Sources: Palin to go on the offensive against Biden
posted at 4:35 pm on October 2, 2008 by Allahpundit
Share on Facebook | regular view
Smart. It restores the “pitbull in lipstick” image that the Couric interviews dissolved, it increases the chance of a golden Biden jackass moment by getting under his skin, and it keeps the spotlight off of her own answers. The debate’s supposed to be “about” Palin; to the extent she can make it about Biden or, better still, about Biden’s disagreements with Obama, it’s a victory even if she spends half her time tapdancing on policy.
Sarah Palin plans to go on the attack in tonight’s debate, hitting Joe Biden for what she will call his foreign policy blunders and penchant for adopting liberal positions on taxes and other issues, according to campaign officials involved in prepping her for tonight’s showdown…
“This is going to finally put her back into a position where we see her like we saw her the first couple weeks,” a McCain official said. “She was herself. She was authentic, and people related to that. … Tonight, she’ll get into a rhythm. You’re going to see her in a way that you haven’t seen her yet.”…
From her debate playbook, as described by McCain officials:
—Throw Biden’s own words back at him…
—Highlight past Biden foreign-policy positions as a way to undermine his core strength…
—Highlight places where Biden and Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) have differed, including primary-season statements about Obama’s readiness to lead and his positions on Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan.
Follow the link for examples of each. Exit question: What’s Biden’s goal in this debate? The media claims Palin’s the one for whom the bar’s been set low, but realistically all Biden has to do to protect Obama’s lead is sound reasonably informed and coherent (even if he isn’t) and not pop off at his opponent. Shouldn’t be hard for a six-term senator. Be Joe Cool for 90 minutes, take any abuse with a smile, and tear down McCain at every opportunity and he’s guaranteed a draw, which is all he needs. If he can’t resist a zinger at her expense, the obvious angle would be to try to counter her own immaculate blue-collar-ness with his own. Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who’s the most down-to-earth millionaire of them all?
Update: I know what he means but Joementum’s not helping by phrasing things this way.
You must be logged in to post a comment.

















Blowback
Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.
Trackbacks/Pings
Trackback URL
Comments
Comment pages: « Previous 1 2 3
Sorry, shouldn’t have been so harsh on the sister Wilson.
Love them.
Wish they weren’t liberal.
Love them anyway.
turfmann on October 2, 2008 at 6:50 PM
Lim here, eat this and start watching the start of the start of the debate.
upinak on October 2, 2008 at 6:55 PM
Regarding Sarah Palin’s stance against abortion in cases of rape and incest: she has gone out of her way to explain that is her PERSONAL ethics and she would NEVER seek to impose them on others. Rather it is a PERSONAL CHOICE FOR OTHER’S TO MAKE.
In my opinion, even if Roe v Wade is overturned, it will not make abortion illegal. It will merely throw the debate BACK TO THE STATES to decide. Am I wrong?
NightmareOnKStreet on October 2, 2008 at 7:01 PM
Empty sophistry to justify taking the life of an innocent human person.
ManlyRash on October 2, 2008 at 7:02 PM
You re correct. And that, under our Constitution, is where it belongs.
ManlyRash on October 2, 2008 at 7:03 PM
I am really sensing a Republican landslide. This is going to be good.
Many battleground states are within the margin of error.
JellyToast on October 2, 2008 at 7:05 PM
That’s probably true. If she doesn’t beat up Biden/Obama on domestic issues, then we’re screwed because McCain can’t.
Spirit of 1776 on October 2, 2008 at 7:06 PM
Yes,, you are right. That is where decisions belong. With the states and localities.
JellyToast on October 2, 2008 at 7:08 PM
I think Palin should focus on Obama, not Biden. Do not count on Biden making a gaffe during the debate. Make Biden’s experience worthless by forcing him to try to defend Obama’s non-existent resume.
Shouldn’t we argue, that with the economy in shambles, is it really smart to let a guy who has never run anything, in government or business, run the country?
Shouldn’t someone get a learners permit before getting a driver’s license? Especially if you’re going to be driving through a snowstorm?
El_Terrible on October 2, 2008 at 7:10 PM
Yes, you are correct. Doesn’t stop me from believing those who think differently are wrong though, and calling those with self-contradictory viewpoints the hypocrites they are.
Same thing about religion (and by extension, atheists), but we’re not running around clubbing people over the head for believing differently.
*eats*
Grue in the Attic on October 2, 2008 at 7:14 PM
I still think the best strategy would be for Palin to wear too much perfume and when they first come out and shake hands, she leans in a whispers in Biden’s ear :
“Joeeeee, I’m not wearing any underwear!”
…and he thought he had cured that stuttering problem.
kurtzz3 on October 2, 2008 at 7:16 PM
ROTFLMAO. Oh my God…THAT would put him over the edge.
ManlyRash on October 2, 2008 at 7:18 PM
The abortion “rights” issue is a BIG STICKING POINT for many women who WOULD OTHERWISE VOTE FOR PALIN
So why isn’t that the answer used to shut down every idiot who whines about “s/he will work to overturn Roe v Wade and women will be forced into back room abortions…”? I’ve not heard a single person say:
<blockquote>…even if Roe v Wade is overturned, it will not make abortion illegal. It will merely throw the debate BACK TO THE STATES to decide.
BAM! END OF ARGUMENT. NEXT, PLEASE…
NightmareOnKStreet on October 2, 2008 at 7:20 PM
No argument here, K. In fact the Repubs can spin this to their advantage by pointing out that the matter would be decided by THE PEOPLE, not by nine justices.
ManlyRash on October 2, 2008 at 7:23 PM
Grue, you lost me. ‘Splain please.
NightmareOnKStreet on October 2, 2008 at 7:23 PM
Even better still, Biden’s and Obama’s disagreements with our Constitution, our Founding Fathers, and the vast majority of the American electorate.
anuts on October 2, 2008 at 7:25 PM
I could be wrong… but I think Joey B is going to destroy Palin.
-of course, if he doesn’t destroy himself first
Opinionnation on October 2, 2008 at 7:26 PM
I’ll have to catch the results of the debate from ya’ll tomorrow. I never watch my team when they’re playing in the big game–it’s bad luck if I do. Hopefully, the news in the morning will be good.
Go get ‘em Sarahcuda!
Matt Helm on October 2, 2008 at 7:28 PM
I disagree. Not smart – dumb.
That whole schtick was predicated on the assumption she had experience and command of the issues. Once it became obvious that Palin doesn’t have the knowledge and worse, the curiosity, for her to play attack dog now just looks like she’s avoiding the issue.
sanguine4 on October 2, 2008 at 7:29 PM
…works for me…gonna try to keep that mental image going during the debates…might come in handy.
…a man of his long-standing ego, he’d probably reply, “Neither am I!” with a big pederastic grin…that’d end the debate. He wouldn’t want to go on national television with vomit all over his chest….
Puritan1648 on October 2, 2008 at 7:30 PM
Please Gov. Palin, tonight, at some point explain your PERSONAL pro-life position again and add the following:
**********************************
…Even if Roe v Wade is overturned, it will not make abortion illegal. It will merely throw the debate BACK TO THE STATES to decide.
**************ATTENTION SARAH***********
YOU WILL NEVER GET ANOTHER CHANCE LIKE THIS DEBATE TO GAIN THE MILLIONS OF VOTES OF MANY WOMEN WHO WILL OTHERWISE VOTE AGAINST YOU ON THIS SINGLE ISSUE.
NightmareOnKStreet on October 2, 2008 at 7:34 PM
I wonder if it would be possible for Congress to pass a law that states something to the effect of “we reaffirm that, under the constitution, laws governing the practice of abortion are the jurisdiction of State and local governance.”
Count to 10 on October 2, 2008 at 7:35 PM
My dad says he wants to watch the debate to see Palin make a fool of herself. Do me proud lady. I want to be the one walking around with a smirk on my face tomorrow.
Darth Executor on October 2, 2008 at 7:36 PM
At any rate, as far as the lowered expectations games goes, I think the media handed it to Palin.
Count to 10 on October 2, 2008 at 7:37 PM
Overblown. Palin can’t undo roe vs wade and women who think aabortion’s a right won’t want the issue back to the states, they’ll want it federally supported, much like people like me who think it’s murdered want it banned everywhere. Most liberal women realise palin and mccain can’t undo roe vs wade and I’m willing to bet it’s a non-issue for them.
Darth Executor on October 2, 2008 at 7:38 PM
This isn’t Europe. Americans want to see a good ass kicking. Especially from the underdog.
Darth Executor on October 2, 2008 at 7:39 PM
What a strange and disturbing sequence of words…
anuts on October 2, 2008 at 7:40 PM
Upinak….
That’s the spirit! (sorry about the late response, calories got in the way)
Watch for split screens, but only when Biden is making his points. Can’t have shots of Joe’s hair plugs popping out when Sarah goes on the attack.
Limerick on October 2, 2008 at 7:46 PM
Well I am about outta here. I have more cooking to do at home. Oven is on low for the “ptarmigan and meatballs” the fish is going to be grilled here soon.
Lim, bring Grue, Madison, Manly and a few others.
upinak on October 2, 2008 at 7:48 PM
Cheers, my lady. I’ll be back after the debate and see who is left standing and who had crow for dinner. :)
Crow isn’t bad, btw. All depends on seasoning.
Limerick on October 2, 2008 at 7:50 PM
Well, I better get out of here–I don’t even want to read the live commentary while the debate’s going on–I don’t want to do anything that might jinx it for Sarah.
Let’s hope she knocks Biden and his hair plugs out of the park.
What a wuss–the guy doesn’t even have the guts to bald and proud.
Stand up Gwen! God love ya!
Matt Helm on October 2, 2008 at 7:53 PM
Oreilly RIPS BARNEY FRANK A NEW ONE IN 2 MINUTES ON THE FACTOR!!!</strong
NightmareOnKStreet on October 2, 2008 at 7:59 PM
I disagree. Every time the subject of abortion comes up on some left-tard show they drum home the (fake) argument that women’s rights are at stake, blah, blah, blah. Celebutards like Ashley Judd are spewing crap about Palin trampling on women’s “privacy rights”- latest code for abortion rights. Frankly, if liberals thought it a “non-issue” as you say, why do they keep debating the effect Palin’s opinions would have on Roe v Wade?
NightmareOnKStreet on October 2, 2008 at 8:03 PM
Who cares what some talking-heads on the boobtube think? They’re not representative of the population. Most people know tv is full of lefttards.
Darth Executor on October 2, 2008 at 8:16 PM
The rapist violates the woman’s rights by raping her, so the resulting baby’s right to life is forfeit.
Isn’t that punishing the baby for the crime of the rapist?
That’s not just inconsistent with beliefs in every child’s equality. That’s inconsistent with justice.
Adoption is not a satisfying answer in such cases, but the easy answer is not always the right one. And abortion is the easiest answer of all. Abortion says, “just kill it, flush it, and pretend it never happened.”
I’ll say it again: In cases of rape, it was not the resulting baby that raped the victim. The resulting baby is even more a victim than the rape victim, even if not aborted. Abortion makes the baby a victim again.
theregoestheneighborhood on October 3, 2008 at 12:00 AM
Due respect, but isn’t abortion the “cheap easy answer”, almost by definition? $300 – $500 and pretend you were never pregnant?
I’ll say it again: abortion kills an innocent child. The baby did not rape that woman. I’m all sympathy to the argument for killing the rapist, who is undeniably guilty. If it were possible to take the baby from the rape victim and force the rapist to be pregnant and carry the baby to term, I’d be in favor of that, too.
But if we can’t fix what’s wrong, we should at least try not to add to it.
theregoestheneighborhood on October 3, 2008 at 12:08 AM
And to think, Biden could be one cigarette away from the presidency.
MarkTheGreat on October 3, 2008 at 7:09 AM
Comment pages: « Previous 1 2 3