Debating Sarah Palin: A First Hand Account

Christian Science Monitor :

When he faces off against Sarah Palin Thursday night, Joe Biden will have his hands full.

I should know. I've debated Governor Palin more than two dozen times. And she's a master, not of facts, figures, or insightful policy recommendations, but at the fine art of the nonanswer, the glittering generality. Against such charms there is little Senator Biden, or anyone, can do.

Read the whole story: Christian Science Monitor

Comments

[razorblade]

So... She's a " Master Debater " ?

That explains everything.

[Progress08]

Careful not to go blind.

[toochie50]

Hopefully Gwen will press her for a "real" answer and not let her skirt around the issue.

[35Echo]

Hopefully, Sarah, will lead off with a congratulation of Gwen on the publication of her new book. That should set the tone for the debate....­..........­....LOL

[CubFanHere]

I think Joe should actually go for the jugular on her and I don't think it will be perceived as bullying her. For Christ's sake, she's not running for the mayor of Wasilla or the Governor of Alaska anymore. This is prime time politics and if you can't take a punch you shouldn't be in the game.

Joe can tactfully call her out when she gives the round about answer by simply saying, "I'm not sure I understand Governor Palin's position/answer on this question. She didn't really seem to answer your question, but let me do so by saying..."

Keep saying that and sooner or later the audience is going to start to see a pattern - that Sarah Palin is nothing but a pitbull with lipstick who is full of hot air and no solutions.

[Progress08]

She's running for the ambassador of cute town and the mayor of huggsville.

[toochie50]

Well she's in the big leagues now - it's different than debating a "representative" of Alaska.

She will be very sarcastic towards Joe and Barack and i think the country does not want to see this type of behavior at this time of crisis.

[blackpope]

where Andrew Halcro is off is that this is not a gubernatorial debate for a state with less inhabitants than my elementary school students....She can't get away w/ flimpsy answers, she has tried that...tying economic bailout to health care reform.....it would only drive more laughs tina fey's way.

[PioneerKing]

After reading the transcripts, or carefully listening to what Palin says there is no way anyone can rightfully claim that Palin is a good debater.

During those debates Palin does not give substantive answers to most of the questions. Palin dodges the questions and responds "I won't challenge the will of the voters," or "if that's what the voters have decided." When Palin give answers they are trite reiterative republican rhetoric.

Palin does not offer an original thought throughout the debates and, fails to exhibit breadth and depth of knowledge on the topics.

Thursday, Palin will wear her hair down and use one of those high-tech earpieces that actors and news anchors wear that allows them to get their lines whispered to them.

The give away will be the inadvertent eye roll to the side of her head that the ear piece is in.

Palin will try to keep her head down a lot and have lots of strange 6 second pauses. It's going to be very interesting theater.

Pay attention to how much writing Palin will be doing when Biden answers a question she will frantically write down answers whispered to her in the ear-com.

Palin will show up, remember her name when called upon and respond with republican rhetoric and give a few one liners; for that the media will proclaim her a victor and ready for membership in the Mensa Society.

http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/1001/p09s01-coop.html

[TheGuide]

Hopefully Biden or his people read this article.

[progressivelady]

Non answer's this is scary

[Everybody Should Vote]

Oct 1 Polling Update
http://voteforamerica.net/editorials/Comments.aspx?ArticleId=83&ArticleName=Poll+Update

A New Republic...an Party
http://voteforamerica.net/editorials/Comments.aspx?ArticleId=82&ArticleName=A+New+Republic...an+Party

Will McCain Re-suspend his Campaign?
http://voteforamerica.net/editorials/Comments.aspx?ArticleId=80&ArticleName=Will+McCain+Re-suspend+his+Campaign%3f

Obama 339, McCain 199
http://voteforamerica.net/electoral.aspx

[DaOne]

Goodbye to the popular governor!

http://www.adn.com/sarah-palin/story/542179.html

[kellygrrrl]

so Sarah is LOVED by "The People" because she doesn't bother to talk about stuff they don't understand?

[Whinger]

When she sidesteps a question Joe Biden must draw attention to her failure, every time!

This is all about damage limitation by dragging Biden down to her level.

Am I correct Karl?

[kellygrrrl]

Karl is looking less and less genius by the day
(though still quite EVIL)

yesterday he was WHINING about the Pelosi speech and he almost couldn't even act it out

[kellygrrrl]

"then I look out into the audience and I ask myself: Does any of this really matter?"

there you go! sums it all up.

[Shannon2008]

You can say "I'll get back with ya later" when you're the Governor of Alaska. However, it won't fly at the national level. She's going to have to have answers, or she's going to be in for a long night.

[lmt27]

Tina Fey will have years worth of parody with this one.

[sb250guy]

Non-knowledge breeds non-answers.