Keep your expectations right for the VP debate

[Le Roi de Pot]

Lots of folks ( me included in a brain dead post that got pulled by the moderators on DU) assume that Sen. Harris will chew up Pence to bits.

Wrong. As I think about it, we actually have the inverse of the Joe's problem in terms of expectations. Here are some things to consider.


1) The format is different. She is a brilliant prosecutor who can lay bare the facts. But this is not a cross examination. It's a debate where the balance of power is somewhat different.

2) Pence can go after Kamala. Kamala plays Offense - and will need to play defense.

3) Pence is disciplined and and has been preparing really hard. Trump had some great attack lines prepped but was too chaotic to use them .. Pence will not make that mistake. Expect some hard blows to land ( based on bullshit lies if needed)


4) Pence was a radio host. He can talk and can deliver lines.

_________________________


Given these and the expectations - Media will be crowing about how Pence 'won'


But no one cares about the VP debates other than us political junkies... All Sen. Harris needs to do is stay positive and deliver her message and not worry about prosecuting Trump. Make a safe play.



We got this !!

[Newest Reality]

1. Q-Tip vs. Brickhouse. She's mighty mighty.

[The Magistrate]

2. Exactly, Sir

Pence is a professional 'voice talent', or was for some years. It is a skill not to be under-rated. The thing will be interesting.

[Mike 03]

3. One thing I desperately hope Kamala does is throw whistleblower

Olivia Troye, Pence's former Coronavirus Task Force assistant, in his face whenever COVID comes up.

Troye's allegations, IMO, are nearly lethal to Pence (as well as Trump).

[NorthOf270]

4. Pence knows how to lie smoothly

Unlike his troll boss.

[jcgoldie]

5. Pence wasn't so impressive against Kaine

Obviously a lot more disciplined and slippery than Trump. Still I don't expect him to be very effective on offense against Harris. And he's the defendant in this case.

[qazplm135]

6. This is just more

Our side being scared of success.

[BannonsLiver]

11. The OP has been quite doomy over the last few days

Has not gone unnoticed.

[Le Roi de Pot]

12. which other one ?

[Sneederbunk]

7. She needs to hit Covid Task Force over and over again and

the fact that Pence was its ineffective leader.

[MineralMan]

8. Rollllll Another One...

I just couldn't resist. Sorry.

[tinrobot]

9. Except, as VP, Pence has a lot more to defend.

One of the first questions will undoubtedly be about the virus. Pence has to play defense on that, along with a lot of other issues.

[ooky]

10. The Trump admin has a record and she has every right to make him defend it.

She just has a great skill set to do that, of course, so people will naturally expect it, and I'm sure she will. Every debate I have watched so far the Republican talking points have been the same - largely rhetorical nonsense about "socialism" and "liberal extreme agenda". That old stuff has standard push back. As long as she is prepared to defend her own record and make him defend his support of Trump she will be fine.

The problem for Republicans is that they don't have anything of substance. Ideological rhetoric and lies are all they have.