Debating the Debate

My friend Jason told me yesterday that he was looking forward to the Veep debate like few other political spectacles he could remember. Another train wreck like Sarah Palin's interview with Katie Couric, he judged, and this thing "would be all over."

Did that happen? No, but it was close.

My take on the debate is that it came through loud and clear that Joe Biden had the intellect and temperament to handle the responsibilities of high office. Even to those who disagree with him or don't like him, it had to be clear that Biden knew what he was talking about. After a few overly complicated answers early on, he hit his stride marking out clear differences. He vigorously supported his ticket and tied John McCain to the Bush administration's policies. He was devestatingly effective at critiquing John McCain's record without being at all vicious on a personal level. I actually think he holds McCain in some esteem, and that came through to me. When Palin floundered, he was neither dismissive or derisive, but treated her with respect. He responded to her points. He was composed and coherent. He also seemed very genuine to me -- these are issues he really cares about, and has cared about for a long time.

Sarah Palin didn't embarrass herself, but she didn't exactly move the chains for her ticket, either. On issue after issue, he showed mastery and understanding, while she mouthed platitudes and repeated talking points. I guess she stayed on message, and hit reliable GOP talking points. But she talked way, way too fast, and sounded to me like many of the high school debaters I faced: Excited, nervous, and eager to talk her way back to key points written down on her notecards.

She was better than she was on Couric, but not much better. Asked about her Achilles heel as a politician, for example, she could only produce a lot of vapid happy talk. Her answers on rights for gay couples didn't make sense to me. And it seemed to me that Biden was more familiar with the details of McCain's policies than Palin was.

I don't think she's stupid -- in fact, I never have. She's no towering intellect, but she's moderately intelligent. She can rub a couple thoughts together. But the cutesy demeanor and can-do attitude do smack of the class-president elections. I can certainly see how they would be reasonably effective in a campaign for small-state governor or even Congress. But people pay attention -- really pay close attention -- to the Presidential elections, and will not forgive a candidate for vast shortcomings. As Palin said herself, "I've been at this now for, what, five weeks?" Yeah, exactly, Governor.

In baseball, they often talk about a prospect's "tools." That doesn't mean talent, but rather their raw abilities. Tiger fans were deliriously excited about Cameron Maybin's "tools" as a player, but understood why the team traded him for the polished talent of Miguel Cabrera.

I can understand why Republicans have been excited about Palin, who displayed some of the political "tools" that helped her win in Alaska. In addition to having a folksy charm, she shows some abilities like poise, positivity and adherance to message which are important for a politician. But she's about 20 years away from being ready for the debate she had last night. Her grasp of the national issues is no better than that of most callers to political talk-show programs.

For those of you who think bashing her inexperience and featherweight grasp of the issues is somehow sexist, here's a dose of equality for you: If she were a male candidate, the label that would stick to her right now is "Empty Suit."

By contrast, Biden was polished, prepared and yes, presidential.

Her performance stopped the bleeding; It wasn't enough.