Talk Back: Reactions to the VP Debate

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-16-2003
Talk Back: Reactions to the VP Debate
788
Thu, 10-02-2008 - 5:14pm

Hi everyone --


We wanted to get your reaction to the Vice Presidential debate between Senator Joe Biden and Governor Sarah Palin. Did you watch? What did you think -- and who do you consider the winner? Were there any surprises? Tell us what you considered to be the highlights, the low points and everything in between.


 


Please note: This discussion will be featured on our homepage as well as our Election 2008 feature page (http://www.ivillage.com/0,,dkrjhqbk,00.html) and may elicit some "Guest" responses from our "Talkback" box tool on the page. Inappropriate responses that violate our Terms of Service will be removed.


Thanks for your input!

Caryn D. Stein
Director of Community
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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-05-2006
Fri, 10-03-2008 - 9:11am
Joe Biden
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iVillage Member
Registered: 09-25-2008
Fri, 10-03-2008 - 9:13am
Palin didn't embarrass herself to the extent she has in the past couple of weeks... there were only a few times a I cringed. (Please don't wink at the camera - it is unprofessional and undignified in politics.)


I agree 100% on both those points: the bar had been set so low by Palin's crashing disasters in the previous two weeks and several interviews with the media that, short of falling off the stage, she was going to exceed many if not most expectations, which she did. But I also agree that, in a very obvious effort to come off as "folksy," to play to her perceived strength as being "just one of us," she actually - IMO - went way too far in that direction. The most cringe-worthy moments of the debate were Palin doing exactly as you described: winking, saying "gosh darnit," and other faux-chirpy things: I think that despite the "mad love of mediocrity in politics" in this country (to quote Sam Harris in Newsweek), most people, when they actually see a candidate for that high an office, expect some modicum of reserve and maturity. Palin's "earthier" tics would not have been out of place at a PTA meeting, or a team meeting for the hockey moms....but that wasn't what she was doing. I think there are is a diminishing number of people who, although they may initially have been charmed by Palin's "folksy" style, are not going to be able to connect that with the faux-folksiness of George W. Bush and remember that this isn't a seventh-grade Student Body President contest, nor is it a "who'd ya like to swill a beer with" contest.

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-25-2008
Fri, 10-03-2008 - 9:16am
I'm with ya....except I think she was referring to Jalal Talabani, President of Iraq.

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-29-2008
Fri, 10-03-2008 - 9:16am
Biden thinks people from Bosnia are "Bosniacs"....
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-19-2008
Fri, 10-03-2008 - 9:17am

I have a post-grad degree in economics and I can tell you it is much more complicated than that.

Visitor (not verified)
anonymous user
Fri, 10-03-2008 - 9:17am
Sarah Palin
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-25-2008
Fri, 10-03-2008 - 9:17am
Evidence? Or just because you say so?

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-05-2006
Fri, 10-03-2008 - 9:20am

Biden thinks people from Bosnia are "Bosniacs"....


.....and Palin thinks Biden's name is "O'Biden."

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iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2008
Fri, 10-03-2008 - 9:23am

>>most people, when they actually see a candidate for that high an office, expect some modicum of reserve and maturity.

I don't know about most people, but I can say that a good number of voters really do respond well to folksiness. Our current president is well known and well liked for his folksy demeanor. I suspect that is one of the big reasons that Palin was put on the ticket.

And I don't think her demeanor is fake. I do think that is exactly who she is. As I said earlier, I don't find it endearing at all, but I think it's short sighted to assume that others feel similarly. We are a very diverse country after all.

Laura

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-16-2006
Fri, 10-03-2008 - 9:23am

My point is that the problems facing the economy are not going to be solved by simply cutting taxes. We are in a serious credit crisis and there is no liquidity out there -- what good is it to have tax cuts when businesses can't operate, so there's no business to create jobs for, therefore no income to apply tax cuts to! Last night's debate did not adequately address the pandemic that the US & the rest of the world is facing, as we speak. So much is hinging on whether Congress passes the rescue/bailout bill -- and passage is just the start of the process towards resolution of the problem -- it is not the end-all 'solution.' There's plenty of blame to go around for the situation 'we' find ourselves in -- pointing fingers & acting like the problem is for 'others' to solve, is ludicrous. This is where we need the leadership of the country to educate & guide the country on the right path. Clearly people aren't getting it -- it's sad because Pres. Bush explained the crisis we are in, very clearly & directly emphasizing how we are all part of the problem & we all need to support the work to resolve the problems.

The pain is not going to go away any time soon -- the problems are numerous and complex. We are just at the 'tip of the iceberg' in terms of knowing exactly what the problems entail and how long & how much money it's going to take to get the economy back on track.
Once the 'disease' is addressed, then we start getting healthy ie. create jobs, grow the economy!

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