Debate Demeanor

Thu, October 02, 2008 - 8:13 PM

9:20 p.m.
Sarah Palin is playing to the camera. She smiles a lot and looks into the camera while Joe Biden is speaking, as if to say, "Can you believe this?"

That might work if, when it's her time to speak, Palin rebutted the points she has been grinning about. Instead, she goes off into other areas, such as what she did as governor. There's a disconnect between her demeanor and her words.

Her rebuttal is mostly facial mannerisms. And, what's the problem with her hair? It's getting in the way. Her bangs are apparently hitting her left eyeball, and she's blinking a lot to get the bangs away. But that's not working, because she keeps blinking. All this is ironic because of her comment in an interview with Charlie Gibson that she doesn't blink.

Biden may be boring, but he's staying on point. He's responding to points she raises.
-- Marsha Mercer