McCain's camp worries Palin may struggle without tight debate rules

[WI_DEM]

It's the U.S. election debate that most interested observers have been eagerly waiting for - Democratic vice-presidential nominee Joe Biden against Republican VP choice Sarah Palin - but don't expect them to get into many verbal exchanges.

According to a report in the New York Times Saturday, the campaign of Senator John McCain has fought for tight rules on how the VP debate will run, limiting the chances of anything other than short answers, and ensuring the debaters will not speak directly to one another for anything more than short periods.

This in contrast to the Presidential debates, in which Senators Barack Obama and McCain will be allowed to address each other, argue, and present rebuttals for five minutes per question, after a two-minute answer period.

The reasoning behind the tighter VP rules? According to The Times, McCain advisers were concerned that letting Palin, a relative rookie when it comes to debating national and international policy, go toe-to-toe with Biden, would leave her at a disadvantage.

The Obama campaign was reportedly not involved in the discussion, with advisors to Biden claiming they were comfortable with whatever rules were put in place. The negotiations were between the Commission on Presidential Debates, a non-partisan organization, and McCain advisors.

http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=7045e68a-6627-45cc-bad1-72a017869fc4

[C_U_L8R]

1. Rules schmules she can't hide behind em once she's onstage

I can't wait for Joe to psyche her out... oh it's gonna be AWESOME !!!!

[Raschel]

15. She's too stupid to get psyched out

She thinks she's in the same league. Plus she loves to use the taunting little zingers like, "now I don't know what a community activist does..." then she'll get that runaway bride look in her eyes and a self satisfied smile that doesn't match her eyes. Truly a whacko.

[C_U_L8R]

21. Oh good lord.. you are right !!!

It's the runaway bride look !!!!!!!!!!

[Raschel]

22. Thank you !

For seeing it! I thought I was the only one!

She has that same bizarre inappropriatly - excited about nothing look about her. I noticed the same look on that poor Caylee Anthony's mom.

It's as if they are way too amped. Some wiring is off somewhere.

[BattyDem]

2. This line's a classic!

"McCain advisers were concerned that letting Palin, a relative rookie when it comes to debating national and international policy, go toe-to-toe with Biden, would leave her at a disadvantage."


Gee ... ya think? :eyes: :rofl:

[Arkansas Granny]

24. Wait just a minute, now. Where's all that experience that they've been touting?

[rocktivity]

3. Well, if she's too young and experienced

...maybe she should just GET OFF THE FIELD!!!

:headbang:
rocknation

[avaistheone1]

4. No kidding? The McCain staff should be worried stiff.

Caribou Bimbo versus Joe. Joe is going to slice and dice her. Moosolini burgers anyone?

:evilgrin:

[Drunken Irishman]

5. They're just trying to lower expectations.

[zulchzulu]

6. I hope Biden throws a few jabs at the rules...

[1corona4u]

7. Fuck her. Who gives a shit what she wants.

I hope she does struggle.

[RedLetterRev]

18. If she can't take the heat

mebbe she should go back to the kitchen where all RWer wimminz are supposed to stay.

A good, strong, liberal woman could hold her own up there, just fine. But then again, good, strong liberal women have brains (part of what makes them liberal and part of why we love them so!).

What's wrong with the caribou bimbo? (As if I had to ask.) Why does she get special rules? Dundat howm skulin werk gud? Walking 5 steps behind your menfolk is suddenly coming back to bite your narrow little ass, now, idnit, Sarah.

As we say in the south, pore li'l thang. Y'know she ain't right, bless her heart. We have to make allowances because... (whispering) she's special.

[leftynyc]

25. Can you imagine even for one minute

that Hillary or any other Dem woman would get away with this crap. Easing the rules so she doesn't look like the incompetent she is. The right wing would be frothing at the mouth saying the same things you are (that if she can't stand the heat of a debate, how is she going to stare down terrorism). And I love how Southerners can make even the worst insult sound not so bad (bless their hearts).

[Iterate]

8. Lincoln-Douglas was seven cities,

with a one hour/hour and a half/half hour format. Even she couldn't keep up the platitudes and codespeak for an hour and a half, without notes or teleprompter, of course.

Though come to think of it, if i had to listen to her for two hours...oh, poor Joe.

[BentleyJD]

9. well...

that's what happens when you can't walk and chew gum at the same time.
tony and guidedog lido

[old guy]

10. What the ....?

If she can't go on without being protected, she has no business on the ticket. Does the McCain campaign really believe this will work with anyone but the 20%ers? If they are going to convince any independents, this ain't gonna do it.

[damntexdem]

11. "A relative rookie when it comes to debating ?" No, an incompetent ideological hack.

The only way they can succeed is by rules so tight that there can be no debate.

[No Elephants]

12. No participation by Obama OR Biden? Only the Commission and McCain? Huh?

[Disturbed]

14. Gov. Palin had to debate for her run as Mayor & Gov.

The problem isn't that she cannot debate. It is that she is not qualified to be Pes. of the USA. A VP needs to be qualified to step in as Pres. in case the Pres. is incapacitated or dies.

[Raschel]

13. She's not a rookie

just in debating national and international policy - she knows nothing ABOUT national or international policy.

[BlueIdaho]

16. Bullshit - expectation lowering tactic. nm.

[Fleshdancer]

17. fucking christ

Someone asks a question and she answers it. How bloody hard can this be? She can be a governor, hunt moose, pop out a small village and be chosen for VP but she can't survive a debate?

I understand that the McCain campaign wants to lower expectations, but if they go any lower she's gonna have to show up to this thing wearing a helmet.

[yellowcanine]

19. I am not so sure McCain is going to do so well with the loose format either.

He tends to ramble and launch off on corny tangents - like the video where he was exclaiming over the fish gathering around oil platforms. Obama, on the other hand, knows how to say his piece and then shut up. And he has a much better sense of timing when delivering a prepared line or joke.

[renate]

20. darn it... why isn't Biden pushing for being able to argue with each other?

Of course Joe's comfortable with whatever's put in place... but why let Sarah be any more comfortable than absolutely necessary? If they could actually have a debate instead of just a Q&A, it would be death by a thousand cuts in front of a hundred million people.

I hope there's a strategic reason for Joe to be staying out of it, like maybe not wanting to drum up sympathy. :( I was looking forward to seeing some Alaskan flopsweat.

[book_worm]

23. Poor Sarah, having to bone up for her debate.