# Biden v. Palin Debate Oct 2. **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [September 24, 2008, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-v-palin-debate-oct-2/464965 "2008-09-24T12:02:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2008, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-v-palin-debate-oct-2/464965/41 "2008-09-26T15:47:15Z")
The debate is officially ON! So why don’t we all just give our opinions on tonight’s debate right now; get them out of the way, shall we? I’ll go first: McCain hit a homerun. He accomplished exactly what he had to do. He made Obama appear indecisive and woefully unprepared to become the next president of the US. McCain scored knockout points during several heated exchanges; the most damaging to the Obama campaign was clearly when McCain answered his question about foreign policy clearly and confidently, while Obama struggled and stammered his way through a long-winded response that utterly failed to address the original question. The contrast between the two could not have been greater during Friday night’s debate. Obama supporters, your turn! ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2008, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-v-palin-debate-oct-2/464965/42 "2008-09-26T15:55:05Z")
> [@Stephe96](#): > > Obama supporters, your turn! I thought it was remarkably bereft of both Obama and McCain since this thread is about Palin v Biden. ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2008, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-v-palin-debate-oct-2/464965/43 "2008-09-26T15:57:12Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > I thought it was remarkably bereft of both Obama and McCain since this thread is about Palin v Biden. Oops. Sorry. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2008, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-v-palin-debate-oct-2/464965/44 "2008-09-26T16:08:16Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > As an aside, the after-debate spin that will be generated will likely strip the earth of all vegetation and destroy the ozone layer. This is completely true (Any criticism of Palin is sexist; Biden is a bully; Palin will get back to you later; Democrats are ‘tax and spend’; Republicans are ‘in the pocket of big oil’ …) They might as well have all the questions and answers ready in advance and have actors read everything for them. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2008, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-v-palin-debate-oct-2/464965/45 "2008-09-26T16:08:55Z")
> [@Stephe96](#): > > Oops. Sorry. :smack: I’m hip to the concept though. Kind of like movie reviews of movies you haven’t seen yet. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2008, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-v-palin-debate-oct-2/464965/46 "2008-09-26T16:30:18Z")
> [@Stephe96](#): > > The debate is officially ON! So why don’t we all just give our opinions on tonight’s debate right now; get them out of the way, shall we? > > I’ll go first: McCain hit a homerun. He accomplished exactly what he had to do. He made Obama appear indecisive and woefully unprepared to become the next president of the US. McCain scored knockout points during several heated exchanges; the most damaging to the Obama campaign was clearly when McCain answered his question about foreign policy clearly and confidently, while Obama struggled and stammered his way through a long-winded response that utterly failed to address the original question. The contrast between the two could not have been greater during Friday night’s debate. > > Obama supporters, your turn! I would be surprised if there will be any heated exchanges. I expect the debate will end up being a wash, like most debates. I’m now convinced that the real motive behind trying to postpone this debate was that McCain’s people want to do whatever they can to scrub the VP debate. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2008, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-v-palin-debate-oct-2/464965/47 "2008-09-27T00:39:16Z")
I don’t think there’s any reason to feel bad for Biden. There’s not going to be that much attention paid to this and very few people will watch. And based on the public pronouncements from both VP candidates lately, expectations will be very low. If he doesn’t slap her ass or call her sugar or call her husband the governor it should be okay from that standpoint. That said, the debate itself might be pretty embarrassing. Right now I sort of expect it to sound like an elementary school substitute teacher debating your loudmouth grandfather - if your grandfather was played by Phil Hartman. ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2008, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-v-palin-debate-oct-2/464965/48 "2008-09-27T00:57:56Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I don’t think there’s any reason to feel bad for Biden. There’s not going to be that much attention paid to this and very few people will watch. And based on the public pronouncements from both VP candidates lately, expectations will be very low. If he doesn’t slap her ass or call her sugar or call her husband the governor it should be okay from that standpoint. > > That said, the debate itself might be pretty embarrassing. Right now I sort of expect it to sound like an elementary school substitute teacher debating your loudmouth grandfather - if your grandfather was played by Phil Hartman. Not quite as asinine as Palin’s recent interview with Katie Couric. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2008, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-v-palin-debate-oct-2/464965/49 "2008-09-27T00:59:20Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I don’t think there’s any reason to feel bad for Biden. There’s not going to be that much attention paid to this and very few people will watch. And based on the public pronouncements from both VP candidates lately, expectations will be very low. If he doesn’t slap her ass or call her sugar or call her husband the governor it should be okay from that standpoint. > > That said, the debate itself might be pretty embarrassing. Right now I sort of expect it to sound like an elementary school substitute teacher debating your loudmouth grandfather - if your grandfather was played by Phil Hartman. I envision Grandpa Simpson Vs. Miss Teen South Carolina. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2008, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-v-palin-debate-oct-2/464965/50 "2008-09-27T01:37:18Z")
Biden need to completely ingore Palin’s sex and debate her _exactly_ as he would a man. All this talk about Biden needing to restrain himself so he “doesn’t look like a bully” is pretty offensive. She’s a political candidate, not a frail matron in a corset. If she sheds a single tear she’ll be the one eaten alive by the press, not Biden. ---
**Author:** ![gravitycrash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@gravitycrash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gravitycrash)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2008, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-v-palin-debate-oct-2/464965/51 "2008-09-27T01:51:19Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I don’t think there’s any reason to feel bad for Biden. There’s not going to be that much attention paid to this and very few people will watch. And based on the public pronouncements from both VP candidates lately, expectations will be very low. If he doesn’t slap her ass or call her sugar or call her husband the governor it should be okay from that standpoint. > > That said, the debate itself might be pretty embarrassing. Right now I sort of expect it to sound like an elementary school substitute teacher debating your loudmouth grandfather - if your grandfather was played by Phil Hartman. No offense Marley23 but if you don’t think an ass ton of males and maybe a good size of females won’t be watching then I just have to ask why. I know this doesn’t reflect well on men but guys will tune in and at least watch part of the debate. I’m betting Palin will do a little better than expected and Biden will step on his dick at least once. Biden will win on fact checks but remember perception means everything. Not many people like Biden very much and Palin is the new rock star in politics. If she screws up in a big way then MCcain is probably done. She is probably being coached nearly 24/7 except for allowing time for her to do her hair. ---
**Author:** ![Kevbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e47774/32.png) [@Kevbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kevbo)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2008, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-v-palin-debate-oct-2/464965/52 "2008-09-27T03:36:32Z")
> [@gravitycrash](#): > > She is probably being coached nearly 24/7 except for allowing time for her to do her hair. From what I have seen of her rare interviews she is being OVER-coached. She has memorized talking points for every concievable question, but has no idea how to handle any follow up question. It seems as if she doesn’t in fact know the meaning of some of the words she has memorized: “Fungible” and “Recused” for starters. ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2008, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-v-palin-debate-oct-2/464965/53 "2008-09-27T03:59:13Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > Biden need to completely ingore Palin’s sex and debate her _exactly_ as he would a man. All this talk about Biden needing to restrain himself so he “doesn’t look like a bully” is pretty offensive. She’s a political candidate, not a frail matron in a corset. If she sheds a single tear she’ll be the one eaten alive by the press, not Biden. What if he does just that, and a half hour into the debate Palin starts to cry? :D:D:D Like most Dopers, I would laugh. But the rest of the country? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2008, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-v-palin-debate-oct-2/464965/54 "2008-09-27T04:05:16Z")
> [@gravitycrash](#): > > No offense Marley23 but if you don’t think an ass ton of males and maybe a good size of females won’t be watching then I just have to ask why. Because it’s the Vice Presidential debate, that’s why. ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2008, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-v-palin-debate-oct-2/464965/55 "2008-09-27T04:12:01Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Because it’s the Vice Presidential debate, that’s why. Uh huh. Nobody wants to see how Sarah’s gonna do. No one wants to see how Joe will handle this situation. Not one Obama supporter wants to be there to see Palin fall flat on her face. Might as well watch Law and Order reruns on TNT. ---
**Author:** ![gravitycrash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@gravitycrash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gravitycrash)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2008, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-v-palin-debate-oct-2/464965/56 "2008-09-27T04:29:19Z")
> [@BarnOwl](#): > > Uh huh. Nobody wants to see how Sarah’s gonna do. No one wants to see how Joe will handle this situation. > > Not one Obama supporter wants to be there to see Palin fall flat on her face. > > Might as well watch Law and Order reruns on TNT. Yep. This is better than reality TV because this makes a difference in peoples lives. If Sarah Palin falls on her ass the election is over. She needs to come across as an intelligent woman and have a clue on foreign policy. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2008, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-v-palin-debate-oct-2/464965/57 "2008-09-27T04:32:50Z")
> [@BarnOwl](#): > > Uh huh. Nobody wants to see how Sarah’s gonna do. No one wants to see how Joe will handle this situation. :rolleyes: Please find the part of my post where I said absolutely nobody is going to watch. ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2008, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-v-palin-debate-oct-2/464965/58 "2008-09-27T04:33:22Z")
> [@BarnOwl](#): > > What if he does just that, and a half hour into the debate Palin starts to cry? :D:D:D > > Like most Dopers, I would laugh. But the rest of the country? Biden walks to her podium and hands her his handkerchief. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2008, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-v-palin-debate-oct-2/464965/59 "2008-09-27T04:35:28Z")
**Marley** , I think there may be a higher viewership for the Vice Presidential debate than for some of the Presidential debates. You know how people to watch when there is the possibility of a disaster. > [@](#): > > \*\*Diogenes the Cynic \*\*: The wisest tactic for Biden would be to basically ignore Palin and aim all his attacks directly at McCain. They can’t accuse him of sexism if he only rips the shit out of McCain. It would be very sexist for him not to debate his opponent in the debates. It might be difficult for him to argue with the kind of nonsense babbling that she did in the Couric interview. But maybe she will be better prepared and can give him something coherent to argue with. If she continued to spout nonsense, I would comment on it by saying that I didn’t mean her any disrespect, but found her sentences to be basically incoherent. If she started crying during the debate, I would assume that that was her way of dealing with pain or nervousness. It would not be Biden’s place to deal with it. She doesn’t strike me as someone who one cry during a debate. But I don’t anticipate these things being the likelihood. I think she will have her zingers, but not much meat in what she says. She will sound rehersed and will not be able to think on her feet well. Biden will come off as a nice guy – which he is, basically. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2008, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-v-palin-debate-oct-2/464965/60 "2008-09-27T04:42:59Z")
> [@Zoe](#): > > **Marley** , I think there may be a higher viewership for the Vice Presidential debate than for some of the Presidential debates. I think that’s very unlikely. As it is, the public seems to have zero interest in one of the VP candidates, and is paying less and less attention to the other one. > [@](#): > > You know how people to watch when there is the possibility of a disaster. For me, that’s the only real reason to watch. I’ll probably go in and out between that and a baseball game. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-v-palin-debate-oct-2/464965.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-v-palin-debate-oct-2/464965.md?page=4)