VP Debate

**flipper** · 10-01-2008, 08:56 AM

Quote:

My dictionary defines “moderator” as “the nonpartisan presiding officer of a town meeting.” On Thursday, PBS anchor Gwen Ifill will serve as moderator for the first and only vice presidential debate. The stakes are high. The Commission on Presidential Debates, with the assent of the two campaigns, decided not to impose any guidelines on her duties or questions.

Quote:

Despite the protestations of her colleagues that she will be fair, Ifill has appeared on numerous radio and TV talk shows over the past several months to cash in on her access to the Obama campaign. She recently penned a fawning cover story on the Obamas for Essence magazine that earned much buzz. The title? “The Obamas: Portrait of an American Family.” A sample of Ifill’s hard-hitting investigative journalism, illustrated with Kennedy-esque photos of the Obamas and children posing at home on the back porch and by the piano:

http://article.nationalreview.com/?q...YyNWRhNTQyM2M=

This should be an interesting debate, Palin with her crazy ideas and Biden with his giraffe's.

I would love to hear this question asked to Biden again:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMYty1PgHEg
Thats the only clip I could find without the stupid republican ads in it.

bry623 · 10-01-2008, 11:32 AM

What's this?

Step down Gwen!!!

yustr · 10-01-2008, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bry623

Step down Gwen!!!

Agree.

Even if she manages to be perfectly impartial, this book will be fodder for McCain and the Rep's to say she wasn't. Why open that door?

I think she should be replaced by Carrot Top; I have a feeling that its going to be hilarious.

**flipper** · 10-01-2008, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yustr

Agree.

Even if she manages to be perfectly impartial, this book will be fodder for McCain and the Rep's to say she wasn't. Why open that door?

I think she should be replaced by Carrot Top; I have a feeling that its going to be hilarious.

Actually I would love to see someone who is like Brodie Bruce from Mallrats when the game show was going on.

Quote:

Where do you come up with this stuff? That's the cheesiest response to an honest question I have ever heard.

bry623 · 10-01-2008, 02:20 PM

I was thinking Brit Hume.

**40sondacurb** · 10-01-2008, 03:22 PM

I'm worried she will go soft, so as to not look biased; I don't think you need to be biased with Palin to make her look bad. She shouldn't have took the gig.

mommabear · 10-02-2008, 04:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bry623

What's this?

Step down Gwen!!!

Quote:

Fox News commentator Greta Van Susteren reported the McCain campaign didn't know about the book.

However, there's no mention of her upcoming book. Nor does the website for the Commission on Presidential Debates mention her book.

I'm rushed this morning so this was the first video I found, explaining the time-line of the Ifill "controversy". After it ran, they didn't include the direct YouTube link. As Olbermann states at the end, there is absolutely no reason for the McCain camp to be suddenly surprised about this.

http://vodpod.com/watch/1050738-keit...und-gwen-ifill

**sobeit** · 10-02-2008, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 40sondacurb

I'm worried she will go soft, so as to not look biased; I don't think you need to be biased with Palin to make her look bad. She shouldn't have took the gig.

I think they are planning to use the biasness as an excuse if Palin bombs so they are preparing the public and media for it in advance

bulldog54 · 10-02-2008, 10:10 AM

And why, bry623, would they want to go from someone that might possibly have a bias but who most of her peers, even conservative right leaning ones, say she will be fair to Brit Hume who is definitely biased to the right and working for "Fix" News. I think it is good that they are using hosts from PBS which is funded mostly by the "public", non-profit orgs, and other not-so-commercial entities. At least they aren't all over your screen and forcing ads during the shows.

Does anyone know who will be the moderators for the last 2 presidential debates? As if it will matter after Sarah falls flat across the path.

mommabear · 10-02-2008, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sobeit

I think they are planning to use the biasness as an excuse if Palin bombs so they are preparing the public and media for it in advance

Sure they are!

yustr · 10-02-2008, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bulldog54

Does anyone know who will be the moderators for the last 2 presidential debates?

Tom Brokaw, NBC and Bob Schieffer, CBS

LINK

This was agreed to by both campaigns and announced back in August...so some how its now news???

**Chode** · 10-02-2008, 12:28 PM

Yet another non-issue. First off, it's a fallacy to think that it's possible to find anyone who is totally impartial. So the only real issue would be whether Ifill will behave objectively as moderator, just as it would for any other moderator.

There are two possible outcomes here; either she will, or she won't. If she conducts herself in an impartial, professional manner, end of story.

But, let's just say that Gwen falls to temptation and gives Palin tougher questions than Biden, shorts her on reply time, or whatever scenario your imagination suggests, is it really likely that Americans watching the debate are so brainless that they wouldn't know this sort of behavior for what it was? I realize that for many of the Republican faithful who espouse Karl Rove's style of campaigning, this is essentially a rhetorical question, but the rest of us need to think about it.

It seems to me that any show of favoritism on Ifill's part can only boost Palin's standing in the debate, so if she really has a major bias against Palin, she should just let Sarah be Sarah. Not that this matters, because Republicans will look for some way to excuse Palin for her performance even if Jesus were moderator.

Meanwhile in the real world, how are voters seeing Palin these days? http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...l?hpid=topnews When you read this, I think the results among independent voters deserve special attention.

**flipper** · 10-02-2008, 07:08 PM

Wow, Palin loooks like she is trembling while she talks. Wonder if she will calm down as the debate goes on.

**linderman** · 10-02-2008, 08:43 PM

I thought Palin was very sincere in here repsonses and knowledgeable enough ..... didnt see anything that resembled a gaff ....... she was strong responding when needed ...... I think she over plays the soccer mom / joe 6-pack american too much

I also thought Biden had better answers ........ but my opinion of him is "snake oil salesman"

**flipper** · 10-02-2008, 08:55 PM

They both came off better then I thought. My problem with Palin was she changed the subject.

Biden knows how to play a crowed and I think he used that to his advantage. Didn't say anything new.

Both could have done much better.

yustr · 10-02-2008, 09:24 PM

On a scale of 1-10: Biden=7 Palin = 4. Nothing great but nothing to get me to change my mind that she's not VP material. I was watching CNN and the Ohio tracker seemed to say the same thing. Biden had higher highs and no real lows while Palin had mediocre highs and some lows.

BobbyGT · 10-03-2008, 07:07 AM

I think Palin did great. She came off looking like she was confident and knew what she was talking about. She did not do any damage; she only helped.

I think did Biden did good also.

**simpswr** · 10-03-2008, 08:25 AM

I think they both fullfilled the mission . . . Do no Harm!

JosefK · 10-03-2008, 09:16 AM

That was pathetic for both of them. So much changing the questions, total lack of any actual facts, I don't think either of them actually tried any serious attacks on the other. Palin saying thing like "The American people are craving the straight talk" was cringe inducing. The Canadian debate was much better to watch, and served much more of a purpose

**simpswr** · 10-03-2008, 09:33 AM

Can't wait to see the replay on Saturday nite Live . . should be a hoot!

10-01-2008, 11:32 AM	#2 (permalink)
bry623 Manager, The Conversation Pit/Analyst, Security Team Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: NW Territory circa 1787 Posts: 11,692 OS: winxp pro sp2	Re: VP Debate What's this? Step down Gwen!!! __________________ "If you aren't a liberal when you're 20, you have no heart. If you aren't a conservative when you are 50, you have no brain"

10-01-2008, 02:20 PM	#5 (permalink)
bry623 Manager, The Conversation Pit/Analyst, Security Team Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: NW Territory circa 1787 Posts: 11,692 OS: winxp pro sp2	Re: VP Debate I was thinking Brit Hume. __________________ "If you aren't a liberal when you're 20, you have no heart. If you aren't a conservative when you are 50, you have no brain"

10-01-2008, 03:22 PM	#6 (permalink)
40sondacurb Don't be a menace Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 6,285 OS: Vista sp2	Re: VP Debate I'm worried she will go soft, so as to not look biased; I don't think you need to be biased with Palin to make her look bad. She shouldn't have took the gig. __________________ Donate to keep the forum running

10-02-2008, 10:10 AM	#9 (permalink)
bulldog54 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 48 OS: XP	Re: VP Debate And why, bry623, would they want to go from someone that might possibly have a bias but who most of her peers, even conservative right leaning ones, say she will be fair to Brit Hume who is definitely biased to the right and working for "Fix" News. I think it is good that they are using hosts from PBS which is funded mostly by the "public", non-profit orgs, and other not-so-commercial entities. At least they aren't all over your screen and forcing ads during the shows. Does anyone know who will be the moderators for the last 2 presidential debates? As if it will matter after Sarah falls flat across the path.

10-02-2008, 12:28 PM	#12 (permalink)
Chode TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,280 OS: Windows XP Pro	Re: VP Debate Yet another non-issue. First off, it's a fallacy to think that it's possible to find anyone who is totally impartial. So the only real issue would be whether Ifill will behave objectively as moderator, just as it would for any other moderator. There are two possible outcomes here; either she will, or she won't. If she conducts herself in an impartial, professional manner, end of story. But, let's just say that Gwen falls to temptation and gives Palin tougher questions than Biden, shorts her on reply time, or whatever scenario your imagination suggests, is it really likely that Americans watching the debate are so brainless that they wouldn't know this sort of behavior for what it was? I realize that for many of the Republican faithful who espouse Karl Rove's style of campaigning, this is essentially a rhetorical question, but the rest of us need to think about it. It seems to me that any show of favoritism on Ifill's part can only boost Palin's standing in the debate, so if she really has a major bias against Palin, she should just let Sarah be Sarah. Not that this matters, because Republicans will look for some way to excuse Palin for her performance even if Jesus were moderator. Meanwhile in the real world, how are voters seeing Palin these days? http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...l?hpid=topnews When you read this, I think the results among independent voters deserve special attention. __________________ Sweet! Last edited by yustr; 10-02-2008 at 12:41 PM. Reason: Minor correction

10-02-2008, 07:08 PM	#13 (permalink)
flipper I helped the forums. Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 112 OS:	Re: VP Debate Wow, Palin loooks like she is trembling while she talks. Wonder if she will calm down as the debate goes on.

10-02-2008, 08:43 PM	#14 (permalink)
linderman Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 20,437 OS: win 2000 pro / Win XP pro My System	Re: VP Debate I thought Palin was very sincere in here repsonses and knowledgeable enough ..... didnt see anything that resembled a gaff ....... she was strong responding when needed ...... I think she over plays the soccer mom / joe 6-pack american too much I also thought Biden had better answers ........ but my opinion of him is "snake oil salesman" __________________ I still know nothing and I respect that fact, striving to improve and, along the way, help anyone that comes from the place that I used to be! Power Supply Selection LEARN TO BACK-UP YOUR DATA FREE & EASY YouTube - Runtime Software DriveImage XML tutorial

10-02-2008, 08:55 PM	#15 (permalink)
flipper I helped the forums. Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 112 OS:	Re: VP Debate They both came off better then I thought. My problem with Palin was she changed the subject. Biden knows how to play a crowed and I think he used that to his advantage. Didn't say anything new. Both could have done much better.

10-02-2008, 09:24 PM	#16 (permalink)
yustr Asst. Manager, The Conversation Pit Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Connecticut shore Posts: 6,050 OS: XP Pro My System	Re: VP Debate On a scale of 1-10: Biden=7 Palin = 4. Nothing great but nothing to get me to change my mind that she's not VP material. I was watching CNN and the Ohio tracker seemed to say the same thing. Biden had higher highs and no real lows while Palin had mediocre highs and some lows. __________________ If there are lawyers or politicians involved, logic may be a very poor tool for reaching a conclusion.

10-03-2008, 07:07 AM	#17 (permalink)
BobbyGT Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Tennessee Posts: 86 OS: xp home sp3	Re: VP Debate I think Palin did great. She came off looking like she was confident and knew what she was talking about. She did not do any damage; she only helped. I think did Biden did good also.

10-03-2008, 08:25 AM	#18 (permalink)
simpswr Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: May 2007 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 12,271 OS: XP, Vista, Win 7	Re: VP Debate I think they both fullfilled the mission . . . Do no Harm! __________________ Rich MemTest86 \| BenchTest \| Virus/Trojan/Spyware Help How to post a Screen Shot \| PC running slow?

10-03-2008, 09:16 AM	#19 (permalink)
JosefK Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 2 OS: Windows XP	Re: VP Debate That was pathetic for both of them. So much changing the questions, total lack of any actual facts, I don't think either of them actually tried any serious attacks on the other. Palin saying thing like "The American people are craving the straight talk" was cringe inducing. The Canadian debate was much better to watch, and served much more of a purpose

10-03-2008, 09:33 AM	#20 (permalink)
simpswr Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: May 2007 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 12,271 OS: XP, Vista, Win 7	Re: VP Debate Can't wait to see the replay on Saturday nite Live . . should be a hoot! __________________ Rich MemTest86 \| BenchTest \| Virus/Trojan/Spyware Help How to post a Screen Shot \| PC running slow?