# Biden V. Palin watch-along thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 3, 2008, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-v-palin-watch-along-thread/466253 "2008-10-03T00:00:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 25
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2008, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-v-palin-watch-along-thread/466253/481 "2008-10-03T02:45:41Z")
> [@eleanorigby](#): > > Yes. And now I feel I know Biden better. And I think he’d be a better VP (I mean we all know that, but). He came off as very genuine. Yeah, the biggest surprise here? I actually liked Biden. Seems smart, knowledgeable, and, yes, genuine. This debate isn’t going to sway the base one way or another, but I think the independents got another nudge towards Obama/Biden. ---
**Author:** ![Henrichek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5daacb/32.png) [@Henrichek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Henrichek)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2008, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-v-palin-watch-along-thread/466253/482 "2008-10-03T02:45:53Z")
I think I heard Gwen tell Biden something along the lines of “You did well” when they shook hands after the debate. I didn’t hear that told to Palin. ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2008, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-v-palin-watch-along-thread/466253/483 "2008-10-03T02:45:54Z")
> [@Jman](#): > > . . . I didn’t hear a SINGLE coherent sentence from Palin, or any indication that she had a clue what she was talking about. I can’t understand how ANYONE can think she’s winning this. She is reciting talking points…if the question doesn’t fit into what she’s rehearsed, she just goes onto something she has rehearsed…it makes her sound vapid. > > Biden clearly knows what the hell is going on in the world, and has ideas about what will work and what won’t…based on experience. She has nothing. Nothing but a random string of buzzwords rearranged 8 different ways in the same 2 minute span, hoping to confuse the hell out of the average voter and make them think she has a clue. I weep for the people who buy her crap. **WORD!** I couldn’t have said it better myself. ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2008, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-v-palin-watch-along-thread/466253/484 "2008-10-03T02:46:20Z")
> [@SmackFu](#): > > The question was “do you support same-sex marriage?” That’s my bad then. I misheard. ---
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2008, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-v-palin-watch-along-thread/466253/485 "2008-10-03T02:46:48Z")
VP’s SHOULD be policy wonks, it’s what they’re good at! I find Biden to be an extremely reassuring back up to Obama, that’s a good solid team. Cute, too, the both of 'em… ---
**Author:** ![Archergal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Archergal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Archergal)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2008, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-v-palin-watch-along-thread/466253/486 "2008-10-03T02:48:14Z")
OMG, a caller to C-Span just invoked Mr. Smith Goes to Washington in support of Sarah Palin. I think folksiness is one of those myths many Americans believe about themselves. It’s a shibboleth for being “an average joe” or “one of the people.” Which many of them are NOT. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2008, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-v-palin-watch-along-thread/466253/487 "2008-10-03T02:49:32Z")
I was actually more worried to see Biden committing too many gaffes as many on the right said he was going to do. As for Palin, who was the McClellan she was talking about regarding Afghanistan? ---
**Author:** ![Rubystreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Rubystreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubystreak)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2008, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-v-palin-watch-along-thread/466253/488 "2008-10-03T02:50:07Z")
Gwen Ifill broke her ankle doing research for this debate?!? What kind of research was that? Damn. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2008, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-v-palin-watch-along-thread/466253/489 "2008-10-03T02:50:19Z")
> [@Archergal](#): > > OMG, a caller to C-Span just invoked Mr. Smith Goes to Washington in support of Sarah Palin. > > I think folksiness is one of those myths many Americans believe about themselves. It’s a shibboleth for being “an average joe” or “one of the people.” Which many of them are NOT. Anyone calling into to C-span with a Mr. Washington quote prepared is probably a campaign plant. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Carrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Captain\_Carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Carrot)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2008, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-v-palin-watch-along-thread/466253/490 "2008-10-03T02:50:25Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > As for Palin, who was the McClellan she was talking about regarding Afghanistan? I’m guessing Scott. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2008, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-v-palin-watch-along-thread/466253/491 "2008-10-03T02:50:42Z")
> [@NinetyWt](#): > > That was for the whole thing, though. She’s much too plastic-y. > > She did a lot better than I thought she would, but I think she started fading at about the 50-minute mark. She did well in the first ten minutes, good in the second 10, just okay in the next10 and so on. It was like watching a sprinter try to win a 5,000-meter race. She clearly worked very hard to remember things to say, but only crammed about 45 to 60 minutes’ worth. And it was a 90 minute debate. She didn’t do as badly as she could have, but with a week to go and McCain needing to flip at least half a dozen states, that’s not good enough. ---
**Author:** ![Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aji_de_gallina/32/260_2.png) [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aji_de_Gallina)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2008, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-v-palin-watch-along-thread/466253/492 "2008-10-03T02:50:43Z")
So, Sarah Palin’s smile is creepy, she says nyuculear and doesn’t debate as well as Biden. Man, of course Biden won (if this had been a formal, scored debate), but Palin was better than many (even considering that many had very low expectations) had thought. She was tense at times, but she knew that it is always better to say something than saying nothing. I hate the almost teenage-crush way they both spoke of the prez candidates. If you may excuse the sexist phrase, at some moments it looked like a “first ladies” debate. Palin had a good point when she mentioned that Biden had said that Obama would not be a good CIC. Biden’s been in the senate since forever and it showed, better poise, few hesitations, but he wasn’t able -or didn’t want- to throw a K.O. punch. Palin: Much better than the Couric interview. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2008, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-v-palin-watch-along-thread/466253/493 "2008-10-03T02:51:47Z")
I thought she did okay and as good as I expected. There were some spots where her answers were more than just regurgitation or at least seemed to to be, but for the most part she seemed to do more talking points repetition and less substance than Joe. {can I call him Joe?} And just to leave no confusion about how disgusting and childish I can be. I’d still fuck her, …and her teenage daughter too. Preferably both at the same time. Hey, at least I didn’t say twat,…I;m looking at you DtC ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2008, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-v-palin-watch-along-thread/466253/494 "2008-10-03T02:52:00Z")
Hmm, I just don’t think people want a “homespun” response to the credit crisis. Not sure, either, that people forget that first impression that led to a SNL skit. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2008, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-v-palin-watch-along-thread/466253/495 "2008-10-03T02:52:28Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > McCain needing to flip at least half a dozen states, that’s not good enough. I heard on NPR this afternoon that McCain is pulling out of Michigan. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2008, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-v-palin-watch-along-thread/466253/496 "2008-10-03T02:52:35Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > I was actually more worried to see Biden committing too many gaffes as many on the right said he was going to do. > > As for Palin, who was the McClellan she was talking about regarding Afghanistan? McClellan is our zombie general. Personally, I’m still waiting for them to get with it and send over Zombie Sherman and Zombie Grant. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2008, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-v-palin-watch-along-thread/466253/497 "2008-10-03T02:52:41Z")
Well, Palin didn’t ever break down the way she did with Couric: She seemed enthusiastic and excited throughout. But on her content, a lot of what she was saying seemed to be on the other side. If I didn’t have any context, I’d think she was pushing for Obama. I also noticed that when asked a question, she had a repeated tendency to say “I’d rather talk about \”, and proceed to address that instead of the question. Also, and I know this isn’t a political issue and shouldn’t influence anyone’s vote, but I found her voice really, really annoying to listen to for an hour and a half. On Biden’s side, I don’t think he really swallowed his foot at any point, but he did give it a nibble a couple of times. At least once, he started off a sentence with “Barack Obama’s policies… Pardon me, I mean McCain’s”, and late in the debate, he jumped straight from “I’m not going to change” into talking about Obama being for change, which will hurt him in an ad clip. One other thing I noticed about Palin, from my experience in amateur theater: I don’t get nervous while on stage, but after the show ends and I step off the stage, all of the nervousness catches up to me. That seemed to happen to Palin there at the end, except that she let it catch up to her as soon as the closing remarks were done, before she got off stage. ---
**Author:** ![Rubystreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Rubystreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubystreak)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2008, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-v-palin-watch-along-thread/466253/498 "2008-10-03T02:52:44Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > As for Palin, who was the McClellan she was talking about regarding Afghanistan? I believe she meant McKiernan, not McClellan. That was the Civil War, Sarah, doncha know, doggone it! ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2008, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-v-palin-watch-along-thread/466253/499 "2008-10-03T02:52:47Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > She didn’t do as badly as she could have, **but with a week to go** and McCain needing to flip at least half a dozen states, that’s not good enough. My bolding: Huh? ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2008, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-v-palin-watch-along-thread/466253/500 "2008-10-03T02:53:21Z")
> [@Henrichek](#): > > I think I heard Gwen tell Biden something along the lines of “You did well” when they shook hands after the debate. I didn’t hear that told to Palin. She said “I’m doing well” or “I feel well.” Biden asked her how she was feeling. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-v-palin-watch-along-thread/466253.md?page=24) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-v-palin-watch-along-thread/466253.md?page=26)