It was all about Palin, pure plain and simple - and she didn’t disappoint. Yes, I realize that the debate last night between vice president candidates actually involved two, possibly 3, people: Senator Joe Biden and Governor Sarah Palin. Hwever it was the latter candidate who the most at stake. To sum it up with a set of football analogies:
Biden was like the fullback late in the game, handed the ball to protect the lead and run out the clock. Just so long as he doesn’t fumble the ball, he’s done his job - any first downs made are a bonus. Which is why chortled a bit last night before bedtime, as I caught this hilarious “Tweet” from @AndrewCareaga that read:
New TV show: Mr. Biden’s Neighborhood
Getting back to my analogies, Palin on the other hand was like the 2nd string quarter for a team that is behind by 4 points with 2 minutes to go. A field goal just won’t cut it, and any fumble or interception thrown means the game is over. Personally, I think she won it not with a long bomb, but a series of well executed side-line passes. This “Tweet” from @NathanRice puts it all into perspective:
Yeah, Palin won. This makes the freakshow interesting again for the next few weeks. I’ll enjoy the show.
I think Scriptorium’s John Mark Reynolds also summed it up nicely in his post-Debate analysis entitled “Scoring the Palin Debate” when he wrote:
- This debate is all about Governor Palin. Senator Biden is the prop for America to learn more about the Governor. People care about Palin, but nobody is excited about Senator Biden.
- It may not be fair (I have argued all week it is not), but if Governor Palin is to have a future in Republican politics, she must not Quayle herself tonight.
Anyway below, in reverse chronologic order, are posts made about the debate by (some) Christians who blog. I did it in this order because I found it interesting to read the latter comments first - comparing them then to what some (live) bloggers thought at the outset of the debate:
Blog and MaBlog - No Gaffes to Embarrass the Republic [Topic: Politics]
I will have more to say about all this later, but I wanted to get just a few words in about the Biden/Palin debate tonight. My comments here are just some more amateur punditry, and not a continued discussion of the previous, um, themes, we have been discussing. In other words, quite apart from whether or not I support her, or could support her, how did she do?
Taking a lesson from something my father once taught me with regard to evangelism, the point is not to win the argument, but rather to win the people.
the evangelical outpost - A few quick thoughts on the debate
- Despite pre-debate controversy, I didn’t sense any unfairness from the moderator.
- Palin will probably be criticized for saying “nucular” just as Bush was.
- Biden sounded like a politician, was sometimes confusing, and tended to put the listener to sleep.
- Palin brought up Biden’s past - good move. She did her homework.
- My two-year-old daughter watched the debate with me. When Biden discussed Obama and Ahmadinejad, she giggled, copied his hand motions, and chanted “Sit down with friends! Sit down with friends!” I thought that summed it up well…
DaddyPundit - What Sarah Should Do Next
Governor Sarah Palin hit a monumental home run with her debate performance tonight and put to rest all those pesky doubts about her abilities to serve as Vice-President. Of course, her supporters already knew she was up to the job. It was the media naysayers and Beltway pundits that had to be reminded of the innate talents this women possesses that haven’t been seen in another politician since Ronald Reagan.
Senator Joe Biden turned in a fair performance himself. No major gaffes but lots of false statements.
Still, this debate was all about Governor Palin.
joyfulchristian - Another bald-faced lie from Biden
Biden claimed that McCain hasn’t been a maverick on the Iraq war?
McCain has been blasting the Bush administration for like 5 years on their war strategy
… Wish I’d seen this before I started watching the debate : Bingo.
(deannote: not not this one … look down later in the post:)
The Scriptorium Daily: Middlebrow - Hey, Rod, Palin was Pretty Good, Eh?
Palin certainly did well. Yes?
Let me repeat that it was always weirdly premature to judge a successful governor on one interview. It is now obvious that she can handle a debate with Joe “I am experienced” Biden.
She was smart, she was relaxed, and was in charge of the debate. Biden was on the defensive and it was all about Palin.
If anyone committed a gaffe, it was Biden with his weird “I raised kids” comment and his mistake about the Constitution. (Imagine if Palin had done that!?) …
OrthoCuban - Biden vs Palin, 70 minutes to end
An interesting beginning, both were quoted by the moderator on remarks that showed less than exciting opinions of the vice-president. Gov. Palin got the first answer and was able to make a little joke out of her response. Sen. Biden was not able to answer the question quite as directly as Gov. Palin because he was the one who had said back during the campaign that he would not wish to be vice-president. But, both laid out the responsibilities that their candidate had assigned to them in a future administration.
In the Agora - Debate Bingo
For those of you following along at home tonight…
OrthoCuban - Biden vs Palin, 50 to 70 minutes
I feel like I am being taken on a world tour of the troublespots. Darfur, Russia, Bosnia, they are all being covered. I am quite interested in the answers. But, finally, Gov. Palin has shown a slip. She has had to retreat to the stock phrase that Sen. McCain is a war-hero and knows how to conduct a war. It shows a certain lack of experience in the Africa area.
Ahh, a totally unexpected question. I have to hand it to the host. “What would you do if you became President because of the untimely death of your running mate?”
OrthoCuban - Biden vs Palin, first impressions
As was predicted by some, so far Gov. Palin is speaking clearly and without the “mistakes” that have been published too often on YouTube. This may show that, like Sen. Biden, she is prone to off-the-cuff mistakes, but is better at answering in a formal way.
the evangelical outpost - Liveblogging the Palin/Biden Vice Presidential Debate
- Watching ABC
- Stephanopoulos: “6 out of 10 Americans wonder if Gov. Palin has what it takes to be the VP. ” How many Americans wonder the same about Joe Biden? This is clearly a Palin-centric debate.
- Biden stated that this bailout is evidence of the horrible economic policies of the last eight years. If true, that makes Barack Obama the second greatest political recipient of these worst economic policies of the last eight years.
- Great back and forth about McCain’s comment on the “fundamentals of the American economy.” Get the job done.
The Scriptorium Daily: Middlebrow - Live Blog on Debate
Palin crosses stage and meets Biden over half way. She looks confident and he looks (to me) like a generic candidate.
First, question goes to Biden about the economic plan. He shifts question to attack Bush. His answer is smooth, but dull. Palin connects her answer to the folks. She shifts to John McCain and what he tried to do. Well done.
Second, Biden quotes what he has done in office. Good answer by Biden. Palin links Obama to a liberal voting record. That was powerful and a move that McCain should have made.
Between Two Worlds - Galli on Pulpit Endorsements and the Temptation of Politics
…the last debate or recent TV appearance, you can seem out of touch with reality or too timid if you don’t join in the national conversation and take a public stand. Who wants to go to a church led by an irrelevant coward?These pastors — and congregations that are egging them on — don’t realize that in endorsing political candidates or platforms,…
Oct 2, 2008 (12 hours ago)
The Point - Debate preview
Tongue in cheek. Sort of. (Come on, Andy, it’s a little funny.
)
Malkin - SARAH ROCKS!
First, I would like to see all the Sarah doubters and detractors in the Beltway/Manhattan corridor eat their words.
Eat them.
Sarah Palin is the real deal. Five weeks on the campaign trail, thrust onto the national stage, she rocked tonight’s debate.
….
Totally superficial water-cooler topic: What’s up with Biden’s forehead?
…
Joe Biden’s gaffes: Imagine if Sarah made them
…
ScrappleFace - Ifill Stays Moderator, Pete Rose Enters Hall of Fame
In an 11th-hour compromise, Gwen Ifill, who failed to disclose that she has written a forthcoming book celebrating “the age of Obama,” will be allowed to remain as moderator of tonight’s vice presidential debate in exchange for baseball star Pete Rose’s entrance into the Hall of Fame.
There ya have it folks. Some good commentary - and even BINGO cards - my penance upsetting some Evangelicals by asserting that Catholics are Christians too.
That raging debate aside … ahem … so what did you think? Leave a comment … w/a link if you’ve got an opinion to add.
