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: 09-16-2008
Thu, 10-02-2008 - 11:03pm
Then why was she reading from her cue cards all the time? She seemed to have limited responses that she couldn't veer from - couldn't answer all the questions so she had to go back to her talking points.
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-22-2008
Thu, 10-02-2008 - 11:06pm
I couldn't agree more on the "guest" posting.
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2008
Thu, 10-02-2008 - 11:08pm

I think Palin did a very good job. I thought Biden's responses were more substantive, but that is to be expected -- he has more years in national politics.

I know that Palin's folksiness is very appealing, but it's not my cup of tea. I'm sure her colloquialisms will play very well with her base and perhaps with some independent voters. They likely irritates some others. (Like me? Confession time, but yes, it's a petty complaint.)

Laura

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-29-2005
Thu, 10-02-2008 - 11:09pm
i totally thought you had to join in order to post to a message? strange...
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iVillage Member
Registered: 09-08-2008
Thu, 10-02-2008 - 11:12pm

How could she be rehearsed?


Visitor (not verified)
anonymous user
Thu, 10-02-2008 - 11:13pm
Palin
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-08-2008
Thu, 10-02-2008 - 11:13pm
Don't feed the beast.

Visitor (not verified)
anonymous user
Thu, 10-02-2008 - 11:15pm
Biden
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-16-2006
Thu, 10-02-2008 - 11:15pm

Yes, I watched. Clearly, Palin's handlers coached her well, & she fared better on the foreign policy front than in the recent past. Biden was very controlled & restrained himself by choosing not to 'correct' some errors on SP's part, so as not to detract from his points, nor appear to be 'picking' on her. He definitely had a better grasp on just about all the significant facts & stats, esp. in relation to voting records & the proposed health care plans & their net costs.

My biggest criticism of SP is how she would not adequately address the fin'l crisis and kept moving the discussion back to 'energy independence.' The idea that by cutting taxes & focusing on jobs is going to fix what's 'wrong' with our economy -- is just so short-sighted and shows that she does not understand how serious & complex the problems facing our country truly are!

I was truly disappointed with her response to global warming/climate change problem & her conjecture that the cause was not important, totally downplaying man's contributions to the growing problem. With the whole issue of Iraq & Afghanistan, I just heard SP repeating the same lines regardless of Biden's continued emphasis on their troop withdrawal plan. I wonder how many times 'maverick' was uttered during the 90 min.?!

Clearly SP does not feel that she has any real 'achille's heel,' while Biden was very candid, forthright and unapologetic for what makes him who he is. Palin's reliance on her background & experience in Alaska as being directly applicable and adequate for what is needed to address issues of this country -- is just untenable. Also, Palin does have a solid grasp on exactly what the responsibilities of the office of VP of the US actually are - scary!

My overall impression is that Biden has a record of service that speaks for itself & he acknowledges that he's had some ideological differences w/Obama in the past, but at least he knows what those differences were!

As for Gwen Ifill, I think she did an admirable job as moderator and did not detect any 'bias' towards either candidate, whatsoever. She also did not give SP a hard time when she wanted to redirect the discussion to her topic of choice. Both candidates displayed lots of 'diplomacy' towards the other.

My vote is still with Obama/Biden. I didn't learn anything new & 'maverick' from the McCain/Palin team.

respectfully, hB

Visitor (not verified)
anonymous user
Thu, 10-02-2008 - 11:16pm
Joe Biden hands down.

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