You're No Joe Sixpack
In a propaganda interview with right-wing gasbag Hugh Hewitt yesterday, Sarah Palin said the following:
I think they're just not used to someone coming in from the outside saying you know what? It's time that normal Joe six-pack American is finally represented in the position of vice presidency, and I think that that's kind of taken some people off guard, and they're out of sorts, and they're ticked off about it.Given Palin's penchant for repetition, I think there's at least a 75% chance she uses the phrase "Joe Sixpack" at some point during the debate. If she does, Biden should pounce (with a smile on his face):
Governor, I know Joe Sixpack. Joe Sixpack is a friend of mine. You're no Joe Sixpack.After the laughter dies down, he can launch into a discussion about the problems everyday Joes face in this economy and how Republican policies have made things worse.
posted by A.L. at 9:00 AM
20 Comments:
I've long thought there is something of a Walter Mitty, the wonderful character created by James Thurber, mindset at work in part of the electorate. The belief that Joe Six-Pack can rise to any occasion, given the need, and fix any problem. Competence be damned; all he/she needs is common sense and a pocket knife.
Biden should not say that.
It will just give
everyone an excuse
to say he plagerised
Lloyd Bentsen.
What Biden should do
is pre-empt.
Biden should either
claim Joe Sixpack himself
or joshingly
refer to Palin as
Josephine Sixpack.
Wasn't Hewitt one of the Harriet Miers dead-enders?
Hewitt loves gimmicks and gambits like picking Miers
---
Debate:
Palin: The DC is elite doen't get Joe Sixpack and I represent Joe Sixpack
Biden: I knew Joe Sixpack, Joe Sixpack was a friend of mind, and Gubernor - You ain't no Joe Sixpack
Palin: Well then you can call me Josephine (laughs) - But I know John McCain and John McCain knew Llyod Bentsen. Llyod Bentsen was a friend of his.
Senator, Lllyod Bentsen would not like you plagerising him.
Biden: That was uncalled for. My Dad used to say ...
I don't know. That plagiarism retort seems a bit of a stretch. She'd probably bungle it on the way out too.
simple:
I know John McCain
John was friends with Llyod Bentsen.
Senator - Llyod Bentsen would not like your plagerising him.
(she could practice - but even if she did not say this or bungled it - the GOP, cable news - Hannity etc - would use this as pretext for Kinnock stuff)
Biden is not clever and un clever people should not try to be clever.
Forget this nonsense. Joe Biden needs to tell the American people that this country is in too much of a mess to vote for their next-door neighbor. After all, we've seen that the Presidency matters, government matters... We've seen the results of voting for "Joe Six-pack" the last eight years. How'd that work out for the American people? Fewer jobs, economic collapse, foreign policy disasters, diminished respect and influence in the world, fewer civil rights, more nuclear proliferation, and... perhaps the most important... less honesty, openness and accountability. This is too serious a time in America's history for the gimmicks of wedge issues, labels, and 30 second ads to affect a person's vote. Instead, this time, I hope the American voter will make their decisions based on what's best for the future of America and its children.
Frivolous vs serious? Personality vs qualifications? Wedge issues vs American issues? Good idea. People are afraid out here in America. I watch their faces and listen to their conversations. Biden would do well to focus on government's role of doing what individuals cannot do for themselves. Can an individual set regulations for investment banks?
Can an individual negotiate with foreign countries to reduce nuclear proliferation? etc. The only thing the talking heads can say positive about her is her personality. He could take that off the table by using the frivolous vs serious arguments throughout the debate. Short sweet dismissive answers to wedge issues like abortion[was great on Meet the Press], guns[Supreme Court has ruled on that and I believe in the Rule of Law], and any other that individuals can decide for themselves. I really believe this might work.
Noooooooo! Don't encourage Joe. He needs be straight and serious. Trying to avoid the lines that will inevitably incur the Great Republican Hissy Fit. In essence, he needs to be a wonk. Preferably, a personality-less wonk and just sit back and let Palin get all tangled in her tricky web of words.
It's time that normal Joe six-pack American is finally represented in the position of vice presidency...
No offense to "Joe Six-Pack", but isn't that akin to Senator Roman Hruska's response to the charge that Supreme Court nominee G. Harrold Carswell was mediocre, where he said that there were a lot of mediocre people in the country and they deserved representation too?
Folks, this is a serious time... Recite the recent job numbers, manufacturing numbers, the national debt, and all other economic reports out there. None of them are good. We need a SERIOUS discussion of the issues.
Joe Biden can't play on the sarcastic, mean field of Palin.
It seems that the absolute LAST thing Biden should try to do is to manufacture a cute soundbite that the networks can play over and over and Chris Matthes can obsess about.
Biden should lay low, stay substantive, and simply allow the soundbite to be some crazy inanity spouted by PALIN.
Why give the MSM any other shiny toy to play with?
Advice to Biden: stick to the basics and keep it simple for the Joe Sixpacks in the audience, but do not pose as one yourself.
Iraq was based on lies and never should have happened. Deregulation is a failure and blew up the mortgage market. Even Plalin's Wasilla witch doctor can't make voodoo economics work. Tax cuts for the wealthy have had only one clear result: the rich got richer. The only thing trickling down to Joe Sixpack are pink slips, foreclosure notices, and high gas and food bills. Bush and McCain are the guys who wanted to privatize Social Security ... imagine if your retirement had been kicked into this stock market run by greedy con men! Iraq, voodoo economics, high bills, social security, greedy con artists.
That's the way to talk to the Sixpackers. Forget about being professorial and don't waste time responding to the snide digs her handlers prepare. Take it to them on this level.
Oh Sarah, you're so sweet and pretty, but I'm afraid you're the one whose "out of sorts", hon.
"Normal" Joe six-pack American does not need to be "represented" in the position of the vice presidency. I know it's tricky, but this isn't a college admissions process - we want the exceptional, smart people in charge.
Besides, who do you think Dubya was pretending to represent? Look how well having that good ol' boy (wannabe) as Prez'dint worked out.
Above is an error - Bush was not Joe Sixpack.
That was BS. He was actually just a decadent older money guy than his dad.
Bush was also was not a Creationist - even though he would wink in that direction.
Palin actually is what Bush was falsely thought to be - She is a Creationist and she is a cute working class gal.
Chris Matthews is a troubled soul.
Not that I think he's coming here for advice, but I don't think that Senator Biden should make any jokes that could be interpreted as being at Governor Palin's expense.
Nor should he try to help her if she gets into difficulty. One, that's not his job, and no matter how he did it, someone would find it condescending. I imagine Palin has been coached to express resentment if he makes any effort to help her. I thought George H.W. Bush looked like an ass when he tried to lecture Rep. Ferraro back in 1988.
He should stay on topic, keep his answers short and crisp, and as much as possible "debate" against John McCain rather than Palin. If she becomes confused or incoherent, he should as much as possible act like she gave a perfectly sensible answer. Let the viewers decide for themselves that she isn't up to the job. People who inclined to support her won't appreciate his pointing out her incompetence.
Hank Gillette has it right.
But if Palin does stumble, Biden should help her out in an ironic way: "What I think the Governor means is ..... ", then offer a sharp criticim of what (he thinks) she said. That way he can appear helpful and courteous while twisting the knife.
Biden owns 0 aipplanes.
Obama owns 0 airplanes.
McCain owns 1 airplane.
Palin owns 1 airplane.
Wha is that about elitism?
Ha. You called it. I cringed when she said it.
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