VP Debate: Biden's strategy (poll)

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Sunday September 07, 2008 · 2:55 PM PDT

2008/09/07 · 14:55

I love Joe Biden. I love it when he gets passionate in his speeches. I love it because he is saying what I want to hear, the way I want to hear it.

Having said all that, before Joe goes up against Sarah Palin in the VP debate, I hope he'll spend some time reviewing the tapes of the Edwards/Cheney debate in 2004. Joe needs to emphasize his superior knowledge/experience without making it seem like he's beating up on Palin in a way that could be represented as 'mean spirited.' Dick Cheney may be a Dick, but he has an astoundingly good grasp of how to appear superior and polite and condescending all at the same time.

If Joe can do a good impression of Dick Cheney for a couple of hours on debate night, he will be able to effectively destroy her candidacy while at the same time revealing the incredibly poor judgment John McCain used in selecting her as his 'Presidential Soul Mate.'

While I really enjoy Joe's passion, I think it would be best for him to avoid the little hints of anger he likes to show to demonstrate his passion re: certain issues. Irritated passion may be red meat for excited Dems, but it is the very last thing he'll want to display in the presence of Palin for it would give her too much credit. The more intense he sounds in Palin's presence, the more gravitas he grants her.

Compare that to Cheney's calm, dismissive tone when he presents himself in contrast to his detractors. If Biden presents himself as 'Passionate Joe' in the debate it will actually de-emphasize his superior knowledge/experience vis-a-vis Palin. He needs to model for the Swing Voters the kind of attitude that they should have toward Palin. Mildly laughing at Palin like she's some kind of stupid kid would do the trick.

It's an approach that I think Joe could pull off quite well. It enables him to be polite even while being dismissive. She will undoubtedly give him many opportunities to answer her startling ignorance with wise commentary. I sure wish I could sit down with Joe for about five minutes so I could go over this with him...

Poll
294 votes Show Results
In his debate with Sarah Palin, should Joe Biden...

Get outraged at the direction she and McCain would take the country?

Be superior and dismissive of her mind-boggling incompetence?

294 votes Vote Now!
In his debate with Sarah Palin, should Joe Biden...

Get outraged at the direction she and McCain would take the country?

140 votes

Be superior and dismissive of her mind-boggling incompetence?

154 votes

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