Vice-Presidential Debate Thoughts - Incomplete and Sometimes Incoherent

Friday, October 3, 2008
- When Joe Biden started quoting the Constitution from memory, I almost wanted to bear his children. Almost.

- Sarah Palin surprised me with her pretty unequivocal support of civil rights for gay couples. That was pretty cool, although as Defective Yeti notes, "if you refer to yourself as "tolerant" of gays, you are probably not."

- Am I the only one who thinks that Joe Biden bears a striking resemblance to the Mouth of Sauron when he smiles?

- Sarah Palin's talking points did not stand her in good stead. When she claimed - for the 7th time - that John McCain was a "Maverick," I nearly cheered when Joe Biden started listing all the ways in which a traditional Republican Senator was not a "Maverick." Cancel that request to Kenny Loggins, McCain campaign. I think the "Maverick" shtick is a dead Indian.

- While I really admire Gwen Ifill, why the hell did she waste a question on what the VP would do if they gained the Big Chair due to the death of their principal? What did she expect them to say? "I can't wait until that pissant kicks the bucket so I can implement my master plan, Bwahahaha?" Seriously, Gwen - you're smarter than that, and that was a complete waste of time.

- Sarah Palin only used word salad once instead of through the entire debate. I guess that's an improvement over her Couric interview.

- Joe Biden is a lot smarter than I thought he was.

- Sarah Palin's attempts to hijack GWB's "I'm just like one of you, yuck, yuck, yuck" persona came across as more than a little insincere. And nauseating.

- Joe Biden's handlers prepared him really, really well. His foot-in-mouth disease appeared to be under control. Additionally, having an encyclopedic knowledge of the issues and the law helps. As Scalzi noted, "he apparently knows things, as opposed to knowing talking points helpfully provided on index cards."

- Sarah Palin's handlers did the best they could with the raw material available. But really, learning every national and international policy issue in the world in a month might be a bit much for even someone of above average intelligence.

Two down, two to go.

6 comments:

Cindi in CO said...

I have always liked Joe Biden, and now the rest of the country knows why.

Ilya said...

Hmm, interesting. Comes across as just a tad bit biased, but I know where you stand anyway :-)

Thanks - I'm certainly getting a better picture by hearing my friends comment, rather than so-called pundits.

Janiece said...

Ilya, I'm totally biased. I recognize that, and when I'm not talking out of my ass, I do try to correct for it.

However, I'm not an idiot - if Biden had stepped all over his dick, I'd of called him on it, in a point and laugh kind of way.

Because no one's exempt from pointing and laughing, regardless of political affiliation.

Random Michelle K said...

If Biden had in fact trod upon his genitalia, that would have been both impressive and frightening.

MWT said...

Heh, Shawn was going on and on about Biden's gigantic teeth all night last night. ;)

Janiece said...

Great minds, MWT. Great Minds.