Joe Biden: The Solid, Unruffled and Likeable Dragon Slayer (Part IV) In the one and only vice-presidential debate early this month, the senator from Delaware, Joe Biden, had to walk on thin ice on how he would handle his opponent, the governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin. The latter made so many gaffes in the preceding two weeks in her interviews with Charlie Gibson of ABC and Katie Couric of CBS that their debate was described as one of record-low expectations. How much further down could one go from there? She would be declared a winner for just showing up. He must succeed in killing the dragon, the barracuda from Alaska and the favorite of conservatives. While Palin was repeating memorized sound bites and folksy lines, doggone she lost the economic argument and surrendered on healthcare issues where she didn’t even seem to know basic facts about Sen. John McCain’s proposals. The debate has shown the American people that Palin is not qualified (forget about ready) to be president or VP of this country. He stopped her cold when she repeated the McCain lies about Sen. Barack Obama. He prevailed on tax issues and repeatedly tied McCain-Palin to George W. Bush. He exposed her for what she is—all glitter and no substance. The audience was pleased at his performance fer sure in the debate in St. Louis. Those who know and admire Joe Biden were happy that a big national audience got to see him at his best – smart, sentimental, decent and warm. Notable was his ease in avoiding the gender trap of old-boy politicians for dismissing or condescending toward the rising class of new female rivals. He never betrayed any hint that he faced an opponent whose gender made any difference. He did not even correct her when she when she mixed the names of the US commanding general in Afghanistan (McKiernan) by calling him McClellan. His performance further revealed that he is capable of understanding complex issues, handling power responsibly and changing the standing of America in the world: giving America an opportunity to be proud. He weathered many lies Palin threw at him, e.g., ―Biden supported McCain’s military strategies adamantly until this race.‖ (False – He was an outspoken critic of Bush’s troop increases in Iraq as soon as he announced them after the 2006 elections); ―Obama supported raising taxes for those making only $42k.‖ (False – The budget resolution did not represent a vote to raise taxes. Obama made it clear he wanted to end tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans); ―Obama voted against funding troops in Iraq after promising he would not do so‖ (False - Obama was clear in his support for the funding but would not agree to an indefinite extension of the war) Joe Biden was direct, not verbose. Darn right, his answers came crisply in contrast to Obama’s more studied and sometimes pausing style of speaking. That he knew the issues was less surprising, given his experience, but he avoided speaking in the kind of senatorial vernacular that often distinguished anyone who has been in the capitol as long as he has. He also flashed his winning smile to good effect. He has shown that he is of a breed much higher and nobler than Palin’s background. He is the complete opposite of his opponent who is anything but a ―Yes‖ man. Their team is surrounded by the best people in the Democratic Party who are real experts in their field. Biden slew the dragon by showing tenderness towards and respect for his opponent, while sowing doubts in the audience about her qualifications. You betcha that in the process, he cut her off from independents and Hillary loyalists who might have moved over to her after the RNC in MN by sticking to the issues! He lashed out at her for bringing up and ―connecting‖ William Ayers with Obama as ―completely wrong‖ for a VP candidate to discuss. He limited her area of operation solely to the GOP base which is getting more frustrated angry every day to sometimes cross the line of acceptable behavior and violent tendency. Is it surprising that that the GOP may find it difficult to accept why Obama is winning this race? They may benefit from a little less rage and a little more introspection about their failure in judgment. Biden has shown that his selection by Obama as his running is not only a tribute to his good judgment but a clear sign that their main interest in this race is to put ―Country First.‖ RGS/AABR (10-14-08)