Either Palin doesn’t understand the difference between “X causes Y” and “Y causes X” (which seems unlikely) or she doesn’t know how to express those relationships in English.
Ifill says “The knock on you, Governor, is inexperience. The knock on you, Senator, is lack of discipline. Each of you, what’s your real weakness?” Palin seemingly doesn’t think she has one; she just rants about how great her experience is.
Does she really think that “Shining city on a hill” comes from Ronald Reagan?
Biden picks up Palin’s “I know everything because I’m a mom” with an emotional account of being a single parent; chokes up. Middle class. Middle class. Middle class. Palin doesn’t respond at all at a human level. Maverick John McCain. Biden hammers the “maverick” into the ground.
Final question: What long-established view have you had to change? Biden: That judicial temperament and brains is enough. I was wrong. Ideology counts.
Palin. I signed budgets I didn’t believe in. But I’ve never compromised on principle. (Seems to thinkthat chaning your mind on something important is compromising on principle.)
Final Q: how do you change the tone? Biden: Don’t question motives. Palin: waffle waffle waffle. Cut taxes. Cut spending. Energy independence.
Final statements.
Palin. Proud to be an American. Fight for our freedom. Another Reagan quote, this one possibly genuine: freedom is always only one generation away from extinction. Don’t want to have to look back and tell our grandchildren about the time, back in the day, when men and women were free. John McCain is the only one who’s fought for you.
Biden: Change. Things have been getting worse. Middle class. Dignity and respect. We believed you could work hard and make it. We want to bring that back. When you get knocked down, get back up.
Final handshakes, with apparently genuine smiles. Huge cheers from the audience. Both candidates did better than could have been reasonably epxected.
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