Am I Crazy or was that an Ass Whuppin'?
At last, a Democratic candidate I actually want to have a beer with. I know this idiotic standard is more marketing ad agency speak than actual criteria for elected office but it is a pleasant surprise from the usually tone deaf to the real world Dems. Not only do I want to grab a beer with Biden but I might even have three or four and maybe some onion rings.
He was masterful tonight. Biden is a stone cold pro in a world where most politicians just become cold or stone-like. But Joe Biden managed to communicate on every issue in a clear and laser focused way. The happiest person on the planet had to be Barack Obama's gastroenterologist. Because when Obama has to go under for his colonoscopy as president this Doctor will not have to rush, lest the VP drop the ball while in charge for those forty-five minutes. Obama's GI will even be able to take a second lap around the large intestine to make sure.
Biden's outrage may have been the most delicious part of the debate. When he called Cheney "dangerous" or talked about the long line of McCain mistakes on the war or how he has done nothing but support deregulation, it was like drinking cold hose water on a hundred degree day after moving furniture up a four story walk up for ten hours (which is pretty much my metaphor for the past eight years). It was refreshing and needed and I got a brain freeze from gulping it too fast.
What made his outrage all the more impressive was that he had to do it while playing center field on an array of factual errors and outright lies coming from Governor Palin. "Actually that's just not true...." or "The real truth is..." became not Biden's starting burden but his launching off point to shredding the farce that is the McCain campaign and the corporate right "philosophy."
I do have to give it up for Sarah Palin on one account. She is brave. She doesn't have the knowledge, experience, sense of purpose or solutions to be on that stage with Biden yet she hung in there selling the hell out of the tired "less government" "cut taxes" half lies the Republicans have been shilling for thirty years. At one point she felt like the last person to try and sell time shares in Centralia, the town in Pennsylvania that was literally on fire for twenty years. "If you ignore the fire-filled sink hole in the back yard that devours pets, I think you'll find this condo is a steal! (hold smile.... hold smile....)."
Governor Palin leans far closer to "spokesperson" than representative of the people. If she had lived in Amity in the mid seventies the Mayor would hired her to tell the press the beach is safe for swimming and Roy Scheider is overreacting. Her lowest point was giving an actual and literal "shout out" to kids watching in a 3rd grade class. Other than Mondale in '80, that must be the only "shout out" in VP debate history.
And nothing gives me as much joy as how lame it is when McCain and Palin refer to themselves as "Mavericks." Thank God Biden body slammed the whole concept tonight by pointing out how McCain has rolled over on every major vote to big money no matter the moral stakes. Palin and McCain are "Mavericks" only in situations where people are so conservative that driving a grey Mercedes as opposed to black or saying "shout out" in a speech is considered (said with a judgmental whisper) outrageous.
But as strong and as clear as Biden was tonight I am not in anyway advocating taking a victory lap. Yes, Obama is six to eight points ahead in many polls and yes, McCain has chosen a radical religious right unqualified VP and yes, the economy is in bad shape because of exactly the kinds of policies of deregulation that McCain has prided himself on. But still, the corporatists own the media, and I'm sure as I'm writing this they are talking about how it was a victory for Palin because she didn't repeat the Couric interview debacle or because she didn't say that troops were on their way to Russia right now. No, this isn't over. Many Americans are still freaked out about gradients in skin tone and voter caging and fraud are very real threats. And fear and lies are always hard to combat no matter how disconnected from reality they are. The good news is, we've got a decent chance. But I can't shake the feeling our system is more messed up than we know and we could still lose this thing.
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I have a new crush, and his name is Joe Biden. What a stud. He totally kicked major ass. My favorite line is when he said, "I dont know where to start." Hilarious.
That was a very insightful post.
It is infinitely frustrating, though, that most people are just now getting to know who Joe Biden really is and what he is really all about. He conducted himself during this debate in the very same way he has throughout this presidential primary and election campaign and, indeed, throughout his entire political life - with grace, honesty and candor, intelligence, passion, humor and respect.
Unfortunately, he has been and continues to be ignored and dismissed by the media and blogosphere (present company excepted, of course!) when, that is, they are not driving their manufactured national myths about Joe Biden or misrepresenting his policy positions and perspectives.
If the Democratic ticket fails to win this thing, then we will be forced to blame, in no small part, an incompetent and inept media, unwilling or unable to carry out the collective responsibilities a duties of a free press to ensure a functional democracy, along with a dangerously ill-informed electorate, unwilling or unable to demand excellence from their political leaders.
There has to be a replacement for the ineffective and expensive prison system that serves only as a revolving door to criminals. It is costing the government 25 thousand dollars a year to house an inmate only to have them return after release. We are doing something wrong and the problem has to be corrected for the sake of the tax payer and victims of brazen criminals.
An organization calling itself: ASS WHIPPING INC. is lobbying for the licence to rehabilitate lawbreakers after they have been found by the courts to be guilty of a major crime. Upon being released into the custody of ASS WHIPPING INC. the guilty party will receive a good ass whipping and if necessary put under the long term custody of ASS WHIPPING INC. The state will be billed for the service. It is estimated that the cost to the taxpayer will be only 10 thousand a year for each lawbreaker in custody. It would result in the closing of all prisons and a savings of over 250 billion a year.
There will be no detention cells because each criminal under their custody would be free but under close supervision. The supervisors of the program will all be trained with a mind on rehabilitation and severe punishment for lawbreakers. Each person in custody would recieve a surgically implanted device which will signal their supervisor if any of the rules were broken.
Okay, so the governor didn't set Gwen on fire, and the senator was ONLY fantastic.
Seems to be the gist I've been getting all over the MSM, and it's very sad.
I thought the media was liberal?
You are correct, Mr. McKay. Down below the Mason-Dixon line, we call that an "Alabama" A**-Whoopin'.
I can't shake that feeling either Adam. I keep trying to remember what Martin Luther King, Jr. said and wrote "EVIL NEVER PREVAILS!"
If evil never prvails, how do you explain the Bush/Cheney regime?
Actually, I thought Palin's rant was a rude parade of lies, which is all I've seen from the GOP as usual. They are generally unethical, immoral, greedy, cheating, cold, uncaring, racist, sacrilegious, power-hungry, paid for, UNpatriotic (as shown by their treatment of vets), WASPy hypocrites. No thanks. We are trying to repair what we've had the past 8 years after letting an illegal administration continue in their first, handed-to, and second, stolen, win. See Clinton Curtis if you are not afraid of the truth. And we all know the Jebber promised FL to his brother, Georgie. Gore actually won by 500,000 uncounted votes, We true Americans have had enough. Red-necks, KKK, NRA fanatics, greedy CEOs and Stockbrokers, and all those who choose to remain uninformed, go home.
I'm going to Obama's site right now to donate more $$$$. Truth always wins in the end. Hackers beware. Obama/Biden 2008. I believe Nov. 4th will become an international holiday with fireworks and all when Obama wins. If they suceed in stealing it again, my passport is ready.
Excellent post Adam!
The way they lowered the bar for Palin to do well seemed to be in keeping with " no child left behind." philosophy in education. Unfortunately, this is not grade school it is the second highest office in the land and she simply does not pass the test.
To answer your question - yes, you're crazy!!
Hell no, he's not crazy. It was an awesome ass whupping. Gotta love that Biden! He's the real deal.
You aren't crazy at all. Biden stood tall against the fact challenged talking points canned remarks that passed as "debate" to some. Moreover, anyone who opposes four more years like the last eight has to rightfully worry about as well as combat the dirty tricks of those cretins who claim they are for democracy but do everything they can to subvert it. Classic Orwellianism. Every able bodied person has to be ready to combat possible fraud as if it were being done by Satan himself. Work hard everybody! We HAVE to take back our country.
Dude, it is time to back away from the politics for a little while. Fear does not accomplish anything but attracting it. Glass half full or empty? Just sayin. It is great to be guarded and cautious, but not obsessively so. Calm. Breathe. refocus....hope,change. Contribute something this weekend to the cause. You may as well have some fun with it.
As much as I despise the whole Palin stunt, I have to disagree with you. Yes, Biden was good. It was expected, so no real gain came off of it. The vast majority of people already agreed that they would most likely agree with Joe.
Sarah, on the other hand, basically spewed random talking points based on keywords she'd caught in the question. It would have been ridiculous except she's good enough to wing it and yes, she did, no matter if there were a few cheap tricks thrown in, good old non-verbal communication methods to manipulate. She was pretending to be flirting like any skilled salesman desperate for the close, and sure enough, it worked.
In a war of images and 5-second soundbites, Biden had nothing to gain from it; Palin, nothing to lose.
A double clinker from Palin.
After Biden made reference to his wife and her career in education, Palin referred to her as a "teacher", when in fact she is a "professor". Then if that wasn't enough she goes on to say that her reward would be in heaven, for her chosen profession. Had she not heard of Biden's story?
What a "Dizzy Debutante Dolt".
I propose Talk Like a Palin Day!
Dotcha think? And on this day we all smile unctuously and wink a lot too. Golly, she'd just blend in then. And it'd drive her nuts. I'd like to see that.
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