Katie Couric, cutthroat journalist

[Wiglaf]

When Biden threatens to shoot Palin and then calls someone a wop bastard on Thursday, Obama might as well concede.

[Wiglaf]

http://michellemalkin.com/2008/09/30/a-debate-%E2%80%9Cmoderator%E2%80%9D-in-the-tank-for-obama/

[-Jrabbit]

Wy would the GOP sit still for that? These things are negotiated to death long in advance for date, time, location, format, podium shape, etc. and presumably, moderator.

[OneFootInTheGrave]

Originally posted by The Emperor Fabulous
OH MY GOD SHE DOES IT AGAIN!

From the interview that keeps on giving:



I'd like to see her supporters spin "What magazines and newspapers did you read?" as a GOTCHA! question.

I have to admit that I perceived Bush as the pinnacle of political humor... but Republicans are doing it again... I'd vote for her just for the show ... she is reality tv at it's best

[Ecthy]

Originally posted by Asher
Paul Giamatti Terrific actor.

Will Ferrell

[Guynemer]

Originally posted by -Jrabbit
Wy would the GOP sit still for that? These things are negotiated to death long in advance for date, time, location, format, podium shape, etc. and presumably, moderator.

Dude, it's Michelle ****ing Malkin; she's like Ann Coulter's mini-me.

[The Emperor Fabulous]

Why Palin is a better debater than you think



Sarah Palin might not give a good interview, and John McCain's advisers might not trust her to give a press conference, but in a highly structured debate like the one we are going to see on Thursday night, she has the ability to be dominant.

Because the format allows for very little give-and-take between Palin and Joe Biden, her "values"-oriented debating style stands a good chance of succeeding. The central feature of her debate style is that rather than getting bogged down in facts and specifics, she instead says what she is for and what she is against using terms like "healthier," "stronger," "more prosperous," and "fairer."

Andrew Halcro, who has debated her, explains his experiences debating Palin:

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.

That sounds like a backhanded compliment, and perhaps it is, but that doesn't change the fact that Palin's debating style works, as you can see for yourself in this video that I edited together.

For the video, I looked at her past debates and randomly grabbed six answers that I thought were pretty good. These weren't cherry-picked answers, they were just the first six answers that I thought she handled effectively. (I only rejected one answer in which I felt she was too defensive about her experience.)



Given the debate's format on Thursday night, I expect Palin will do just fine. I will be quite surprised if she gets caught off guard or has a moose-in-headlights moment.

I don't think she'll display much in the way of specifics, but she will get the values-oriented language right, and that should be good enough at least for a draw, and that will mean she beats expectations.

Of course, the real political issue in the debate isn't whether or not Palin meets or beats expectations, it's whether she is able to make a case for John McCain that John McCain hasn't yet been able to make for himself.

That's something no vice presidential candidate in history has been able to do, and should serve as a reminder that in the end, this election is still between Barack Obama and John McCain.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/01/why-sarah-palin-is-a-bett_n_130742.html

[Zkribbler]

Originally posted by Wiglaf
When Biden threatens to shoot Palin and then calls someone a wop bastard on Thursday, Obama might as well concede.

Don't be ridiculous. Biden has enough experience to know that a Vice President is only allowed to shoot people on his own side.

[Wiglaf]

Originally posted by -Jrabbit
Wy would the GOP sit still for that? These things are negotiated to death long in advance for date, time, location, format, podium shape, etc. and presumably, moderator.

They didn't tell the McCain campaign Ifill was writing a book about how great Obama

[-Jrabbit]

Do you seriously believe the GOP is that unaware of things? They managed to negotiate a debate format that highlights Palin's strengths and maximizes her ability to avoid getting pinned down on in-depth knowledge.

I predict she'll do fine. Which will be considered a victory.

[rah]

Yes, I have to believe that also. Even if McCain didn't have her vetted completely I refuse to believe he didn't watch any video of her prior. If she looked as bad as some of the things we've seen, it should have been obvious. So there must be video of her looking OK.

[Flubber]

Originally posted by Wiglaf
If you ask me "what papers shape my worldview," I don't know what to tell you. I read mein kampf and it taught me stuff, but that's no newspaper. I read the federalist papers in seventh grade and I found them boring but I was attracted to John Adams' views. More recently I use google news. Sue me?

Wiglaf

Your approach in this thread has been almost as laughable as her answer. "All of them"

If Gov Flub were asked his answer would be this

I read the Calgary Sun and Herald for local news and the National Post and Globe and Mail for more of a national perspective. In addition I sometimes read Maclean's, Time, Newsweek, the Economist or the Wall Street Journal and also check web -based news services of the BBC as well as American providers.


But Palin's answer to say "all of them" and then get all defensive about Alaska?? laughable


I'm not that concerned with the US election but as a disinterested party, I find it exceptionally easy to mock Palin (and SNL skits by Tina Fey are gold)

[Flubber]

Originally posted by rah
Yes, I have to believe that also. Even if McCain didn't have her vetted completely I refuse to believe he didn't watch any video of her prior. If she looked as bad as some of the things we've seen, it should have been obvious. So there must be video of her looking OK.

Obviously. wasn't her speech at the convention supposedly very good? When he picked her I thought they had turned the race upside down-- a charismatic attractive well-spoken woman with the right wing credentials McCain lacks-- she initially seemed too good to be true.

Seeing her clips though she seems to lose her way in her answers. While being governor of Alaska may not be great foreign policy experience, there are ways to milk that little in an answer that doesn't spend most of its time pointing out where Alaska is located

An answer like

"While I do not have vast foreign policy experience, serving as governor of Alaska does provide more exposure than one might expect. Bordering two different countries means I have become involved in trade missions and cultural exchanges and have been involved in issues related to internation energy transportation and fisheries matters. IN addition I have been regularly briefed and made aware of national security issues considering Alaska's key location"

etc etc-- I don't know how much of the forgoing would be accurate, I think downplaying her experience a little and then explaining it is far better than making assertions in a fashion to be mocked.

The republicans HAD to know that question was coming and to not have a prepared answer is actually pretty sloppy on their part

[Kidlicious]

Originally posted by Wiglaf
Bush doesn't read newspapers either

[Boris Godunov]

SCOTUS rulings

No comment.