What Sarah Palin NEEDS to accomplish in the debate


A Few Pointers for Anyone Listening (you, governor?)

There has arguably NEVER been a more anticipated Vice Presidential debate, or one more fraught with importance for our nation. But hey, no pressure!

It is of absolute importance that Sarah Palin and those helping her prepare for the debate do not approach it as if it were a pass-fail test to be graded by media pundits.

Governor Palin, simply take it for granted that the hyenas in the media will try to draw blood in their post-debate analysis, and keep a handful of simple things in mind.

  • The media is not your audience. This is an opportunity for you to speak directly to the American people. Do not play into the media’s hands by worrying over-much about anything they might say. Direct your remarks to average Americans–they will be there, millions of them, beyond the footlights and the media booths, and they will be listening.

  • Remember who YOU ARE. And remember why YOU are a conservative. You represent something truly fascinating, which is why America sat up and took note when you broke onto the scene and when you spoke at the convention. A strong, accomplished, American woman with a middle-class background whose life struggles were informed by CONSERVATIVE values. When you talk about your positions, discuss them in the light of your own struggles to make ends meet, to raise a family, and to improve your community. Speak from the heart and be ready to cast aside, occasionally, any prepared talking points about policy. Your story is something that millions of Americans intuitively relate to, and something that is almost never represented and given voice to on the national political stage. Again, don’t bother thinking about what the media wants. They don’t get this stuff–they live in a left-wing Washington bubble–but millions of Americans are dying to hear someone finally give voice to THEIR realities.

  • Relax. Smile. You don’t need to be anything but yourself. Believe it or not, lots of people who may not even agree with you policy-wise have an investment in seeing a strong, accomplished female female shine in the spotlight. They want to like you. Don’t pretend to be what you’re not. Don’t shy away from being who you are.

  • Go after Obama. Slam a few into Biden’s side of the court. Do it casually but confidently. In fact, it would be a grand idea to take a page from Couric and Gibson’s playbook and ask Biden for SPECIFIC reasons beyond the fact that he is now Obama’s running mate why he no longer stands by his previous comment that Obama is not ready to be Commander in Chief. If you get the chance, raise a follow-up question. Don’t be afraid of Biden. Go straight at him. He’s permanently one hair’s breadth away from making a major gaffe, and the expectations for him are a whole lot higher than the expectations for you. Be polite, but don’t let Biden or the moderator set the terms of the debate.

  • Don’t obsess over how your beliefs square with McCain’s. Stick to the broad outlines that you share with him–conservative economic principles and victory on the war on terror. Be prepared to identify a few of McCain’s specific ideas about these matters, but also be ready to say that these are ongoing issues and that the key thing is to maintain flexibility. Be ready, if necessary, to point out that Biden’s positions quite often don’t square with Obama’s.

  • And finally, if the opportunity arises, don’t be afraid of acknowledging that you’ve had trouble in interviews, that your background has been as a problem-solver instead of a slick, programmed politician adept at fielding gotcha questions. This is a question already planted in the public’s mind, and if you acknowledge it instead of run away from it, you’ll win points.

Good luck. Be a happy warrior. And give em’ hell.


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20 Comments Leave a comment

you should be her coach

Gary (Diary) Sunday, September 28th at 12:41AM EST (link)

It would get her a heckuva lot farther than the current coach. Absolutely spot on in every way!

What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? ~Bible~

You know why there’s a Second Amendment? In case the government fails to follow the first one. -Rush Limbaugh~

Only half the patients who go into an abortion clinic come out alive. ~Unknown~

 

I Wish She'd Read This

BigGator5 (Diary) Sunday, September 28th at 12:58AM EST (link)

Sadly, we all know she won’t read this great advice.

Educated (About The Issues Facing Us Today), Dedicated (To Making A Difference), And Highly Motivated (To Getting Things Done)
@biggator5

 

Agreed

SAZMD Sunday, September 28th at 1:02AM EST (link)

Excellent advice, especially the part about attacking Obama and keeping Biden on the defensive. That’s the way to go. It doesn’t matter if the media spins it as being mean or sarcastic, it changes the narrative. Make them fear you, and do it with a smile.

 

Does anyone one the McCain team read RS?

itrytobenice (Diary) Sunday, September 28th at 1:14AM EST (link)

If so, this needs to be sent right up the chain. Sarah and her debate coach needs this advice in the worst way.

A girl at work who is so stinking busy with work and kids that she never gets a chance to watch the news or anything has seen enough of Palin to like her. She said that she seems normal. Like us. Well…what we would be like if we were exceptionally successful.

Be yourself, Sarah. You’re good enough.

Proper grammar saves lives.

Let’s eat Grandma.
Let’s eat, Grandma.


Activists Taking Action: Unified Patriots

 

Excellent advice

loftdweller3 Sunday, September 28th at 1:34AM EST (link)

Excellent advice. Unfortunately, the McCain camp hasn’t capitalised on her national debut and by handcuffing her into staying on message and to the talking points they have taken the life out of her and enabled the media and SNL to make her into a caricature.
If they don’t cut her loose, the election is lost because the ads after a poor performance will come flooding in from the Obama campaign and be reinforced by the press.
Her debates,interviews and press conferences that I have seen from her Alaska governor days are in sharp contratst to the three interviews thus far.

 

Excellent advice

loftdweller3 Sunday, September 28th at 1:37AM EST (link)

Excellent advice. Unfortunately, the McCain camp hasn’t capitalised on her national debut and by handcuffing her into staying on message and to the talking points they have taken the life out of her and enabled the media and SNL to make her into a caricature.
If they don’t cut her loose, the election is lost because the ads after a poor performance will come flooding in from the Obama campaign and be reinforced by the press.
Her debates,interviews and press conferences that I have seen from her Alaska governor days are in sharp contratst to the three interviews thus far.

 

I hope

Andy Smith (Diary) Sunday, September 28th at 2:26AM EST (link)

that the main reason she’s been kept at arms’ length of the media is because they want to open up a can of “shock and awe” on Joe Biden during the debate.
I think if she heeds your advice, then she’ll be just fine.

“Let us have faith that right makes might, and in that faith, let us, to the end, dare to do our duty as we understand it.”-Abraham Lincoln

 

turn her loose on Biden

moprwalt (Diary) Sunday, September 28th at 2:26AM EST (link)

i agree with the writer of what Sarah Palin should do in the next debate verbatem. She has no need to fear Biden he is in his on way a contradiction of terms every time he opens his mouth. score points early and mix it up . knowing joe biden he’ll be so confused in ten minutes he’ll forget it’s the VP debate and ramble on about how its his economic plan really that Obama is quoting. Attack! early and often both Biden and his smooth talking partner Obama.Walt

 

turn her loose on Biden

moprwalt (Diary) Sunday, September 28th at 2:27AM EST (link)

i agree with the writer of what Sarah Palin should do in the next debate verbatem. She has no need to fear Biden he is in his on way a contradiction of terms every time he opens his mouth. score points early and mix it up . knowing joe biden he’ll be so confused in ten minutes he’ll forget it’s the VP debate and ramble on about how its his economic plan really that Obama is quoting. Attack! early and often both Biden and his smooth talking partner Obama.Walt

 

qiuck wit

James_Reynolds (Diary) Sunday, September 28th at 4:33PM EST (link)

She has very quick wit that I have seen in other interviews and I think she is nervous that she may make a mistake, which is her mistake. Your right relax be your slef and use your qiuck wit we all know you have. Point out that although your fforeing policy is limited it will be great to learn from the best instead of being like Obama and learning from someone whos has been consistently wrong

Yes, please let Sarah be herself...

dbecraft Sunday, September 28th at 4:42PM EST (link)

I am severely disappointed in the effort to Wanshingtonise her and hope that they quit this effort and let her go her own way…

She will galvanize many more voters when she is herself even if she does not know several countries presidents (after all, who cares unless we are actually dealing with a problem). Let them have their gotcha moments – she can just laugh at them and talk to the people (who do not have a clue either – heh).

Let her openness, honesty, and down to earth outlook come through – please!

Don’t ruin her with your DC ways!

Formally known as Deagle… “Golf is a way of life…”

 
 

Underestimating Sarah?

walden1974 Sunday, September 28th at 10:50PM EST (link)

This may be a long shot but I’ve been reading that sometime before the McCain-Obama debates, his strategists was really “downing” Obama and saying what a great debater McCain was. They were really down playing the performance that Obama could bring (just so you know I don’t think he brought it).

So my thought is this…maybe McCain’s strategists are doing the same. Maybe Palin’s interviews have purposely been underwhelming so that the public won’t expect much and she can really come out in this debate and Wow everyone. Watching one of the round tables on Fox News, they were talking about how the expectations for Palin couldn’t get any lower. Maybe it’s a mastermove by the McCain and the team? Just a wishful thought. I’ve seen her talents on the Alaskan debates and she rocked!

 

just what she needs....

Jack (Diary) Tuesday, September 30th at 1:21PM EST (link)

Our fate is cast with her. She will do fine and I am sure she is getting sage advice times 100 squared.

Ronald Reagan after giving a speech looked into the camera and said now I will leave you to those who will tell you what you just heard and how it was not really sincerely from me.

Jack

“If at age 20 you are conservative you have no heart. It at age 30 you are liberal you have no brains.” Sir Winston Churchill

 

Obama "won" Friday's debate

NotSoBlueStater (Diary) Tuesday, September 30th at 6:48PM EST (link)

Because of his demeanor. McCain had the edge on substance, but all Obama needed to to was look like he belonged on the same stage.

He did better than that.

Likewise here, the bar has been set very low. Unless she’s been turned into a nervous wonk by the handlers, she should be fine.

-
The Conservative creed has never offered a life of ease without effort. Democracy is not for such people. Self-government is for those men and women who have learned to govern themselves. – Margaret Thatcher

WaPO Poll Obama up 4

PaRep (Diary) Tuesday, September 30th at 6:57PM EST (link)
 

She needs to say the following:

cdm (Diary) Tuesday, September 30th at 9:29PM EST (link)

1) Mother.
2) There is a relationship between gas at nearly $4.00 per gallon, and milk at nearly $4.00 per gallon.
3) North Carolina and Georgia, we’re going to start drilling so you can have your gas.

She only has to watch that she does not come off as overly coquetteish.

 

I sent this diary to John

GregInFla (Diary) Tuesday, September 30th at 10:26PM EST (link)

Well, I just replied to one of his daily emails to me. He does read the replies, right?


– A true evolutionist would let endangered species die off. Think about it.
– The sign outside the courthouse said no signs allowed. So I took it down.
– Atlas Shrugged is now on the non-fiction aisle at Amazon.

 

Debate Moderator In tank for Obama

GregInFla (Diary) Tuesday, September 30th at 11:31PM EST (link)

Saw this new article on front page on Michelle Malkin’s site

As Michelle writes:

My dictionary defines “moderator” as “the nonpartisan presiding officer of a town meeting.” On Thursday, PBS anchor Gwen Ifill will serve as moderator for the first and only vice presidential debate. The stakes are high. The Commission on Presidential Debates, with the assent of the two campaigns, decided not to impose any guidelines on her duties or questions.

But there is nothing “moderate” about where Ifill stands on Barack Obama. She’s so far in the tank for the Democrat presidential candidate, her oxygen delivery line is running out.


– A true evolutionist would let endangered species die off. Think about it.
– The sign outside the courthouse said no signs allowed. So I took it down.
– Atlas Shrugged is now on the non-fiction aisle at Amazon.

 

Let's hope

Rob (Diary) Thursday, October 2nd at 2:32PM EST (link)

That someone in the McCain campaign reads this and passes it along. Though I have to imagine they have no realized they kind of messed things up (hence her appearance on Hew Hewitt’s and Hannity’s radio shows).

I think the best thing we can do (if you are so inclined) is pray for her. A lot is riding on this.

There are no wise few. Every aristocracy that has ever existed has behaved, in all essential points, exactly like a small mob.” – GK Chesterton

“He is a very shallow critic who cannot see an eternal rebel in the heart of a conservative.”

 

She needs to say SOMETHING

SeriousLaff (Diary) Thursday, October 2nd at 7:15PM EST (link)

Good advice.

Palin needs to say SOMETHING, unlike McCain and his Bob Dole debate style.

When asked what she disagrees with Bush on, she should say,”The Bailout. I disagree with McCain on this as well. I never would approve or sign as President a port filled bill like that.”

Also, go after those who ask stupid questions. When Katie asked what she reads, she should have said,

“The media falsley accused me of banning books as mayor. That was not true. But with all due respect to someone who probably subscribes to Pravda, I will not give you a list of reading material for your approval. I will mention what I DON’T pay attention to, the New York Times and the CBS News. Not many pay attention to either anymore.