Who do you think won the vice presidential debate?

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Posted October 3rd, 2008 by admin

83% (15 votes)

Sarah Palin

17% (3 votes)

It's a draw

0% (0 votes)

Neither

0% (0 votes)

Total votes: 18

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beautymark75 says:

To answer your question I

Posted October 3rd, 2008

To answer your question I think you have to determine what you mean by "win." If you're coming strictly from a debater rubric, I think it was pretty even. Palin deflected questions she wasn't able to answer by focusing on issues she was familiar with. This is an excellent debate strategy. It helped her avoid making any blunders. Palin also played to the "Joe Sixpacks" and "Hockey Moms" out there, which really annoyed me, and I think should annoy this country, but for some odd reason people are eating that crap like a Morton's Steak.

Despite my distrust for some the things Biden has had his hands in, in the past I thought he was good debater as well, even though he attempted to stick to facts and figures more than Palin, which sometimes loses people, no matter how true or relevant they might be.

Both seemed to have a few errors in what they presented, like Palin AGAIN insisted that Obama agreed to meet with foreign officials with "no preconditions" which is a distortion of the truth that Obama has attempted to clarify on numerous occasions. Biden misrepresented an article written by McCain by suggesting that McCain wants to "deregulate the health care industry the way we deregulated corporate America" which isn't exactly McCain's plan.

Honestly, Biden seemed more "politician-y" but he at least struck me as having a little more awareness about what he was talking about. Palin seemed like she was hyptotically staring at the camera too intently for me to take her seriously with her obviously rehearsed talking points.

My favorite was when Palin was asked a question (I forget what it was) and she said a bunch of stuff that sounded pretty good, but it did not answer the question that was asked AT ALL. Biden called her out on it to which Palin replied, "I may not answer the way you or the moderator want me to answer, because I am here to talk to the American people..." or something to that affect. That frustrated the hell out of me, because it allowed her to get a free pass to avoid the question. And people again, ate it up. -From a debate perspective it was genius. But it didn't make me think she knew what she was talking about.

The highlight of night for Biden, in my opinion came when he said that he didn't have to be a woman to know what it's like to wonder if your kid is going to make it through the night. I think it was the first time I have ever seen a man articulate the importance, relevance, and existence of fatherhood on political stage. I read a article posted on the Huffington Post where a woman said that Biden reminded us that the political is personal. I agree that Biden successfully communicated that message.

When it comes to a good debater, Palin was pretty darn strong, and she didn't trip over her words like Biden did, especially at the beginning. But when it comes to actually answering questions that were asked, Biden took the show.

When it comes to sincerity and personality, well, I think likability is in the eye of the beholder. To me, Palin is like nails on a chalkboard. I don't deny that she is a skilled person, but she is skilled in ways that makes her a good memorizer of speeches and talking points. I can do that! And the country bumpkin talk KILLS ME!

Biden creeped me out a little too with every flash of his overly bleached teethy smiles that were code for "Palin, you're full of shit," but overall I think he had more panache, style, and decorum than Palin. He didn't presumably ask to call her "Sarah" which I appreciated, because she is in fact a governor and should be respected as such. Biden revealed a lot of wisdom last night in two of my most favored remarks.

1. The past is prologue
2. Do not just people's motives, but rather their judgment.

Regardless of what happens in this election, I am thankful for those to reiterated mantras.

"Speak not in the ears of a fool: for she will despise the wisdom of thy
words."

Proverbs 23:9

Pukeko says:

Biden won - no question

Posted October 4th, 2008

Like so many, I looked forward eagerly to the debate. If nothing else, I am fair. I believe that if you want to make the best decisions, you need to have an open mind.

Palin:
This was the Palin I fully expected. She has been here in Arizona at McCain's Sedona property learning her lines. The important thing about Palin is that she is has absolutely no self doubt. I could take a leaf out of her book. This is the kind of tenacity which beauty queens need. But the greatest leaders throughout the ages have had a modicum of humility.

I am from a 'land downunder' and was not raised and educated in America. America is my chosen country and I have lived here with my American husband for nine years. This is why I am so passionate about this election!

Palin's vernacular irritates the 'heckoutuvme'. It is very cute and if she were standing for Vice President of a small town or Governor of a sparsely populated state in the outback then she would be great. If Sarah Palin were my hairdresser or manicurist I would find her unutterably adorable.

The fact that everyone seems to lose sight of is that America is THE most important economy in the world. This is, therefore, the second most important job in the world.

I digress. She looked great. She is full of positivity. There is so much to like - on the surface.
But, very nuance, every word is designed to disarm the masses, and I have no doubt the masses were delighted. Who cares what she says, its the way she says it.
She learned her lines well but at times the answer bore no relation to the question. She showed a huge lack of real knowledge by reciting the lines as learned and when that was not possible she reverted to empty rhetoric. Despite chastising Biden for referring to the past, she had no problem doing it herself. Noone seems to have picked up the big 'blue' made where she referred to the problems on Main Street affecting Wall Street. This transpostion because she has no economic understanding. The whole Wall Street issue is so complex that I would not expect her to understand it (even those on Wall St don't fully comprehend it) but at the very least to know the difference between what Wall Street and Main Street represent.
She missed the opportunity to show some genuine concern for humanity when she failed to acknowledge Biden's brief emotional display of the thing that drives him.

But, despite her rehearsed platitudes and her tedious focus on her Mayoral and Gubernatorial achievements and her family, her glaring mistakes and the sexual overtones of "Drill Baby Drill" (Vice President of the USA?), the winks and smiles of a woman attempting to seduce a nation, it was the alarming conclusion which should have Americans running for their lives.

When asked to describe her 'Achilles Heel' she embarked upon a self centred littany of how wonderful she was and how she wanted more authority for herself when VP. Did she know what the term meant? Wasnt she primed to watch for the ultimate interview question?

Biden:
I was less informed about this man and I was watching him with a cricial eye. I didnt think he could nail it no matter what he did. He did. He was the consummate executive. He was the statesman. He was Presidential. He made a few errors in some of the things he said, but he maintained a 'disciplined' and controlled performance. I learned more about him and what I learned, I liked. He should have spent more time promoting his Presidential nominee, but his rebuttal was excellent.
His piece de resistance was absolutely when he opened up his heart and relived a little of the devastation he had experienced in his own life. He is accomplished and he is human.

It was a good debate overall. The moderation was absolutely professional.

Pukeko Grades: Palin 6/10 Biden 8.5/10