Calling all Palin defenders

I thought the purpose of a debate was to take questions from the moderator and address your comments to answer the question asked. Since when does a debater tell the moderator what she wants to answer and avoid the officially asked question altogether? This is definitely a new process in the field of debating. This is totally unacceptable! Thank you, LORD, that Joe Biden was able to carry on the tradition in its true and correct format!

Georgia B. Njagu
Graham

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After having watched the full extent of the presidential debate and the vice presidential debate, I am convinced that of the four principal candidates, only one is clearly not experienced enough or suitable for the office sought. That one is Barack Obama.

Quentin Haning
Raleigh

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Joe Biden clearly won Thursday’s debate. While Sarah Palin did a good job presenting rehearsed talking points, Biden looked like a real vice president. He presented a clear case for why he and Barack Obama represent the change Americans need — away from eight long years of Bush-McCain policies. Further, Palin’s talking points sounded a lot like a continuation of Bush. She called leaving Iraq the “white flag of surrender,” she said she agreed with Cheney’s expansive view of the vice president’s powers, and she promoted economic policies that would shower tax cuts on corporations and the super-wealthy while leaving the middle class behind.

In general, Joe Biden made clear that Obama would make the middle class his priority, bring our troops home from Iraq responsibly and restore America’s leadership in the world.

Caroline Griswold
Durham

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After watching the vice presidential debate as many Americans did, I cannot help but cringe at the thought of Gov. Sarah Palin’s being in the White House at all, let alone in the second-most powerful position.

She said Biden kept referring back toward the past eight years and that we should not be concerned with the past but look toward the future. Well, Governor, it is quite hard to do that, as Biden pointed out, when McCain’s agenda is almost the exact same as the Bush administration’s.

The only reason it may have appeared Palin held her own during the debate is because she dodged all the questions her opponent Joe Biden asked. Instead of addressing the issues of creating new energy sources, how education will be funded, and how children and families can afford health care, all she could do was wink at the camera and do her “Drill, baby, drill” oil chant.

She has turned the debate and the entire election into a mockery. The painfully obvious only reason she is on McCain’s ticket is to bring in women voters and the Republicans who thought McCain was too liberal.

Joe Biden is one of the most experienced congressional leaders today and has extensive foreign relations experience. He is quite possibly the best vice presidential candidate that this country could have and the mere comparison between him and Governor Palin just makes me realize how low this country’s government standards have become.

Tracy Fehr
Durham

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I watched the debate and saw what a good vice president looks like. Joe Biden was thoughtful and knowledgeable, and while respectful (for instance not pointing out Sarah Palin’s not knowing the name of the commander in Afghanistan), he made it clear that McCain is no “maverick” but would continue Bush’s failed policies. Palin didn’t answer many of the questions asked — several times it was apparent that was because she didn’t understand the question —  but instead gave her inappropriate, folksy, rehearsed speeches, accompanied by her cutesy mannerisms.

The few times when the real Palin did come through, it was scary — like her agreeing with Dick Cheney about expanding the powers of the vice president.

We need to elect people who have spent their lives working for the working people of this country: Joe Biden and Barack Obama. This IS the most important election any of us has ever voted in.

Katherine Seaton
Pittsboro

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While I was relieved to see that the woman who may soon be a 72-year-old heartbeat away from the presidency did not repeat the Katie Couric debacle, the vice-presidential candidate was still frightening, especially compared with the experienced, well-informed, (surprisingly) eloquent Sen. Biden.

A candidate like Gov. Palin who answers a question about the sub-prime mortgage debacle with talking points on energy policy is clearly not informed or sharp enough to get what’s on America’s mind or lead in these troubled times. Repeating talking points is not leadership and will not work in an international crisis.

I get that Gov. Palin is a working mom with an interesting family who can relate to “Joe Sixpack.” As a mom, small-business owner and W. Va. native with a slew of nutty relatives, so am I. And guess what? That doesn’t qualify me (or her) to lead the free world.

The debate showed that John McCain’s first major presidential decision was politically motivated and dangerous. If he’s elected, this irresponsibility could jeopardize America's future.

Tara Hun-Dorris
Raleigh

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Sure, Governor Palin did fine: She can string words together and she can study hard and pass a test.

But we are talking about the vice presidency of the United States of America, not 10th grade history.  And as much as she wants to distance herself from Bush, can we really even remotely imagine another four years of “nucular”? 

Her “plain-spoken” “Washington-outsider” way of talking diminishes the seriousness, gravitas, critical importance of this role in our country. I am not amused or in any way entertained by her. I am insulted by her demeanor; I am ashamed that any of my fellow Americans could even consider someone of her limited experience and ability to take the office of vice president; I am embarrassed for women that someone of so limited intelligence is being modeled for a role of leadership (crafty, sly, sure — but intelligent? thoughtful? insightful? nuanced? worldly?) She’s a perfectly fine person who’s entitled to her opinions and beliefs, but God Almighty, she is not vice presidential material.

Isabel Geffner
Chapel Hill

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In the VP debate Thursday night, Joe Biden was clear and concise about what he and Barack Obama would actually do to bring the troops home, make things better for the middle class and improve the economy. 

While Sarah Palin was more confident than she has been in recent interviews, I felt she had been well-rehearsed on what points to make and what to say in response to the points Biden would make. Joe Biden stuck to the real issues and brought home the fundamental differences between Obama and McCain. It was obvious that he spoke from a voice of experience while as she admits, she is “only five weeks into this” and has little  experience. And it is clear she is not in touch with main street issues if she thinks she is a part of the middle class.

Elizabeth J. Fusaro
Durham

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We need no more evidence that Sarah Palin is not ready to be vice president. The popular question behind the recent debate was, “How well will Palin do?” The answer is, better than most people expected. 

But the fundamental question, “Who is better qualified to be VP?” was also answered resoundingly. Joseph Biden could step into the Oval Office tomorrow. No objective observer could conclude that Palin will be ready anytime soon.

From her wrong-headed reading of the Constitution to her charge that criticizing the current administration is somehow being tied to the past, Palin showed that she is out of her depth. Reciting predictable Republican talking points does not make her a cogent thinker. Being perky and homey does not make up for her lack of knowledge and experience in federal government. 

John McCain’s first executive decision — picking the person to replace him if necessary — was woeful. Who dares believe that Palin is capable of leading us through the morass we are inheriting from George Bush?  

I hope undecided voters see that John McCain, through his own rash judgment, gives them only one choice for avoiding the frightening risk of a Palin presidency: vote Obama-Biden.

Don Clement
Durham