Official Vice Presidential Debate Thread

[jtex316]

I am going to reserve commentary until I can digest full analysis from Frimp and Run-to-Win. I didn't watch that debate, so what they post on here will forge my opinion.

[bsfins]

I watched the first 35 minutes....and I kept seeing Bush in drag when I saw Palin...All the sudden She looked surprised at herself...Yeah...Yeah I'm not a Dumb ass.

I agree with what someone on CNN was talking about...Sarah Palin did good forherslf..but didn't do anything for Mccain's campaign to the white house.....

I thought She was really well coached,and they told her if You get in trouble...Go to this..If you don't like the question...Change the subject to our talking points...Which mean she didn't answer the questions....

Anyone else Tired of hearing about Alaska? 75% of the time I feel like she's just a commercial for the Alaskan Chamber of Commerce...in Alaska....In Alaska...and her referring to being a hockey mom...Most of  Continental America can't relate to Hockey mom...

[Frimp]

Damnit...I had 3 long paragraphs typed out, and hit post...And lost my signal...

So, lets try this again.

First off, the moderator was fair, which was a concern of mine. But, she did seem unprepared. Ironic that everyone was expecting Palin to be the one who was unprepared. But, she did a fair debate like the moderator last week.

Palin was on fire. She did what she was supposed to, in telling what she had to offer as VP. She stuck to her guns and morals, and stayed with her theme...Winning the war, and getting the government off our backs, and explaining why the Obama/Biden ticket would be bad..in surrendering in the war, and more government. She was also strong on the economy. She also did a good job in her case for her qualification. She also did a hell of a job quoting comments from Biden himself talking down about Obama, and saying that he would like to run with McCain. Biden underestimated Palin, and he paid for it. I noticed that toward the end, he was talking about getting knocked down, and getting back up again.

Like Simeon, I also came away with this with new respect for Biden. I felt bad for him when he was talking about his wife. He showed a human side that many people weren't even sure he had. Fairness. Biden kept talking about fairness when trying to justify jacking taxes up on the rich...who pay more taxes than anyone..back up to 39%, and that wasn't under Reagan like Biden said. I was one of the people against elections in Gaza, so I did agree with him there. Biden didn't hurt himself at all, but he didn't win either.


Well, not as detailed as what I typed before, but I didnt feel like typing it out again.

[Dphins4me]

I think the polls will show differently. I will say I did like some of Bidens answers and I have a new respect for him.

Do know he lied on some items?  Like how he voted "No" when he actually voted "Yes" on some items.

[Bubba]

Palin was so prepared, she answered two questions verbatim with how she answered different questions on some conservative talk show this week (I forget which, a friend had sent it to me).

Mostly I was thinking there should be a VP debate drinking game, at least two of the drink words are "maverick" and "hockey". 

[TonyB0D]

Palin was so prepared, she answered two questions verbatim with how she answered different questions on some conservative talk show this week (I forget which, a friend had sent it to me).

Mostly I was thinking there should be a VP debate drinking game, at least two of the drink words are "maverick" and "hockey". 

i always play the prez bush state of the union drinking game with "nucuelur" "terrists" and "freedom".  i never make it past the first 20 minutes

[Frimp]

I watched the first 35 minutes....and I kept seeing Bush in drag when I saw Palin...All the sudden She looked surprised at herself...Yeah...Yeah I'm not a Dumb ass.

I agree with what someone on CNN was talking about...Sarah Palin did good forherslf..but didn't do anything for Mccain's campaign to the white house.....

I thought She was really well coached,and they told her if You get in trouble...Go to this..If you don't like the question...Change the subject to our talking points...Which mean she didn't answer the questions....

Anyone else Tired of hearing about Alaska? 75% of the time I feel like she's just a commercial for the Alaskan Chamber of Commerce...in Alaska....In Alaska...and her referring to being a hockey mom...Most of  Continental America can't relate to Hockey mom...

Most of America can't relate to the beauracratic eletist mentality of some of these polititians. And as far as talking about Alaska, why wouldn't she? She is after all the governor of Alaska. She couldn't very well talk (as much as some would have liked her to) about governing in New York. 

For a little bit of criticism of her, I do think she went to energy one too many times. I don't think she was sat down and coached on what to say when asked this, and where to go if asked that. I think if anyone tried to coach her like that, it would have been a train wreck.

[bsfins]

Most of America...doesn't relate to Alaska....If I wanted to Live in Alaska,I'd moved there.....It makes her sound like All she cares about is Alaska....

Modified to add (I'm listening to the debate replay now)
I'd like to seen Biden alot more crisp...I think he came out with lots of Factual type info...Is it true,I think alot of B.S. But it sounds good....She just seemed to try to hammer the same points over,and over....

I have an extremely hard time seeing "Change" from the Mccain Palin ticket....I'm of the belief you can't teach an old dog new tricks....As a Vice president,Her Executive experience means nothing in the senate IMO..

[bsmooth]

Damnit...I had 3 long paragraphs typed out, and hit post...And lost my signal...

So, lets try this again.

First off, the moderator was fair, which was a concern of mine. But, she did seem unprepared. Ironic that everyone was expecting Palin to be the one who was unprepared. But, she did a fair debate like the moderator last week.

Palin was on fire. She did what she was supposed to, in telling what she had to offer as VP. She stuck to her guns and morals, and stayed with her theme...Winning the war, and getting the government off our backs, and explaining why the Obama/Biden ticket would be bad..in surrendering in the war, and more government. She was also strong on the economy. She also did a good job in her case for her qualification. She also did a hell of a job quoting comments from Biden himself talking down about Obama, and saying that he would like to run with McCain. Biden underestimated Palin, and he paid for it. I noticed that toward the end, he was talking about getting knocked down, and getting back up again.

Like Simeon, I also came away with this with new respect for Biden. I felt bad for him when he was talking about his wife. He showed a human side that many people weren't even sure he had. Fairness. Biden kept talking about fairness when trying to justify jacking taxes up on the rich...who pay more taxes than anyone..back up to 39%, and that wasn't under Reagan like Biden said. I was one of the people against elections in Gaza, so I did agree with him there. Biden didn't hurt himself at all, but he didn't win either.


Well, not as detailed as what I typed before, but I didnt feel like typing it out again.

Wow she refuses to answer questions, but instead talks about something unrelated to the questioned asked. Can this woman think for herself at all instead of just parroting sound bites unrelated to questions asked?
I am not surprised the great independant Simone thinks she won.

[Buddhagirl]

Palin faired better than  I thought she would, however I found her to be rambling and dancing around the questions. She steered everything over to what she knows. Honestly, she reminded me of one of those dolls where you pull the string and it spits out answers. This woman is not ready to be in the White House. I would be embarrased to have her meet with foreign leaders. Her "folksyness" is obnoxious and she sounds like a hick.

I think Biden did a good job, though at times he was condescending in my opinion. Which I like. I kind of liked the smirk on his face, too. He flubbed on a few items, though. I do think he killed Palin, though. Futhermore, he knows what he's talking about.

I found Gwen Ifill to be fair and balanced as I thought she would be. She's a professional. This is her job regardless of what she writes.

I'll have to go back and reread some of the transcripts because there were a few times when I was like WTF - for both sides - since everytime The Boy and I heard Maverick, Alaska, or hockey mom we drank.

One more thing....who the hell is this Joe Six Pack person she's talking about? I don't know anyone that I would call Joe Six Pack nor do I want him in the White House.

[Defense54]

I liked the full frame Pics of both of them so I could check out that Hot pants suit. 

That said she did way better then most gave her credit for. People weren't expecting much so in that light she did very well. But you can see Bidens 35 years of experience and her 5 weeks. Tina Fey should have plenty more Ammo..........

[Buddhagirl]

In case anyone needs the transcripts, they're here:  http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/10/02/debate.transcript/index.html

[CF DolFan]

One more thing....who the hell is this Joe Six Pack person she's talking about? I don't know anyone that I would call Joe Six Pack nor do I want him in the White House.

Joe six pack is a common term for the common man so unless Palin becomes president and her husband starts sleeping there you won't have to worry abou that. 

I think she was awsome but go figure the source.  I also don't think she avoided questions as much as wanted to finish the point they were on previously.  The problem with debates is the last person almost always comes off as correct even when they are wrong and Biden was wrong several times. 

From the Democrats for McCain web site
http://www.democratsformccain.com/

Joe Biden's 14 Lies

1. TAX VOTE: Biden said McCain voted “the exact same way” as Obama to increase taxes on Americans earning just $42,000, but McCain DID NOT VOTE THAT WAY.

2. AHMEDINIJAD MEETING: Joe Biden lied when he said that Barack Obama never said that he would sit down unconditionally with Mahmoud Ahmedinijad of Iran. Barack Obama did say specifically, and Joe Biden attacked him for it.

3. OFFSHORE OIL DRILLING: Biden said, “Drill we must.” But Biden has opposed offshore drilling and even compared offshore drilling to “raping” the Outer Continental Shelf.”

4. TROOP FUNDING: Joe Biden lied when he indicated that John McCain and Barack Obama voted the same way against funding the troops in the field. John McCain opposed a bill that included a timeline, that the President of the United States had already said he would veto regardless of it’s passage.

5. OPPOSING CLEAN COAL: Biden says he’s always been for clean coal, but he just told a voter that he is against clean coal and any new coal plants in America and has a record of voting against clean coal and coal in the U.S. Senate.

6. ALERNATIVE ENERGY VOTES: According to FactCheck.org, Biden is exaggerating and overstating John McCain’s record voting for alternative energy when he says he voted against it 23 times.

7. HEALTH INSURANCE: Biden falsely said McCain will raise taxes on people's health insurance coverage -- they get a tax credit to offset any tax hike. Independent fact checkers have confirmed this attack is false

8. OIL TAXES: Biden falsely said Palin supported a windfall profits tax in Alaska -- she reformed the state tax and revenue system, it's not a windfall profits tax.

9. AFGHANISTAN / GEN. MCKIERNAN COMMENTS: Biden said that top military commander in Iraq said the principles of the surge could not be applied to Afghanistan, but the commander of NATO's International Security Assistance Force Gen. David D. McKiernan said that there were principles of the surge strategy, including working with tribes, that could be applied in Afghanistan.

10. REGULATION: Biden falsely said McCain weakened regulation -- he actually called for more regulation on Fannie and Freddie.

11. IRAQ: When Joe Biden lied when he said that John McCain was “dead wrong on Iraq”, because Joe Biden shared the same vote to authorize the war and differed on the surge strategy where they John McCain has been proven right.

12. TAX INCREASES: Biden said Americans earning less than $250,000 wouldn’t see higher taxes, but the Obama-Biden tax plan would raise taxes on individuals making $200,000 or more.

13. BAILOUT: Biden said the economic rescue legislation matches the four principles that Obama laid out, but in reality it doesn’t meet two of the four principles that Obama outlined on Sept. 19, which were that it include an emergency economic stimulus package, and that it be part of “part of a globally coordinated effort with our partners in the G-20.”

14. REAGAN TAX RATES: Biden is wrong in saying that under Obama, Americans won't pay any more in taxes then they did under Reagan.

In fact they are rasing taxes to Clinton's admin which was much higher than Reagan's 28%.  I believe Clinton's was 36 or 37% where Obama wants increase it. 

In the end I think both parties felt good becuase neither screwed up. Sarah probably just solidified some wavering supporters but I don't know how she did with actual undecided voters.

I actually think Liberman could be worse for the Democrats than Palin.  He appears to be on the Ronald Reagan trail. His comments last night sounded an awful like Reagan when Ronnie said “I didn’t leave the Democratic Party. The party left me.”.   Liberman was preaching the gospel that this Democratic party isn't what it was 8 years ago under the Clintons. It is a dangerous imposter. 

[Buddhagirl]

Honestly, I don't know anyone that I would consider Joe Sixpack. I don't find anything common about Palin. Her life couldn't be further than they way most rational people live. (I don't know anyone that hunts, has 5 kids, a pregnant 17 year old, and is governor of a frozen tundra.)

Also, I urge anyone who wants to fact check the debate to go to a few other sources. CF posted one that is completely biased and only focuses on Biden. A fact checker should indeed show both of the debaters mistakes.

Here are a few. Take your pick:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=95329925&ft=1&f=1003
http://cbs5.com/campaign08/VP.debate.fact.2.831600.html
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/fact-checker/

There are a lot more out there, too.

[Phishfan]

I think that fact checking needs a little fact checking as well.

Biden said McCain's no vote was against a proposal with a timeline. No news to report there.

Also I don't thin Obama ever specifically said he would meet Ahmadinejad. I could be mistaken, but he said he would meet leaders of rogue nations. As Biden pointed out last night, Ahmadinejad is not the military leader in Iran.