John Mark Reynolds and I have been sparring over Palin, and we just did a couple of rounds together on the Hugh Hewitt Show. I asked JMR on the show, as I've done here, what Palin could possibly say that would lead him to conclude that she's unfit for the vice presidency. I don't think there's anything, really.
But the reverse is a good question to ask myself, and put to the room: Is there anything Palin could say tonight that would make people who have concluded that she's an "empty pantsuit" in this role change their mind?
For me, I can't think of anything specific, but I'd have to come away from this debate convinced that John Mark is right, and that Palin's problem is that her poor performance in these network interviews has obscured her real -- and relevant -- substance. There won't be one moment, or two moments, when I say, "Oh, boy, was I wrong about her." It will be the cumulative effect of her presentation.
So, I ask you: Can Palin turn this thing around tonight? If so, how? I'm going to be away from the blog for a while, and won't be blogging during the debate (I'm on the hook to write the DMN's editorial for tomorrow). I'll put up my post-debate thoughts after I file my editorial late. But in the meantime, let's discuss what she needs to do to erase the debits against her image, and to reverse the slowing momentum of the McCain-Palin campaign. I'm really not interested in hearing rants from the left or the right on this question. I'd like to ask readers who are negative on Palin to put on your strategist's hat, and weigh in with that in mind.
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So, Rod, has your opinion of Sarah Palin gone up? Is she back to her Convention Speech level in your opinion, or at least on her way there?
Are you kidding me? There is nothing that will change Rod's mind now. He's a star. He will concede that she didn't make any gaffes or blunders, but he'll say that she didn't answer the questions and she gave only talking points. He will still call her an empty suit. Rod is way too invested to admit he is wrong at this point.
Truth is, Palin did a phenomenal job. Imagine what she was up against. Five weeks ago she was a short-term governor of a sparsely-populated state. Tonight she got on stage to debate a 35-year United States senator--chairman of the foreign relations committee--in front of 50 million people and she went toe to toe for ninety minutes straight.
Wow! I just read Rod's reaction to the debate and I am astonished. He sounds almost remorseful. I'm pleasantly surprised, and I retract my snarky comment above. Of course, Rod still leaves himself ample wiggle room...
I am not "remorseful." I don't have anything to feel remorseful about. Her interviews were horrible. She was pretty good tonight. I'm willing to give her another chance, though I doubt she moved many undecideds. Still, she did way, way better than most people expected her to, and the McCain campaign has got to be really happy.
Don't personalize this, Kirk, and we can have an enjoyable discussion. It is permissible for a conservative to decide that based on the evidence he's seen so far, that a Republican politician is not up to the job. It is also permissible for a conservative to alter his opinion somewhat when presented with more evidence. That's normal.
Rod,
Sadly, I see that Kirk missed the point of your column; namely that an American puts freedom and the ability to express one's point of view before loyalty, much less blind loyalty, to political party, affiliation, and/or ideology.
More's the pity.
Welcome to The Kathy Parker Club for Conservatives, Neo and Theo, with the peace of mind and good sense to express their honest views and not mindlessly repeat the mantras and talking points of the party bosses. (Same goes for liberals, too.)
Be yourself. Do not be bound to your side at the expense of your very self and/or your peace of mind.
Personally, Governor Palin did what I expected her to do this evening. She smiled and winked. She referred to Main Street often. She dodged (with both surprising deftness and blatant acknowledgment) those questions she did not wish to answer. She used a small handful of Reagan talking points ("There you go again" more than any other). She mocked the mainstream media. She offered a few of the catchwords and terms that the religious right demands in every speech, press conference, and public appearance.
Governor Palin did not make a fool of herself. That would have shocked me - almost as much as if she had stumbled and fallen flat on her face when first walking to the podium.
Governor Palin also did, well, nothing to make me believe that she actually understands tax policy, military deployment, negotiation tactics and purpose, the current financial situation, or much beyond reciting the talking points established by her campaign handlers.
Did she win the debate? No - but she didn't lose it, either. And America loves her story and perky attitude.
But if a vice presidential candidate cannot field questions from a television news anchor on the most basic of historical facts and military policies or simply is not allowed to take part in a basic press conference, how can we expect that candidate to succeed to the maximum and to the best interests of this nation during his/her dealings with other nations, be they friend or foe, with the lobbyist industry, and with both sides on the Hill?
funniest Palin moment: when she referred to Joe as Senator Obiden.
dullest Palin moment: when she droned on about her tolerance for all the diversity in her family
weirdest Palin moments: when she winked at me, when she professed her ardent love for Israel, when she suggested that heaven is a teacher's reward
scariest Palin moment: when she seemed to relish Cheney's legacy of expanded VP legislative powers
best Palin moment: when she acknowledged her agreement with Joe and her disagreement with McCain
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