genuinegirly

To follow up Abaya's thread on the presidential debate, here's one about the vice-presidential debate.

Ladies, let's hear your voice. What do you think about the vice presidents? Are you going to change your vote because of anything you heard tonight?

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My Take:

I am disappointed with Biden's constant McCain/Palin bashing. He could have taken more time to put forward his opinions and his or Obama's take on policy. Biden seemed to make funny faces whenever Palin spoke. While Palin wrote notes on her breaks, he just stared off into space. He also garbled his words frequently. He would spout off figures that were not necessarily related to the question asked.

Palin held herself well, though every word she spoke seemed overly rehearsed. She did not entirely stay on topic. She was positive and optimistic. She also took senseless amounts of time to Obama-bash, but considerably less than Biden. Her first response was always "McCain thinks this," and if she had time she mentioned her relevant experience. This was a bit disappointing, since I was watching the debate to hear her perspective and not a reiteration of McCain's policy.

Honestly, I walked away from the debate with more respect for Palin. I was not very impressed with her before this evening. I'm still not sure how I'll vote. In the past I have always voted for third party candidates.

__________________
"Sometimes I have to remember that things are brought to me for a reason, either for my own lessons or for the benefit of others." Cynthetiq

"violence is no more or less real than non-violence." roachboy

BlueEyes

As an Obama/Biden supporter, I was pleased with the debate. I felt that Palin (especially at the beginning) gave off-topic, answers that ran in circles while Biden gave clear, to the point answers, that usually answered the question. After hearing him in the debate tonight, I am even more confident in voting choices.

I am not a fan of Sarah Palin, and throughout the last few weeks I have found her to be an incredibly embarrassing representation of our country. With that said, she did better tonight than I thought she would. Although I would not applaud her performance, she seemed a bit more put together than I have seen before.

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The world is a tragedy to those who feel, but a comedy to those who think.
Horace Walpole

jewels

What I was gonna say.

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We are always more anxious to be distinguished for a talent which we do not possess, than to be praised for the fifteen which we do possess.
Mark Twain

abaya

Palin did better than expected, but that's not saying much. Her folksy ("durn right!" "doggone it!") responses drove me up the wall, as did her constant re-steering the debate back to her favorite topics (oil, mavericks, those "bad guys" in Washington, etc)... she completely ignored several of the questions, especially important foreign policy questions that Biden nailed.

She also winked at the friggin' camera. I'm sorry, if you don't want people accusing you of "sexism," then don't act like a barfly. Can you imagine what the response would have been if Biden had winked at all the ladies?

I like Biden much more than I thought I would... he did a great job addressing the issues, and he got appropriately fired up and angry when needed (which Obama has to avoid doing himself, unfortunately), without coming down hard on Palin as a "woman" or whatever. He treated her politely, without needing to wear kid gloves, and that took skill. I also felt like he was much more real/sincere than she was (and this after never hearing him talk before)... when he talked about his family, he convinced me that he meant it. He was honest about the fact that he is now comfortable and has a good salary, but that life was not always that good for him. I appreciated that.

At least they both looked at each other, addressed each other, made eye contact, recognized the other person's presence, etc. Clearly they studied last week's debate and avoided the errors that McCain made there.

I call it for Biden. Palin has yet to impress me, but then again, nothing she or McCain says will make me vote for them, anyway.

__________________
And think not you can direct the course of Love;
for Love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.
--Khalil Gibran

hunnychile

Again Abaya, I agree whole heartedly with your insigts & well written comments. Palin WAS well "practiced" for the debate but she is still totally unexperienced to lead the USA - if God Forbid, McCain dies or is unable to lead our country. And that can happen.

According to interviews in England & France, CNN showed that members in the rest of the world are shocked that Repubs even let her on that ticket! Can you imagine what would happen if she had to negotiate with the leaders in Iran, Iraq or in other countries where women are considered second class? Will she wink and flirt her way out of more War or nuclear threats?? NO WAY!

She is scarey and unable to do what our country expects (and needs now more than ever) from a real VP!

Biden is much more VP ready...and he actually answered questions! He didn't need to rely on "fluff & winks" and folksy jargon that made her look less intelligent IMO.

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"I need compassion, understanding and chocolate." - NJB

BlueEyes

Abaya: You said something that I forgot to mention. Did you also notice that she blew a kiss to the audience when she walked in? I find these kind of actions incredibly unprofessional, she needs someone to remind her that this is not another beauty pageant.

__________________
The world is a tragedy to those who feel, but a comedy to those who think.
Horace Walpole

abaya

Really!! No, I did not catch that... though I did hear her ask "Can I call ya Joe?"... of course, the unfortunate thing is that a lot of Americans are going to love this kind of "charm" (apparently the men in the audience rated her higher than the woman did, from what I heard) and not even pay attention to what she was saying. Women have been succeeding with that kind of distraction for millenia.

Can you imagine what the reception would have been if Hillary had winked and blown kisses and all the rest? What a disgrace Palin is.

__________________
And think not you can direct the course of Love;
for Love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.
--Khalil Gibran

anti fishstick

bleh I was watching pundits' take after the show and that Pat Buchanan guy bothers me. He of course is one of those republican men enamoured by Palin and said she won the debate! She did much better than I thought she would, but that doesn't mean she won... Far from it. It was not a landslide performance by either Biden or Palin but Biden was clearer, and more factual than Palin. Palin just seemed shallow and vague with her answers and didn't even seem to answer much of anything, let alone what was different between the current administration and a McCain/Palin ticket. I think I heard that 18% of undecided voters switched to the Obama camp and 10% of undecided voters switched to McCain after watching this debate.

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And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.
~Anais Nin

snowy

Pretty much summed up my feelings about the debate. I thought Biden acquitted himself well in the debate, without sticking his foot in his mouth. Palin, on the other hand, overplayed the "hockey mom from Wasilla" angle and redirected questions too often. I was watching the debate on CNN and they had 10 undecided Ohio voters watching and giving their reaction via a handheld dial, which showed up as a line at the bottom of the screen; every time Palin deflected or redirected a question it went into the negative.

She did better than I expected, but I still find her uncouth, crude, and displaying a sincere lack of critical thought and intelligence.

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If I am not better, at least I am different. --Jean-Jacques Rousseau

*Nikki*

I had a cranky toddler the whole time the debate was on, so I got to see none of it. That is my take.

CinnamonGirl

I was annoyed less than ten minutes in. Seriously, debates frustrate the hell out of me.



Also, if I hear the word "maverick" one more time, I may scream.

__________________
"...for though she was ordinary, she possessed health, wit, courage, charm, and cheerfulness. But because she was not beautiful, no one ever seemed to notice these other qualities, which is so often the way of the world."


"Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?"

abaya

Alright, just as we expected... a post from conservative blogger Rich Lowry on the National Review (conservative website/magazine) today. This is not satire:

__________________
And think not you can direct the course of Love;
for Love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.
--Khalil Gibran

genuinegirly

Ok, that's just gross. How frustrating - thank you for sharing Abaya.

__________________
"Sometimes I have to remember that things are brought to me for a reason, either for my own lessons or for the benefit of others." Cynthetiq

"violence is no more or less real than non-violence." roachboy

ColonelSpecial

I was ready to shout at the TV when Palin completely stepped around the housing market question to focus on energy. I like the answer Biden gave to the 'which of your campaign promises will you be unable to fulfill'. Palin just bullied her way through that one saying that neither she nor McCain have promised anything they can't fulfill. I was very glad that I watched it and it gave my friends and I several things to discuss.

__________________
"Mommy, the presidents are squishing me!"

"Using the pull out method of contraceptive is like saying I won't use a seat belt, I'll just jump out of the car before it hits that tree."

Sara

surferlove007

Well going against the grain on this one...I like Palin! I have family from that part of the country that talk like that so it doesn't bother me. As a college student I applaud her positions on several of the important issues, I especially approved of her "white flag" comment about ending the war early should Obama take office. I believe that's what it would be if we pulled out before the job is done...again MPO. My roommates and I all plan to vote Republican. Of course I am in Texas...