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Rita

margarita brocolia
Dec 1, 2004
5,207
1,634
Dune Allen Beach
Some info and advice from a Republican member of Alaska?s House of Representatives for Joe Biden.


WHAT IT'S LIKE TO DEBATE SARAH PALIN
I know firsthand: She's a master of the nonanswer.
By Andrew Halcro

ANCHORAGE, ALASKA - When he faces off against Sarah Palin Thursday night, Joe Biden will have his hands full.
I should know. I've debated Governor Palin more than two dozen times. And she's a master, not of facts, figures, or insightful policy recommendations, but at the fine art of the nonanswer, the glittering generality. Against such charms there is little Senator Biden, or anyone, can do.
On paper, of course, the debate appears to be a mismatch. .............................

On April 18, 2006, Palin and I sat together in a hotel coffee shop comparing campaign trail notes. As we talked about the debates, Palin made a comment that highlights the phenomenon that Biden is up against.
"Andrew, I watch you at these debates with no notes, no papers, and yet when asked questions, you spout off facts, figures, and policies, and I'm amazed. But then I look out into the audience and I ask myself, 'Does any of this really matter?' " Palin said.
While policy wonks such as Biden might cringe, it seemed to me that Palin was simply vocalizing her strength without realizing it. During the campaign, Palin's knowledge on public policy issues never matured ? because it didn't have to. Her ability to fill the debate halls with her presence and her gift of the glittering generality made it possible for her to rely on populism instead of policy. ............

So what does that mean for Biden? With shorter question-and-answer times and limited interaction between the two, he should simply ignore Palin in a respectful manner on the stage and answer the questions as though he were alone. Any attempt to flex his public-policy knowledge and show Palin is not ready for prime time will inevitably cast him in the role of the bully.

http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/1001/p09s01-coop.html


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Alicia Leonard

SoWal Insider
I have a sneaking suspicion she may do better than anticipated. I don't know why, I just have a gut feeling. Making people think she under par and then her coming out swinging at the debate would be looked upon as a home run and eclipse anything Biden had to say.

The non-answer thing seems to be the way she handles interviews. She wouldn't answer Couric on which papers she reads.
 

Cheering472

SoWal Insider
Nov 3, 2005
5,295
354
I have a sneaking suspicion she may do better than anticipated. I don't know why, I just have a gut feeling. Making people think she under par and then her coming out swinging at the debate would be looked upon as a home run and eclipse anything Biden had to say.

The non-answer thing seems to be the way she handles interviews. She wouldn't answer Couric on which papers she reads.

I've said this all along. She's not as stupid as she comes across in some interviews. She's poised, likeable, and charismatic. Many people will overlook when she gives half an answer or a pre-scripted answer. She'll do fine even if she flubs up an answer.
 

traderx

Beach Fanatic
Mar 25, 2008
2,133
467
Both Biden and Palin will likely do fine. I hope so because we need more confidence in our leaders, not less. But don't count Joe out on gaffes. He does not need very long to provide his own non-answers.


Q: Sen. Biden, what could the federal government have done to save those kids at Virginia Tech?

A: What they could have done is three things.

1. In the so-called Biden crime bill, we put 100,000 cops on the street. I've worked with law enforcement for the past 30 years, with armor-piercing bullets, waiting periods, etc. But the one thing that's clear: We should not have let the assault weapons ban lapse.

2. We should close this so-called gun show loophole, so you can't go into a gun show and buy a gun that you couldn't buy walking into a gun shop.

3. We have let the country down in the way in which we have not focused on mental illness. We should know that your kid is safe at college. If teachers determine that a child is a danger, the school should be able to take them off the campus.

South Carolina 2007 Democratic primary debate, on MSNBC Apr 26, 2007
 

shellak

Beach Fanatic
Jan 21, 2008
309
162
i don't find her likable at all. i know she isn't qualified to be v.p. or pres or possibly governor of any state - wasilla mayor maybe - but someone likable to me is someone i would want as a friend. no thank you. i like my women friends to be well read and intellectually challenging.
 

Bdarg

Beach Fanatic
Jul 11, 2005
341
200
Point Washington
I have a sneaking suspicion she may do better than anticipated. I don't know why, I just have a gut feeling. Making people think she under par and then her coming out swinging at the debate would be looked upon as a home run and eclipse anything Biden had to say.

The non-answer thing seems to be the way she handles interviews. She wouldn't answer Couric on which papers she reads.


The term "Sneaking suspicion" made me think of Bush's 2004 debate controversy over the square lump in his jacket and whether he wore a wire or not.
 

elgordoboy

Beach Fanatic
Feb 9, 2007
2,507
888
I no longer stay in Dune Allen
i don't find her likable at all. i know she isn't qualified to be v.p. or pres or possibly governor of any state - wasilla mayor maybe - but someone likable to me is someone i would want as a friend. no thank you. i like my women friends to be well read and intellectually challenging.
Not me! :rotfl:
 

30A Skunkape

Skunky
Jan 18, 2006
10,314
2,349
55
Backatown Seagrove
The term "Sneaking suspicion" made me think of Bush's 2004 debate controversy over the square lump in his jacket and whether he wore a wire or not.

That was a pocket sized nu-que-ler football, nothing more. You never know when you might need to wipe someone off the face of the Earth.
 

NoHall

hmmmm......can't remember
May 28, 2007
9,032
996
Northern Hall County, GA
Yeah, let's go. I am getting tired of that tofu and fair trade kool-aid at the Democrat meet ups.

(*snort*) :rotfl:

I want to figure out how to watch the VP debate with closed captioned enabled- her voice is too distracting.

But is it possible to enable the closed captioning? Or is it something I have to sign up and pay for? I would pay.

My very old plain t.v. does it...If it doesn't have a caption or CC button on the remote, look in the menu button. If that fails, call your teenager in. (They can do anything with electronics.)
 
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