Word watch for the Sarah Palin/Joe Biden debate

No surprise here -- the nouns "maverick" and "reform" were heard early and often in the Thursday night debate between Sarah Palin and Joe Biden.

John McCain long had laid claim to the "maverick" title, and as his running mate, Palin quickly worked it into her initial answers. Overall, a word search of the debate transcript shows she uttered the singular or plural form of it six times.

But in an upset, Biden used it more often -- nine times, in fact. That's because, as the debate was coming to a close and in what was one of his stronger moments, he directly questioned McCain's claim to the maverick title. He summed up: "He's not been a maverick on virtually anything that genuinely affects the things that people really talk about around their kitchen table."

Palin looked for every opportunity to work the word "reform" into a sentence. In all, she said it 13 times.

In something of a stunner, Biden didn't use it at all. But he did use "change" -- in the context of a different direction that he and Barack Obama would bring to the White House -- 13 times.

-- Don Frederick

Comments

[Angellight]

Even though McCain Camp sucessfully neutered Gwen Ifil by a predebate attack on her credibility, we should not be fooled by Palin's Acting/ sparring abilities (although she had her Notes with her) to sucessfully weave and bob and her canny ability not to answer questions she does not like in contradiction to her also not being able to intelligently answer complex questions on the spot! It seems as if she feels the American people have no need to be given intelligent, thoughtful answers to the pressing questions of today, and that we would rather be winked at and called hockey moms and Joe Sixpacks while our economy is in ruins! We need our candidates to present truth, not lies and talking points of lies which have nothing to do with reality. We have been lied too enough in this country. We need leaders who are of high moral character and who think their word is thier bond.
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Starting to question McCain's mental fitness

McCain's interviews have become increasingly angry, hostile and unhinged. He seems to be on the verge of some kind of mental collapse. A big part of McCain's erratic behavior is due to Obama having gotten deep, deep, deep inside his head. If McCain's brain was x-rayed, it would reveal Obama sitting comfortably upon McCain's cerebral peduncles. But, it is more than that. I believe McCain's increasing instability is being caused by the stress of the campaign and his 72 year old body not being able to get the rest that it requires to function properly. That isn't ageism—that is a simple fact of life. I wondered how McCain, being in advanced years, would respond under the grueling pace of a general election. I think we are all beginning to find out and it really isn't a pretty site. He is on the verge of some kind of mental collapse.

http://www.progressivedailybeacon.com/?p=1986

[who what where]

Did anybody notice that Palin completely avoided answering Gwen Ifil's question: "What is your Achille's heel?" I don't think Palin really knew what that expression really meant since she completely didn't answer the question, and instead gave a litany of her strengths---the exact opposite of what is meant, i.e. 'what are your weaknesses.'

[Dave Wood]

Perhaps less significant, but still amusing, Palin said "also" 48 times...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/daverexwood/2909102881

[Republican Folly]

McCain and Palin are "mavericks" in the same sense that Ronald Reagan was "The Great Communicator". Some monikers just don't ring true.
After observing both John McCain and Sarah Palin, I have to say a much better alias for the two of them would be "McDonalds" . They are all over the place politicaly.

[wally lodato]

From the former chair of the Sentate Judiciary Committee, who claims his own fitness to judge the judicial nominees before him on the basis of their "ideology," Senator Biden made a real fundamental, bonehead errorwhen he asserted that Article One of the US Constitution relates to the Executive Branch: "Article I. Section 1. "All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives. "

[Bowe]

I was an undecided, until last night. I found Palin's presence disturbing. The smirks while Biden was speaking, I found disrespectful. Is this how she will react to dignitaries in serious discussions? I found her "folksy charm" insincere and when she said she may not answer the questions the way the moderator or Biden wished - that instead she was going to speak to the people.... did she simply fail to understand that the people wanted her to answer the questions? Palin's performance was the result of coaching and scripting; not to be confused with experience or knowledge of the issues.

[Gnarlyswine]

I dont think Palin understood any of the questions since she blatantly failed to answer any of them.

Id like to talk about hockey instead........

[a woman voter]

What did Palin do to gain the approval and applause for her debate performance? Just because she didn't make major blunders she is being put on the same level as Biden. That's crazy! Palin must be on drugs or something is wrong with her attention span because most of the questions Gwen Ifle presented to Palin did not even get a response, instead Ms. Palin started spewing about hockey moms, six pack joes, mavericks, and her energy expertise. What a joke these two Republicans, McCain and Palin, are. Bush in sheep's clothing.

[Roger Baronat]

Will either make a difference? It is important to make a difference. Nothing is 100%. Improvement is always necessary and always around the corner even when things looks bright and rosy. And these days things do not look all that bright and rosy, do they?

In terms of their generations, their views, and their philosophies, Sarah Palin and Joe Biden both bring to their respective running mates what those running mates lack. And in a presidential horse race that is still neck-and-neck, the question that remains is whether either will bring enough oomph! to their potential administrations to result in a significant difference in the future of our lives, regardless of who wins the race.

Sarah Palin brings youth, conservatism, and new-style Alaskan politics to the presidential arena. A sort of new-frontierswoman type of politics. Did someone say a female version of Davy Crockett? “Daaveeee, Daaaavy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier.” Like Davy, Sarah Palin is a person who can “kick some Washington butt” and get things done. Well, of course! She’s a Mom, after all. And we all know how tough and relentless Moms can be. And caring. And mindful of the needs of others. She provides a good balance to John McCain’s battle-seasoned soldier image. Sarah Palin and John McCain work well together.

On the other hand, her youth brings with it a “lack of experience in the field.” Being a Mom, and a mayor of a town, and a governor of a state apparently do not count as much as being a junior senator from Illinois. Nor is she a graduate of Harvard University. Nor is she a man. Perhaps if she had been a male senator as long as Ted Kennedy or, even better, if she had already been president, like Bill Clinton, then perhaps she would be qualified to be president of the United States. I say “perhaps” because I cannot seem to recall the official list of qualifications an American citizen must have before running for vice-president or president. I keep thinking of Harry Truman and Ronald Reagan and their particular list of qualifications. The former was a haberdasher and the latter an actor. Did you know that U.S. scholars consider Truman one of the ten best presidents the United States ever had? Amazing!

And what about Joe Biden? Well, he brings old age, liberalism, and old-style Washington politics to the presidential arena. He has been around Washington, D.C. longer than John McCain. He knows the ropes, perhaps even better than Ted Kennedy. He can advise Barack Obama on foreign policy issues and the “tricks of the trade” in the nation’s capital. Such as the tricks involved in first trying to “bail out” our nation’s economy and, after that failed, now trying to “rescue” it.

And his experience surplus can balance out Barack Obama’s experience deficit in other areas as well. But Joe Biden may not be all that interested in actually changing the type of Washington politics with which he has grown and prospered all these years. This could present a problem for a Democratic administration because this is the same Washington politics that Barack Obama has promised to fix through change. Is it possible Joe Biden and Barack Obama will not work well together? Is it possible they might actually be at odds with each other?

Who can tell? But these are just some of the facts we must consider “long before” the day comes when we cast our votes for the next president of the United States. And “long before” is just about to end. The leaves have already begun to fall in New England.

Perhaps the debate between Sarah Palin and Joe Biden can give us a clue as to how we should vote this November.

[crossroads]

As a VP, Palin would make an excellent waitress at a waffle house, don'tcha think? Would you like some pork on the side?

[Helen G]

"Did anybody notice that Palin completely avoided answering Gwen Ifil's question: "What is your Achille's heel?" I don't think Palin really knew what that expression really meant since she completely didn't answer the question, and instead gave a litany of her strengths---the exact opposite of what is meant, i.e. 'what are your weaknesses.'"

Thanks I did not know anyone else had the same reaction.

[scarlet]

What I saw was the most disrespectful pubic appearance by any candidate I have ever seen run for pubic office.

The campaigns agree to a set of rules and that includes answering questions asked by the moderator. Often candidates will dance around a topic, but to my dismay I heard Governor Palin say she was not gong to answer the ?s the moderator asked. Talk about arrogance, that shows a complete lack of respect for the process, the moderator, her opponent and the listeners.

We should demand at least modest respect from our candidates for pubic office, and respect Governor Palin doesn't have.

This is akin to stopping in the middle of a game with agreed rules and then declaring i am not going to abide by the rules. They call that cheating. As a woman she is embarassing to me.

John McCain's judgement should really be questioned on chosing such a disrespectful unqualified candidate.

Do you want this disrespectful woman as the President in the future. Think Again.

[WHYNOT]

When will Sarah Palin release her Tax Returns

[Roman]

Didn't have any major issues with Palin before last night. Her VP acceptance speech was very poised but in the debate last night she really seemed to lack a lot of qualities that a national candidate needs to encompass.

Here's a Republican blog that really questions Palin's position on the ticket and suggests that she's hurting McCain.
http://www.greenfaucet.com/blogs/hanlons-pub

Also includes the Katie Couric video about the newspapers Palin reads.

Priceless.

[JPMinNC]

(re Who what when): McCain: "I knew Achilles. I worked with Achilles. I'm honored that you compare the heels of my running mate to those of Achilles. Sarah's got great heels. They work day and night for her. Every heel in my party supports her. And I look forward to introducing her to them and to all the other heels in Washington who lobby for them."

[L Dianne Johnson]

Sarah Palin had her comments memorized along with her folksy way so did not answer any question put to her. In talking with Katie Couric, she is one on one with no time limit so she can not rely on her canned, memorized litany. Perhaps she would make a nice neighbor but not a Vice President! The wink was over the top!

[Handsome Eddie]

"Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former"

Truer by the moment as I watch this election, Congress trying to repair the economy, and my countries repeated reliance on military force as the only answer to countless problems. It ain't lookin' too good, is it?

[she]

Another undecided who is for Obama/Biden now. Palin was just plain dumb and Biden was great. He and Obama will be great when ellected.

[BlueLIne Leftie]

I can't be the only one to notice that Sarah Palin's performance in the Vice Presidential Debate was a perfect metaphor for what caused this country to be in a $700 Billion hole.

Yes, the McCain people accepted Gwen Ifill as the moderator (even after knowing she was releasing a book with the word "Obama" in it back in July).

Yes, the McCain people accepted the debate rules/format as outlined by Ifill (and Leherer last week).

No, Sarah Palin didn't feel the need to follow to the rules and format.

Palin did not answer several direct questions by Ifill, but rather diverted to subjects she wanted to talk about (usually energy). It was actually Ifill's place to point that out or restate the qeustion, but she never did.

However, on a couple of occasions Palin boldly told Ifill outright "I'm not going to answer the questions you ask." And took a swipe at the Main Stream Media by accusing them of somehow "filtering" her interviews. She was thrilled with the opportunity to speak directly to the American People. (HINT: Sarah, it was a political debate, not 90 minutes of free TV time for you to talk directly to the American People).

Well, so much for the theories of careful oversight and tight regulation!

Nope, McCain and Palin decry the need to protect Americans, and yet apparently can't stop themselves from IGNORING any rules or commitments they've helped to establish and agreed to follow if it is counter to their political/financial advantage.

But it sure is revealing in how they approach keeping ones word and obeying rules. And this reveals much in how the Bailout situation came to be, and who was responsible for it.

[Carla]

One of my favorite moments was when she called her opponent Senator O'Biden.

Thanks, Sarah!

[Dennis]

Dianne-
Agree with you completely.
No more winking!!

And Roman, that blog and video are priceless.
I wonder if McCain was in physical pain when the Couric issue happened

[Wide Awake]

Marge Gunderson as our VP? I don't think she's a very good choice dont'cha know? Yah, I think she'd confuse them foreign visitors when it comes to talkin' 'bout nucular energy and nucular weapons.

Sarah Palin says she comes from a family full of teachers. None of whom were English teachers I take it? Please learn how to correctly pronounce NUCLEAR before embarrassing us further with your cutesy, down-home, red neck, doe-eyed Wasilla-isms. While you're at it please look up the meaning of the phrase 'Achilles Heel.' As in "Sarah Palin will hopefully prove to be John McCain's Achilles Heel."

WAKE UP AMERICA!

[Jeffrey Ellis]

For all of those who claim to be Constitutional scholars:
Article 1, Section 2 specifies the role of the Vice-President as it relates to powers of the Legislature:
"The Vice President of the United States shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no Vote, unless they be equally divided."
Biden used his reference in the context of Cheney's abuse of power viz-a-viz assuming a greater authority over the Legislative branch than allowed for in the Constitution. Biden's citation of Article 1 was appropriate and correct.

[JuliaH]

It was a jolly evening of fast-paced discussion, none will deny that. Palin came across a little gushy, talking just a bit too fast, a little shaky at first but very well rehearsed. She had memorized her lines beautifully. So well, in fact, that she couldn't answer the moderator's questions (or some of Biden's) as they were given because she was being forced into unrehearsed territory.

She was very good at redirecting the flow back to her rehearsed lines, sometimes going off on completely different tangents from the subject or heading back to repeated dialogue and the "maverick" and "hockey mom" mantras when the questions didn't go her way or when her opponent turned questions back on her. It was very reminiscent of George W. Bush, actually, very good at dodging the point or distracting from inconvenient truths.

It became painfully clear that the wheels of substance came off almost immediately. She has no idea what she's talking about. Her "sudden knowledge" was entirely flimsy, especially after her TV interviews last week. She sounded like an over-eager high schooler who has memorized her part for the play. You can't fake real knowledge, genuine understanding. Palin's part in the "debate" and her faked comprehension was laughable. I don't buy it, not by a long shot. Reasonable, intelligent people on Main Street are shaking their heads right now going, "no way." You can't wink your way to the White House.

I conclude that she makes an excellent cheerleader but would be a disaster in the White House. She is the exact opposite of Joe Biden in the most important ways: She flatly lacks the experience, comprehension, and wherewithall to step into the Vice Presidency of the United States or the Presidency of the United States.

[Orn R. Critter]

Palin repeated the same grammatical error that she made in the Couric interview, when discussing global warming. She said again that she didn't think it was right to blame all human activity on climate change, instead of vice versa. She rolled her eyes afterwards, but it was too late.