Better get yourself a twelve pack.
Tonight’s vice presidential debate could be the best debate ever. And by “best,” I mean “entertaining.”
With Joe Biden squaring off against Sarah Palin, this evening’s showdown could even eclipse the political happenings of 1988. That was the year Lloyd Bentson uttered the immortal words, “Senator, I served with Jack Kennedy. I knew Jack Kennedy. Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine. Senator, you’re no Jack Kennedy.”
Bentson put the smackdown on Dan Quayle. After that, Quayle was so shell-shocked he couldn’t even spell potato. But George H.W. Bush still took the White House.
Here we are, 20 years later, and I’m hoping for a whole lot more. Between Joe Biden’s gaffes and Sarah Palin’s stumbles, tonight’s debate should feature its share of zingers, one-liners and, hopefully, some serious squirming.
The two candidates couldn’t be more different: On one side we have Joe Biden, the senior Senator from Delaware. He was first elected to office in 1972 and is touted as one of the most knowledgeable congressman in the Capitol. He serves on, or chairs, numerous committees and subcommittees. His responsibilities run the gamut from foreign relations to crime and drugs to immigration to the judicial system. For good or for bad, he is a walking encyclopedia of government policy in a plethora of disciplines.
On the other side, we have Gov. Sarah Palin. She couldn’t be further from a Washington insider. She has none of the credentials Sen. Biden has, but what she lacks in experience, she makes up for in small-town charm and a spirited, independent personality. She wowed them during the Republican National Convention, but her bubble appears to have burst after her recent interviews on ABC and CBS.
Despite his Senate resume, Joe Biden is probably best known for his verbal miscues. And in the past few weeks, he has certainly had his share.
During a rally in Missouri, Biden asked Sen. Chuck Graham to “stand up” so he could be recognized by the crowd. One problem: Chuck Graham is in a wheelchair. At a recent rally in Virginia, when Sen. Biden was speaking on the issue of gun control, he all but threatened Sen. Obama with gun violence if he tried to take away his firearms. That one was so good, it made it to ‘The Daily Show.’
Biden was also caught criticizing a television ad that targeted John McCain’s lack of computer experience. The problem was that the ad was produced by his campaign. He’s a loose cannon just waiting to go off.
Until her recent interviews, Palin’s strong point has been her speeches. Yet despite her ability to give a big speech and tell the same joke over and over again (and still get laughs), it has come to light that Sarah Palin could be clueless.
Interviews with Charlie Gibson and Katie Couric have shown a whole other side of the governor. In fact, the simplest of questions left her looking like a deer in the headlights, with lipstick.
However, despite their differences, these two candidates do have something in common: plenty of critics. When Biden was first named as Obama’s running mate, it wasn’t long before people started saying he should step down and Barack should pick Hillary. From the right, conservative pundits have called for Sarah Palin to be replaced because she appears to be way out of her league.
Joe Biden is the favorite. He’s the heavyweight. He’s expected to win. His biggest challenge will be keeping his mouth shut and sticking to the issues.
Men debating women can be tricky business. Even the mild-mannered H.W. had his hands full during the vice presidential debate of 1984 when he was pitted against Geraldine Ferraro. I can’t wait to see how Biden handles himself.
Sarah Palin has lots in her favor. Her expectations are low, which is right where she wants to be. I’m not buying what she sold Couric and Gibson. She couldn’t even answer which magazines she reads. Let’s not forget, this woman is a huntress and I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s been playing political possum. Don’t underestimate Sarah Palin:
Beyond the laughs and the gaffes, this debate has very serious implications. It is the only scheduled debate between the candidates who are competing to be a heartbeat away from the oval office. It’s now or never for Biden and Palin. With these two opposites clashing tonight, surely some sparks will fly.
The big question is, who will get burned?
Contact Jeremy Madden at madden@maddenamerica.com
Comments
debate drinking game
one drink every time someone tries to interrupt anyone
two drinks every time the candidate thanks someone (moderator, opponent, host location, etc...)
three drinks everytime a word is mispronounced or misused a phrase
finish your drink every time you catch biden checking palin out
Every time she prematurely ends a word......
I.e...A lot of hard workin' folks are really hurtin' as a result of the wall street firms bendin' the rules and Putin rearin' his ugly head and its darn near time that we had a pair o' straight shootin' mavricks in the white house to do some reformin' of a system thats in need a fixin'.