Can I call you “Joe”
In two debates, last night’s and last Friday’s, I think I’ve heard the word “maverick” at least a million times. You know the old line, repeat a lie long enough and it will become the truth. Well, this PolitiPornster is not buying it. Everytime that word crosses the lips of McCain or Palin, it sounds forced and empty. Oddly enough, that would also properly describe Palin’s performance last night, forced and empty.
If George W. Bush was “all hat and no cattle”, well Ms. Palin is “all snow and no igloo!”
As for the debate, I did the same thing as last week. I watched the debate and afterwards discussed it with Mrs. PolitiPornster. During this post debate recap we didn’t listen to any of the media led or spin room led discussions regarding who won. Our conclusion, it was a wash, a tie, basically the sister got kissed. If there was a slight edge, I’d have to hand that to Biden.
Why? Well, whether you liked his answers or not, or even if you hated his style, he still answered the questions! I counted three separate occasions where Palin ignored the question completely and instead rattled off Rovian Republican talking points that had nothing to do with the subject matter of the question introduced.
If you’re wondering which three instances I’m talking about here goes, 1) when asked about what would be her Achilles heel: NO ANSWER; 2) when asked about what would trigger US use of nuclear weapons: NO COMPREHENDABLE ANSWER; and 3) when asked about bankruptcy and taxes: NO ANSWER – instead said she wanted to talk about Energy.
You’d probably be curious as to why she didn’t answer those questions; my best guess is that those questions were not in her script. The one time she got off script as she was trying to answer the question about nuclear weapons, I started having flashbacks of her now infamous Katie Couric interview.
Now the positives for Palin, she was charming and she came across as folksy. She tried her best to get under Biden’s skin and her jabs will likely get replayed ad nausiem on conservative radio. She certainly connected with the rightwing base last night. Most importantly, she went a long way to help repair the damage done by the Gibson and Couric interviews that led people to wonder just how many retards are in the Palin family.
The McCain camp knows it dodged a bullet the size of Rush Limbaugh’s fat ass last night. Here’s some advice, keep that woman on FOX News and/or conservative talk radio. If she speaks to anyone who is either in the tank for Obama or surprisingly unbiased, she will be eaten alive. You would think that after Katie Couric paddled that ass, McCain would learn.
For the party’s sake, the McCain camp should seriously consider keeping this lady in Dick Cheney’s bunker until after the election. Just a thought.
Biden won on verbage, as he lied with impugnity and Palin did not call him on them. Palin did answer the bankruptcy question (Yes, debt strapped mortgage holders should be allowed to file bankrupticy), but did not go into detail. Barach Hussein Obama supporter Ifill did not ask her to elaborate.
Biden told some whoppers!! He said the $5000 tax credit McCain proposes for medical insurance would go to the insurance companies!! DUH!!! Of course it it would!!!
Biden incorrectly said “John McCain voted the exact same way” as Obama on a controversial troop funding bill. The two were actually on opposite sides.
Biden wrongly claimed that McCain “voted the exact same way” as Obama on the budget bill that contained an increase on singles making as little as $42,000 a year. McCain voted against it. Biden was referring to an amendment that didn’t address taxes at that income level.
Biden wrongly claimed that McCain had said “he wouldn’t even sit down” with the government of Spain. Actually, McCain didn’t reject a meeting, but simply refused to commit himself one way or the other during an interview.
Palin spoke some inaccuracies as well, but not on the level of Biden. Palin missed numerous opportunities to call Biden on his lies, but did not. Regardless, she definitely came across as more likeable and she did not blunder as many pundits expected.
The Fallen, I’m going to have to disagree with you on the Ifill thing. She has an impeccable journalistic reputation. The only people who think that she can’t operate in an unbiased manner are people who aren’t really familiar with her work.
Now, if it had been Keith Olbermann I would TOTALLY agree with you.
She should not have been the moderator given that she has written a book on Barack Obama. Imagine if Michelle Malkin had been slated to moderate!! Liberals would have screamed!
Even if she is unbiased, it gives the impression that something is afoot. I did not see any glaring bias in her moderation last night other than she gave Joe Biden the last chance to speak when he already was the first to speak at the beginning of the debate.
@TheFallen – First just let me say that I think you might be getting a bit drunk on the Palin Kool-Aid.
I’ll let you find it, but in one sentence above you accuse Biden of lying and telling the truth at the same time. Interesting bit of verbal gymnastics.
OK, so when Palin said that Obama voted to raise taxes 94 times, she wasn’t lying? At last count 23 of those votes were duplicates for the same measure and many of the votes were procedural issues with bills that included tax raises but not actual votes on the increase.
OOPS….On March 29, 2007, McCain voted against H.R. 1591, an emergency spending bill that would have funded the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and would have provided more than $1 billion in additional funds to the Department of Veterans Affairs. The Senate passed H.R. 1591 by a margin of 51-47. Once the bill’s conference report was agreed to by the House, the Senate again passed the measure on April 26, 2007, by a vote of 51-46. McCain did not vote on that version of the bill. By contrast, Obama voted for it on both occasions.
McCain has voted against other legislation funding care for veterans. One Senate bill that would have “provide[d] an additional $430,000,000 for the Department of Veteran Affairs for Medical Services for outpatient care and treatment for veterans.” In addition, on March 14, 2006, McCain voted against “increas[ing] Veterans medical services funding by $1.5 billion in FY 2007 to be paid for by closing corporate tax loopholes.” On March 10, 2004, McCain also voted against “creat[ing] a reserve fund to allow for an increase in Veterans’ medical care by $1.8 billion by eliminating tax loopholes.” Obama voted for the first two measures; he had not yet entered the Senate when the third vote was cast.
Finally, as we all know McCain was against the New GI Bill but he stayed home that day so that folks couldn’t say he didn’t vote for it..
I guess saying one thing and doing another is how one becomes a Maverick.
BTW, Palin didn’t call Biden out on his so-called “lies” because it wasn’t in her script.
@The Fallen – the Gwen Ifill thing is a FOX News and Michele Malkin created distraction and apparently it worked on you.
First, the GOP agreed to Ifill being the moderator back in August and her book was annouced in JUNE! They could have Googled her and found that information.
Also, this book is not exclusively about Obama although his name appears in the title. This is reminiscent of conservatives lambasting something without knowing what the hell it actually IS!
Also, appearing the book—significant attention is paid to Michael Steele (REPUBLICAN) and JC Watts (STUPID REPUBLICAN). The book is about the rise of African American politicians of ALL stripes.
You should seriously write FOX News and Michele Malkin and ask for an apology.
@Politipornster – telling me that I am getting drunk from the “Palin Kool-Aid” is like the pot calling the kettle black. You regurgitate the Democrat talking points on McCain and Palin perfectly. 🙂
Your misguided attempt to imply that McCain does not support the troops and veterans is ludicrous. He did not vote for HR 1591 because it had a “surrender” timetable for withdrawal from Iraq which you Democrats would have loved to have gotten through. How many years did Barack Hussein Obama serve in the military??? Joe Biden????? It scares me to death that these two clowns could be running our country during a time of war.
As you know I am a veteran and member of the American Legion and we FULLY support the McCain and Palin ticket.
I disagreed with McCain on the New GI Bill AFTER the timetable was removed.
As I previously state, Palin has not served 35 years in the Senate, thus is not used to the lies that Biden can espouse in an hour and a half!!
She had some “misstatements”, but not out right lies like Sen. Joseph Biden.
Unless the debate is on FOX the moderator is always going to be liberal so Ifill is no better or worse than any other. 🙂 I just said the above to get under your skin! 🙂
@Hayden
Interesting – you were so mad at me a post I made a a couple of days ago to which you said the “agressive liberal hate speech or the supposed “shit talk” you accussed me of spewing. Very interesting how at least 4 times here, just in the thread, and in Porn’s remarks he has “shit talked” or made “agresssive conservative hate speech.” Here is my question, why haven’t you jumped all over Porn? You guessed it, I’ll answer for you – you agree with what he is saying. It only offends you if I(conservative) has to say it. A liberal can make foolish, hate speech, your team is a bunch of idiots, I’m on this team,whatever crap and it’s ok. Just pointing out your self righteous hypocrisy.
I find it interesting that most people keep ranting that Palin doesn’t have experience in this or that.
I’m pretty sure she didn’t have any gubernatorial experience either. So how’s that working out?
How could anyone vote for these 2 nitwits and the 2 running for president is beyond me! Our candidates and their parties stink of greed, corruption, and their own self interests.
Its very sad to call yourself an American these days.
Vote anyone that is not Republican or Democrat.
Good point! She is the highest rated Governor in the United States. I also recall that another Governor was elected President in 1992 who had no foreign policy experience….
@The Fallen – actually, the operative word is “WAS”. Since being named to the GOP ticket, her poll numbers have taken a hit.
When named to the back-up slot on the ticket she WAS the highest rated Gov with 80% approval rating but that has dropped to 68%.
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003856855
I guess Alaskans are paying attention now.
@ Politipornster – Of course her numbers will fall given that they are so high and she is campaigning almost 24/7 for VEEP. 68% is still very high!!
@Hammer – In response to, “why haven’t you jumped all over Porn?”
Because he is such an awesome guy. 😉
And, by the way, your analysis as to why I didn’t is incorrect.
@Hayden – thank you for drawing attention to my awesomeness.
@The Fallen – 68% is high, but it ain’t 80% and it doesn’t make her the highest rated Governor in country. 😉
Also, the drop in her numbers has also been attributed to her back-pedaling in the TrooperGate scandal. Before the nomination she supported an inquiry and had stated that she’d cooperate. After the nomination, she and her husband have refused to cooperate with investigators and both have refused to comply with legally granted subpeonas. Just saying.