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Locally, The Debate Rages On

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 4, 2008

Toughness In High Heels

Thank God someone finally said it. It was Sarah Palin who said that it's time for American citizens to take responsibility for personal finances and do what your parents told you to do, which is to not overextend yourself with credit.

For so many years all of us hockey moms and Joe Six-Packs have been complaining about slick-sounding politicians who cannot be trusted, and then along comes a candidate who does not sound like a snake-oil salesman, and "Saturday Night Live" flambes her for not being slick enough.

I think it's refreshing to hear her refer to the other party as "you guys." I trust someone who sounds like the people I grew up with over a guy who says "Let me say that again" three times, as if we're all too stupid to get it the first. She even speaks a little "Southern belle" when she mentioned the big oil companies, "bless their hearts," and we all know what that means. It's not a compliment.

Seeing her poise and well-spoken manner reminded me of the famous quote about Ginger Rogers' dancing skills: She did everything Fred Astaire did except backwards ... and in high heels.
Sarah Palin held her own with Joe Biden, and she did it in heels for an hour and a half.

CYNDI GANG

Valrico

A Real Vice President
Joe Biden clearly won Thursday's debate. While Sarah Palin did a good job presenting rehearsed talking points, Biden looked like a real vice president. He presented a clear case for why he and Barack Obama represent the change Americans need - away from eight long years of Bush-McCain policies.

Palin's talking points sounded a lot like a continuation of Bush. She called leaving Iraq the "white flag of surrender." She said she agreed with Cheney's expansive view of the vice president's powers, and she promoted economic policies that would shower tax cuts on corporations and the super-wealthy while leaving the middle class behind.

Biden made clear that Obama would make the middle class his priority, bring our troops home from Iraq responsibly and restore America's leadership in the world.

SHAMA RENEE-MCINTOSH

Dover

Beauty Pageant Tactics
Sarah Palin proved in the vice presidential debate that she is not suited to be vice president of the United States.

If the job called for a folksy manner and the ability to rattle off rehearsed passages on safe topics, she'd be a winner. The job, however, calls for someone who can address the hard topics and think on his or her feet.

Biden showed that he can do both while Palin only showed that her beauty pageant tactics don't measure up to the needs of the job.

ANN MORRIS

Plant City

Judgment Lacking
Joe Biden clearly won the debate. While watching, I was struck by how different the candidates were.

Biden responded with detailed answers concerning his stances on the issues. Biden successfully pointed out the similarities between the Bush administration and McCain and Palin.

The debate didn't feature a Katie Couric-level disaster, but Palin proves why McCain doesn't have the judgment to be president.

HOLLY BAKER

Apopka

She's Not Ready Yet
Sarah Palin did a better job than I was expecting, but it was obvious to me that she had been coached a lot. She avoided certain questions she was not prepared to answer. If John McCain were to win the presidency and something were to happen to him, I fear she would not be making the presidential decisions that need to be made. The people coaching her would be telling her what to do and say. They would be running the presidency, and they were not the ones elected.

I do not feel she is ready to become our commander-in-chief at this point. On the other hand, I feel Joe Biden could take over the presidency if something were to happen to Barack Obama.

CECILIA LAKUS

Tampa

Mrs. Palin Goes To D.C.

When I listen to Sarah Palin speak, I am reminded of Jimmy Stewart in "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington." His character was plain-spoken, down-to-earth, and in some ways, naive. He was vilified in the press, labeled a bumpkin with no business being in Washington. Remind you of anyone?

When you watched that movie, were your sympathies with Mr. Smith or his antagonists? Did you ever think the day would come that you would root against him? What changed?

BOB KENISON

Tampa

Didn't Answer Question

Gov. Palin proved she could go toe to toe with Washington.

Palin asked Sen. Biden a simple question he had no answer for: How come you changed your position? He had said Sen. Obama wasn't ready to lead. Biden smiled and never answered the question.

He just continued to misrepresent Sen. McCain's voting record and pump up Obama's weak resume. In the process Palin proved she was indeed an inspired V.P choice. She also made the point that had the Senate listened to McCain in 2005, we wouldn't be in this economic mess today.

Maybe now the media will actually report Biden's misstatements and "Saturday Night Live" will devote their skits to Delaware Joe's helicopter flight, his memories of the Depression, his shotguns and Hillary-would've-made-a-better VP-than-me gaffs.

GREG STEINMULLER

Plant City

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