Free Palin? McCain Camp Readies VP For Debate

Despite bad reviews from all sides, John McCain's campaign has decided that having Sarah Palin do big broadcast interviews was a good idea, the National Review reports:

Team McCain tells me the strategy of having Palin talk to traditional broadcast networks ABC and CBS was designed to allow Palin to reach the maximum number of viewers. "Coming off her tremendous performance at the convention, our goal was to allow as many Americans as possible an opportunity to see her answer questions about her record, her biography and her principles and convictions on as large a stage as possible," one campaign source told me this afternoon. The new CBS interviews, to be done tomorrow, are intended to keep Palin in the public eye as she prepares for Thursday's debate.

In fact, the new interviews have already been recorded but will air before the debate.

Bill Kristol says McCain isn't happy, however, with the way his staff has been handling Palin and is making some changes for the debate:

I'm told McCain recently expressed unhappiness with his staff's handling of Palin. On Sunday he dispatched his top aides Steve Schmidt and Rick Davis to join Palin in Philadelphia. They're supposed to liberate Palin to go on the offensive as a combative conservative in the vice-presidential debate on Thursday.

The Wall Street Journal has more on Palin's liberation:

McCain campaign manager Rick Davis and senior adviser Steve Schmidt are planning to coach the candidate ahead of the debate, according to senior advisers. They traveled Sunday to meet the Republican vice-presidential nominee in Philadelphia. After her appearance with Sen. McCain at a rally in Columbus, Ohio, these top officials plan to fly with her on Monday to Sen. McCain's ranch in Sedona, Ariz., which they hope she will find a comforting place to prep, these people said.

More broadly, the McCain campaign aims to halt what it sees as a perceived decline in the crispness and precision of Gov. Palin's latest remarks as well as a fall in recent polls, according to several advisers and party officials.

...

Some prominent Republicans and senior members of Congress have expressed worries about certain facets of the Palin campaign, particularly that Gov. Palin may be "overprepared" and not encouraged to be herself, an adviser said.

"She hasn't had the time or inclination to question the judgments of the people telling her to hit her marks," said one Republican strategist. "Gov. Palin is a team player, but the campaign needs to adjust to a game plan that works for her.

...

"It's time to let Palin be Palin -- and let it all hang out," said Scott Reed, a Republican strategist."

Comments

[ladyv]

Yes, Sarah, please come prepared with nothing more than a bucket of snide one-liners and then be your nasty little self to the nice smiling competent older gentleman. You definitely will not look like a smug vacant mean teenager with no respect whatsoever for her elders. Remember how well McCain's deliberate lack of respect for Obama in the first debate served him? Absolutely. Do that. The American people are *totally* not fed up with frat house bully level antics, they still love that.

[Samshade77]

"overprepared" no such thing , now under qualified is what she happeneds to be.

[aspecialed]

Journalistic Judo. They've taken Campbell Browns line and turned it into an excuse for Palin's inadequacies as a candidate. They've let Palin be Palin and that's the problem.

[robbor]

the last line says it all -
"It's time to let Palin be Palin -- and let it all hang out," said Scott Reed, a Republican strategist."

I really do prefer it when she's good ol' six pack-belch Sarah.

No seriously folks, what a better way to snuff the US after the pillage of Wall Street than to have our political system drop knee kicked in the chest by the selection of this woman. One Two, Gotcha!

[mysterygirl18]

Let Palin be Palin? Oh my- how stupid do you think America is Mccain? Seriously...the more this continues, the more people as a whole should be insulted....



http://www.myspace.com/wakeupnowpeople

[USMC1980]

If Palin was Palin during the convention...how come she was reading off a teleprompter.

Look, let's face it, this woman is just not "ready for primetime". A few days in Sedona, ain't gonna change that. This poor woman is toast tonight. John is toast in November...It's over Johnny.

[Midwestbob]

It doesn't matter if Palin is even mediocre in the debate. Anyone that has watched and listened since her nomination knows she is completely ignorant of the important issues we face as a nation. The fact that people still find her appealing is insane and dangerous. Palin shouldn't be leading a girl scouts troop. The country should be scratching their head at the people of Alaska and how did they elect this person. I assume the Republican party machine is in utter turmoil behind the scenes and are going to try anything to try and win which makes them completely desperate and people will see this and run, more than they are running now.

[interestedER]

Inspired by Sarah Palin, we would like to propose the following interactive activity to encourage all american women ( all voters really) to join us to further inspire a sense of American bipartisan cooperation. While watching tomorrows history making debate from your friendly main street watering hole, join us in OUR REALITY - CHECK BAIL OUT PLAN.
Everytime Govenor Sara Pailin says "UM" or 'Also'....... down a shot.....not just any shot.......in honor of the great state of alaska and all her loyal constiuent­s........m­ake it fine Russian Vodka.......... by the end of the debate (probably sooner), we too can see Russia........ making us uniquely qualified in foriegn policy.
Heck....... by the end of the debate....... we might see MARS, therefore, qualifying us in aerospace engineering and technology.
AND IT WON'T COST YOU 700 BILLION DOLLARS!!!!!!!

[robbor]

Huh ???

[zigzag1]

Something tells me there will be changes in McCains campaign staff as he gets more desperate....and the lies will get dirtier

[wutzhappn]

"McCain loses most of his staff for Palin Debate Prep." Hmmmm I don't see anywhere is this article that states such an assertion. In fact, the headline is completely misleading. I see not much has changed here at the Huffington Post when it comes to creative headline bias.

[mattwin]

Rick Davis and senior adviser Steve Schmidt are planning to coach the candidate ahead of the debate, according to senior advisers. They traveled Sunday to meet the Republican vice-presidential nominee in Philadelphia. After her appearance with Sen. McCain at a rally in Columbus, Ohio, these top officials plan to fly with her on Monday to Sen. McCain's ranch in Sedona, Ariz., which they hope she will find a comforting place to prep, these people said.

Can you read with comprehension? I see that not mujch has changed in your ability to read. No wonder you support McNutz.

[AlaskanWannaB]

The lies are going to get dirtier. I just received a letter from the National Republican Trust PAC. They are requesting that there readers donate money for some off-color ads to run in the swing states to get voters to vote for McCain. They describe these ads as "Shock and Awe" ads. I will try to post as much as I can here:
---------------

Dear Newsmax Reader:

John McCain is declining in the polls, especially in key swing states, The National Republican Trust PAC , our sponsor today, has a strategy to help McCain win. Please take a moment to read their message below.

Thank you.

Newsmax.com

-----------------

An Urgent Message from The National Republican Trust PAC

Dear Fellow American:

Never before in the history of our nation have we faced such a grave crisis: one of the most radical political figures ever to be nominated by a major party is just minutes away from becoming President of the United States.

That man is Barack Obama.

He promises to change America forever. If elected, he will do just that — but in ways you make not like.

Remember Obama is the most liberal member of the United States Senate.

He received a 100 percent Liberal Rating from the National Journal, making him the most left-wing Senator in Washington — more liberal than even Democratic senators like Ted Kennedy.

If you look at Obama’s record, you will understand just how dangerous this man is.

[joshfree]

I saw this hideous piece of swill today, too. Who funds this "National Republican Trust PAC" and can they be exposed as the bizarre, paranoid freaks they clearly are? This is so far the scariest missive I've seen in this campaign. And they sent it to my father, a lifelong Democrat. It's weird. I hope the HuffPost bloggers are on the case!

[RobinLandseadel]

You can let it all hang out, Sarah, but you're going to have to clean up after yourself when you're through.

[afgail]

By all means let Sarah be Sarah. That aught to scare the hell out of everybody but the the 20% of the population who are morons and love her dearly.

[William1950]

Dear Sarah, please do not "let it all hang out" I don't think my poor heart could take it. Be your self, don't let that big bad meanie Bidden bully you and Don't be "overprepared." In fact I do believe you ought to go and have yourself a sixpack of moosewhizz or whatever you all drink in Alaska before the debate.

[marygee]

Am I the only one who is concerned that Ms. Palin might want to try out this new hairstyle on Thursday evening at the debate with Joe Biden? I can't tell if I'm paranoid or have just od'd on politics, lies and the mean-spirited attutudes of the GOP. I still think Dubya was being fed answers through the box on his back and now I wonder if Sarah will be fed answers through an earpiece. The new hairdo will make detection impossible and besides, it would be very impolite if anyone questioned her.......yeah, right.

[Pancake]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A18734-2004Oct8.html

Bush had a device under his jacket during Kerry debate.

[bridgeworker]

Good point. I don't think this is crazy at all. It's likely the only way she can answer the questions with any specificity. I hope there is a way for someone to detect this if they do resort to feeding her answers.

[FrankWillsGhost]

I clearly remember Bush's debate with the bulge in his jacket. I remember he made some remarks whose timing were off, as if he was listening to the voices in his head, and then answering. That is, long pauses between the question and his response.

Listen to Palin closely for such pauses.

I wouldn't put it past them, and that's what's so sad about McCain's cand-idiocy: not even elected and he has no credibility.

[wezeppem]

I have that exact same fear myself; are these people "frisked" before the debates begin??

[Obama4Life]

I don't know what the media is talking about when they say Palin's bubba appeal will help her in the debates. That might have worked if she was debating Obama, but imo Joe Biden has got to be the worst possible opponent she could possibly face. Her Joe six pack argument won't work on Joe Biden, Joe Biden IS Joe six pack. Except he is Joe six pack with a BRAIN! I don't know why Palin thinks that all blue collar people are happy to be called dumb (which they aren't) and "Joe six pack", I doubt they have that kind of low self esteem. Joe Biden can counter and say something along the lines of, "Listen lady, I came from a family where I was one of the first to graduate from college ALSO. I don't think its a good think to be telling people from our walk of life to settle for mediocrity, we are just good as Prince William. "

Seriously Palin is really pissing me off with this "it's good to be dumb" argument.

[CalifroniaMark]

I AM SAYING THIS totally on the fence. If joe biden shows up butt naked with antlers on his head and a beer in his hand, I will never be convinced that sarah palin is not an airhead who is UNQUALIFIED to be in the white house. With MCCAIN 'S HEALTH ISSUES AT 72 it is an almost certain possibility that palin will be President if they are elected.

IT IS TOO LATE for her to redeem herself. Anyone can REHEARSE OVER AND OVER AGAIN to appear competent for an hour but she was unable to get through a simple interview about what magazines She's read or a Supreme Court ruling or trades with Russia. ANYBODY graduating high school should atleast be able to answer two of the three questions COHERENTLY...AND PALIN COULD NOT!!!

...AND THAT'S A SIMPLE FACT!

[DocRockk]

AMEN, BROTHER! Even I could have given a more cogent response,
and I'm not even running! WTF??

She is waaaayyyyyy in over her head.
Are her supporters taking stupid pills, or what?

[afgail]

Palin has a debate strategy she used it in Alaska where the average adult academic achievement is 10th grade.

She talks about the nouns in the question. She was asked to name a newspaper or publication she reads. She talked about newspapers. But, she was unable to name a single publication. Ditto the bailout. Ditto the Russian border foreign policy credentials. I believe she is a functional illiterate. Unless she is also a mynabird I think she is toast.

[WordTree]

Has anyone else noticed that Palin's glasses lenses don't distort, from any direction? Like they're flat glass and she wears them to look smarter?

[sheikwil]

All I have to say to the American people, WE CAN'T BE AS STUPID AS MCCAIN HOPES. If someone has to be prepped as much as they have been prepping Sarah Palin, then it tells me that she doesn't understanding it and it you have to be prep on the answers, you truly are not qualified. You can teach a monkey to dance, but I don't want him to be VP. Why would anyone think that if she has been drilled over and over on the questions that she is ready is a scary thing. I know they all practice, but we already know she doesn't know the stuff, but if she is able to remember all that they have crammed into her head, does that make her ready to be VP. God help us. McCain is refusing to release any more of his medical records should tell the people something, but most of all this women already has problems in her own state, so why would McCain pick her in the first place.

[damebee]

McCain is on 100% disability and my husband after hearing this who is ex-military and does get his meds from the VA tells me for 100% disability you have to be a paraplegic or similar! So what exactly is McCain fully covered for or is it just another lie to get full benefits?

[AlaskanWannaB]

Ditto!!