What the Palin-Biden Debate Really Told us

Who won the Palin-Biden debate? Barack Obama, I suspect.

Who was the big loser? In an historic fortnight that had already underscored his erratic nature, John McCain.

The fact that Palin was able to string her sentences together last night - which she couldn't manage to do in her unscripted interviews with Katie Couric -- shows only how low McCain has strapped his presidential quest.

Sarah Palin's task was an impossible one: to demonstrate that she is ready to be president of the United States. McCain put her in that impossible position; and her performance -- all prep and no depth -- demonstrated the bind he has put himself in.

Yes, he "energized the base" with his Hail Mary pick of Palin as a running mate. But he also demonstrated cynical disregard for the requirement of stable governance were he to be elected president, and then -- through his incapacitation or death -- Palin be called upon to exercise the powers of the presidency.

Just how scary a notion that is went on full display last night: She appeared to lack any semblance of the requisite depth, knowledge, or sense of history we should expect in a president or vice president; then she sought to excuse it by saying, "I've only been at this for five weeks."

Yes, she could wink, she could tell Biden, "Say it ain't so, Joe, there you go again," and she could remind us again and again that she is a hockey Mom from the land of Joe-Six-pack (as if Western Republicans don't swill Pinot Grigio with the rest of the country at their fund-raisers). She seemed incapable of thinking through the American condition and responding to it except by scripted answers, theatrical gestures, and tested buzzwords -- and by announcing at the outset that she would decide which questions from the moderator to answer and which to ignore.

Yet Biden's performance (deeply knowledgeable, sensible, and generally responsive to the questions) was perhaps the best evidence that -- considered non-ideologically, but rather on judgment and temperament -- Obama may be ready to be president, and McCain -- who ought to be ready -- is not.

Time after time, Biden had to tell Palin what John McCain's real record is -- as instance after instance -- she misrepresented it (or misunderstood the legislative process), repeated easy slogans and bromides and, for the most part perhaps, offended the intelligence of voters who are not already die-hard, ideological proponents of right-wing Republicanism, creationism, or simplistic solutions to tough problems.

"Maverick," "Maverick," "Maverick," she kept repeating about John McCain and herself. Perhaps Biden's best moment in the best night of his career as a candidate (and I have heard him at his awful worst -- i.e., being his own worst enemy) came when he challenged McCain's constant claim to the Maverick title.

The tactical and intellectual deficiencies of the McCain campaign have been best analyzed by conservative and Republican commentators, and even politicians. George Will, Charles Krauthammer, Peggy Noonan, Chuck Hagel, come quickly to mind. (Hence, Krauthammer, following last night's debate: "You can't blame McCain. In an election in which all the fundamentals are working for the opposition, he feels he has to keep throwing long in order to keep hope alive. Nonetheless, his frenetic improvisation has perversely [for him] framed the rookie challenger favorably as calm, steady and cool.")

As a former White House (Republican) chief of staff said to me, "Palin is evidence of desperation; she is an embarrassment." That is the bottom line. (I generally check in with Republicans -- not Democrats -- to assess how the McCain campaign is doing.) He noted, "She wasn't vetted, really; it's an open secret in Washington, but the details of the negligence are better known to Republicans than Democrats." That doesn't mean she doesn't have a future in the Republican galaxy, lacks star power, or couldn't be a fine Secretary of the Interior in a McCain administration.

It's too bad. Earlier in his career, until the presidency finally seemed within his grasp, McCain had demonstrated a real willingness to seriously and thoughtfully take on both his party and the Washington establishment when he thought they were wrong -- albeit mostly on one issue: pork, an issue he has been heroic on.

But his real opportunity to show independence of his party's reigning dogma and cultural-warrior-infantry was in his choice of a vice presidential running mate. Instead, McCain, who has lectured us about duty, honor, country first, has left many independent-minded voters who might want to vote for him at an impossible, dangerous impasse: an unprepared vice presidential candidate running on a ticket with the oldest presidential nominee in history -- a 72-year-old with four cancer surgeries and medical records he has ordered sealed.

Conventional wisdom has almost always held (JFK-LBJ being a notable exception) that a presidential nominee's choice of vice president makes no difference in the outcome of the election.

This time it is likely to be determinate, because it tells us so much not only about Sarah Palin, but also John McCain's state of mind today, and the promise that his political career once held and now appears to have been left behind.

This post originally appeared on CNN's AC360 Blog.

Comments

[solanus]

email tom brokaw and let him know we expect him to keep McCain on subject; unlike Ifill, and be fair, that we are watching ; you can email him at meet the press mailbox

[nobozos]

Carl:
I respect you, but in reference to Palin, you're as out to lunch as every other male columnist I've read.
You claim she would be a fine Sec. of Interior. Why? She has paid no dues. It's obvious she knows very little about much of anything. Why should SHE be at the head of the pack.
The office of the Vice President, or even Sec. Interior are not places for a novice pretend leader.
Knock off assuming she has any special qualifications over your average Joe (six-pack). She does not.

[lewes17266]

Thank you for that comment. I hope you will read this essay - http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sean-gilfillan/dont-hire-palin-how-palin_b_122726.html

[mmiddle]

Secretary of the Interior? are you kidding?? That agency is again notorious for over-the-top corruption, and Palin's administrative style in Alaska was riddled with corruption. Chief of staff, maybe, but she doesn't seem well-organized or attentive enough for that role. She is best suited to be the newest
Fox anchor. She isn't even original enough to be the new Ann Coulter.

[IanC]

Based on what we heard about the sex and bribes going on in the interior department a couple of weeks ago, I would bet that the oil company execs will be lobbying "hard" for her to be secretary.

Problem is, McCain would have to get elected. And that ain't gonna happen.

[pons1595]

http://www.newsminer.com/news/2008/may/29/palin-cuts-money-energy-research/
[Saraah Palin] vetoed legislation for wind and solar energy and is securely in the pockets of big oil (her husband works for British Petroleum). She's even willing to let polar bears die for oil. Coming in at number two because as Nate Silver points out, "taking on the oil industry" for Sarah Palin means getting them to drill more and cough up more scratch for Alaskans. This is a "put Alaska first" policy not a "put America first" policy. Since she's making Alaskan oil the centerpiece of her campaign

[knowhelpnow]

We have been embarrassed for going on 8 years by this president, I don't think we can stand it any longer. Her voice, her use of language, her lies are driving me crazy.

[dubop]

For someone that was bustin' Biden for"looking backwards" she sure did alot of looking backwards. Reagan,maverick, what I did as opposed to what I would do.I think Gwen Ifill had a next to impossible job. She was going to be damned either way. I wish she'd said on at least 1 or 2 occasions "that wasn't the question I'll ask it again". She let Palin turn this into the "talking points express".

[vietnamvetforobama]

It is incredible that the bar was set so low for Palin that some have suggested she did well. My goodness!! She said nothing in the debate that refected understanding or depth. I can't believe that her eye-winking performance led some in the media to gush that she succeeded. Have we become a nation of idiots led around by the soundbites of pundits? Say it ain't so!!!

[DC]

The fact that a McCain has chosen a Palin for his VP and potential President tells us so much about the demise of the world leadership if the USA.

[08politicaljunkie]

The best line in this essay: "McCain -- who ought to be ready -- is not."

[SarahJBrown]

After watching the VP debate I have come to the conclusion that there are 2 Sarah Palins - a Sarah Palin that is scripted and therefore can perform above the low bar set for her and 2 the Sarah Palin that freezes and becomes incoherent bordering on speaking gibberish when not scripted. She was so scripted last night that even after Biden spoke about being a father and his loss of his first wife and daughter and looking after two injured sons as a single parent, because this was so off script and spontaneous, Sarah Palin did not show the empathy that one would extend (especially a mom) to another human being but kept on script and continued as if she was not paying attention or did not hear what was just said. Is this the woman that most pundits say is relating to women - I would like to know which women - must be cold and cynical women.

Also, why does she parade her children so much day and night and passing little baby Trig from hand to hand - this carried on to a rally right afterwards - where are these parents thinking caps when it comes to raising children and what are they doing allowing school age children to be running across the country instead of attending school?

[ESerafina42]

About the kids - she mentioned that they were in public school - they're not now. They're (presumably) receiving private tutoring. My mother got a letter from the school one year because I was out sick too many days. Somehow I have a feeling that's not going to happen to her.

[BuckeyeGal]

Easy one. Just more of the same "family values" double standard.

[skertso]

Very thoughtful and insightful article and clearly very true. With the choice of Sarah Palin John McCain made it crystal clear that he is not ready to be the President of the United States.

[CarolinaDem]

My brother was in directed studies at Yale, which means concentrated bright guys (no women then). He says the scary thing about ordinary intelligence is that it so hard for people to imagine that you're not as dumb as they are, so you have to choke back the sense of having your intelligence insulted a lot. He, on the other hand, constantly assumes that other people are as bright as he is. That's Obama's problem. He can't quite grasp that the electorate is as dumb in major parts as it is.

[SpeakFreely]

I don't think its his problem. I think it is what has gotten Obama this far.

[Phalanxman]

That's funny. I was just going to say it's what has gottn McCain this far.

[BuckeyeGal]

I wouldn't go so far as to say dumb. Just brainwashed. When something challenges the programming, it's labeled as unAmurrican liberal media spin.

[pericles21]

Do DEMS remember Gore, and Kerry? Fair-minded, courteous, and losers. Dems, let's wise up, smarten up and find a way to anticipate Repub antics. Clues - Repubs violate any pre-debate agreements, Repubs like to ridicule and demean and laugh at others' expense, Repubs put down learning and education.­..by demeaning and ridicule, Repubs claim links to regular folks while they actually have way above average assets and entitlements of the well-off, Repubs are sensitive to being treated as they treat others...g­et it?

[SpeakFreely]

Basically they're school-yard bullies.

[DougNTexas]

Yes, and if you read about the young John McCain you read about a school yard bully.

[angelrunning]

I just had a very revealing conversation with a staunch Republican friend.

Normally, he will vigorously argue in favor of Republican positions and candidates, but when the topic of Palin's debate performance came up, he said only, "she seemed a little shaky on foreign policy," and quickly changed the subject. I think a lot of Republicans are horrified by her shallow knowledge but are still loyally trying to toe the party line and convince un-decideds.

[pericles21]

Sure, he quickly changed subject and MIGHT be embarassed but he is still probably thinking "but at least she appeared to six-pack (lots of votes) to kick butt".

[SpeakFreely]

I would love to see a poll asking educated people who won the debate versus a poll asking under-educated people the same thing.

I think it would be both telling and unsurprising.

[RRonin]

Palin isn't only on a losing ticket, she is damaging her chances of getting re-elected in Alaska, or running for any future office (Senate, etc). Her best chance is in TV. I can see her on Fox alongside Steve Doucy.