Call me a concern troll if you must, but now I am worried...

[Bicoastal]

...about this coming week's VP debate.

STOP LAUGHING!

Sure, I'm concerned that Joe will get called on every single tiny error next week, whether factual or body language oriented in nature. And if he makes none--which is possible, even probable--the press will probably invent one.

And sure, Miss Sarah, on the other hand, will be complimented for knowing what the capital of Georgia is, or being able to explain what a balanced budget is, or just for being so gosh darn cute.

But what I'm REALLY worried that she'll come armed to the teeth with pre-planned below-the-belt insults, and the press will count each one as a win, even if they're not especially based in fact. Joe Biden is in a tough position, in that he can't really hit back without coming off as a sexist bully--remember all the flack Obama got for the innocuous "You're likable enough, Hillary?" This is a million times more dangerous, because Sarah Palin is a million times more fragile than Hillary.

So on Friday, will Biden be mocked for being a timid pushover, while Palin is praised for being "spunky" and "a fighter?" Remember, in a VP debate, facts are probably the LEAST important thing people will be looking at--it's all about perception and spin.

Your thoughts?

[MadBadger]

1. Nope, I think he'll ignore her and attack John McCain

her lack of expertise on foreign policy will be stunning.

[emilyg]

2. Which Georgia.

:silly:

[MadBadger]

7. We must Protect Atlanta when Putin rears his head.

[emilyg]

19. I'll put up with him if he brings us gas.

[barack the house]

3. Once again if they weren't thinking of this tactic they are now. Why give 'em ideas ???

[barack the house]

6. Give the ideas to our guys not them. It's great inventive thinking but let it work for us.

[Bicoastal]

11. Look, if McCain's people are reading these boards, which I doubt they are, but if that's true...

...it stands to reason that Obama's people are too. Which side knows the Internets better, anyway?

Besides, if I thought of it, it's hardly the most original thought in the bunch.

[barack the house]

36. Ok, but surely you can email the idea direct to Obama than put out ideas to the ether. McCain camp>

doesn't have to directly read DU. Word can get passed on by anyone really.

[Bicoastal]

10. OF COURSE THEY'RE THINKING OF THIS TACTIC!! Did you not see her speech at RNC?

It was full of nasty, mean comments about Obama and Biden--one was about community organizers, remember--and the press LOVED her for it!

[QC]

20. Do you honestly think that McCain's operatives come here for strategy?

Of course, it could explain why they are running such an incompetent campaign, I guess.

[BumRushDaShow]

45. Actually, the fact that they put out those nonsensical Paris Hilton and Moses ads

should be a hint that McLame's strategists apparently do hang out in freeperland. :rofl:

[d_b]

4. If McCain camp's strategy

is for her to be a bitch, she's fair game. Period. I mean how sexist would it be for Joe Biden to treat her with kid gloves? Seems condescending to me.

[Bicoastal]

13. Good point. That's good strategy, actually.

If she mentions Rezko, hit back with Keating 5. If she mentions Rev. Wright, mention her crazy witch-cursing, tongues-talking, Jew-hating church. If she says Michelle's un-American, say at least she had the good sense to never join a state party whose primary ambition is to secede from the United States. And it'll seem perfectly fair.

Be as nasty as she is--or, as nice. Match arrows with arrows, never more, never less.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

5. Biden's been around for a long time...

I think he and his team are well aware of the pitfalls and will deal successfully with them...

Try not to worry!

Especially since it's something you have zero control over...

:hi:

[amborin]

8. i am now worried about the bailout

it could be a trap for dems

[casus belli]

9. He'll hit hard but respectfully. No worries. n/t

[RichGirl]

27. He has already said.

He will not direct anything toward her. He's there to make his case. Anyone who thinks that he will in anyway attack her is mistaken. He'll point out disagreements with issues.

[casus belli]

32. He said, as I recall...

that he would not be condescending to her in the same way that McCain was to Obama. That doesn't mean he won't hit hard on issues and highlight inaccuracies in her statements.

I think you are right though, I doubt he takes any swipes at her directly at all, but I can't see him letting false or inaccurate statements stand without rebuttal. The best approach he could possibly take is showing his expertise while allowing her to display her lack of the same with her own words. Ultimately he won't need to do anything to expose her for what she is.

[Davis_X_Machina]

12. Bubbles don't un-pop..

...Palin will never see the sunny side of fav/unfav again.

[Clio the Leo]

16. oh, I'm stealin' that one! NT

[Clio the Leo]

14. Rest assured that Joe is more than capable of handling this.....

... He's smart and he's been around. It's a lethal combination.

Know what the difference between Joe Biden and a pit bull is? .......... well, a more advanced brain ..... but after that, not much really.

[DiamondKrosse]

15. at least its early

in that there's still a month after the debate until election day. The debate will get a ton of buzz and high ratings because of Palin. Obama's just gotta make McCain look dumb the next two times and hopefully, enough people will forget her to win Obama the White House

[RichGirl]

17. The public has seen Palin babbling incoherantly...

...appearing totally unqualified. The public, especially the republicans are losing their patience with her. I don't think they want a repeat of her snarky routine from the convention. She has to prove that she can be dignified and presidential, informed, intelligent, etc. She has to do more than supply SNL with material.

I also don't think anyone counts insults as a win. Nobody likes to hear insults. The way McCain didn't look at Obama and kept saying he didn't understand, was insulting. It didn't count as a win for McCain.

[Stop Cornyn]

18. You are right. The media was report that Biden "wasn't all that" and will make a huge issue of some

small gaffe of Biden's and the media will talk about the "good ol' Sara Barracuda" from the Repub convention showed up at the debate, erasing many people's doubts (but only because the expectations are now so low that she merely has to maintain bowel and bladder continence throughout the debate and she'll beat expectations).

BUT BUT BUT this will not make one iota of difference because the race is about Obama vs. McCain.

[RichGirl]

25. I wouldn't worry about Biden at all.

He may have a slip of the tongue once in a while, but they're never a big deal, especially since they are almost expected and part of his charm.

I think the public sees Palin as a cariacuture(sp?) ...like Tina Fey. Unless she can come off as very serious and intelligent that image will be with her. It's like when you have a friend who's funny. They don't even have to say anything...a facial expression can make you laugh. She's comedy...it'll be hard to change that in the public mindset.

[Stop Cornyn]

34. I don't "worry about Biden" because the VP debate won't have any effect on the outcome of the race,

but I am prepared for him to say something stupid and the media to fixate on it, whereas Palin will say reams of nonsense, and the media will say she "held her own." But I'm not the least bit worried about it.

[Jennicut]

21. Is it me or is this gonna be the most bizarre VP debate ever?

First of all there is a very experienced 65 year old man going up against a very inexperienced 44 year old woman. We have only seen a woman debate a man once before in presidential politics and that was in 1984. I was 9 and don't remember it! Then there is Palin's irritating Fargo accent. There is her penchant for nastiness and her airheaded stupidity about well everything. There is the concern over sexism but the woman can barely hold her own with Katie Couric. Weird, very weird. I think Joe will fight back on her nasty comments and attack her positions but he won't be a jerk like McTroll. He even mentioned how he won't be like John to Faux news causing them to be in utter silence.

[BumRushDaShow]

46. Hillary was in 22 debates vs men this past year.

And Biden participated in a bunch of those. If anything, how the moderator handles it will make a difference.

[TwilightGardener]

22. Agreed--Biden is in a no-win here. He has all the expectations, all the risk--

the bar for him is high, the bar for her is on the floor, and there's no upside to debating for him, really. I'd rather there WAS no VP debate, in fact, because of the risks facing Biden. She will have people feeling sorry for her, rooting for her, sympathizing with her. Every time she throws a punch at one of "the old boys", people will cheer for her, because she's a girl and a rookie. I still remember how Hillary would use that "I'm your girl, fighting against the boys" stuff in debates, to good effect. He won't be able to hit back very hard, if at all--no matter what people say. I am glad the debate is structured so that there is little give-and-take between Biden and Palin--the Obama camp knows that Biden wouldn't do well with a lot of latitude in this case. Best Biden can do is punch McCain, avoid looking patronizing or arrogant toward Palin, avoid talking too much (ESPECIALLY about himself--he's there to sell Obama primarily), and know Obama's record and be able to recite Obama's accomplishments, while minimizing any disagreement between himself and Obama.

[ailsagirl]

24. She is the underdog but not deserving of anyone's sympathy

I can't help it-- I find her disgusting. :puke:

[Yanez Houston Jordan]

29. True; when Biden said "when the stock market crashed, Franklin D Roosevelt got on the television..."

I was reminded why Biden did as poorly as he did during the primaries.

No one who reads the transcript will doubt he won, but he's say enough small things that are boneheaded and she will be sufficiently nonspecific in her non-rehearsed attacks that she will be widely declared the winner.

[RichGirl]

31. I don't think the expectations thing will apply to her.

You have to understand that there has NEVER ever been anyone running for a high office who came off as ignorant as she. She is scary! People are very worried that we might have a VP who is totally unqualified. It's even more important for her because of McCains age and health. I think people will be hyper critical of her because they have to be. They don't want her to just be okay or do better, they are going to want to see real and solid proof that she can handle the job. Biden is one of the most articulate speakers we have. The contrast between the two will be glaring.

[tpi10d]

23. Biden can hit hard

against McCain and Bush...which are the high priority targets. He doesn't have to hit Palin.

I'd bet on this debate going very well for Obama-Biden. But if it doesn't, VP debates are not usually game changers.

Recall the disastrous (for the Rs) Bentzen-Quayle debate in '88. Quayle looked like the idiot he is. Bush still won the election.

[ailsagirl]

26. Or Biden may be crafty enough to realize all he needs to do is

give *her* enough rope to hang herself and sit back and enjoy.

[americanstranger]

28. I think Biden will be gracious, respectful and amiable.

And he will decimate her with a smile on his face.

Palin will get nasty, guaranteed. And we all saw how well that worked for McCain.

Biden's done this plenty of times before. Try not to worry so much. Palin is nothing but a speed bump on the road to the White House.

- as

[eshfemme]

30. Here's some video to reassure you about Joe here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JRiWazVoNQ (Part 1)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2ut1ui-Xm8 (Part 2)

Pretty good preview of how Joe's gonna go. I think Bill Maher's nickname for Joe is deserved here :) I can't wait to see Joey the Shark against Sarah the Pitbull with Lipstick.

[JI7]

33. VP debate rules do not allow them to address each other

i think that's one of the rules the McCain camp wanted and got. but i think this will actually make it easier on Biden as he wont have to worry about how he comes off when speaking to her. his answers will be directed at the moderator or cameras.

[Butch350]

35. If women want to play the game....

and be treated equal as men, and especially if one has the chance to be presidentof the most powerful country on earth - the United States of America - than women should stop yelling
sexism when they dealt a blow below the belt! Do you think terrorists would honor your resentment
of sexism? Joe Biden should expose Sarah Palins incompetence any way he can!

[cemaphonic]

37. Here's the thing though - the press is not in the tank for Team McCain.

Bush and Rove were very good about cultivating the media, both in terms of personal relationships, and trading access for favorable coverage. This used to be true of McCain as well, which is a big part of his 'maverick' reputation and indie cred, but for some reason, he has been hiding from the press lately. And Palin is even worse, since she is not only hiding, but was openly insulting the press in her convention speech.

[Stop Cornyn]

38. I couldn't disagree more. The press are "in the tank" for a close horse race lasting 36 more days.

At this moment, that means not letting Obama pull away by too much.

[regnaD kciN]

39. I think the strategy will be the same as Poppy Bush used against Ferraro...

In other words, ignore her, and carry out a hatchet job on McCain.

And when she comes to McCain's defense, attack McCain even more.

And when she attacks Obama, treat it as if McCain has attacked Obama, and respond to him rather than her.

It's the strategy Bush used, and he absolutely killed Ferraro with it, as much as I hated to admit it at the time.

[Stop Cornyn]

40. I sincerely hope you're right. Biden's focus should be 100% on McCain and 0% on Palin

[L0oniX]

41. I am concerned about this concern.

[Teaser]

42. excellent expectations lowering

good stuff.

[SurfingAtWork]

43. I agree with you. The bar is so low for her, that short of barfing on herself

Any performance she has will be hailed as an earth shattering win.

[bushisanidiot]

44. I'm just hoping Joe doesn't go overboard with being nice and tries to kiss her on the cheek.

sorry, but I think that cheek kissing thing is just plain stupid. They should all stick with handshakes and a smile... unless they know eachother well and are friends, then showing more PDA might be appropriate.

I think Joe will do a great job. He's a VERY likeable guy and far more "folksy" than Palin is. He just needs to balance hitting Palin with facts and following up with the witty type of comments he's been making in all of his campaign speeches.

Palin will be in big trouble without a teleprompter. That was the only reason she did so well at the convention and her campaign speeches.