The McCain campaign screwed this one up -- BIG TIME! Beyond their MO of distracting from McCain's marriage to Bush and the Republican base, they failed to see the big picture in their strategum of dumbing down Sarah BEFORE the big reveal that fell flat in this debate.
After the fold:
I admit it. I was giddy about the prospect of this debate. After all, Palin made an ass out of herself EVERY DAY this week on the CBS news with Katie Couric. We and the media have had a field day with how inept she is in interviews. And we couldn't RESIST the idea of this debate for more of the same -- that SURELY would result in great fodder for Tina Fey and Jon Stewart and Letterman.
And then she comes off as somewhat competent. At least she had answers to questions not asked of her. The media told us that her handlers were exasperated by her inability to be coached to debate. We were told she was kept at bay because the media is unfair. And we watched her fumble with no ability to explain her stance on the Supreme Court cases nor what it is that she reads -- news-wise.
I think where this backfired is that the media had a field-day with how crazy this VP pick is. And Tina Fey took off with it. Seemed like Democracts and Republicans alike were scratching their heads over this disaster. As it should be.
But the McCain campaign screwed up with how long to drag on poor Sarah's ignorance/newness/naivete. And it is disgusting, BTW, that she is played the victim in this circus. (Where, BTW, did the story of her supposed bandaged/sprained wrist spring from?). And nice touch that the McCain camp threw in the Ifill controversy over her upcoming book "about Obama" (so NOT about Obama)?
Palin is an actress. They told her to play dumb with Couric, and she did. Why were we so dismayed? She didn't come off that way during the RNC. Then she comes to this debate, and she (sort of) pulls it off. I mean, she had talking points. She didn't win it or anything. But how can one who seemed so inept at answering questions one day (make that four or five), turn around and get right in there? It smells quite calculated to me.
It was a huge risk, IMO. She's a tool. She seems okay with that. And her infant child is a tool (bringing him out on stage at 11 PM? Puhlease).
The debate isn't the story of today. It was a distraction that (maybe) the campaign succeeded at. We're not talking about McCain. We're talking about Palin. WAY TOO MUCH!
The biggest part of our news is the McCain campaign forfeits Michigan. It's HUGE!