Live Blogging the VP Debate on VBD
LOS ANGELES, Cali. — Join us tonight as we comment live on VBD on the much-hyped, oft-discussed vice presidential debate between Senator Joe Biden and Governor Sarah Palin. Please feel free to add your own comments to the site as well!
The debate begins at 6:00 PM PDT. That’s 9:00 in the east, 8:00 in the central, 7:00 in the mountains for those of you who are chronometrically challenged.
5:46PM: Victor is making us have a fair & balanced approach - so we’re watching on Fox.
5:59PM: Joe Biden always looks like he’s ready for a bar fight.
6:07PM: Britt Hume can’t stop mentioning the book Gwen Ifle is writing. Sarah Palin has a good outfit. She looks very nervous.
Bailout bill to Biden: Standard response that is expected. Blame the last 8 years. I don’t think it answers the question as if whether or not it answered the question. He does the right thing about trying to put Obama over. That is the only impact of vp debates - talk about the top of the ticket. Overall he didn’t answer the question. He is now rambling.
Bailout bill to Palin: Taking it down to the parents - it’s a good idea. Talk about the fear of the common person. It is smart that she is talking about it from this perspective. She isn’t answering the question either. She doesn’t mention that a paid advisor of McCain was paid by Freddie Mac up to very recently.
What happened to the two minutes of back and forth?
6:09PM: I’m glad that Biden asked to have time to respond. She does a good job of pointing out what McCain meant by fundamentals being strong. She is right about that.
Nice - Gwen pointed out they didn’t answer.
6:15PM: Who’s fault?
Palin says it is greed and exploitation. Interesting. It seemed that the rightist talking point was to blame the minorities that got the loan. She keeps saying it’s not our fault.
Biden says Obama predicted it. Blames McCain for the deregulation. He should be pointing out that Palin’s answer actually would blame this anti-regulation. There’s the health care comparison. They need tax relief.
Biden opened the door for tax talk. Here comes something that I’m sure she has a great big index card to answer that one. She should be defending McCain more.
Biden wins the point on how they voted. Points out she didn’t answer. He has to be careful of sounding like he is lecturing her. Uh oh… she is avoiding. And now she just said she’s just going to ignore the questions.
6:20PM If the debate is about taxes it might be a good thing for Biden. He gets to clear up a lot of misconception the McCain campaign has been saying about the tax idea.
Her answer to patriotism is interesting… don’t trust government? I wonder if she feels the same way in all government initiatives that rely on calls for patriotism.
He is really taking her to task on specifics about each plan. He might be getting a little to fired up, though. I wonder what the percentage of speaking time is right now between the two of them. He has to be minutes ahead.
6:25PM Biden - Might have to not give foreign assistance. Easy thing to cut. He turned the question into things they aren’t going to cut. I like the patriotism meme he is trying to do.
I’m honestly unsure what she’s talking about. This has nothing to do with the question.
6:29PM: It’s good that he says she has done a good job taking from the oil companies. And why isn’t it redistribution of wealth… something she’s against. She reminds me of the movie Little Big League - from soccer mom to talking at the nation. Amazing.
He is actually doing a decent job of sprinkling facts into a larger story and not sounding like he is lecturing her on her lack of facts. I’m worried that he’s talking way too much. It has to be 2 to 1 at this point.
She is not answering anything that she doesn’t want to talk about. There is no clash. I’m really really trying hard to be not biased here, but she needs to try to engage the questions that are being asked.
6:33PM: Climate change. She has moderated her position on this. She doesn’t want to argue about the causes. That’s because she doesn’t believe it is man-made, even though she paid lip-service to it. This is actually a sensible answer though. Let’s fix it by being better to the environment. Fair enough.
He needs to answer what we need to stop blaming and take more of her approach. He should have been better.
Her “the phrase is drill baby drill” was ridiculous. O’Biden… nice.
6:39PM: Same sex benefits.
Biden. Yes. That is a good clear answer. Shouldn’t have said “same-sex marriage” that is not the question.
Palin. She is tolerant. She has gay friends. She gives a good straight answer. Her best answer so far.
6:44PM: Iraq.
Palin. She is clearly comfortable talking about Iraq. But no plan.
Biden. There you go, that is what I said. Bush, Maliki and Obama are on the same page. He is doing a good job of highlighting difference.
Palin. White flag by saying when we’re going to leave. Perceptually, non-nuanced-ly, she is right.
Here come some more random facts from Palin.
It is sad that Biden will repeat that McCain voted against troop funding, but it won’t be believed. Biden loves McCain. He shoulda preceeded that with a no homo or Palin might walk out.
6:49PM: Pakistan/Afghanistan
Biden is going to be well-versed here.
She mispronounced nuclear. So sad. The castro brothers. Love it. Her stance of not talking with dictators.
Wow, she completely turned her position. She wants diplomacy but doesn’t want diplomacy. Strange.
Will he point it out?
The FYI about who controls the military in Iran wasn’t probably necessary and makes him come off like a know-it-all. Oh I forgot about the Spain gaff by McCain.
6:55PM Israel/Palestine
She has a good answer. She seems well-versed on it.
This foreign policy stuff really works in his favor. The interesting thing is that I think they actually agree on what the outcome should be. He just did a better job of saying how.
Here’s another rant by Palin.
Here is where he gets some time to make some comparisons to Bush. This is her fault for bringing it up to ignore the problems of the past. ACK! make her answer what the differences will be!
7:01PMNucular weaponry
The “well he said…” isn’t working very well.
It looks like this is going to be a continuation of Afghanistan.
Smart of Biden to stop saying what John McCain did to saying what Obama did.
OH NO!!!! A SIGH BY BIDEN!!! WHY WHY WHY WOULD HE DO THAT! It is only two hours to remain non-condescending.
7:07PMDarfur
Biden. His proposed policies and saved lives. Was against war in Iraq. No stomach for Genocide is right. He needs to do a better job of showing why is seemingly inconsistent position is ok. She might pounce on it.
Palin. Here comes her lecture. Support the no fly zone is good. Nice example of taking money out of the Sudan.
Is there a line?
Biden. He is talking too much right now. And babbling a little bit about Iraq a little bit too much.
Palin. She is good in pointing out how Biden has changed his mind about Obama’s policies. He needs to answer it.
7:09PM: Heartbeat away
I hate this question. It just allows for another stump speech. Boring and not at all along the lines of a “debate.”
Good of him to answer her talking points with some reality about how McCain is like Bush. Her folksy response was… folksy.
I sincerely think Palin would make an excellent political pundit. I think she is actually pretty quick witted when not asked to be “proper.” I hope, in the case that McCain loses (which I don’t think will happen), she gets a job with Fox News.
7:18PM: What should VP do
This is a good question for her. This is where she can really pull out the soccer-mom side.
Biden would be in charge of legislative initiatives. That is good. Makes a negative (a loudmout) into a positive. Nice job.
Question about the legislative branch v. Executive for the VP.
This is a fairly complex constitutional question. Her responsive is good but doesn’t seem to answer the interpretation issue.
Biden answers better about the role as outlined in the Constitution.
7:19PM Achilles Heal
Sincerely… really sincerely I think she doesn’t know what Achilles Heal means. What is this?
He should have answered the question, though. He’s just as bad as her now. He did take time to show he at least knows what the term means.
7:22PM:
Biden choking up? I actually think it was sincere. He was seemingly overcome by the moment of having to talk about losing his wife and child. Sad.
McCain the maverick? Biden is pretty good at setting the record straight. I don’t know if its politically wise. People don’t like to see their common beliefs challenged… no matter how false they are. I don’t know if it’s a good choice. Now he’s ranting.
7:28PMCompromises?
How can she say she doesn’t compromise, but she finds a way to work together… isn’t that the definition of compromise?
Questioning motive is a good answer from Biden. It goes along with the whole idea of understanding.
I didn’t realize that the VP gets to make appointments.
Ok, what is this tax rant again?
I’m not going to comment on closing statements. Same talking points.
7:33PM: Her sincerity is ruined by politics.
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62 Responses to “Live Blogging the VP Debate on VBD”
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Posted from: 98.14.255.196
October 2nd, 2008 16:26
Bietz, this is an amazing idea! Thanks for setting this up. I’m looking forward to this.
Posted from: 68.199.21.95
October 2nd, 2008 17:49
How is this going to work?
Posted from: 96.229.143.242
October 2nd, 2008 17:58
I’m going to blog. The rest of you leave comments.
Posted from: 24.118.55.215
October 2nd, 2008 18:07
palin has already quoted herself EXACTLY from the speech at the convention.
impressive.
Posted from: 162.83.209.106
October 2nd, 2008 18:13
Did anyone just see Sarah P. Wink? huh
Posted from: 98.194.205.137
October 2nd, 2008 18:16
sarah palin reminds me kids i’ve judged who, during rebuttals, says “Judge, you cannot do ______”
even better, my kids told me about this one local in houston where a kid referred to his judge as ‘your honor’
Posted from: 98.194.205.137
October 2nd, 2008 18:17
of kids i’ve judged**
Posted from: 98.14.255.196
October 2nd, 2008 18:21
Loved Biden’s Bridge to Nowhere line! Seems some in the audience did, too.
Posted from: 98.14.255.196
October 2nd, 2008 18:23
Palin’s line about not answering the questions the way the moderator likes is puzzling to me.
I just hope Biden avoids a Bush ‘84-style blunder that opens the door for a Ferraro ‘84-like response. (”I almost resent your patronizing attitude that you have to *teach* me about foreign policy….”)
Posted from: 24.118.55.215
October 2nd, 2008 18:30
loved the bridge line as well…it was excellent.
I really liked the strategy that Biden has with making what she says seem irrelevant, which they kind of are.
Posted from: 67.168.199.105
October 2nd, 2008 18:30
I’m sick of her non-responsive rants
Posted from: 66.168.69.167
October 2nd, 2008 18:30
It doesn’t puzzle me, Jon. That’s consistent with the McCain ticket of being a maverick. I’m sure she was coached to say that when challenged about answering the question. It’s all part of marketing that package, while obscuring her inexperience.
Posted from: 66.168.69.167
October 2nd, 2008 18:32
I’m watching CNN right now– the response meter by uncommitted Ohio voters is intriguing. The women seem more receptive to ideas on both sides.
Posted from: 24.118.55.215
October 2nd, 2008 18:35
“raping the outercontinental shelf”?!?
what is this?
Posted from: 98.14.255.196
October 2nd, 2008 18:39
Sarah Palin’s rambling answer about tolerance of gays is ludicrous. I disagree with Bietz on this completely. I think had she started — not with vague references to friends and family, but rather with agreement that denial of things like hospital visitations is an outrage — that this would have been a more solid answer. Dick Cheney gave great answers to these questions in ‘00 and ‘04. This sounded like a defensive ramble.
Posted from: 98.14.255.196
October 2nd, 2008 18:39
And shame on Gwen Ifill for literally saying “let’s forget nuance” on an issue set that goes way beyond gay marriage.
Posted from: 66.168.69.167
October 2nd, 2008 18:49
Wow… Biden was his most cogent while talking about Pakistan and Bin Laden (though he only touched on Iran). The CNN opinion meter was spiking really high there, too. Palin did pick up on that and focused on Iran.
Interestingly, whenever either VP candidate starts attacking the opponent’s running mate, the meter goes way down.
Posted from: 98.14.255.196
October 2nd, 2008 18:49
Backing up, I agree with Bietz that Biden’s response to the climate change question was good. His point is well taken: how can you solve the problem if you won’t acknowledge the cause of the problem?
Posted from: 162.83.209.106
October 2nd, 2008 18:50
she just said countries like these …hate womens rights
ide like to see her view on womens rights
Posted from: 67.168.199.105
October 2nd, 2008 18:51
18:see last night’s Daily Show
Posted from: 98.14.255.196
October 2nd, 2008 18:55
Petey texted me and said that Biden should run T against her.
Posted from: 162.83.209.106
October 2nd, 2008 18:55
“Theres been huge blenders in this war”
Posted from: 68.199.21.95
October 2nd, 2008 18:55
I love how Biden keeps saying “Nobody like Joe Biden…”
Posted from: 98.14.255.196
October 2nd, 2008 19:02
Agreed about the sigh!
Posted from: 71.246.101.145
October 2nd, 2008 19:06
his pen, hand gestures, and his way of nailing the matter in the end is very good~
Posted from: 12.216.167.34
October 2nd, 2008 19:08
Palin’s overperforming her expectations, but the fact that she hasn’t fallen off the podium is sufficient to do that.
Biden hasn’t said anything monumentally stupid. Again, an accomplishment.
I predict no shift in the direction of the election based on this debate.
Posted from: 71.246.101.145
October 2nd, 2008 19:10
“what do you expect!?”
silly palin!
Posted from: 24.164.191.184
October 2nd, 2008 19:10
wink #2
Posted from: 24.164.191.184
October 2nd, 2008 19:12
who caught it
Posted from: 24.164.191.184
October 2nd, 2008 19:12
oh snap. EXTRA CREDIT!
Posted from: 71.246.101.145
October 2nd, 2008 19:13
oh god. “shout out” in a debate?!
Posted from: 68.199.21.95
October 2nd, 2008 19:14
We all get extra credit tonight!
Posted from: 98.14.255.196
October 2nd, 2008 19:14
Palin’s line about no one getting Biden’s “joke” about not running for VP was very funny. I admit I laughed.
Posted from: 68.199.21.95
October 2nd, 2008 19:16
Palin as a FOX news anchor…
Posted from: 98.14.255.196
October 2nd, 2008 19:25
THANK YOU, JOE BIDEN — thank you for finally addressing the “maverick” issue.
Posted from: 24.199.101.106
October 2nd, 2008 19:25
Daniel Lee is the only real maverick.
Posted from: 66.68.159.87
October 2nd, 2008 19:27
I like how she says nuc-ule-ur.
Posted from: 98.195.66.198
October 2nd, 2008 19:29
i love it when she gets into the light voice and says “john mccain is a maverick, taking shots from his own party and the opposing party.”
Posted from: 66.168.69.167
October 2nd, 2008 19:33
Closing statements — Palin = pathos, pathos and paths; Biden = ethos, logos, with a little pathos for good measure. ’nuff said. Wow… Biden ended his statement on super-high CNN spikes.
Posted from: 66.168.69.167
October 2nd, 2008 19:34
*third “paths” should be “pathos”
Posted from: 12.216.167.34
October 2nd, 2008 19:41
I disagree with Bietz on Biden’s attacking John McCain as a “maverick.” That’s a theme of the McCain campaign that needs to be deconstructed — Palin’s been repeating it all night and Biden can’t just let her get away with it.
The repetitive structure of his response is an excellent rhetorical strategy. He hammered that argument into the ground.
The moment when Biden almost teared up over family issues was very moving to me and my wife. I think that moment may have sealed the election for Obama-Biden.
Posted from: 66.108.128.126
October 2nd, 2008 19:45
@Seth: or stefan kazmi
Posted from: 199.120.105.71
October 2nd, 2008 19:46
How would our community handle her total lack of answering the questions? I want a good lder to ask her a few questions!
Posted from: 216.139.154.83
October 2nd, 2008 19:54
I give Palin a lot of credit - she did very well
Posted from: 69.121.60.18
October 2nd, 2008 20:06
Biden finally realized he wasn’t making eye contact with the camera and got more confident as the debate went on. Palin on the other hand got weaker and more repetitive. AND she winked too much.
Ugh….im so disappointed.
Posted from: 68.72.138.84
October 2nd, 2008 20:36
I just registered the screen name Consummate Maverick
Posted from: 24.183.38.132
October 2nd, 2008 20:45
I was mad that Biden didn’t attack Palin on health care from a policy side. Instead Biden chose to attack from a coverage stand point. Which is fine and good. But a tax rebate for health care is a silly policy. How does this help people get health care? In order to get the benefit, you have to have a tax liability. This doesn’t help low income people who can’t afford health care coverage right now. On top, you have to wait until after you have submitted your taxes. How does that help you fix your immediate needs? It doesn’t. The McCain plan is coverage delayed and coverage denied. That’s a policy that fails doomed to fail and barely pays lip service to the problem.
Posted from: 71.141.99.239
October 2nd, 2008 20:46
I watched the response after the debate on both nbc and fox and the panel on nbc thought obama will win the election and the panel on fox predicted mcain will win. Hmmmmm False consensus anyone?
Posted from: 24.215.162.120
October 2nd, 2008 20:46
@Matt Ross: we all know that’s not quite accurate
Posted from: 98.195.169.63
October 2nd, 2008 20:53
Palin did a lot better than everyone expected, but she really namedropped the wrong names and pulled the wrong memorized blocks.
Posted from: 24.205.203.169
October 2nd, 2008 21:05
Biden won on the substance of the debate easily, I thought it was odd that she seemed unclear on the constitutional role of the VP, and that she never really addressed a lot of the criticisms of McCain. Good night for Democrats.
Posted from: 99.151.9.174
October 2nd, 2008 21:47
I really like how Palin said “Well obviously I’m an outsider to Washington because I don’t know how you guys work” after one of Biden’s rants.
Does anyone have the exact transcript of that? That ought to be quoted against McCain’s ‘experience’ card
Posted from: 98.195.169.63
October 2nd, 2008 22:50
I agree with rob parker, but from a debate perspective, Biden could have lay adapted better. Palin’s mannerisms and crystallization in the last speech reminded me of some kiddoes from middle of nowhere, texas…who often win middle of nowhere, texas judges/voters.
She and Mccain both are hilariously gushy, coy and off-topic when it comes to their scripted persuasion rants, whereas Biden and Obama’s sub-pointed approach makes more sense.
Posted from: 98.195.169.63
October 2nd, 2008 22:57
also, who is “plin” like a palin fan…who misspelled palin?
if so that’s miserable…
Posted from: 67.159.23.75
October 2nd, 2008 23:09
interestingly enough, they spelled palin correctly in their post, meaning they do know how to spell it. maybe it is you that is miserable…
Posted from: 167.206.203.14
October 3rd, 2008 07:36
YOUR HEALTHCARE PLAN IS THE REAL BRIDGE TO NOWHERE
Posted from: 72.193.177.14
October 3rd, 2008 14:39
I wish Palin would have mentioned how Obama, in a matter of four years, managed to become a wholly owned subsidy of Frannie May and Freddie Mac — receiving more money from them in four years than any other member of Congress except one, Chris Dodd, who had a 20+ year head start. Keep repeating that chestnut about deregulation being the problem: people might just buy into it.
Posted from: 72.193.177.14
October 3rd, 2008 14:43
I might add that when it comes to change Palin is dead on: the Obama campaign has an ethos of look backward and assign blame. His vision for the future is to sustain and grow every federal program created since FDR with maybe the exception of the Department of Defense. He also opposes new energy initiatives that might be the bridge into future solutions. That’s not change.
Posted from: 72.213.162.95
October 3rd, 2008 15:15
Yeah, no. He does not, actually oppose new energy incentives. Check his site, loser.
Posted from: 24.90.20.221
October 3rd, 2008 16:01
yeah ryan hamilton, you’re sucha loser
Posted from: 71.141.147.26
October 3rd, 2008 17:17
In order to change we must first understand the past. Biden was simply demonstrating that there policies and decisions will be different from the policies and decisions made in the past. Change must be comparative!!!
Posted from: 71.141.147.26
October 3rd, 2008 17:17
their*