Joe Biden said it just right:
"That's sort of the Rovian way of doing things," he said. "You know, I think it's a political skill set that Republicans have used with some effectiveness over the years and so it's not surprising to me."
And what she didn't mention:
"She never once mentioned the word Afghanistan, never once mentioned the word Pakistan," he said. "The phrase 'middle class' was not mentioned once."
abcnews
More, after the fold.
He praised her delivery but said the speech lacked substance. He also said that some of the criticism of her smacked of sexism and was "over the top, totally unfair."
snip
On ABC’s "Good Morning America," Mr. Biden, the six-term Delaware senator, said, "It was a very skillfully written, very skillfully delivered speech. "But there was not a word about the middle class or health care or how people are going to fill up their gas tanks or a single word about how we’re going to get our kids through college."
NY Times
On the Today Show this morning, Biden said that Palin had given "one heck of a political speech" and she would be a "formidable opponent" and a "very skilled debater."
Here's a link.
Today Show: Biden: Palin speech lacked substance
He's building her up for the debate. :-) But also pointing out that she's not talking about real issues for regular folks. And nothing about Afganistan or Pakistan, where Osama really is.
The best line:
"They don’t want to defend the past and they don’t have any clear picture for what they’re going to do for the future."
NY Times
Another key point:
"She is a governor of a state. She warrants respect. The only thing I have to find out and you have to find out are what are her views. I have made no judgment as to whether she is qualified or not."
NY Times
The American people will have a judgment. Biden knows that he doesn't need to say anything. People can see for themselves. Her lack of qualifications is obvious to all but right wing fundamentalist Christians. Even to Peg Noonan, although I think she's backtracking quickly. :-)
Biden refuses to be painted as sexist, the strategy of Karl Rove's protoge, Mr. Schmidt:
"No one has to wonder about there being a sexist bone in my body," Biden said in an appearance on Good Morning America. "And the truth is, some of the stuff that the press has said about Sarah and that others have said about the governor, I think, are outrageous. Look, I think kids are off-limits, flat off-limits."
"I think this stuff about how can she be a governor and vice president and raise three kids, c'mon, whoever those folks are don't know any strong women," he continued.
abcnews
Building her up, so when he knocks her down in the debate, it means something. And he's right to stay on issues. As Obama said, families are off limits.
(Of course, Romney and Palin had shots about Michelle Obama. Compare, for a moment, Michelle Obama, Harvard educated lawyer, who made it on scholarships and loans, who epitomizes class and decency, with the Sarah Palin who says
"Know the difference between hockey moms and pit bulls? Lipstick," Palin said, provoking applause and laughter in the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota, and in the Wasilla living room.
cnn.com
Ha. Ha, Ms. Palin. That's Wasilla humor, I guess. And she has the temerity to criticize Michelle Obama, no matter how obliquely? Palin is an embarassment. Can anyone really imagine Sarah Palin as President of the United States if McCain were to die in office? Can America afford dumber than Bush? I can say that, but Joe Biden knows exactly what he's doing in the way he is approaching Palin.)
Biden's debating her and he's setting her up. Joe's going to keep talking nice about Palin, and keep hitting her hard on issues.
I'm looking forward to the Biden/Palin debate. Right now, Joe Biden is just reeling her in. Sarah Palin is out of her league in going against Joe Biden. This ain't Wasilla. It's the big leagues.