Palin vs. Reagan - The Problem

[hoosier]

Well, it sure looks like Palin is going to be the underdog in more ways than one before this debate even starts. The moderator has written a pro Obama book. Talk about the debate being skewed in Biden's favor. I can't believe other media outlets besides Fox has not mentioned this and no objection from the McCain campaign.

http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/10...ro-obama-book/

It's not clear that her book is pro-Obama, but I agree that it would be better for all concerned if she "recused" herself given that Obama clearly plays a central role in her book. But if I were a conservative I would be loving this: if Palin does even moderately well she has overperformed in comparison with the dismal expectations that have been set by her earlier interviews, and if she does badly, the appearance that the moderator migth not be impartial provides her yet another excuse. By the same token, Gwen Ifill is going to have to bend over backwards to be fair to Palin or else she's getting roasted.

That's one way to look at it. I just can't see CNN and others roasting her afterwards no matter how Ifill does...but we will see.

In any case, both campaigns have to approve the moderator for debates. If Ifill was biased, why would the McCain campaign ok her? It seems to me there are three possibilities: (1) Mac sees her as unbiased; (2) Mac campaign doesn't know what it's doing; (3) Mac campaign wants a built-in excuse to give to its base (Fox News viewers) in case Palin performs terribly.

[mraynrand]

Well, it sure looks like Palin is going to be the underdog in more ways than one before this debate even starts. The moderator has written a pro Obama book. Talk about the debate being skewed in Biden's favor. I can't believe other media outlets besides Fox has not mentioned this and no objection from the McCain campaign.

http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/10...ro-obama-book/

It's not clear that her book is pro-Obama, but I agree that it would be better for all concerned if she "recused" herself given that Obama clearly plays a central role in her book. But if I were a conservative I would be loving this: if Palin does even moderately well she has overperformed in comparison with the dismal expectations that have been set by her earlier interviews, and if she does badly, the appearance that the moderator migth not be impartial provides her yet another excuse. By the same token, Gwen Ifill is going to have to bend over backwards to be fair to Palin or else she's getting roasted.

That's one way to look at it. I just can't see CNN and others roasting her afterwards no matter how Ifill does...but we will see.

In any case, both campaigns have to approve the moderator for debates. If Ifill was biased, why would the McCain campaign ok her? It seems to me there are three possibilities: (1) Mac sees her as unbiased; (2) Mac campaign doesn't know what it's doing; (3) Mac campaign wants a built-in excuse to give to its base (Fox News viewers) in case Palin performs terribly.

You need a bit more cynicism to understand events. If the McCain campaign didn't accept Ifill, then they would certainly take heat, in the form of attacks on 'being afraid', or being racist, etc. The real answer is that the McCain campaign doesn't want to make a news story about rejecting Ifill - the Republican 'surrogates' will question Ifill objectivity - and rightly so in this case.

[hoosier]

Well, it sure looks like Palin is going to be the underdog in more ways than one before this debate even starts. The moderator has written a pro Obama book. Talk about the debate being skewed in Biden's favor. I can't believe other media outlets besides Fox has not mentioned this and no objection from the McCain campaign.

http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/10...ro-obama-book/

It's not clear that her book is pro-Obama, but I agree that it would be better for all concerned if she "recused" herself given that Obama clearly plays a central role in her book. But if I were a conservative I would be loving this: if Palin does even moderately well she has overperformed in comparison with the dismal expectations that have been set by her earlier interviews, and if she does badly, the appearance that the moderator migth not be impartial provides her yet another excuse. By the same token, Gwen Ifill is going to have to bend over backwards to be fair to Palin or else she's getting roasted.

That's one way to look at it. I just can't see CNN and others roasting her afterwards no matter how Ifill does...but we will see.

In any case, both campaigns have to approve the moderator for debates. If Ifill was biased, why would the McCain campaign ok her? It seems to me there are three possibilities: (1) Mac sees her as unbiased; (2) Mac campaign doesn't know what it's doing; (3) Mac campaign wants a built-in excuse to give to its base (Fox News viewers) in case Palin performs terribly.

You need a bit more cynicism to understand events. If the McCain campaign didn't accept Ifill, then they would certainly take heat, in the form of attacks on 'being afraid', or being racist, etc. The real answer is that the McCain campaign doesn't want to make a news story about rejecting Ifill - the Republican 'surrogates' will question Ifill objectivity - and rightly so in this case.

To quote another poster, BS. They could easily veto her on the grounds that she has a book coming out on Obama if they thought the book gave evidence of bias.

[mraynrand]

Well, it sure looks like Palin is going to be the underdog in more ways than one before this debate even starts. The moderator has written a pro Obama book. Talk about the debate being skewed in Biden's favor. I can't believe other media outlets besides Fox has not mentioned this and no objection from the McCain campaign.

http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/10...ro-obama-book/

It's not clear that her book is pro-Obama, but I agree that it would be better for all concerned if she "recused" herself given that Obama clearly plays a central role in her book. But if I were a conservative I would be loving this: if Palin does even moderately well she has overperformed in comparison with the dismal expectations that have been set by her earlier interviews, and if she does badly, the appearance that the moderator migth not be impartial provides her yet another excuse. By the same token, Gwen Ifill is going to have to bend over backwards to be fair to Palin or else she's getting roasted.

That's one way to look at it. I just can't see CNN and others roasting her afterwards no matter how Ifill does...but we will see.

In any case, both campaigns have to approve the moderator for debates. If Ifill was biased, why would the McCain campaign ok her? It seems to me there are three possibilities: (1) Mac sees her as unbiased; (2) Mac campaign doesn't know what it's doing; (3) Mac campaign wants a built-in excuse to give to its base (Fox News viewers) in case Palin performs terribly.

You need a bit more cynicism to understand events. If the McCain campaign didn't accept Ifill, then they would certainly take heat, in the form of attacks on 'being afraid', or being racist, etc. The real answer is that the McCain campaign doesn't want to make a news story about rejecting Ifill - the Republican 'surrogates' will question Ifill objectivity - and rightly so in this case.

To quote another poster, BS. They could easily veto her on the grounds that she has a book coming out on Obama if they thought the book gave evidence of bias.

Do they have an advance copy? How could they demonstrate bias without the book? But clearly there is a conflict of interest, if not bias. Ifill should step aside and let someone impartial, like Paul Krugman, run the debate.

[texaspackerbacker]

All of this is the perception of the leftist mainstream media--patting themselves on the back for having destroyed her.

We'll see about that Thursday night when the propaganda of the leftist media is stripped away and the unfiltered messages come through.

Maybe Governor Palin really will fail miserably--basically double-teamed by a moderator from the leftist mainstream media along with Joe "The Gaff Man" Biden. Somehow, I doubt that, though.

The bottom line is that she--and McCain--are in tune with the views of the great majority of the people on the issues. That is HER edge. All she has to do is articulate TRUE points of view--while Biden needs to spin everything and deceive people because if he is arrogant to truthfully state his own--and Obama's--views and positions, he and Obama will be exposed as the leftist extremists that they are.

[hoosier]

Well, it sure looks like Palin is going to be the underdog in more ways than one before this debate even starts. The moderator has written a pro Obama book. Talk about the debate being skewed in Biden's favor. I can't believe other media outlets besides Fox has not mentioned this and no objection from the McCain campaign.

http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/10...ro-obama-book/

It's not clear that her book is pro-Obama, but I agree that it would be better for all concerned if she "recused" herself given that Obama clearly plays a central role in her book. But if I were a conservative I would be loving this: if Palin does even moderately well she has overperformed in comparison with the dismal expectations that have been set by her earlier interviews, and if she does badly, the appearance that the moderator migth not be impartial provides her yet another excuse. By the same token, Gwen Ifill is going to have to bend over backwards to be fair to Palin or else she's getting roasted.

That's one way to look at it. I just can't see CNN and others roasting her afterwards no matter how Ifill does...but we will see.

In any case, both campaigns have to approve the moderator for debates. If Ifill was biased, why would the McCain campaign ok her? It seems to me there are three possibilities: (1) Mac sees her as unbiased; (2) Mac campaign doesn't know what it's doing; (3) Mac campaign wants a built-in excuse to give to its base (Fox News viewers) in case Palin performs terribly.

You need a bit more cynicism to understand events. If the McCain campaign didn't accept Ifill, then they would certainly take heat, in the form of attacks on 'being afraid', or being racist, etc. The real answer is that the McCain campaign doesn't want to make a news story about rejecting Ifill - the Republican 'surrogates' will question Ifill objectivity - and rightly so in this case.

To quote another poster, BS. They could easily veto her on the grounds that she has a book coming out on Obama if they thought the book gave evidence of bias.

Do they have an advance copy? How could they demonstrate bias without the book? But clearly there is a conflict of interest, if not bias. Ifill should step aside and let someone impartial, like Paul Krugman, run the debate.

Apparently you have enough "evidence" to determine that she's biased. If it's good enough for you I'm sure it's good enough for McCain and Palin.

[texaspackerbacker]

McCain has called Ifill's book and her unabashed support for Obama a "non-issue". That's good enough for me. Lehrer is from the same liberal network, and he came through as reasonably fair and balanced.

I think the exposure of the book thing and Ifill's background will now effectively prevent her from pulling any crap. That would be just too obvious even for the left.

[mraynrand]

http://www.slate.com/id/2237638/

This is not very Reaganesque. Palin actually leaves the door open for birthers. Palling around with Anti-semitic Nixon Staffers! Good Grief!

Hitchens: "But she should take care to read her Alexander Pope: That bloom will soon enough fade, and it will fade really quickly if she uses it to prostitute herself to the Nixonites on one day and then to cock-tease the rabble on the next."
----

Nixon staffers: run away!

[mraynrand]

(P.S. this thread is pre-FYI - administrator: please move it to FYI)

[HowardRoark]

(P.S. this thread is pre-FYI - administrator: please move it to FYI)

Be still my heart....it skipped a beat when I saw Tex in the thread.

[Freak Out]

Did you guys read her piece in the Post today?

[mraynrand]

Did you guys read her piece in the Post today?

link?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/08/AR2009120803402.html

Seems reasonable

[Tyrone Bigguns]

She proves to be as dense as ever.