Debate

My thoughts on the debate. You may not have asked, but you will get them! If you would rather not read this or do not agree with me, that is fine. I believe everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Feel free to scroll down to my other fabulous posts.

Let's face it, the bar was set pretty low for Governor Sarah Palin. I agree with the political analysts, this was not a train wreck for her. However, after the Couric interview she really didn't have anywhere to go but up. In my opinion she started out pretty strong, but in the last half hour she became tiresome, a bit of a broken record, and some of the cutesy winks and comments became more apparent.

If you haven't watched the Couric interview, watch it. If for no other reason, so you know to what others are referring. There are 3 short clips to watch. (To make the screen bigger, click the icon with the squares inside the circle found in the bottom right hand of the video area.)


First Thought
It was interesting to me when Palin made the comment during the debate about not doing more interviews with "mainstreem media" - referring to the Couric interview. But I ask you, as vice president isn't it important to be able to speak intelligently to the American people and to the leaders of other countries? Sarah Palin will not be afforded the opportunity to practice her speeches and debate tactics for one to two days every time she speaks to the American people and the leaders of other countries. She will be asked questions like she was in the Couric interview. That is the reality.

Does Senator Biden give the best interviews? No. He can get long-winded and repeat himself over and over again. But just as the political commentators were surprised that Palin was not a train wreck, they were surprised that Biden kept his answers brief.

Second Thought
Palin also said to Biden, "I may not answer the questions that either the moderator or you want to hear, but I'm going to talk straight to the American people and let them know my track record." Aren't you supposed to answer the questions posed to you in a debate? Isn't that the point of a debate, to debate the issues raised? Some may say it is an "art" to skirt the issues and talk about what you want to talk about in a debate. But that's not what America wants to hear. They want the answers to the questions asked, period.

Joe Biden answered almost every question asked of him before coming back to the issue of his choice.

Third Thought
Getting to the end of the debate, Palin expressed her views on the job of the vice president, believing, like Cheney, the vice president can exert more power when needed, "Yeah, so I do agree with him [Cheney] that we have a lot of flexibility in there, and we'll do what we have to do to administer very appropriately the plans that are needed for this nation." It is scary she would say that not to mention a bit naive.

Biden's response where he finally shows some tough emotion, "Vice President Cheney has been the most dangerous vice president we've had probably in American history... The only authority the vice president has from the legislative standpoint is the vote, only when there is a tie vote. He has no authority relative to the Congress. The idea he's part of the Legislative Branch is a bizarre notion invented by Cheney to aggrandize the power of a unitary executive and look where it has gotten us. It has been very dangerous."

Fourth Thought
I may sound like I am being harsh with Governor Palin. Truth is, as a woman, I honestly did not want her to fall flat on her face and relive her Couric interview. As Geraldine Ferraro said after the debate, "I wanted my granddaughters to be able to look at this debate... and see that a woman could go toe to toe with someone who has had tremendous experience in the Senate and someone who is an incredible candidate for vice president of the United States. That to me is very very important." I concur.

Fifth Thought
Another woman, an undecided voter, who was interviewed after the debate said of Palin, "I like her. She just seems like someone I could sit down at a table with and have a fun conversation." I've heard this sentiment a few times in the last few weeks, so I want to address it. I agree, Governor Palin seems like a very nice person. She can be downright adorable. She can throw some solid zings at the Democrats. She can be feisty. She is smart. She is good in front of a camera (hey, she used to be a sports anchor - oh man, we all had bad hair in the 80's, didn't we? I digress.). But in all honesty, that does not qualify her to be Vice President of the United States of America. And it certainly does not qualify her to be President of the United States of America, which is a viable outcome.

Joe Biden on the other hand sought the presidential nomination twice. Biden has been a Senator since 1972 - 36 years. He has served for many years on the Foreign Relations Committee as well as the Judiciary Committee. For a detailed non-biased read on Senator Joe Biden, see this Wikipedia page.

And for a detailed non-biased read on Governor Sarah Palin, see this Wikipedia page.


Bottomline - besides presiding over the senate when there is a tie vote and offering advice to the President, the main job of the vice president is to be ready to take over should anything happen to the the President. Is Sarah Palin ready to be president of the United States? No. Is Joe Biden ready to be President of the United States? Yes. And I think most would agree.

Come Sunday, this debate will long over in most of our minds. We will then move on to talking about the next Presidential debate that is on Tuesday.


I'm just sayin'... in my opinion.