Comments on: VP Debate: my live blogged summary http://www.john-wright.net/2008/10/02/vp-debate-summary/ Free speech on terrestrial radio Wed, 10 Mar 2010 20:41:48 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Dave http://www.john-wright.net/2008/10/02/vp-debate-summary/comment-page-1/#comment-2662 Dave Fri, 03 Oct 2008 14:29:56 +0000 http://www.john-wright.net/?p=1149#comment-2662 John, I think this debate was a good one for Palin. It wasn't so much a debate between Palin and Biden in the end but between Palin and her own image as the NY Times says today http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/03/us/politics/03watch.html I think most candidates are contrived in politics but I actually disagree with King Rupert above because I think Palin's performance was actually one of the things that was NOT contrived as much! She doesn't have to think about being folksy, she just is (you have to think harder about being polished when you're an average everyday person living anywhere in the world) and I think it will gain her big points with people. John, I think this debate was a good one for Palin. It wasn’t so much a debate between Palin and Biden in the end but between Palin and her own image as the NY Times says today http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/03/us/politics/03watch.html I think most candidates are contrived in politics but I actually disagree with King Rupert above because I think Palin’s performance was actually one of the things that was NOT contrived as much! She doesn’t have to think about being folksy, she just is (you have to think harder about being polished when you’re an average everyday person living anywhere in the world) and I think it will gain her big points with people.

]]> By: KingRupertPupkin http://www.john-wright.net/2008/10/02/vp-debate-summary/comment-page-1/#comment-2661 KingRupertPupkin Fri, 03 Oct 2008 14:14:02 +0000 http://www.john-wright.net/?p=1149#comment-2661 Well John, enjoyed reading your summary. Couldn't watch it live but have just finished watching a replay. I wasn't impressed by Sarah Palin in the slightest, although she clearly was much more coherent than the Couric interview (it was a big difference really). Biden has never done it for me, but I thought he answered better last night. I don't know about you but the whole folksy thing was a real turn off for me. I was cringing at times (especially the 'say it isn't so Joe' line). I am all for people being real but for me it came across as so clearly contrived. The 'boy do I now realise that I am a Washington outsider' bit was grating to my ears, I don't know why she did that really. Then the 'we are are mavericks' thing. Is it just me or has that become so cliche? Its like saying 'I am a political heavyweight'. I also found the constant smiling quite surreal. At one stage towards the end of the debate I turned the sound down to watch both candidates for non verbals. It felt almost like I was watching a fictional character with regards to Palin. McCain/Palin were clearly going all out on style in this debate, but I think they misjudged. I am not an Obama fan, by any stretch of the imagination, and all the candidates are adept at massaging their images. But I think Palin's style tonight will appeal mainly to those who are already in the GOP bag. PS- what did you make of the 'moment of emotion', the Hilary moment, from Biden. I'm still not sure what to make of it. I don't want to appear harsh here, and obviously what happened to his family was a tragedy, but it seemed contrived. That was my first impression. Well John, enjoyed reading your summary. Couldn’t watch it live but have just finished watching a replay. I wasn’t impressed by Sarah Palin in the slightest, although she clearly was much more coherent than the Couric interview (it was a big difference really). Biden has never done it for me, but I thought he answered better last night. I don’t know about you but the whole folksy thing was a real turn off for me. I was cringing at times (especially the ’say it isn’t so Joe’ line). I am all for people being real but for me it came across as so clearly contrived. The ‘boy do I now realise that I am a Washington outsider’ bit was grating to my ears, I don’t know why she did that really. Then the ‘we are are mavericks’ thing. Is it just me or has that become so cliche? Its like saying ‘I am a political heavyweight’. I also found the constant smiling quite surreal. At one stage towards the end of the debate I turned the sound down to watch both candidates for non verbals. It felt almost like I was watching a fictional character with regards to Palin.
McCain/Palin were clearly going all out on style in this debate, but I think they misjudged. I am not an Obama fan, by any stretch of the imagination, and all the candidates are adept at massaging their images. But I think Palin’s style tonight will appeal mainly to those who are already in the GOP bag.

PS- what did you make of the ‘moment of emotion’, the Hilary moment, from Biden. I’m still not sure what to make of it. I don’t want to appear harsh here, and obviously what happened to his family was a tragedy, but it seemed contrived. That was my first impression.

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