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Ellen Belcher is the Dayton Daily News opinion pages editor. She writes about state government, education, the environment, higher education and all things Dayton.
Martin Gottlieb is an editorial writer and columnist for the Dayton Daily News opinion pages. He focuses on the political process itself and does such national issues as war, the economy, taxes and Social Security, as well as a hodge-podge of local and state issues.Home > Blogs > A Matter of Opinion > Archives > 2008 > October > 02 > Entry
Debate is about to begin
8:49 Gwen Ifill is in her spot and warming up the crowd, waring about noise and such. I’m watching on C-Span. T-minus 11 minutes.
8:56 Here’s the first conspiracy theory of the night. A friend who is for Obama told me Palin will wear her hair down over her ears tonight rather than in her trademark bun. He thinks she is wearing an earpiece to receive instructions for how to answer. I think that’s more than a stretch.
8:59 What are the chances this debate is just boring and nothing of note happens? That would be a let down.
9:00 Here come the candidates. Palin’s hair is off the ears. No earpiece! :-) They greet each other politely. Both are wearing dark suits. Light blue tie for Biden.
9:05 Ifill starts off with a question on the bailout. A bit of a rambling answer by Biden. He seems nervous and wordy.
9:08 Palin takes us to a kids soccer game for an answer and tosses in a folksy “betcha.” Nice touches. Pailn’s a little wordy but made her points well.
9:09 Biden goes right after McCain, citing the “fundamentals of our economy are strong” quote that has haunted McCain. Palin was ready for it with a solid answer. And now she’s hitting Obama as a party line voter vs. the maverick McCain.
9:11Palin blames predator lenders for the financial crisis. So far she is doing well. She does not sound confused or uninformed.
9:13 Biden is all but ignoring Palin and talking only about McCain. He is playing the attack dog role. Some Democrats have complained he has not done this well. Biden’s making strong eye contact with Palin while she speaks.
9:15 Hmmm. Biden: “The governor did not answer the question about de-regulation.” Palin: I may not answer the questions the way you or the moderator want to hear. But I am going to speak straight to the American people.” They’re mixing it up some now.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment | Categories: National politics
Comments
By smoke & mirrors
October 5, 2008 9:07 AM | Link to this
Yes its a shame that politics is so bluurred that the truth can’t ome out. Who has experiencein leading the free world? Palin? Well I would guess its theonly job n the world like its kind so howdo you gin xperience?