How Palin can "win" next week's debate

[LiveLiberally]

I posted this on another thread, but I'm really curious whether anyone thinks this scenario is implausibly plausible -- particularly given that McCain has made implausible stunts his modus operandi in this campaign. It's the staged "emergency" scenario with a twist...

Palin Debate Strategy:

Monday/Tuesday: family emergency or state "crisis" calls Palin back to Alaska

Wednesday: fate of the debate in doubt as MSM quietly murmurs deja vu, but not too loudly because of fears of appearing insensitive

Thursday: emergency NOT resolved 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 during most of debate, but brilliantly showcases her moose-hunting mettle. 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

Big Plus of Strategy: It doesn't matter what Biden says. You can't outflank the sympathy vote.

[Riddler]

1. Her 3 interviews she's done have been so bad, and the expectations so low,

that if she merely shows up and puts 2 coherent sentences together back to back the media will say she won.

[napi21]

3. The coherent sentence is THE PROBLEM! N/T

[nam78_two]

8. Lol-so true

She stumbles on saying "caricature" ferchrissake...I think the Repukes are probably worried about some major fuck-up like saying Italy is the capital of Russia or something. Seriously, the woman comes across as incredibly stupid...

[LiveLiberally]

5. I'm thinking they need more than that...

too many conservatives (like Kathleen Parker) have declared her unqualified for her to get by with a Qualyesque performance. (If she could manage that based on the interviews.) They have to recapture somehow the initial "gee, wow" reaction to her by neo-cons & I'm thinking nothing works better than a determined-to-not-blink damsel in distress. Horribly sexist, but right in line with how they've paraded her about thus far.

[bulloney]

21. That's basically the strategy they used with Bush in his debates with Kerry.

Set the bar low. Express low expectations, then when you can put two words together, HALLELUJAH! Our candidate "won" the debate!

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

45. Like "need some wood?" (Palin to Biden: "need some moose?")

If she mentions "The Internets" during the debate, Repukes will orgasm in celebration.

[napi21]

2. None of that doesn't excuse her from not being able to string together

a coherent sentence! I could see a family emergency canceling the debate completely...although I don't think it would change any minds. Somehow, if they can't figure out how to teach her English grammer between now and next thursday, she's fried!

[LiveLiberally]

10. Good point -- but if they coached her to stick to ...

short, declarative sentences. (e.g. "We can't blink") they might get away with it. My feeling is that they have to create a cover story somehow and I think opting out at this point would be the worst option. It would make it impossible for them to keep her away from the media afterwards & that would lead to more Couric disasters. But if they can create a sympathy vote now, they might be able to keep her to canned speeches until the election.

[WA98296]

4. Only hope: Vulcan mind meld

[A-Schwarzenegger]

6. Send Condi out in a Palin mask.

[napi21]

11. Better idea! They could hire that lady from SNL! Who would know???

A STAND IN! THAT's the answer!!!!!!

[A-Schwarzenegger]

14. Or Palin could just do the debate as stand-up comedy herself.

"Two mooses and Putin walk into a bar."

[ithinkiamaliberal]

36. i'd like to hear the rest of that joke

[A-Schwarzenegger]

38. One moose says to the other, "Where the hell's Palin?"

Putin says, "You fellers are safe for now. I just saw her up on her roof scanning the airspace with a pair of binoculars."

Other moose says, "What's she looking for, you?"

Putin says, "No, the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse to save her from that debate with Biden."

...

It's not funny, but it's awkwardly interesting.

[trueblue2007]

7. but you have to be SUPERMAN / SUPERWOMAN if you're President ... 24/7

you can't break down, cry and throw little baby tantrums

[THUNDER HANDS]

9. Biden could fail to show and I'd still give her a 50-50 shot at winning

[GoesTo11]

12. Don't count your chickens before they hatch

Yes, she's looked foolish on some of these interview questions. But if she manages to just avoid the questions and talk folksy, or if she gets a question about Alaska, she'll show some competence and people who want a narrative about it will rave over her credibility.

She may have the lowest expectations ever now.

[CakeGrrl]

13. Biden gave us a hint about his strategy last night

when he said the conversation he was going to have would be between him and the American people. In other words, it sounds like he's not going to spend any time trying to bash or challenge her so much as he'll simply lay out, by contrast, his policies and his plans for fufilling the role.

Somehow, I don't think she'll measure up if she tries to match him. And good luck to her trying to rebut anything Biden lays out. Any statements he makes are going to be a big, nasty minefield for her to dare to challenge.

[LiveLiberally]

19. I agree with you. If Biden is aggressive AT ALL

it will create a sympathy vote for Palin irrespective of how she responds. (This is irrational and sexist, but that's the politics we're stuck with) Having a substantive conversation with the American people (similar to the Town Hall's he's been hosting) is I think the best approach for Biden. It still plays to his strengths and avoids any direct confrontation with Palin. And her best strategy is probably to attempt the same. Which means that whatever happens, next week's event will bear very little resemblance to a "debate."

[Cosmocat]

34. I have been saying that all along ...

I basically described how Biden would be as how BO was last night - gentlemanly and statesmanlike.

I think he will be VERY nice to her, and in the same way as it played out last night, HER personality will turn people off, and obviously, even more than McCain, people will be horrified by her lack of preparedness.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

28. I predict that Biden will go after McCain and Bush, not Palin

As an Alaska Governor for less than two years, Palin has almost nothing for Biden to go against. He will direct his comments to McCain and Bush and probably ignore Palin and her positions. I predict that every time Palin mentions her usual talking points about the bridge to nowhere, her so-called expertise in energy issues and oil, and her reformist agenda, that Biden will frame the issues as ones involving the Bush failed policies and the threat that McCain (not Palin) will be simply more of the same.

[HughMoran]

15. You mean "lame" excuses to try to win sympathy

That's a pathetic scenario - you're WAY over thinking this.

We would be wise not to underestimate her, but any attempt to seek sympathy or otherwise distract from the debate would be laughed at after her bizarre performance w/Couric.

[LiveLiberally]

22. I hope you are absolutely right about this...

and I would have agreed completely a week ago -- before McCain pulled his "suspending the campaign" stunt. Its intent was transparently obvious AND yet the MSM generally felt obligated to not only give it credence but to spin all sorts of ways in which McCain could use it to his political advantage. The fact that it WAS a brazen political stunt seemed somehow secondary.

And lest we forget, picking Palin in the first place was a bizarre and shameless ploy for support. They are perfectly capable of another, particularly if the alternative is as potentially disastrous as Palin's initial interviews suggest.

Again, I hope you are right. And I agree that we shouldn't underestimate her.


**Edited for typo

[SuperTrouper]

16. Just by showing up she wins

[FatDave]

24. No, she probably loses by showing up.

Couple days ago I brought up cost vs. benefit analysis in regards to McCain showing up. The cost of missing the debate (looking weak and frightened) outweighed the benefit (avoiding a losing performance).

With Palin, the cost of looking weak and frightened is probably preferable to the massive humiliation she would likely suffer in the debate. This woman couldn't handle answering softball questions she had been given in advance.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

17. What was Palin's act in the special talent part of her beauty contest competition?

Twirling ignited batons? Singing? Doing somersaults? Riding a moose across the stage? I think she should brush up on her old act and stun the debate audience. No one will be able to concentrate on what Biden says after that.

[nini]

18. We don't need a mom.. we need someone who can lead the country if need be

The party loyal may buy this shit but those people suffering under the W regime won't be fooled.

[LiveLiberally]

26. You've hit the nail on the head...

The best they can do by generating sympathy for Palin at this point is hold on to their base. Unfortunately, I think there is a segment of the American public (a minority I sincerely hope, but they are not all neo-cons and evangelicals) who don't want to view Palin through the lens of rationality. As long as her incapacity to be POTUS can be obscured, excused away, or ignored, they will buy into the manufactured maverick image.

[ORDem]

20. I seriously think McCain's campaign will have to accept that making Palin a no-show is less damaging

than letting her debate Biden. Biden, I hope, will just let her shoot herself in the foot. He doesn't need to be overly aggressive, just let her talk.

[DebJ]

23. with the baby on her hip

[StopTheNeoCons]

25. THIS WOULD BE A LOSS FOR PALIN

If she doesnt have time and ability to debate, SHE WONT HAVE TIME TO WORK FOR OUR COUNTRY WHEN THE TIME COMES, SHE'LL RUN HOME TO HER FAMILY

[LiveLiberally]

30. Good point -- if it's family oriented it would have to be truly serious....

which would be very hard to manufacture. Which is why a "wag the dog" scenario involving a crisis in Alaska would work better. Only trouble there is that it is just TOO reminiscent of what McCain did this past week. Campaign not going well, polls heading south, so let's retreat to work on our "real" responsibilities....

You're probably right -- this scenario might be too implausible even for McCain & Co. But I still think they need a game-changer and if it's humanly possible they will manufacture one. It is not enough for Palin to simply exceed the abysmally low expectations. A wise, rational, temperamentally-suited-to-be-President candidate would acknowledge this & make the best of the cards they've got. But McCain is none of the above and clearly doesn't believe in ever holding 'em or folding 'em.

[mscuedawg]

27. The undecideds from last nights debate...leaning towards Obama...

tell me that alot depends on HOW the person presents, carries, and "behaves" themselves. When Palin gets "stuck" on a question (as she did w/all of her interviews thus far), she's like a moose in headlights and comes up with some whackjob comment. THAT will speak volumes AGAINST her... I'm counting on undecideds here too...these Sarah lovers from day one are hopeless (most that I hear like Palin more than McCain...hurl) ...the rest of us that roll our eyes at her vile...that's one aspect that what will win it for Biden...

[LiveLiberally]

31. I think you're right. Politically it is the undecideds who matter...

and they are unlikely to give Palin a pass for any reason. But IF they can coach Palin to stick to short, declarative statements (no matter how devoid of substance), they might quell the groundswell of conservative criticism that could lead the remaining neo-cons with a conscience to sit this election out....

[ladywnch]

29. it didn't play for McCain, why would it play for Palin? n/t

[LiveLiberally]

32. But didn't the ploy play for McCain in some ways?

I agree he ultimately couldn't assume the mantle of the knight in shining armor who saves the taxpayer from a Congress playing too loose with the public's money....

BUT he did dominate the news cycles from Wednesday onwards. It was all about what McCain could/would/should do on a subject (the economy) in which he has done very little and about which he knows even less. And I think Obama treated McCain with kid gloves on this issue in the debate last night.

[ladywnch]

35. I don't know that he 'dominated' the news cycle.....most of the news

cycles talked about what a cowardly ploy it was. I know that supposedly any press is good press, even bad press but I think it hurt him going into the debates. He was basically being called a coward going into the debates and I think it hurt him. I think it set him behind in people's minds. so, I don't see a similar ploy benefiting Palin at all.

[rvablue]

33. This is the only plausible strategy that I've seen so far.

I've just been completely befuddled on how they are going to put her out on that stage.

On the other hand, cancelling will seem transparent and will enrage the college where it's taking place.

You may have something here, although I wish you hadn't posted it. The trolls might bring this to someone's attention....

[msallied]

37. She's a media joke. Believe me, anything she does at this point will be viewed

as a political stunt.

[Hansel]

39. Duct tape? n/t

[TheCoxwain]

40. She will wear a very Short Skirt and try to distract Biden

[spanone]

41. he'll be called a sexist for being smarter than her

[opihimoimoi]

42. She gonna get a Midnight Lobotomy...and plead NO BRAINs Left

[barack the house]

43. I don't think you meant it badly but why do we post potential ideas for them ??????>

If there are suggestions please send them to Barack not Palin. Please.

[LiveLiberally]

48. Actually, I think it is good that these ideas get tossed about!

They lose the element of surprise and we are all prepared to hold them accountable for whatever stunt they try to pull. Forewarned is forearmed....

[and-justice-for-all]

44. The only way she even has a chance...

is if she has a ear piece so someone can give her proper answers.

McInsane lied how many times? at least 5, falin's lies will be even more visible.

[galaxy21]

46. Joe has to be extremely careful

He can't laugh or look like he doesn't take her seriously.

Although, if she's anything like she was in the Couric interview, he might have a tough time keeping a straight face.

[A-Schwarzenegger]

47. How about if she gets tooken up by a alien shapeship on the way to the debate

and then the next day the aliens spoo her back down & the campaign
goes on, ipso facto.

[LiveLiberally]

50. LOL....

But seriously, I saw a poll a few months back that said 8% of Americans believe Bush is an alien. I'm now convinced that 8% of Americans will believe just about anything...

[renie408]

49. Have Todd hit Biden in the knee with a pipe right before he is supposed to go on? n/t

[LiveLiberally]

52. Ok -- that takes the cake...

:rofl: :hi:

[msanthrope]

51. Maybe she'll get Raptured...n/t