jay pettitt on 2/10/2008 at 18:25
I quite like the woman. That's not to say that I don't find her politics abhorrent or that I think she possesses presidential qualities, but I do think she's genuine; I'd probably be happy to know her in circumstances other than her running for Vice President, but running for VP is where she's at and for that the blame has to lie with McCain.
She's been a disaster in interview. The stark contrast between her performance with Hannity and then with Gibson and Couric paints her as little more than a rootin' tootin' republican gal, which is fair enough as far as it goes, but it's not the kind of substantive position that holds up to scrutiny. If you don't apply scrutiny she'll be great, but my guess is she's not going to win anyone over who isn't already sold.
I'm sure most of you are anyway, but I'd be very concerned about McCain/Palin after the Couric interview. Sure there were guffaw inspiring moments a plenty - the news source thing was particularly curious seeing as she majored in and has a background in journalism. What worried me though was that she hasn't progressed since the Gibson interview. For example: I appreciate that global warming skepticism has become a popular position, but the truth is it has stood up to incredible scrutiny and that amongst mainstream scientific circles it's as certain and robust as mainstream science gets. To dismiss the consensus view you have to be pre-decided and then go looking for data that might be used, or more likely misused, to support your view, no matter how spurious or insignificant and at the same time make a conscious decision, for little or no apparent reason, to to ignore/reject the vast body of evidence that supports the consensus position: intellectual dishonesty in other words. Now I don't expect Sarah or McCain to be expert in climate science, but I do expect them to be able to pick and choose advisors that will inform them to a certain standard. Sarah repeats the position that she gave to Gibson - that human activity might be attributable to some climate change, but that the cause isn't important, it's just something that we have to do 'something' about regardless. Cause is, of course, very important indeed if prevention might be a better prescription than cure. With her assertion that cause isn't important Sarah is shutting the door on any remaining hope that the US might play a constructive part in averting climate change post President Bush and it seems now that the McCain camp are content that she maintain that position.
I'll not deny it, I'll be pointing at the telly excitedly and giggling beer out my nose with glee if she debates like she interviews, but word is she's actually quite good and my guess is that she might even be aggressive this evening. Strangely, I'm more worried about Biden.
Palin would probably make a good lobbyist.
heretic on 2/10/2008 at 19:05
Even if Palin can just keep Biden on the defensive much like Mccain did with Obama then the base's perception of her should improve considerably as these things tend to run hot or cold. She had just better damn well improve her retention skills before the next set of interviews.
Palin will most certainly attract the folksy religious types and tighten the base at least somewhat if she pulls through with anything other than abject failure. That could be enough for Mccain to have at least a fighting chance since so many independant voters are seemingly going to either take the plunge or sit this one out rather than jumping ship to the other side.
Starrfall on 2/10/2008 at 20:16
She might have a hard time keeping Biden on the defensive, given the more limited debate structure that was put in place for her.
Here's a joint interview with Bush and Ferraro on their VP debate, if anyone's interested. (
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26973494/)
Gryzemuis on 2/10/2008 at 22:49
I'll tell you what Sarah Palin will do.
She will ignore Joe Biden.
She will ignore the questions that are asked.
She will tell happy stories.
She will repeat how great she thinks America is.
She will repeat what a great people the American people is.
She will repeat how much confidence she has in America and all the great Americans that live in it.
She will repeat what a brave men the American soldiers are, and how well they do in their battles.
She will ignore everything else.
She will tell nice small stories, subtly explaining how well she connects with people.
She will tell nice small stories, subtly explaining how ordinary and plain she is.
She will not attack Biden, not attack Obama. Maybe she will say that the Democrats will ruin your great nation for the awesome Americans that live in it. She will not go into details.
That's what will happen. No discussion. No talk about topics. No confrontenation. No answers. No responses to Biden. No responses to the moderator. Nothing. Just happy words coming from the mouth of Palin. Mark my words. Debate is in 2 hours.
Ghostly Apparition on 3/10/2008 at 00:19
Quote Posted by heretic
That could be enough for Mccain to have at least a fighting chance since so many independant voters are seemingly going to either take the plunge or sit this one out rather than jumping ship to the other side.
What other side? If they are truly independent voters doesn't that mean by definition that they can be persuaded either way? Or do you think they are independent the way you are "independent" meaning you believe they lean conservative or Libertarian?
Starrfall on 3/10/2008 at 00:35
Quote Posted by Ghostly Apparition
What other side? If they are truly independent voters doesn't that mean by definition that they can be persuaded either way? Or do you think they are independent the way you are "independent" meaning you believe they lean conservative or Libertarian?
I register as a decline to state voter because I dislike both political parties. In national elections I still consider the republicans to be "the other side" because from my pov they get things miserably wrong more often then democrats, largely due to the fundie influence. If they lost that element, I wouldn't dislike them so much.
There are probably fundamentalist independents out there who dislike democrats more and see them as "the other side" because they
lack the fundamentalist element. That doesn't make them republicans though.
And aside from that even independents have to make a choice eventually, and they're allowed to change it.
heretic on 3/10/2008 at 00:43
Quote Posted by Ghostly Apparition
What other side? If they are truly independent voters doesn't that mean by definition that they can be persuaded either way? Or do you think they are independent the way you are "independent" meaning you believe they lean conservative or Libertarian?
Maybe I wasn't clear enough. In context it should be obvious that I was specifically referencing only the independents which were slowly going Mccain's way, mainly those who were put off by his pick of Palin and her recent sheepishness.
heretic on 3/10/2008 at 00:51
I don't know of many fundie independents, but I guess the Constitution Party types would fit the bill well enough. I do however know a lot of Objectivists and the like that are Independents, most of which are of a Libertarian bent and abhor fundamentalism of nearly any sort.
fett on 3/10/2008 at 01:20
Quote Posted by LittleFlower
She will ignore the questions that are asked.
You win. She just said that's what she's going to do. :erg:
jay pettitt on 3/10/2008 at 01:26
Biden has great teeth.
