Memo to Joe Biden: Let Palin Talk

[tannybogus]

Joe Biden doesn't need to do much in this debate. Everyone, Republicans included, know the guy knows policy detail and foreign relations cold. He really doesn't need to do much to prove he has mastery. Normally, "time of possession" is a key signifier in football of which team is likeliest to win the game, but in this case the opposite seems true. Think of it -- all anyone cares about in this debate is what Sarah Palin says.

The Republican base wants to hear her because they like her and identify with her -- we've heard this chorus countless times on the road in McCain volunteer offices. She warms Republican base hearts. On the other hand, Democrats believe they're about to witness an epic train wreck. So does the media. The expectations could not possibly be lower for this one.

For those who worry about expectations being so low that she can't help but beat them, that she did well in Alaska debates (by being spunky and bluffing through with gimmicks like patting a "stack of solutions" on health care), consider this:

Capitol Hill sources are telling me that senior McCain people are more than concerned about Palin.
The campaign has held a mock debate and a mock press conference; both are being described as "disastrous." One senior McCain aide was quoted as saying, "What are we going to do?" The McCain people want to move this first debate to some later, undetermined date, possibly never. People on the inside are saying the Alaska Governor is "clueless."

Some might be concerned that this is all about purposefully lowering expectations... and then you watch that Couric interview. That was not some gambit, that was real. If this is an elaborate expectations-setting ruse, I'm sure the multiple days of ridicule leading up to the debate aren't worth it.
The inevitability of this is like when Nebraska used to run that option in the mid-90s with Tommie Frazier at QB. You knew exactly what play was coming... and you couldn't stop it.

Only Joe Biden can mess it up... by running up his own time of possession.

http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/

I agree.

[ShortnFiery]

1. Yes, but I do believe that Biden has "a clue"

He will do us proud. However, realize that the GOP will seize on anything ... even make it up to spin Biden negative.

I have faith that Joe Biden will do well. :patriot:

[Imagevision]

2. Precisely! - but do you think Joe will do it? can he do it?

[Kerrytravelers]

3. I agree. I can't wait to watch her talk herself into a hole in the ground.

She is not ready for the national scene. She just isn't. And is shows the contempt the Republican Party has for Americans to suggest that Palin is ready to be a leader of the free world.

[YOY]

4. She'll never be ready...

and beyond the idiot base they all know it as well.

[gateley]

5. He has no choice. The Repubs have straightjacketed the debate rules --

He practically doesn't even have to show up -- they're trying to make it just a showcase for Palin's talking points. Very very very restricted interaction.

[knowbody0]

6. I agree with you

and am so looking forward to that deer in the headlights look she gets just before grasping onto a talking point. she'll slip the noose around her own neck. Then Joe can be the valiant gentleman who sets her free to do it all over again. She will be stressed to the max and probably medicated. I imagine it will be very painful to watch.

[napi21]

7. I'm inclined to agree with you that the best would be to just let her

talk. I have yet to hear a coherent sentence from her! She did well at the convention because she can read a teleprompter, but BFD, she learned to do that in her sports caster days. There aren't any TP's at a debate!

I think it's also telling if you look at the changes to the Debate Rules that the Pubs insisted on. Short questions, short answer time, and no interchange between the candidates. That tells me they are trying to limit her talking time.

[rvablue]

12. There is "interchange" between the cadidates.

They both answer for 90 seconds and then there is 2 minutes for candidates to discuss topic.

[prayin4rain]

8. she is good at giving speaches though... he needs to challenge her on things she

(they) wouldn't expect.... and then let her talk.

[stillcool]

9. I think Joe just has to watch out...

for his :wtf: facial expressions.

[EOTE]

10. I agree with the OP, however...

I think that the time that Biden does use should be dedicated to attacking McCain and not Palin at all. If Biden does that, two things are gained from it. First of all, he will need to be less concerned over claims of sexism or even mean-spiritedness because he won't have attacked Palin at all, just her running mate. And second and more importantly, he'll force Palin to defend McCain's record, which she's even less capable of defending than her OWN record. I think if he does that, it's going to be one slam dunk of a debate.

[SeattleVet]

11. Yep, let her talk; she'll come across like Gilda Radner characters personified.

Sounds like Lisa Loopner, makes as much sense as Emily Litella.

Let her wander through a long, involved explanation of a point. Biden points out that she hasn't come anywhere near answering the actual question, and tells her what was actually said.

Palin: "Oh, that's very different....Never mind!"

(Perhaps Biden could pull a few lines from "Point/Counterpoint" - "Sarah, Sarah, Sarah"; or "Sarah, you ignorant ^$#$^%!")

The entire McSame/Palin campaign really does usually come out very much like an old SNL skit.