Don't set the Bar too low for Sarah Palin or too high for Biden

[Winterblues]

Sarah is really a fairly bright individual and gets along very well with people. She had several debates with her Democratic counterpart Tony Knowles, who is also a very bright man, and she actually came off getting the better of him. She has a quick wit and I feel people here will be in for an eye opener. If we set the bar too low she will be able to pass over it easier than we would like. She is a formidable opponent and more than likely surprise many.

[chelsea0011]

1. The media has already set the bar sooo low for Palin as long as

she is still standing at the end she has won.

[saracat]

2. I agree. Some on DU buy into their own propaganda and then are shocked that it isn't so.

I can't stand Palin butI have heard that her gubernatorial Debates were excellent. Some think because they have made a cartoon out of her that she is an idiot.That isn't so.She may be new to a national ticket but she isn't new to debating. And Joe could find himself either in a straightjacket in an effort not to be offensive or he could trip up in a major gaffe. He is the one that needs to be really careful and I think he is aware of that.

[gateley]

3. Good advice.

She may well shine at the debate, since the McCain camp has pretty much put the kibosh on interaction between her and Biden and she has more freedom to deliver her 'zingers' and slams without the risk of challenge from Biden.

And we're expecting Biden to swoop in and magically show Palin to be exactly who/what she is, some because they feel he's a pit bull (I disagree on that), others because he's so deeply knowledgeable about just everything. His position is really precarious in this instance - there are so many ways he could approach this, and each one leads to criticism and outraged reaction from the Reps. It'll be quite a challenge. I'm confident the Obama campaign has weighed all the options, and they have decided on the best way to present Joe/Obama during the debate.

[saracat]

5. The Obama campaign may have "decided" but there is never a guarantee with Joe. He is not someone

anyone elese can control. In the end, it will be up to Joe.If anyone is a tue "Maverick" it is Biden. Going to be interesting!

[Tangerine LaBamba]

4. Let's face it -

she'll be declared not the winner, but a "worthy opponent," or some such weasel language, just for showing up.

In the real world, if she wants to play with the big boys, she should be prepared to be treated like a big boy, and take the same kinds of questions Biden's going to get and be put on the spot for how well or how badly she answers them.

The standard for Palin should be the same standard that will be applied to Joe Biden.

That, my friends, is what this whole "women are equal to men" thing has been about for the past generation or several.

The way she's been treated thus far has been an affront to women everywhere. Keeping her away from the press because she's such a delicate flower, she might wilt, or some such bullshit. Put her out there - if she can't handle it, she's not fit for the office.

Yes, it's that simple.

[saracat]

6. I actually agree with that.OTOH, neither she or any other female politician should no have to be

subjected to the sexist garbage that is leveled at her 24/7. No one ever asks wether a Dad should be staying home with the kids , or continually levels remarks of a sexual nature concerning male candidates and that is also part of the "women are equal to men thing".Those too are "affronts to women everywhere".

[Tangerine LaBamba]

8. Who's leveling sexist remarks at anyone?

This is about the debate and her competence. You're veering off into a whole different area, one not linked to the debate question.

But, since you brought it up, when Palin schleps her kids along, using her new baby as a prop to hide her daughter's pregnancy, and touts her resistance to women's choice or birth control education, she's opened herself up to a barrage of charges of hypocrisy, the same that any man doing the same thing would be subject to. I don't see Biden dragging his grandchildren along on the campaign trail, nor does Obama make a big deal out of his two girls, who are kept mostly under wraps.

Sarah Biden is an embarrassment to women, plain and simple. While benefiting from all that we did so many years ago to get doors opened, she now espouses that women should be treated differently, not allowed control over their own bodies, simply because her witch doctor religion tells her that is so.

Male or female, she invited it, and if she can't take it, she ought to cut it out.

She's set us back a generation, as far as I'm concerned, allowing herself to be used as the clueless prop that she is.

[saracat]

12. I didn't say you were but while I don't support her, I do think she has been

unfairly attacked in some instances.I don't think she used her baby as a"prop" to mask her daughters pregnancy and Obama has made a big deal about his girls.He even campaigned with then door to door in Iowa, and they did do a special about them and Michelle constantly references the girls. Obama little ones were on stage at the Convention and they were darling and quite a "selling point". Palin actually hasn't treated her kids any differently than any candidates family. Attack her on the issue of hypocrisy, choice or birth control, and I am right with you but I won't judge her involvement of family as any different than a male candidate. .

[Tangerine LaBamba]

13. We differ

The Obamas have hardly paraded their kids around the way Palin has dragged hers. If she had a 17-year-old pregnant daughter, the last place that kid should be is on stage with her "fiance." It's nothing but a testament to Sarah Palin's malpractice as a mother. That infant should have been at home in his crib instead of being toted around to show what a wonderfully intolerant and careless woman his mother is. At her age, she might have had a clue about birth control.

No, we disagree. Obama never talked out of his butt about limiting women's choices, and he has never held his family up as some kind of tribute to his and his wife's "choices." The involvement of the children has been minimal - I mean, campaigning in Iowa hardly compares to dragging your kids onto stages all over the country when your teenage daughter is facing the worst crisis of her life.

As a woman, Palin embarrasses me, and since her selection was precisely because she's a woman, yeah, she should behave better. She shames us all.

[saracat]

14. Think what you will. I still think it smacks of double standards. The Edwards

took Jack and Emma everywhere.And I remember some folks who thought Elizabeth and the kids should stay home as well. That was equally sexist.Kerry had his daughters and stepson stumping for him. Hillary had Chelsea on the trail. It seems to be your opinion that the infant should be home in his crib.If a male politico had a newborn with his wife on stage with him nothing would be said. I don't care for Sarah or what she espouses.But I find your remark about birth control low. How on earth does anyone know if this was a "planned" baby or not? And no bith control is 100% effective no matter what they say. And as for her daughter and the finace, actually, no matter how that was handled Palin would be criticized. If the girl weren't ther some would complain Palin was "ashamed" of her.I'll bet we would never even be told about the pregnancy if Palin were a male. There have got to be RW pols with pregerrs daughters but because they are male, no one notices.But I am done. I am not voting for Palin but remarks like this don't make Democrats look good, IMHO.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

15. I disagree

If a male candidate has his wife schlepping their infant around, I'd be just as disgusted.

You mustn't assume. It leads you up some faulty assumption highways.

I'm not concerned here, on a little old message board, with "making Democrats look good." My goodness, you do go off in odd directions.

I just find Palin's actions objectionable. As a mother and a career professional, I think she could have handled things a whole lot better, including being a middle-aged woman who gets pregnant. If you don't know the stats on 40-something women getting pregnant, you're standing in a dark room. She's irresponsible, and if you think my opinion of her on that matter is low, well, that's how it is.

As a role model for young women, I do believe she fails miserably. As a mother, she seems to have been not all that great.

But, she's making Democrats like Hillary Clinton look awfully good.........

[JohnnyRingo]

7. I agree, that's why the Biden camp is calling her "a master of the debate"

Debates are all about expectation.

After last week's exchange I felt dismayed that Obama didn't reach over and smack McCain. I was yelling at the screen for Barack to call him a liar, and put him in his place. I was pretty disappointed by the end of the debate, and ruled McCain the winner by a close margin.

I was later pleasantly surprised by the verdict of those who were less passionate, and didn't expect an all out ass kicking from the self restrained Obama. I now see from the replays they were correct in their decision of an Obama victory.

It's better if the public thinks she's entering the arena on equal footing with Biden, then when she falls short the loss will be much more embarrassing.

[Bonhomme Richard]

9. Dangerous. If Biden opens his mouth it will appear he.........

is picking on her.

[EOTE]

10. You're right. Sarah Palin will be a very tough opponent.

She has proven her debate skills time and time again. She's shown her level-headedness and her ability to respond rationally when under stress. She's truly an independent and a maveri... :rofl: Oh god, I tried so hard, but I couldn't do it with a straight face.

[ailsagirl]

11. LOL!!