10 Palin and Biden get into argument about exactly what generals in Afghanistan said. Makes Palin sound more expert- not that I have any idea who’s right.
10:02 Biden rattles off a lot of foreign policy interventions.
10:03 Palin calls Biden a flip-flopper, saying he supported “John McCain’s strategy.” Biden says he was never that wild about war, but voted to authorize war only to give Bush negotiating leverage.
10:07 Palin starts to repeat herself about McCain consulting with commanders, etc.
10:07 Biden asked what he would do differently from Obama if he became president. He says he would favor Obama’s policies on every major issue, making slip of tongue: saying Obama favors “reinstating the middle class.” Reinstating them to what?
Palin says “We’re a team of mavericks. We’re not going to agree on everything.” Nice answer!
Though lines about bringing “reality on Wasilla Main Street” to Washington lays it on a bit thick.
10:10 Biden goes back to “Bush/McCain” lines and talks about how “people in my neighborhood get it.” Um, your “neighborhood” is four-acre houses. Some neighborhood.
10:11 Palin says “there you go again, pointing backwards.” Are we that dumb? On the one hand, they are “mavericks.” On the other hand, they are scared to distance themselves from Bush on substantive issues. Not exactly William J. Bryan running against Grover Cleveland (or to use a modern analogy, if Tancredo or Paul were the nominee they’d be taking Bush to the woodshed).
10:13 Palin says “Of course I know what the Vice President does!” I doubt it.
This debate is already starting to feel too long. Basically an exchange of sound bites, both candidates trying hard to avoid putting foot in mouth and mostly succeeding.
10:18 Ifill asks dumb question about “what is your achilles heel”?
Palin brags about knowledge of everything - we used to be poor, blah blah blah. (Um aren’t they millionaires?) Brags about American exceptionalism- what does this have to do with her experience? Nothing but it distracts- she’s cunning.
Biden talks about how he was a single parent and he wasn’t always rich.
Yep, those millionaires were both born in log cabins! Feh.
10:21 Palin says “John McCain has been the consummate maverick.” Yeah, he sure showed that on the bailout bill (sarcasm) (And yes, Obama was just as much of an un-maverick!)
Great Palin slip of tongue about McCain- “He is the man that we need to leave”
10:23 Biden- McCain not a maverick on “things that matter to people’s lives”. Hits hard on budget, health care, education. Rat-at-tat-tat of good sound bites! When I listen to Biden I feel like I could be listening to Walter Mondale in 1976.
10:24 Ifill asks if you have ever changed your mind on a serious issue. Biden cites Bork (i.e. that ideology of judge justifies voting no). Palin says she never has on a major issue because “we found a way to work together” in Alaska- probably true but not because she’s so great, just because she’s only been governor a year!
Closing statements-
Palin: We’ll “fight for America”, “fight for the middle class”, “fight for freedom”. McCain “fights for you.” In a way, gets to key difference- Obama the lover, McCain the fighter.
Biden: focuses on whether people can pay the bills, health care, education blah blah blah.
My conclusion: on substance Biden seemed stronger. But Palin will probably be the "winner", based on low expectations.
One of NBC's pundits says debate basically a tie.
