# How will, or should, Obama-Biden answer the Palin buzz? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [September 8, 2008, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-or-should-obama-biden-answer-the-palin-buzz/462555 "2008-09-08T01:37:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Key\_Lime\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/48db29/32.png) [@Key\_Lime\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Key_Lime_Guy)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2008, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-or-should-obama-biden-answer-the-palin-buzz/462555/61 "2008-09-08T17:26:59Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > That’s the Daily Gallup tracking poll. Different poll. It’s a little more consistent. The USA poll fluxuates more wildly. > > Enjoy your tiny, little, temporary lead while you’ve got it. Hey, I’m voting for Obama & not enjoying a damn thing. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2008, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-or-should-obama-biden-answer-the-palin-buzz/462555/62 "2008-09-08T17:39:20Z")
The Palin “buzz” will last until some new “buzz” bumps it off the news cycle, theres really not much Obama/Biden can do about it other than ignore it so it goes away faster. The news media feeding frenzy since she was announced was the best thing McCain could hope for, not only did it neutralize Obamas convention bounce, it boosted his ratings and bounce beyond the democrats. Now of course the media is acting like the race is neck and neck and McCains convention bounce is permanent, which is a lot better for them than Obama having a big lead like last weeks. ---
**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 8, 2008, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-or-should-obama-biden-answer-the-palin-buzz/462555/63 "2008-09-08T17:41:09Z")
> [@Key\_Lime\_Guy](#): > > Hey, I’m voting for Obama & not enjoying a damn thing. My apologies. This McCain bump is bothering me quite a bit actually, even though I’m doing a good job of not showing it. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2008, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-or-should-obama-biden-answer-the-palin-buzz/462555/64 "2008-09-08T18:22:02Z")
> [@Shayna](#): > > That’s an utterly absurd barometer. I don’t _owe_ you any financial reward as a measure of my certainty. > > What’s at risk here is far more serious and important than $50 – it’s the future of my damn country! You trivialize that when you play one-upsmanship games of who’s more willing to back up their posts with money. > > I’ll tell you how I’m putting my money where my mouth is, **by donating thousands of dollars to the Barack Obama for President campaign**. Clearly, you’re correct, and I apologize if you you thought I said you owe anyone anything. But I have to say I disagree with your example, I think. The fact that you’re donating thousands of dollars to the Barack Obama for President campaign isn’t neccesarily a sign that you think that Obama will win. (It is, of course, a sign you think he may win. I doubt you’d donate thousands of dollars to the Ralph Nader for President campaign) But it’s not a good example, because, whether he wins or loses, that money is gone either way. You don’t get a special benefit from an Obama victory (except in the abstract “future of my damn country” way…you get the same benefits from an Obama victory as you would if you hadn’t donated at all). Your donating the money to the campaign is, in that, sense, like a donation to a charity. It’s a way to revealyour priorities…you think an Obama victory is important, so you’re doing things to help bring it about. But it’s not a way to reveal your confidence in the outcome. So, you see, we’re talking about two different metrics here…desired outcome on the one hand, and likely outcome on the other. ---
**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:** [September 8, 2008, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-or-should-obama-biden-answer-the-palin-buzz/462555/65 "2008-09-08T18:35:39Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > My apologies. This McCain bump is bothering me quite a bit actually, even though I’m doing a good job of not showing it. Well don’t let it. > [@](#): > > [**CAN MCCAIN OVERCOME THE TRIPLE WHAMMY?**](” [http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/print.php?article=AIA2008052901](http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/print.php?article=AIA2008052901) “) > > . . . > > The problem with such early horserace polls, however, is that they are not very accurate predictors of the actual election results. > > . . . > > Instead of using early horserace polls, political scientists generally rely on measures of the national political climate to make their forecasts. That is because the national political climate can be measured long before the election and it has been found to exert a powerful influence on the eventual results. > > **Three indicators of the national political climate have accurately predicted the outcomes of presidential elections since the end of World War II: the incumbent president’s approval rating at mid-year, the growth rate of the economy during the second quarter of the election year, and the length of time the president’s party has held the White House.** > > The higher the president’s approval rating and the stronger the growth rate of the economy, the more likely it is that the president’s party will be victorious. However, if the president’s party has controlled the White House for two terms or longer it is less likely to be successful. **Time-for-change sentiment seems to increase after eight years** regardless of the president’s popularity or the state of the economy. > > These three factors can be combined to produce an Electoral Barometer score that measures the overall national political climate. . . > > **[SEE EXCELLENT CHART AT SOURCE DOCUMENT]** > > The Electoral Barometer has predicted the winner of the popular vote in 14 of the 15 presidential elections since World War II. > > . . . > > The information required to calculate the final Electoral Barometer score for 2008 will not be available until August when the federal government releases its estimate of real GDP growth during the second quarter of 2008. However, it appears very likely that the Republican Party is dealing with the dreaded “triple whammy” in 2008: an unpopular president, a weak economy, and a second term election. Based on President Bush’s net approval rating in the most recent Gallup Poll (-39), the annual growth rate of the economy during the first quarter of 2008 (+0.6 percent), and the fact that the Republican Party has controlled the White House for the past eight years, **the current Electoral Barometer reading is a dismal -63.** Now obviously this is old data, as it is, indeed, past August, so newer numbers should be available, but I seriously doubt the Electoral Barometer reading has significantly risen. Yes We Can! ---
**Author:** ![Airblairxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Airblairxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airblairxxx)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2008, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-or-should-obama-biden-answer-the-palin-buzz/462555/66 "2008-09-08T19:49:09Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > The Palin “buzz” will last until some new “buzz” bumps it off the news cycle, theres really not much Obama/Biden can do about it other than ignore it so it goes away faster. The news media feeding frenzy since she was announced was the best thing McCain could hope for, not only did it neutralize Obamas convention bounce, it boosted his ratings and bounce beyond the democrats. Now of course the media is acting like the race is neck and neck and McCains convention bounce is permanent, which is a lot better for them than Obama having a big lead like last weeks. This is correct. Palin is the current bright, shiny object. The Democrats need something, FAST, to knock her out of the spotlight. Her obvious lack of economic and foreign policy expertise, her unavailability to the media and her outright lies (“thanks but no thanks” to the Bridge to Nowhere, etc) are being ignored because of her star power. Worse is that even when something does come along and yanks the media attention away from her, all these serious issues become ‘old news’ and get glossed over or ignored. [QUOTE=Shayna] Time-for-change sentiment seems to increase after eight years regardless of the president’s popularity or the state of the economy. [/QUOTE] Haven’t you heard? McCain is the [real change agent](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/opinions/cartoonsandvideos/toles_main.html?name=Toles&date=09052008&type=c). ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2008, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-or-should-obama-biden-answer-the-palin-buzz/462555/67 "2008-09-08T22:59:23Z")
> [@Shayna](#): > > What is it with you Republicans and your demands to put money up as an effort to bolster your argument? Funny, I had **RickJay** pegged as a Grit. **Sam Stone** now, _there’s_ a Republican for you. ---
**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:** [September 8, 2008, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-or-should-obama-biden-answer-the-palin-buzz/462555/68 "2008-09-08T23:00:48Z")
> [@Airblairxxx](#): > > This is correct. Palin is the current bright, shiny object. The Democrats need something, FAST, to knock her out of the spotlight. Her obvious lack of economic and foreign policy expertise, her unavailability to the media and her outright lies (“thanks but no thanks” to the Bridge to Nowhere, etc) are being ignored because of her star power. [Not by the Obama campaign anymore](http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/stateupdates/gG5pzT). Take _that_, Mr. & Mrs. More of the Same! They even managed to get a photo of her holding up a t-shirt advertising “Nowhere, Alaska”. They even grew a pair and outright called them liars! It’s a thing of beauty. And I think this is a perfect way to respond – just lump her together with McCain as if they were one and the same. Love it! > [@Airblairxxx](#): > > Haven’t you heard? McCain is the [real change agent](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/opinions/cartoonsandvideos/toles_main.html?name=Toles&date=09052008&type=c). It’s such a fucking joke. But I love that cartoon – Barack even quoted it in his talk in Flint, Michigan today. 🙂 But seriously, I’d love to hear Barack point out that it’s funny how McCain says he isn’t ready to lead, but keeps following everything he does. I actually heard a McCain mouthpiece on MSNBC today, use the “that’s just more of the same” line about Barack Obama. It’s just stunningly dumb. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2008, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-or-should-obama-biden-answer-the-palin-buzz/462555/69 "2008-09-09T23:37:25Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Funny, I had **RickJay** pegged as a Grit. **Sam Stone** now, _there’s_ a Republican for you. I’ve voted Liberal more times than Conservative, so technically I guess I’m a Grit. Shayna does not seem to comprehend the idea that people who disagree with her are not necessary Republicans. [QUOTE=Shayna] Not to mention, you’re still wrong about the relationship between national polls and election results. You want I should explain the presidential election process to you, too? [/QUOTE] I understand how it works. I made no claims with regards to the relationship between national **polls** (unless you’re referring to the actual election itself as a poll) and election results. Perhaps you had difficulty reading my post. What I said was that I would bet you fifty dollars that **the candidate who receives the most popular votes will also win the electoral vote.** I didn’t offer to bet (you) on either candidate. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-or-should-obama-biden-answer-the-palin-buzz/462555/70 "2008-09-10T00:28:27Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > I used to get that all the time when I would try to explain why I did so much volunteer work. They thought that if I wasn’t doing it for money, it must be a religious thing. When I’d tell them I had no religious beliefs and that I was expecting absolutely no reward at all, either monetary or Heavenly, they’d look at me like I had six dicks. Only 5 and your condoms fit like a glove. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-or-should-obama-biden-answer-the-palin-buzz/462555/71 "2008-09-10T00:37:30Z")
The dems play these races like there are rules. The repubs play to win. When Bush ran against McCain he swiftboated him. they dug up people who were in cells next to him who said he cooperated to get better treatment. They said he broke like a baby and was not presidential because he suffered too much damage and was not mentally stable. They had no problem talking about his terrible temper and his philandering. I am sure Palin with her snotty attitude has made some enemies. They can find dirt. Find every guy she screwed or blew her whole life. Use it. The bridge will start the questions about her. Then find more . She is not qualified and I want her gone. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-or-should-obama-biden-answer-the-palin-buzz/462555.md?page=3)