You Can Call Me Joe
Palin Wins Battle, McCain Loses War


Sarah Palin is a remarkable women, brilliant in her shrewdness. She began by introducing herself to Joe Biden, on microphone, saying, "It’s so nice to meet you. May I call you Joe?" You could have blown the ProCon one over with a feather. What a statement. She communicated to a nation how much of a Washington outsider she was. There isn’t a waiter in Washington, DC that could have met him for the first time or dared to have asked him if he could call him Joe. It was great.

For the record, Gwen Ifill is a left wing pig. She’s writing a book predicated on Obama’s victory and didn’t think she should recuse herself from creating the questions for this debate.

Lets talk pluses/minuses
Joe Biden

+ Pluses
He knows his stuff.
He loves this country.
Barack Obama will be a better, more competent President for having Joe Biden at his side.

-Minuses

He CONTINUALLY began his remarks saying, "Gwen." It looked as though he was having an INSIDE THE BELTWAY conversation with his pal, Gwen Ifill. By contrast, Palin spoke directly to the American people.

In the split screen that I watched, every time Sarah Palin was speaking, Biden was doing his impression of Al Gore in the 2000 debates. Instead of sighing, Biden had an impatient grin on his face as though he was suffering through his step-daughter’s piano recital, all the while emotionally rolling his eyes toward kindred spirit Gwen Ifill.

Biden lied repeatedly. Several times he SPECIFICALLY stated things McCain voted for which McCain, in fact, voted against. Likewise, he stated things McCain was opposed to that he actually supported.

Sarah Palin

+Pluses

She connected with America. She showed common sense and poise, and given her very limited experience on the national stage, carried herself very well.

She pounded Biden and Obama.

She had passion and vision for a McCain presidency.

She surpassed expectations. Expectations were that she stumble and combust. She didn’t.

-Minuses

While conservatives love her–and I’ll have more to say about that later, she did nothing to establish to anyone outside of the Republican base, and frankly within it to a degree, that she is prepared to be the Vice-President of the United States.

Its cute that she can wink and flirt and change the subject. The fact is she should be able to answer any damn question anyone asks of her. Please, lets take the gloves off. Hello? This is the United States of America. We are running someone for Vice-President that won’t hold a press conference and won’t be interviewed unless forced to. Conservatives: hear me out. I agree that the media is against her. I also agree that in a two hour interview with Katie Couric, the only parts of that interview promoted widely were the least favorable to Palin. I agree, no contest.

At the same time, it is shameful and disgraceful that during a time of national economic crisis, John McCain would join Sarah Palin in a follow-up interview with Katie Couric not to talk about anything important. Instead McCain went off on Couric for the gotcha questions foisted upon Palin. Again, I agree that the media hates her. Even given that, it is not a gotcha question to ask the would be Vice-President about specific supreme court rulings she disagrees with, let alone asking her what newspapers she reads. It was embarrassing.

When asked during the debate about gays and lesbians, Palin was noticeably uncomfortable. I’m sorry. It’s 2008. Gays and lesbians are here to stay. The ProConPundit doesn’t support gay marriage but does support domestic partnerships/civil unions. She is way too young to be so uptight about this issue. Not for nothing, the church that she belongs to has support groups for people trying to overcome homosexuality. That workshop takes place in the classroom next to the people who think the world is flat. When asked about gays and lesbians, she said, "We have diversity in our family. Lots of different people." Please, give me a break. She’s whacked.

I have long defended John McCain in the experience over change argument. In judgement, arguably the most important judgement a nominee can make, he blew it. He made a choice that would appease conservatives, who would have voted for him anyway, instead of choosing someone who would appeal to the moderates and independents who will decide this election.