Jiminy cricket! It's consistent, I guess, with the Rove doctrine (does she know that?) of attacking your opponent's strengths.

Seems like a stupid idea to me. You can't cram for this kind of attack, even though some Republican analyst (Bay Buchanan, I believe) said last night that facts and figures weren't really all that important.

God help us.

I think the plan is obvious: she's going to try and rattle Biden into a moment of anger. They're planning to "win" the debate by drawing Biden into a gaffe, since they obviously can't win it on Palin's own foreign policy cred.

Of course, this plan hinges on Palin's ability to speak English. Aye, there's the rub...

Should be interesting. Bring the popcorn.

Politico is saying that McCain is pulling out of Michigan to focus on Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Florida.

I suspect that the polls showing that Obama is ahead in Florida are real thus McCain resources are going there.

There's gotta be more to this than meets the eye; classic Rovian "hitting your opponent where they're strongest."

But if it's true that Biden intends to ignore Palin and focus on McCain I'm not sure if going after Biden on a threshold he's already passed is the best use of 90 minutes time.

I'd fire right back and say that she said last year she hasnt payed much attention to Iraq, so she doesnt have the legs to stand on the attack.

Or, more likely, she's going to tie foreign policy into energy policy. It's the only angle she has and it's an area where Joe Biden isn't particularly well-versed.

"Penchant". I love that.

I bet they are thinking that Biden won't go on the attack himself b/c it'll only make him look "mean and sexist". Is the attack tactic even working for them anyway?

I am sure that Biden has prepared for that. I am sure he as prepared for Palin throwing his gaffes in face. I am sure that he will answer and pivot and attack McCain every time.

That's how I would handle it.

I think this is a head fake in an attempt to throw Biden off. McShame himself would be cautious to attack Biden on this front. Rove tactics aren't working so well this election and I doubt he has the ear of the campaign staff right now.

What a complete JOKE! Can someone tell Caribou Barbie to go back to her trailer in Alaska to keep an eye on Putin's head....

These guys arent smart enough to have a coherent strategy.... ALL BULLSHIT happhazard tactics...

Biden just needs to answer the questions with substance and provide a clear contrast to this idiot... Ignore her and BUST McCain in the MOUTH on the ECONOMY!!!!!!!!!!!

Game over. Lights Out. Fat lady sings. etc.etc.etc..

I'm thinking back to Steve Schmidt saying this election was going to be about personalities, rather than the issues. Wonder if he still wants it that way?

One has to imagine that they've resorted to a very simple formula for her.

"Sarah, when you hear _______ you say _______."

Then they give her a stack of 3 by 5 index cards (high school style) to memorize.

She doesn't have to understand anything -- just repeat talking points, act the bulldog and smile charmingly at the zingers she memorizes.

Look - I was just talking to the guy who is roofing my shed. He's not a hip Taos handyman - he's a middle aged Latino.

He left me with this today: O my god, it's terrible what's happening. Obama better win this election!

You are too funny!!

I enjoy all your comments, but this one made me cry from laughter. Just the visual of baby jeebus doing debate prep with Sarah.

Going on the offensive puts the focus on Biden and forces him to defend himself rather than going on the offensive against Palin. Also as has been mentioned, they're trying to rile him up and get him to explode to which they'll call sexism or intimidation or that he'll gaffe. Remember he's said in the past that he lies(exaggerates) when he's challenged and riled up.

However I was under the assumption that the debate set-up didn't really allow for a back and forth.

I hope Biden just shakes her hand at the beginning and end of the debate and doesn't go in for the cheek smooch. She'll probably have a big show if he does go in for the smooch.

The tactic could work. Biden won't be able to complain to the moderator if Palin is throwing bomb after bomb. That will make him look weak. In any event the Republicans have neutralized Ifill. She will not be able to act as a fair referee. That means Biden will have to defend himself from Palin's attacks. Joe might find them annoying and will be tempted to "pull rank" on her. If he does so, he loses. The tactic gives Palin a good shot at surviving and possibly winning.

Wait, according to the right wing blogs, Marcus Montoya's mother asked you not to mention his service as an exterminator.

I am absolutely sure that Biden has prepared for Palin attacking him. I am sure that he will take everything she says and pivots towards attacking McCain.

iam still tryin to figure why was mcbush campaignin in iowa the other day knownin thats the same that Barack where he is right now!!!

Let's make no mistake, Palin will be ready.
She'll be folksy, smile when she's being mean, will attack Obama & Biden on their positions/and flip-flops, have her talking points and zingers down, and will deflect questions and say things like "I wonder why Senator Biden didn't do that? Gosh, he's been in the senate a long enough time. In my home state of Alaska, the people expect us to do things in the first term. I guess when you're a senator the people don't expect you to do that much and Senator Biden seems happy with not doing much."

i take it they've decided to try and bait joe into talking down to her, by going after him on a field he'd be hard pressed not to show mastery over, and thus appear condescending. interesting.

Everyone calm down.

Palin could deliver every fucking answer and make sense and it still wouldn't erase all the stupid.

And Palin will not deliver every fucking answer or make any sense.

When has she?

One final piece of advice for Senator Biden.

Short succinct comments please. Leave as much time as possible for Sarah to blather on and on. The more she talks, the more she is likely to say something stupid. The same goes for you Senator.

Short anf sweet, and tell Gwin Ifill to let Governor Palin have your unused time.

Remember during that Iowa debate when your remark was Joycean, and all you said was "Yes". Recall how that was your best moment in all the debates.

Keep that in mind, Senator Biden, and give Governor Palin enough rope to hang herself.
Let her do most of the talking, that way you will be less likely to put your foot in your mouth.

"Yes" worked well for you.

Virtually nothing they have done so far has succeeded more than a day or two. All they have are tricks and gimmicks. Palin can attack all she wants but that doesn't make her any more qualified, and Biden is not unaware of his own weaknesses.

Demonstrating his superior qualifications to be commander in chief, John McCain today led his troops across the border out of Michigan without announcing it out loud.

There is no way the last 4 weeks of gaffes are going to disappear from the people's minds just because she gives a decent performance. I think Biden will be outstanding tonight.

Biden is going to do fine. He knows that people think that he's a blabbermouth. He also knows that he can't be seen as bullying. He probably wants to rip his own head off because he can't treat Palin the same way he would any other opponent, for fear of bullying her--he's smart enough to recognize this huge double standard at work here.

(And don't bother telling me about Rick Lazio and Hillary Clinton. Lazio was behind before the debates, a fact everyone conveniently forgets, and, he physically approached her while wagging his finger...)

Palin is going to be charming, and articulately incoherent--remember the "blizzard of words" that Charlie Gibson pointed out? She might have one-liners, but not much more. I don't think tonight's debate is going to change anything.

So my advice to Biden is to announce his wife does not support a referendum allowing Deleware to the the first state to pull in and then out of the United States.

With only 90 seconds to respond to any of the questions, poor Sarah may become extremely frustrated. Have we yet seen her speak succinctly, let alone articulately? (Well, OK, I guess there was that one "I'll get back to ya" line.)

She might be able to deliver and attack line, but it will be interesting to see what happens if she is called upon to answer Biden's rebuttel and has no script to follow.

They should have made this debate a series of multiple choice questions, in all fairness to Sarah and Joe.

Will miss the debate today, have to go to the VA Clinic for APPT. 3PM HI time. Schucks.

Everyone see this??

http://www.politico.com/blogs/thecrypt/1008/McCain_to_Politico_.html?showall

I think the thing to keep in mind as well is that Biden has probably never had such a coordinated and sharp team surrounding him before. This is the same team basically that prepared Obama for his debate. He'll be fine.

The dark side can't even keep its talking points straight!

Be deferential to the little lady...

Be scared of the Dame!

We're happy with Ifill.

It's gonna be all Ifill's fault.

Etc.

McCAIN DROPS OUT OF MICHIGAN!!!!!!!

ChicagoJoe, like a bad case of ChicagoBO does not know strategy from tactics. It was a phased withdrawal, nobody heard him mention the word victory in Michigan, and he mailed that Wolverine bracelet back to the mother in Ypsilanti.

this is getting over analyzed. just sit back and enjoy.

I wonder if this Michigan thing is anything like his "suspended" campaign.

Apparently the mcLame campaign has figured out that only when she's angry does SP manage to put words together and make some sense. So... somehow anger let's her "talk." And that reminds me of something I read yesterday. She's 44. Another sibling is 45. And a third is 46. Not sure where the 4th one fits in.

But... this is a lady whose mother had 2 toddlers at the time she born. Had to have messed her up somehow. I'm picturing this tiny baby getting very little attention. Unless she had a fit. Somehow her language development never took hold. Except for getting angry. (yup... a partner and soulmate to mcNasty!)

"I've BEEN to [name a Capital]! I've been there personally! I know all about what's going on there!"

GW Bush 1 did that with Ferraro and it fell like a lead Baloon.

Greg- elementary level of competence that has eluded her so far??? Now that was really funny. I still believe that a lot of commentators who are saying she is going to win the debate are going to be shocked by how well Biden's going to do. He is going to look hot and really be graceful and to the point. This debate style is good for him too.

My best guess is their strategy is to do anything to change the debate narrative, and consequently the news cycles thereafter, from the economy to foreign policy -- even if it's just a few hours. The non-stop coverage of the economy is killing McCain and he has to change the discourse to something (anything) more favorable to their strengths.

They know intellectually Biden will dominate her regardless of the topic, therefore they should at least try to force the topic to one more suitable to the Palin-McSame campaign. Furthermore, if they get really lucky and somehow force a Biden-gaffe on foreign policy, then that will be the headline, especially among the punditocracy.

They may have some success changing the narrative -- depends on how Ifill handles it -- but, I don't think Biden will fall prey too easily to gaffe mode.

"A noun, a verb and 'Don'tcha know'..."

This is the stupidest, riskiest strategy ever.

Palin's problem isn't really that she's stupid (she clearly is not) it's that she's a horrible bullshitter. She's too obviously bullshitting. Now they want her to bullshit the master bullshitter for 90 minutes?

She is going to be accusing him of doing things she doesn't understand at all. As far as she's concerned, she might as well be saying "Joe, you furdled, the frumpfrump off the credenza in 1999, why didn't you overglarb the freepot?". He can say ANYTHING in response, and she can't (by word or deed) point out the flaw in his answer.

You can't nail a good debater with one snarky question, you have to be able to follow up, and she can't.

So basically, she attacks him for 90 minutes, he treats her criticisms like softballs regardless of whether or not they are, and comes out looking like Mr 100% Right. The ONLY play for them is if he loses his cool.

McCain is betting his entire campaign on Biden making a gaffe. This has become typical behavior from their campaign, and I expect typical results.

Pointing out her lack of interest would at the very least highlight the stark difference between her absence on the issue and the fact that he has, indeed, given conditions in Iraq much deliberation. And he can pretty much use that tack in response to all her zingers since she's pretty much a blank slate.

Anyone watch that horse's ass Lou Dobbs? "This is all about character! Biden's a plagiarist. A plagiarist!" No mention of Palin's qualifications. Maybe he's already called this race.