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Sarah Palin, Debate Champ

October 01, 2008 10:41 AM

The "expectations game" is a Twilight Zone, because if you praise a Republican you will then be accused of bias by the Republicans, and vice versa.

But that said, it is a mistake to think that the Gov. Sarah Palin who you've seen in recent interviews is the one who will show up for the debate tomorrow night.

As Kate Snow nicely illustrated on Good Morning America this morning, Palin was quite impressive in her 2006 gubernatorial performances.

The liberal Huffington Post likewise finds six examples of Palin responses from those debates that show her to be pretty on the ball -- sharp, concise, smart.

The Los Angeles Times today takes a look at Palin's debate skills, quoting Anchorage Daily News editor/debate panelist Larry Persily testifying that Palin flummoxed her rivals "like Muhammad Ali dancing around the ring."

Likewise, the Wall Street Journal reports that Alaska public-radio reporter/debate moderator Libby Casey recalls Palin in the 2006 debates as "positive,
confident and upbeat."

Democrats, seeking to set expectations high for Palin and low for Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., are emailing stories like those around.

But beyond the expectations game, Palin's debate skills happen to be proven.

Biden too, of course can be quite able, and has far more experience in the kinds of national and international issues that have seemed to stymie Palin on occasion. (As opposed to the Wasilla and Alaska issues she handled quite well in her debates.)

It should prove quite interesting.

- jpt

October 1, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (339)

User Comments

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So you can't attack a pitbull, huh? It's not allowed? She's snide. She's cocky. He has to be careful how he says to her? BS!!! I'm a grown woman who is appalled at this thinking.

What position will she have if McCain get's the new position he wants. In a recent interview about the bailout, he says he always "aspired to be a dictator"!!

Posted by: Just a voter | Oct 1, 2008 11:07:53 PM

Ryan: Look up Alice J. Palmer on Google and you will find Obama challenged her signatures and two others and won. She was going to run against him. That's why Alan Keyes ran for the senate but lost.

Posted by: Mariann Pepitone | Oct 1, 2008 11:05:39 PM

Most of the criticism leveled here against Obama demonstrates little regard for the truth about this candidate. To those who echoed Palin's Convention speech in which she ridiculed Obama for missing votes in the Senate, I suggest you go to There you will find out that Obama voted present approximately 100 times, a mere 3 per cent of the total votes he cast.

As for Palin, the bar has been set so low for her that if she perform passably, the spinmasters will declare that she won. I don't deny that her strong suit is going for the cheap shot - and boy does she enjoy the kill - but when asked for one Supreme Court decision that she disagreed with aside Roe v Wade, she couldn't think of one case and proceeded to babble inanely.

This being said, I don't think the upcoming between between Palin and Biden will change the election dynamic one iota.

Posted by: nina | Oct 1, 2008 11:00:24 PM

Folks, I have now read where a number of bloggers have posted that they have heard that Obama has hired bloggers to scour Internet sites and fill blogs with negative-McCain opinions. Folks, this "I HAVE HEARD" is one of the oldest pr tricks in the book! It is so old, in fact, I am surprised that anyone would fall for it! Where is your proof? Where are your facts to back up your claims? Most of all WHERE IS YOUR EVIDENCE? Unless you can prove your accusations by verifiable evidence all you are really dong is to spread "RUMORS AND GOSSIPS." This BTW is one of the many pages right out of the REPUBLICAN PLAY BOOK and those of you who are trying your best to spread these RUMORS are nothing more that PAID REPUBLICAN BOLGGERS! just how LOW will McCain and his followers go!!!!

Posted by: WISDOM FIRST! | Oct 1, 2008 10:44:42 PM

Actually I was hired by Alaskans to send her back home to face the music.....

Posted by: hahaha | Oct 1, 2008 10:41:50 PM

okay, those two videos prove that she has no debate skills at all. Basically, Palin is just a mouth peice. Blabbing run on sentences, not allowing others to speak. She's just all speeches and no debate in the brain.

Posted by: urma | Oct 1, 2008 10:41:26 PM

Ken said: "I have heard that Obama has hired bloggers to scour internet sites and fill blogs with negative-McCain opinions. I understand if they can't dispute the facts, they simply call the other blogger a "fool" or some other derogatory name. That's pretty low for a politician who claims he's above all that."

Very amusing REPUBLICAN BLOGGER, but what did all of you PAID REPUBLICAN BLOGGERS do after Obama won the Democratic nomination? That's right, EXACTLY THE SAME THING against Obama! Do you REALLY think that we are so dumb as to fall for all of this nonsense? McCain is snaking faster then lead through a goose! As for your little sweetie Palin I predict that she will do well the first half of tomorrow's debate and then implode horribly during the second half.

Posted by: WISDOM FIRST! | Oct 1, 2008 10:15:05 PM

FYI Sean Hannity isnt a journalist!

Posted by: James | Oct 1, 2008 10:03:06 PM

Rich N:

have heard that Obama has hired
bloggers to scour internet sites and fill blogs with negative-McCain opinions. I understand if they can't dispute the facts, they simply call the other blogger a "fool" or some other derogatory name. That's pretty low for a politician who claims he's above all that.

Posted by: Rich N.
----------------------------------------
Rich, think maybe we have at least one of those bloggers on this blog. Had hoped that his play-book would be empty soon...but guess he is going to go on into the night.

Posted by: s | Oct 1, 2008 9:54:50 PM

Alaska moose is looking forward to the debate. Palin will prove that she is not as bad as an idiot like Bush!

Where do the GOP find such extreme weirdos and plan to successfully dump them on Americans?

Posted by: barbie | Oct 1, 2008 9:27:17 PM

Ken

How is Obama behind them ? ? ?

Posted by: James | Oct 1, 2008 7:37:10 PM

Well gota go Happy Blogging see ya

Posted by: Ken | Oct 1, 2008 7:36:15 PM

Sorry I was away for a few
Yea like I said Obama is got to be behind it all I'm sure

Posted by: Ken | Oct 1, 2008 7:32:03 PM

Ken

vietnam veterans against john mccain has existed since 1980 or earlier!

They protested John McCain in 2000 when he ran against Bush!

They are not pro Obama in any shape or form!

They are against John McCain look at there website they have tons of information there!

McCains treatment of Delores Alfond, head of the National Alliance of POW/MIA whose brother went missing in action in Vietnam is disgraceful. The video makes me ill!

They have there own beef with McCain and no conections or ties to Obama.

Posted by: James | Oct 1, 2008 7:30:31 PM

Not sure what is going to happen, I think Palin is a total wild card. I do predict that the McCain's election will be won or lost on Palin's performance.

If Palin does really well, it could pull the numbers up, especially since last week was a disaster for them with respect to PR. Still not sure why everybody thinks Bush's tax cuts have anything to do with high risk debt trading, but oh well, that's the way the cookie goes bankrupt! :)

If she bombs, McCain is sunk.

Pressure's on, gettin higher...difference is..anyone? Beuller?

Just tryin to keep it light...


Posted by: Wade | Oct 1, 2008 7:21:32 PM

As for the truth sqaud it is true Mccains is reacting to an issue and I believe that Obama must of been behind it I'm sure

Posted by: Ken | Oct 1, 2008 7:06:33 PM

re:How can she have good debating skills, when she could not give good quick answers in previous interviews? I have good debating skills and even I can answer a quick question like "what magazines do you read?"

----

Its a strategy to keep her expectations low till the debate. She is a great debater

Posted by: Ken | Oct 1, 2008 7:05:11 PM

How can she have good debating skills, when she could not give good quick answers in previous interviews? I have good debating skills and even I can answer a quick question like "what magazines do you read?"

Posted by: my5200 | Oct 1, 2008 6:57:00 PM

re:

And now for the truth squad

ABC News' Ron Claiborne Reports: John McCain's "Truth Squad" went into action for the first time today, denouncing a mailer it says was sent to South Carolina voters by a group calling itself Vietnam Veterans Against John McCain.


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I will have check it out.
-

Posted by: Ken | Oct 1, 2008 6:51:04 PM

And now for the truth squad

ABC News' Ron Claiborne Reports: John McCain's "Truth Squad" went into action for the first time today, denouncing a mailer it says was sent to South Carolina voters by a group calling itself Vietnam Veterans Against John McCain.

Posted by: Ryan C | Oct 1, 2008 6:48:13 PM

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