The keys to tonight’s VP debate
posted at 7:49 am on October 2, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
Before I get to the debate itself, let me tell you about the plans we have for covering it. I’ll be at Trocadero’s tonight as part of the Northern Alliance Radio Network’s event for AM 1280 The Patriot’s first Debate Party. We’re getting together with a few (hundred) of our listeners to watch the debate live, and then to offer our commentary immediately afterward. When we did this in 2004, we didn’t give it any formal advance notice, and over 700 people showed up. We’ve already received over 400 RSVPs for tonight, so we’re expecting a big night — and we’d love to have you join us! Festivities start at 7:30 pm CT, and the debate starts 30 minutes later.
If you can’t make it to Trocadero’s tonight, be sure to come right here to Hot Air. I’ll have the chat room open, although I won’t be able to live blog, for obvious reasons. I may try playing with Ustream to do a live broadcast of the panel show afterward, but that may be tricky, as the lighting at Trocadero’s may not make that possible. If nothing else, I could stream the audio.
Now, as for the debate itself, here are the keys that I’ll watch on each candidate.
- Sarah Palin: She has to stay aggressive with both Joe Biden and moderator Gwen Ifill. She has to attack the assumptions behind the questions, as Ifill will attempt to box her into desired responses. Biden will damn her with faint praise, being condescending while on the surface seeming courtly. She needs to push back against that. Most importantly, she needs to stop worrying about details and speak to themes and concepts, similar to what Barack Obama needed to do in his debate, and mostly failed. Best attack point: Biden’s pork.
- Joe Biden: He has a tougher assignment. He has to give the appearance of jabbing while trying to throw haymakers. Normally, I’d expect a man with Biden’s experience to attempt to drown Palin with details, but Biden has a habit of inventing those on the fly. Would Ifill call him on that? Doubtful, but the post-debate spin could get brutal. He can’t attack on experience, either, given Obama’s own short record of service, and can’t get by with the Joe Sixpack routine, either. He’ll want to press his advantage on foreign policy. Best attack point: Foreign travel.
I expect this debate to be filled with canned sound bites, gotcha asides, and very little in the way of substantive policy debate. In other words, business as usual. However, Palin has the most to gain and the most to lose in this debate. Biden is a known quantity and even a poor debate showing won’t hurt Barack Obama, but a disaster from Palin will provide a drag on the ticket that only clear wins in the coming debates by John McCain can reverse.
Blowback
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On Gwen Ifill’s conflict of interest moderating (is she a moderatrix rather than a moderator? English Majors please chime in) the debate, Ms. Ifill brought up the name Lou Cannon, a reporter who also wrote a half dozen books on Reagan. But Cannon was never a moderator in either the 1980 or 1984 Presidential or Vice Presidential Debates. There were two Presidential debates in 1980, the first was moderated by Bill Moyers and the second was moderated by Howard K. Smith. In 1984 there were two Presidential Debates, the first was moderated by Barbara Walters, the second was moderated by Edwin Newman. In 1980 there was no VP Debate due to a dispute between Reagan and Carter over the participation of third party candidate, Andersen. In 1984 the debate was moderated by Sander Vanocur.
So how does ‘supralative’ professional objective Gwen Ifill get to compare her conflicted position to Lou Cannon who only wrote books about Reagan but never was called upon to moderate a debate between his favored candidate and his opponent. If this is what PBS is paying for, maybe they should ask for a refund.
eaglewingz08 on October 2, 2008 at 10:07 AM
Well, look at the other GOP candidates who lost to McCain. Seems we had a nomination battle on that very issue and I’m still not sure what Americans prefer.
a capella on October 2, 2008 at 10:08 AM
I was an English major. The correct term is “leftist tool.”
saint kansas on October 2, 2008 at 10:10 AM
…that’s what she’s doing, but I disagree if you’re saying that she should hang that about Biden’s neck.
She should, using Biden as a target, hang Mr. Biden’s party around his neck.
* CRA
* Fannie Mae
* a history of economy and society wrecking feel-good give-aways starting with Johnson’s “Great Society” (giving rise to a spike in an astronomical illegitimate birthrate, rampant crime and the collapse of the black family)
* the intitlement culture
* unreasoned opposition to every effort on the part of George Bush to prosecute the War on Terror
* treating terrorists like criminals and not combattants
* resistance to common sense methods to obtain vital defense information
…hang Reid and Pelosi, and a Democrat congress with a 9% approval rating, in the wake of a tortured financial debate, around their necks and I dare them to keep their heads above water.
The problem isn’t that Obama’s Obama…the problem is that he has the weight of the Democratic Party behind him…and it has become the great fell influence of our time! They are for collectivist statism and against individual citizens rights…at every turn.
Hang the Democratic Party around their necks….
Puritan1648 on October 2, 2008 at 10:11 AM
Day’s off to a great start, isn’t it.
wise_man on October 2, 2008 at 10:14 AM
He didn’t want to offend any of his lunch buddies because he’ll still be eating lunch with them after Inauguration Day.
McCains incapable of fighting back. He doesn’t realize that Obama is the frontrunner and that Obama needs only to run out the clock. If I were Obama, now’s the time I’d go on vacation. McCain seems to think that talking about the surge and earmarks are going to convince the swing-state voters that he’s their guy.
Sigh.
BuckeyeSam on October 2, 2008 at 10:15 AM
Nice comment. You’re absolutely right. The problem is that Palin has to try to do all this because McCain is unable or unwilling to do so. I really never thought McCain would lose because he was Milt Milquetoast.
BuckeyeSam on October 2, 2008 at 10:18 AM
Surprised? Over the last month McCain couldn’t have been more lame if had really tried. Followed the exciting Palin selection by twisting her into what she is not and agreeing to the stupidest interviews they could, while hiding her from the American public; let the democrats and the MSM run all over him, Palin and the republicans (stand up and fight! fight! fight with me!); granstanded with his campaign suspension with absolutely no results; sold out republicans and spared democrats on the financial crisis, demonstrated that he’s been totally insincere about his main campaign theme (pork); took a pass on every opportunity to put Obama away every time he was offered a hanging grapefruit at the plate… should I keep going?
neuquenguy on October 2, 2008 at 10:20 AM
On Gwen Ifill’s conflict of interest moderating (is she a moderatrix rather than a moderator? English Majors please chime in)
I was an English major. The correct term is “leftist tool.”
Laughing my a$$ off on that one….good one….and sooooo very true!
SDarchitect on October 2, 2008 at 10:22 AM
Testify, brother. They wanted to own all of their issues, so let ‘em. They’re yours. Enjoy.
You want the guys running Freddie Mac to be in charge of your universal health care? Obama’s your man. Gay marriage? Don’t let ‘em get away with “civil unions” like Gore tried to squirm out of it. Partial birth abortion? Yours. You want to cut and paste from Belgium’s lawbooks into the U.S. Constitution? Vote Democrat. Pull our troops home and then sit down with thug dictators with no conditions? Check.
Just lay it out there.
saint kansas on October 2, 2008 at 10:27 AM
Here’s my dream introduction from Sarah tonight:
My fellow Americans. I understand your anger over this bailout bill that rewards those companies that were involved in creating this mess in the first place. And I understand your anger at Congress and the President and his Administration for allowing this to happen. And I understand your anger at the Senate for passing the bailout bill.
Tonight I am announcing my withdrawal as the VP on the Republican Party ticket. John McCain let us all down with his vote for this bill, with his failure to name the names of the Democrats that created this monster, and his failure to lead by presenting a conservative solution to the problem. I cannot, in good conscious, be party to this betrayal of the American people.
huckleberryfriend on October 2, 2008 at 10:43 AM
Obama got away with leaning on Biden’s foreign travel and experience, why can’t Governor Palin do the same? I think Governor Palin should just say “Look, every candidate in this race has their strengths and weaknesses. I may not know all there is to know about foreign affairs, but fortunately Senator McCain has great knowlege on this subject. More importantly, he knows how to correctly use this knowlege, unlike Senator Biden.” Something along those lines anyway.
thevastlane on October 2, 2008 at 10:49 AM
I imagine poll taking is from the telephones and if the person talking to the toll keeper is home it probably means that they are not working or it could be the the other half talking and moaning about the hard times.
So much for the tolls on accuracy.
mixplix on October 2, 2008 at 10:50 AM
Dittos to everyone that has asserted this. Is it not funny that McCain bombed Obama with names the other night that showed his experience, and it did not work at least according to the MSMLSDS? When McCain was nuking his narrow butt with these names, he also dropped upon the MESSIAH head the fact that THE MANCHILD had not held one subcommittee meeting on Afghanistan, and had not been to Afghanistan, YET! THE ONE’S response was he had a VP he was proud of that had been to Afghanistan! That response alone should disqualify him, and limit the sneers at her knowledge regarding anything.
What I believe most people are forgetting is that we have long thought, or said we believe any regular American could do a better job governing this nation than those from the Beltway. Who cares if she does not know all about McCain’s record? We wish we could forget his record! We have discussed how she could have answered some questions better, and found fault with her, but I believe we are placing the blame for those responses on her far to often, and should be placing it square on the shoulders of the McCain camp. They are the ones responsible, not Governor Palin. They are not only mishandling Palin, but are also ruining the roll McCain was on and are not running a political campaign to win. IF I were McCain, I would fire them before I called for Chris Cox’s head!
We just registered our teenagers to vote. They are excited. They are excited about being able to vote for HER. They get what hangs in the balance if McCain does not win. They do not want to live in a world that resembles those creepy kiddies singing the praises of THE ONE. If two 17 year olds who are almost 18 can get it, then I hope everyone gets it. I do not think we are at a point in this nation’s history that we get a do-over or a come back.
If she goes to stumble I hope we think how would we do under this pressure. If she is not perfect, I hope you can remember the last politician that was perfect. If she cannot win this by spewing McCainisms then I pray to God she spews Conservatism. Shooting Conservative bullets at Biden will drive him over the edge.
freeus on October 2, 2008 at 11:00 AM
It’s called a race card. Don’t leave home without it.
Texas Rainmaker on October 2, 2008 at 11:30 AM
I admit that I only recently got a US passport so that I could travel to Germany, Kuwait, and Iraq to visit our AKNG troops. That’s because traveling in Alaska, and getting back and forth to the lower 48 is expensive enough. When I became governor, Todd gave up his supervisor job with BP and went back to a lower-paying non-management position just to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest. Senator Obama’s wife got a promotion and a fat raise, and her employer has benefitted from his position.
But I understand what foreign relations is all about. You have to work with countries with interests that don’t perfectly align with ours, and find the common ground that benefits everyone. Senator Obama wants to abandon the progress we’ve made together with our Iraqi allies, squandering the precious price we’ve paid to get this far. Senator Biden’s more experienced and sophisticated; he wants to cut their country into pieces, then run out on them. But they have found common ground there: They all agree that his partition plan is bad for all Iraqis.
John McCain and I have solid records of reaching out to other parties domestically, to build coalitions that get things accomplished. That shows our ability to negotiate those with whom we have differences of opinion. Just the other day Senator Obama admitted he’d be no good at influencing House Republicans on the financial crisis our country desperately needs fixed. If he can’t work with them, how does he think he can negotiate with Putin, Ahmadinejad, Chavez, or Kim?
The Monster on October 2, 2008 at 11:49 AM
A single ray of hope: McCain was counted out before, and he ended up the nominee. “I know how to win a campaign,” he once said. Maybe he’s just waiting for the right time to deliver the killing blow.
Please, please, don’t go soft now, McCain. As Dennis MIller said, you’re in enemy territory.
Go for it! Fight back!
PattyJ on October 2, 2008 at 12:27 PM
I agree with a number of the commentors that the Governor is taking on a potential Obama administration, not Senator Biden. But, she can simultaneously derail the Obama express while throwing Biden under the train.
There are 3 clear differences in the policies of these two potential administrations that matter much to Americans:
Winning the wars we fight. The public debate over the last 2 years – to surge or not – established two clear positions. Obama and Biden could not have been more wrong; McCain could not have been more correct.
Understanding the proper role of government in the economic health of the nation. Again, two clear positions. The Democrats against proper oversight of the corruption at Fannie/Freddie, CRA, ACORN, etc. to such an extent that they chose contributions over national interest. McCain, in contrast, calling for vast changes that the Democrats fought tooth and nail. McCain was leading the charge to protect the American people from lousy government; Obama was being greased like no other member of Congress.
The sanctity of life as central to America’s value system. Again, what a vast and clear difference in positions: Biden and Obama support the most reprehensible abortion practices right through the “fourth trimester.” McCain and Palin are living out America’s best virtues where every human being is valued.
I can’t recall a Presidential election where the electorate has had such an opportunity to see the candidates “in action” in the years running up to the election itself. Governor Palin should remind us all!
T J Green on October 2, 2008 at 1:04 PM
Heh.
misterpeasea on October 2, 2008 at 1:34 PM
So what would happen if Palin did okay, or even a little better than okay, in tonight’s debate? First of all, relative to prevailing expectations, it would be a triumph. The story would be how well Palin did, which could get people thinking maybe they had underestimated her, which could imply maybe they had underestimated McCain. Given the attention this matchup will receive, that might even be enough to nudge the momentum back their way.
Huff Puff asks, what if?
Mr. Joe on October 2, 2008 at 2:15 PM
Palin could arrive to the debate walking on water, instantly heal all the sick in the nation and receive Nobel peace prize and still the coverage would be negative, unless she also declared she is in favor of government funded partial birth abortion (and infanticide where applicable), government health plans, universal daycare, fairness doctrine, tax increases for the evil rich and nationalizing Walmart, pharmaceuticals and BIG oil.
neuquenguy on October 2, 2008 at 3:05 PM
I wonder what would happen if Sarah Palin went hard right on every question?
Rip Ifill and Biden and generally be a total bad-ass.
Because frankly my excitement for her was based not on her being a reformer(lame term), but someone who was like Thatcher, totally committed to conservatism.
What is McCain going to do? His wimpiness the last 3 weeks killed his momentum and frankly he incapable of winning this by himself against a lying media and crap like “early” voting in Ohio.
Wether we lose by 2 or 12 is not relevant- what is critical is presenting a “stark” choice to America.
Time is running out-unleash the dragon!
jjshaka on October 2, 2008 at 3:07 PM
I hope her prep is as good as the prep Obama is getting in Asheville NC for his next debate.
kanda on October 2, 2008 at 3:11 PM
All I know is the ratings in Utah will be low.
corona on October 2, 2008 at 3:29 PM
I’d take on the moderator and throw back the question at her, mostly pinning since SHE has a conflict of interest in the outcome of the election, and her book deal..
OMG.. the Ifill would get pissed..
Palin calling her unfit to be a journalist.. LMAO
Chakra Hammer on October 2, 2008 at 4:01 PM
Palin i;m a Journalism major and I was a journalist, it’s my duty to point out biases and conflicts of interest to the American people and hold people accountable, and thats what i’m doing. It’s was your job to recuse yourself from being the moderator of this debate when Obama was nominated since you have a book deal coming out in January with Obama’s name in the title..
Chakra Hammer on October 2, 2008 at 4:05 PM
eaglewingz08
PBS is getting exactly what they’re paying for in Ifill.
Ifill, however, has proven her lack of credibility and her lack of professional integrity as she knows squat other than the leftist drivel.
That it took McCain a flip-flop to pin the tail on this donkey should teach him to quit playing Mr. Nice Guy if he wants to win the game.
Shock and awe. Bring it on, Sarah!
maverick muse on October 2, 2008 at 5:43 PM
Chakra Hammer on October 2, 2008 at 4:05 PM
AMEN!
maverick muse on October 2, 2008 at 5:44 PM
Oreilly RIPS BARNEY FRANK A NEW ONE IN 3 MINUTES ON THE FACTOR!!!
NightmareOnKStreet on October 2, 2008 at 7:57 PM
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