The VP debate: From ‘Sarah Barracuda’ to ‘Sarah Macarena’

Wahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Too bad almost EVERYONE else in the free world disagrees with you.

Biden got pwned.

If any one else had answered the questions with as little substance and avoided as many questions as Gov. Sarah Palin, they would not be on the ticket the next day. No wonder George W was elected. It’s the emperor’s new clothes again.

Sarah was great in the debate last night !!!

Hey, do not discount my role in world history!

1756, Salzburg, January 27, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is born
1761, at the age of five Amadeus begins composing
1773, he writes his first piano concerto
1782, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart marries Constance Weber
1784, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart becomes a free mason
1791, Mozart composes “The Magic Flute”
On December 5th of that same year, Mozart dies
1985, Austrian rock singer Falco records Rock Me Amadeus!

So she responded to soft-ball questions with a bunch of well rehearsed platitudes, now what? Can’t believe the spin in the media on this to make her weak performance seem acceptable, we are talking about a possible President, people, not Miss Congeniality.

Brilliant

Typical radical left-wing propoganda. Whoever heard of the “Minnesota Independent” or David Noon? No pulitzer prize winners at this phony left-wing blog.

David Noon, you sir are an asinine moron.

Will either make a difference? It is important to make a difference. Nothing is 100%. Improvement is always necessary and always around the corner even when things looks bright and rosy. And these days things do not look all that bright and rosy, do they?

In terms of their generations, their views, and their philosophies, Sarah Palin and Joe Biden both bring to their respective running mates what those running mates lack. And in a presidential horse race that is still neck-and-neck, the question that remains is whether either will bring enough oomph! to their potential administrations to result in a significant difference in the future of our lives, regardless of who wins the race.

Sarah Palin brings youth, conservatism, and new-style Alaskan politics to the presidential arena. A sort of new-frontierswoman type of politics. Did someone say a female version of Davy Crockett? “Daaveeee, Daaaavy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier.” Like Davy, Sarah Palin is a person who can “kick some Washington butt” and get things done. Well, of course! She’s a Mom, after all. And we all know how tough and relentless Moms can be. And caring. And mindful of the needs of others. She provides a good balance to John McCain’s battle-seasoned soldier image. Sarah Palin and John McCain work well together.

On the other hand, her youth brings with it a “lack of experience in the field.” Being a Mom, and a mayor of a town, and a governor of a state apparently do not count as much as being a junior senator from Illinois. Nor is she a graduate of Harvard University. Nor is she a man. Perhaps if she had been a male senator as long as Ted Kennedy or, even better, if she had already been president, like Bill Clinton, then perhaps she would be qualified to be president of the United States. I say “perhaps” because I cannot seem to recall the official list of qualifications an American citizen must have before running for vice-president or president. I keep thinking of Harry Truman and Ronald Reagan and their particular list of qualifications. The former was a haberdasher and the latter an actor. Did you know that U.S. scholars consider Truman one of the ten best presidents the United States ever had? Amazing!

And what about Joe Biden? Well, he brings old age, liberalism, and old-style Washington politics to the presidential arena. He has been around Washington, D.C. longer than John McCain. He knows the ropes, perhaps even better than Ted Kennedy. He can advise Barack Obama on foreign policy issues and the “tricks of the trade” in the nation’s capital. Such as the tricks involved in first trying to “bail out” our nation’s economy and, after that failed, now trying to “rescue” it.

And his experience surplus can balance out Barack Obama’s experience deficit in other areas as well. But Joe Biden may not be all that interested in actually changing the type of Washington politics with which he has grown and prospered all these years. This could present a problem for a Democratic administration because this is the same Washington politics that Barack Obama has promised to fix through change. Is it possible Joe Biden and Barack Obama will not work well together? Is it possible they might actually be at odds with each other?

Who can tell? But these are just some of the facts we must consider “long before” the day comes when we cast our votes for the next president of the United States. And “long before” is just about to end. The leaves have already begun to fall in New England.

Perhaps the debate between Sarah Palin and Joe Biden can give us a clue as to how we should vote this November.

David Noon…You do not understand how people (including myself) are drawn to Sarah Palin. Joe Biden did great last night because he lied at every turn. He is a talented truth destroyer. Take the Biden lies out of the debate and Palin was the obvious victor. Just like “The Macarena”, Sarah Palin will be involved in our culture for many years. And, in case you have not noticed Mr. Noon, many people rush to the dance floor when that annoying song comes on.

We do not need her as VP and especially no president God forbid anything happen to John.
This isn’t the land of Mary Poppins. Who cares if she is a soccer/hockey Mom. If that is what she is, then she needs to stick to what she is good at. We need people that are qualified to do the job. I voted republican last time and I’m a white male that will be supporting Obama even though I do not agrre on his abortion stance. I do however do think we can legislate morality. It seems like pro-choice and democrat goes hand in hand. I would like to see a more conservitive stance on that one issue.

Thank God! Finally an unbiased journalistic opinion of Sarah Palin! (sorry, I accidentally hit my sarcastic key)

Really, if you want be a journalist stay in the middle. If you want to change the world become a politician.

The author’s nasally liberal whine denies him any true journalistic ability. This piece leaves one wondering if there exists any objectivity in political discussion anymore. Advocacy publications under the guise of journalism, leaves me feeling sick about our future as a country.

Get a life….check the other guy out that’s running for President….No Experince in other than social work…from a very dirty political State and Town…with criminal connections…with rebel bombers connections….connections with a racist priest (like we are going to believe that over the many years he did not now…he is either a lier or stupid..you pick)a tax increaser with old European socialist ideas that do not work (go see the trouble that Europe is in specially with the growing radical Muslim population and the economies are worst than ours-on and on and on)…please stand up bunch of cowards…yes you the media…do your job!!!!!

OBAMA is NADA!!!! do you what that means..he has nothing and thats why the only strategy is to connect McCain to Bush…he has NADA get it!!!!
worst yet he is a naive dangerous fool that will be worst than the embarrsing Jimmy Carter!!!!

We do not need her as VP and especially no president God forbid anything happen to John.
This isn’t the land of Mary Poppins. Who cares if she is a soccer/hockey Mom. If that is what she is, then she needs to stick to what she is good at. We need people that are qualified to do the job. I voted republican last time and I’m a white male that will be supporting Obama even though I do not agree on his abortion stance. I do however do think we Can’t legislate morality. It seems like pro-choice and democrat goes hand in hand. I would like to see a more conservitive stance on that one issue. Sorry for the type o’s

Can I agree with your message of Governor Palin as “one hit wonder”, but still express a deep appreciation for Falco’s “Rock Me Amadeus”?

I wonder who David Noon is voting for?

Obama, a voice for change. Quoting Biden $12,000 worth of health care to each American! How is Mr. Obama planning on paying for that? Mrs. Palin is telling the truth, at least as far as the powers that be will allow her to. Democrats, Republicans, all out for themselves, not we the people. Obama 2 right hand men are the 2 people who got the richest off Fannie mae and Freddie Mac, but they accuse the Republicans of wrecking the economy. The Republicans are in the pockets of Big oil and giant corps. So who’s looking out for middle class Americans. I’m not sure but at least Palin knows where we are and is not 25+ years removed from Main Street America! She and McCain got my vote last night, and I voted for Obama in the primary but now I don’t think we can afford him!

One of the best written critiques.

Sarah was in her element on center stage, with a mic, a camera, a script, a character to play, and a captive audience where “somebody out there will like me.” If enough somebodies like me, it’s in the bag. No need to focus on the topic or the question of the moderator; no need to fact check; no need to respect that audience with specifics; just play the role, bluff it, and bag it.

In an interview, there is nothing to talk about it and, if forced, just combine lots of key words together, those somebodies who see me on stage don’t really care what I say.

Disgusting that we even have to consider this person as a candidate for the highest offices in the land.

Should she have taken a page from your column and simply overused a thesaurus in order to make herself appear intelligent? I enjoy reading both sides of the isle’s opinions as I am one of those undecided voters, but the drivel of columnists such as yourself do little to provide a commentary that even pretends to be objective and state the facts.

Why exactly is this paper called the “independent”? There’s nothing independent about this article.

David Noon, your article is a rant. Not one of your criticisms was backed up with an explanation. You can dish it out as long as you don’t have to back it up. It reminds me of the old phrase, “Those who can do, and those who can’t criticize.”

Hmm, your sour, liberal, and a journalist. Big surprise. Glad that I’m the only one who read your piece.

One question David Noon do you crikets often when you write crap like this? Ha! No Comments Yet

Right on! It was like she tore a page out of a script from “The Beverly Hillbillies” and used all the catch phrases to make “just plain folks” comfortable. That’s called pandering, and not respecting your audience. Some “plain folks” will fall for it. Others will look up her record and know better.

I am not familiar with The Minnesota Independent but please tell me this piece is from the opinion page. I am a liberal trying to find a way to see the Dems to victory but it’s articles like this that make me cringe. I was impressed with Palin in last night’s debate and when I read this piece, it makes me wonder if we watched the same debate.

Did you guys watch a debate from an alternate universe?

Why bother watching a debate when had you already decided that you dislike her (with excessive venom, I might add).

I am one of the voters who will decide this election. I really don’t know who I am going to vote for at this point. I was curious to see if she was as inept as you insist she is. I didn’t see or hear anything from he that would confirm your viewpoint.

I have noticed that feminists reject Palin. It is amusing that all of these years spent by the “womans movement” advancing the cause of women has actually be spent advancing the cause of liberal woman. Apparently women of differing views are not allowed into the club.

The bottom line is this, Hillary should have been on the ticket. You were trumped by Palin’s nomination- and now you are rightfully pissed! Unfortunatly your emotions are showing, and you have lost all objectivity. I think that your time would be better spent trying to get Biden to withdraw and get Hil onto the ticket, rather than bash Palin- it’s not working the way you want…

Just some food for thought

Mr. Noon… thank you for one of the best summaries I’ve seen from any news source on the goofiness that Sarah Palin has brought to the 2008 campaign season. It’s been a simultaneously frightening and enthralling train wreck to witness and you captured the essential essence.

Hey, I like “Rock me Amadeus.” Upon first reading the title to this article, I thought you were pointing out the fact that Mrs. Palin danced around many of the questions.

I just can’t imagine her pleading with terrorists, “Now look doggone it. It’s just silly your trainin your people to blow themselves up. C’mon kneow, quit being silly and do the right thing. How ’bout you come on over to Alaska, and we’ll take you Snipe hunting?”

All kidding aside, I don’t see how they expect to cover tax cuts. They’re asking us for $700 billion to bail out these greedy twits who make more in one year than most of us average Americans make in a life time. “Here’s a $600 tax relief, no go out an boost the economy. Wait… we need $2500 from each of you.”

Everyone would love to pay less taxes, but let’s be realistic. As Mrs. Palin continues to preach, “We’ll do the right thing and talk straight”, I’d rather the government tell me what they need up front than B.S. their way into office and once again say, “Opps. We need more money to get out of this hole.” People need to quit spending and get out of debt in order for the economy to regain a solid foundation.

The only impressive thing about Sarah Palin’s performance in the debate was that she actually met the really really really low bar that was set for her. All she had to do to succeed was not royally blow it. By that measure, she succeeded. She got about half her talking points right and when she didn’t have an answer she went back to the topics she did have an answer for.

As far as feminism goes, NO ONE wins if an unqualified person ends up in office, man or woman.

Gosh, I love to read a nice, unbiased report on the debate. Thanks, MI!

Sarah Palin is the greatest, best, most wonderful person ever to step on the national stage! Who cares if she doesn’t grasp the fundamentals of foreign policy or the Constitution? Look at those glasses! She’s a pitbull! A maverick on a team of mavericks! She’s totally full of maverickitude! Gosh darnit, we love Sarah! You betcha!

Anyone who says anything mean about Sarah is just jealous. Jealous!!!!!!!111!!1!eleventyone!!!1!!

I guess a country that’s not ready for a competent woman VP will have to settle for this. Hey you wanted a woman, well, here’s a woman.
Our nemesis Camille Paglia summed it up nicely, i.e., Hilary (has them falling all over themselves?) when she turns on her pink estrogen light. I remember Janet Reno being put down routinely until she put on some lipstick, as if that’s part of the job description for attorney general. Don’t recall John Ashcroft ever flashing his revlon ruby red.
But she’s a great distraction. Sarah Palin was all about talking points and not responding to the questions, if she inconveniently didn’t have the answers. Certainly keeping everyone very busy, no time for those reports on patent dishonesty leading up to the war in Iraq. Countless others are far more qualified, it’s as if the Republican party apparatus is saying, no indictments during the campaign, please please. Not to mention co-opting Obama’s campaign message, which I’m glad they like.
Really pleased that Joe Biden was so competent himself, and far more respectful than I’m capable of being after eight years of what McCain wants to continue.
If that’s the best we can do for a female candidate for VP, then we still have a long, long way to go. Unless, of course, she’s doing what she’s supposed to in distracting from John McCain’s policies. Then I guess you can call it a success.

All I can say is well “golly gee golsh darn” I did well with my canned “darn” debate “guys and gals.”

If it weren’t a canned debate where she wouldn’t have had notes and rehaersed lines, she would’ve bombed it. I would like to see her in a real debate where she would have to answer follow up questions.

Has she had any press conferences? No. Has she been anywhere for comment on issues, such as the bailout (sorry, its not a rescue for anyone except the wealthy), or even the last debate. I recall Biden being available for follow on the talking heads.

She is an embarrassing disaster for our country….we have sunk very low this time….we don’t need another undereducated extremist Hee-Haw anywhere near the Whitehouse.

My apologies for the bluntness, but this is really crazy.

And in a presidential horse race that is still neck-and-neck…

Whaaa? The last prospective EC count has Obama with almost twice as many electors as McCain. The latter may do decently in the popular vote, but he will be absolutely crushed where it counts.

Anyway, Palin is governor in a de-facto welfare state, so spare all of us the ‘conservative’ rhetoric. A lot more honesty and perspective needs to be injected into this whole affair.

VP has always been a “bucket of warm spit”, as one put it. But for all the back-scratching smoke-filled room favor-returning nominations made as VPNom, has anyone been so under

Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins would have appealed to moderates.

Kay Bailey Hutchison has the Texas thing going–you don’t get to be a statewide figure in Texas, as a woman, without some steel in the spine.

If only McCain could have transplanted one of their brains into the body of Sarah Palin. Cos I can’t imagine him picking her without her looks.

Widely-expected fiasco for Palin?

No, we already had those. She dug herself a hole so deep that all the newspaper and supreme court cites in the world wouldn’t get her out. And that was hardly against Tim Russert (RIP) or Chris Matthews.

She earned the applause that every figure skater gets at the end of a program, no matter how many times they’ve fallen down.

Comment posted October 3, 2008 @ 10:46 AM
“Hmm, your sour, liberal, and a journalist. Big surprise. Glad that I’m the only one who read your piece.”

Should I bother to point out that it should be “you’re sour”, or would that make your Palinesque brain explode?

Don’t judge readership be those who left commentary: I’m reading this because someone in the Caribbean shot me ( and about 25 other people) this link via e-mail. Just because you’re only hearing from me doesn’t mean that they didn’t read it.

R. Gayton
“David Noon, your article is a rant. Not one of your criticisms was backed up with an explanation.”

This is a self-evident mistake, if not simply a lie. Noon’s criticism that Palin is “somewhat witless” in the third paragraph was backed up by three examples, including links. And if nothing else, Noon’s most substantive criticism of the debate was also well-documented. The final sentence of the fourth paragraph linked to another Web site, which disproves Palin’s assertion about “McClellan,” and mentions what Palin said in the debate about the powers of the vice-president.

Smarter trolls, please.

RS
“I am not familiar with The Minnesota Independent but please tell me this piece is from the opinion page.”

See the word “Commentary” at the top of the Web site?

Mike
“I have noticed that feminists reject Palin. It is amusing that all of these years spent by the “womans movement” advancing the cause of women has actually be spent advancing the cause of liberal woman.”

So what you’re saying is, feminists vote for politicians who agree with them rather than just any politician of their own gender… and that’s bad?

Thank you for the well-written article, backed up with specifics, facts, and credible sources. Why is it when confronted with intellect and facts rethuglicans can only attack the messenger? Seriously, not one right-wing comment contained any facts to dispute the author’s position. And if you agree with her “white flag” comment, that half the country wants to surrender; you are as out of touch as McSame.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/10032008/postopinion/opedcolumnists/pit_bull_kicks_wonk_butt_131937.htm
PIT BULL KICKS WONK BUTT

http://www.nypost.com/seven/10042008/postopinion/editorials/the_lies_biden_told_132104.htm
THE LIES BIDEN TOLD

http://www.michnews.com/artman/publish/article_21428.shtml
DRUDGE REPORT POLL = PALIN TOP WINNER
By J. Grant Swank, Jr.
MichNews.com
Oct 2, 2008

At 11:41 PM this Thursday evening, Drudge Report poll of the Vice Presidential Debate shows Palin way out in front as the winner.

With 144,663 voting, Biden comes through with only 26%, equaling 36,921.

Palin comes way out in front with 73%, equaling 105,075.

“Neither” came out with 2%, equaling 2,667.

Sarah Palin proved her nay-sayers wrong again. She is intelligent, articulate and principled. She is the American woman in her highest standing.

The liberals hate her. [Which explains this silly article.]

the GOP wouldn’t dare schedule any more unscripted air time for Palin, this would give people more time to realize that she’s totally clueless… the prospect of her becoming the Commander in Chief is frightening