HuffPost's OffTheBus will be monitoring local media reaction to the Palin-Biden debate tonight and we're asking readers to jump into the talking heads maelstrom and send us your reviews as soon as the debate ends. With an estimated 60 million viewers tuning into the historic and singular vice presidential debate being held in St. Louis, Mo., between Gov. Sarah Palin, a charismatic newcomer on the national stage, and Sen. Joe Biden, the wizened foreign policy wonk and Beltway hand, we want to take the media temperature across the country by sharing your reviews of local television coverage.
This is your chance to give the the country -- and HuffPost -- a peek at how your local media reacts to what is being billed as the most greatly anticipated debate in our nation's history. Beverly Davis, an OffTheBus member, will be writing a story for tomorrow morning based on your accounts.
All we need is 15 minutes of your time and a quick report from you before 2am Eastern time tomorrow (Friday, October 3).
Here's what to do --
Tune in to your local broadcast media after the debate.
Listen carefully to your local television reporters, taking down quotes whenever possible. What do the television reporters choose to tell you about the debate? Where do they place their focus... On how the two candidates greeted each other? On whether Biden pulled out Palin's chair? Do they talk about who looked 'presidential' and who looked like a deer-in-headlights? Do they say Palin threw her hands around, smiled, and landed a belly punch? Or that she answered questions thoughtfully and with authority, proving she deserves to be a 'heartbeat away from the presidency'? Do they remind that Biden acted respectfully to his younger female challenger? Do they say we witnessed a major gaffe? That Gwen Ifill, senior correspondent for PBS, should be trashed for being tough on Palin or should receive an "A+" score for her performance as moderator? Who won? Who lost?
File a report with us - HuffPost's OffTheBus - before 2am. Here's exactly what we want to know:
* Media outlet's name by call letters (eg. New York's WCBS)
* Name of broadcast journalist(s) who commented on the Biden-Palin debate
* 3-4 sentence description of your local media outlet's take on tonight's vice presidential debate between Biden and Palin. Include AT LEAST ONE QUOTE to support your conclusion. We may quote you, so write well! For example -- "Both broadcast journalists, Sam Jones and Melinda Rogers, described the debate as 'a draw.' They pointed out that neither candidate won hands-down and that, while 'Palin exceeded expectations' (Jones) and Biden 'demonstrated his foreign policy expertise' (Rogers) neither candidate emerged victorious."
* Whether the network replayed footage of the debate. And, if so, which clips? Please provide direct quotes whenever possible and note the broadcasters' comments. For example: "The network showed McCain smirking next to the podium. Rogers said, 'He looks a bit angry, doesn't he?''"
All that's left after that is to look for our story tomorrow morning here on HuffPost. All last names and reviewer information will be kept confidential! And, of course, we're hoping to hear what you made of the debates, too.
If you can't help out this time but want to join us in the future, sign up for OffTheBus.
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As cousin Zebbo in the Ozarks down south of St Louis, Mo. opined, "one can live with one maverick. But when one is required to live with two mavericks then one is living in a pandemonium".
"That may work in Pettycoat Junction but not inside the beltway".
He did admit that Miss Sarah does look a lot like that comedinne on NBC.
Too late to make the 2 AM deadline. But the local news station in Mobile AL said that the rating was 70% for Palin, 20% for Biden and 8% a draw between them.
What rock were they under. Oh wait, that was a FOX station.
They thought Palin knocked it out of the park. She showed her leadership qualities and most people liked the fact that she talked straight to them.....and they didn't see Biden as the winner, but I would expect Huffpo to say the dems won...they have been pushing Obama all along...even against Hillary
How does one knock it out of the park when they don't actually answer the questions? That's not straight talk.
She really blew it on Afghanistan.
The fact she spent three days memorizing talking points and regurgitated them is the definition of knocking it out of the park? Ok.
Governor Failin'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F02GEenQhQI
Whooops there it is
Two points, even here in Red blinded Georgia, the local news anchor Bill Gaines pointed out how Sarah Palin continually evaded actually answering the question that was asked of her.
Sadly, no comment on Palin's agreement with Cheney that the office of the Vice President is extra Constitutional, free from the rule of law since it is not part of either the Executive or Legislative branch. Apparently, the Vice Presidency belongs to the little known "Limbo Branch" of government.
Joe Biden got it right, Cheney has been the most dangerous VP we have ever seen, Palin believes the Constitution is "flexible" on what the role of the Vice President.
Be afraid of Sarah Palin, be very afraid
I refused to watch the media after the debate, especially brokaw.
We don't have to wait till it's over! MSNBC will be blatantly anti-Palin, CNN will be a bit less obviously biased, the major networks will also lean Bidenward, and Fox News will be fair and balanced.
Unlike with stocks and mutual funds, past performance is a guarantee of future performance.
Fox News should change its slogan to "We distort, you deceide." They eventually fired the freelance caption femaile who identified Michelle as "Obama's Baby Mama." but their fawning over disgusting Republicans by disguting Republicans is downright obvious and offensive to anything that is upright. Partisan is too weak a word, so I'll say...BULL---LONEY.
Yeah, that communist Pat Buchanan at MSNBC is obviously in the tank for Biden. LOL.
I laughed out loud when I read that Fox News will be fair and balanced.
Yeah, that's rich!!!
"MSNBC will be blatantly anti-Palin"
Uh, guess again. Brokaw couldn't say enough wonderful things about Palin, and was somewhat anti-Biden
You happy?
the truth is anti-Palin
"the truth is anti-Palin" - perfectly articulated.
Proposal would exempt a specific kind of arrow from excise tax
Rum from Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands would get tax break
Filmmakers would get a $478 million in incentives to produce movies in U.S.
U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC 20515 | (202) 224-3121
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/10/02/bailout.pork/index.html
Come now! Don't you want children to have guaranteed access to wooden arrows? I know I lose sleep thinking about arrowless children, or those who have to use cheap plastic arrows...
In St. Louis there is a very popular local debate show called Donnybrook on PBS that will be going live right before the debate.
I was about to reply as the unique perspective my local news was going to have post debate, since I live in St Louis. Donnybrook is where I need to go to get analysis because the other channels will only cover the glitz and national spotlight
McCain has nowhere to go now but down. He can run away from President Bush, but he can't run away from the Republican Party. The Republicans will be regarded from now on as "the party that wrecked America." Over the weeks ahead, as carnage in the economy and the financial markets ramps up, it will become increasingly clear. It is important that this meme be spread through the internet. I urge all commentators to adopt and spread the idea that the Republicans are "the party that wrecked America." It will work because it is the truth. Use it freely. Just spread the word.
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