Great Expectations - Palin v Biden

Tonight Alaska Governor Palin takes on Delaware Senator Joe Biden in a battle between the King and Queen of modern politics gaffes. Whether it’s asking a paraplegic man to stand up and take a bow or citing geographic proximity of Alaska to Russia as a basis of foreign policy credentials this pair is unlike no other. We are in for a rollercoaster ride.

Much has been said about Palin’s inability to lead or even answer a question coherently. Katie Courics interview with the Governor have been a total disaster for McCain campaign. Yet while the slip ups have raised questions about the Alaska governor’s readiness for national office and has increased the pressure on her to perform in her sole joint appearance with Biden, they also sent already low expectations plunging even lower than stocks on Wall Street. That is not a bad thing for Palin.

My gut instinct is that she will do a good job tonight. She is well prepared and is very combative in debates. In her gubernatorial race for Governor of Alaska she gave stellar performances, I believe tonight she will do just that and get some direct hard hits on Obama. I would not be surprised if tomorrows headlines scream ‘ Palin comes out Swinging’ ‘ Palin back on track’ ‘ Round 1 to Palin’ Its not that I think Biden will do poorly he will be fine but he needs to be very contained in what he says and that will limit his ability to get hard hits on her. The expectations for Palin are below ground zero, she will be judged on her ability to answers questions somewhat coherently and that she can do.
A debate is different than a interview. They are more formal and predictable. The press loves a comeback kid.

The only thing that may alter Palins potentially good performance is the role of the moderator Gwen Ifill of PBS. She is the author of a coming book, “The Breakthrough: Politics and Race in the Age of Obama.” Republicans have raised question of her authenticity and objective abilities considering she has written a book complementing the role of Obama in national politics. They are right too and she should never have been selected in the first place. l

Ifill is an excellent journalist and a tough cookie and ordinarily she would pose hard-hitting questions that would break Palin in half but because of her perceived bias she will need to thread very lightly with Palin and throw soft balls. This is a shame because usually Ifill makes Katie Couric look like Julie Andrews. If Ifill is tough on her, Palin will crack but the Republican spin machine will claim she was totally bias and Palin was a victim of the liberal media. This in turn can justify her no longer doing interviews with the ‘liberal’ papers. Either way its going to be near impossible for Biden to win tonight.

The only way he will win is if the moderator asks a simple question and Palin cant answer it.


But tonight is about the independents -88% of the country has made up its mind its all about that 12%. They also want change like everyone else but which type will appeal to them? The self described Maverick Reformers who between them have 30 years in Wasington or the Change and Clean Up DC Reformers who have eh have 30 years

p.s
Key words for tonight to watch for ........

‘Reign in spending’ ‘Maverick’ ‘Reform/ Change’ ‘Bridge to Nowhere’ ‘Surge’ ‘ Taxes’