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’

I am suspending my blogs due to the economic crisis

On Monday I made the decision to suspend my blog until the nation’s economic crisis was resolved. This wasn’t a cynical play or political move which my opponents would have you believe, it’s important for the countries economic future, my friends this is a sink or swim moment for America and we all have to make selfless decisions.

Okay so that was my thinking on Monday but now that John McCain is on the case, I am once again able to turn my attention back to blogging, secure in the knowledge things will work out fine.

John McCain has the foresight and skills we need to fix this crisis. Plus McCain is no longer distracted by such weighty issues as dealing “with lipstick on pigs”, on hiding Sarah Palin from the press, or on highlighting Barack Obamas plan to teach sex education to 4 year olds. Now he has the time to focus on the economy. My friends John Mc Cain knows Washington, and not just because he has 3 homes and lived there for 30 years, but because he has an array of relevant delicious sound bites. “I’ll veto any bill” “pork barrel spending ” “shake up Washington” “clean up Washington” “my friends” "Ill make the waisters of tax payer money famous"or my favorite “now is not the time for partisan politics” (that comes tomorrow when I accuse Barack Obama of teaching lesbian witchcraft to poor baby orphans)

Okay the nay sayers may say 'well he doesn’t sit on any relevant financial committee' or 'he doesn’t really have any of the economic experience necessary at this point in time' But does any of this that really matter? this is John Mc Cain my friends, the maverick, he’ll veto anything with his pen. Even though the finest economists on both sides of the political divide are already working together on this, John Mc Cain must go to Washington. He has to cleazn up 'the mess' he has to be there sandwiched between George Bush and Harry Reid when a deal is struck on the bail out. He must be there for a variety of important political reasons and not only because he needs to be as far away from Friday night’s debate in Mississippi, as many unpatriotic liberal american media hacks might suggest.

In a time of crisis the American people don’t need words they need empty gestures, clever soundbites and photo ops.

For those of you worried about the Campaign without McCain I say to you- dont worry. The reign is handed over to our beloved hockey mom, Sarah Palin (Did I mention she is an American patriot and a hockey mom?) Governor Palin is more than prepared to hold town meetings with unscreened audiences; she can host press conferences in the Fox Network studios and surely answer any questions Bill O Reilly may have. Butperhaps Sarah inalso needed in DC what with her expertise on economics and foreign policy. Her eye for details on fiscal prudence and her depth of knowledge on all issues from where her running mate stands on insurance relief to the bush doctrine.

So when the House Financial Services Committee are discussing the skyrocketing rates of mortgages or the impact of the Home Owners Loan Corporation Palin can interrupt with an important insight into the issues by stating she is from Alaska and is here to clean up the good Old Boys Network. That’s great Sarah but can you say more with consideration to the 700 billion bail out how do think that may sit with ordinary Americans? “well oridinary moms in Alaska are soooo excited, they'll be putting on their lipstick and getting ready for the big hockey game"

So say what you will about McCain my friends he is a man who fights on the issues, who fights fair and doesn’t go for cheap political stunts and shocking opportunistic gimmicks.