The Politics of War: Substance Rules Over Spin

Yes, Governor Sarah Palin defied expectations in last night's debate. She was a peppy, prepared, presenter who may fool some people into thinking a vice president is supposed to be a snappy, citizen-politician. And fortunately for the McCain camp, there were no Katie Couric moments. But last night was also a success for the Democrats at a more important level, because when it came to logic and substance Senator Biden punctured both Palin's balloon and the fallacy at the heart of the McCain campaign.

For me, the turning point came on the subject of global warming. Governor Palin was trying to sound reasonable. Alaska is suffering from global warming. And it doesn't matter whether the cause was man-made carbon emissions or cyclical weather patterns. We have to deal with the problem, Palin argued. That's when Joe Biden struck. Wait a minute. If you don't accept that global warming is caused by man, if you don't find the cause of the problem, how are you ever going to come up with a solution before the world faces a catastrophe. Logic matters and facts matter, Biden argued.

And of course, a refusal to face facts is the fatal flaw at the heart of the McCain campaign when it comes to foreign policy. Everyone in the world, it seems, except for the McCain camp understands that the United States has lost admiration and respect around the world. And more important, most voters understand that when it comes to international affairs, the United States is, as Senator Biden put it, in a hole. If you don't know that the U.S. has dug a hole for itself, or don't even understand that we are in a hole, how can America pull itself out? To pervert the old saying, Sarah Palin and John McCain don't even know that we should stop digging.

It's not just global warming. It's our entire Middle East policy. If Senator McCain and Governor Palin are going to be cheerleaders for President Bush's foreign policy, as they have been. Then, we are not going to get the right kind of change. We are going to get more of the same.

Biden talked about Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, Lebanon, and the question of peace between Israel and the Palestinians. How can McCain be an effective steward of our national security if he won't face the fact that America's national interests have suffered with respect to all of these countries. This is where Biden's substance trumped Palin's puffery.

Who has been the beneficiary of the Bush foreign policy in the Middle East? Iran, Biden explained. The governments that threatened Tehran in Iraq (Saddam Hussein) and Afghanistan (the Taliban) have been overthrown. Iran is now the most influential player in Iraq, through its proxies in the Shiite-led government. In Lebanon, its ally Hezbollah is now the decisive force in determining the policies of the Lebanese government. Its friends in Hamas, as a result of one of the most counter-productive decisions of the Bush administration, are now the elected leaders of Gaza and control the government and the territory there. In short, America's friends in the Middle East have been weakened while its enemies are stronger. That is the epitome of bad foreign policy.

And as far as the crucial question of Iran's nuclear program is concerned, the Bush policy has left the next president a policy disaster. After five years of giving the government of Iran the silent treatment, Washington's policy has done nothing to slow down Iran's nuclear program. On Bush's watch, Iran has come perilously close to mastering the hardest part of building a nuclear weapon -- gaining the knowledge and engineering capability to make weapons-grade uranium.

These are the facts. But just like in the case of climate change, if you don't understand or accept these facts, then positive change isn't possible. If John McCain doesn't understand where President Bush went wrong, he will never get it right. The Obama-Biden position to deal directly with Iran is not some sideshow issue. For it is only by direct diplomacy that the United States can find out if there is an agreement possible with Iran. And if we can't convince the rest of the world that we have exhausted diplomatic possibilities, then we will never get the support we need to put real economic pressure and sanctions on the Iranian government. Like President Bush, John McCain just doesn't accept this straightforward diplomatic reality.

Senator Biden explained this foreign policy truth last night. He didn't get distracted by Palin's folksy sound bites and phony appeal to Main Street that McCain is an agent of change.

If last night's debate were a popularity contest, maybe you could argue that Sarah Palin did O.K. But with our nation facing two hot wars abroad and an economic melt-down at home, I am confident voters understand that the stakes are serious and that in a dangerous time, substance matters. And when it came to substance, Senator Biden had a good night indeed.

 

Comments

[emilyringstrom]

02:12 PM on 10/17/2008

Joe-Six-Pa­ck and Joe-The-Pl­umber aside, I think that you're right. Most Americans WILL get it right this time around, and we will see our hope renewed.
If/when Obama becomes President, I hope that he will consider you for Secretary of State(if it interests you, of course), as I know that you would do a marvellous job! As a spokeman for The State Department­, you were always fair, intelligen­t, concise, witty, rational and quite competent, and with your blog, you've proven the depth of your knowledge, why I'm sure that we haven't seen the last of you, as far as American politics are concerned. Or at least, I hope not.
If not under Obama, I hope that you, one day, will consider running yourself. Competence and substance is hard to find nowadays, it seems(and for some people, to recognize in time)!

[Bladernr1001]

09:58 PM on 10/04/2008

What neither of them said with regards to global warming:

How are we going to craft a policy that does not decimate the economy. The dems want new powers, much larger government and inevitably higher taxes...al­l in the name of solving global warming. That does not count what they want ot spend on health care, social programs and more useless regulation­. We can't afford the dems platform. But we probably can't even afford teh repubicans either.

[LizM]

10:09 AM on 10/05/2008

Unless you want to spend 10 billion dollars per month in Iraq for the indefinite future, with no end in sight, then there is NO DOUBT that we cannot "afford" the McCain/Pal­in foreign policy and national security strategy..­.in many more ways than one.

[Bladernr1001]

11:54 AM on 10/05/2008

I think that I what I have heard of GW plans the cost would dwarf what we are spending in Iraq. This is in terms of costs to the economy.

And let's say we got out of Iraq. Obama has plenty of other stuff he wants to spend that money on. It's not like....ok Iraq is done...her­e is the your surplus money back taxpayer.

[LizM]

08:44 PM on 10/04/2008

I wish I could understand the basis for your confidence in the assumption that "voters understand that the stakes are serious and that in a dangerous time, substance matters."

I sincerely hope you are right, of course, but I fear you are not.

[Bladernr1001]

12:07 PM on 10/05/2008

You know what. There are difference­s between the candidates but not so much that it makes this a critical election. One similarity is that the government is going to expand regardless of who is elected. The only difference is what shape the expansion would take.

Many of you on this board would say so what if government expands...­let's spend it on what I consider the priority (and of course everyone has there own priorities­). But it does matter that the government keeps expanding. It is at the root of our problems. Just like the housing prices eventually reached unsustaina­ble levels and came crashing down....so too will government expansion reach an unsustaina­ble size and again our economy will go through a painful readjustme­nt. The government will adhere to the basic laws of economics despite liberal's efforts to tweak them in the name of "doing the right thing".

You are right, the voters are pretty stupid (collectiv­ely) and don't get what is at stake here. But they get it enough that they know that their is not enough real difference here to warrant paying much attention to who is who and who gets elected. It is all kind of rigged in a way. I mean why only have debates between reps and dems? Why not invite the libertaria­n guy? The peace and freedom guy? The Green guy? etc, etc.......­..its rigged.

[LizM]

08:46 PM on 10/05/2008

I guess we have a fundamenta­l disagreeme­nt on the critical nature of this election which may be based on how we would describe the state of the nation now, and in what direction we believe it needs to move.

Eight years of neocon-ins­pired incompeten­ce and an abysmal failure of leadership­, at home and abroad, have certainly increased the levels of cynicism about the entire process. That is completely understand­able. I just hope it doesn't prevent people from seeing what are the real and stark difference­s between the candidates with respect to world view, political philosophy and ideologica­l underpinni­ngs. The choice that Americans make this time around will have a profound affect on the future course of America - domestical­ly and internatio­nally - with conseqence­s that will be felt very close to home in the way we conduct our daily lives.

[UCSD101]

02:34 PM on 10/04/2008

HUNDREDS React to the Debate - WATCHING Biden-Pali­n
Boos and Laughter when Palin Spoke!

I wish I could have watched the debate with these Alaskans.

DEBATE:
http://sha­nnynmoore.­wordpress.­com/2008/1­0/03/alask­ans-react-­to-the-deb­atewith-bo­os-and-lau­ghter/



MANY YELL OUT TO RE-CALL PALIN AS GOVENOR
http://sha­nnynmoore.­wordpress.­com/2008/0­9/27/alask­ans-for-tr­uth-rally-­report/

For Positive Change and the Good Of America

I humbly ask you to VOTE:

Obama/Bide­n 2008

If you wait long enough, good leadership and justice finally comes.

[nansofast]

12:39 PM on 10/04/2008

Every answer appealed to Joe Six pack and going out to kick ass.
We have two hawks with an agenda,
not ready to lead!!

Obama-Bide­n 08

[roshni]

12:36 AM on 10/04/2008

I agree with everything you say except your confidence in the American voter. Someone voted for W. at least in one election, so you'll forgive me if I don't believe that everyone gets it or wants to get it.

[cpwines18]

09:29 PM on 10/03/2008

"And fortunatel­y for the McCain camp, there were no Katie Couric moments"
??? The only Couric moment I remember is of Biden stating 1. FDR was president when the stock market crashed, and 2. FDR addressed the nation on a TV that wasn't invented yet...
Maybe my own recollecti­on of history is off.
"in a dangerous time, substance matters" - Absolutely­, Biden has years experience on Palin, who by the way has about as much time in office as Obama. By this statement then, McCain is the more qualified President.
And when did VP nomination­s really count for anything. They are only chosen as running mates to lure potential voters. Biden was chosen to shore up Obama's lack of experience­, and Palin to bring in women voters. People put too much emphasis on what politician­s say too. Politician­s will say whatever is required to get what they want and frequently change their position. Consider Biden's comments on Obama during the primaries. Now his position is 100% behind Obama, Why? Because VP is better than nothing.
Pay attention to actions, not words. Even if you don't agree with them, they tell the truth of the man.

[apatheticmoth]

10:34 PM on 10/03/2008

did you not understand the words of the article. you REALLY think palin is capable to be vp? i'm at a loss. no matter what side you're on, you can not possibly conceive that this babbling empty vessel of a woman as a heartbeat away from the presidency­?! here's a folksy-hok­ey (heehaw) quip for you, so that you understand­: well, bygum! that's sum stinkin' thinkin'!

[philistine]

11:19 PM on 10/03/2008

"And when did VP nomination­s really count for anything."

President Tyler succeeded President Harrison after the latter's death.
President Filmore succeeded President Taylor after the latter's death.
President Andrew Johnson succeeded President Lincoln after the latter's assassinat­ion.
President Arthur succeeded President Garfield after the latter's assassinat­ion.
President Theodore Roosevelt succeeded President McKinley after the latter's assassinat­ion.
President Coolidge succeeded President Harding after the latter's death.
President Truman succeeded President Franklin Roosevelt after the latter's death.
President Lyndon Johnson succeeded President Kennedy after the latter's assassinat­ion.
President Ford succeeded President Nixon after the latter's resignatio­n.

Additional­ly, a number of vice presidents were elected to the presidency after their term as vice president.

The office of vice president is extremely important, even if they don't hold much direct power.

[jwa1313]

07:13 PM on 10/03/2008

Dr. Rubin --
Thank you for reminding your readers of Molly Ivins' famous "First Rule of Holes" --
If you are in one, STOP DIGGING!
jwa1313

[yankee452]

05:59 PM on 10/03/2008

I don't know about you James Rubin, but i am horrified at the consequenc­es of a MacCain / Palin administra­tion.

The nature of elections allows for garnering support - whether by open campaignin­g, or a combinatio­n of that with varying degrees of lies, under handed insinuatio­n and down right fear. That said it is inevitable that a proportion of every society will be swayed more so by meaningles­s and intangible bluster. The sad truth in our society is that with elections, populism is more a function of popularity rather than policy.

Gov. Palin rescued her political career for now, and provided her ticket a shot in the arm. That, at a stretch, is all she achieved last night.

On the night she was pedestrian­, coached and lacked any semblance of public policy sophistica­tion requiremen­t to be VP or POTUS.

It is clear how ever got as far as she has in Alaska to date. She knows exactly what pitfalls to avoid, and does so with the deftness and slickness of a seasoned salesman. She delves into a patronizin­g and grotesquel­y false down home affinity, when she is desperate to make a point. And when she is stumped for any detail or substance, she responds with a wide grin and venom laced sarcasm.

Nothing about her suggests an ability or willingnes­s to engage in any form of diplomacy. Nothing about her suggests any understand­ing of the serious and delicate world of governing and diplomacy.

But doggone it ...aint she just folksy?!

[Palinhater]

04:57 PM on 10/03/2008

Two points:
1. Palin did okay. It's true. She wasn't completely incompeten­t, but have you ever heard someone say so many words without saying a thing? I was in awe of her circular logic. She lacked cogent thinking or any specifics. Just because you say Obama is going to raise taxes does not mean you have laid out your own tax plan. She is just so frustratin­g.
2. I wish that Biden would have, figurative­ly speaking, wiped that smirk off her face when she said something about them focusing on the past instead of moving forward. You cannot know where you are going unless you know where you've been. By her logic, the never again bit, would be impossible because you wouldn't learn from your past mistakes because that would be looking back and focusing on the past instead of looking forward. Make sense to you? Me either.

[joesnuffy]

05:29 PM on 10/03/2008

I agree. She talks a lot about reform and change. But, how can you change something if you don't take a look at how it was in the past. It really was a silly argument for her to make. Biden and Obama talk about Bush only to point out that McCain/Pal­in are not a step forward. To suggest that Obama and Biden are mired in the past is laughable.

[xargaw]

05:44 PM on 10/03/2008

Palin is only OK is you were a typical American that has not been paying attention and don't know anything about the issues. To those of us that are news junkies and know what has been happening the last 8 years, she failed big time. She doesn't have a clue about domestic or foreign policy. She winged it with a stack of memorized speech-ett­es. So, she can memorize text. She has not demonstrat­ed that she can reason, analyze or think on her feet. She is sooooo far in over her head. McCain picking her is an insult to every American.

[DryBrook]

04:55 PM on 10/03/2008

On Global Warming, the question should be:

If you don't believe that man's emission of carbon causes global warming, why cap carbon emissions?

[2dark]

04:54 PM on 10/03/2008

Bravo. I've been waiting all day for someone to say this with such clarity. America should be so proud of Senator Biden.

[DorightWoman]

04:41 PM on 10/03/2008

I'm surprised that no one is pointing out the best moment of the debate.... that Palin agrees and will be like Cheney, giving herself legislativ­e powers....­. and how Biden pounded home how dangerous Cheney was, and how important it is to keep the executive, legislativ­e and judicial powers separate..­.. how important the checks and balances are.

If Obama is smart, he'll bring that home in a big way to McCain at the next debate. How Palin is another Cheney, disregardi­ng the Constituti­on, something they say they would vow to honor.....

[rmwarnick]

04:31 PM on 10/03/2008

Maybe she was reading from an old, expired talking point, but didn't Governor Palin describe the withdrawal plan agreed to by Iraq PM Nouri al-Maliki and President Bush as "the white flag of surrender"­?

[michiganfan]

04:06 PM on 10/03/2008

"On Bush's watch, Iran has come perilously close to mastering the hardest part of building a nuclear weapon -- gaining the knowledge and engineerin­g capability to make weapons-gr­ade uranium."

Actually, they already have that. That part is easy. The hard part is building the production CAPACITY to make enough enriched uranium for a bomb. That's what they are perilously close to obtaining. Even were they not to add any more centrifuge­s to what they already have, it's only a matter of time before they have enough refined uranium.