It's baaaack. Political live blogging. This Thursday night and this Thursday night only the perfect storm of conditions (a wireless connection and clear television broadcast transmission) conspire to allow me to blog for you. I hope to be ably assisted by my roommate and her little dog too, who will each no doubt invent clever monikers for themselves (much cleverer than SisterT). Thursday night 9:00PM EST. See you then.---------------------------------------------------------------
Expectations Game
Wall Street Journal: Palin Proved to Be Formidable Foe in Alaska Debates
New York Times: Though an Experienced Debater, Biden Is Often Tripped Up by Spontaneity
Best pre-debate Summation of Tonight's Expectations and Implications
The Veep Debate: That's Entertainment!
How They Match Up
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Pre-debate Chatter
8:07
Sister T: Welcome. We're starting early so that I can make proper introductions. Welcome special guests. Will you introduce yourself?
SeaBean: I am SeaBean and this is my little dog the StitchWiggler.
Sister T: Welcome. Does StitchWiggler have a particular politcal affiliation?
SeaBean: Yes. She's a socialist. She believes in equal access to kibble and chew toys.
Sister T: Especially tennis balls, I know. How do you two feel about Sarah Palin?
SeaBean: She needs more prep work. And I have now started investing in Aquanet the hairspray.
Sister T: So you like the bee hive?
SeaBean: Modified French Twist bubble flip! It's very corporate.
Sister T: How long do you think it takes her every night to wash the hairspray out?
SeaBean: It's not so much a question of washing out, as I remember from my mohawk days. I worry about the teasing. I think there is a paper towel holder in there holding it up.
Sister T: What do you think of Joe Biden? "Who?" is an acceptable answer.
SeaBean: Well if Roosevelt and the TV were around in 1929 I might respect him....
Sister T: Do you realize that when FDR did finally address the US on TV in 1939, John McCain was alive?
SeaBean: Wow.
Sister T: He was three.
SeaBean: He is old enough to be our grandpa twice over!
Sister T: Did you know he has a biological daughter who is younger than we are?
SeaBean: Eew. That's gross. Eew. Eew. Eew.
8:23
Sister T: What do you think Sarah Palin will be wearing this evening?
SeaBean: Skirt suit, pantyhose, heels, lipstick (naturally) and her signature Tina Fey glasses.
Sister T: She doesn't wear pantyhose.
SeaBean: Oh, she wears pantyhose.
Sister T: I've never seen her wear pantyhose.
SeaBean: Trust me she's wearing pantyhose.
Sister T: What makes you think so?
SeaBean: She's of that age. All the women who ever read "How a Woman Should Dress for Success" in the 70's (by the way written by a man; if someone can explain that logic, they win fifty points) wear pantyhose. It's as much an unwritten rule as the conservative skirt suit on the Hill. Besides, she's a beauty queen...Is that why you call her "Queen Palin?"
Sister T: No, that was truly a Princess Bride reference. Seriously, Buttercup. Out of nowhere, plucked from the people. But Buttercup wouldn't kill a moose. She'd have Westley do it.
SeaBean: True true.
Sister T: As you wish!
[degenerating into Princess Bride quotes.]
Sister T: Hey do you think they'll talk about how to start a land war in Asia? Biden is a gaffer! And it is one of the classic blunders. Did you know that this is the most Irish both sides have shown ever? I read a post on it.
SeaBean: Hunh. Does this mean we'll get to listen to good music during the debate?
Sister T: No. There is no music. That would make the debate entertaining.
SeaBean: But I like bagpipes. Or, in this case, Uillean pipes. Yes the spelling sucks. Irish was written down by some illiterate men who were not just simply drunk, but mean drunk. Are you humming the German national anthem?
Sister T: No, it was the Minuet in G by Beethoven. Oh, was that elitist of me?
SeaBean: It might be a little elitist. But that's okay by me.
Sister T: What kind of music wouldn't be elitist? Because I think even indie pop and rock would be elitist, since only the overeducated people in Austin and Seattle listen to it extensively. I've got it - country.
SeaBean: Country music can be fun.
Sister T: O Brother Where Are Thou? soundtrack is good.
SeaBean: True but that's bluegrass. Which is really just elitist country.
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The Great Debate!
9:00pm Jim Lehrer on the TV! Talking to Mark Shields and David Brooks about this wacky Veep Debate.
9:01 SeaBean is making popcorn excellent!
9:02 SeaBean offers me some cheesey puffs. Sadly, I must deny myself, don't want cheesey bits infecting the keyboard
9:03 Gwen Ifill, the moderator asks a question, and Joe Biden addresses this week's bailout/rescue vote in the House.
9:05 First mention of the "middle class" by Joe Biden
9:06 Palin talking about fear and soccer moms. What happened to hockey? She also says "reform." Guess what tonight's drinking games are: "middle class" and "reform."
9:06 She mentions the campaign suspension. Baiting Biden?
9:07 Biden is taking the bait. Clever Sarah.
9:09 Gwen asks Palin to blame someone for the subprime mess. She blames predator lenders.
9:11 Biden goes on the attack blaming McCain for the subprime mess.
9:12 Gwen asks Palin if she wants to respond about the health care hit Biden threw, she wants to respond to the tax issue that Biden didn't even mention.
9:14 Biden calls Palin on not answering the deregulation question.
9:14 Palin basically says she can answer a question any gosh darn way she pleases and goes on to answer the tax question she was NEVER ASKED.
9:15 Gwen asks a tax question.
9:16 "middle class" drinking game is ON! SeaBean is off to get the wine. But she doesn't think it pairs well with cheesey puffs.
9:18 Gwen forces Palin to talk about McCain's health care plan
9:19 She is fully capable of talking about it. Take that Katie Couric!
9:20 SeaBean has chosen a very patriotic Napa Valley wine from California called "Worthy" Full disclosure: the vineyard is called Axios which is sort of Greek.
9:21 Additional disclosure: SeaBean is using her mickey mouse cork stopper. What's more American than that?!?
9:23 Now Palin's talking about the energy plan that she was NEVER ASKED ABOUT. Seriously, she might run out of talking points. She keeps jumping ahead.
9:25 Biden agrees with the Governor! Repubs will replay that moment. Independants will like it. Someone's been paying attention to the last debate's focus groups.
9:26 Gwen asks Palin a question she doesn't know the answer to about bankruptcy, but she transitions to a different talking point a lot better than her faulty non-attempts to transition with Couric.
9:27 Biden answers the actual bankruptcy question. John Q Public probably won't notice.
9:29 Palin has no clue how to respond at all and akwardly transitions to a talking point about energy.
Sister T: My SNL predicition is that Tina Fey will answer every question by just ignoring it and talking about energy.
SeaBean: Less time doing your hair, more time studying.
9:30 Gwen asks about climate change.
9:31 Palin admits there is climate change. She wants to ignore the causes. But she will created a "sub cabinet" to study the impacts.....without of course studying the causes.
9:32 Biden sews up the youth vote by saying "It's man made."
9:34 Hee, Hee it sounded like she said Seantor O'Biden.
SeaBean: Oh nooooo! She said nuclear wrong.
Sister T: She can't do it without the teleprompter spelling out "New Clear" for her.
[Confession: I, Sister T, standardly mispronounce it "nu-cu-ler," so rather than say it, I make a concerted effort to say it as little as possible]
9:38 No one up there supports gay marriage.
9:39 Sarah Palin is so proud, SO PROUD of the Surge.
SeaBean: And she can see Russia from her house!
9:42 Sarah Palin tells Biden that the Obama plan in Iraq is a white flag of surrender.
SeaBean: Talibani?
Sister T: It's right.
9:45 Gwen asks which is the greater threat: Unstable Pakistan or Nuclear Iran.
SeaBean: Pakistan!
Sister T: Pakistan!
Biden: Both.
Palin: Both.
9:47 SeaBean can't take it anymore. Palin keeps pronouncing nuclear wrong.
9:50 Biden points out that Ahmadinajad is NOT in charge of Iran. He does not, however, mention the Council of Guardians or Khamenei. Sigh!
9:52 Biden refers to himself in the 3rd person. Sort of pompous.
9:54 Palin chastizes Biden for looking at past mistakes too much....and then talks about how she will learn by looking at past mistakes.
9:56 SeaBean recoils in PAIN!!!! Sarah Palin mispronounces nuclear.
9:57 Sarah Palin asks if she can talk about Afghanistan. She wants to stick with her assigned talking points.
10:00 They argue about what General McClellan said. That'll be a job for fact checkers to deal with later.
[Update: the fact checkers say there is no such person as McClellan commanding troops in Afghanistan.]
10:02 Biden is talking about himself too much. "I did," "I said," He transitions to talking about Darfur (which Gwen did ask about)
10:03 Sarah Palin ignores the question. And talks about Iraq. Hey wow! She actually answers the question and talks about Darfur and ties it to Alaska!
10:07 Gwen asks how their own administrations would differ from the top of the ticket. Biden doesn't answer. He talks about how much his administration would continue Obama's policies.
10:09 Palin would drill in ANWAR of course. But then she would do whatever McCain was doing.
SeaBean: new drinking game "end the corruption and greed on Wall Street"
10:11 Drink! "middle class"
10:11 Palin in one sentence throws in a "Say it ain't so Joe," "there you go again," and "doggonit."
10:13 Palin throws a shout-out to her brother's 3rd grade class which is getting extra credit for watching the debate.
Sister T: Shouldn't those 3rd graders be in bed right now?
SeaBean They're in Alaska. Time difference.
Sister T: Good point.
10:13 Palin is self-deprecating about a lame joke she made. I don't know what "joke" she is talking about?
SeaBean: Reform of government, Drink! Do you think she put vaseline on her teeth?
Sister T: Probably. Or maybe they grow them that way in Alaska!
10:15 Gwen asks if the Veep job is executive or legislative. Palin says it's a flexible job and highlights her executive experience.
10:17 Biden calls Cheney the most dangerous Veep in the history of the U.S. Careful Joe, he has a gun and has been known to use it.....on people.
10:18 Gwen asks about their biggest weaknesses. Palin starts off not answering the question.
10:19 She didn't answer it. Will Gwen let her get away with it?
10:20 Biden says his weakness is too much passion. Hmmm. Maybe I'll use that in my next job interview.
10:23 Biden attacks the Maverick record on health care, education, the war, i.e., things talked about around the kitchen table.
10:24 Last question from Gwen is: think of a policy issue on which they changed their mind to accommodate change. Biden used to think the ideology of a judge didn't matter, now he believes that it does.
10:25 Plain talks about budgets she didn't veto. She differentiates between "compromise" which is bad and "working together" which is good. I don't really understand the difference other than one means every body changes their opinion to something less desirable; the other you make other people change their mind to yours.
10:29 Closing statements! Palin claims she wants more opportunities to debate and speak without that pesky Main Stream Media in the way. She also takes a shot at Michelle Obama.
10:31 Biden gives a closing statement.
Sister T: how many times do you think he will say "middle class"
SeaBean: he's said it 2x already, so, at least 3 more times
Sister T: he didn't say it again? how are we supposed to get drunk?
SeaBean: we are already drunk. we've been drinking all night to dull the pain.
10:33 It's over. She didn't screw up. Sarah's political future is secure!
Thanks to SeaBean and StitchWiggler for their company and help. That's it for debate blogging. For the Obama-McCain presidential debates I actually care and pay closer attention....which makes live blogging very difficult. Thanks for reading. Hope you liked it.
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