# Predict: Likelihood Palin will show for the debate? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 30, 2008, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predict-likelihood-palin-will-show-for-the-debate/465866 "2008-09-30T16:17:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2008, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predict-likelihood-palin-will-show-for-the-debate/465866/101 "2008-10-01T02:18:13Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > It seems to me that I give as much credit to McCain and Palin as most of the Usual Suspects do to Obama and Biden. > … > The thing of it is, the Usual Suspects are idiots. Extremists, as a rule, cannot think in any terms that aren’t extreme. > … > Not all of the SDMB, but all of the Usual Suspects, are knee-jerkers, and they are projecting. They assume that everyone else is like them. Hmm. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2008, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predict-likelihood-palin-will-show-for-the-debate/465866/102 "2008-10-01T02:31:39Z")
I"m in agreement with many of the posters here: Palin will show, with a 99.9% probability. She will turn in a barely competent performance, and will spout off sound bites and talking points that have a passing resemblance to answers to the questions. Biden will do fine, and will say at least one “Huh?” comment. He’ll try to avoid being too smug when she appears confused. He will avoid calling her “dear, darling, honey, or baby-cakes” The media will say it is a tie, with Republican spinners talking about “gotcha” questions and how the moderator/Biden was unfair. Democrat spinners will say she tanked. Repub spinners will say she was “presidential”. Democrats will say she’s an idiot. Repubs will say she’s learning. In the end, it will make not one bit of difference to the election result. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2008, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predict-likelihood-palin-will-show-for-the-debate/465866/103 "2008-10-01T02:50:20Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Oh, yeah, Palin will show up. > > I hope she cries. Great. We’d lose Tina Fey and gain what? [Tammy Faye…?](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v642/shakespeares_sister/cryingtammy.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2008, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predict-likelihood-palin-will-show-for-the-debate/465866/104 "2008-10-01T03:11:42Z")
> [@Count\_Blucher](#): > > Great. We’d lose Tina Fey and gain what? [Tammy Faye…?](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v642/shakespeares_sister/cryingtammy.jpg) No, no, we’d gain another round of Hillary comparisons. Remember her “tearing up” fairly early in the primaries? Did she really cry? Did she pretend to cry? Was she justified in crying? Was it ‘presidential’ to cry? It will be as if the rest of the debate never even happened. ---
**Author:** ![Auntbeast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Auntbeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Auntbeast)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2008, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predict-likelihood-palin-will-show-for-the-debate/465866/105 "2008-10-01T03:47:16Z")
I have not yet read all of this thread, but I will when I finish. Only to not taint my prediction. I am not entirely convinced that Palin did not cover for her daughters pregnancy and the only reason the announcement came out was to remove all doubt. You can’t be 5 months pregnant and have a 4 month old baby. It is very easy to conceal a pregnancy in the early months, especially if you aren’t actually pregnant. My super-surreal, going-to-hell theory is that Palin’s daughter will have a “miscarriage” and will require her mother by her side. ---
**Author:** ![chique](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@chique](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chique)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2008, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predict-likelihood-palin-will-show-for-the-debate/465866/106 "2008-10-01T04:37:17Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Find a post in which I said that McCain was justified in canceling his participation in the first debate. Now **Don’t Call Me Shirley** is apparently convinced that I have said that. Unfortunately… What _did_ you think of that gambit? On a scale of 1-10? ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2008, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predict-likelihood-palin-will-show-for-the-debate/465866/107 "2008-10-01T04:46:09Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Like my dad once told me, if you pitch a rock at a pack of dogs, and one of them starts howling, that’s the one you hit. **Don’t Call Me Shirley** is howling, that’s all. > > Regards, > Shodan I was told it was the one who fell over dead. Guess my family has stronger arms. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2008, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predict-likelihood-palin-will-show-for-the-debate/465866/108 "2008-10-01T06:08:03Z")
> [@xtisme](#): > > 😛 Too be sure. No doubt Biden won’t spout a single talking point, but instead give reasoned and spontaneous (and focused and cogent) answers to all questions! > > And monkeys will probably fly out of his ass too! > > -XT The trick the real pols have (McCain included) is to make them more or less sound real. And not speak exclusively in talking points, and not to freeze up if someone asks you something not on the menu. Sure they drive the answer to a talking point, but there is at least a trail. They don’t teleport to it. And if monkeys flew out of his butt, he’d so win. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2008, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predict-likelihood-palin-will-show-for-the-debate/465866/109 "2008-10-01T12:16:15Z")
> [@Captain\_Carrot](#): > > For Chrissake, you said “What McCain did was honorable and correct.” That close enough for you? Could you provide a cite, please? Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2008, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predict-likelihood-palin-will-show-for-the-debate/465866/110 "2008-10-01T12:30:15Z")
> [@neutron\_star](#): > > This shit is infuriating. I don’t even watch the debates because of it. I think that every time any candidate pulls that crap, the moderator should yell, “THAT WASN’T THE FUCKING QUESTION! SHUT YOUR WEASELY FUCKING MOUTH AND ANSWER THE QUESTION I ASKED!” and keep doing it, all night if necessary, until they finally give a valid answer to what they were asked. You mean like [this](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uwlsd8RAoqI)? If the candidates ever agreed to let Jeremy Paxman moderate a US presidential (or even VP) debate, I would personally pay his airfare to the US. That man does not suffer fools of any political ilk gladly. ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2008, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predict-likelihood-palin-will-show-for-the-debate/465866/111 "2008-10-01T12:38:28Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Could you provide a cite, please? > > Regards, > Shodan While we’re waiting, could you please clarify? Do you deny having written that here? Do you claim to disagree with the statement being quoted? Or is this pro forma chops-busting? ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2008, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predict-likelihood-palin-will-show-for-the-debate/465866/112 "2008-10-01T13:00:22Z")
> [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](#): > > While we’re waiting, could you please clarify? Do you deny having written that here? Do you claim to disagree with the statement being quoted? Or is this pro forma chops-busting? By all means. The allegation being made is that I referred to McCain’s attempt to postpone his first debate with Obama as being “honorable and correct”. What we are waiting for is a link to a post where I said it. I have no doubt one could find any number of posts in which I referred to McCain’s conduct in other situations - his actions in Viet Nam, his conduct otherwise in the Senate - as “honorable”. And he is “correct” (in my view) on several other questions. But we are looking for a specific reference to a specific situation. So - that’s what we need - a link to the post where I referred to McCain’s action in attempting to postpone his debate with Obama as “honorable and correct”. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2008, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predict-likelihood-palin-will-show-for-the-debate/465866/113 "2008-10-01T13:12:40Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > If Palin doesn’t show up, and I defend her reason, then I will vote for Obama. If I don’t, I get your left nut. [I will take that bet.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=624387#post624387) ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2008, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predict-likelihood-palin-will-show-for-the-debate/465866/114 "2008-10-01T13:15:29Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > So - that’s what we need - a link to the post where I referred to McCain’s action in attempting to postpone his debate with Obama as “honorable and correct”. > > Regards, > Shodan Fair enough. So we are waiting for that link which you deny exists. Okay. It’s hard to tell exactly what you’re denying sometimes. Thanks for clarifying. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2008, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predict-likelihood-palin-will-show-for-the-debate/465866/115 "2008-10-01T13:16:07Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > [I will take that bet.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=624387#post624387) :eek: Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_Call\_Me\_Shirley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Don\_t\_Call\_Me\_Shirley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_Call_Me_Shirley)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2008, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predict-likelihood-palin-will-show-for-the-debate/465866/116 "2008-10-01T13:18:27Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > By all means. > > The allegation being made is that I referred to McCain’s attempt to postpone his first debate with Obama as being “honorable and correct”. What we are waiting for is a link to a post where I said it. > > I have no doubt one could find any number of posts in which I referred to McCain’s conduct in other situations - his actions in Viet Nam, his conduct otherwise in the Senate - as “honorable”. And he is “correct” (in my view) on several other questions. But we are looking for a specific reference to a specific situation. > > So - that’s what we need - a link to the post where I referred to McCain’s action in attempting to postpone his debate with Obama as “honorable and correct”. > > Regards, > Shodan Why won’t you answer **prr** ’s question? Are you denying that you said that in reference to the debate? ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2008, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predict-likelihood-palin-will-show-for-the-debate/465866/117 "2008-10-01T13:29:20Z")
> [@Don\_t\_Call\_Me\_Shirley](#): > > Why won’t you answer **prr** ’s question? Are you denying that you said that in reference to the debate? Don’t be such an idiot. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2008, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predict-likelihood-palin-will-show-for-the-debate/465866/118 "2008-10-01T13:31:18Z")
> [@Don\_t\_Call\_Me\_Shirley](#): > > Why won’t you answer **prr** ’s question? Are you denying that you said that in reference to the debate? To be fair, I’ve been done some quick searches. I can’t find anything where **Shodan** uses the word honorable in reference to McCain in the last 6 months. So while **Captain Carrot** and **prr** seem to remember a post saying such, it might be worthwhile to link to it, because I can’t find it searching under ‘honorable and correct’, ‘correct’, or ‘honorable’. ETA: Scooped! ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2008, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predict-likelihood-palin-will-show-for-the-debate/465866/119 "2008-10-01T13:29:32Z")
Guys. **Clothahump** is the one who made the comment about McCain being honorable and correct. [Cite.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=10241235&postcount=145) ---
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_Call\_Me\_Shirley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Don\_t\_Call\_Me\_Shirley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_Call_Me_Shirley)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2008, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predict-likelihood-palin-will-show-for-the-debate/465866/120 "2008-10-01T13:51:49Z")
> [@Bosstone](#): > > To be fair, I’ve been done some quick searches. I can’t find anything where **Shodan** uses the word honorable in reference to McCain in the last 6 months. So while **Captain Carrot** and **prr** seem to remember a post saying such, it might be worthwhile to link to it, because I can’t find it searching under ‘honorable and correct’, ‘correct’, or ‘honorable’. > > ETA: Scooped! I still want to know why he wouldn’t deny making the statement when asked directly if he had made it. Still more evidence that Shodan is a bot. This learning experience will improve bots in the future. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predict-likelihood-palin-will-show-for-the-debate/465866.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predict-likelihood-palin-will-show-for-the-debate/465866.md?page=7)