Format of Biden-Palin Debate Sets No Limit on Subject Matter

[Hissyspit]

Source: Washington Post

Format of Biden-Palin Debate Sets No Limit on Subject Matter

By Robert G. Kaiser
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, September 21, 2008; Page A10
Negotiators for the campaigns of Sens. John McCain and Barack Obama agreed yesterday on a format for the Oct. 2 debate between Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr., resolving an issue left open in August after the campaigns settled on the structure of the three presidential debates, according to sources involved in the talks.

Under the plan agreed to yesterday, Palin and Biden will have less time than McCain and Obama to reply to moderators' questions and discuss each other's answers. And there will be no guidelines given to Gwen Ifill of PBS, moderator of the vice presidential debate, as to subject matter, allowing her to mix in questions about foreign and domestic matters, the sources said.

Both sides were satisfied with the final agreement, the sources said. The Commission on Presidential Debates, the independent nonprofit organization that manages these quadrennial events, had hoped the campaigns would agree to the same longer segments for the vice presidential aspirants that were adopted in August for the presidential debates.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/20/AR2008092001992.html

[gateley]

1. Check THIS out: (Repubs were really trying to stifle Biden)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=7132304&mesg_id=7132304

[nickgutierrez]

33. This is actually a great deal for Biden.

One of his weaknesses is that he tends to be long-winded. In this format, he can work on delivering punchy phrases - something along the lines of "noun, verb, and 9/11" - and demonstrate his huge wealth of knowledge, without running the risk of going on too long and giving the pundits and comedians something to latch onto.

[Warren Stupidity]

2. Palin camp pushing for multiple choice answers.

That was after Biden rejected "20 questions" format.

[Mojambo]

3. Biden better bone up on moose-hunting and intimidating public servants. n/t

[Tutonic]

4. Ifill is going to skin a Moose! She can't be happy with Palin.

[kmdemqueen]

5. They are Chicken

Go Biden. Hit a home run out of the Ball park. I'll be watching.

[billionbucks]

6. Biden will chew her up and spit her out!

That is if he doesn't make any mistakes with wording.

[elleng]

7. Politely!

[HopeHoops]

8. She can see Iran from her house - how can Biden compete with that?

Wait a minute, what is that box-like bulge in the back of her jacket?

[Whoa_Nelly]

9. Format of Biden-Palin Debate Sets No Limit on Subject Matter

Source: WaPo

Format of Biden-Palin Debate Sets No Limit on Subject Matter

By Robert G. Kaiser
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, September 21, 2008; Page A10

Negotiators for the campaigns of Sens. John McCain and Barack Obama agreed yesterday on a format for the Oct. 2 debate between Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr., resolving an issue left open in August after the campaigns settled on the structure of the three presidential debates, according to sources involved in the talks.

Under the plan agreed to yesterday, Palin and Biden will have less time than McCain and Obama to reply to moderators' questions and discuss each other's answers. And there will be no guidelines given to Gwen Ifill of PBS, moderator of the vice presidential debate, as to subject matter, allowing her to mix in questions about foreign and domestic matters, the sources said.


<snip>
In the negotiations, Republicans wanted to limit the amount of time available for their neophyte candidate, Palin, to be questioned on a single topic. Democrats, meanwhile, wanted to be sure Biden and Palin spoke from lecterns rather than sitting at a table the way Vice President Cheney and his rivals in 2000 (Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman of Connecticut) and 2004 (Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina) did. Both sides got what they wanted. Palin and Biden will each have 90 seconds to respond to questions, with a two-minute period for discussion between the candidates to follow.



Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/20/AR2008092001992.html

[napi21]

10. It sounds reasonable to me. Biden is much more flexible on all the

different issues than Barracuda is.

[0rganism]

26. that flexibility will become a weakness if he's not careful

People want to see clarity and confidence, above all. Palin presents that image in spades, even when what she says is composed of inconsistent reprehensible falsehoods. If Biden screws up, especially with one of his trademark mis-speaks, the next news cycle for Obama/Biden will be all about damage control.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

11. I only hope people will actually base their decisions on the debates...

In 2004 it was too obvious that Kerry knew what he was talking about and Dumbyass didn't. Why didn't it make a difference?

[OffWithTheirHeads]

14. The "Debates" don't mean shit.

When Bush acted like a 2 year old, it didn't mean shit. When bush was wired, it didn't mean shit. Do you really think these corporate media whores will ask questions or ask for answers to real questions? Yeah, right!

[GoddessOfGuinness]

15. We'll see...

They did a pretty good job last time around. But it's disgraceful that Dumbyass, so clearly wired and taking cues from someone, could get away with that crap.

[0rganism]

24. debates may look like they're about the issues, but victory is not about content

Apparently, you scrutinize candidates' statements and responses, looking for content. I think that puts you in a distinct minority, and (sadly) unimportant to the outcome. You are probably well aware of the candidates' records on various issues, you know which ones you support and disagree with, you know who you'll vote for and nothing they say will change it. However, debates are held relatively late in the campaign! If someone goes into October undecided about the candidates, its very unlikely they pay much attention to issues and they don't plan to start at the last minute, either.

What W did very well in 2000 and adequately in 2004 was come across as cool, unshaken, and clearly spouting his talking points. That's all he needed to do. Meanwhile, Gore and Kerry stumbled all over his falsehoods and fallacies, losing their composure in the face of his unshakable idiot confidence. W lost every point, but won the match on shallow impressions.

Kerry knew what he was talking about, sure, and Gore too, but unfortunately for us the audience didn't. When they talked, it was clear to you and me that Kerry and Gore knew the material, but they spoke over America's head. Bush may not have answered questions or addressed issues nearly as intelligently, but he spoke to people in the language they wanted to hear. THAT is what the debates are.

Debates are just like televised stump speeches that candidates give in chunks with their opponents present. Progressives' mistake has been believing We the People are interested in content, when what We the People really want is an agreeable image and an inspiring story that casts us as heroes. Biden could come out with a complete answer to every question and a clever rebuttal to every stupid thing Palin says, and still get stomped if he doesn't look cool and tell a good story while doing so.

We the People aren't looking for a policy wonk when we make the vote-for-president decision. We want the president to be a leader, and we want a leader to be decisive (even when wrong!), calm under pressure (immune to the truth), and able to communicate ideas (even sheer lunacy) in a way we understand. Candidates win votes when they present their positions with confidence, composure, and simplicity, regardless of how stupid they are.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

25. Good points...

Debates should be held early on in the process. This late in the game, they may help sway some fence-sitters, though.

[jjanpundt]

34. From what I've seen of Biden he talks very well to people

not over their heads.

[MamaDem]

12. Out of curiousity, I read the transcript of the 2004 debate

to see what questions Gwen Ifill asked - boy the world was different but all the same then! One question that really struck me was something along the lines of "what makes you qualified to be vice president." That should be very interesting. She basically broke it into three sections - the war, domestic issues, and the economy. I really hope she does ask Palin some questions beyond the economy and foreign affairs - what is her position on the rise in AIDS among AA's and particularly women in the US? What is her position on same-sex unions, what is her position on education and No Child Left Behind? How will the imploding health care system be reformed/socialized? She is such a fraud, I simply cannot imagine she will have a coherent thought and what I love about Gwen Ifill is she is a true professional and academic. I do not see any softballs coming on this one.

[Whoa_Nelly]

13. Welcome to DU, MamaDem!

Keep Posting! :hi:

[GoddessOfGuinness]

16. I wonder if she'll use the interviewer's first name ad nauseum...

Arrrgh! I can almost hear her answering the questions with the same BS lines she's used since the convention.

[Anexio]

22. Academic?

I agree that Ifill is a true journalism professional but please explain what you mean by her being a "true academic", if you would.

I read that she has a bachelor's degree from Simmonds, (not bad), but no schooling beyond that. Wouldn't a person that is described as an academic be someone that has completed a considerably more advanced education, spent some time teaching and well, spends a little bit more time in academia?

But I agree with your idea of querying both candidates on important but less discussed topics. It would be nice to hear some answers to questions they haven't been coached on for weeks and weeks.

[XemaSab]

29. I reread her debate from 2004 and several other debates

She asked really good questions, but the problem with the debate format is making sure the candidates answer the questions.

"Do you believe the election of Senator Kerry on November the 2nd would increase the chances of the U.S. being hit by another 9/11-type terrorist attack?"

"No, I don't believe it's going to happen. I believe I'm going to win, because the American people know I know how to lead. I've shown the American people I know how to lead. I have -- I understand everybody in this country doesn't agree with the decisions I've made. And I made some tough decisions. But people know where I stand. People out there listening know what I believe. And that's how best it is to keep the peace. This nation of ours has got a solemn duty to defeat this ideology of hate. And that's what they are. This is a group of killers who will not only kill here, but kill children in Russia, that'll attack unmercifully in Iraq, hoping to shake our will. We have a duty to defeat this enemy. We have a duty to protect our children and grandchildren. The best way to defeat them is to never waver, to be strong, to use every asset at our disposal, is to constantly stay on the offensive and, at the same time, spread liberty. And that's what people are seeing now is happening in Afghanistan. Ten million citizens have registered to vote. It's a phenomenal statistic. They're given a chance to be free, and they will show up at the polls. Forty-one percent of those 10 million are women. In Iraq, no doubt about it, it's tough. It's hard work. It's incredibly hard. You know why? Because an enemy realizes the stakes. The enemy understands a free Iraq will be a major defeat in their ideology of hatred. That's why they're fighting so vociferously. They showed up in Afghanistan when they were there, because they tried to beat us and they didn't. And they're showing up in Iraq for the same reason. They're trying to defeat us."

Note well that he didn't directly answer the question. And that was one of his more direct answers.

[electron_blue]

35. Good points & you know, I bet you have already done more prep for the debate than

Palin ever will. She clearly never revisited questions Charles Gibson asked previous candidates,e ven from this spring.

[Captiosus]

17. VP debates may not amount to much but

I think this is going to be the final hurrah for Princess Sarah.

I am willing to bet that the McCain campaign figured they could send her out on the stage with a book full of scripted answers and, with that in mind, they pushed for the more structured debate format. Too bad that no matter how scripted or wired Palin is, she'll fall completely flat.

Look how bad she failed to hit the softballs lobbed by Charlie Gibson, and she didn't have to worry about time limits! She couldn't even recite the script well enough to look competent. Now she's going to walk into a debate where every topic is on the table against a man who spent the first half of the year DEBATING during the Presidential primaries?

It's going to be brutal.

[Whoa_Nelly]

18. Am looking forward to it!

So enjoyed the way Edwards handled Cheney in 2004.

This debate is going to be even more fun to watch!

[BrklynLiberal]

19. I believe they are setting the bar so low for her that if she manages to stay awake for the entire

debate, she will have appeared to have scored a victory.

[grytpype]

20. Wow, she is so effing weak they have to change the rules to accomodate her!

What a goddamn joke.

How is she going to face al Qaeda when she can't face the press or a real debate?????

[Whoa_Nelly]

21. Why, Al Qaeda will have to change THEIR rules, of course!

It's a crazy fucked up parallel universe we live, ain't it... :eyes:

[Pete2069]

23. Will this prove anything

Did I hear correctly that this would be the only debate
between Biden and Palin , if so it will accomplish nothing.   

The time on these debates 90 seconds to respond to question
and 2 minutes periods for discussion between the candidates is
not enough time.

H... Biden starts his opening with more time then that , and
Palin BS just starts in 90 seconds.

Palin will raise the flag and kiss the bull and its over..

This will turn out to be a forest...

[Raschel]

31. So much for Palin's open gov't and the straight talk express

The fact that they want to limit the amount of time that bimbo has to answer questions should be a big topic for a campaign ad.

Why isn't Palin just itching to show her knowlege? Isn't this the chance for a candidate to tell the American people who they are.

What happened to that dimwit's statement from the other day, "you can quiz me on anything, anytime..."

Palin is a phony and a liar and an idiot.

[young_at_heart]

27. Sarah needs to be handled with kid gloves beause......

If your total resume is: local weather girl, 4 years on the city council and 6 years as the mayor of a town with less than 7,000 people, 20 months as the governor of a state with only 650,000 people, then you're qualified to become the country's second highest ranking executive.

If, while governor, you staunchly advocate abstinence only, with no other option in sex education in your state's school system while your unwed teen daughter ends up pregnant, you're very responsible.

You're husband is nicknamed "First Dude", with at least one DWI conviction and no college education, who didn't register to vote until age 25 and once was a member of a group that advocated the secession of Alaska from the USA your family is extremely admirable.

Grow up in Alaska eating mooseburgers, a quintessential American story.

Name your kids Willow , Trig, and Track, you're a maverick.

Attend 5 different small colleges before graduating, you're well grounded.

[patomime]

28. Fine...

we're ready. Joe is able to talk about anything, anywhere and knows how to handle people, reference all the various settings he has been placed in.

The "barbie doll" on the other hand, doesn't know how to handle questions, unless she's mentioning a name of a person or placing hands on them. So again, we win.

For me, there will be no need for me to watch it. Joe is totally capable of handling anyone in any situation, and making his points clear and concise.

Again, we win!!

:patriot:

[Puppyjive]

30. Sara's party school

Biden is going to smoke Palin in the debate. He's a lawyer and she has a communications/journalism degree from the University of Idaho. I went to the U of I about the same time she did. We lived in the same dormitory. U of I was known as a party college. The drinking age was 19. We had parties every weekend in the old cafeteria. Big plastic garbage cans full of sluice juice and all the beer you could drink!

[FVZA_Colonel]

32. The restrictions on answer time still suck, but this is heartening.