There are moments in life when you feel as if you are a part of something, as if you are a witness to something historic and momentous. That is what I felt when I was watching Sarah Palin in this debate. She wasn’t perfect, she made mistakes, but she had a luminous quality about her. If Vice Presidential debates have not mattered before, they matter now. Bullied by the press, conservative and liberal, Sarah shone in the debate. A weaker person, under the scrutiny she was and with the limited experience she had, probably would have floundered. The Democrats were salivating in their desire to turn her into Dan Quayle; they failed. Here is why she won:
Expectations Are Everything- The media played a pivotal part in Sarah’s victory. Gleefully they mocked her, late night television, cable news, SNL, liberal bloggers, and lets not forget the conservative elitists in our own party. So expectations for the VP debate were low, I confess I was even nervous for her going into it, but I knew it would be to my detriment to underestimate her. Sarah met and exceeded all expectations, she wasn’t a policy wonk and we knew she wouldn’t be, but she was something Joe Biden could never be. A leader.
Folks Have To Like You Before They Vote For You- Lets think back to Obama circa last February and you will understand why this is so important. Hillary Clinton should have been beating this guy handily, but he had a likeability she just couldn’t match. Joe Biden, was Hillary Clinton at this debate. His constant sigh and smirks, not to mention the anger emanating from him, just made him look arrogant. Sarah on the other hand was smiling and likable. She gave a shout out to third graders and said “dogonit”; you just do not get more likable and real then that. She was Middle America personified and I promise you in places like Ohio, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Minnesota and Virginia that will resonate.
Final Thoughts- This is McCain’s to win or lose now. Sarah did all she could do and more. It will be up to him to, once again, use Palin’s energy to his advantage. With the bailout bill set to pass tomorrow and the campaign likely to normalize, I think its safe to say that this race is going to even out once again. Sarah, and the rest of us, can relax and enjoy our weekend. Finally I would like to say a special thank you to Patriot Room for hosting another great live forum for the debate. To all of you who joined us thank you for coming. I would love to hear your thoughts and insights, feel free to share your opinion; I would love to read what you have to say. Until next time…
October 2, 2008 at 8:24 pm
My thoughts on the dabate were predestined before it happened, but I actually thought she did better than I expected, and if you remember, my expectations were high.
But the reason I am posting this is that you need to tell your husband how lucky he is to have you. I have no doubt that you will make sure your family prospers and lives righteously. Tell him Conservatism Today said so.
In some ways, it’s almost like my wife when the Green Bay Packers are on. Nothing hotter than a woman who gets how the world should be (that would include the Pack winning all the time and not trading #4). I hope that doesn’t sound as un-PC as it does as I type this, but then again, do I really care? The answer is, slightly, but not so much.
God bless.
October 3, 2008 at 12:07 am
Did anyone time how long each candidate spoke. In the McCain debate I thought the time was equal and Lehrer seemed to be watching this. Last night I felt Biden was given free reign, and seemed to always get the last word. Is this true or is my dislike of him showing?
October 3, 2008 at 12:40 am
Biden received more time, but “Dog gone it”… he just couldn’t pull through the likability factor, or the leadership, or the SINCERITY of Sarah Palin! I’m voting for SARAH… and I hope she raises Cain and takes a big broom to start cleaning the corruption of Washington…
Sarah is the new “Reagan” as far as I am concerned… not perfect, but her CHARACTER, and easy, determined leadership will see her through. Good for you Sarah… good for the country!
October 3, 2008 at 1:26 am
When she mentioned Teachers are underpaid (some are, some aren’t) and gave a shout out to an elementary school in Wasila, mentioning they would get extra credit for watching the debate, she owned every woman in the audience there and at home. Everyone was smiling and laughing even the moderator and Joe Biden. She had several moments like that telling Joe, “There you go again Joe, looking backward to the Bush years”.
Her body language was amazing looking right at Biden when rebutting some made up fact. MSNBC’s Chris Mathews looked like he had been in a fight and the spinning over there was he lamest yet. She dominated her debate and set McCain up for a Victory next month.
October 3, 2008 at 2:21 am
I like the new look, except for the overdose of pink!
Keep up the great work!
And great job last night by Palin!!
Steve
October 3, 2008 at 3:01 am
Hey great blog, I enjoyed the debate last night, Sarah was on her game. Your analysis is spot on, you really hit the nail on the head. Can’t wait until your next column!!
October 3, 2008 at 3:47 am
Yes, Sarah is back! She drew Americans together and made us feel like, “hey she’s one of us”.
October 3, 2008 at 4:32 am
I have been trolling around some other blogs and the only thing most of the lefties can find to complain about it that she is so down to earth and “one of us”. They keep saying they want leaders that are smarter than they are(not very hard) not an average Joe. This makes my laugh because some of the dumbest people I know have very high I.Q’s. Some of the smartest people I know do not have college degrees. I also wondered while reading some of these blogs if these people even watched the debate because they all keep repeating the same talking points given to them by the MSM.
To me this shows that Gov. Sarah Palin kicked Biden’s hind end in the debate.
October 3, 2008 at 4:48 am
Where do I start? I thought Sarah should’ve made more hay about the Freddie Frannie Mac Mae fiasco, but I think this is where the McCain camp held her back because McCain didn’t go into it much during his debate either. I think this is a big mistake, but they don’t ask me for advice.
I did love it, let me be Biden-esque and repeat this, I did love it when she spoke about personal responsibility, but it seemed like we were merely tiptoeing around the issue of the financial companies being coerced into making minority loans that were flimsy, at best. This could’ve been a direct photon torpedo at the ACORN-representing, ACORN-training , ACORN-supporting Big Zero himself, Barack Hussein Obama.
Sarah gave McCain a huge boost in the debate. McCain needs to pick up the ball & run it into the end zone.
October 3, 2008 at 12:16 pm
I love your reference to Sarah Palin looking “luminous”. That does sum it up! I agree about her likeability and leadership. I never found Obama at all likeable, and in fact find him quite UNlikeable. Nor do I find him or Biden to be a leader.
Biden was expecting to debate an idiot, but instead found a confident, accomplished woman with energy, passion, executive experience and results. As the debate progressed he appeared anxious and unnerved.
It was great to see Palin speak to the American people without going through the filter of the media. When she speaks directly to the American people, she hits it out of the park!