McCain Camp Working On Palin-Biden Expectations Game

The expectations game is afoot in advance of the debate between Joe Biden and Sarah Palin. The conventional wisdom's wonderment amounts to these two ideas: Will Joe Biden wield his foreign policy expertise like a bludgeon and hurt the frail damsel from Alaska? Will Sarah Palin be able to complete a sentence without offering up an arrhythmic mashup of ancient McCain talking points? Based upon the pre-debate chit-chat, the best thing either Veep candidate can do for their ticket is confound everyone by standing still and saying absolutely nothing!

So what's a McCain flack to do? If you are Nancy Pfotenhauer, you go on Fox And Friends, a mythical land where they still believe John McCain "suspended" his campaign, and where the idea that McCain bravely paved the way on the bailout package instead of dully gumming up the works still roams from glen to glen like a magical unicorn. Gretchen Carlson is especially adorable, telling Pfotenhauer, "I think this debate thing may have gotten in the way" of the bailout work. That's right! This "debate thing!" Yeah, what was that "debate thing" all about, anyway?

The conversation soon turns to talk of Palin's debate prospects, and Pfotenhauer cheerily intones, "If it's a battle of wits, we like [Palin's] chances." Clearly, the McCain camp has a definition of "wits" distinct from mine, but hey, fair's fair when we're talking about a guy who put FDR on teevee in the late 1920s. The thing is, this upcoming "debate thing" will not be a "battle of wits" (we hope!) but rather a series of questions, and the last time Palin found herself facing "questions" ... well, this happened:

Pfotenhauer knows it, too, which must be why she describes the Couric interview as "a series of trapdoor questions." That's right! Asking Palin things like, "But can you give me any other concrete examples [of McCain's record of leadership on oversight]?" and "You've cited Alaska's proximity to Russia as part of your foreign policy experience. What did you mean by that?" -- those are some REALLY CAGEY TRAPS.

Anyway, the McCain camp is going to keep a close eye on this debate. As Pfotenhauer intimates, if moderator Gwen Ifill asks Palin too many foreign policy questions, she's going to have to answer for it. And to think at one point, foreign policy was considered McCain's strength!

[WATCH.]

Comments

[grata2ude]

Repulicans idea of fair question for the VP debate.

Gwen : Sara Palin, how are you doing tonight

Palin : fine yep.

Gwen : Mr. Biden, do you think that the new violence in Iraq warrents a change of plan for a timed withdrawal?

Biden. :No Gwen Obama is right, we

Gwen : times up Senator.

Gwen: Govenor Palin.....­...how is Bristol feeling? Do you know the sex of your grandbaby yet?

Palin : fine yep yep.......­..50% chance of it being a girl.

Gwen :Senator Biden can you tell me your opinion of why the bailout plan failed to be passed?

Biden : well Gwen there's several reasons but the main reason is.....

Gwen : times up Senator.

[Seven7s]

LOL

[joebiz]

In paraphrasing the Big Doofus on the show, "the average American is more concerned about domestic policy over foreign policy."

Well, the role of the federal executive, both POTUS and VPOTUS, is the steering of the nation in foreign affairs, not the daily problems of the average Jane and Joe. The role of governors, mayors, council members are the tackling of "national" issues or daily grind problems.

Fox can be so moronic. Why ask Palin about foreign policy? Because that what the job demands.

What has Cheney been doing these past 8 years? Foreign policy, international realtions, meeting world leaders, plotting wars, invasions, foreign interventions, meeting politcal leaders, meeting academics for the Project for a New American Century.

Fox and Friends's . . . knuckle heads.

[jhoughton1]

I hope someone's going to check Palin (heck, check Biden, too -- you won't find anything) for transmitters, receivers, earplugs, cochlear implants, any aid or device that can be used to communicate with her. Not that it would necessarily help...

[The 13 Colonies]

The only thing that will help Palin is a transmitter or Cue Cards, and from what I've seen I'm not sure this woman can READ!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!

[Leedox]

Why are so many people making so many excuses for Palin? Excuses will not cut it on the world stage. Excuses for her terrible fashion sense - OK. Excuses for her lack of intelligence - not OK! This is the #2 job in the country - and whenever McCain is out of the country for gatherings of world leaders. She is his standin, nevermind if he dies!!

[JiminNC]

Answer to whom? I have a problem with Nancy Pfloppinboner making threats against the debate moderator ahead of the debate. Maybe we should ask lots of economy questions then Nancypoo ... ???

[Yermammy]

Isn't that the chick with a cigarette holder and a hatred of dalmations? What a scarecrow. I wonder if her parents are still missing?

[sisteract]

Give me a BREAK! They are already calling foul and the first pitch hasn't even been thrown. What a waste of oxygen these people are.

[turboe4truth]

I believe that they will give her the questions before the debate, someone probably hacked qwen's computer and they already have them. that's why they are all at MCcain's house cramming. You watch , she will already know the questions.

[shelobo]

The questions are going to be 'RIGGED ' so that Palin LOOKS good and to make Biden look like a nasty ,mean MALE BULLY.My question to Palin would be ,"You claim you are a woman who has a mind of her own and are ready to be commander in chief , SO why did you allow McCains campaign people to 'CONTROL' your every move ,word and who you could and could not talk too ? A STRONG commander in chief would NOT allow this to happen.

[jhoughton1]

Good call. Somehow, I don't think she'll be asked that, but I wish she would be.

[tednottodd]

I would defy anyone to go back to back with Katie couric and Charlie Gibson? cut me a break!

Every question is a Gottcha question if you don't have an answer.

[peterhowitt]

Every Gocha question shouldn't be allowed to "Gecha" if you are hoping to become the second most powerful person in the world though. You are supposed to be one step ahead of most other people. Even Bush can bluff his way out of Gocha's. She can't even do that

[TrueIndy08]

wow.... so they want Joe Biden to go easy on her... a fellow AMERICAN..­. what will this woman do when Putin and Medvedev.. along with Amadenijhad and Chavez all decide they want to take the US out.... what will she do then??/ Cry sexism and hope and pray to Muthee that they will leave us alone???

She is a pathetic joke.... I can't believe we are seriously threatened with this woman governing anything!

[mesut]

Agree. So now we dumb down America even more to accomodate a poor choice by McCain?

[Shabba]

Joe Biden to Sarah Palin: “Governor, you’re no Dan Quayle.”

[SwingVoter]

Please take it easy on the Pitbull.

[WFV]

There will be no debate Thursday. Wait and see.

[TrueIndy08]

there is NO excuse... if there is no debate... there is no contest... and SEN O wins by default because this 3 ring circus has got to end... for the good of the country!

[ewa]

Yet,well Brad Hanson loves her act.

[Grace0727]

Trap Door Questions? You have got to be kidding me. Couric gave Plane Jane direct reasonable questions for a VP candidate. Can't they fess up ? How could it be that the whole world knew Palin bombed the interview and yet they are the only ones in the world claiming she did not. lol.. WOW. I honestly believe that the McCain campaign thinks Americans are stupid. They really do feel that they can use spin on us while we twirl our fingers and agree.

[DonDavis]

McCain to Replace Palin, With Tina Fey
http://satiricalpolitical.com/?p=3597