Talking Points on Biden-Palin Debate

It's just my guess, but here's what I think Palin will try to do: come out of the chute attacking Biden with a handful of the dumbest-sounding votes he's cast in his three decades in the Senate. Any three will do, as long as they put him on defense, and use up the first ten minutes of the debate when people are forming their critical impressions.

Maybe she won't. But the Republicans believe the best defense is a good offense.

If she goes first, Biden will have to avoid wasting minutes on defense. He has to say those charges are ridiculous, that he will return to them later, that the people of Delaware have elected him six times, etc, and then swivel to frame the opening his way.

Biden should go right at her, his lines of attack aimed at winning independents, conservative Democrats and splitting the right.

- McCain is attacking Obama on earmarks but Palin and Alaska are the earmark champions of America;
- McCain says he's against boondoggles, but Palin supported the bridge to nowhere before she opposed it;
- McCain claims to be against perks of office, and Palin claims falsely that she sold the state jet on eBay;
- McCain goes on about cutting taxes, but Palin raised taxes for a hockey rink that plunged her town into debt.
- McCain talks about energy independence, but Palin is the governor of a petro-state that sells oil and gas to the rest of America for huge profits;
- McCain has been pushing deregulation since the Keating scandal when the Senate said he showed poor judgment, and now Palin takes it further. Because of her extreme views, she will become the first governor to preside over the shrinking of her own state due to global warming, and the disappearance of the polar bears because she doesn't believe in the Endangered Species Act;
- McCain and Palin pledge to fill the Supreme Court with faith-based extremists out of line with the American people;
- McCain once opposed the extremists in his own party but now he's appointed one to be a heartbeat from the presidency.

This is all about McCain's judgment, not the merits of Biden versus Palin. Biden should ask where's the straight talk express that McCain has derailed for the sake of winning. That McCain keeps Palin away from the media suggests his lack of confidence in her. And so on.

It is less likely that Palin will use the debate to project a positive, informed, experienced persona. If she does, it will be up to the moderator and Biden to test her with tough, substantive questions, and see if she implodes. It is more in her Republican character to attack when defensive.

Biden will have to be ready with one further line: I know Hillary Clinton, and you're no Hillary Clinton.

Comments

[jacksjg]

I don't like this talk of Palin being a good debater. Either you tell the truth and show the emperor without any clothes or you're good at deceiving people. I thought Biden would smash Palin, but now I'm anxious.

Keep posting Thomas.

[redsongia]

Ummm. She has supported plenty of policies she can be attacked on and arial hunting of wolves and charging rape victims for their rape kits are only a few. Particularly when Biden is so strong on women's issues, VAWA, for example.

[fcsakes]

I sincerely hope that Biden cuts her no slack. If he does, I will be royally pis*ed - she's running to stand in line behind the president - she's appallingly underqualified and this is the best chance we have to prove it.

She can do more damage to this country than a hundred Wall Street failures.

[BeatRepulican08]

I think Biden is going to be fine. McCain is the one is very nervous right now.

[Sportswoman]

I think Biden should forego the suit and tie and show up in a hoodie with photo of a Polar bear on the front that is forced to cannibalize due to melting ice caps and lack of cold water salmon. On the back:
"POLAR BEARS FOR OBAMA-BIDEN."
Ok, he won't ever do this in a million years,but at some point she has to answer to what is going on in her own back yard, beyond Troopergate.
Ask her when her buddy is going to acquiesce with the cadre of top physicians, such as the former head of dermatology at Cedars-Sinai, and submit the entire medical files that we as Americans are entitled to see.

[BaltimoreSteve]

Actually he should show up in a dinosaur suit, and spoof Palin's belief that man and dinosuar occupied earth at the same time.

[Mildmannered]

watch biden go beserk when the first three questions during the debate concern beauty pageants, alaska fishing and hockey ice rinks

[tuttlemsm]

"Biden will have to be ready with one further line: I know Hillary Clinton, and you're no Hillary Clinton. "

It is, after all, the 20th anniversary of the Bensten-Quayle debate.

[maxx1]

I think Joe should ask "Sarah, if elected, and John was is a coma,God forbid, what would you do if there was an attack in Iran by the Russians?"

[Mildmannered]

shake John until he woke up

[nazcalito]

I wish someone better than Gwen Iffil was moderating. She's so cloddish she risks making Palin look good, whatever gibberish Palin comes up with.

[FactFinder44]

I think it appropriate to ask something like, "You cite as proof of your readiness to assume the Presidency, if nned be, your experience as Mayor of Wasilla, an Alaskan town of less than 7,000 people. Will you tell us about the change in that city's policy concerning charging for rape kits during your tenure as mayor, if you supported those changes in policy, and when you first learned of the change in policy." I would ask, as follow up question, what she knew about her Chief of Police, Charlie Fannon's opposition to the passage of an Alaska state law prohibiting cities from charging vicitms for the cost of rape exams.

[Rescisco]

I am growing weary of this. Lets just admit these "debates" are designed to allow the candidates to trot out their best lines, slash and burn the opponent, spin the media, and claim a "victory" while doing absolutely nothing the enlighten the voters (most of whom will not be watching).

[MalleusMaleficarum]

Very wise and salient advice, Tom. Let's hope Joe takes you up on it. The best line is in your final paragraph -- and it is a zinger. Palin is no Hillary Clinton! Indeed!!.