Stephanopoulos: A Word of Advice for Biden, Palin & Ifill Too

You're right George S.McCain might be the first one to say Biden is sexist. He made a poor choice/bad judgement Palin interviews shows her knowledge is limited.

In Ralph voice from the show Simsons.

" I can see Russia from my house"

(*_*)

"Joe Biden: Restrain yourself. It's only natural for you to want to show how much you've done and how much you know"

Like how President FDR went on TV after the crash of 1929?

geevil: "Like how President FDR went on TV after the crash of 1929?"

Do you really want to get into a mis-speaking war? Shall we get into "100 years" in Iraq, "The fundamentals of the economy are strong," John McCain doesn't speak for his own campaign, suspending the campaign until McCain solves the crisis, etc.

There are issues to debate, and they don't have much to do with what gaffes Biden has made as he has spoken unscripted to the press over 100 times more than Palin since the VP selections.

All Palin has to do is show up tonight and the public will gush over her.

She can spew right wing talking points and every pundit out there will say she "won" the debate if she stays on message. She has the easiest job in the world tonight.

No matter that she won't bring up anything new or important to the people.

She's already won before the debate has been had. No one cares about depth or meaning anymore. They only care about the sound bite and she serves those up to people like no one else when she's had time to prepare.

Like 2000 and 2004, people will get sucked in by sytle, not substance.

The bar is so low for Palin. Biden is the one who should feel pressured.

All Palin has to do is keep from falling off the podium and it will be considered a successful debate for her.

Many people just want her to be a sarcastic soccer mom who really "understands" them. No doubt she has some cheap shots prepared.

Sad how little some expect from a potential Vice President of the United States.

Yes Sarah, remember "enjoy yourself" because this will most likely be the LAST debate you will ever take part of!

Although, I agree with some of your assessment, sadly, there's some hypocrisy going on in regards to Ms. Gwen Ifill's moderating the VP debate this evening. Her book has been known for months, as you pointed out, and it is an insult to Ms. Ifill's journalistic credentials that she may show favoritism in this debate. No one questioned CBS News anchorwoman, Ms. Couric's credentials, or motives - book or no book! Gwen Ifill's book is about a man, namely Sen. Obama, who is making unprecedented history as being the first Black man who is has a great chance of becoming the President of the United States of America, and it doesn't have anything to do with favoring him, nor not favoring him. Besides, what is wrong in having some pride in oneself to see someone of your own race, ethnicity, culture, religion, family member, neighbor, or congregant member, to be in a position that is publicly sought after, or known, throughout the world? Charlie Rose of PBS host his show frequented with a myriad of [Caucasian] men and women, who, too, have written books about people (e.g., Caucasian men) whom they admire, respect, and/or is considered unique in their own way fashioning themselves throughout the course of history. Unfortunately, I believe there is an air of 'covert' racism in this Ifill issue because of the fact that the scheduled moderator is a respected and credible journalist and woman who is an African-American, and now all of a sudden her integrity is being questioned, scrutinized, and tainted - all because she has, essentially, written a book about history being made in this country featuring Sen. Obama. If Tom Brokaw, Katie Couric, Charlie Rose, Jim Lehrer, Charles Gibson, or any other journalist, have written this book with the same title, would this have been an issue? I don't think so, I KNOW IT WOULD NOT BE AN ISSUE!

So, let this intelligent journalist do her job as she has done before as a moderator of debates! It is this type of ignorant juvenile tactics that turns many American people off! It is insulting to Ms. Ifill, and equally important, it is insulting to the American people believing that many of us are going to let this matter cloud the facts of this debate, and other debates to come!

I am truly amazed at these comments. I think both Governor Palin and Senator Biden have some things to overcome in this debate. Quite frankly, in both of their cases, the press has played a big part in creating the image each of them has to overcome.

As for the concern regarding Ms. Ifill, I have great difficulty believing that any rational person would attribute it to racial prejudice. The writer mentions numerous other journalists who have NOT written a book about Senator Obama but have interviewed him and states that they would have been excluded from this criticism because they are white. As a journalist, I take great exception to this. I DO have a problem with the fact that she has written a book about Senator Obama and is moderating this debate. It is a definite conflict of interest, and in addition to that, she is gettin a lot of free promotion for her book and thus monetary compensation. She is a very poor choice, and no matter how good a job she does tonight, her journalistic integrity will be in question.

It sickens me to see the turn this political circus has taken with the personal attacks on the candidates not only from the media but also from some of the folks on this blog and others. It takes "dirty politics" to a whole new level.

BCDwriter, True but the folks you mentioned are NOT the one's who are moderating this debate. I agree that 'Her book has been known for months' but she wasn't paraded out as the moderator 'for months', has she? She should have bowed out because like myself, millions of people will be listening to the questions tonight.

yeah, "manufactured." He's right, this should have been a subject before. As if there could be a moderator writing a book called - the stunning campaign...the century of McCain. Or some such. I guess we will see if the book is biased towards Obama when we enter into his Age.

Please!

So Ifill's book has been common knowledge and that mitigates bias? Ifill stands to gain financially from an Obama victory. This is an outrage.

Lets face it. It's probably the first time a lot of people is hearing about
'the book'. There's a lot of books
written every day.
However, the fact remains: this author
will stand to gain hugely - especially
if Obama/Biden ticket wins.
You cannot change that fact. It is what
it is.

Why won't Obama go on Hannity or O'Reily's show? "Words are just words",
according to Obama. Just answer the
questions - just like Palin will anwer
when Gwen ask the questions.

"just like Palin will answer when Gwen asks the questions"?
The point is, she didn't answer a single question. Joe Biden gave straightforward, intelligent answers to all the questions. Palin responded to every question with "I don't want to talk about that, I want to talk about so and so." And then recited one of the numerous 80-second speeches, written for her by the McCain campaign staff, which she had memorized during her intensive preparation at McCain's ranch. Rarely did her little recitations remotely relate to the question that had been asked.
O.K., it was the best she could do and on the surface appeared better than many expected of her. But it just showed her complete lack of knowledge about any important subject, and was a pathetic display. If elected, would she fulfill the responsibilities of the Vice President by reciting little 80-second speeches she memorizes?

John should stop giving his commentaries on TV - it is obvious he is a Democrat. He can not get on nationwide TV and give a realistic view of the debate. I am upset that I can not find an independent review of the debate on Channel 13 (NBC). I am voting republican so this country will survive. Replace him because he imposes his democratic view....

WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IS WHY PORK HAD TO BE ADDED TO THE BAIL OUT BILL. I DON'T THINK THE HOUSE WILL PASS IT TODAY. GREED IS BEING SHOWN AND THE LOBBYIST AND ANY CONGRESSMAN THAT HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH THIS ADDITIONS SHOULD BE TAR AND FEATHERED AND RIDDEN OUT OF OUR NATION'S CAPITAL ON A RAIL AND DUMPED IN THE POTOMAC RIVER. IF THIS COUNTRY GOES DOWN THE TUBES IT WON'T MATTER WHO WON THE DEBATES.

Maybe you just didn't like Palin's answers. I (and most people) do believe in lending a hand -
everyone needs encouragement and resources to better themselves. Some
people need help for a short time and
some forever due to illness or particular circumstances. HOWEVER, when
did America become so dependent on
government? My parents came from the era
of the 'great depression'. A lot of people these days call themselves 'poor'. What did 'Poor' mean in my Parents' time: having a car was not a possibility or a dream;
bus money? maybe - There was no need
for a 'wellness center' - you ate little
and walked everywhere - that was your
diet plan and health spa. You didn't look for handouts, because there wasn't
any. That's when the old folks began to
raise chickens,ducks,rabbits and grew
there own fruits/vegetables. As late as
the 1970's my parents grew some of their
food - a leftover from the real hard times they had lived.(they lived in New
Orleans - not the country, by the way).
There was no going 'out to eat' ever.
You bartered for goods and services.
But you know what, they did it on their
own. No handouts. No crying. There was
a reason they did it on their own.
In the later years things got a lot better. However, THEY NEVER LIVED ABOVE
THEIR MEANS. IN FACT, THEY LIVED BELOW
WHAT THEY COULD ACTUALLY AFFORD. - NO
CREDIT CARDS. MY MOM'S FAVORITE SAYING:

"MAKE DUE - OR - DO WITHOUT."

(AND THEY NEVER EVER GOT INTO DEBT).

That, fellow Americans, is what living
well is all about. (my parents had very
little formal education; no real support
from anyone, because no one had anything
themselves. BUT THEY BECAME SELF-SUFFICIENT ON THEIR OWN- WHY? THEY ALWAYS PUT DUTY ABOVE THEMSELVES.
NO TRIFFLENESS -
It can be done, but we individually
must go back to the old golden rules
of conduct. Laugh if you want, but where
did we go wrong? When the rules were
lowered; when our standards broke down.

That is what McCain/Palin stand for and
some people can't take the truth. Some
people want to make fun instead.
Because when people do wrong, they don't
want to see other people 'do right'.
People stoop to name calling.
Palin said: If you can't afford a
$300,000 home then buy a lesser home.
People don't want to hear that.
The truth hurts. Don't buy until you
can 'swing it'.
(I'm not going to sway anybody with this
message, but I gave it a shot.)
MAKE DUE - OR - DO WITHOUT
(you'll sleep a lot better.)

P.S. I do want the people who 'cooked
the books' to be brought to justice.
Let the chips fall as they may -

Who ran those companies to the ground?
We know who they are now.
No mystery there.