I’m a tough grader. Palin did not win. But she certainly did not lose.
I’ll be honest; I don’t believe Palin “mopped the floor” with Biden (who I actually think came off rather well) at all. What I do think is that she did good given that she was not as regularly opportuned with the last word as her opponent was. And personally I would fault her for not clearly explaining to the American how the entire crisis came about – with the CRA, the GSEs and leading Democrats shielding them from the enforcement of basic regulations every other financial/mortgage institution had to live under. This debate was a golden opportunity for the destruction of the “deregulation” meme the Democrats and their allies in the media have been pushing on the American people since the subprime mess became the number one headline issue.
I just hope to all that is Holy that John McCain and the rest of the GOP are just waiting for the bill to pass and the markets to stabilize before unleashing holy hell on Obama and the rest of the Democratic Party (Frank, Davis, Waters, Dodd, Raines, Johnson, etc.) for their role in nearly bringing the American economy to its knees. The investigations into the GSE’s practices, the Bush Administration’s 2003 effort as well as McCain and Sununu’s (who is in a tough race in NH) 2005 bill to rein Fannie and Freddie in should be a lot more famous than they are now. For the sake of not just McCain but Republicans all the way down the ballot, this crisis needs to be tied around the Democrats’ necks where it belongs.
All that said though and getting back to the subject of the night, Palin went in and did what she had to do. I think a lot of people having doubts about her being ready to occupy the Naval Observatory have had them allayed.
Either way, the debate’s over and done with – the real question now is what are Schmidt and Co. and the guys at the flush-with-cash RNC going to do with all the material Joe Biden was (and Barack Obama before him) kind enough to provide for them during this debate and over the past few months? With all the money McCain/RNC have to play around with, and it is October, after all, the GOP should be preparing to launch the mother of all air wars right about now. Some of that money should go to educating the American people about Fannie, Freddie and their Democratic friends. Some on letting the American people in on some information the Press does not want them to know, and some (just a miniscule amount really) on the Press itself.
As for Palin, she needs to be on the Sunday morning talk shows, giving interviews, and hosting townhalls and press conferences (with her own cameraman in tow, of course) non-stop for the next few weeks. Leno and {boo! hiss!} Letterman, and even a cameo appearance on Saturday Night Live would go a long way – she apparently has the gift of being able to easily connect with the average American, and these shows present great opportunities to do just that. The McCain campaign’s decision to keep her hidden after the Convention till now was a mistake, but with her very credible performance today, she’s given them an opportunity to rectify it and close some of the gap … but only if they’re smart and aggressive enough.
So thank you Governor Palin – you’ve done your part.
Make sure it’s not in vain …
Dan McLaughlin
Moe Lane
Neil Stevens
Steve Maley
Biden exceeded expectations. He rarely goes 90 minutes without several major gaffes
Mike gamecock DeVine (Diary) Thursday, October 2nd at 11:12PM EST (link)I counted only two tonight.
Mike DeVine’s Examiner.com, Charlotte Observer and The Minority Report columns
“One man with courage makes a majority.” – Andrew Jackson
She did win...
sebis (Diary) Thursday, October 2nd at 11:19PM EST (link)Sarah Palin won today… in the Expectations Game. The MSM and pundits were declaring all but BHO as president elect this week and Palin was an embarrassment showing McCain’s lack of judgment. She proved them all wrong!
Yep ... now she and the rest of the McCain campaign need to follow-through.
Martin Knight (Diary) Thursday, October 2nd at 11:28PM EST (link)That’s what I’m saying.
you need to count again GC
Darin_H (Diary) Thursday, October 2nd at 11:55PM EST (link)At least 10 (Karl Rove listed 10 plus said he counted 6 more that were “debatable”).
That was about a gaffe a question for Joe.
A visionary coward says that anger can be power, as long as there’s a victim on TV – Flat Top, Goo Goo Dolls
Ahhh, Gamecock you are way to kind
nivlem (Diary) Friday, October 3rd at 12:03AM EST (link)As Biden said “this is the most important
election since 1932″.
Tomorrow we will learn about his “gaffes.” Tonight he simply controlled himself.
Personally, his “chocking up” was a major
gaffe. Who was he trying to influence?
As a female, I saw it as inappropriate
emotion at an inappropriate time. Contrived and manipulaltive.
He did a good job controlling himself, but it was very apparent that about 50
minutes into the debate he lost his
gleaming white smile and his face started
to take on the demeanor of frustration.
His body language took on a whole different demeanor.
And I am sorry…his spending time at Home Depot is questionable….and I would challenge anyone to walk his
“neighborhood” and check out the main street America outlook he tried to make them out to be. Have you seen his house and where it is located??? It is not my
main street American, or I live in the
slums.
I see several major gaffes….of course, we may never hear about them…
Sarah Palin performed better than Joe Biden
RMJ (Diary) Friday, October 3rd at 12:06AM EST (link)Whether you believe she “won” or not is naturally up to you. I respect your comments but must respond.
For pure debating points Biden may well have “won”. I’ll leave that to pointy headed professors. I’ve heard the same thing said about Jimmy Carter in 1980 and Richard Nixon in 1960.
In each case the voters decided to elect the “loser”, Ronald Reagan and JFK.
The American people don’t award debating points. They judge candidates on several levels but Debating 101 is not a consideration for must viewers.
Sarah Palin makes a connection that none of the other three can make and tonight she connected big time.
How long it lasts and what the overall impact will be remains to be seen, but I would say she did as well as she could have.
It was one of the best debate performances I’ve ever seen.
HUGE Palin (and bk) gaffe and her sexist comment
louisem Friday, October 3rd at 12:34AM EST (link)I will only stay here at your creepy site a short time:
First, Palin (and bk above) made a huge mistake – Gen. David McKiernan is the Commanding US General in Afghanistan right now. Gen. McClellan was a Civil War General — and a BAD one at that.
And, did you notice that Biden had to scold Palin about saying that it was NOT only women who knew about what it was like to raise a family and know the troubles of children with special needs? Biden lost his wife and baby girl and two critically injured young sons and was a single father FOR 5 YEARS!
And, did Palin EVER acknowlege it after Biden choked up — or express sympathy to Biden about his personal tragedy? NO SHE SAID NOTHING.
When I read this blog and these comments, I only sense one thing – fear and false bravado. Keep braying at the moon, Moonbats. And practice saying President Obama, Vice-President Biden and First Lady Michelle (you can also say First Daughters Malia and Sasha while you are at it!). The Dems are taking back America. Get bloody used to it!!
Got anger much, Louisem?
stang (Diary) Friday, October 3rd at 12:41AM EST (link)When I first read that liberalism was a mental disorder I dismissed it as hyperbole.
I have changed my mind.
Thanks for stopping by, though! Tah.
“Whenever the legislators endeavor to take away and destroy the property of the people, or to reduce them to slavery under arbitrary power, they put themselves into a state of war with the people, who are thereupon absolved from any farther obedience, and are left to the common refuge which God hath provided for all men against force and violence.”
John Locke
goodness, can you folks EVER be honest?
louisem Friday, October 3rd at 12:54AM EST (link)First, Palin and Todd make $250,000 a year, have a huge house by a lake, a plane, 2 boats, several snow machines, several cars and 2 water craft.
The Palin’s net worth is $1.2 million.
THEY ARE NOT MIDDLE CLASS!
Biden’s assets are about $400,000. His one main asset is his house. His wife is a teacher at a Community College. And while he has been in Congress where he gets a great salary, he had to put 2 sons through college and law school and has a young daughter to put through school. I believe he also put his wife through graduate school where she got her Doctorate in Education.
So, yes, I do believe Biden has spent time in Home Depot. He didn’t write a bestseller the way Obama did.
Also the American towns Biden was referring to were the ones of his youth. Biden was lower middle-class growing up. His father lost several jobs as Biden was growing up — though his father worked hard all his life. Biden is truly a self-made man — like Barack Obama — unlike GW Bush and John McCain — sons and grandsons of rich, political elites, presidents and admirals.
I am SICK of Repulicans lying about all this stuff and being hypocrites.
And finally, the biggest gaffe tonight was when Palin called the US Commanding General in Afghanistan the name of a Civil War General instead of his proper name — Gen. David McKiernan is the current General and Gen McClellan was Lincoln’s least competent General.
I Agree
LoneStarLibertarian Friday, October 3rd at 1:00AM EST (link)Palin didn’t “win” but she didn’t “lose” either. And she won by not losing, I suppose is the argument.
I really like Sarah a lot and cannot wait for her to really get as familiar with all of these issues as Obambi has had the opportunity to do over the past 19 months. She’s going to be a really dangerous weapon for conservatism in a short period of time.
Thought you weren't going to hang around our "creepy" website?
stang (Diary) Friday, October 3rd at 1:09AM EST (link)Still scolding too! Go vent somewhere else.
“Whenever the legislators endeavor to take away and destroy the property of the people, or to reduce them to slavery under arbitrary power, they put themselves into a state of war with the people, who are thereupon absolved from any farther obedience, and are left to the common refuge which God hath provided for all men against force and violence.”
John Locke
The One Problem is
LAWizard (Diary) Friday, October 3rd at 1:39AM EST (link)Sarah Palin never said only women could knew how to care for a family with special needs. Here’s her quote.
But it wasn’t just that experience tapped into, it was my connection to the heartland of America. Being a mom, one very concerned about a son in the war, about a special needs child, about kids heading off to college, how are we going to pay those tuition bills? About times and Todd and our marriage in our past where we didn’t have health insurance and we know what other Americans are going through as they sit around the kitchen table and try to figure out how are they going to pay out-of-pocket for health care? We’ve been there also so that connection was important.
Martin, Look! Sarah has a Post-Debate Late Night Rally!
Rod_Patrick (Diary) Friday, October 3rd at 4:50AM EST (link)I think she really won the debate… 1000% sure!!!!
Here is the link of Gateway Pundit for more pics. Monster Rally Greets Palin Like a Super Bowl Champ After Debate!
Debate is more of human impression!!!!
Rod_Patrick (Diary) Friday, October 3rd at 4:54AM EST (link)A person might be the Whiz Kid trained by the Wizard of Oz, that doesn’t guarantee that he/she you will be a Great Debater.
Debate is about projections and impression.
Palin won in a landslide
SirGladiator (Diary) Friday, October 3rd at 5:15AM EST (link)If anybody missed the debate and wasn’t sure how she did, just watching our Obama friends coming to our website to pretend she didn’t win should tell you everything you need to know about how scared they are of her now after she wiped the floor with Biden. Rudy called it a ‘Knockout’ win for Palin and he was 100% right. We’re on the way to Victory!
Again: Palin did good enough. She's stopped the bleeding and gave the patient an energy boost.
Martin Knight (Diary) Friday, October 3rd at 6:38AM EST (link)Now it’s the turn of John McCain, Steve Schmidt and Mike Duncan to effect the follow-through.
No more. No less.
We haven’t won this because of what happened last night. It’s just become possible for us to win after a very bad couple of weeks.
yes, nivlem, I mistook controlled himself for a
Mike gamecock DeVine (Diary) Friday, October 3rd at 11:37AM EST (link)lack of gaffes.
Mike DeVine’s Examiner.com, Charlotte Observer and The Minority Report columns
“One man with courage makes a majority.” – Andrew Jackson
yes, I was wrong, but it was still the best Joe has done for 90 minutes!
Mike gamecock DeVine (Diary) Friday, October 3rd at 11:38AM EST (link)can you send me the rove link?
Mike DeVine’s Examiner.com, Charlotte Observer and The Minority Report columns
“One man with courage makes a majority.” – Andrew Jackson
[I loathe spambots. - ML]
ChasKeating Friday, October 3rd at 5:27PM EST (link)http://www.redstate.com/diaries/redstate/2008/oct/03/palin-to-michigan/#c46951