How Sarah Palin blew it (Salon)

[kpete]

Friday October 3, 2008 10:03 EDT
How Sarah Palin blew it

Joe Biden and Sarah Palin were talking to two different Americas Thursday night. Actually, that's unfair to Joe Biden; he was trying to talk to everyone. I can say for certain, though, that Sarah Palin was talking to -- and winking at -- her own private Idaho, and for long stretches of the debate, it was an unnerving experience.

.....................

There were two key moments for me when Sarah Palin blew it badly. One was substantive, one was symbolic. The substantive was her bizarre statement about being happy that Dick Cheney had expanded the powers of the vice-presidency, and wanting to expand the powers more. I think that's what she said, it was one of many moments I didn't entirely understand her point, but I got her overall meaning. Biden came back with a decisive: "Vice President Cheney has been the most dangerous vice president in American history," and he defended the existing limits on vice-presidential power. Point: Biden. Big time.

The symbolic moment Palin flubbed was subjective, of course. But I instant-messaged a friend that she lost the debate when Biden choked up over losing his wife and child in a car accident in which his sons were critically injured -- and she went straight back into "John McCain is a maverick." I truly expected her to express human sympathy with Biden, and her failure to do so showed me something deeply wrong with her. But maybe that's just me.

more at:
http://www.salon.com/opinion/walsh/election_2008/2008/10/03/palin_flubs/

[Bread and Circus]

1. My sense is that over time this debate will further turn women OFF to Palin

Women are their own harshest critics. In this case, rightfully so. Biden showed realness. Palin was an act, and an insensitive one to boot. Women will continue to register this.

[mscuedawg]

2. So is there any backlash to Palin being condescending??? Biden behaved.....

[Psst_Im_Not_Here]

12. CNN had undecideds from Ohio on their meter

split between men and women. Palin did get some women at times but, the women on the meter really liked them some Joey.

[mediaman007]

3. That's what happens when you concentrate on note cards and don't listen

to your opponent. I doubt that she even heard what he said.

[opihimoimoi]

8. Apathy....many Pubs are like that ...self centered and apathetic

[tblue]

4. She did lose the debate for that reason: No heart.

[TxBlue]

23. Between wanting to be more Cheney & trotting out her poor baby late at night

in a very bright, loud room with lots of germs for a immune compromised baby.
criminal.

No heart, indeed.

[Doremus]

31. Don't forget about pawning it off on the 7yo to walk around with it like a sack of flour.

[old guy]

5. Sociopath?

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

9. No doubt.

[quiet.american]

22. That's my take. And it's no more attractive in a woman than a man.

Her eyes give her away. No soul. Not an ounce of compassion, love, kindness or empathy. But she sure can mimic what she thinks that's supposed to look like.

A pale imitation is no match for the real thing when you're standing right next to it. Biden tonight was like a warm, fluffy, comforting blanket. Palin was like someone standing next to me pounding on a sheet of metal with a hammer.

[Tigress DEM]

6. Carribou Barbie does not have a sympathy chip.

[Glenda]

29. LOL! Carribou Barbie

:rofl:

[rocktivity]

7. No offense, Salon, but to make a long story short

We've got ourselves a REAL "Dean Scream!" Her last chance to come across as serious and credible, and she WINKS it away? Let's BURY her with it!!!

:headbang:
rocknation

[RagAss]

11. What is that a fucking tick?

[BlooInBloo]

13. Methinks that picture will be played everywhere ad nauseum.

[FatDave]

15. Not only the winking, she was trying to flirt with the audience.

She'd tilt her head down slightly and make goo-goo eyes at the camera. It was pathetic and phony. I wouldn't have bought it if she was across the table from me. I wouldn't have thought "hey, this lady likes me," I would've thought "she's being conniving."

[Swamp Rat]

19. You would have "bought it?"

:D :hi:

[FatDave]

20. Oh, HELL no!

I wouldn't even have sold it.

[Danascot]

25. Wow! Fantastic work, Swamp

You creeped me out AGAIN!

... and welcome back. We really missed you when you were away.

[jazzjunkysue]

28. Ahhhhh!!!

:scared:

[MindMatter]

16. Now the left side of HER face is falling off too. Did she catch the McCain disease?

[yowzayowzayowza]

21. Tina Fey is gunna have a field day with the wink! n/t

[The_Casual_Observer]

10. No different than a pushy bullshit Avon lady.

What's so unique about palin?

[casus belli]

14. She was too busy remembering her talking points to be real. n/t

[intheflow]

17. The whole "maverick" line rings hollow when she praises Cheney.

WTG, Sarah. Way to distance your ticket form the Bush White House. :eyes:

[Usrename]

18. That was pretty jarring.

The way she kept up with her "maverick" talking points when Joe was talking about parenting.

She didn't come across to me as very likable, which will kill them with undecideds. Barbara Bush is more likable. :shudder:

[kikiek]

24. The alarming one for me was the Cheney reference. I was wrong before. She isn't Bush in heels.

She is Cheney in heels and on steroids.

[Kurovski]

26. Very good. K&R. (nt)

[jazzjunkysue]

27. For me, it was her inability to make sense and follow a thought.

She just blathers through her talking points, trying desperately not to leave dead air time.

Her goal was to avoid the 3rd grade blank stare I get when I ask my students, "why are you talking while I'm teaching?"

She dodged the questions, showing that not only is she not ready to be president, she's not even ready to answer the most obvious questions.

She's just not ready.

And the winking was just absurd.

[jeanpalmer]

30. I just watched her response to the question

about the Vice Presidency. She read that word for word from an index card. Go watch it. Either she had the question ahead of time, or it was a canned response given to her by her handlers. How could you anticipate a question about the role of the Vice President. I can see anticipating questions about abortion, Iraq War, etc. etc. But the role of the Vice President? No way, she had that question in advance.