With Palin expectations so low, how can Biden win the debate?

[Youphemism]

Biden is going into this with his hands tied. With an opponent who will skewer Biden and Obama at every opportunity, he has to be respectful. Once it's over, any non-disastrous performance by Palin will be hailed as a victory.

What would Biden have to do to win?

I hope they at least have a plan, knowing that Palin will be twisting the knife, to allow him to come back at her in some way. For instance, when responding to a question that Palin has already addressed, he could say, "I didn't hear Governor Palin actually answer the question. Here's what we need to do..."

When attacked on voting records (she admits she's been studying them), he should be ready to cite McCain's voting record.

There's no question that she'll come in with guns blazing. She'll give a cutesy smile as she does everything but accuse Obama's mother of being a whore, because she knows Biden has been urged not to say anything negative.

What else can he do to respond harshly, without being attacked for it?

[Mojambo]

1. Get out of the way and let her fail

Biden should focus exclusively on McCain and let Palin try and defend his positions. If she understands them that is.

[Bigleaf]

2. Show up?

;-)

[krawhitham]

3. talk as little as possible and let her bury herself

[DCBob]

4. He doesn't need to "win" the debate.

All he needs to do is keep tying McCain/Palin to Bush and the Republicans. That's it. We win.

[Cha]

5. She fails if the American

people say she fails. The corporatemedia brought us 8 years of bush and the War on Iraq..just because they're stupid greedmongers doesn't mean the People haven't woken up en masse.

[SDJay]

6. She'll be nothng but nasty snark

and about 3-5 memorized talking points. The attitude she tosses out there will not go over well, and she'll implode when she tries to bend those few memorized talking points into the context of the question she's asked. Agreed with the take above - just answer the questions, don't let this idiot draw you into a heated exchange and watch her throw up all over herself. When a train is running off the tracks, there's no reason to step in front of it to try to give it an extra shove - just let it go, as the result will be the same, but there's no need to expose yourself to harm. I'm sure Biden understands this.

[Youphemism]

9. Agreed. But the snarking thing bothers me...

I've already made another post that is very much in sync with what you've said. He should basically all but ignore her.

But the media coverage is so over the top that Don Knotts could deliver an acceptable performance. She has carte blanche to skewer Biden and Obama, and they're very limited in what they can say in response.

Sure, Biden can run rings around her quoting facts and experiences. But I hate to see him just have to sit there and take punishment when she does all that nasty snarking.

It would be good to have some non-sniping ways ready to respond. Hopefully he'll at least have a few shots at McCain handy, so he can throw a few jabs himself without being labeled a disrespectful sexist.

Everything I've seen from this woman so far suggests she's going to smile and say some of the nastiest things we've ever heard in a debate. Her camp knows they're sniping from behind rocks on the high ground, and they have some of the most vicious folks in politics helping her.

[renate]

7. there is no way the pundits will say she won

I can just about guarantee that the highest praise the talking heads will be able to come up with is "She didn't embarrass herself" or "she did better than expected" (unless she channels FDR or something). But that's not the same as winning. She is SUCH a laughingstock that there is just about a zero probability that they will suddenly be filled with love and admiration for her or her mannerisms or her intellectual abilities--that would make all their criticism of the past several weeks null and void, and they won't want to look like they were wrong.

[eissa]

8. He wins if he can

completely ignore her. Focus on McSame and his ancient policies and ties to this disastrous administration. He needs to be careful not to talk too much or over her. She's a sideshow and should be treated as such.

[gmoney]

10. I think he should rip her to shreds...

Just have no fucking mercy... if she leaves the stage in tears, so much the better.

I'd say that if he was debating Lieberman, Romney, or anyone else for that matter.

I'll put your pit bull against my shark any day.