Sources: Palin to go on the offensive against Biden
posted at 4:35 pm on October 2, 2008 by Allahpundit
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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.
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I hope someone on this ticket goes on the offensive.
bopbottle on October 2, 2008 at 4:37 PM
DU inmates are frothing that her hair is down; they’re all over the earpiece meme.
Enoxo on October 2, 2008 at 4:38 PM
Please attack that crap sandwich!
thedudesblog on October 2, 2008 at 4:38 PM
Good! The muzzle is off!
maverick muse on October 2, 2008 at 4:39 PM
Awsome choice of cover pic BTW Allah :D
*eats*
Grue in the Attic on October 2, 2008 at 4:40 PM
I know in my heart that our ‘Cuda is going to do good, come out swinging, and probably land a few good blows.
But my gut is in a knot, and I’m afraid that the campaign could be over tonight for all practical purposes.
Just to be clear, I’m not giving up, just scared of what I see on Channel 73.
JamesLee on October 2, 2008 at 4:40 PM
Let Biden be Biden, and all will be well with Saracuda.
Akzed on October 2, 2008 at 4:40 PM
I feel less nervous about things hearing this news.
Cardiganfox on October 2, 2008 at 4:40 PM
Come on Sara-Cuda!! Embarrass the old fart!!
AubieJon on October 2, 2008 at 4:40 PM
Sweet.
Hope she takes one or two swipes at Gwin Ifill and the Ifill Centre for Journalism Ethics.
CanadianGuy on October 2, 2008 at 4:40 PM
There’s so much to attack on… I hope tonight’s the beginning of the real campaign.
ImRight on October 2, 2008 at 4:40 PM
Anyone else think that Biden looks like that puppet “Walter” that Jeff Dunham uses?
null on October 2, 2008 at 4:41 PM
I’ve never quite understood why you would announce your debate strategy before the debate.
JudetheFossil on October 2, 2008 at 4:41 PM
The media is going to elect Obama. McCain had the chance to put Obama away in the first debate. He didn’t. I am now incredibly pessimistic and disillusioned. I’m loading the gun now.
D0WNT0WN on October 2, 2008 at 4:41 PM
please go with the earpiece meme, Dems. Please, talk about pissing off women.
Why is Palin’s strategy being leaked?
jp on October 2, 2008 at 4:41 PM
What’s to lose?
Terrye on October 2, 2008 at 4:41 PM
And realistically, she could have Biden curled up on the floor in a fetal position, and the MSM will declare it at most a draw and thus a win for Obama.
The talking points have already been distributed, and are going to be repeated over and over.
MSM tried to do torpedo the Republicans last year, but Rather took it a step too far by faking documents and it backfired. They’ve learned their lesson and aren’t going to repeat it, making their chosen one win.
Enoxo on October 2, 2008 at 4:41 PM
Biden is in a win-win situation. If he does well, he does well. If he stinks it up, it is because he is expected to stink it up and the press will focus on any Palin word mispronunciations instead of glaring factual errors by Biden.
Biden could go on a rant about aliens destroying the world if Obama loses, but if Palin has touble pronouncing Ahmedenijad it is all we will hear about.
Screw the press…
cannonball on October 2, 2008 at 4:41 PM
LMAO
lodge on October 2, 2008 at 4:42 PM
Well that’s good, but don’t tell me and the rest of the world about it, just do it.
Spirit of 1776 on October 2, 2008 at 4:42 PM
it better be, they have a month to go and falling in the polls
jp on October 2, 2008 at 4:42 PM
I hope this is true, but why show your cards before hand? I don’t know…my pessimism meter must be running hihg, because I’m just not sure it’ll happen. Ugh. I’m REALLY nervous about this debate!
And Liebs? Um, that isn’t helpful. I know what you’re trying to say, but that was dumb. You heard what happened to Carly Fiorina, right?
changer1701 on October 2, 2008 at 4:42 PM
I can’t believe Matt Cooper is even making such a ridiculous comparison. Biden’s home alone is nearly 3x the net worth of the Palin’s, which really isn’t all that extraordinary for a couple in their mid-40’s. Yeah, wow, let’s call her Sarah Moneybags.
thirteen28 on October 2, 2008 at 4:42 PM
So you’re assuming her answers will need distractions?
I think she’s smarter than everyone gives her credit for.
It must be tough to be under a microscope with millions of viewers, not to mention being in the gunsight of hundreds of thousands.
eea on October 2, 2008 at 4:43 PM
Will the night end with Biden’s blood on her lips?
I sincerely hope so.
MadisonConservative on October 2, 2008 at 4:43 PM
Our dear Sarah will be gutted and field dressed on national television.
McCain will applaud the bipartisan effort in the debate.
America will lose in November.
ManlyRash on October 2, 2008 at 4:43 PM
NEED A SHOP!!! Dunham with his face replaced by Obama’s, Joe’s face over Walter’s.
I can even imagine Joe saying “Jackass” in Walter’s voice. It fits.
*eats*
Grue in the Attic on October 2, 2008 at 4:43 PM
She should hammer him on the Biden Plan and his opposition to Reagan’s military build-up.
lodge on October 2, 2008 at 4:43 PM
As much as I would love to see her turn Biden into a redfaced, fuming idiot (more so than usual that is), after watching her performance in the Couric interviews I’m not sure she has it in her. I will be saying a prayer to the Patron Saint of Debating for her, though. (Someone please let me know who that is ASAP).
Bill Scrunty on October 2, 2008 at 4:43 PM
I just hope the muzzle comes off.
Another McCain problem. He tight lipped her and now she has to make up for her other-half’s gaffe in that regard.
TheHat on October 2, 2008 at 4:44 PM
And I thought I was pessimistic.
lorien1973 on October 2, 2008 at 4:44 PM
Like I said elsewhere, if Biden ends the debate anywhere other than crouched in a fetal position on the floor crying “Mommy, make her stop,” all of the liberals and a sizable portion of conservatives are going to characterize her performance as an unmitigated disaster. It’s baked in the cake already.
thirteen28 on October 2, 2008 at 4:44 PM
She needs to attack Plugs on his crazy idea to divide Iraq up three ways.
Mark1971 on October 2, 2008 at 4:45 PM
Please go after the hairplugs. Please go after the hairplugs.
Chuck Schick on October 2, 2008 at 4:45 PM
Garrett is making some interesting points here, that bode well for Palin tonight. Basically to let Palin drive the debate. That could work very well as Rove says the recent turn in numbers is more McCain dips and less Obama rising. Hence focus on her, helps him if she is compelling tonight.
Spirit of 1776 on October 2, 2008 at 4:45 PM
To unnerve Biden? He’s thinking “Oh crap, how am I going to handle this? How can I strike back without looking like an ass?”
I hope it’s true – she goes on the offensive.
Oink on October 2, 2008 at 4:45 PM
About time someone on this ticket goes on the offensive.
brak on October 2, 2008 at 4:45 PM
Allah… even if you know what he means, he is still a arrogant idiot!
upinak on October 2, 2008 at 4:45 PM
And the freakishly white teeth and all the stupid things he’s said.
Oink on October 2, 2008 at 4:46 PM
Can you imagine a 6 minute nonstop demolishion of Biden? Like those Evander Holyfield type of streaks where its just 6 minutes of nonstop blows. Hammer him on everything in an almost sing song string, that’d make the news.
Cardiganfox on October 2, 2008 at 4:47 PM
All she has to do is avoid one, please lord ONE, Qualye gaffe and she wins the debate, which the MSM will immediately spin as a toss-up as to who won it. If Palin destroys Biden expect the “shrill” meme to make an appearence.
420sniper on October 2, 2008 at 4:47 PM
Allah has had hold of MR for about a week now. For him sadly, there is no coming back. He cannot be saved.
*eats*
Grue in the Attic on October 2, 2008 at 4:47 PM
Is somebody going to let Joe Biden know that Gwen Ifill is using a wheelchair today? They better.
Mark1971 on October 2, 2008 at 4:47 PM
Nobody ever defended anything successfully, there is only attack and attack and attack some more.
- George S. Patton
The object of
wardebate is not todieget scroomed for yourcountryparty but to make the other bastarddieget scroomed for his.- George S. Patton
MB4 on October 2, 2008 at 4:48 PM
In addition to attacking Biden, she needs to attack Obama, who has less experience and less actual achievements than herself, like she did in her RNC speech. Then let Biden answer the question about how his running mate deviated from party-line votes.
Also–this wouldn’t be a direct attack on Biden, but she needs to clearly put the blame on Democrats for the Fannie/Freddie/bailout mess. It’s tough to explain in a minute or two, but she’ll have to do it–the MSM certainly won’t. Also point out that McCain tried to rein in Fannie and Freddie in 2005, but Democrats prevented him. It’s probably this issue that’s pushing McCain’s poll numbers down, not anything Palin has said or failed to say.
Steve Z on October 2, 2008 at 4:48 PM
Well, Thomas More is the patron saint of politicians.
Slublog on October 2, 2008 at 4:49 PM
Nicely done. Patton always brings out the best in things. :) Welcome back BTW.
*eats*
Grue in the Attic on October 2, 2008 at 4:49 PM
I hope this is a ruse, because she doesn’t need to go after Biden.
She needs to attack Obama and his ACORN “friends”.
faraway on October 2, 2008 at 4:49 PM
The thing is, all of her press exposure has been in interviews where she is naturally going to be more on the defensive. We haven’t seen her yet go on offense. She might be in her element. It could be a totally different Sarah, or maybe not.
Mark1971 on October 2, 2008 at 4:50 PM
Biden: “What? Oh, yeah. I already am an ass. Haha.”
AubieJon on October 2, 2008 at 4:50 PM
“Gwen, please stand up so everyone can see you”, Biden
please God, please God, pretty please….
420sniper on October 2, 2008 at 4:50 PM
First I was like ….
And then I lol’d.
Enoxo on October 2, 2008 at 4:50 PM
She needs to show she is a serious candidate, not a piece of fluff like the media says. Going after Obama doesn’t matter. If she makes a terrific showing, it’s a winner for McCain. If not; it truly is….over.
My themed gang FTW!
lorien1973 on October 2, 2008 at 4:51 PM
Hope she slaps him naked as a worm tonight. Honestly she’s the only bright spot in this whole election cycle. She needs to dominate Biden, dominate Ifill and pick up the change agenda from the cutting room floor and shame Washington DC for throwing money away they don’t have.
Buzzy on October 2, 2008 at 4:51 PM
I think we’d have many volunteers for her to practice on.
lorien1973 on October 2, 2008 at 4:52 PM
Rip his freaking guts out Sarah!
rplat on October 2, 2008 at 4:53 PM
One more thing–go after Biden’s “all Iraq is divided into three parts” idiocy, by explaining that the McCain method (the surge) led to a united Iraq with a strong (Maliki) government willing to take on both Shia and Sunni insurgents.
Maybe put in a family context, like “If a Sunni married a Shiite in Iraq, under the Biden plan, would they have to live in his and hers countries?”
Steve Z on October 2, 2008 at 4:53 PM
The problem with this ticket ISN’T who’s on the bottom. God, with everything happening in the financial markets, what I would give Romney-Palin right about now!
VastRightWingConspirator on October 2, 2008 at 4:53 PM
I hope she bottled up all the crap she got from the press and Hollywierd these past few months and unleashes it on Obama bin Biden.
Elizabetty on October 2, 2008 at 4:54 PM
I wish I had a mooseburger to eat during the debate…they’re yummy.
Does anyone know where I can find that video posted here a while back that showed a Palin look-a-like firing off a gun and then receiving the call from McCain asking her to be his VP?
Yossarian on October 2, 2008 at 4:57 PM
“I hope she bottled up all the crap she got from the press and Hollywierd these past few months and unleashes it on Obama bin Biden.
Elizabetty: Yes…and she puts it out simply and succinctly, without apology. Hoooray for Sarah!…she took a page from the HRC playbook, after she had it fumigated.
Christine on October 2, 2008 at 4:57 PM
Symbolism for tonight’s debate: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4ls_MdlSXQ
Zetterson on October 2, 2008 at 4:58 PM
9 point swing? Meh, I can dream, can’t I?
J.J. Sefton on October 2, 2008 at 4:59 PM
Geez, this thread reminds me of Buffalo Bills fans before their second Super Bowl with Dallas, denying an obvious trend/reality.
LevStrauss on October 2, 2008 at 5:00 PM
Holding breath, squinting with one eye closed.
Here’s to hoping she is comfortable out there. I can’t imagine the pressure that is weighing on her right now.
Tear him up Sarah.
Geronimo on October 2, 2008 at 5:00 PM
She shouldn’t smile except for the beginning intro, and the final wave goodbye. Be tough and serious. Think Thatcher or a conservative version of HRC. If she smiles through the whole thing and tries to play small town cutie – then she’ll be toast. I think she CAN do it, but will she?
JC in CA on October 2, 2008 at 5:01 PM
God I hope so.
Mr. Joe on October 2, 2008 at 5:01 PM
I’m in.
Geronimo on October 2, 2008 at 5:01 PM
Hold on now, Palin has really only been seen in friendly environments on the campaign trail, it wasn’t expected that she would show an attack side, at least not seriously. The media interviews didn’t really allow room to hammer her opposition.
Tonight is something altogether different, and now I have hope that there is a ‘darker’ side to Palin that might yet manifest itself. She has a lot of payback for the shit heaped on her and her family, this will the opportunity to lay it out.
Mac has been playin’ it clean, Palin’s job could be to kick Obarky and the gaffester right in the seeds.
Bishop on October 2, 2008 at 5:01 PM
please let this be true…
JustTruth101 on October 2, 2008 at 5:03 PM
It will only work if she feels comfortable doing it, it has to be a natural instinct to go for blood.
Just throwing out stuff can sound whining or defensive.
Palin needs to come out swinging, on her own terms, let it rip…not as a polished attorney. She just needs to be from Alaska, not some attorney or punch drunk politician, but just another one of us who finally has a chance to put an arrogant chump in his place.
We aren’t looking for a great debater, we are looking for an Alaskan bred mom, that hunts and fishes, loves her country, loves the energy her state produces, and holds in disdain arrogant self-righteous politicians who think we owe them a living, and doesn’t understand it’s the other way around.
We don’t want her to win the debate, we want her to; track, hunt, aim, shoot, and dress down two liberal democrats that are in season. I don’t want a “lofty” debate, I want a street fight, a mother defending her cub, a PTA mom fighting the system, a governor taking down her own party for the benefit of her state…I expect a brawl, not an opera.
I expect her to be a little dirty, disheveled, but with two trophy heads on her wall.
right2bright on October 2, 2008 at 5:03 PM
ManlyRash on October 2, 2008 at 4:43 PM
Is that you in there? Do you have pods in your basement? This doesn’t sound like the Rashy Man I’ve seen around here! What gives?
tru2tx on October 2, 2008 at 5:04 PM
Pretend inferiority and encourage his arrogance.
- Sun Tzu
MB4 on October 2, 2008 at 5:04 PM
Does anyone here honestly agree with Palin on her views about abortion in cases of rape and incest?
Speedwagon82 on October 2, 2008 at 5:04 PM
No quarter, Sarah.
Slap Joe silly.. Oh wait, he already is.
normsrevenge on October 2, 2008 at 5:05 PM
Not only will they grab both of Sarah’s flags, they will tackle her. Then eviscerate her. Then field dress her.
Obama will have her taxidermed head hanging in the Oval Office. And McCain will congratulate Obama for being bipartisan.
Maverick!
ManlyRash on October 2, 2008 at 5:06 PM
They’ll both do well; she may even be able to salvage a career in national politics.
Then, it’s Friday morning, and nothing has changed between Obama and McCain. The only important demographic is the middle 20% of the country. The women in this category are flooding to Obama, and nothing Palin may do will stop that. It’s not her fault; it’s McCain’s fault because of his ineptness in the past three weeks.
The men in the category will largely tune the next four weeks out in favor of the baseball playoffs, the World Series, and weekend football. The Bradley effect might affect some of them, but for others they’ll want to prove their open-mindedness to themselves and for still others the thing they’ll remember is that McCain looked weak during the financial crisis. Oddly enough, the men in this category might be moved by McCain if he’d shown some guts and stood up for himself and pointed fingers loudly at Frank, Dodd, et al. But we got silence. Interesting, McCain will win a battle (the lousy bail-out bill) and lose the war (the election).
BuckeyeSam on October 2, 2008 at 5:06 PM
LevStrauss on October 2, 2008 at 5:00 PM
Hey Lev, what are you even doing here after writing this:
“Now I am not saying that everyone who possesses Neoconservative or Pro War beliefs are crazy, just that the crazies have now become the majority group in your political faction. I invite all Townhall readers to go to Hotair and Redstate and see what you’re missing. It is not much.”
Bishop on October 2, 2008 at 5:07 PM
Duuuude. You could drive a truck through this. If you can’t zing Obama and Biden on A-Z you have no business being there. McCain and Palin need to start throwing bombs, stay on offense, and not let up till Election Day.
marklmail on October 2, 2008 at 5:07 PM
A human person conceived of rape or incest is no less a human person that those conceived of the most loving parents. But, of course, you already knew this…
ManlyRash on October 2, 2008 at 5:07 PM
To still be in possession of his happy sack when it’s over.
Old Hippie Vet on October 2, 2008 at 5:08 PM
So you guys think the McCain team called up The Politico to broadcast their strategy?
Would you still be taking it seriously if it came from the Daily Kos?
Prognostication Alert
Sarah will do fine tonight,whether she attacks Biden or not.
Dorvillian on October 2, 2008 at 5:09 PM
What difference does it make if it’s not part of the platform?
And I don’t see why if it’s murder in one case, it’s not in the other. Why punish the victim, the baby? Give it up for adoption.
Spirit of 1776 on October 2, 2008 at 5:09 PM
Allah has brought me over to the Dark Side. Join us in our hellish crusade…
ManlyRash on October 2, 2008 at 5:09 PM
Sorry, I can’t watch this debate.
The only way McCain is going to win is attack, attack, attack.
McCain seems to have given up. Something has happened inside the campaign or with McCain.
albill on October 2, 2008 at 5:10 PM
I know people who have aborted babies who consequence of rape. And the emotional scarring they deal with is greater from the abortion then the rape. Maybe that’s an outlier, but it’s true.
Spirit of 1776 on October 2, 2008 at 5:10 PM
Yeah I’m sure you’d be saying that if it was your niece.
Speedwagon82 on October 2, 2008 at 5:10 PM
Frankly I’d like to know the thread’s position on affirmative action, because I want to see if the de facto state matches the theoretical.
LevStrauss on October 2, 2008 at 5:11 PM
Go to YouTube and enter “Lisa nova palin mccain.” Lisa Nova has done other Palin parodies, but the original is a classic.
ManlyRash on October 2, 2008 at 5:11 PM
You might as well expect rivers to run backwards as to expect Joe Biden to be contented with his mouth penned up.
Hinmahtooyahlatkek on October 2, 2008 at 5:12 PM
The old saw of abortionists … throw the worst case scenario out there as if it represents the majority of the issue at hand. It doesn’t. Additionally, it amazes me how Democrats are so willing to PUNISH the baby in these cases … rather than the actual criminal. Democrats have been soft on punishment for pedophiles and child abusers … yet they’re willing to give a “death sentence” to the baby in these cases when he or she is completely innocent. Nice huh?
HondaV65 on October 2, 2008 at 5:12 PM
Does anyone here honestly agree with Palin on her views about abortion in cases of rape and incest?
Speedwagon82 on October 2, 2008 at 5:04 PM
Not necessarily, then again if you can name me one politician who you agree with on every single issue, I’ll give you a cookie.
Bishop on October 2, 2008 at 5:12 PM
To keep a straight face.
LevStrauss on October 2, 2008 at 5:12 PM
Man this is going to be an interesting debate.
Hmmm stew is done, ptramigan are in and fish is baking.. but about to be grilled.
upinak on October 2, 2008 at 5:12 PM
Gwen Ifell: “Moving on to subject of the economy; question for Governor Palin: Governor, can you name the 3rd Undersecretary of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and describe that person’s role in alleviating the current economic crisis as described in the Armageddon-Alleviation Act of 2008.”
Palin: “Truthfully, Gwen, I cannot. As I’m sure that Senator Biden cannot — excuse me — may not wish to answer the following questions pertinent to diagnosing the underlying cause of the current crisis that I am sure you are just itching to ask of him. You don’t mind if I beat you to the punch, do you, seeing as you’ve got a book deadline to worry about?
“1. Senator Biden, can you name the current U.S. Senator who has taken the most contributions from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac on an annual basis since taking office?
“2. Senator Biden, can you name the current U.S. Senator who co-sponsored legislation in 2005/2006 to increase regulatory oversight of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac? Which two Senators now campaigning for President presented no legislative proposals?
“3. Which current U.S. Senator acted as both legal counsel and community organizer trainer for a nationwide community group pressuring banks to make bad loans that Freddie Mae and Freddie Mac subsequently bought?
“4. Can you name the Presidential candidate initially invited a former disgraced Fannie Mae CEO to head his vice-presidential selection committee. Hint: the committee didn’t pick me.
etc. etc.
Tongueboy on October 2, 2008 at 5:13 PM
Oh hell, here’s the link: McCain calls Palin
ManlyRash on October 2, 2008 at 5:13 PM
Go back to Fringe Land
jp on October 2, 2008 at 5:14 PM
So you are saying that a baby born is not always a human person, it depends how they are conceived?
So if you were conceived while your parents were drunk that makes you a what?
right2bright on October 2, 2008 at 5:14 PM
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