First ten minutes (before I got computer 100% on because I just got in)- Biden seems slow, like he’s on Valium or something. Palin gets a good start talking about “fear” of ordinary people. But Palin seems to be laying it on a bit thick about the “maverick” thing calling herself and McCain “a team of mavericks.” Generally Palin’s doing OK though- she’s just reciting prerehearsed lines, and she’s good at that. As long as she isn’t being probed as Katie Couric did she’s fine.
9:12 Palin raises tax issues, talking about “94 times” Obama could have voted to cut taxes. Basic Republican cliches- “government has to be more efficient.” Biden gives convincing response about taxes, saying that McCain voted against tax cuts sometimes soon. Points out that Palin didn’t respond to her hits about deregulation.
9:14 Palin brags about the taxes she cut. A bit misleading, since she raised taxes both as mayor and as governor. In response to point about McCain’s deregulatory tendencies, Palin talks about how McCain “known for” something or other. No matter who?
9:15 Biden asked about tax hike on 250K earners. Biden responds about “fairness”- not sure what that means. But makes key point, no one earning over 250K will see tax increase. (Doesn’t sound like a realistic promise to me). Biden hits hard on middle class tax cut. These Democrats sure are moving to the center?
9:17 Palin says “but what about small businesses earning over 250K?” Hits Biden by responding to his claim that raising taxes not “patriotic.” They both sound like idiots to me.
9:18 Re health insurance- promises $5000 credit so people can buy their own health care coverage. Oh please.... who the hell pays only $400 a month for private insurance? Hollers “socialized medicine.”
9: 19 Biden - its not redistribution to support giving middle class tax cut. Good hit!
Claims most small businesses earn well under 250k - good hit!
Biden points out that if you have health care plan through employer, you have a tax increase because the government will eliminate the deduction. Gets a little too statistical though, a bit hard to follow.
So far: Biden sounds more commanding, but Palin not so bad. Nobody has really messed up so far - not entertaining enough I’m afraid!
Ifill asks what will you have to cut with bailout?
Biden- don’t double foreign aid - hurts by making us aware that Obama favored doubling foreign aid initially, not something popular with voters. Ditch McCain tax cuts. (So let’s get this straight– we’ll finance the bailout by not doing the things we opposed from the beginning...)
9:24 Palin brags about energy expertise. When asked by Ifill about what she will drop to finance bailout, she says she “hasn’t made a lot of promises” in five weeks- nice way to turn vagueness of Ifill’s claim against her.
9:25 Biden points out that Obama supports the windfall profits tax Palin did in Alaska- but McCain won’t.
9:27 Palin brags about McCain’s gimmick of suspending campaign to help with finance crisis. Sounds dumb- his role in these issues is pretty minimal.
Biden seems more lively than he did at the start, though a bit too technical.
9:29 Palin demagogues about how we can just get all these undisclosed domestic supplies of energy to get energy independence. Surely she should know that we have, like, 3 percent of the world’s oil.
9:30 Palin says “Alaska feels impact of climate change more than any other state.” Um, I would think warm states would feel it more. “I don’t want to argue about the causes” - nice evasion of her prior statements on issue (which don’t square with McCain’s). Claims she has formed “climate change impacts” subcabinet. Claims she supports “all of the above” approach- good line.
Biden much pithier on climate change- “I think it is man made.” Says if you don’t understand cause you won’t come up with solution. (Probably won’t appeal to people other than core Ds). Gets key point that we don’t have that much oil, need to focus on “clean” coal and “safe nuclear.” (Great lines- “clean coal”, “safe nuclear” because it puts Obama on side of nuclear!) “Drill we must” but let’s do other stuff.
9:34 Rightly or wrongly, I sense that Biden and Palin are aggressively moving to the center on energy- everyone is claiming to support “all of the above” solutions. But each is accusing the other of being against good stuff- Biden says “You’re against everything but oil!” and Palin says “You’re against oil and natural gas!”
9:35 Both support limiting carbon emissions.
9:37 Palin discusses gay rights, and says word “tolerant” over and over again (good). But both candidates draw line at gay marriage. More everyone moving to center.
But one really clumsy evasion: Palin asked “does this mean that you agree that there should be no difference between gay and straight couples?” Palin responds by saying she’s against gay marriage not answering gay marriage.
9:41 Palin rants about “victory” in Iraq.
Biden focuses on future- we’re with Maliki and George Bush. “The only man out is John McCain.” (Very clever!) Biden says there’s a fundamental difference- we’ll end war and let Iraqis take responsibility for their own future.
9:42 Palin responds with generalities about “commanders telling us when we’re done.”
9:43 Palin hits Biden on his prior attacks on Obama. Good hit!
Ifill asks which nation is more dangerous, Pakistan or Iran.
Biden gives obvious right answer: Pakistan obviously because they already have nukes. Points out that Iran isn’t the primary problem because al-Qaeda mother ship in Pakistan. Biden shows off expertise. Then goofs “there have been 7000 madrassas... we should build schools.” Um, a madrassa is a school isn’t it?
9:47 Palin cites Petraeus to support “Iraq central” theory. Then panders to Israel vote by blah blah blahing about Iran. Attacks Obama for being willing to talk to bad guys “without preconditions.” (Um what’s a precondition?)
But when asked about Kissinger and other wise men favoring diplomacy, she gets very confusing: she has “passion for diplomacy”, diplomacy is “hard work by serious people”, having “sanctions lined up before there’s a summit”. Basically incoherent- let’s negotiate but only till we have more economic sanctions first?
9:50 Biden gets great hit- says McCain “won’t even sit down with government of Spain”. Not sure this is true- may have been slip of tongue by McCain.
9:51 Asked about Israel, praises Rice and two-state solution. Clever- takes center and right too.
9:54 Biden follows suit, but points out that Bush “abject failure” by letting Hamas take over Gaza.
9:55 After Biden delivers withering attack on Bush, Palin responds with mushy-headed generalities about “change is coming.” Sounds kinda foolish.
Biden: where are the specifics? Where’s the difference between Bush and McCain?
9:57 Palin says she's for surge in Afghanistan, so that's a difference too.
9:58 Biden says commanding general in Afghanistan says its more complex. Points out how much more money spent in Iraq than Afghanistan.
