of whack.

RightinNYC · 10-02-08, 02:32 PM

dont crapself on stage = Flawless Victory

talloulou · 10-02-08, 02:33 PM

I have no faith Palin will do well tonight. All Biden has to do is refrain from putting his foot in his mouth so if he can keep his answers short he'll dominate.
Palin has to grow a brain. So obviously Biden has the more doable task.

dclxvinoise · 10-02-08, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shuamort

Sorry for the loaded question, but I think it's accurate.

Palin has been having a month of gaffes that have just tickled her opponents. Her inability to name a news source she's read, not able to name a Supreme Court case outside of Roe v Wade, and whatever the hell this was. She's also faced a writer from the NRO asking for her to step down. This hasn't been good for her and it's painting her as incompetent, unaware, and uninformed for some.

It seems by all of these items, we've set the bar low enough so if she's able to at least answer questions directly, she'll have "won" the debate.

Of course, these are my perceptions of her, so I'll try and offer up alternatives in the poll in case you think my starting point is out of whack.

Biden will also have to walk a very fine line during the debate. He can't come off as too aggressive or even remotely condescending or people could view him as "a bully". In fact, I think this will be a very typical debate where, regardless of who wins, both sides will figure out a way to spin it and claim victory.

jallman · 10-02-08, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shuamort

Sorry for the loaded question, but I think it's accurate.

Palin has been having a month of gaffes that have just tickled her opponents. Her inability to name a news source she's read, not able to name a Supreme Court case outside of Roe v Wade, and whatever the hell this was. She's also faced a writer from the NRO asking for her to step down. This hasn't been good for her and it's painting her as incompetent, unaware, and uninformed for some.

It seems by all of these items, we've set the bar low enough so if she's able to at least answer questions directly, she'll have "won" the debate.

Of course, these are my perceptions of her, so I'll try and offer up alternatives in the poll in case you think my starting point is out of whack.

I think that the media has already decided the winner of this debate so it really doesn't matter where the bar is set. Even if, by some miracle, she trounces Biden in the debate, it won't matter a bit when the commentators start in with their analyses.

talloulou · 10-02-08, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jallman

I think that the media has already decided the winner of this debate so it really doesn't matter where the bar is set. Even if, by some miracle, she trounces Biden in the debate, it won't matter a bit when the commentators start in with their analyses.

Maybe. I think people really wanted to love her though. She just performs so horribly without a script. She allows confusion to actually show on her face!

Add to that McCain's support of this senate monstrosity rescue bloatation device bill and I think many Republicans are now solidly in the "**** it" camp. At this point I can't imagine voting for either McCain or Obama in good conscious.

WI Crippler · 10-02-08, 03:13 PM

McCain camp criticizers won't like her, no matter what she says. Thats not who she needs to impress. Thats simply asking a square peg to fit in a round hole.

She needs to impress upon lukewarm McCain supporters that she indeed can lead this country should something happen to McCain, and she can act on behalf of this country as a decent ambassador as a VP. If she can at least do that tonight, thats all she needs to do. VP debates don't really decide elections, and while this one is very high profile compared to others, the only thing Palin can accomplish here is to prevent McCain followers from detracting. I can't think of a scenario where Palin picks up a bunch of Obama supporters, unless Biden just calls her a **** right there on stage. Even then, they'd probably think it was "funny cause its true".

dclxvinoise · 10-02-08, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jallman

I think that the media has already decided the winner of this debate so it really doesn't matter where the bar is set. Even if, by some miracle, she trounces Biden in the debate, it won't matter a bit when the commentators start in with their analyses.

I don't think they've already decided the winner, however I don't think they hold high hopes for Palin after her recent interviews. Who knows, this could have been a brilliant strategic move on the part of Palin where she is trying to lower everyone's expectations on purpose so they will lower the bar and she can wow them tonight.

talloulou · 10-02-08, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WI Crippler

McCain camp criticizers won't like her, no matter what she says. Thats not who she needs to impress. Thats simply asking a square peg to fit in a round hole.

She needs to impress upon lukewarm McCain supporters that she indeed can lead this country should something happen to McCain, and she can act on behalf of this country as a decent ambassador as a VP. If she can at least do that tonight, thats all she needs to do. VP debates don't really decide elections, and while this one is very high profile compared to others, the only thing Palin can accomplish here is to prevent McCain followers from detracting. I can't think of a scenario where Palin picks up a bunch of Obama supporters, unless Biden just calls her a **** right there on stage. Even then, they'd probably think it was "funny cause its true".

I just hope she doesn't try to tell jokes. She's even bad at that for christ's sake.

rsixing · 10-02-08, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WI Crippler

McCain camp criticizers won't like her, no matter what she says. Thats not who she needs to impress. Thats simply asking a square peg to fit in a round hole.

She needs to impress upon lukewarm McCain supporters that she indeed can lead this country should something happen to McCain, and she can act on behalf of this country as a decent ambassador as a VP. If she can at least do that tonight, thats all she needs to do. VP debates don't really decide elections, and while this one is very high profile compared to others, the only thing Palin can accomplish here is to prevent McCain followers from detracting. I can't think of a scenario where Palin picks up a bunch of Obama supporters, unless Biden just calls her a **** right there on stage. Even then, they'd probably think it was "funny cause its true".

34% Say Veep Debate Key To Their Vote

Methinks this debate is more important then some of us want to believe.