Watched the debate last night

[etumukutenyak]

Well, mostly read online and kinda half-listened, half-watched half-heartedly. Anyway, this wasn't going to be a knockout of any kind. I agree with ozarque; Palin came prepared with speechlets that she recited upon request. Anytime she had a question that she didn't have a speechlet for, she changed the subject and gave her speechlet. With her training as a television person, she put that "gosh-darn-it" appearance to work and played it up to the cameras. She demonstrated that with some coaching and prep, plus stringent debate controls, she can present herself prettily.

That might work for the Alaskan Governor's seat, but it isn't good enough for the VP of the USA, particularly one who could well become the P of the USA.

Joe Biden did not come on too strong, or act all superior, so he kept things even. All in all, a boring debate, although I really wish both Obama and Biden had enough courage to support gay marriage. Still, that's more of a state's rights issue, but DOMA is a federal statute and should be repealed.

I can hardly wait to see Tina Fey's take on this. SNL has been taking full advantage of this election season.

Comments

[brashley46.livejournal.com]

We amused ourselves up here f!ipping back and forth between the US VP debate and our own party leaders' debate. Five-way discourse from inte!!igent and intelligible people was much more to the point than two-way obfuscations! (Yes, even Harper is a bright and shiny intellect next to Gov. Palin.)

[etumukutenyak.livejournal.com]

I've got some monkeys who demonstrate more intelligence.

[fledgist.livejournal.com]

Biden did a decent job of presenting the Obama/Biden side. Palin's approach seems to be to flirt with every man in America (why else keep winking at the camera and smile constantly?).

[etumukutenyak.livejournal.com]

She's a good-looking woman, no question about that. However, I'd take the ugliest man, woman, or alien entity if they could show some intelligence, thoughtfulness, and leadership that this country needs. (Of course, an alien entity would have to prove that he/she/it was born in the USA, or whatever passes for being born in such species.)

She'd be a good television personality, along the lines of the GMA and other morning show personalities. Maybe even a talk show host, if she focused on topics that she was interested in (700 Club?). As a serious representative of this country and a potential leader? NEVER.

[fledgist.livejournal.com]

I've no doubt she's a good-looking woman. About 2/3 of the way through the debate, though, I found myself getting seriously annoyed by the flirtatiousness. And I am a straight male. I wanted to hear an intelligent debate -- not be told that climate change did not cause human action., and that Alaska was in the heartland (next to Nebraska, perhaps).

[etumukutenyak.livejournal.com]

I stopped listening to her, because she was all fluff and no substance. I wasn't watching her, because she's all fluff and no substance..

Gotta watch out for those climates! They'll change ya before ya know it! And didn't you realize they moved Alaska? They got tired of having it floating off California, and towed it in past Texas. Ya, sure, ya bet!

[fledgist.livejournal.com]

Do you want to hear that voice for the next four years? Complete with vacuousness?

[etumukutenyak.livejournal.com]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooooooooooOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooooOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooooo!

Eleventy-one.

[fledgist.livejournal.com]

The prosecution rests.

[serge-lj.livejournal.com]

I like keeping my blood pressure low so I stayed away from the debate. Besides, I had to help my wife with her plot. No, not a cemetary one, or one aimed at world domination, but her next novel. We leave world domination to the Republican Party, which has shown such aptitude so far. When we were done, Sue of course HAD to browse thru a bunch of blogs to see how things had gone. My understanding is that the moderator let Palin get away with quite a bit of crap. Is that true?

[etumukutenyak.livejournal.com]

"Get away with"? I dunno. She certainly didn't call attention to the fact that Palin had yet again not answered the question -- but of course, the viewers could tell this. It was not necessary to point it out.

Biden was solid and unthreatening. Palin was perky and resolute, but only when it came to reciting her memorized points. Take a look at the "Sarah Palin Debate Flow Chart", and you'll understand exactly what she did.

[serge-lj.livejournal.com]

Palin was perky and resolute

Good thing you didn't call her spunky otherwise I'd have had to channel Lou Grant.

[etumukutenyak.livejournal.com]

At least Mary Tyler Moore didn't mindlessly recite her party's platform speechlets like an automaton.

[serge-lj.livejournal.com]

Indeed. By the way, watching reruns of that show, and even those battle-of-the-sexes films with Doris Day and Rock Hudson, is fascinating in a weird way. It reminds us that things do get better, in spite of conservatives and in spite of the equivalent of Ted Baxter being in the White House.

[etumukutenyak.livejournal.com]

Aaaaaah! I'd never thought of Shrub as Ted Baxter, but it makes too much sense! Now I need brain bleach, stat!

[mjlayman.livejournal.com]

I was reading & posting online while I watched the debate. Palin came off to me as an SNL-version of a yokel. I guess I'm not spending enough time in the heartland; I'm an eeeeelite!

[etumukutenyak.livejournal.com]

That's why Tina Fey is doing her so well; she already is an SNL parody of a politician. They don't need to rewrite any lines for the character.

[mjlayman.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I don't watch SNL, but I do see the clips on news programs.

I occasionally use Heck, but I don't think I've ever said "Golly." At least not non-sarcastically.