Ifill questions why people assume that her book will be favorable toward Obama.

 

"Do you think they made the same assumptions about Lou Cannon (who is white) when he wrote his book about Reagan?" said Ifill, who is black. Asked if there were racial motives at play, she said, "I don't know what it is. I find it curious."

 

So Ifill is insinuating that the way the people are reacting is racist. Why am I not surprised?

 

LINK

I've heard Wash U is nice this time of year. And now the Senate has passed a bill paying for kids to have wooden bows and arrows, so that's nice.

I agree and I certainly think her book warrants discussion with regard to the debate. But to say that she's not going to be fair to Palin is far fetched. As far as financial or self-interest, it is most certainly in hers to remain a debate moderator for years to come - this is largest audience she will see all year and by an incredibly wide margin. If she is biased she won't be asked back. Jim Lehrer and the late Tim Russert both were Democrats, but no one would think twice about having them moderate a debate. Why? They are professionals. So is Gwen Iffel.

Dick Morris says that having a book on the New York Times best seller list is worth $350,000 minimum and Morris has written best sellers of his own. If Obama loses, there will be no "Obama Era" for at least four years and no best seller for Ifill. Having Ifill moderate the debate is like having an NBA referee work a game seven playoff game after placing a large bet on one of the teams.

Why don't we wait until the debate is over, to actually see how it was moderated. I'm just wondering if McCain is going to be setting beside her again.

^Would somebody with hundreds of thousands of dollars riding on the outcome of this election be tempted to share the questions with one of the campaigns? Even if the questions are fair and even if Palin performs well, the process has been tainted with Ifill's blatant conflict of interest. McCain's campaign is also at fault for failing to discover Ifill's connections to Obama before agreeing to allowing her to moderate tonight's debate. However, Ifill should have disclosed her conflict to the debate commission and to both campaigns.

Habib, you stated this: The polls won’t move noticeably after the debate. Don’t expect them to unless something extreme occurs

If something extreme does occur, and by that I mean Palin comes across as incompetent, I think the campaign is all but over for the GOP. The Republican base is skeptical right now and this might just be the last chance for Palin to save herself.

 

I expect a good performance by Palin, mainly because we are expecting so little. From all I have read, the debate should be set up well for Palin. Chuck Todd (whom I like for some reason) said this morning 1/3 of VPs go on to become President. Biden may try to hammer that point home and show she is not set up to do as such.

http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/News/PoliticsAndMoney.aspx?GT1=33002

 

Interesting read. Apparently, Palin and Biden are poor (by politician standards) and wouldn't have a net worth of $1 million between them. McCain & Obama (counting wives net worth) are worth millions.

 

Whomever wins the election will be the poorest VP we have had in years.

 

Onto the debate. Palin needs to demonstrate that she is grasping the foreign policy stances of McCain. Biden needs to seem cordial (which will be a tough one for him) but firm in his convictions. Should be interesting.

IMO, Palin will best serve herself is she sticks to short, sweet and direct answers. Every interview I've seen, she tries to embellish her answers, many times rambling around and around and never getting to an answer. That won't work at all in a debate. If she does perform in this way, Biden needs to keep his answers short, sweet and direct and he'll come out smelling like a rose.

Why don't we wait until the debate is over, to actually see how it was moderated. I'm just wondering if McCain is going to be setting beside her again.

 

I agree. I find it interesting that McCain himself has said he expects the moderator to be fair and balanced. McCain said that.

 

I also find it interesting that no one in McCain's campaign caught this book deal before now or blew the whistle. Why was that? She was named 4 or more months ago. If it was that important they could have asked for a different moderator and probably had that done well before now.

I agree. I find it interesting that McCain himself has said he expects the moderator to be fair and balanced. McCain said that.

 

I also find it interesting that no one in McCain's campaign caught this book deal before now or blew the whistle. Why was that? She was named 4 or more months ago. If it was that important they could have asked for a different moderator and probably had that done well before now.

 

 

If he complains about it, the appearance of crying would be all over the media. MSNBC and a few others, would have labeled him the biggest whiner in the country had he said anything about it.

 

There also is the other possibility that in an attempt to appear unbiased, she could be harder on Biden and overcompensate for any hint of impropriety. Kinda like the coach who is harder on his own kid to not show favoritism.

 

This could actually work in the Republicans favor. Many in the public will be looking at the moderator for any signs of being biased, magnifying anything she says/does. This could actually help Palin. Notice I said could not would. You have to consider all possibilities.

 

How long has the book deal information been available? I understand that it is scheduled publishing date is the day after a new president is sworn in.

IMO, Palin will best serve herself is she sticks to short, sweet and direct answers. Every interview I've seen, she tries to embellish her answers, many times rambling around and around and never getting to an answer. That won't work at all in a debate. If she does perform in this way, Biden needs to keep his answers short, sweet and direct and he'll come out smelling like a rose.

 

I agree the way this debate is set up, it should see that. I expect both to do well. Palin won't look bad like she has the last few weeks, and Biden won't look like a sexist, which Republicans are just waiting to do. I don't expect nothing gained or lost by either side after this debate. If Palin does bad she can kiss her national political career over. The way the polls are going McCain needs her to do well.

For those defending Ifill, and say that she can still be fair (just like other Democrats who have moderated debates): I would be curious to know if your reaction would be the same if we had a series of Republicans moderating the next several debates.... Would they immediately be disqualified in your minds?

 

Just wondering...

I am having a hard time grasping the point that if Palin doesn't bomb, she wins. Are Americans that ignorant? If she just repeats her talking points, with a few ramblings which include topics that don't have anything to do with the question and are on the verge of not making sense, Americans will believe she can hold the seat of VP? And after all the republicans said about Hilary needing to step up and not complain about the boys picking on her, it should not matter how tough Biden is on her. If she doesn't like it, she can go hide "behind her apron strings". (that was a comment from a Rep. pundit about Hilary during the primary) As a woman, I feel that she needs to perform at the same level as the men. If she does not, then she shouldn't be in that position.

For those defending Ifill, and say that she can still be fair (just like other Democrats who have moderated debates): I would be curious to know if your reaction would be the same if we had a series of Republicans moderating the next several debates.... Would they immediately be disqualified in your minds?

 

Not at all. Is Brit Hume a Republican? I could see him moderating a debate.

If something extreme does occur, and by that I mean Palin comes across as incompetent, I think the campaign is all but over for the GOP. The Republican base is skeptical right now and this might just be the last chance for Palin to save herself.

 

If Palin delivers a miraculous performance, the McCain campaign will still trail in the polls, but will be very much in contention. But if she gives the bumbling answers she gave to Couric and Gibson, the campaign may as well turn it in. Palin won't have to answer follow-up questions like she did in Couric's interview, which is to her benefit. Conventional wisdom suggests that Biden press her on poor answers similar to that of a follow-up or attempt to draw a distinction between his answers and hers. But, that's a risky venture for Biden. It's probably in his best interest to ignore her answers.