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Couric Interview Illustrates Palin-Biden Divide, and Biden Comes Out Worse
The National Post ^ | October 2, 2008 | Brian Kalt

Posted on 10/02/2008 9:21:55 AM PDT by AuH2ORepublican

Palin explained her opposition to Roe v. Wade (the 1973 Supreme Court decision that precluded states from banning abortion) on federalism grounds; that abortion is a matter that is best left at the state level. Then Couric asked her what other Supreme Court decisions she disagreed with. Palin should have said that she is not a close student of the Supreme Court, and perhaps named someone she trusts who is. She should not have fumbled through an attempt at a substantive answer. But she did.

Still, as a constitutional-law professor, I was much more interested—and disappointed—in the answers that Joe Biden gave.

I would have been much happier if Palin had given better answers to Couric. But her lack of knowledge of constitutional law would assumedly lead her to rely on others for advice on such matters. She doesn't know, but surely she realizes it. Biden, by contrast, has the smooth confidence of someone who has been immersed in these issues for decades. But he's wrong. To me, that's actually scarier.

(Excerpt) Read more at network.nationalpost.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Editorial; Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: biden; joebiden; palin; sarahpalin
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This commentary is spot-on. Sarah Palin does not claim to be an expert of Supreme Court jurisprudence, but she still has a better understanding of the role of judges in our legal system than does Joe Biden.

I had to excerpt it, so please click on the link above and read the whole thing.

1 posted on 10/02/2008 9:21:55 AM PDT by AuH2ORepublican
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To: AuH2ORepublican

Excellent essay and just reiterates the point that Biden has been in Washington forever but has done very little of value. He is still best known for plagiarizing a British politician. Palin’s newness to the process is superior to someone who has helped ruin it for over 30 years.


2 posted on 10/02/2008 9:29:11 AM PDT by freedomrings69
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To: AuH2ORepublican

UpChuck Joe is a wily old socialist ninny.


3 posted on 10/02/2008 9:29:29 AM PDT by at bay (My father was born with 28 ounces of flesh in 1924 then went on to become Mr. (Glenn) Holland.)
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To: AuH2ORepublican

The problem is that Biden is such a smooth talking liar that he is able to make people think he is an authority unless challenged by the interviewer, which would never happen with a MSM so called jornalist.


4 posted on 10/02/2008 9:30:31 AM PDT by Old Retired Army Guy (tHE)
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To: AuH2ORepublican

I’m really disappointed at the way Sarah Palin’s “knowledge base” has been handled by the McCain campaign. She obviously doesn’t have the national (and international) experience of the other principals involved. However, I believe that her JUDGMENT is far superior to any of them. The President and VP will both be surrounded by numerous advisors. The important thing is to be able to take that advice and translate it into solutions. I believe that is where the discussion of Palin’s abilities should be focused. Both Obama and Biden (and, yes, sometimes McCain) have proven track records as bad decision-makers.


5 posted on 10/02/2008 9:31:50 AM PDT by twhitak
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To: AuH2ORepublican; All

I’m surprised she did’t mention the death penalty for child rapists case, or the eminent domain case that lets anyone with more money get the government to coerce us out of our homes (castles).


6 posted on 10/02/2008 9:33:16 AM PDT by gleeaikin
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To: AuH2ORepublican

I saw Comic Interview when I looked at the title.


7 posted on 10/02/2008 9:34:07 AM PDT by <1/1,000,000th%
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To: twhitak

Neither Obama or Biden have ever had to make a decision of any consequence. Their careers have been as legislators who only cast votes along with many other legislators. Most if not all of thier votes were cast based on political motivations.


8 posted on 10/02/2008 9:35:41 AM PDT by Old Retired Army Guy (tHE)
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To: twhitak

“I believe that her JUDGMENT is far superior to any of them.”

Exactly. we are supporting a principled conservative, not a Jeopardy champ.


9 posted on 10/02/2008 9:43:24 AM PDT by Rennes Templar (If the election were today, Obama would win.........in Europe.)
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To: gleeaikin

I would have said the Dred Scott decision.


10 posted on 10/02/2008 10:01:24 AM PDT by Mr Ramsbotham (Laws against sodomy are honored in the breech.)
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To: gleeaikin
That latter being the Kelo decision, and it was the first one that came to my mind.
11 posted on 10/02/2008 10:08:57 AM PDT by RonF
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To: Rennes Templar

We should expect a bit more from our professional politicians. I, a naturalized US Citizen only since 2006 and a software engineer by trade, can do better than her on that particular question just from reading FreeRepublic 10 minutes per day for the last 8 years.

If we do not expect and demand that our elected officials be on top of their game, we end up with the likes of George Bush — a terrible communicator and an easy target for the leftist media. That, my FRiends is counter-productive for our cause and leads directly to the left taking over and implementing their agenda.

I do expect my federal elected officials to be experts on Federal Constitutional Law. I don’t want them to apply “judgment” when it comes to the Constitution. I want them to know its true meaning and protect it faithfully.


12 posted on 10/02/2008 10:09:09 AM PDT by tarator
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To: twhitak

You put it into the words I’ve been thinking. It’s her JUDGEMENT that I trust. I believe she will do what is best for America and her citizens. To some extent, McCain will do what he thinks is best for America, too.

The other two - no way!! They are only interested in themselves and their judgement is extremely suspect.


13 posted on 10/02/2008 10:23:24 AM PDT by KEmom (Please send viable Republican candidates to Massachusetts!!)
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To: tarator

we end up with the likes of George Bush

Palin will not be a W


14 posted on 10/02/2008 10:58:47 AM PDT by Rennes Templar (If the election were today, Obama would win.........in Europe.)
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To: gleeaikin
Too bad she didn't remember her US history or she could have thrown out a couple of historic cases which everyone now thinks were wrongly decided--the Dred Scott case and Plessy v. Ferguson.

But she should have been able to remember Kelo or some of the recent cases having to do with Gitmo.

Obviously the campaign should have better prepared her, but there is something unfair about expecting her to be a quiz-show expert on lots of topics that she won't have to deal with as V.P. I don't think Biden or Obama has ever faced hostile questioning of a similar character, ever.

15 posted on 10/02/2008 11:04:23 AM PDT by Verginius Rufus
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To: AuH2ORepublican

I found Sarah Palin to be unknowledgable, unresponsive and incoherent.

And her views as stated in the interviews aren’t even pro-life.

Which at least partially explains why McCain picked her.


16 posted on 10/02/2008 11:10:20 AM PDT by EternalVigilance (Because she thinks states' rights trump unalienable rights, I'm anti-Sarah Palin. Live with it.)
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To: twhitak
I believe that her JUDGMENT is far superior to any of them.

If that gets communicated well enough, she wins the race.

17 posted on 10/02/2008 11:12:40 AM PDT by TheFourthMagi
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To: AuH2ORepublican

Joe Biden plagiarized a paper in law school and was almost expelled for it. During the Clarence Thomas hearings, Biden assured Thomas that he would ask simple questions in an “I’m your pal” type way, then proceeded to play gotcha with him. Biden lacks integrity. In my opinion, a lack of integrity is a more important disqualifier than the fact that a candidate cannot name her least favorite S.Ct. opinion.


18 posted on 10/02/2008 11:14:17 AM PDT by keepitreal ("I'm Barack Obama and I approve this message. . . until I don't.")
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To: EternalVigilance

Sarah Palin is 100% for the Right to Life. She stood up for it more strongly than any candidate for the Vice Presidency (or Presidency) ever has and she did that in nationally televised interviews.


19 posted on 10/02/2008 11:15:32 AM PDT by TheFourthMagi
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To: keepitreal
There needs to be a McCain campaign commercial against Biden.

Seriously.

Plagiarism, stand up Chuck, FDR Television, what looks like a total lack of sobriety on stage, and critiques of Obama. All of it.

20 posted on 10/02/2008 11:18:41 AM PDT by TheFourthMagi
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