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

[labman57]

Maybe the debate will be reduced to who has the best recipe for moose stew. At least Palin would have a fighting chance with that topic.

[Mahi Joe]

Moderator: Senator Biden what is your position on the war in Iraq and Afghanistan and how will the role of the military change should your party be elected?

Moderator: Gov. Palin, what is your favorite color?

[Jane1138]

Moderator: Gov. Palin, what is your favorite color?

Palin: Blue! No. Yellow! ARGH!

[shengirl]

sproinnngg­g... heh heh heh

[MargaretO]

The only woman I like less than Sarah Palin is Pfotenhauer. She's a polished liar.

[2876]

The only woman I like less than Palin is Ann Coulter

[nextpres08]

Me too!!! I can' t stand her...and why is she always smiling? Doesn't look like she had her nose and lips done?

[Mattjoe]

Although this debate should resemble something akin to the less than spectacular reality show, ‘Pro vs. Joes’ complete with Biden utterly ‘rag dolling’ Palin like a new puppy on a chew toy, I’m certain the contrived posturing of the MSM along with the colluded sanctioning body of debates will do everything in their power to steal what little enjoyment we have left of this farce.

[JiminNC]

Hey, Pfrostiflopper - spin this - http://www.thenation.com/doc/20081006/schanberg

[Annette truth teller08]

How come John McCain, can't close it with the Black Working Class?
I'm talking about the real blacks. The hard working Black working class down in the deep south.

This could be a real problem for him on Election day.

Chris Matthews.

[ymax]

Why go easy?

[TAIsabel]

Being condescending, unPresidential, petty and demeaning did not help McCain. Obama came out as the better person he is. The undecided voter does not want a bully and, quite frankly, neither do we.

Gravitas and intelligence is enough to defeat this twit. Acting like McCain can only help her look like an "abused victim".

[ymax]

The questin was not for Biden, but for the moderator.

[TAIsabel]

My only concern is that Biden does not make her look good. Joe can sometimes go off in strange directions and she could come out looking better than we think.

Joe, listen up!!! Do not screw up!! Keep it short, keep it true, keep it sincere, keep it VPresidential and do not look abusive!

PLEASE!!

[ThunderMongoose]

I say McCain should keep Palin...it helps Obama.

[Williamsburg]

Even Mc's people see what BC is doing. BC is our Sarah Palin.

[lis60]

Palin should drop out. If she needs to be handled with kid gloves she is in the wrong job.

I can't stand these people. They have no idea how phony they sound obviously.

[lis60]

I can never pinpoint what it is about Nancy Pfotenhauer, that drives me absolutely crazy. She always has a smirk on her face. She sounds completely like a phony when she talks about McCain and Palin. The smile on her face doesn't jive with the words coming out of her mouth.
Then there is the side of me that just can't stand seeing one more of McCain's skinny little blonde talking heads. How may are there!!!!
Also she is DEAD WRONG about what the "average American" wants to hear. We already know that they think most Americans are dumb and her statement just reinforces how they feel about it. I don't know how to prove them wrong, but they are. More people are informed then ever before because of the internet. I know McCain doesn't use the internets though :)

[irishgawdess]

See manitoumackinac's post below.

[KeithMayass]

fourth question for Palin :

what is the difference between a light bulb and Palin ?

lipstick

[momforbetterworld]

and the light bulb is bright

[kavan]

Third question for Palin: "What is your favorite color?"

[ymax]

Red lipstick

[Annette truth teller08]

The Spin Machine for Sarah Palin & the VP debate is in full force today by McCain's surrogates.

According to them, Biden is going to lose just by showing up.

1). If he's too smart, then he's being condescending and a show off.

2). If he nice to her, then he's being sexist.

3). If he's looks directly at her while debating, he's flirting.

4). If he looks down while debating, he's trying not to look at her lips & lipstick.

5). If he smiles, he's just trying to show off his Pearly whites..er­go..McCain­'s yellow teeth.

6). If he shakes her hand at the beggining, he's trying to slip her his digits.

7). If he's quiet & let's her speak, he's daydreaming about Todd Palin.

8). If he mentions his running mate Barack Obama, he's hurling racial slurs, thus rendering their campaign null & void.

9). If he mentions 700 Billion, he's making fun of John McCain's age and will immediately be disqualified from the debate.

10). If he wears a brown tie, he's making fun of skinning mooses, which in turn could cause Russia to invade Alaska, there by causing the Bridge to Know Where to collapse, forcing Lipsticked Pigs to chase after dinasaurs thus forcing McCain to suspend his campaign again. (Whew)

I think Joe can handle it..

Obama/Biden '08'

[veggiequeenmo]

HA!

[grata2ude]

LOLOL this is good.