McCain Clamps Hand Over Palin’s Mouth. Again.
29 09 2008“Sen. John McCain retracted Sarah Palin’s stance on Pakistan Sunday morning, after the Alaska governor appeared to back Sen. Barack Obama’s support for unilateral strikes inside Pakistan against terrorists“She would not…she understands and has stated repeatedly that we’re not going to do anything except in America’s national security interest,” McCain told ABC’s George Stephanopoulos of Palin. “In all due respect, people going around and… sticking a microphone while conversations are being held, and then all of a sudden that’s—that’s a person’s position… This is a free country, but I don’t think most Americans think that that’s a definitve policy statement made by Governor Palin.”
So, people sticking microphones into conversations, shouldn’t count? Hmmm…I seem to remember something about people clinging to guns and religion into a microphone…
So what was this wishy washy comment that wasn’t really what she meant?
“Saturday night, while on a stop for cheesesteaks in South Philadelphia, Palin was questioned by a Temple graduate student about whether the U.S. should cross the border from Afghanistan into Pakistan.
“If that’s what we have to do stop the terrorists from coming any further in, absolutely, we should,” Palin said.
During Friday night’s presidential debate in Mississippi, Obama took a similar stance and condemned the Bush administration for failing to act on the possibility terrorists are in Pakistan.
“Nobody talked about attacking Pakistan,” Obama said after McCain accused the Illinois senator of wanting to announce an invasion. “If the United States has al Qaeda, bin Laden, top-level lieutenants in our sights, and Pakistan is unable or unwilling to act, then we should take them out.”
So, any guesses about the debate in 3 days? Is it going to happen? Will she be wearing her hair down (i.e. concealing a wire)? Is she going to make it to the election? Discuss.
September 29th, 2008 at 2:20 PM
Sure, if she shows up, she might be wired — or wirelessly wired. But I would expect that she might at some point unconsciously hold her hand up to her ear, or pause excessively either before or during a response, or get totally flustered in the midst of one trying to talk and listen at the same time. As for me, I’ll be watching for coherent responses, replete with pauses before and during. Given her totally rambling incoherent responses to Katie, anything coherent would be a tip off for me. We’ve seen the coy delaying tactics while she’s trying to think. That’s a different response from trying to hear something whispered in her ear. She’d be concentrating on what’s she’s being told, and it’s hard to concentrate and look coy at the same time.
September 29th, 2008 at 2:21 PM
Am trying to visualize the process of making vagina shaped cookies.
Hours of innocent entertainment!
Oops, it’s a troll
September 29th, 2008 at 2:29 PM
There’s an old saying in public relations that you should not answer the question asked, you should answer the question you wish was asked. I have seen Palin debate several times, and she is the master of this technique. In the interviews, she had no choice. It was just her and a professional interviewer who knew how to ask direct questions. The story will be different in the give-and-take of the debate. I suspect that her handlers will have prepared her, not with sound bites, but entire mini-speeches, enough to give a marginally relevant answer in most anticipated areas. Just as she did in Alaska debates, she will avoid any direct interaction with Senator Biden and attempt to establish a connection with the moderator/audience. In Alaska, when her opponents attacked her, she did this. She was polite and gracious and totally sucked the moderator into an “us vs them” kind of thing. Biden’s best move is to totally ignore Palin and speak directly to the issues. Let the moderator chase Palin around.
September 29th, 2008 at 2:32 PM
Listening to Palin with Couric is sickening enough, but read the transcripts and it just sillier than SNL
From Newsweek
COURIC: Why isn’t it better, Governor Palin, to spend $700 billion helping middle-class families who are struggling with health care, housing, gas and groceries; allow them to spend more and put more money into the economy instead of helping these big financial institutions that played a role in creating this mess?
PALIN: That’s why I say I, like every American I’m speaking with, were ill about this position that we have been put in where it is the taxpayers looking to bail out. But ultimately, what the bailout does is help those who are concerned about the health-care reform that is needed to help shore up our economy, helping the—it’s got to be all about job creation, too, shoring up our economy and putting it back on the right track. So health-care reform and reducing taxes and reining in spending has got to accompany tax reductions and tax relief for Americans. And trade, we’ve got to see trade as opportunity, not as a competitive, scary thing. But one in five jobs being created in the trade sector today, we’ve got to look at that as more opportunity. All those things under the umbrella of job creation. This bailout is a part of that.
September 29th, 2008 at 2:35 PM
re: wearing a wire being “not allowed” – When has McCain, or any Republican leader for that matter, ever bothered to follow rules? They will do whatever they wish.
September 29th, 2008 at 2:38 PM
I am pretty certain that any form of wired or wireless communications system is a violation of debate rules, but I have no idea if the participants are actually checked to make certain they are not wearing them. I think they cannot bring note cards either.
September 29th, 2008 at 2:41 PM
REPLY TO KathyNo Gravatar (13:56:33) :
There’s something fishy about that guy who was in line with her and asked her about Pakistan: a guy with his name works for the Alaska Frontiersman, I think it’s called. Does anybody know about this paper? I asked about it on another thread.
Was the guy a plant, and for whose side?
——————
Kathy,
I thought the same thing but I’m pretty sure it’s a very weird coincidence. There’s a reporter named Michael Rovito who writes for the Frontiersman (Wasilla’s local paper) but there is also a Michael Rovito who is/was a PhD candidate in the Dept of Public Health at Temple University in Philadelphia and who has his BA and MA in Geography and Urban Studies, respectively.
So, most likely they’re two different Michael Rovitos…Strange! I was initially so suspicious myself–Rovito? Rove?
September 29th, 2008 at 2:46 PM
There’s additional CBS footage in addendum to the Couric interview. The “buzz” is that it’s as embarrassing as the interview footage for Palin. May have some bearing on whether she goes on or not.
If I was her, I’d be asking myself, “What option is least damaging to my future political prospects?” In other words, will bowing out — running away but without further embarrassment — hurt her 2012 prospects more, or staying ’til the bitter end but possibly permanently labeling herself as…well…as an idiot.
However, I suspect her main criterion is “I really don’t want to face those people back in Alaska if I lose,” and will stay in the race until the bitter end. Perhaps there’s some “god’s annointed” kinda thinking going on there too, hoping that God will pull a Franco Harris.
If that’s not mixing too many metaphors.
September 29th, 2008 at 2:49 PM
@ bPoint:
“Palin Says she’s ready to rumble”
She likely meant to say…*ramble*
Thanks to all for the “wired” discussion.
September 29th, 2008 at 3:01 PM
You know after hearing and reading her response to Katie, I’m not so sure she hasn’t already been wired. I’ve tried working with a wire for a speech I gave once and it’s much harder than you might think. You have all these memorized lines, then when the person on the other end of the wire thinks you aren’t on point or tries to prompt you, your mind starts to spin and your mouth just spits out the first thing that it can get out….you never know just what came out, or how it sounds until it’s taped and you get to study your lines and delivery. And then depending on who is listening and who is speaking (on the wire) your natural rhytm is all mixed up, but if your coaches are too supportive you think you are doing it right. If they are negative your ego is burned and you get all defensive.
Sounds, like first Dude is already getting upset and wants to call in the home team. But now the home team is divided and I’m thinking she has lost the 80% lead she had a month ago, so what’s she going to do…let’s watch and see. Todays question on CNN “Should McCain ask Palin to step aside”
Well, we know the answer to that at least! Hey, he sould have done that last week. Now he’s made his bed, so let him live with her. First Dude and all.
Obama/Biden 08 & 12
September 29th, 2008 at 3:01 PM
Sarah’s mouthpiece in Alaska Meg Stapleton
Strangely, the last time Meg Stapleton got national media attention was during her days at KTUU when a story she was filming made it to Jay Leno. While she was reporting a human interest story, at Christmas time, she knelt down by one of Santa’s reindeer. It got spooked and literally ran her over. Sometimes animals have pretty amazing instincts.
Does anyone have the Jay Leno video of Stapleton getting run over by a reindeer?
September 29th, 2008 at 3:03 PM
GJ in Idaho (15:01:18) :
What are the indications Todd is getting upset
September 29th, 2008 at 3:08 PM
Ha, Ha Ha! I couldn’t help but guffaw when Todd complained about Sarah not being available for her family. Imagine Ethel Kennedy, with all those kids, complaining about Bobby’s absence.
Seriously, this is a consideration anyone should make before accepting a job as big and demanding as this. Do you really think they might pull her after the debates because of family duties: i.e her baby? I’ve noticed at least they aren’t bringing the poor child to all these photo ops.
Wish all of you could be here with me as we harvest grapes here!
September 29th, 2008 at 3:08 PM
Kathy and Lean Pipe:
Rovito (I agree it sounds like a baby Rove) appears to be two different people. (And there are others who share the name.) At first I thought the Temple U thing might be a “made up” character (pretty easy to create a fake online identity what with all the professional networking self-service sites out there). But the actual Temple U (Geological and Urban Studies) website has a reference to him defending his thesis in 2006. http://www.temple.edu/gus/news.html He apparently continues there as a PhD student. http://www.temple.edu/chp/departments/publichealth/Current_PhD_Students.htm Recently was named a Schweizer Fellow. Has pretty good ratings as a prof, too. Apparently rated both sexy and funny. Were there any pictures of the encounter?
September 29th, 2008 at 3:13 PM
Sorry, I didn’t keep the link, but read it from one of the posts here on Mudflats…I think it was in this thread above, but have read so many today, I’m not sure.
September 29th, 2008 at 3:16 PM
snip Just as she did in Alaska debates, she will avoid any direct interaction with Senator Biden and attempt to establish a connection with the moderator/audience.
Interesting — that’s what McSame did, too. But his came off as snotty and dismissive.
September 29th, 2008 at 3:23 PM
Palmdale aka Moose Roadster Palin (15:16:50) :
I wonder if Sarah coached John in that tactic
September 29th, 2008 at 3:26 PM
Re: VP debate.
My guess is there will be no debate. There will be a bomb threat at the debate site at the last minute. Secret service would have to shut it down. That way McCain has deniability. The GOP campaign doesn’t have to do a thing, except thank the boys in black suits for doing a stellar job of protecting the candidates. Then they’ll be unable to reschedule because of “prior commitments”.
Hell, I should be working for the campaign.
September 29th, 2008 at 3:30 PM
Joe Biden sometimes sticks his foot in his mouth, bless his heart, but if he doesn’t (humorously) chew this chick up and spit out the pieces, I’ll be amazed. While Palin must be dreading Thursday, Biden must be licking his chops.
September 29th, 2008 at 3:45 PM
I gotta question-something I’ve been curious aboout. Why-when Sarah looks so much better with her hair up-is she so often seen with it 1/2 up-1/2 down? Is this to make her look more like “everywoman” and not too threatening to other women?
September 29th, 2008 at 3:51 PM
As far as the wire thing goes – did no-one think she had one when she did the Couric interviews? Seemed to me she was just repeating what she was being told.
September 29th, 2008 at 3:52 PM
1. I need someone fluent in Palin to translate on Thursday if this goes anything like the Katie Couric interview.
2. That is assuming that the debate happens, and I’m not convinced that it will. I may smell a family crisis brewing in Alaska.
3. Hair will be down if it does happen. I noticed a haircut that looked a little different in photos from the weekend- long layers, a little more professional than what she’s been sporting. I figured it was part of an image upgrade but it also would easily conceal a wire. Which she needs.
September 29th, 2008 at 4:00 PM
Whos on FirstNo Gravatar (14:29:41) :
I’m tending to agree with you. I doubted she’d show, but if she does, I think you’re right. But Joe Biden is extremely personable and he will try to “engage” her and don’t forget, Gwen Ifill is really sharp. Gwen is also an expert in these matters and I do not think she suffers fools well.
I will have to watch–as excruciating as I think it may be–but the real fun begins when the little speeches get looked at under the microscope on Friday…and Saturday…and Sunday..and
September 29th, 2008 at 4:08 PM
This link gets you to the joint interview Couric did with SP and JM. Repeating the “gotcha” meme.
http://cbs13.com/campaign08/palin.mccain.interview.2.828612.html?detectflash=false
September 29th, 2008 at 4:17 PM
whoever said that Biden should just let her talk because she’ll hang herself is correct. But I CAN’T WAIT!!!
September 29th, 2008 at 4:38 PM
Joe Biden will do great. He always does well in the debates. His problem comes in unscripted, off the cuff moments. I supported Biden in the primaries,volunteered for his campaign and got to meet him Iowa. He is a great guy and I think he will show everyone why he was chosen as VP.
September 29th, 2008 at 6:42 PM
Wearing a wire?????? As my husband just pointed out, this woman can’t walk and chew gum at the same time, so how could she do this?
September 29th, 2008 at 7:03 PM
OK Mudfamily.. I got through the first ten comments and I have to chat.
Joe Biden basically won a few of the debates earlier this year. He was very good and effective even though they only mentioned his gaffes he was very, very good. The pundits don’t want to mention this but it’s true.
I don’t know how John McCain got the motto “straight talk” for it really belongs to Biden. As an ardent CSpan and easterner I’ve seen alot of him over the years and like him immediately!
He knows his stuff and truly cares about people. That will show in the debate and if he can keep from calling her a “snotty b**ch” and not offer her a rag, he’ll be alright.
Back to your wonderful comments.
September 29th, 2008 at 7:16 PM
I wish I had the ability to read lips (even lipsticked pitbull’s lips), then I could stick in my earplugs, watch the debate and not have to hear her GRAAAATING voice. Minnie Mouse on steroids.
September 29th, 2008 at 8:28 PM
I am certain that there are several computer literate individuals
commenting on this site. Would you, if at all possible, try to hack
into SP’s wire and blast the shit out of her ear? OOPS! The shit is not
in her ear, it’s eminating from her mouth. However, it would be great
to see her jump out of her seat and have the Secret Service running
to her rescue. Maybe not a good idea. Don’t want the Obama/Biden
campaign blamed for something else they had nothing to do with.
WTH I don’t know anything about it. If someone does it, I have no
idea who suggested it. This comment will self destruct in
three days.
September 29th, 2008 at 9:33 PM
Huffington Post….must see
can anyone say Exxon Valdez
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/29/latest-palin-gaffe-cant-n_n_130395.html
September 30th, 2008 at 2:51 AM
This is just ridiculous. Since when do politicians walking through a crowd have “off the record, this doesn’t count” conversations? With VOTERS? Last time I checked, we were the ones who were responsible for making the decision of who gets elected and who doesn’t. If Palin were a man and not a woman, no one would be making these kinds of excuses.
September 30th, 2008 at 3:24 AM
Is McCain going to sit down with Palin to “correct the record” every time she puts her foot in her mouth? He looked like a father sitting down with his daughter to explain why she would be the best pick for the “homecoming queen”.
September 30th, 2008 at 3:47 AM
elie-
Wow, that’s about the impression I got. McCain talked FOR her, something I despise even when parents do it to small children, let alone a full grown adult PARTNER.
He picked her, and it appears that he is sticking with her. I don’t drink, so I will have to do chocolate shots…an M&M for each “talking point”, perhaps?
September 30th, 2008 at 4:24 AM
Where is the First Dud, anyway? Has he returned to Wasilla? Judging from the current situations of his two eldest, he’s never been competent at parenting regular kids. So who’s caring for their youngest, special needs infant? Is he being farmed around to a series of caregivers like the other Palin kids were? The first year of life is critical for all kids, but especially for a Downs syndrome child – in terms of careful observing and testing to determine the extent of his/her needs and potential.
And are McCain’s people on the scene in Alaska allowing Todd to hang out in the governor’s office, playing shadow governor, as per usual when his wife is out of town? And if anyone knows, what’s his formal education? Did he finish high school? Have any college?
On edit: Guess I posted this on the wrong thread – meant to comment on Todd’s bemoaning Sarah’s absence from her friends and family in another thread.
September 30th, 2008 at 5:04 AM
I think I read that her family is in AZ this week. Which means, of course, that the girls are not in school…
If Todd can’t handle the kids for a week or two, what’s going to happen if she (god forbid) got elected? She can’t hang up on a world leader to deal with an emergency with her child; she can’t take off from a meeting to go to Piper’s school play. And, since Todd likely has little interest in living in DC (people generally don’t drive snowmobiles in “the city”) he will be in AK with the kids while Sarah is in DC, perhaps with the younger kids. It will mean years of separation.
Maybe she should have blinked.
September 30th, 2008 at 5:11 AM
Kids are with gramma dearest – the same one who taught Sarah to be the conniving hypocrit she is.
September 30th, 2008 at 6:09 AM
There were two times during the Gibson and Couric interviews when she gave precise, confident, direct answers instead of rambling gibberish – when asked if Roe v Wade should be overturned : “YES” and when asked if assault rifles should be banned : “NO”. These are obviously the only issues (and maybe a few related subjects) that she seems to have pondered and has some opinion of. She obviously has never tried to understand any (other) national policies or issues, nor has she obviously ever followed or tried to understand anything on an international level. How much can you learn about all of that in a week or two? – you would first have to try and bypass and overcome her apparently lifelong lack of curiosity. So I think that if Ms. Ifill demands that a direct answer be given to each question, and if Biden does just that, then no matter how folksy and down-to-earth she tries to appear, her lack of knowledge and experience and qualification for the job will be apparent.
Obama/Biden ‘08 and ‘12 (hey, why not?) and I love your blog
September 30th, 2008 at 6:36 AM
I think Palin should bow out. There is no graceful way of quitting, but nobody would fault her for going back to Alaska because of another pregnant daughter. Or would they?
It is become more apparent that McPain/Palin will lose. So when she returns to Alaska you people need to put her behind bars for what she did to your state.
September 30th, 2008 at 6:41 AM
Another outrage…Tom Brokaw has been acting as a liason for the McCain campaign…He is scheduled to be a moderator for an upcoming Presidential debate… Another petition to sign if you are so inclined…posted it on the 29th so sorry, if you are reading this for the second time…
Care2 has a petition to boot Brokaw from the debate http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/boot-brokaw-as-de …
September 30th, 2008 at 7:18 AM
Palin at the debate is gonna have a ‘little chef’ up in her updo – it’s gonna be just like Ratatouille!