# Obama-Palin debate in 2012--strategy? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [July 28, 2010, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-palin-debate-in-2012-strategy/548297 "2010-07-28T12:08:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Cinebar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Cinebar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cinebar)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2010, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-palin-debate-in-2012-strategy/548297/81 "2010-07-29T14:15:17Z")
This is the first I’ve heard that Katie Couric asked Charles Gibson about the best way to interview Palin. 😕 I would love to see a link to a legitimate site supporting that myself. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2010, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-palin-debate-in-2012-strategy/548297/82 "2010-07-29T14:30:46Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > I don’t think **Bricker** is suggesting that Couric barged into Charles Gibson’s office and said, “look here, Chuck, I need you to help me nail this bitch!” Oh, I think it could be read that way. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2010, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-palin-debate-in-2012-strategy/548297/83 "2010-07-29T14:36:00Z")
That would be pretty awesome, actually. ---
**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:** [July 29, 2010, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-palin-debate-in-2012-strategy/548297/84 "2010-07-29T15:05:31Z")
It’s the perfect bookend. Sarah “Vice Presidents Are In Charge of The Senate” Palin has no idea how to answer interview questions without a week long cram session from the McCain campaign, and Katie “Where Are All The Cute Puppy Stories” Curic has no idea how to conduct an interview without running it past Charlie “I’m Really The Network’s Heavy Hitter?” Gibson. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2010, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-palin-debate-in-2012-strategy/548297/85 "2010-07-29T15:09:10Z")
Heck, Chris Wallace coulda used some advice before taking on Bill Clinton. He got steamrolled. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2010, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-palin-debate-in-2012-strategy/548297/86 "2010-07-29T15:12:59Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > > [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > > > Well, you might just open the door and jump out, but that would mean getting a new car. 😉 > > Actually it’s a bus, and it is being driven off a [cliff](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/23/AR2010072304101.html). And the driver promised he would [hit the brakes](http://money.cnn.com/2009/02/24/news/economy/obama_promise_deficit/index.htm). Instead he has had his foot on the accelerator, all the while telling us that this will slow the bus down. > > At least we will all have free health care at the bottom of the cliff. > > Regards, > Shodan Bush shoved us out of an airplane. Obama is the parachute. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2010, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-palin-debate-in-2012-strategy/548297/87 "2010-07-29T15:14:41Z")
> [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](#): > > > [@Bricker](#): > > > > But it’s worth noting that, pre-interview, Couric asked Charles Gibson for advice on how to trip Palin up. > > Okay, I’ll bite–cite? He must have told her to ask Palin what she reads. That is a dishonest gotcha question in dumbland. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2010, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-palin-debate-in-2012-strategy/548297/88 "2010-07-29T15:20:30Z")
Are there any Bush-supporters (or generally Republican-supporters or Obama-critics, or whatever… you know who you are) willing to list three or four economic indicators which, if met by January 2012, might lead them to grudgingly admit that Obama’s administration improved things or at least didn’t cause them to get worse? For example: Unemployment: at or below X. Inflation: at or below Y. GDP growth rate: at or above Z. i.e. something Obama could bring to the 2012 debates to address claims that his election foretold doom? ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2010, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-palin-debate-in-2012-strategy/548297/89 "2010-07-29T16:04:38Z")
I don’t know if there are many Bush supporters around these parts, Bryan. I’m neither a Bush supporter, a Republican nor even an Obama-critic (I think he’s actually doing a pretty good job, considering how things were when he took over and what he’s had to work with), but: > [@](#): > > Unemployment: at or below X. I would say if unemployment is at or below 7% that would certainly be seen as a very positive sign by 2012. In fact, my guess is that if this is the case there won’t be anything to stop Obama from getting re-elected, sort of some huge scandal. > [@](#): > > Inflation: at or below Y. I’m not economist, but afaik, inflation hasn’t really been a factor, so, unless it starts to rocket up I’d say that this one is moot. > [@](#): > > GDP growth rate: at or above Z. Right now this is pretty low, so I’d say that a GDP growth rate of something like 2-3% (stable) would be a very positive sign by 2012. Anything higher than that and Obama will be hailed as a miracle worker and people might start talking about making him God Emperor or at least seeing if we could get him a 3rd term. If he has the unemployment rate below 7%, inflation is level with where it is today and our GDP growth rate is higher than 4% I’d sign the petition for a 3rd term myself! -XT ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2010, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-palin-debate-in-2012-strategy/548297/90 "2010-07-29T16:31:01Z")
Yeah, inflation right now is not only below 1.5%, [it’s actually _dropping_](http://inflationdata.com/inflation/inflation_rate/CurrentInflation.asp). ---
**Author:** ![Cinebar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Cinebar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cinebar)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2010, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-palin-debate-in-2012-strategy/548297/91 "2010-07-29T16:37:37Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Probably easier to just park her children in cute poses in front of the lectern and shave the messages into the backs of their heads. And then bitch because everyone talks about her kids. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2010, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-palin-debate-in-2012-strategy/548297/92 "2010-07-29T16:51:05Z")
> [@Stoneburg](#): > > Being interviewed is a high pressure situation, I don’t think the average person would do better than Palin. Then there’s reporting bias to account for. Probably not. That’s just one of the reasons the average person isn’t qualified to be President of the United States. As for reporting bias, how exactly was that a factor? Did somebody fail to explain to Palin how an interview worked? That she would be asked questions and would expected to answer them? The problem wasn’t that Couric was asking her legitimate questions. The problem was Palin had no idea what she thought. > [@](#): > > Couric: John McCain proposed legislation calling for mandatory caps on global warming gases or CO2 emissions. Do you agree with that? > Palin: I support his position on that. Absolutely. > Couric: But he somewhat backtracked on the campaign trail saying it wouldn’t, they wouldn’t, the caps wouldn’t be mandatory, they’d be voluntary. So what do you think? Do you think voluntary caps go far enough? Or they should be mandatory? > Palin: He’s got a good cap and trade policy that he supports. And details are being hashed out even right now. But, in principle, absolutely, I support all that we can do to reduce emissions and to clean up this planet. And John McCain is right on board with that. > Couric: Voluntary or mandatory in your view? > Palin: We’re gonna keep working on how it can be implemented to actually make sense and make a difference. > [@](#): > > Couric: I want to start with climate change, if I could. What’s your position on global warming? Do you believe it’s man-made or not? > Palin: Well, we’re the only arctic state, of course, Alaska. So we feel the impacts more than any other state up there, with the changes in the climates. And certainly it is apparent. We have erosion issues and we have melting sea ice, of course. So what I’ve done up there is form a sub-cabinet to focus solely on climate change. Understanding that it is real. > Couric: Is it manmade in your opinion? > Palin: You know … there are man’s activities that can be contributed to … the issues that we’re dealing with now with these impacts. I’m not going to solely blame all of man’s activities on changes in climate. Because the world’s weather patterns … are cyclical. And over history we have seen changes there. But kind of doesn’t matter at this point, as we debate what caused it. The point is it’s real, we need to do something about it. And like … Tony Blair had said … when he was in leadership position, he said, “Let’s all consider the fact that it is real.” So instead of pointing fingers … at different sides of the argument as to who is to blame, and if nature just to blame, let’s do something about it. Let’s clean up our world. Let’s reduce emissions. And let’s go with reality. > Couric: Because, if it’s not man-made, then one might wonder, well, how can human beings contribute to a solution? > Palin: Well, human beings certainly are contributing to pollution today. And to some adverse effects on the environment. And it’s all of our jobs to do to clean things up. And that’s what we’re committed to doing. > Couric: So you do believe … that man is contributing to global warming, because you just said they’re causing pollution. Of course, pollution causes global warming. > Palin: I believe that there are a lot of causes. And there is one effect. And one is changes in the climate. And there are things that we can do to make sure we’re cleaning up the environment. I also formed an integrity office that solely is focused on petroleum, on pipelines, on those things that we do up there in Alaska to contribute to the U.S. domestic supply of energy. > Where we can focus solely on environmental protections. There are a lot of things that I’ve done there in that arena of environmental protection that have kind of ticked off some in my own party thinking that I went too far. But I’ve always been of the mind that, you know, we gotta prove that we can do this right. Safely, ethically, environmentally friendly developments, or we’re not gonna be allowed to unlock our lands and tap these supplies. > [@](#): > > Couric: Let me get your take, if I could Gov. Palin, on a number of social issues. Because that’s, they’ve gotten some attention, your position. If a 15-year-old is raped by her father, you believe it should be illegal for her to get an abortion. Why? > Palin: I am pro-life. And I’m unapologetic about my position there on pro-life. And I understand good people on both sides of the abortion debate. In fact, good people in my own family have differing views on abortion and when it should be allowed. So … I respect people’s opinion on this. > Now, I would counsel to choose life. I would like to see a culture of life in this country. But I would also like to see taking it one step further. Not just saying I am pro-life, and I want fewer and fewer abortions in this country. But I want, then, those women who find themselves in circumstances that are absolutely less than ideal, for them to be supported for adoptions to be made easier. For more support given to foster parents and adoptive families. That is my personal opinion on this. > Couric: But, ideally, you think it should be illegal … > Palin: If you … > Couric: …for a girl who was raped or the victim of incest to get an abortion? > Palin: I’m saying that, personally, I would counsel the person to choose life, despite horrific, horrific circumstances that this person would find themselves in. And, um, if you’re asking, though, kind of foundationally here, should anyone end up in jail for having an … abortion, absolutely not. That’s nothing I would ever support. > Then, now, some may characterize my position as being extreme, because I am pro-life … and I want women empowered to know that, you know, we can help them. They can be strong enough, and they can have the resources provided them to give that child life. > The extremism, to me, is those who would support partial-birth abortion. Those who would disallow parental consent when it comes to a minor child who would seek an abortion. I think parents should have a say in that. They should be a part of their child’s health care there. And those who, like Barack Obama, would support measures that would actually allow in a botched abortion, late-term abortion, that child being born alive, to allow it to not receive medical help to save that child’s life. That’s extremism to me. That is so far on the left side of the political spectrum and public sentiment in this country. That’s the extremism to me. > Couric: So you want more support so women have more options, or girls have more options. But you also think it should be illegal, that there should be no punishment if a woman does break the law… > Palin: I would like to see more women given more support so that those of us who say, “You know, a culture of life is what we believe.” Is best … for human kind, you know, to respect the sanctity of every human life. And to understand … that we live in a pretty messed up world sometimes. > When you consider what’s going on in this world. The most promising and good ingredients in this world … is a child. The hope that a child brings. And just understanding that. Being near and dear to my heart. I want to do all that I can to reduce the number abortions. > And to usher in that culture of life. And in my respect for the other side of this issue, I have not spoken with one woman who do, may disagree with me on, when abortions could or should be allowed, not one woman has disagreed, as we sit down and rationally talk about … the common goal we have, and that is to see fewer and fewer abortions. And to provide more and more women support in this world. > Couric: Some people have credited the morning-after pill as for decreasing the number of abortions. How do you feel about the morning after pill? > Palin: Well …I’m all for contraception. And I’m all for any preventative measures that are legal and safe and should be taken. But, Katie, again and we can go round and round about the abortion issue, but I am one to seek a culture of life. I am one to believe that life starts at the moment of conception. And I would like to see … > Couric: And so you don’t believe in the morning-after pill. > Palin: I would like to see fewer and fewer abortions in this world. And, again, I haven’t spoken with anyone who disagrees with my position on that. > Couric: I’m sorry. I just want to ask you again. Do you not support or do you condone or condemn the morning after pill? > Palin: Personally, and this is isn’t McCain-Palin policy … > Couric: That’s OK. I’m just asking you. > Palin: But, personally, I would not choose to participate in that kind of contraception. It … > Couric: Do you think it should be illegal? > Palin: I don’t think that it should necessarily be illegal. But we can go, again, round and round. And what the foundation I believe of this debate, of this discussion, even of your questions, is do you believe in the sanctity of life? Are you are you gonna side on the pro-life position or not when decisions are in front of you and you have to make them? Now, as a vice president, what positions would a vice-president have to take on the abortion issue? They’re not legislating. A vice president does not make law. > Couric: But if you have a moral problem with abortion, it seems to me you would do everything in your power to make it illegal and overturn Roe v. Wade and … > Palin: Of course, it’s the legislature, the law-making branch of our third, of our three branches of government … > Couric: But they … > Palin: …makes the laws. > Couric: …your vision or the administration’s vision. > Palin: Well, let’s be practical about it and let’s be realistic about a vice-president’s role in this debate. I can personally share my views, which I don’t apologize when I share my views of being pro-life. And, you know, I’ll do that all day long if you want me to. But a vice-president does not make law. And a vice-president does not interpret the law either. > Couric: So you’re saying this won’t be a top issue for you if you’re elected? > Palin: I will do all that I can personally to encourage that culture of life, to remind women that I believe with more empowerment, they - more and more women will realize that they are strong enough … and they are able to carry a child and still continue a career, still continue education opportunities, all with the goal being fewer and fewer abortions in this world. ---
**Author:** ![Cinebar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Cinebar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cinebar)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2010, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-palin-debate-in-2012-strategy/548297/93 "2010-07-29T16:57:33Z")
And people think she should be president? Scary. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2010, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-palin-debate-in-2012-strategy/548297/94 "2010-07-29T18:13:37Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Are there any Bush-supporters (or generally Republican-supporters or Obama-critics, or whatever… you know who you are) willing to list three or four economic indicators which, if met by January 2012, might lead them to grudgingly admit that Obama’s administration improved things or at least didn’t cause them to get worse? Sure. Obama promised to cut the deficit in half by the end of his first term. I will figure “close enough” for any annual budget deficit below $535 billion. Unemployment? Let’s be fair - Obama inherited an very high unemployment rate, as part of the worst recession since the Great Depression. That’s what Reagan had, too. Unemployment dropped from 9.7% to 7.5% at the end of his first term. So, comparing apples to apples, if the unemployment rate is at or below 7.5%, Obama will be considered a success by that measure. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2010, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-palin-debate-in-2012-strategy/548297/95 "2010-07-29T18:24:46Z")
Just out of curiosity, did you vote for Bush the second time around? If so, which of his campaign promises did you hold him to? ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2010, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-palin-debate-in-2012-strategy/548297/96 "2010-07-29T18:49:39Z")
nm ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2010, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-palin-debate-in-2012-strategy/548297/97 "2010-07-29T18:51:50Z")
Congratulations on winning the Ridiculous Analogy Award. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2010, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-palin-debate-in-2012-strategy/548297/98 "2010-07-29T18:52:42Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Congratulations on winning the Ridiculous Analogy Award. > > Regards, > Shodan I withdraw the previous comments, as I had misunderstood the context of your remark. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2010, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-palin-debate-in-2012-strategy/548297/99 "2010-07-29T18:55:52Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Sure. > > Obama promised to cut the deficit in half by the end of his first term. I will figure “close enough” for any annual budget deficit below $535 billion. > > Unemployment? Let’s be fair - Obama inherited an very high unemployment rate, as part of the worst recession since the Great Depression. That’s what Reagan had, too. Unemployment dropped from 9.7% to 7.5% at the end of his first term. So, comparing apples to apples, if the unemployment rate is at or below 7.5%, Obama will be considered a success by that measure. I look forward to linking back to this post (assuming I remember to and the SDMB still exists and I’ll still a member of it) sometime around October 2012. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2010, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-palin-debate-in-2012-strategy/548297/100 "2010-07-29T20:20:18Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > I withdraw the previous comments, as I had misunderstood the context of your remark. Thanks. > [@Bryan Ekers](#): > > I look forward to linking back to this post (assuming I remember to and the SDMB still exists and I’ll still a member of it) sometime around October 2012. By all means. With the caveat that honesty both on your part as well as mine requires that you link to it no matter what the economic measures are. I considered publicly committing to voting for Obama if he actually cuts the deficit in half and reduces unemployment to under 7.5 and if inflation remains low, but I have no idea who will run against him in 2012. But maybe the GOP will get control of the Senate at least and will reduce the deficit no matter what Obama does, as they did with Clinton, and then I will not consider his promise to have been kept. But we shall see. Maybe Obama will cancel the elections and rule as a dictator, as Bush did. 🙂 Or prehaps - \*A mercenary is brought before the King for sentencing as a bandit. He is sentenced to die. But he says, “Wait a minute, oh king. I have a special power. I can teach animals to speak in human language. Give me a year. Commute my sentence for that long, and I will teach your horse to speak.” So the king does it. And the hangman, as he leads the mercenary over to the stable, says, “Are you nuts? Nobody can do what you claim you can.” And the mercenary shrugs. He says. "A year is a long. time. Maybe the horse will die. Maybe I will die. Or maybe the horse will speak."\* Regards, Shodan [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-palin-debate-in-2012-strategy/548297.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-palin-debate-in-2012-strategy/548297.md?page=6)