Palin certainly did well. Yes?
Let me repeat that it was always weirdly premature to judge a successful governor on one interview. It is now obvious that she can handle a debate with Joe “I am experienced” Biden.
She was smart, she was relaxed, and was in charge of the debate. Biden was on the defensive and it was all about Palin.
If anyone committed a gaffe, it was Biden with his weird “I raised kids” comment and his mistake about the Constitution. (Imagine if Palin had done that!) His manner was also off putting and my children thought he looked ill. If theatrics matter at all, Biden lost badly. On points, Palin and Biden were even, but that is a victory for Palin. She was upbeat and he was downbeat. He was duller of the two of them.
I am biased, but at least we know this: she did not Quayle herself. The focus group agreed with me on Fox (but not at least one snap poll) . . . but that does not matter to me since I loath focus groups. I should add that I was underestimated Biden early on. He did not commit a gaffe in this debate and is thoughtful.
He is not my choice, but he seems like a decent fellow.
By the way, Rod has asked me twice whether Palin could say anything that would make me change my mind about her. I have answered him both times, but let me try again.
Of course, she could.
Palin could commit a gaffe in an area such as race where she has no counter-balancing record of achievement. That would be very bad and make me reconsider my support. She could continue her stumbles over many opportunities. That would make me reconsider my opinion.
What I will not do is reconsider my support for someone based on one interview where the candidate plainly locked up (as many smart people do) in one of her first national interviews.
I feel the debate suggests that Palin was not an “empty pants suit” and that Rod, a great guy, was hasty in his judgment.
*Let me add something. I think the comments I have read on his site that Rod is a bad person because of his stand on Palin are not just wrong headed, but foolish. Rod Dreher has written deeply thoughtful works on the future of the conservative movement that have taught me a great deal. He is one of those guys I would love to buy dinner.
I am glad we can disagree and still be friends. Politics is not everything (or even most things) and Christians should always remember that. I have many co-workers at Biola who disagree with me on many things, and my views here are always my own, but we can agree on bigger and more important things.
That is what I love about my school and that is what I appreciate about Dreher.
I do hope he changes his mind on Palin!