Looks like the predictions of a train wreck were wrong!
 

Palin not only held her own, she excelled. I can't wait to hear the detractors try to find fault.

She succeeded in not being what her handlers tried to make her.

Do you agree with that or disagree?

She did come across well.

Palin had much better audience response than Biden on CNN's non scientific like-o-meter at the start of the affair, though Biden turned the tide over the course of the event and ended up evoking the stronger response to his points from the focus group. Over all she defended her position well, and I think she would be a strong candidate if she didn't have to drag that millstone McCain to the finish line with her... :D

I don't have inside information as to what her "handlers" were trying to make her. Do you? From what I saw of McCains expectations they were for her to be her self; I think she did just that. Good luck tyring to put a negative spin on her performance.

Who(m) do you suppose has been keeping her away from press conferences . . . taking questions at events . . . having the press in attendance at the UN meetings . . .

oh that's right, that's just the media trying to get "gotcha" moments. :rolleyes:

"Hey Sarah Palin"
 

Hilarious song parody making the rounds.:)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwqGPMf5aAI

I thought they both were good. They seemed to genuinely like each other. Looked like Biden wanted to hug her when they finished.
Can we make the candidates switch so it becomes a Biden/Palen vs Obama/McCain or McCain/Obama contest?

She specifically avoided answering the real tough questions that would have made McCain look bad. Thats not the way to do it. You don't just ignore a question and give an unrelated answer. That was also McCain's strategy in the first presidential debate. Palin is only saying what they want her to, they've got her pretty well trained it seems.

You'd have to be InSane to vote McCain.

If you want the US to keep failin' vote for Palin.

:D Too easy.


Reading the facts on the stuff McCain wants to do gives away all his shady tactics.

The real issue is that the rich need to be taxed more and the middle class needs a big boost.

Trying to buy $12,000 health insurance with a check for $5,000....now thats a bridge to nowhere. :D

I loved the part where Palin said her family is a "Middle Class" family. McCain thinks "rich" is 5+ million. How out of touch ARE these people?! :eek:

I would prefer an Obama/ McCain presidency and the repeal of the 12th amendment... It would be good for the executive to have to deal directly with the opposition, on that perhaps minor level, as the founders originally intended. The real reason for the 12th is the easier access to larger mounds of partisan bull****ery, and the overall importance of VP 'debates' goes to support the idea. I did find their cordiality endearing, though, I doubt the heads of the ticket will continue in that vein.

When you come up with a thought of your own get back to us.

Still trying to make friends in your own unique way. :cool:

It's worse than that. Remember this is a $5000 tax credit, not a check. Depending on your income, the tax credit will most likely amount to a few hundred bucks. But you'll lose that from the cancellation of the tax credit on the employer-sponsored insurance. If you're lucky enough to retain your employer-sponsored insurance, your expense will go up. If you lose your employer-sponsored insurance, you're screwed because you won't be able to buy a $12,000 policy with the few hundred bucks that you'll get from the $5000 tax credit. It's more than a bridge to nowhere. It's an insult to intelligence. Only a complete moron would think this plan is a good idea.

Palin did do better than I expected, but it's still the same old GOP BS. Cut taxes mainly for the richest (yes I know they pay the most, but still, how does that help?), keep spending like drunken sailors, run up a huge deficit and devalue the dollar even further, accuse your opponent of not funding the troops when your running mate voted against the same bill, say you're for alternative energy but oppose every bill that would fund it, and then appear folksy and try win over voters with superb qualifications like being a hockey mom.

exactly.

She did a nice job and did as trained to do....

But I agree...she did NOT answer the tough questions, and her immediate side step to speak on her percieved strong point...energy was pretty obvious. Some of the facts she spouted about what she has done in Alaska sound good unless you stop and think....repealing the gasoline tax....see, now I bet that is possible because of oil revinues flowing directly to the citizens. Thats a nice thing but here in Indiana we pay for our roads with gas taxes. Alaska has relatively few roads since the terrain makes them impossible in much of the state.

Lets face it, She has a great personality and has been a big shot of interest for the campaign overall, but she and mac are trying to paddle upstream in a tsunami of discontent with the horrible economy created by Republican policies.

What greater evidence is there than our current economic mess that the trickle down theory of economics is Voodoo Economics (as George hw Bush said when he was running agianst RRR in the primaries).

Anybody who says they believe that giving tax breaks to rich folks stimulates the economy is probably bare face lying....and for sure they are deluding themselves. Its an attractive lie though since we all want to believe it if we are the ones getting the tax break!

She did a nice job acting according to a script which has no substantive plusses to work with....same as Mac did in his debate with O.

Tom W

DieselAddict wrote--
Cut taxes mainly for the richest (yes I know they pay the most, but still, how does that help?),

Your heart and your head are fighting each other.
You KNOW that tax cuts help those who actually PAY taxes,
You FEEL that is somehow not "fair".
It would seem that you have bought into the whole class warfare concept--pit the have-nots against the haves.
From there, it is only a short step to full-blown socialism, " From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs" (You do recognize those words, I assume).
Make up your mind--
In my mind Socialism will be as big a disaster here as it has been everywhere it has been tried. Is there a Socialist State that actually has the freedoms we used to have in this country?

I listened to the debate on the radio and thought that Sarah Palin really scored some points. I was surprised to see poll results showing that Biden won by a wide margin. Go figure.

It shouldn't be a surprise that Palin did well. The debate was a real two-fer for her.

First, you had a "discredited" moderator in Gwenn Ifill because of her book.

Second, the format didn't allow for follow up questions. It was on the follow up questions that Katie Couric really nailed Palin. The debate would have been a much tougher test if the format had allowed Ifill to say, "Nice speech Governor, now please answer the question."

Biden is trained debater with what, 30 years experience? He should have annihilated the backwoods beauty queen religious wacko newbie. He's borderline incompetent.

How's that for spin?

ALL politicians have highly-honed the ability to avoid answering difficult/ unpopular questions. Its a job requirement.

For a first-time showing on a national stage against a seasoned vet I think she did fine.

I think they were both equally evasive on certain topics or specifics.

Amen. My mom's "date of illness" was August 5, 1988. The date of filing for permanent disability was 11/1988. In that time, the company she worked at for 23+ years decided to "let her go" as with the remnants of the 80's had the corporation changed hands 3 times so the "cutbacks" worked up to her level. At that time, getting insurance coverage JUST FOR HER was $4700 per year. I can't see $5000 providing insurance for a family of 5 today....

Palin stuck to her talking points very well, I'll give her that. "I'm not gonna answer questions the way you or Senator Biden want me to". She stuck to her guns on those talking points that's for sure.

I forgot what talk show I was listening to this morning but both a high school English teacher and a college professor called in, both stating she sounded like a freshman that crammed for debate team conference.

Thats exactly how it's done. If you didn't hear Biden doing the exact same thing you weren't listening. Every politician, whether in a debate or interview do this and always have.

I passed on it and watch some professional entertainment... Phils win again. ;)Cubs lose again.:eek:
IIRC, neither Joe nor Sarah are running for president. Their influence on policy as VP's will be minor to non-existant. Not worth breaking a sweat over.

The real train wreck happens when McCain is elected.

I wish this election were over just to get it over with.

I'm tired of the bull$$it commercials.

I didn't hear the whole debate, but that sounds about right.

This is funny:

Pretty ridiculous. You have a 2nd career waiting for you.








She's a good speaker, so a debate is a good forum for her. She doesn't have command or knowledge of facts and issues so she can't handle Q&A very well. But, she didn't have to. The debate forum is not an exchange like an interview or reporter questions on the trail.

It's hard for me to judge how she did. On the one hand, she had a few answers with sentences that didn't make any sense, somewhat like her absurd answers to Couric though not as bad. She also quite obviously grabbed the conversation and forcefully steered over to the talking point on the page in front of her.

On the other hand, the people who decide based on debates probably didn't realize a few of her sentences didn't make sense, and I'm virtually certain didn't recognize her changing subjects to what she had in front of her. The sentence thing is bad, but the other is just bad form, which very few people care about.
Overall I think she did what David Brooks said she did. She stopped the hemorrhaging.

Biden ignored a couple smaller points, but did it with better skill, and the issues weren't nearly as significant. Palin blatantly avoided talking about McCain's record on deregulation and on energy, two super important issues. She also side stepped explaining the health care situation, where I think Biden really got her. People have only themselves to blame (this is pointed at the middle class, which I am in as well) for whats happening, they keep voting for the Republicans like a bunch of idiots, and then wonder why everything goes downhill for them.

Yesterday morning Obama was here in Grand Rapids and I went and saw him speak....as well as over 16,000 others....it was an amazing crowd and he made some excellent points in his speech. Here's a pic from the middle of the crowd, if you look really close you can see obama. :D He's under the red arrow. ;)

http://www.tglmarketinginc.com/mbforum/1002081029b.jpg

Try this'n.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/03/us/politics/03watch.html?em

BBC & NY Times both give it to Palin. That's 2 moderate to slightly liberal and very influential news sources. It certainly doesn't elect McCain, but it undermines the dismissiveness with which Palin has been treated the past few weeks.

It's still Obama's race to lose.

My team lost decades ago.

I'm one of the "haves" and I pay more in taxes than most people because of my above-average income. I think it's fair. I have no such conflict that you mention and your link to socialism is quite a stretch.

Just more fear mongering.

And there are quite a few countries that are socially oriented and enjoy many of the freedoms we do, if not more. Canada comes to my mind first, along with many European nations.

Interesting, as the tone of your posting seemed to be in agreement with the Obama plan. Congrads on your success, and on your evident compassion.

Do you really believe 90% of taxpayers will see a tax reduction under Obama?

A better question would be:

Considering our current 12,000,000,000,000+ federal debt, both wars, social security, medicare, military budget, energy dependence, and crumbling infrastructure, do you think any of else will see a significant and lasting tax cut?

Fiscal and budget responsibility will sooner or later have to be implemented. If not, the country is doomed within the next 5 years. That a guarantee, not a prediction.

suck on this:


http://www.gocomics.com/patoliphant/

Nice re-post.:rolleyes:

Held her own?! One of the main purposes of a debate is to answer or at least respond to the issues or questions brought up by the moderator as it would be the best example of how a candidate would respond to topics or challenges that are not right on the tip of their mental tongue. If she became president, may God help us, she wouldn't get to pick and choose what crises she wants t repsond to or the order in which they appear.

Palin dodged questions about as often as she answered them and her arrogant declaration about not answering questions the way Ifill or Biden wanted her to was just a bit much.

I grew up in the Mormon church and I saw many women who remind me of Palin: aggressively cheerful, golly shucks cotton candy flavored personality, and an unsinkable arrogant belief that they were among the chosen . . . . just because.

Son, I don' care wha' nobody says, I want me a damn TAX CUTT and I want it now, go-awd-dammit.

And I don't want no cuttin' and runnin' in Iraq neither.

Classy. About what I've come to expect from the left. You don't dissapoint.

Matt Damon is not the only one scared!
 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6urw_PWHYk&feature=related

Noodle Headed,Geo-Politically Challenged,Neo-Con Sheep may actually endanger what's left of the United States of America by voting for Mr.
Palin's *****.

:confused: Looks like a traditional political cartoon to me. What about it prompted your sarcastic comment?

It is remarkable how much a good political cartoonist can fit into one frame. In Oliphant's cartoon, we have Palin clearing a low bar with great self-satisfaction and a phony-baloney Joe Sixpack cheering her on. I think it is well done.

Exactly. I'm in the same boat, and agree those who earn more should pay more. The socialism quote is old and tired. Nothing like the old fear and ignorance scare tactics....

Palin is everything that has been wrong with American politics for a long time. An uncurious idealogue who has no grasp of anything outside her usual parameters. She came across as nothing more than a trained monologue, with no depth to her answers, and completely lacking the ability to expand on debate.

When will Republicans respect, and want intelligence in their leaders again?

Time for change.....

Great 'toon. Teliing it exactly as it is....

.........when the intelligence level of the general population increases to the point where the electorate won't go for airheads like GWB and SHP.

Good luck waiting for that day.

There is nobody stopping you, nor anybody else from paying more in taxes than is required of you.

Why would an individual pay more taxes than are required? There would be so few willing to do, there would be no noticeable benefit to the country.

It couldn't be a simpler concept: Anybody who feels under-taxed should pay what they believe they should owe.

You didn't answer the question.

IMHO, the optimum tax code would impose a fair burden on everyone. Relying on the good will of those who believe taxes should be increased would not be fair because it would favor freeloaders at the expense of the patriotic.

Are you honestly saying that you would be happy to pay more in taxes if you were rich? Get a grip man!!

I, for one, am for abolishment of the income tax, and am also for a Federally mandated 20% sales tax. Those who make more, spend more...so they would then pay more in taxes. Those that make less habitually spend less...so they would pay less in taxes.

Make it fair across the board!

I have a better concept:

Anybody who believes that we need to be the policeman for the world should pay for this decision and not pawn it off on their descendants.

Hmm, how about David Brooks for VP? Then we don't have to worry about either hemorrhaging or foot-in-mouth. But then we'd have to put up with all of those coherent sentences and thoughtful insights from a politician. Oh Godddd! I better go lie down until that thought passes.