Biden vs. Palin: What's at stake

Posted: Tuesday, September 30, 2008 9:16 AM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: Joe Biden, Sarah Palin

The New York Times’ Nagourney looks at the stakes for Palin in Thursday’s debate. “The amount of time and staff power being devoted to [her debate prep] was evidence of concern among Mr. McCain’s associates that Ms. Palin’s early triumphs — a well-received convention speech, her drawing of big crowds — has been overtaken by a series of setbacks, creating higher stakes for her in the debate Thursday… ‘I think she has pretty thoroughly — and probably irretrievably — proven that she is not up to the job of being president of the United States,” David Frum, a former speechwriter for President Bush who is now a conservative columnist, said in an interview. “If she doesn’t perform well, then people see it.’”

Meanwhile, the Washington Post writes a piece noting Biden’s penchant for making gaffes. “Unlike his Republican counterpart, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, Biden has not been shy about talking to reporters, but comments he has made since Obama chose him last month have presented Democrats with their own problems and revived the longtime senator's reputation for gaffes.”

Politico’s Roger Simon reports that Biden will most likely go easy on Palin. “If Sarah Palin goofs, flounders, stumbles or blunders during her debate against Joe Biden on Thursday night, Biden is going to let it slide. ‘If she makes a gaffe, he underplays it,’ one of the people prepping Biden for his vice presidential debate told me. ‘At most, he says, “I am not sure what Gov. Palin meant there.”’”

“Second, Biden knows the press is going to pounce on any mistakes, and so he does not need to. Third, and most important, Sarah Palin is not Biden’s true target. ‘Joe Biden’s No. 1 job during the vice presidential debate is to keep the focus on the top of the ticket,’ the Biden debate prepper told me. ‘He is going to keep the focus on John McCain.’”

The Washington Post’s Ruth Marcus dreams of having McCain debate -- drum roll, please -- Sarah Palin. “I can understand how he views Obama as untested and unprepared. I can't square that dismissive attitude with McCain's selection of Palin.”

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Comments

"Second, Biden knows the press is going to pounce on any mistakes, and so he does not need to."

Yes we all know whos side the Press is on, isnt that right first read team.

Biased (Sent Tuesday, September 30, 2008 9:24 AM)

Yes....the smartest thing Biden can do is say nothing or next to nothing about Palin's unqualifications, as to do so would be viewed as attacking a woman which will cost him dearly...focus almost entirely on attacking McCain, with short, concise responses, and don't forget to mention the middle class in every answer, and to keep it about bread and butter issues...that's how Clinton won his debates, as well as Reagan...two models neither Gore nor Kerry followed and look what happened to them!

Pat Huntington NY (Sent Tuesday, September 30, 2008 9:24 AM)

Please get rid of GOP Morning Joke

Brian M De (Sent Tuesday, September 30, 2008 9:26 AM)

In these difficult economic times, what this country desperately needs is someone with Executive Experience and a proven grasp of home economics, like Sarah Palin, to shepard our nation through this crisis...after all, she used to live down the street from an ATM machine, so of course she knows all she needs to about national and international economics to run the country...

Chris from Baltimore (Sent Tuesday, September 30, 2008 9:26 AM)

Why should Mrs. Palin be treated any differently than a man? She is campaigning for the second highest position of our country, if she can't take the heat she should not be running.

Seattle Sue (Sent Tuesday, September 30, 2008 9:27 AM)

Shouldn't Governor Palin's children be IN SCHOOL-like all the other American children??? What, getting "special privileges" already?

I hope Biden whammies her Thursday! Even his gaffes are more tangible then Palin's ramblings!

Honestly, I could have given a better interview with Katie Couric, just by winging it-All it takes is to be an informed American-Do people from Alsaka really
look to this woman for leadership-SCARY!!!

Cathy (Sent Tuesday, September 30, 2008 9:27 AM)

Can't wait to see this debate...!!!

meepy (Sent Tuesday, September 30, 2008 9:28 AM)

MK,MO (Sent Tuesday, September 30, 2008 9:30 AM)

What hypocrisy! Biden meets with foreign leaders and doesn't allow the press -- no big deal. Palin meets with foreign leaders and doesn't allow the press (but eventually does) -- HOW DARE SHE!

Biden prepares for debates (after 36 years running for the Senate/and what..3 times running for President? -- quite a few debates)-- no mockery from the press. Palin prepares for debates -- it's "evidence of concern."

This Obama Press is getting on my nerves.

Katie (Sent Tuesday, September 30, 2008 9:31 AM)

mccant the HYPOCRYTE says the bail out failure was obama and dems fault then in the very next breath says , "now is not the time to place blame", America sees and hears the stupidness of this type politician just MORE OF THE SAME when America needs real and intellegent leadership this is the best mccant has to offer.

thats a fact jack (Sent Tuesday, September 30, 2008 9:34 AM)

Look, all Joe Biden needs to do is sit there, smile and answer questions succinctly. Don't get scrappy with Palin. Don't try to be cute. Let her flop around and attempt to repeat the GOP talking points as best she can.

Please Joe, don't blow it.

http://thepajamapundit.com/

the Pajama Pundit (Sent Tuesday, September 30, 2008 9:34 AM)

Palin has a good shot at winning the debate. Expectations have bottomed out, and a debate format (as opposed to a sitdown interview) actually allows a candidate to stick a little closer to talking points. Plus, she's had another week to get comfortable with those talking points.

At this point, all she has to do is "not blink" when repeating them, and she'll "win."

That said, I'm not sure it matters. She's become a caricature of an empty-headed candidate. The only credit she'll get for "winning" is having better mastered since last week the talking points given to her.

Its absolutely devastating to have Saturday Night Live parody your performance in an interview, without actually rewriting anything.

Paul Miller, Woodbridge, VA (Sent Tuesday, September 30, 2008 9:34 AM)

I think people have set the bar so low for Palin that she is going to come out looking like a political genius.

jennyp (Sent Tuesday, September 30, 2008 9:36 AM)

All Joe Biden has to do is not talk much and force "Sinner" Sarah gaffe it up and sink herself. So many people are going to be watching to see her put her foot in her mouth repeatedly. We're looking at it as political comedy that even Tina Fey would be hard to outdo.

I can't wait for this fraud in a skirt to expose herself as the dumbest VP candidate ever! No lifelines or timeouts will save the Airhead from Alaska. No having "Daddy" McCain sitting next to her holding her hand and answering those tough qeustions for her.

Go Obama/Biden 08/12!

Eric, Salinas, CA (Sent Tuesday, September 30, 2008 9:39 AM)

<<At most, he says, “I am not sure what Gov. Palin meant there.”>>

He along with the rest of the country...

Erik, Mechanicsburg, PA (Sent Tuesday, September 30, 2008 9:39 AM)

Making gaffes is a lot different than total ignorance of the facts. Sarah Palin is attempting to learn about foreign policy by craming the information she is being fed into a cogent narative in a few days period of time. Joe Biden has a life time of experience with the issues and has even voted on measures that effect our National Security. Palin is absolutely unfit to assume the office of Vice President of the USA, and her presence on the ticket directly reflects McCain's wild attempt to get people excited about his choice, but grossly ignores the safety of his country if he should die in office. How can we be fooled again???

dyellon md (Sent Tuesday, September 30, 2008 9:40 AM)

The Washington Post's Ruth Marcus : "I can understand how he views Obama as untested and unprepared. I can't square that dismissive attitude with McCain's selection of Palin".
******************************************************
Becaue he is an idiot! He is unstable, erractic and just plain a loose cannon. God help us if he gets in!!

margaret,baltimore,md. (Sent Tuesday, September 30, 2008 9:43 AM)

My prediction is that Biden won't be able to help himself. He's not a good actor. His mouth goes on auto pilot way too often. Can't wait to see how many times he contradicts Obama's positions, which Biden has done several times lately. I do wonder when the media will start holding Biden accountable, though. He makes these gaffes and the response is something like "oh, that's just Joe". If Palin had said FDR went on TV in 1929 to talk to the American people, what do you suppose the response would have been? Of course, I've given up on fairness in reporting this year. Agree with a commentator on another network that this is the year journalism died in America.

mccain palin 08 (Sent Tuesday, September 30, 2008 9:46 AM)

McCain would do his platform (to say nothing of America's television viewership) a huge favor by asking Tina Fey to substitute for Palin in the debate. Not only is Tina Fey smarter and more likeable than Palin, she doesn't have the vindictive tenor Palin emits ably. If that works out, he should just swap her out for Palin permanently.

Adam in Arizona (Sent Tuesday, September 30, 2008 9:47 AM)

That any rational person thinks that Palin is prepared at a moment's notice to be President defies credulity. One must question John McCain's ability to be President, given he cynically made this appointment to bolster his own candidacy, rather than the needs of the country. McCain's subsequent hysterical behavior about the economic crisis leaves a reasonable person wondering about his stability and temperament for the Presidency.

I still wonder if they will try to get Palin out of this. If they do, both McCain and Palin should leave the National stage.

sotiredofignorance (Sent Tuesday, September 30, 2008 9:47 AM)

Even more than the presidential debates, this is the event I'm looking forward to most... Biden, who is known for his gaffes versus Palin who, while a quick study, seems ill-equipped for the national stage at this point.

This should be the most entertaining political event of my 40 yrs... :-D

STaylor (RIP), Washington, DC (Sent Tuesday, September 30, 2008 9:50 AM)

SkinsRlue, Washington, DC (Sent Tuesday, September 30, 2008 9:51 AM)

All Biden has to do is let Palin talk, and talk, and talk, and talk. She will defeat herself. Stop and think about it: It's a strange day when McCain has to set on a couch and defend Sarah Palin to the press when a voter (not the Press) asks a hard question and the press picks up on it. The only time Sarah Palin should be in the Oval Office is when she takes a Freshman High School Civics class on a White House tour.

Ron Indiana (Sent Tuesday, September 30, 2008 9:55 AM)

Perfect! McCain debates Sarah Palin.....“I can understand how he views Obama as untested and unprepared. I can't square that dismissive attitude with McCain's selection of Palin.”

Eileen, Portland, Maine (Sent Tuesday, September 30, 2008 10:00 AM)

She will only highlight how grossly incompetent she is to be the VP of the United States

Joe, Raleigh, NC (Sent Tuesday, September 30, 2008 10:01 AM)

>>>The Washington Post’s Ruth Marcus dreams of having McCain debate -- drum roll, please -- Sarah Palin. “I can understand how he views Obama as untested and unprepared. I can't square that dismissive attitude with McCain's selection of Palin.”

==========
Neither can most of the country. John McCain claims that Obama is unqualified (actually the attitude he displayed during the debate was more like "WTF should I even have to debate this N-word?"), yet in the same breath says he made the right choice in picking Palin. This woman is a walking punch-line. Anytime Tina Fey can do a spot-on immitation of her using her own words and get laughs, that's a pretty clear indication of how seriously America is taking her at this point.

Obama/Biden '08!

jawillie, Philadelphia, PA (Sent Tuesday, September 30, 2008 10:01 AM)

If Huckabee hadn't wound the evangelicals up to thrown him a bone in Iowa, Romney would be the candidate right now and we'd all be grateful because he's the only one in the entire presidential field who has the experiene to get us through the economic crisis. McCain/Romney '08--there's still time.

Jeff Waha, Dallas, Texas (Sent Tuesday, September 30, 2008 10:02 AM)

Palin will bring her A game and show her critics her abilities. I believe she will not only win the debate she will show us that Joe Biden is the crusty old politcian he has always been. Her treatment has been dispicable, and unfair, and that's why America will love her.

Hillary not Obama (Sent Tuesday, September 30, 2008 10:03 AM)

Joe Biden has some rather obvious mental problems. Facts get scrambled in his mind and he simply is wrong. Obama will be fortunate if Biden doesn't snap under the pressure and make some rambling statement that casts him and the campaign in a negative if not bizzare light. Biden is unstable and this is why no one voted for him in primaries.
Choosing Biden for running mate proves or at least strongly suggests that obama is not ready for prime time.

Larry Clifton , Atlanta, Georgia (Sent Tuesday, September 30, 2008 10:03 AM)

There is a big difference on comparing the "the lack of experience" of Palin and Obama. They are not compareable: one is running for presidency and other vice presidency. How could their in-experience affects the Government, if one them get elected?
Same way? No. Unless reporters know something that we voter's do not. They may have direct communication, via-e mail with God that McCain may not live after election. We have so many high level positions in Government, including Supreme Court and congress occupy by people older tham McCain. Anybody could die anytime, irrespective of their age.
So Obama's inexperience running the govenment is not the same as a vice president who has little or no responsibility to run the Government.

Madayil Nair (Sent Tuesday, September 30, 2008 10:05 AM)

It's unfortunate that Gov. Palin will be treated with kid gloves by Biden during the debate. If she wants to run with the big dogs, the gloves should come off. That's equality.

BJ Johnson (Sent Tuesday, September 30, 2008 10:06 AM)

If Sen Biden wants to lose this debate, all he has to do is call on Gov Palin's mistakes in the debate. If he does that, he will be "picking on a helpless woman"; and this will bring support for Gov Palin. Reason: She is defenseless. Sen Biden needs to treat her as a worthy opponent (although we all know that she does not belong on the ticket), treat her with respect and dignity, and prove that civilary is not dead.

Edward J. Barczak Jr, Maryland (Sent Tuesday, September 30, 2008 10:06 AM)

What is at stake is the very survival of our country. Sarah Palin is probably a nice woman and an effective governor of a unique state. She is not ready to be POTUS. What a travesty that would be.

Looking at George Bush these past ten days has shown what happens when you elect an incompetent individual with a likable personality and minimal intellectual curiosity.

Joe Biden may be a gaffe machine but there is no question he is an intelligent and learned individual.He can at least string together a subject and verb that is intelligble. The same cannot be said for Palin.

Let the debate begin!!

Obama/Biden

Sheila Robinson. Baltimore, MD (Sent Tuesday, September 30, 2008 10:12 AM)

How can any woman try to run for political office 4 months after giving birth to a high maintenance baby? She also have a 23 year old son, who has been a juvenile delinquent most of his life, combined with an underage pregnant daughter! With a DISFUNCTIONAL family, such as hers, I cannot fathom how anyone can vote for her to be one heart beat away from the most powerful job on the planet.

BSatinski, NY,NY (Sent Tuesday, September 30, 2008 10:12 AM)

I admire the courage of Sarah.
She has the guts to say unknown things so freely. I wonder even if she listen's to the comments and questions carefully or understands them.
World's most powerful country's VP job is not an admission in a school where first you take years to learn before you can contribute anything... that's only a burden on what American priorities need to be after Mr. Bush.

Pradeep (Sent Tuesday, September 30, 2008 10:15 AM)

The media needs to tell us what restrictions were
demanded by Mccain and the republicans for this
debate. And, why these limits were agreed to.
Palins lack of experience in debating is no
ones fault except Mccains, in his irresponsible
choice for her as VP.
Joe Bidens hands should not be tied in any
way in debating with her.

katiec Pekin, IL (Sent Tuesday, September 30, 2008 10:15 AM)

Gaffes vs. out right ignorance, you choose!

John Alexander, Edinboro,PA (Sent Tuesday, September 30, 2008 10:17 AM)

Biden needs to be short and concise with answers or statements. And if he questions Palin make sure he asks something that needs a L-O-N-G answer.

Let Palin do all the talking and let her go on and on and on.

If you give someone enough rope they'll hang themselves with it!

Tom Kaye (Sent Tuesday, September 30, 2008 10:17 AM)

Everyone is trying to underestimate Ms. Palin...if she does more than "just put together a sentence" she will be okay. THAT IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH.

IF ELECTED, MS. PALIN WILL BE VP TO A 72 YEAR OLD PRESIDENT. IT IS A 1-IN-5 CHANCE SHE WILL HAVE TO BECOME PRESIDENT IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO MR. McCAIN. WE, AS VOTERS, HAVE TO KEEP THAT IN MIND. IF SHE IS NOT QUALIFIED AND HAS TO ASSUME THE OFFICE, OUR COUNTRY IS AT STAKE!!!

LARRY, UNION, KY (Sent Tuesday, September 30, 2008 10:18 AM)

Why must men feel in debates about our country, they must use kid gloves to debate it with a woman... I'm sure in the war zones no enemy is using kid gloves to fight our women in srevice...If PALIN can't take the heat of a debate she'd best leave the race... Use your heads people, no country would want a weak leader that can't handle talks, ideas, or problems. It's all a part of being a leader... Forget this sh*t that men are bulling me, or the media is tough on me, if you want the job handle the debates as a leader would have to handle them...

Judith Ferren, Errol, New Hampshire (Sent Tuesday, September 30, 2008 10:19 AM)

Palin is a disaster. If everyone's attention weren't absorbed in the financial market disaster we would all be buzzing about how she directly contradicted McCain yesterday while sitting right next to him in the Katie Couric interview. Palin stated she made it clear to the leader of Pakistan that a McCain/Palin administration would not allow terrorists free transit across the border and would do whatever is necessary to stop them with our without his support. That contradicts McCain on his assertion that you don't say that sort of thing publicly AND his claim that Pakistan is our ally, therefore that sort of attack is not necessary.

John B, Des Moines, IA (Sent Tuesday, September 30, 2008 10:21 AM)

I don't get all the hand wringing over whether Biden will hurt the Barracuda. She's naturally prone to nastiness and snarkiness, coupled with conviction to make up for an overwhelming lack of deep thought. In other words, George Bush in a skirt. That should have been the lesson of her St. Paul attack on Obama, but everyone instead got caught up in her "composure" and "poise" in delivering Mike Scully's speech. What most people missed about George, at least at first, was that the conviction didn't reflect any sort of deeper truth or analysis. From her complete nosedive interviews (where you could tell she wanted to get snarky then realized she couldn't come off that way), we already know that about Palin, so all the "composure" in the world at the debate won't cover up for her shallow nature.

If the deprogramming in Sedona works, expect her to try and turn any comment by Biden into an opportunity for pithy attack lines like mayor = community organizer with real responsibilities. It will fire up the base (again), but as long as she doesn't set herself on fire they'll have that reaction. It won't reassure anyone who saw her butcher the interviews that she really is smart and deep, and it won't hurt Obama or Biden. So I say, Joe should beat the heck out of McCain, wind the Barracuda up, then step back and watch as she tries to ignore any substance in favor of cheap attack lines.

Berkeley Bear in Illinois (Sent Tuesday, September 30, 2008 10:27 AM)

If a baseball player hits a homerun in his 1st at bat in the major leagues and doesn't get a hit in his next 50 at bats, he will get sent back to the MINOR leagues. It is time the GM (McCain) sends the not ready player back down to work on their hitting.

Larry Colorado (Sent Tuesday, September 30, 2008 10:27 AM)

The VP debates are basically a side dish to the presidential nominees debates. No much taste since
the campaign of their bosses has made the cooking, and
they will just be there to give the audience a bit of
their respective campaign cooked out answers -much like the food taste servers in supermarkets.

But there will be the personal touch of the VP candidates in trying to explain the recipes and the ingredients of the pre-cooked bits of their answers.
And since the candidates will be coached not to get
far from the scrip prepared by their campaigns, I expect to see obfuscating and dancing around the core
of the questions, but trying hard not to step on it. They will know that if they do, it may turn up to be a mine that wreck their campaign. Gerald Ford learned it the hard way when during the debate with Jimmy Carter said the "Eastern European countries were free countries not under Soviet domination." The was the end of Gerald Ford's political career.

Sarah Palin is a national and international politics
novice with enough ineptness to spare, but Joe Biden has a poking and lecturing attitude that is borderline derisive. Sure, the Obama campaign will keep him on a leash, but it will be interesting to see
if he behaves like a pit bull, and if Sarah Palin has the lipstick ready. Nikos Retsos, retired Pol.Sci. professor

Nikos Retsos, River Grove, IL (Sent Tuesday, September 30, 2008 10:35 AM)

Gaffes vs. out right ignorance, I take the gaffes!

John Alexander, Edinboro,PA (Sent Tuesday, September 30, 2008 10:36 AM)

If Biden questions anything Palin says the press will say he's picking on the "poor defensless female", I believe Biden is the one the pressures on, the bar has been lowered for Palin by the press to the point if Palin can manage to show up at the correct venue she will be declared the winner.
MK,MO (Sent Tuesday, September 30, 2008 9:30 AM)
--------------------------------------------

I agree completely. No matter what Sen Biden does, there is little chance of him being declared the winner since all Gov Palin has to do is remain standing at the end of the debate to claim victory.

Dorothy, Illinois (Sent Tuesday, September 30, 2008 10:37 AM)

John McCain can't be serious.Sarah Palin should never have been put in this position. The well being of the next generation is at stake. What happened to love of country? It is not too late to rectify this situation. I know now that I will vote for Obama

angela Raleigh NC (Sent Tuesday, September 30, 2008 10:37 AM)

It is so hard to try to look someone, you are really not... I have ba-a-ad feelings about the debate, may god be with her!

For Sarah, VA (Sent Tuesday, September 30, 2008 10:38 AM)

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