Need proof that Palin was on script? Look no further than Joe Biden's emotional response

[TornadoTN]

When Biden was talking about the tragedy that took his first wife and daughter and how horrible it was to face the uncertainty of having lost a spouse, a daughter, and being left with two children who were still fighting for their lives, I fully expected to hear a sad story from Palin about Trig. Or maybe a family member. Perhaps a pet. Something. Anything.

But instead of hearing what any normal, sympathetic human being - be they Republican or Democrat or Independent - would say to that emotional moment, Palin continued to smile. She smiled through the entire response, busily jotting down something on her stack of 3x5 note cards. When it came time for her to respond we weren't greeted with an empathetic being, someone who would offer their respect and then go into something similarly moving or touching. We were greeted with another partisan screed and that hideous smile - seemingly oblivious to what Joe Biden had just related to the American people. She continued on with her speech, never once acknowledging Biden or showing any sense of humanity. We heard more about how she and McCain were a pair of Mavericks, again dodging the original question as she had throughout the debate.

Not only does this prove beyond a doubt that Palin was working from a script - a very limited script - but it also proves that Sarah Palin is void of any sense of decency or humanity. She is oblivious to human emotion or suffering around her. The way she's treated her own children and learning about their "colorful" backgrounds should have been enough to turn anyone away from her without even knowing her politics. But this was a moment that can't be aptly put into words.

[kestrel91316]

1. K&R

[Az_lefty]

2. That was my take also..she's either narcissistic or has borderline personality disorder

[NotThisTime]

5. Agreed....

[sweetpotato]

19. I vote narcissist - she is entitled, dammit!

[rebel with a cause]

24. What about anti-socail disorder?

Another possiblity in my mind. Borderline personality disorder I find harder to put with her. :shrug:

[TornadoTN]

25. Perhaps - she has always been one to operate only within her tight social circle

I think it makes sense. She has had a habit of only hiring from within her circle and essentially shutting everyone else out.

[rebel with a cause]

27. anti-social is actually more in tune with sociopath

and narcissistic disorder. It is one who thinks the world revolves around them, and all that matters is what matters to them. They have little if any conscience and do not sympathize with anyone else. Serial killers are usually suffering from anit-social behavior, but others who suffer from it never get to that point.

Many years ago I was told that my ex husband was suffering from anti-social disorder , I said "Oh no, he has plenty of friends and is always friendly with strangers." The name of the disorder is deceiving. He is a liar and sees things as they affect him. He seems very sympathic at times but if you wait a minute, you will find that in his mind he is connecting what is happening to you to how it could hurt him. He may be marcissistic instead, but he is one of the two.

[Richard Steele]

26. Overall, Palin completely flunked the Turing test last night. nm

[medicswife]

3. Kick!

The only real emotion I saw from her was over the Iraq war. When Biden started challenging the premise of the war and related that litany of areas where McCain was wrong, she was livid. She was extremely pissed off and I think that it was difficult for her to not completely blow her top.

[me b zola]

16. I noticed that too

I was screaming at the tv for Joe to go in for the kill, she was ready to lose it. Of course I understand why Joe didn't, but I'm sure that he was tempted.

[peace13]

4. I felt like her smiling face and note taking was a nod to the voice in her head.

If they talked * through the debates I am certain that she had a wire last night.

[WhiteTara]

20. one shot of her back seemed to show

a transmitter box shape

[Kurovski]

23. I heard that David Letterman made a joke about her being wired last night...

but I'm vague on the details.

[Lancer]

6. You said it very, very well. She has no empathy.

This is a terrifying trait for someone to possess who says she's in this or any endeavour for the "greater good."

[Jackeens]

7. Absolutely brilliant post...

Her inability to respond with any warmth or humanity to Biden's emotion said it all about her - not just that she had memorized a script and couldn't depart from it without hitting the rocks, but that she is so cold and obnoxious his emotion had no impact on her whatsoever.

Your post summed it up, many thanks for it. For me this was the defining moment of the debate.

[davepc]

8. I noticed that when she started speaking he took a half step back from the podium

like he was shocked.

I really think her lack of a human response hit him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pC1W1_sTgFE

[TornadoTN]

10. Who wouldn't?

Normal human beings have some higher brain function that allows them to feel compassion for others. This isn't about her being a Republican or just plain wrong on the issues - it's about her lack of any emotion, compassion or intellectual thought.

I don't blame Joe. If I had poured my heart out to the American people like that - unscripted and spontaneous - and my opponent launched into a political diatribe, I would have been floored by the lack of respect and compassion this person had. If anything Palin should have intriguing story about Trig that she could have relayed, but she just went on with her script. Unbelievable.

[jillan]

29. I saw that too.

It was like he was in complete disbelief that she didn't even give him one second to regain his composure before she started attacking him.

[baldguy]

9. Maybe she's not a normal, sympathetic human being.

[KurtNYC]

11. Clearly she is way over her head

(plastic) Style without substance.

[tblue]

12. That's the moment when Sarah lost America and the election.

To me, this was the defining moment of the debate, starting with Biden's moment of extraordinary candor and vulnerability in describing his family's almost unspeakable tragedy. But then there was Sarah.

Some people won't be able to put their finger on why they can't seem to connect with her. But their hearts know. It's something visceral and profound, and it has already left an indelible mark on the American psyche. This was a HUGE mistake, a HUGE missed opportunity. She won't get another chance like that to show the nation she's got a heart. And nothing, NOTHING she can do will fix that.

[TornadoTN]

14. She equated an unspeakable tragedy with John McCain being a maverick and taking shots

Taking shots from other politicians.

So let me get this straight - Joe Bidens intriguing and heart-wrenching personal tragedy is somehow equatable to John McCain getting flack from other politicians?

Folks - if there's one thing that you can use from last night's debate, this is it.

[rvablue]

13. At minimum

all she had to say was something like, "Senator Biden and I share that in common. A great love and devotion to our kids."
Anything, to just recognzie the moment.
The complete void of any emotional response back was just astounding!

[mtnsnake]

15. Exactly. She had no memorized scripts that could relate to what Biden had just talked about.

Good job, TornadoTN. :thumbsup:

[BumRushDaShow]

17. His brief emotional display took away a whole line of talking points from her

much to her chagrin.

[Schulzz]

18. It was obvious that this were not her own answers - especially on forgein policy. nt

[tilsammans]

21. I think her official debate directive was to . . .

. . . keep talking.

Not to ever to falter, stammer, or look confused. Just keep talking.

Keep to the material she was coached on and stick to the script. When in doubt about the answer to a question, just automatically default to the prep material.

Taking it back to preprogrammed content, which often had little relevance to the topic being discussed.

:puke:

Like a talking doll. Chatty Cathy?

[Kurovski]

22. We've got a woman here who thinks Jesus will fly her to Alaska in his arms

when the *newcular* bombs start to fall.

She's a self-absorbed bible-nut. Biden is...is...(Oh my God) a Catholic! Don't nutcakes like Palin think he worships the very whore of Babylon herself?

He's not even human to her. he's an abstraction when she's focused on her winning. It went over her head.

You're right. the script was everything.

[COLGATE4]

28. Diagnosis - Because she's an asshole

My long distance diagnosis, in the school of "Dr." Bill Frist. BTW, I'm not a doctor - I just play one on Faux News.

[crazylikafox]

30. Makes sense from someone who treats her baby like a sack of potatoes

The first time I saw her with that baby I knew she was a phoney pile of shit

[Terran]

31. Her closing remarks were so obviously recited from memory

it wasn't even funny. "And so in conclusion Gwen..." She sounded like a 7th grader delivering a speech.

[Matariki]

32. Very much like George Bush - a complete lack of human empathy.

nauseating and dangerous.

[FlyingSquirrel]

33. Was her "Michael Dukakis moment" but won't get the same play. n/t

[Disturbed]

34. Gov. Palin is a Sociopath with a Narcistic Personality.

She probably didn't even listen to what Sen. Biden was saying & was preparing to recite her memorized mini-speech. She is vapid. It is disgraceful that she is even in this VP situation.


At the very least, Alaskans need to mount a Recall Petition & toss her out. She is corrupt & inept. The vetting process of her becoming Gov. must have been almost non existent. Her abuses while Gov. have been ignored until recently. The spotlight now has revealed her unethical & perhaps criminal actions as Gov. She screwed up by accepting the VP position that is way beyond her level & has brought about scrutiny of her as Mayor & Gov. She is unfit to be Gov., much less VP or possibly Pres. of the USA.

[LuckyLib]

35. She clearly wasn't listening. At all. She was poised for the next rush of words,

which didn't have to be relevant to the topic or make any sense. No doubt she's strange and disconnected, but this was not a response/debate format: the Repugs had coached her on getting her message out and she was sorting through her cards to make sure she covered every point. What a moran!

[Life Long Dem]

36. She was well rehearsed. And yes, I would say, too well rehearsed.

Almost to the point of sounding like they were canned answers...which is where I get the well rehearsed impression from.

[windoe]

37. Stepford wife from hades

cold, ruthless---and too confident

Obama must win.

[Stand and Fight]

38. Absolutely.

In fact, several of the Republicans I worked with admitted that they felt that was the lowest point of the debate for them. This is definitely a sign that the woman lacks a real human side, and, from a political standpoint, it shows that the McCain kept is not only losing ground, but they're losing support.

[and-justice-for-all]

39. Come to think of it...

she did not even respond to Biden's "Bridge to Nowhere" comment. Being the hot issue it is and how much they have tried to sell that bullshit, you would think she would have given a rebuttal to it, which she did not.

[uppityperson]

40. THANK YOU. The inappropriate smile was so bizarre. I noticed it too, esp at this point.

She is either totally clueless that the world doesn't revolve around her, or truly doesn't care at all about anyone or anything except her own greed for power. That was truly bizarre and a pointed look at her being so out of it. THANK YOU for posting this. It is very good to see others saw this, caught this. I've been posting today about that smile, and have seen little of anyone else noticing it so truly, thank you.

She is oblivious. And very very very scary.

[uppityperson]

41. I wish I could rec this post again but can only kick for a great assessment.