Stammering Sarah stayed home tonight and Pitbull Palin showed up, proving to be a formidable opponent in tonight's debate. Palin performed extremely well considering that when Joe Biden debated his first political opponent in 1972, she was a seven year old in Wasilla. The small town charm shined through even during the introductions as Palin said, "It's nice to meet you. Can I call you Joe?", which also showed a much greater respect for Senator Biden than Barack Obama dislayed for Senator McCain during last week's debate.
Gwen Ifill at least appeared nonpartisan as she moderated the debate. Although Palin's knowledge and experience on legislative policy and foreign experience pales in comparison to Biden's, she held her own and delivered direct answers without any of the circular reasoning we've seen in recent interviews. Unknowingly, Katie Couric served as the stone that sharpened Sarah's axe.
During the first round of questioning, Palin sounded like any middle class mom you'd see on the streets or at youth sporting events in middle America. She blamed the current financial crisis on greed and corruption on Wall Street while Joe Biden blamed it on George Bush. She stressed the fact that Obama has always voted along party lines and never truly reached across the aisle to either persuade or agree with Republicans. She also noted that Obama, who always voted for higher taxes, seems to have recently converted to a different philosophy of tax cuts. Biden continued to blame Bush and McCain for all of the current trouble.
Ifill turned the questioning toward why would the Democrats raise taxes on people making over $250,00 a year and why would Republicans tax health benefits? Both candidates handled this topic well although Biden held the upper hand stating that the higher taxes were not a redistribution of wealth but that the middle class is the economic engine of America.
The next question dealt with what campaign promises cannot be kept with the financial demands of the Wall Street bailout? Biden admittted that spending would need to be reduced, especially in the area of foreign aid and said that McCain's tax cuts could not be implemented. I'm not sure what he meant by that because if Obama becomes president, it would be his tax plan that would be proposed. Sarah Palin insisted that McCain would be able to keep all of the promises that were conveyed in his plan.
During this point in the debate, Palin's confidence level grew and her replies became her agenda rather than the moderator's. She turned a line of questioning about bankruptcy law into a talk about energy and during another time asked Ifill, "Could we talk more about Afghanistan?"
Both candidates agreed on the definition of marriage being a union between one man and one woman but still believed in allowing civil rights to homosexual couples. They also agreed on protecting the state of Israel and military intervention in Darfur. They differed considerably on the cause of global warming, the exit strategy for Iraq, and diplomacy with enemies.
Palin addressed the fact that Biden has stated that Obama is not ready to be commander-in-chief, an opinion also carried by both Palin and McCain, as well as most Americans. Palin refused to stumble over Achminijad's name like McCain did last week. She was so proud of the proper pronounciation that she said the name at least five times but she mistakenly claimed our general in Afghanistan is McClellen when his name is McKiernan.
All in all, both candidates handled the debate extremely well. Palin asserted herself as confident and informed and Biden toned down the rhetoric and acted the complete gentleman. No real gaffes slipped from either's mouth. The match stayed close all night but with Sarah Palin as the underdog going in, we have to give her the win, 10 to 7. Looks like the race is back on!
Gwen Ifill at least appeared nonpartisan as she moderated the debate. Although Palin's knowledge and experience on legislative policy and foreign experience pales in comparison to Biden's, she held her own and delivered direct answers without any of the circular reasoning we've seen in recent interviews. Unknowingly, Katie Couric served as the stone that sharpened Sarah's axe.
During the first round of questioning, Palin sounded like any middle class mom you'd see on the streets or at youth sporting events in middle America. She blamed the current financial crisis on greed and corruption on Wall Street while Joe Biden blamed it on George Bush. She stressed the fact that Obama has always voted along party lines and never truly reached across the aisle to either persuade or agree with Republicans. She also noted that Obama, who always voted for higher taxes, seems to have recently converted to a different philosophy of tax cuts. Biden continued to blame Bush and McCain for all of the current trouble.
Ifill turned the questioning toward why would the Democrats raise taxes on people making over $250,00 a year and why would Republicans tax health benefits? Both candidates handled this topic well although Biden held the upper hand stating that the higher taxes were not a redistribution of wealth but that the middle class is the economic engine of America.
The next question dealt with what campaign promises cannot be kept with the financial demands of the Wall Street bailout? Biden admittted that spending would need to be reduced, especially in the area of foreign aid and said that McCain's tax cuts could not be implemented. I'm not sure what he meant by that because if Obama becomes president, it would be his tax plan that would be proposed. Sarah Palin insisted that McCain would be able to keep all of the promises that were conveyed in his plan.
During this point in the debate, Palin's confidence level grew and her replies became her agenda rather than the moderator's. She turned a line of questioning about bankruptcy law into a talk about energy and during another time asked Ifill, "Could we talk more about Afghanistan?"
Both candidates agreed on the definition of marriage being a union between one man and one woman but still believed in allowing civil rights to homosexual couples. They also agreed on protecting the state of Israel and military intervention in Darfur. They differed considerably on the cause of global warming, the exit strategy for Iraq, and diplomacy with enemies.
Palin addressed the fact that Biden has stated that Obama is not ready to be commander-in-chief, an opinion also carried by both Palin and McCain, as well as most Americans. Palin refused to stumble over Achminijad's name like McCain did last week. She was so proud of the proper pronounciation that she said the name at least five times but she mistakenly claimed our general in Afghanistan is McClellen when his name is McKiernan.
All in all, both candidates handled the debate extremely well. Palin asserted herself as confident and informed and Biden toned down the rhetoric and acted the complete gentleman. No real gaffes slipped from either's mouth. The match stayed close all night but with Sarah Palin as the underdog going in, we have to give her the win, 10 to 7. Looks like the race is back on!
No comments:
Post a Comment