Vice Presidential Candidates' Debate

My Thoughts and Opinions as I Watch

Thursday, October 2, 2008

Luckily, one of the three local TV channels in my area aired the debate. I write this as I listen so it's a time line of sorts.

Both speakers appear calm, collected and pleasant as the debate begins.

Senator Biden looks at the moderator as we had been told they are requested to do. Governor Palin appears to be looking at the TV monitor (you get the feeling that she's reading) rather than Ms. Ifill, the moderator, and often at and to Senator Biden.

Governor Palin's phrases: betcha, Joe six pack, hockey moms, heck of a lot, darn right, main streeters like me, heck of a lot (does she remind you of Mr. Bush in this?), period, Ah Man, (she winked), check her opinions at the door, doggone, there you go, Joe, (winked again!), shout out, she praises some school (where her brother works?) and says they get extra credit for watching this debate, laughed and it sounds funny, back to the phrases: with ya, caved in, say it ain't so, Joe.

I'm southeast Texan, but she was a bit too hokey for me. I can see her poking some foreign official in the ribs with her elbow as she uses one of these phrases and winks with that little sneer of a smile.

Senator Biden calls her Governor, Mr. McCain, John and Ms. Ifill, Gwen.

Governor Palin calls Mr. Obama, Barack.

The Senator called the Governor down on saying that Mr. Obama voted to raise taxes to those with $43,000. Says that vote was instead a budgetary vote and that Mr. McCain voted the exact same way.

The Senator promises tax breaks for those making less than $100,000 or was it $250,000? How can any of the four promise anything that they can not accomplish single-handedly?

The Senator got a dig in on the bridge to nowhere.

The Senator bungled trying to say 'characteristics'.

The Governor says her area of expertise is energy.

Both can beat a dead horse to death (my hokey southeast Texas phrase).

The Senator says "her folks" when talking about one particular point.

Did Mr. McCain really warn or talk about corruption and reform needed in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac two years ago?

I wonder what's over her American flag lapel pin; two shiny dots.