Watching some of the Alaska Governor's Debate on C-Span right now and....

[carpe diem]

we need to start readjusting the expectations for her debate against Joe Biden. By keeping her under wraps they can make it appear she's not ready to go head to head against him and then when she 'does better than expected', she wins. She clearly is not some airhead who lucked into the Governor's seat. Obama and Biden have been smart and correct in emphasizing that she is a 'skilled politician' with a real record of accomplishment. She comes across as smart, poised and confident and that might be enough for folks who have been hearing nothing but how she's not qualified.

I think we need to be more respectful and not so contemptuous and dismissive of her skills and talent because that way leads to ruin. We need to attack her on her extremist positions and associations (her church and AIP). There is enough there to send chills down the spines of most reasonable folks, if they hear about it. So instead of another post about whose baby is whose and other trailer trash gossip, we need to lay out the case for why we should fear this woman being anywhere near the Oval office.

And, if i were John McCain, I would absolutely hire a food taster.

[Justice]

1. I didn't see your post - I posted news of debate on CSPAN but

you are totally right. Completely different persona in this debate.

[MichiganVote]

2. Agree

[quiet.american]

3. You mean I can't call her a "trash-talkin' baby mama" no more? :)

I was just getting into that groove!

[JustAnotherGen]

4. Naaaaaaah

Start calling her Edie!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edie_McClurg

[ClarkUSA]

5. She knows her Alaska issues but speaking on foreign policy/domestic economy is a different matter

I am looking forward to the VP debate. I'm sure she'll be as poised as a former TV sportscaster and armed with
sarcastic Church Lady zingers but voters will be looking for more than that in a VP (I hope!).

[Blue_In_AK]

6. That's what I've been trying to tell people here.

She didn't defeat the Republican establishment, Frank Murkowski, and John Binkley, with their millions, in the Republican primary and Tony Knowles/Ethan Berkowitz in the general (who also vastly outspent her) by being an airhead. Of course, this debate was covering Alaska issues, and she will no doubt be less informed on national matters, but we shouldn't underestimate her. She's a formidable opponent.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

7. She looks more subdued and matter-of-fact in this debate

She doesn't have that smug, sarcastic attitude she seems to have developed now. She isn't attacking her opponents but is just giving her take on the issues. She actually sounds intelligent and in command of the facts regarding her state. You're right; she's not an airhead.

[Kaleva]

8. Bush was supposed to be a drooling idiot

and when he didn't drool or wet his pants in the debates, he easily stepped over the bar of very low expectations.

The debates are not real debates. They are political beauty pageants and nothing more then that.

[Peregrine Took]

9. I heard a woman call in to a radio talk show and say that her Rethuglican

sister (who was active in Rethug politics) and her pals were anxious for McCain to be elected and hoped he would quickly DIE so that Sarah would be in charge.

These folks are 100% evil.

[Barack_America]

10. Biden is going to just have to take the debate in his own hands...

And pose questions to her about complex foreign policy issues.

The GOP has been using these tactics for years and it's time for Dems to do the same.