VP Title Bout

[Hangtime]

You're a callous bastard. You don't know his pain.

'never question a mans motivation. question his judgment.'

Biden is a 40 year professional politician (aka snake oil salesman). if that wasn't contrived, then the guy's judgment is definitely questionable. vis-a-vis if it was contrived, then it's political soap opera as usual for 'just plain Joe.'

[MORAY37]

Minor gaffe on her part. Gotta remember, she has only had 5 weeks to get all this down and she's doing pretty darn good considering that fact.

If she wasn't certain of his name, then it would have been very easy to just use "our general in Iraq", instead of attempting to be specific.  She was attempting to gain credibility with a name drop, and therefore should lose such if she "drops the wrong name".

[Mr No Name]

I thought Biden's sob was fake.  I don't think he 'almost lost it'.  I think he almost 'pulled it off'.

Maybe I'm just a callous bastard, but it struck me as calculated.

I am no biden fan but I'd never say that an emotional reaction to a reflection on a lost wife & child were fake... If it was... it will eventually come back and bite him on the butt.

[Xargos]

I was somewhat concerned that the moderator would be bias.  However, I felt she did a good job walking within bounds of being professional.

[Eagler]

if the libs in the media gave the first one to obama, they have to give this one to Palin

but of course they will not, they'll just change the scoring criteria...

too bad FDR speaking on tv in 1929 man of the world joe's statement about McCain not voting for the surge with a timetable was never clarified that he, McCain DID vote FOR it as soon as the timeline was removed whereas the socialist obamaman NEVER voted for it and if we had followed obamamans strategy, Iraq would be in the books as Vietnam II..like the left was/is hoping for all along..

[mg1942]

Here is the specific transcript (since the section is pretty self-explanatory), and highlight where Biden became emotional:

IFILL: Let's talk conventional wisdom for a moment. The conventional wisdom, Governor Palin with you, is that your Achilles heel is that you lack experience. Your conventional wisdom against you is that your Achilles heel is that you lack discipline, Senator Biden. What id it really for you, Governor Palin? What is it really for you, Senator Biden? Start with you, governor.

PALIN: My experience as an executive will be put to good use as a mayor and business owner and oil and gas regulator and then as governor of a huge state, a huge energy producing state that is accounting for much progress towards getting our nation energy independence and that's extremely important.

But it wasn't just that experience tapped into, it was my connection to the heartland of America. Being a mom, one very concerned about a son in the war, about a special needs child, about kids heading off to college, how are we going to pay those tuition bills? About times and Todd and our marriage in our past where we didn't have health insurance and we know what other Americans are going through as they sit around the kitchen table and try to figure out how are they going to pay out-of-pocket for health care? We've been there also so that connection was important.

But even more important is that world view that I share with John McCain. That world view that says that America is a nation of exceptionalism. And we are to be that shining city on a hill, as President Reagan so beautifully said, that we are a beacon of hope and that we are unapologetic here. We are not perfect as a nation. But together, we represent a perfect ideal. And that is democracy and tolerance and freedom and equal rights. Those things that we stand for that can be put to good use as a force for good in this world.

John McCain and I share that. You combine all that with being a team with the only track record of making a really, a difference in where we've been and reforming, that's a good team, it's a good ticket.

IFILL: Senator?

BIDEN: You're very kind suggesting my only Achilles Heel is my lack of discipline.

BIDEN: Others talk about my excessive passion. I'm not going to change. I have 35 years in public office. People can judge who I am. I haven't changed in that time.

And, by the way, a record of change -- I will place my record and Barack's record against John McCain's or anyone else in terms of fundamental accomplishments. Wrote the crime bill, put 100,000 cops on the street, wrote the Violence Against Women Act, which John McCain voted against both of them, was the catalyst to change the circumstance in Bosnia, led by President Clinton, obviously.

Look, I understand what it's like to be a single parent. When my wife and daughter died and my two sons were gravely injured, I understand what it's like as a parent to wonder what it's like if your kid's going to make it.

I understand what it's like to sit around the kitchen table with a father who says, "I've got to leave, champ, because there's no jobs here. I got to head down to Wilmington. And when we get enough money, honey, we'll bring you down."

I understand what it's like. I'm much better off than almost all Americans now. I get a good salary with the United States Senate. I live in a beautiful house that's my total investment that I have. So I -- I am much better off now.

But the notion that somehow, because I'm a man, I don't know what it's like to raise two kids alone, I don't know what it's like to have a child you're not sure is going to -- is going to make it -- I understand.

I understand, as well as, with all due respect, the governor or anybody else, what it's like for those people sitting around that kitchen table. And guess what? They're looking for help. They're looking for help. They're not looking for more of the same.

This point (in fact Biden's entire answer) was considered by almost everyone (on Fox, CNN, or MSNBC) as the highlight of the night, and it was the point that won over many independent voters (at least from the CNN viewer response indicators, which received the highest numbers for this answer).

Just to make a brief comment on those CNN indicators, it seems no one in Ohio (amongst the 33 democrats, republicans and independents) really responded to Palin's "folksy" mannerisms, since the indicators generally showed a disfavourable rating whenever she resorted to speaking in such a manner.

[Getback]

Palin mentioned 2 words you will never hear from a democrat, Personal Responsibility. Those scored high with the polls.

[Gunthr]

common street-level democrats are scratching their heads, confused, now unsure what talking points to spout about Palin... waiting anxiously for more celebrity opinions to tell them what to think.  

but the smart democrats and progressives are more worried than before.  They see a brave, honorable woman with strong inner strengh, a woman  with a quick mind who can think on her feet under intense pressure, who also has that uncanny charismatic ability to connect with the masses.  

They are probably most panicked by the knowledge that this woman can be tough without being a boner shrinker, and she will be bringing it to the people non-stop until election day...

[DREDIOCK]

Palin mentioned 2 words you will never hear from a democrat, Personal Responsibility. Those scored high with the polls.

High?

Thats a gross understatement if there ever was one.

That graphical line indicator CNN was running went through the roof during that entire portion when Palin was speaking.
Unfortunately that was fairly early in the debate.
 She didnt include it in her closing statement. Which was good. But would have been even better had she.

Though I beleive this is an area the McCain ticket can  steal from Obama. (he's used the same line) and run with.

[Dnil]

what was funny was that cnn and fox's "indepenent" groups come up with exact opposite results.  I wonder how they picked the swing voters.  I did notice cnn had more minorities.

[Jackal1]

The opening punch was a little before the first round bell rang, but it was a doozey.
"Can I call you Joe?"
I`m pretty sure it went over a lot of heads, but not Snooze Control Biden`s.

[Toad]

You almost quoted word for word what I heard on the way home listening to local radio.

So some sumwenches down in Texas are following what I post here and using it without paying me?  I need ot check the timeline on this, if I was first, they OWE me!  

[lazs2]

Old slo joe spoke about as well as he ever has... he used a woman democrat governor to practice debate on all week so he wouldn't wet his pants or ask some cripple in the audience to "stand up".

The point was..  no matter how well he said it.. everything he wanted was something I didn't want.  Everything he accomplished was something I wished he hadn't.

His smile his tears... he is a snake career politician..  of course it was fake.. there is nothing real about the man.

One example that I couldn't believe Palin let slide (for the most part) was slo joe saying that Mccain voted against giving money to support the troops "just because it came with a timetable for surrender"

lazs

[SkyRock]

Palin is a moron and a liar, just as many of the republicans are, she is a disgrace to John McCain.

[JAGED]

I'm a moron and a liar, just as many of my acquaintances are, and I'm a disgrace to the human race.

Fixed!