Joe's Big Problem

As I watched a recent interview, it struck me that Joe Biden has the toughest job in politics.

Questioned by the affable, but persistent John Roberts on CNN, Biden did what he does best. He talked. He talked past the answer. He talked about things other than the question. And he talked fast -- all the time with that "I know so much more about this than you do, I can't believe you're interrupting me with questions" smirk on his face.

That will be a problem come debate time.

True, new polls say that America's fascination with Sarah Palin is starting to feel a bit like thinking you have found "the one" -- only to realize he bites his toenails. Her Mrs. Smith goes to Washington narrative isn't holding up all that well to a careful examination of the plot lines.

She fires people who cross her (or anger her NRA supporters). The idyllic small town she created for the convention is actually a gritty and crime-plagued place that is the meth capital of Alaska -- where you can find a bar to serve up liquor until 5 a.m. and, if she and the NRA had their way, where you could walk in with a pistol in your boot. And she believes that if she says "thanks but no thanks" often enough, people will forget she supported the now infamous bridge and even after lack of congressional support forced her to kill it, she kept the money.

However:

In an election that, right now, is a statistical dead heat, there is a free-floating contingent of female supporters -- including, incredibly enough, former Hillary backers who say they are willing to ignore the fact that she and Clinton share positions on nothing and will vote for her because she's a woman.

The debates are looming, and those women will be watching.

Obama vs. McCain should be Kennedy versus Nixon -- casual confidence versus sweaty upper lip. Obama lives for this kind of thing. McCain will have to operate without his trusty notes and must try to stop baring his teeth in that oddly unsettling approximation of a smile.

It will be the vice presidential debates that produce the drama. On paper, it should be a replay of Lloyd Bensten toying with hapless Dan Quayle like a cat with a cricket.

Even after intense weeks of charm-school and flash cards sessions, Palin can't go with Biden fact for fact -- on anything. She can't out-debate a guy who plays in the majors.

That is his biggest advantage and his biggest problem.

If he goes all Biden on her, two things could happen. Some of those free-floating women will resent him slapping around their hockey mom. Others will find virtue in the fact that this brave frontier girl who took on the big boys with pluck, grit and common sense (see narrative) doesn't know as much as this mouthy Washington insider, a member of a club that has an approval rating even lower than George W. Bush.

If she holds her own, she wins. If Biden attacks, she wins. It's possible she could win simply by not looking intimidated.

The points for knowledge and experience are already on the board. What he has to do is convey them in a very un-Bidenesque way.

A suggestion, Senator, if I may: There is a big difference between a conversation and a lecture. Use your humor. Showcase your experience. But remember these words: listen, answer, stop. Also: don't make a face when she says nucular.

Comments

[PurplePhase]

Sarah Palin's greatest asset is her ability to fool people. She presents herself as a champion of people's causes, child of God, frugal, a woman in a man's world trying to do good, and an underdog with lipstick. All this unfortunately amounts to smoke and mirrors that hide her inabilities and inexperience for the Vice Presidency, not to mention the Presidency. Blowing away the smoke and removing the mirrors allows us to see that she is a Dan Quayle, Pinball Wizard (Tommy), and Napoleon all in one. Not Napoleon Bonaparte, Napoleon in George Orwell's "Animal Farm". The touch of Orwellian totalitarianism explains the viciousness and hypocrisy behind her photogenic and telegenic smiling face, that of a sweet shark.

Given the nature of people and our political marketing machines, most see the smoke and mirrors as real while Biden and many outside of Republican circles see the Dan Quayle, Pinball Wizard and Napoleon in Sarah Palin. I am confident Joe Biden will behave appropriately with Palin. Clearly, debating with Palin isn't like debating with another male competitor.

I am also confident that Biden has the experience and savvy to let Palin bury herself. There is so much that's questionable, controversial or wrong about her that sooner or later she is bound to reveal once again how unprepared, unsuitable and unqualified she is. She did that with Charlie Gibson and during some speeches on the campaign trail and she will do it again.

[lainey]

I think that Joe Biden should be Joe Biden. We said we want authentic, so let him be just that. Look, Palin introduced herself as a "pit bull with lipstick" so she is going to have to behave that way--always. She has done it time and again in Alaska and she will have to do it on the world stage. Again, America is looking for authentic. Mr. Biden's bebate style will rub some the wrong way and some of us will love it. For those not yet determined, their decisions will be made by some pundit or author who plants seeds. Just as you did. I am sorry to say that your article demeaned Mr. Biden's intellect and gave way for Ms. Palin to play victim without the debate even starting. Every day in America, working women stand up to males as equals and we don't look for anyone to help set the stage that they should be delicate with us. I am reminded of my childhood when I went crying to my father saying "Ed (my brother) hit me". If she knows her stuff, she can hit back. Stop giving her an excuse for not knowing the world before the debate even happens. Stop assuming that women are too fragile to watch another woman, or man for that matter, be put in their place for speaking on topics of which they know nothing.

[eden4barack08]

The ones who will resent Biden for "slapping around the hockey mom", are the ones you mentioned, the stubborn Hillarites who just care about her anatomical features, and the far right loons and evangelicals.
Folks who would vote for her regardless, and who would defend her even if she did not know her ABCs.
Frankly, what Biden does in the debates will bear no difference on their opinions, they may whine, scream sexism and invoke hell, but their vote is already called for.
So, Biden, should debate just as he would a male candidate, without being too "Bidenesque", I agree, not because she's a female though, but because he should have more of a conversation than a lecture, regardless whom he's debating, period.

[bogues]

In the real world should Palin somehow become second in command of our Great Nation, there will be no deference given to her by other world leaders. There will be no chance to cry or whine about being picked on. It will be show time and only a FOOL could or would think that Sarah Palin has the expertise or ability to fill the shoes that Joe Biden wears. When John McCain put Palin on his ticket, he told the entire nation what he really thinks about us, NOT A WHOLE LOT!!

[ObjectiveRealist]

"If he goes all Biden on her, two things could happen. Some of those free-floating women will resent him slapping around their hockey mom."

Really? I thought she was tough.

Palin:
"I say this with all due respect to Hillary Clinton…but when I hear a statement like that coming from a woman candidate with any kind of perceived whine about that excess criticism or you know maybe a sharper microscope put on her, I think you know that doesn’t do us any good – women in politics, women in general wanting to progress this country."

http://thinkprogress.org/2008/08/29/palin-didn%E2%80%99t-like-hillary-clinton%E2%80%99s-%E2%80%98perceived-whine%E2%80%99/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9Y8FKAsxmk

[Fromageball]

Palin fans are going to resent him for "slappin around their hockeymom" either way, and I was worried that he might go easy on her, but he's building up a defense with his comments about "i've debated many capable, strong women", and how he deals with smart, strong women everyday, which implies that he thinks Palin is a strong, smart, capable woman(haha), so in the debate he is going to treat her as such...which unfortunately for Palin means he's going to obliterate her.

Honestly though even if he DID go easy on her, he would still obliterate her, Palin has done a very good job of proving to us that she should not be in the White House.

While I'm not at all a fan of Palin, in a way I feel sorry for her being targeted to be John McCain's puppet. Although he's coming off so batty nowadays that maybe he really did think she was the right choice.

Whatever, just vote for Obama so we can forget about these clowns.

[PATina]

I think Bill Clinton did the same when he talked her up the other day... calling her 'instictive'... a smart politician... and saying he sees how she got to this point. They are raising the bar for her... she will have to show and prove now.

[JimLan]

I can't understand why Joe Biden or anyone debating or questioning Sarah Palin has to go easy on her. The purpose of debates and questions from legit. journalists (not Hannity) is to provide information to voters so they can cast their vote intelligently. If she can't play in the big leagues, we need to know this before she signs a contract with the team. I think Joe needs to be Joe and if she can't stand up to him on the issues, this is good for the country. Who cares if she is a hockey mom ? Elections for our leaders is not about voting for hockey moms. She either knows her stuff or she doesn't !

[RoloTomassi]

We can all sit here and do our armchair coaching spiel, but Biden has been riding this horse far longer than I've been a student of politics, so I'll trust his judgment on how to handle the debate. There is no question that he is more knowledgeable on almost any topic they could possibly debate, and for me that's enough.

Joe also has good memory and train of thought concerning what the other candidate has said, what postitions they've held fast to and the ones they've waffled on--combined, it seems a bit of a stretch to think that Palin has any real technical advantage.

Of course the GOPers will find some irrational issue or statement that allows them to cry foul or claim victory in a cultural sense--but that's just the way they approach everything, and so it isn't worth the effort required to contemplate circumventing their tactics.

Biden should do what he does best, and let the chips fall where they may.

[wanked]

Show your experience Joe, for example your expertise in getting a right wing neocon Constitution shredding judge elected to the Supreme court. Member HIM Joe? Hint: he drinks Coke.....


Yea huffpo...I know ......my comment is pending approval....

[MizK]

Keep it real Joe. That's all we need for you to do--the Alaskan gun toting grandma to be will trip up on her own. Just don't let the press see you smirking when she does...

[MsCanadian]

I trust that women are not stupid enough to vote for McCain/Palin just because she is a woman. If they haven't figured out that she is nothing like Hillary, then they are not paying attention.

[babyboomerorig]

Biden's done more for women than Palin could ever do.

There's no way she can beat him on issues. I hope he doesn't hold anything back.

[cobobs]

No need to pretend. Joe should just be Joe. I think she is a tough cookie with a smart mouth (though ignorant) and she cannot help it, even if she is coached.. She will drip sarcasm and sadly ignorance. I do not think she will lose it, but she will say things that betray her ignorance, because like Joe, she cannot stop talking, except that Joe knows what he is talking about. But that is just empty punditry by me. We would just need to wait and see.

[LizM]

Oh, I wouldn't call that empty punditry...not in the least. In fact, I think you're pretty much bang on!

You can count yourself among the select few around here who really understand who Joe Biden is, what he is all about and how desperately we need Obama/Biden to win a healthy and governable majority in November.

And, I am sure that you would agree that the more Senator Biden speaks at length, the better informed people become - IF they are smart enough to pay attention.

[NTO08]

Joe could trounce her only if he lays off being condescending and if he remembers to be succinct in his answers and not make a thesis out of them.

[mlaiuppa]

Does anyone really believe the Biden isn't getting debate prep too? And that his weaknesses aren't known? And that they won't be working on him to listen, answer and stop? You bet they are. He's practicing too. He won't attack her. He'll just answer his questions and then stop. He'll let her hang herself.

[LizM]

Joe Biden has no such problem - not in the least.

You may have spent your career studying men and women but you completely misunderstand who Joe Biden is and what he is all about. For starters, Senator Biden is ANYTHING BUT a Washington insider! Can we please put that baby to bed!?

Of course, I'm not surprised by all of the misguided descriptions being attached to Biden - y'all have spent just the last month or so getting to know him and you're not giving even that your best shot! Prepare to be duly impressed.

However, you can bet the farm - even if it's in Iowa - that this presidential election campaign will be a whole new ball game come October 3. I am really beginning to feel sorry for Governor Palin because she is about to find out how literally out of her league she is when she sits down for a discussion of the issues with Senator Biden.

I might just add that if there are any Hillary supporters left who would still vote for McCain/Palin after this debate then they can be said to have far more than a “big problem” to contend with, in more ways than one - if you know what I mean and I’m not sure that you do.

[gisellestwocents]

I love Joe Biden, SUPERDAD. He is the "Fred MacMurray," of this bunch. Barack is the intellect, vision and energy. Joe is the wisdom and experience. He talks alot; but he knows what he's talking about and he understands the struggles of every day working families.

He has experience debating with an accomplished, intelligent women. It's not his job to prop SP up. He should treat her the same way that he treated Hillary during the primary debates. That's showing her the respect of an intellectual equal. If she can't live up to that, that's her problem.

Joe did well in the primary debates with humor and candor and he will shine in the October 2nd debate.

I can't wait. After watching his BIO on CNN, I'm a true fan!!! I didn't really know him that well before, but right now I find him exceedingly compelling and I'm really looking forward to the debate.

Of course, I am one who has always valued the wisdom of my elders.