WASHINGTON - Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin sounds a bit wary about her upcoming debate with her really, really, really experienced Democratic rival.
“Senator (Joe) Biden has a tremendous amount of experience,” she told Fox News. “I think he was first elected when I was like in the second grade.”
If her running mate John McCain, 72, wasn’t hoping to be the oldest person to begin a first term as president, one might think Palin was suggesting Biden, 65, was old.
“He’s been in there a long, long, long time,” Palin said. “So he’s got the experience. He probably has the sound bites. He has the rhetoric. He knows what’s expected of him. He is a great debater, also.”
“So yes, it’s going to be quite a task in front of me,” she said.
Palin also said she didn’t mean to insult Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama in her nominating speech when she belittled his experience as a community organizer.
“I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a community organizer, except that you have actual responsibilities,” she told the Republican convention.
“I certainly didn’t mean to hurt his feelings,” Palin told Fox News. “Didn’t mean to offend any community organizers either.”
She said she did it because Obama had taken a shot at small town mayors.
The Alaska governor, little-known before being chosen as McCain’s running mate, said she respected former Democratic presidential contender Hillary Clinton but disagreed with her on the issues.
Clinton has been campaigning on behalf of Obama since losing the Democratic nomination, but she has avoided direct confrontation with Palin.
Clinton planned to speak at a demonstration against the president of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, near the United Nations which convenes its annual General Assembly next week but she canceled the appearance on Wednesday after learning Palin would also address the crowd.
A Clinton adviser said the protest had not been billed as a partisan political event.
Organizers of the demonstration subsequently announced Thursday they had decided not to let any American political personalities appear.
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I am very Republican, but I have to declare a Repub loss. Palin just couldn’t handle Mr. Politician. I posted a blog declaring Biden the winner, but stating why the Repubs will still win!
http://averagepolitics.wordpress.com/200 8/10/02/biden-vs-palin-who-is-the-victor /
- Posted by Nate StockardI saw McCain on CNN today and he was totally confident and relaxed. That is because he is going to cheat during the debate. Remember, McCain finished last in his military college and chose a woman who has no knowledge of history, current affairs, the world. What would suddenly put him at ease, now that we’ve seen Palin has no clue how to coherently respond to the simplest interview question?
He is going to cheat. His team will rig Palin with electronic devices so that they can advise her during the debate, in the Dr. Phil show mode. So Palin will suddenly know more about foreign affairs than the most seasoned diplomats and she will be an expert on every topic, like an erudite professor.
Tune in to see this. It should be a lot of fun. The contrast from Palin totally lost and confused in her rare recent interviews to this new Palin will be utterly miraculous –and I’m sure that Palin will call it an ACT OF GOD.
- Posted by Andrea JonesWHERE DO YOU PEOPLE GET YOUR INFORMATION. HOW WOULD YOU KNOW THAT OBAMA HAS PAID BLOGGERS? FROM WHERE CAN YOU CONFIRM THAT INFORMATION.
DOES MCCAIN? HE DOESN’T NEED THEM BECAUSE THE ACTIONS OF PALIN AND MCCAIN SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES. DISHONEST AND NASTY. MY LIFE IS AT STAKE AND I CAN’T BEAR THE THOUGHT OF MCCAIN RUNNING THIS COUNTRY. HE CAN’T EVEN TAKE CARE OF HIS FAMILY. (EMOTIONALLY ,JUST FINANCIALLY). I AM NOT A WOMAN LIKE PALIN. THE THINGS SHE HAS DONE IN HER OWN TERMS AS MAYOR AND GOVERNOR ARE DISPECABLE. I HAVE RESEARCHED EVERY PIECE OF INFORMATION I COULD FIND ON HER AND IT AMAZES ME THAT SHE CAN EVEN SHOW HER FACE IN PUBLIC. I AM REPUBLICAN, WHITE, FEMALE WITH A GOOD JOB.
- Posted by CONSTANCE BESSETTEAmerica or Amerika? Capitalism or Socialism?
Why would anyone support MORE government involvement in their lives (unless they don’t WANT to take any responsibility for themselves)???
Hasn’t government proven time and time again that it is NOT the great, loving protector it professes to be?
I pick the candidate with a proven record of not only bucking his own party - but reaching across the aisle and working WITH the other team when possible. Haven’t seen ANY of that from the opposition. Not once, not ever.
McCain/Palin all the way!!!!
- Posted by KityIf both Biden and Palin sent their resumes to any businessowner or Human Resource Department based on their education alone, Palin would have a difficult time getting a job with a lot of responsibility.
Now, let’s take a low paying job like a greeter in a store. “What specific experience do you have meeting the public, Nancy.” If my answer were “Since I’m not from around here, you can try to stump me all you want. Go ahead.” I would not even be considered. If my Dad stepped in to tell the recruiter that he believes I really am qualified, my job application would be tossed into the garbage as soon as I walked out the door.
Now her staff, along with her husband, are breaking the law by disobeying subpoenas. We would be in jail if any of us violated a court order.
Yesterday the McCain people insisted on changing the format of the upcoming debate so she won’t get “tripped up” (their words, not mine) by Senator Biden. I can’t imagine Hillary Clinton asking for special treatment, yet Sarah Palin called her a “whiner” during the primaries.
I just don’t get it. I posted on another board that the Palin’s total higher education adds up to 4 years (not counting the time changing schools or dropping out) Joe and Jill Biden have about 17 years between them. He has a doctorate of law. (4 yrs undergraduate and 3 or 4 years law) and she has 2 masters (one in Education, one in English) and a doctorate. That’s at least 4 yrs undergraduate and about 6 years graduate work.
Why anyone would want the Palins to represent our country is beyond my comprehension. We don’t need “dudes” we need class. We need to get back the global respect we lost the past 8 years or we will just keep getting weaker and weaker. If Palin can’t handle public questioning, media scrutiny or a debate with Biden, how will she be able to handle Putin or other world leaders? Now that the rules have been changed, she will have less to memorize, and any tough questions by Biden will be called attacks on her character.
I want to add, that although it’s not one of the issues, I feel very sorry for the little baby who is being dragged all over the place, often in noisy settings with a lot of commotion. I can’t understand why people with conservative family values aren’t disturbed by this.
- Posted by NancyinFLI’ve never seen the democrats so scared. This blog is proof positive that they are really scrambling. I’ve changed my affiliation to Ron Paul, but I can’t believe how harsh the democrats are attacking Palin on her intelligence. She’s HONORABLE simply by being a governor, yet you act as if she’s a low life uneducated nothing. You are very wrong about what she is. I think she is more than capable of being VP or even P. Watch out, you worst nightmare might just become a reality.
- Posted by craigarEveryone has the facts here right? And those that say McCain will deliver right? Well answer me this, how can McCain deliver when President Bush said you should vote McCain because he promised to not change any policies that Bush made, hmmmm suonds like the very same as the last 8 missuable years we always had,,,,no i see no real changes at all, but improvements that may cost us more money from a woman that used earmarks that added millions of dollars.common people be sensable and use your heads,,wake up!
- Posted by Darrell BancoShe’s just trying to lower expectations. Don’t expect her to answer any questions with anything that isn’t a line from her vetted stump speeches. She’s not the brightest bulb and she’ll use the same tactic Bush used. Stick to prepared phrases and if there’s a question you don’t want to answer, ramble a bit and then give a canned response for a point you wanted to plug that has nothing to do with the question that was asked.
- Posted by mikeBiden will answer the questions. She won’t and I won’t be suprised if the vast majority of dumb voters end up somehow thinking she wins the debate just by showing up.
Come on ladies! Does she really portray the image of what it takes for a woman to succeed in politics? Palin, shes a rabid dog! Say what you like about Hillary, at least she was professional and knowledgeable. If voting on gender is important to you, look hard at the image you are supporting and then think twice.
- Posted by ChrisWhy are so many people anti obama because he has african american roots? Why are people scared of different nationalities? Why do you call the media sexist when they critique Palin’s record? Why do people keep saying Obama is going to get murdered? Obama will win and you’ll all have to suck it up. Grow up this is a new world not your Great gandfathers or McCains
- Posted by ChrisThis is an open letter to the other 50%.
Terrorists fly planes into the Trade Center towers. Thousands of people are murdered. Instead of going after Osama bin Laden, Bush tells us to go shopping, destroys our constitution, and attacks Iraq. You want more of this?
We invade Iraq, a small country that had nothing to do with 9-11 or with weapons of mass destruction. We murder hundreds and thousands of Iraqis and thousands of American kids. This illegal immoral unnecessary war has cost us a trillion dollars. McCain-Palin tell us we will fight until we are victorious. Victorious for what? Democracy? Can you be that naïve? Try Iraqi oil, which–oh dear–is now going to the Chinese. Our sons and daughters are dying for China and even General Petraeus says there is no victory in Iraq. You want more of this?
The oceans are too warm from our glutton-caused pollution. One hurricane after another slam into Cuba, Haiti, the Caribbean, Texas, Alabama, Louisiana. All that is left of Haiti is mud and hungry desperate people. Sarah Palin doesn’t believe global warming is real. Thanks but no thanks to science and reality. McCain believes off shore drilling is the silver bullet that will solve everything. You want more of this?
Thousands of Americans have lost their jobs, their homes, their health insurance, and any chance of sending their kids to college. Factories are moving away. Banks are crumbling, and we the people get to use our taxes to prop them up. And McCain-Palin want to cut corporate taxes to boost the economy. Can they be more cynical? You want more of this?
Bush lied and lied and lied. McCain and Palin lie and lie and lie. You want more of this?
Palin: She is the pork barrel queen. She has stolen hundreds of millions of our tax dollars to stuff Alaskan coffers. She believes in Armageddon and that Alaska is where Jesus will land after the rest of the world is destroyed. She murders wolves from planes, and tells her constituents to do the same. Bring her a wolf paw as proof, and she will pay them for it! Pay them with our tax dollars. She doesn’t know what the Bush Doctrine is. She thinks Iraq is responsible for 9-11. She believes abortion should be illegal even in the case of incest and rape. She believes in allowing Georgia and the Ukraine into NATO and if that means we have to go to war with Russia, bring it on. But, hey. She’s a hockey mom and she’s cute. She’s just like Bush. She’s just like us. Ignorant, prejudiced, misinformed, and greedy.
And you want more of this. What is wrong with you?
- Posted by Lisa MooreHere would be a good question to ask Palin at the debate:
- Posted by Dan“Do you agree with current vice president Cheney that the vice president is not part of the executive branch of government?”
Has anyone noticed that the supporters of Palin seem like Americans that wouldnt vote for Obama even if theyre lives depended on it? She is stating that Obama is too busy fussing rather than run the country, then she spends a whole hour bashing HIM! People arent attending her pep rallies to support America. They go to see a show. I swear her whining rhetoric is beginning to hurt the McCain campaign! At the end of her speeches, she has told us NOTHING! What are we thinking? McCain is flip flopping all over the place, Palin is a cheerleader who only knows one routine, and the audiences at the rallies for McCain-Palin are all a part of the show they put on! Sighing and cheering on cue like a game show audience. America is at a serious time right now, we dont need any more clown shows from Palin- McCain!!! I have NEVER seen anyone in our history tell this many lies BEFORE getting in office. Has America GROWN any? Dont we see problems with all these issues the Republicans have? Well why vote them back in office? Im sure the Republicans dont care if McCain is right or not, they are just sticking with theyre people. And who are these people? And where do they live? How do they survive in this Bush-McCain economy? What will they say when even this last bailout plan doesnt work? You are on your own with this one. You cannot lie your way out of these next 3 weeks! I think.
- Posted by roland thickI believe mrs. Palin has something that Obamma and Biden have never had John Mccain has this also its called ….Common Sense….
- Posted by waylonI have read through this blog with great interest, and am very happy to have read the posting from those who are living for the year 2009, under a NEW and changed leadership team! I recently retired from a 23.5 year career as an International Flight Attendant for a major USA airline. I have had layovers in Asia,South America,The Caribean Islands,India,Russia, and predominately Amsterdam in addition to most of the Eastern and Western European countries. I have been exposed to many types of customers, good ones and bad, but 9/11 dramaticly changed my job duties and in addition, reduced my pay by 63%! I saw what was going to happen, so took advantage of my Amsterdam layovers to begin making my available to invest cash over there in Euro dollars. That is the only thing that keeps me alive in the current inflation/depression period of the US dollar. I do agree that the US has really left a lot of foreign nations in total shock that we are now among the 3rd world nations in terms of Foreign Currency exchange value. i.e. pre 9/11 $1.00 bought E1.00 so all was well. Now, it is almost $3.00 to get one E1.00. That is a total embarassment for our Republican Administration to have to deal with.
I am proud of the United States of America, and hope to be able to regain a better value for my money that I spend over here. I would hope that Pallin will allow investigators to do the job which they should be able to do, without her interference if she is as “innocent” as she claims, there should not be any issue for her. I would rather have that information before I make my final selection on November 4, 2008. For now, I close by saying Obamma/Bidan for me!
- Posted by PerrySarah Palin Will Be Dropped From McCain Ticket.
The guns on the conviction of the sinner, Senator Barack Obama, are about to be silenced. Sarah Palin has done her job of connecting with the everyday people who will make the difference in the election. She has managed to make the Republicans, the party of, by and for the ruling class, the hope of the people in the margin, the smarter evangelicals who might have voted for Obama, the moms who struggle so hard to raise their kids in this mom unfriendly environment, the moose hunters and those Hillary women who can’t distinguish their bras from their pocketbooks.
Palin has also managed to distract us all from the consequences of the hundred billion dollar bank bailout necessitated by the blind greed of Republican mortgage scammers, a grand heist on all who work for a living whose paychecks will be cut in half by the stupendous inflation this will bring about. Stocks, mostly owned by the rich, go up; and the real income of the workers and middle class goes down. This effective transfer of wealth from worker to ruling class is a continuation of the broader capitalist Republican manipulations that have caused worker incomes to drop by 2% in the last decade while those in the top tier went up by 200%.
McCain’s conservative handlers have planned from the beginning to have Sarah leave the scene, once her job was finished, along with the baggage of her Trooper-gate conniving and her obvious lack of qualifications for the presidency. We suspect her coming exit to have been intelligently designed from the start in its reeking of our situation down here in Texas where my fundamentalist mother still tries to control me, a 67 year old woman, from the grave by having left me an inheritance totally controlled by my castrated conservative brother, a lawyer who made it clear immediately after my mother’s death that there’s no way I would ever see a penny of the money left me unless I left my evolutionist professor husband of 35 years who rescued me from this moron, child abusing, family I had the misfortune to be born into. And if I know these scheming conservative game players correctly, Palin’s exit will be blamed on something Michelle Obama said about Christmas or some equally absurd and vicious zinger. …matrix-evolutions
Mrs. Ruth and Dr. Peter V. Calabria Lubbbock,TX
- Posted by Ruth CalabriaDon’t tell me that Palin has better judgment. She doesn’t even know the issues in depth. How could she judge? Her education background is not strong enough to convince me that she is capable to catch up on the job. It’s very dangerous for US to have a VP so simple minded to deal with global issues.
- Posted by lynnThe elections are the greatest gift to the US and the democracies of the world. Every candidate is thoroughly examined by the media and the public during this process. Debate between both the VP candidates, would allow us to decide who is the most qualified candidate to lead our nation in case something happens to the President. This would be a very crucial debate in this election, especially for the Republican party.
- Posted by Sam ChahalThe primary elections are the greatest gift to the US and the democracies of the world. Every candidate is thoroughly examined by the media and the public during this process. Debate between both VP candidates, would allow us who is more qualified to lead our nation in case if something happens to the President . This will be a crucial debate it may very well decide the demise of the Republican party.
- Posted by Sam ChahalTo continue:
- Posted by Cliff RichardsonWe should all be grateful that we have such a marvelous
country in which to live. In spite of our shortcomings, we are STILL the one country that comes to the rescue every single time. Having been there and done that twice
during two wars, I know from first hand experience, that most people in this world admire us and are grateful for what we do. I do regret, however, that we let SADDAM HUESSIN off the hook by killing him…we should have done to him what we did to Hitler’s sidekick, Rudolh Hess,
and put him in solitary confinement for the rest of his life to think about the tens of thousands that he butchered. Whomever is chosen by the political process to be our next president, we should stand behind him and if he doesn’t perform and turns out to be the “false profit”.. put him away as well.
Cliff Richardson