I'm fixing to get flamed for this but get ready for the "family emergency" that causes Palin not to

[ncteechur]

debate.

I predict that it will be something to do with Bristol's "pregnancy."

[KathieG]

1. It wouldn't surprise me at all

[LonelyLRLiberal]

2. or - Sarah could buy a pillow and pretend she is pregnant again - any excuse will do. nt

[trusty elf]

16. .........

[Solomon]

18. Aw shit. That's cold.

LOL

[LonelyLRLiberal]

27. LOL!

[MadMaddie]

3. I agree with you

She is not going to show up

[Miss Chybil]

4. Why would you get flamed? This is DU, not FR. nt

[Bubbha Jo]

5. As sexist as the McCain camp has been, they are crazy enough to try using the PMS card.

[Blondiegrrl]

6. I think they call it "female trouble," LOL. n/t

[billyoc]

7. I would agree, but they already played that card with THIS debate. Spiro Igloo is stuck.

[Mojambo]

8. Goddamn. They COULD do that.

And what possible response could anyone have that wouldn't be viciously attacked by the press and the McCain campaign as over the line?

I guess you could insist on seeing the medical records.

If the McCain camp doesn't try this then they are dumb, because it's a good idea.

[calmblueocean]

9. but... but... she's a MAVERICK!

Palin ain't goin' anywhere, though. McCain might as well take off his pants during the next debate if Palin suddenly drops out, because he'll have lost.

[ncteechur]

13. No, she won't leave the campaign. She just will not debate.

[sunnybrook]

38. you say that but this could actually work for them

This is the party that gets away with murder. If it is portrayed as an emergency of some kind, i.e. with Trig, that is beyond McCain's control, and they spin away, and all of the stupid people in this country that will go for that hook, line, and sinker and then start having the msm talk about how much stronger the ticket is now with Guiliani or whoever... Of course everyone will say he made a mistake by picking Palin, and they will feign outrage at the thought they are concocting this, there is a medical emergency. you never know what could be possible...

[Just-plain-Kathy]

10. The tune of "the rain in Spain falls mainly on the plane", has been in my head for days.

...Older posters will know what that means.

I bet you a gazillion dollars that she is being groomed, and locked and loaded with tons of snappy one liners.

[Bake]

37. I can't imagine Biden letting her get away with that.

If she really tries to get tough with Joe, expecially trying zingy one-liners, Joe has free license to oratorically kick her punk ass. All he's got to do is ask her point-blank, "Is that all you've got? One-liners? Of course that's all you've got."

And he will, I predict.

Bake

[sunnybrook]

39. I think she's got it!

[dmr]

11. I think so too. People have already posted this prediction this week

so we're all thinking alike.

They will surely find a way to keep her from debating. But oh, have I got that evening all planned -- just the anticipation!

:rofl:

[ecstatic]

12. It would be so obvious especially after that editorial

but Palin doesn't exactly seem to have shame... lol... so it's possible.

[Raschel]

14. If she uses anyone it will be the baby.

Nobody will dare to touch that subject.

[Mooney]

47. I expect her to bring the baby to the debate.

How could mean old Joe Biden ask her detailed questions about foreign policy while she's got a tit in Trig's mouth?

Why does Joe Biden hate babies?

[gblady]

15. well, maybe....

McLame could stand in for some "practice"
I'd love to see a Joe/John toe to toe!

[spag68]

17. VP debate

I think it would be fun if they substituted Lieberman for Palin. Biden would tear him apart like a gator on a chicken.

[mucifer]

19. It will happen to steal the thunder when Obama has a big day.

It will ad momentum to mcstupid's campaign and the media will love it. Not call him on it for making bad choices.

[grantcart]

20. that isn't enough to get her out of a debate -- she will have to be hit by a personal

illness.

Here is the problem with her leaving though -- no one will take her place now, atleast no politician - they will have to find a Sargent Shriver type.

[CreekDog]

21. that's okay, Biden would wipe the floor with Romney

only difference is that doing it to Romney, at least Biden will enjoy that.

[delete_bush]

22. I cannot imagine

Palin in a debate format similar to the one this evening. Regardless of what one thinks of McPOW, this debate covered a lot of territory and Lehrer knows his stuff. It would be impossible for her to cram for this, and based on what little we know of her she would be clearly out of her league unless the topic is how to dress a moose or similar. Otherwise she's got nothing but bumper sticker slogans.

I have to think the repukes are trying to find a way to wiggle out of this.

[Imagevision]

23. I hope so, Sarah already has one foot out the door!

[MichaelHarris]

24. The

Northern Lights are broke and she was called back to replace a bulb?

[Bucky]

31. Do you seriously believe...

... that Sarah Palin has any spare light bulbs?

[adamuu]

32. they are energy-saving bulbs. they run on earmarks. n/t

[proud2BlibKansan]

25. Oh I disagree

It won't be Bristol, it will be an emergency involving her baby brother. And who can criticize a mother with a disabled child who needs her?

[krkaufman]

26. That would be just fine with me. ANY failure to show at the debate will not be excused ...

... especially after McCain antics this week.

I think she'll show, and will do remarkably well. It's a different debate format, and she'll mostly be judged on form rather than content.

[Peacetrain]

28. Would not suprise me in the least..

[Tribetime]

29. I agree, she won't debate, she couldn't even be trusted to spin last night

[Bucky]

30. I doubt it.

I think she'll show up and muddle through. It'll be just like Iraq, except only Republican hopes will die.

[amborin]

33. rovian trick: super low expectations, then she does well

don't fall for it

we need to prepare for the worst

by hook or by crook, she might pull it off

and we need to be forwarned and forearmed

[chimpyissatan]

34. It will be Trig's Downs

This will happen, soon. Something to do with Downs Syndrome. Third rail stuff, nobody will dare question it.

[madrchsod]

35. did`t bother her in texas

super moose went into labor,gave her speech,flew back to alaska,then drove an hour or so to the hospital. nothing can stop super moose!

[sunnybrook]

36. not going to flame you

after thinking this would never happen I am starting to think it is coming... especially after that conservative woman wrote the article calling for them to ditch her from the ticket... I am thinking they will wait until within a day or so of debate, and "replace" her with Guiliani or whoever, and thus try to "surprise" Biden, thinking they will ask to reschedule, which I am sure they won't do. She is poison to him right now and it is going to get worse they cannot keep her in an "undisclosed location" forever and she cannot keep doing interviews that show she is an idiot. Alot of people have compared her to Bush, and he is an idiot, but even he had been around national politics, with his father having been President. I am expecting a medical emergency involving her infant....

[rainbow4321]

40. It's gonna have to be a QUICK and really SHORT emergency

Cuz she is due to hit Texas zillionaires In Dallas and I think Houston up for cash the two days following the debate. Can't see her being allowed by McLame's people to miss out on that.

Unless we are looking at a "24 hour flu" deal where Palin or someome in her family gets sick the 24 hours before the debate is due to happen then it goes away at, oh, 11 pm Thursday night!

Probably will be someone in the family, then repukes will say to any criticism or speculation "how could you talk badly about a MOTHER wanting to be with her sick child!"

[davsand]

41. She will show up, manage NOT to fart spasmodically, and be hailed as a winner.

Expectations for her are SO low at this point that if she shows up and strings a couple of words together the media is gonna hold it up as some kind of triumph for her and the rest of the campaign.

Right now, I see this as being an absolute minefield for Biden and Obama, and as much as I appreciate them both I honestly don't know if Biden is gonna come out of the debate in good shape.




Laura

[northernlights]

42. I don't think the bar could possibly be lower

and yet I still think she'll manage not to get over it.

She's flubbed every total softball interview she's had, and even in freeperville there are a few who have admitted it.

While I'd love to see her in last night's format just for the entertainment value, I don't think she can hold up under any format unless they manage either a brain transplant or a spock mindmeld over the next week.

[LiveLiberally]

43. Nope -- that would be too simple & not garner enough sympathy... what about this...

Possible scenario:

Tuesday: family emergency or state "crisis" calls Palin back to AL

Wednesday: fate of the debate in doubt as MSM dumbfoundedly cries deja vu....

Thursday: emergency NOT resolved (in fact worse) but Palin gamely and heroically decides to debate anyway. Arrives just in time. MSP makes much of fact that crisis left her little time to prepare. Appears distracted and disjointed (if not outright incoherent) during most of debate. It is clear that her mind & priorities are elsewhere but she nonetheless perseveres, winning the tender hearts of Americans everywhere, proving yet again that Palin is just another mom, one of us, putting her family and responsibilities first and politics last....

SPIN: Win for Palin

[AnnieBW]

44. Joe should make sure he uses small words

and simple sentences when he debates Miss Mooseburger.

[rvablue]

45. They are going to have to pull something...

Of course, I always knew that debates are hard, but it actually took experiencing it last night to remind me HOW HARD it actually it is even for really seasoned pols like Obama and McCain.

I mean, how in the hell are they going to put her up there. It's going to be ridiculous. And just a huge insult to the American people.

Party of her "gutsy charm" or however it's been put by supporters has to do with her feeding off the blind adulation of the Repub drones cheering for her. I was just in awe of the idea of her debating last night, when you see that basically the candidates are staring out in a dark siletn abyss for an hour and a half. Even during the Charile and Katie interviews, she had her minions there to "protect" her, or whatever.

I'm predicting that if they actually go through with it, I think she's going to pass out.

[Buck Rabbit]

46. They will prep her like crazy and if she still cant do a mock debate

I think that some sort of plan B as you suggest will be implemented.

If she shows up you can expect her to perform ok, having passed her crash coarse in national politics. She already can do the main component of all Republican debaters, condescension, petulance and recitation of sound byte catch phrases. Oh did I mention straight face lying?