Palin Roam
The question today is this: Who was let down more last night, spiteful Democrats who hoped to see a a train wreck at the debate last night, or Cubs fans?
Cubs fans, obviously. But this blog is called The Intelligent Leader, not The Self-Loathing Sports Fan. So let's talk about the debate. Nick Morgan's blog post offering Sarah Palin a debate playbook seemed to touch a nerve. One of the big debates about Morgan's advice was that it seemed more suited to a speech, something practiced and predictable, than it did a debate, something dynamic and less predictable.
And yet, from this voter's position, Morgan's advice was perfect for Palin, because last night she delivered a speech, one that was occasionally interrupted by questions and some other guy -- what's his name again? -- talking.
In their construction, Palin's answers were coherent. In their content, they meandered. She seemed to be roaming through well-rehearsed talking points more than debating. Whether those points related to the topic at hand was another matter all together. (Fair play to Palin; she said she might ignore the questions, and "talk straight to the American people.").
Dana Milbank, in his debate review, used the best word of all to describe Palin's night: "iffy."
Well, one thing is certain. We'll either have a black president or a
female vice president after this election. HBR editor Diane Coutu has
started talking about the leadership dynamics of race and gender. Her provocative thoughts precede a Harvard Business Review interview with Kennedy School Dean Joseph Nye, scheduled for the November issue.
Wait, what's that? Biden? How did he do at the debate? By all accounts, fine. Dan Balz notes, "He, too, flashed his smile to good effect."
Seriously? The next administration will inherit the worst economy since the Great Depression, a war-and-a-half, and historic debt against a population that has come to expect and demand tax cuts. And we're talking about smiles?
In modern politics, we're all Cubs fans.
By
Scott Berinato
|
October 3, 2008; 3:01 PM ET
Previous: To Retain Customers, Make Your Products Easy to Use |
Next: Are You Taking Full Advantage of Offshoring's Value?
Posted by: Anonymous | October 3, 2008 3:46 PM
I'm beginning to sort of understand why it was that so many folks said all us girls were just jealous of the cheerleaders in high school. Those folks who thought we were jealous did not really understand why we were merely disgusted that such vapid women could be held up to us as iconic images. It really was very difficult for most of us "ordinarly" women/girls to understand how people with such low IQs, people with such disdain for us ordinary folks, people didn't actually look better than "us" without all their sun-tanning and makeup, people with poor social skills, should be people we should attempt to emulate.
I still don't totally get it.
"Splain" Palin please.
Posted by: 4Heavenssake | October 3, 2008 4:09 PM
I guess I "don't get it". Sarah Palin seemed to talk alot and say nothing. The one thing that did impress me is she finally held her baby - for 3 entire minutes - and she did not pass her off on her pregnant daughter but instead to her youngest. I have a son with special needs and he was upset by this because he thought the little girl was going to drop the baby.
Posted by: moomha | October 3, 2008 6:15 PM
Lets stop the nonsense talk. The Republican Party candidates want to give rich people more tax cuts even as we borrow trillions and have one of the widest disparities of wealth in the industrial world. Palin is an says "gosh darn" about her support for the brutal slaughter of wolves from airplanes. They die horribly. She wants to hand the Arctic Refuge to Exxon and she knows less about government than I did in 7th grade. We're dealing with criminals and I am sick of this pretense that we're choosing among competing philosphies.
Posted by: davidscott1 | October 4, 2008 9:56 PM
Thinking and analyzing situations seems to be a tall order for half of the American population. The information has to be fast, pre-packaged and assorted in the black and white piles. Palin and the Republicans have found a way to serve that kind of meal. Here were are again, the left looking on and JUST NOT GETTING IT AGAIN! Sometimes I wonder who is dummer, the Red State dwellers or the blue state elites who dont seem to get it.
Yes the economy is tanking, the education system cant compete with other G7 nations, Wealth disparities ever widening and healthcare costs are getting out of hand.... BUT we cant seem to get it together and be practical.
We still care about how someone makes us feel, who they go to bed with, the color of their skin, how they smile. Who cares if the next president doesnt know anything about 21st Century economics and Foreign affairs!!!!
Somehow the current King George W is not dumb enough, and his 22% approval rating does not translate into seeking new characteristics for our next president.
Posted by: Amache | October 5, 2008 6:57 PM
The comments to this entry are closed.
Participate in a national poll give your oppinion about the VP debate.
http://www.mccanes.com/watchdebatevp.html