Expectations for tonight's VP Debate

[Paranoid Pessimist]

Semi-progressive pundits on MSNBC such as Keith Olberman and Rachel Maddow (I'm a fan of Keith's and learn stuff from Countdown that I don't hear anywhere else; Rachel's OK -- to much Keith's clone in show style) have been having great fun putting together clip shows with Sarah Palin's "gaffs". They seem smugly assured that SP will reveal herself as the intense clueless crackpot she really is and seal the deal for an Obama-Biden win.

I'm not so sure. The same expectation was in place in the Gore-Bush debate, with Gore having the reputation as a "master debater" (I've heard the same characterization of Biden). He ended up looking foolish, sighing and looking bewildered at his inability to penetrate and expose Bush's self-satisfied incomprehension.

The same thing may will happen to Biden tonight, causing SP to look good to all those millions of Americans who judge by impressions and don't comprehend content. Palin is a powerful media figure. Check out how many women in commercials now resemble her.

If Biden makes her look foolish many Americans will respond sympathetically to her being "picked on," which is how they feel about intelligent well spoken people anyway.

Biden, if he is going to help rather than hurt Obama's chances, is going to have to be very careful how he goes about exposing her opinionated ignorance and self-assured religiosity.

As always, I in my role as Paranoid Pessimist, hope I'm wrong but I expect to see a McCain bounce after tonight's debate unless SP says something that really manages to scare some of those now ready and willing to put McCain in there, that 43% or whatever it is.

[av8rdave]

1. All Biden needs to do is express his positions eloquently and ignore SP

I think she can make an ass of herself with no help at all.

[Jersey Devil]

2. What I expect

Judging by Palin's interviews with Gibson and Couric, she is not capable of demonstrating any knowledge of issues whether domestic or foreign policy. Her answers to Couric literally made me cringe.

So I would expect that she will try to keep her answers as short as possible with absolutely no specifics, just sweeping generalities that remind me of beauty pageant type answers. The longer she speaks on each issue she is asked about the more likely she will be to get in trouble and sound like an idiot. Oh, and of course she will sprinkle in some right wing and evangelical talking points for her homies and zip in some cute zingers against Biden to show everyone how clever she is.

As for Biden, he has to control his tendency to be too verbose, keep his answers relatively short but inject them with specifics that demonstrate a deep understanding of each issue. If she snarks him he should snark back but only mildly, nothing that makes him look mean.

[MN Treehugger]

3. Joe's no idiot - he's been preparing

And I think both he and the campaign are well aware of what his limitations/vulnerabilities are. I suspect that Mooselini won't make quite as big of an ass of herself as we'd like but I also think that Joe will be more than ready for her.

[timber84]

4. You post lives up to your DU name!

:hi:

[SuperTrouper]

5. Let Sarah hang herself. She has a high bar to clear, not a low bar like some pundits claim

[onecent]

6. I want to know why people think he should treat Palin any different

than he would Hilary. But IF he makes one mistake they will crucify Biden.

Oh, I know that's not going to happen...that he would treat her as he would Hilary, but I think the tv anchors should ask tha question just once on television.

Bident is a fantastic speaker, I think.

[cynatnite]

7. Expectations are so low that Palin will do okay and everyone will rave about her...

not Biden.

The whole after-debate discussion will be totally about her and how she didn't blow it...which will mean she wins.

I've got several barf bags on standby.

[Window]

8. Exactly. Although I hope she looks just as stupid as did in her interviews with Katie.