E. J. Dionne: Now let’s Have an Obama-Palin Debate

[babylonsister]

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/postpartisan/2010/01/lets_have_an_obama-palin_debat.html


Now let’s Have an Obama-Palin Debate
E. J. Dionne

snip//

The session was a reminder of how few occasions there are in American politics (outside of presidential debates) in which average citizens get to see the parties square off and test their ideas in a real back-and-forth. It’s a flaw in our system. Congressional debates occasionally do this, but many of these are now highly stylized -- and they are not in the easy-going, easy-to-follow format of Obama’s encounter with House Republicans.

But if the meeting was good for Obama with his base, it was also useful for his effort to win back middle-of-the-road voters. Obama was occasionally tough in his repartee, but his overall style was friendly, and he repeatedly spoke respectfully of Republicans. For example, he praised Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.) as “a pretty sincere guy.” But underscoring his overall point of how demonized he was in Republican circles, Obama immediately noted that he didn’t want his kind words to be used against Ryan in a Republican primary. So he added: “I didn’t mean it. Don’t want to hurt you, man.” Even the Republicans had to laugh.

More seriously, Obama went thoroughly post-partisan at many points in the discussion, notably with these words:

We’ve got to be careful about what we say about each other sometimes, because it boxes us in ways that makes it difficult for us to work together, because our constituents start believing us. They don’t know sometimes this is just politics what you guys -- or folks on my side do sometimes.

Criticizing your own party at the same time you are criticizing the other party goes down very well with independents.

The Q&A was a smash success, and we need many more. Let’s have Obama do the same kind of session with the Senate Republicans. Then, let’s have him debate potential 2012 Republican presidential candidates, starting with Sarah Palin, and then, perhaps, Mitt Romney. I’m quite serious. Tens of millions of Americans would turn on to politics again. The potential Republican candidates will accept, if only for the publicity and a chance to prove they can take on Obama. And no, let there be no media moderator, no one keeping time, no one to give one of the participants a chance to hide. Just the two of them, and they can take the discussion wherever they want. The beauty of the Baltimore event was that it was just Obama and the Republicans, with no one outside politics getting in the way.

This sort of discussion would be far more enlightening than the average run of televised politics. And it would serve as a reminder that the president is a politician, not a king. The opposition has a right to challenge him. The power of the leader in a democratic republic comes not from force but from persuasion. Let the Republicans step up and test Obama’s ideas against theirs. It will be fun to watch, and good for the country.

Here’s hoping that what happened in Baltimore is the start of something big.

[dkf]

1. I'm not sure I could watch that. I'd feel sorry for Palin

Can't stand to watch when people embarrass themselves.

[calimary]

4. Huh? I could watch the Tundra Tart make a fool of herself ALL DAY LONG!

I'd make a party out of it! Can't be too much of this particular individual making a public embarrassment of herself. If she's put in this kind of position where she inevitably would, it wouldn't be mere entertainment, it'd be a public service! Might wake up a few independents who've been lulled to sleep, too, imo.

[dkf]

5. lol!

I can't do that... I'd need to leave the room. Its like watching the auditions for American Idol. Too painful.

[calimary]

10. See, that's the sadist in me - those berzerko so-bad-they're-good auditions are my favorite part!

:shrug: :rofl:

[BlueIdaho]

2. Nope - little Sarah's 15 minutes of fame are up.

No reason to elevate her to something she's not - relevant.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. I agree.

We should be doing this every chance we get, and not just on the national level. The possibilities are limitless...

No mediators, no time clocks, no interference.

NO hidden wires up the back, either.

It's a revolutionary idea, and it's about time.

K&R

[monmouth]

6. The Republicans did a wonderful thing without even trying. That

invitation was gold and the electorate on both sides will want more. E.J. is being funny here. At least I think he is. The Queen of the Tundra would ski, run, skate so fast so far Tawd would have to put a search party out for her. Thanks Pubbies, let's do this again sometime, hear????

[butterfly77]

7. On one hand I would love to see him..

kicking her ass all over the place but,on the other hand I would really be embarrassed for her and it may gain her some more sympathy.

However,there are more pluses than minuses because it will awaken another segment of the public to the fact that she is very,very,very unqualified.

[SKKY]

8. Right, and I suppose you'll want the tax payers to foot the bill for the...

...therapy Palin will need after she gets demolished on national TV.

[FrenchieCat]

9. Most pundits are salivating at a Obama vs. Brown Debate!

and they will be working for that one hard for the next three years.

He's tall and White, and has a hot daughter.
As far as the pundits are concerned,
that is all that is needed to bring
the "Independents" over to the GOP side in 2012.

Hope the WH knows that the media will be building up Brown
every chance they get.

[Jennicut]

11. There is not enough of a difference on social issues with Brown to matter

And was for the Mass healthcare but against something similar from Obama and Congress.

[lapfog_1]

12. It's hard to debate the insanely stupid.

They have "facts" that are based on nothing more than stuff they've "read on the intertubes" and other facts they simply pull out of their asses.

I know, my B-in-L is just like that (and loves sister Sarah and Faux, of course).

[Dappleganger]

13. First, she'll need to earn the right to debate him.

Ask John McCain, that's how it works. Otherwise, IMO he should continue to ignore her as if she's dead space.

[scheming daemons]

14. Yeah! And the undercard can be a Muhammed Ali vs Peewee Herman fight

That would be just as compelling.

[johnaries]

15. Palin? I dunno, it's hard to debate word salad gibberish.

Obama likes to debate particular points rationally. Palin can't make a rational point - just cheerleading "keywords". Let's face it, Tina Fey's protrayal of Palin in the 2008 Biden-Palin debate was pretty accurate.

[elocs]

16. Palin doesn't deserve or merit the attention. She's neither in Obama's league or weight class. n/t

[Robb]

17. Indeed. nt

[treestar]

24. Exactly.

There is no way Obama should waste his time.

The Republicans should find a more worthy opponent. Even they can come up with someone better than Palin.

[Mopar151]

18. There's a TV show ready-made for this

"Are You Smarter than a Fifth-Grader"

[timeforpeace]

19. We are we so scared of Romney? It going to be him vs Obama, let's get on with it.

[CakeGrrl]

20. On what merits does she warrant the President's time to bother with a debate?

She's an EX-governor and a failed VP candidate. What is she now?

[IDemo]

21. Mind if I call ya "Barry"?

Err, no thanks!

And, while I do like the idea of him debating any and all other repubs in 2012, I think they learned their lesson and will scatter like cockroaches if the topic comes up.

[NYC Liberal]

22. LOL - there was an article that said her handlers told her to ask Biden that

because she kept calling him "Senator O'Biden" in the debate practice sessions, every time despite them constantly tell her that wasn't his name. :crazy:

[RoadRage]

23. The Republicans learned a harsh lesson on Friday...

that Obama knows how to take hardball questions, answer them, and then turn the tables. Republicans (Senate, Governors, House, etc) won't make that mistake again.. ever. Sadly, that was probably the first and last debate of that kind we will see for a while if ever.

Kudos to Obama for doing it.. it was a risk that paid off high dividends!

[livetohike]

25. I don't think we need President Obama to debate Sarah Palin

or any other 2012 wannabe until the actual nominations and Presidential debates happen. That just elevates these people (Palin/Romney et al).

Such a joke to even think Sarah Palin could debate President Obama on any issue. She's a nobody and frightening to think any journalist believes Palin is Presidential material.

[themaguffin]

26. NO Fucking Way. She is not worthy of the time. Don't shoot down.