It's Our City is a project that uses TV, Radio and Web
to promote civic engagement in the Philadelphia region.What are your expectations for tonight’s VP Debate?
Thursday, October 2nd, 2008 at 5:49 am - by Matt Campbell. Filed under: Politics.
It’s Our City wants to give you guys a pre-debate forum for what you are expecting from tonight’s Vice Presidential Debate in St Louis. I’m not looking for snarky answers like, they’ll debate, or some questions might be asked. But I’m interested to find out, what it is you’re looking for from each candidate. Is this Joe Biden’s to lose? If Sarah Palin bombs, should she quit? Could this be Palin’s finest moment?
Updated: Here’s something to stoke the fire. Does it bother you that tonight’s moderator Gwen Ifill is currently writing a book to be titled “The Breakthrough: Politics and Race in the Age of Obama,” which is to be published by Doubleday on Jan. 20, 2009, the day a new president is inaugurated?
October 2nd, 2008 at 6:36 am
I think it’s Joe Biden’s to lose. I don’t think quitting is an option for Palin - the stakes are too high, and I don’t think that McCain will accept quitting at this point. They’d put some spin on it to make it look like she didn’t lose anyway. And maybe she’ll surprise everyone. I’ve heard that Joe is a straight-forward, hard-hitting kind of guy, ‘in your face’ with his answers at times - one of our own. Hard to tell - with all the glitz and media spotlight, all the hoopla, and then the infamous interview …. I think this is her next real proving ground, this is unknown territory. I don’t really know what to expect - makes me all the more curious!!
Not sure if the mod bothers me - let me think about it. Sounds like a potential bias … but in our favor
October 2nd, 2008 at 7:25 am
The Obama campaign should ask Ifill to step down.
The low-expectations game has already started for Palin. Ifill provides more fodder for excuse making from the right.
That being said. This is Biden’s to lose.
October 2nd, 2008 at 7:36 am
But she can see Russia from her front door and what periodicals/ current new sources has she read? Oh them all but can’t name one~ It does not take a village to make an idiot
October 2nd, 2008 at 8:15 am
No sense in discussing Palin’s challenges this evening - they’re all too apparent.
Biden’s big challenge will be to not come off looking too cavalier or condescending toward Palin. If there ever was a time for showing some intellectual muscle for Biden - tonight is the night. Perhaps I underestimate the American Public, but most debate watchers clearly understand that Palin is not in Biden’s league or for that matter, not even in the same solar system experience wise. Success for Palin will not be harpooned by Biden. Success for Biden will be to harpoon Palin intellectually.
October 2nd, 2008 at 9:00 am
That Russia comment … don’t think she will ever live that one down ….. among many others.
October 2nd, 2008 at 9:32 am
Joe Biden has everything to loose at this debate. He needs to come across diplomatic, convey his experience, and stay away from down playing Palin’s inexperience. Mention when appropriate but don’t drown it. It should be apparent.
Sarah Palin on the other hand has everything to gain. For her she needs to have short answers and to the point unless she has substance to support it. She does not have the foriegn policy experience of Joe Biden so she should not fight that issue. For that matter I don’t know if she has ever met a foriegn leader. As Vice President, she needs to focus on those duties which for the most part includes drafter and spokesperson for the administration’s policy. She needs to show her success and experience with facts. Her skills and knowledge of being an advisor to the president focusing on her strengths. Share with the public what McCain has discussed as her responsibilities if this would deflect any attention to her weeknesses.
Regarding the question, “In a crises, do you feel you have the credibility and experience to run the country”, good luck Palin.
October 2nd, 2008 at 2:26 pm
Joe Biden is a natural. He has many years of serving the country in the U.S. Senate.
He has also lived through the many issues, both national and international.
On the contrary, Sarah Palin has a background in one state’s government.
as a mayor and a governor.
In other words, Biden most likely knows the answers to the potential questions.
Sarah has to cram for the answers for tonight. We’ll see how this works out.
So, style will count. Biden can be strong in his factual delivery. Sarah though
might be thinking about last minute memorized facts.
The format of the debate might also enter in to this equation also. Shorter
time frames for some answers might limit some not well thought out answers.
Let’s see this tonight
Jan from the Suburbs.
October 2nd, 2008 at 5:11 pm
This cracked me up — 23/6 on how Biden has to learn how to not make girls cry:
http://www.236.com/news/2008/10/01/debate_training_biden_learns_w_1_9211.php