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Saturday Night Riffs Palin-Couric and Obama-McCain Debate

By Jeralyn, Section Media
Posted on Sun Sep 28, 2008 at 12:05:45 AM EST
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The clip should be making the Internet rounds shortly. A very funny version of last night's Obama-McCain debate -- with Hillary waiting in the wings to debate Obama in case McCain didn't show.

It mocked them both, but I think McCain came off worse. What did you think?

Update: I only tuned in at the debate point and missed the opening skit. Here's the opening skit with Tina Fey as Palin and Amy Poehler as Katie Couric. It's very , very funny. Palin could not seem dumber. The musical guest who came on after the debate was just terrible, I thought it was a joke. Someone named Duffy who had one move, throwing one arm in the air, couldn't sing and had the same hairstyle as Sarah Palin, only blonde. Paris Hilton has more talent.

This is an open thread.

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    Saturday Night Riffs Palin-Couric and Obama-McCain Debate | 53 comments (53 topical)

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    I thought Tina Fey's (5.00 / 2) (#1)
    by Korzhanenko on Sun Sep 28, 2008 at 12:10:59 AM EST
    "I'd like to use a lifeline" in the opening skit was the line of the night.

    I missed it (5.00 / 1) (#3)
    by Jeralyn on Sun Sep 28, 2008 at 12:19:29 AM EST
    I tuned in right when the mock debate started.

    Parent
    go to the SNL site (5.00 / 1) (#4)
    by byteb on Sun Sep 28, 2008 at 12:20:57 AM EST
    the Palin sketch is up now. It was on Youtube for a nano second before it was pulled.

    Parent
    only the promo is up (none / 0) (#7)
    by Jeralyn on Sun Sep 28, 2008 at 12:24:50 AM EST
    do you have a link?

    Parent
    HuffPost has it up: (5.00 / 0) (#9)
    by byteb on Sun Sep 28, 2008 at 12:32:30 AM EST
     http://tinyurl.com/3ufdcw

    I spoke too quickly..the SNL site was only the promo..but HuffPost has it now.

    Parent

    The other skits are now up also (5.00 / 0) (#50)
    by andrys on Sun Sep 28, 2008 at 09:32:36 AM EST
    at HuffPo

    The McCain monotone is perfect.

    And the skit of Bill Clinton's "endorsement" is pretty funny too.


    Parent

    The Palin sketch was great (5.00 / 1) (#2)
    by byteb on Sun Sep 28, 2008 at 12:19:04 AM EST
    And I loved Amy Poehler's Katy Couric. Her tone of voice and expression as she listened to Fey's Palin was perfect.

    Loved the blinking (5.00 / 1) (#5)
    by Korzhanenko on Sun Sep 28, 2008 at 12:21:27 AM EST
    The incessant blinking after each dumb answer was way too hilarious. And the "as you get backed into a corner, you become so adorable" - LOL!

    Parent
    Yes! (5.00 / 0) (#6)
    by byteb on Sun Sep 28, 2008 at 12:23:33 AM EST
    and the head tilt too.

    I loved Tina Fey's hand gestures. She has Palin down to a "T".

    Parent

    I thought her takeoff of Couric's interviewg (5.00 / 0) (#45)
    by andrys on Sun Sep 28, 2008 at 08:04:50 AM EST
    almost upstaged Fey if that's possible.  It was all so hilarious.  I've had a difficult time watching Couric with her earnestly half-solicitous/half knifey ("people say that you...")  and now I don't think I'll ever be able to watch her again without doubling up.  Just great timing those two have.  Too bad Poehler is leaving SNL before Nov 4.

    Parent
    At this point, I'm not sure (5.00 / 1) (#10)
    by andgarden on Sun Sep 28, 2008 at 12:36:21 AM EST
    the "Palin is stupid" shtick is going to be helpful, even though the skit was funny.

    The problem is that expectations are so low for Palin on Thursday that she's almost guaranteed to "win."

    McCain being exposed as a totally phony hot-head though--that was worthwhile.

    The Obama/Biden camp agrees (5.00 / 0) (#12)
    by byteb on Sun Sep 28, 2008 at 12:47:30 AM EST
    with you. Politico reports that during a conference call, David Plouffe said that(after reviewing tapes of Palin),she was a 'terrific debater' and a skilled speaker who will do very well in the VP debates.

    Parent
    The good news is that almost no one (5.00 / 1) (#13)
    by andgarden on Sun Sep 28, 2008 at 12:51:31 AM EST
    really cares about VP candidates.

    The bad news is that everyone is going to be paying attention this time. And Joe Biden is going to have a really tough time threading the needle.

    Parent

    While I think very little of Biden, I'm pretty (none / 0) (#16)
    by tigercourse on Sun Sep 28, 2008 at 12:55:59 AM EST
    sure he's going to mop the floor with Palin. I wasn't so sure a few weeks ago, but because of the current meltdown people aren't in the mood for moose hunting and ... whatever else she's done.

    Parent
    Substantively, yes. (none / 0) (#25)
    by andgarden on Sun Sep 28, 2008 at 01:06:23 AM EST
    But I think it's likely that style issues will get in his way. And more importantly, Palin is being handed this debate on a golden platter. All she has to do is seem half-competent. (Of course, she might again come across as an idiot, and she would likely be finished in national politics forever).

    Parent
    I agree... (none / 0) (#14)
    by Thanin on Sun Sep 28, 2008 at 12:52:22 AM EST
    but, seriously, after those interviews, how can this perception possibly be changed?

    Parent
    ya (none / 0) (#28)
    by connecticut yankee on Sun Sep 28, 2008 at 01:09:43 AM EST
    She is a good debater.  Her problem is that she doesnt know the material.  If she can digest it in time she does know how to use it.

    Im sure a solid week of prep will help her quite a bit.

    Parent

    One Excuse... (none / 0) (#18)
    by Brillo on Sun Sep 28, 2008 at 12:57:38 AM EST
    After another for not criticizing Palin.  I'm still waiting for the backlash over the attacks on her that first week or two that I hear should be coming any day now...

    Come off it.

    Palin is in so far over her head it's not even funny.  And sorry to break it to all the handwringers, but the American people see it.  They're gonna turn on the debates, see Palin, hear Palin, and think back to stuff like the SNL sketch.  It's not gonna form a good picture in their minds.

    Parent

    I'm making a specific point (none / 0) (#22)
    by andgarden on Sun Sep 28, 2008 at 01:02:51 AM EST
    about the debate on thursday. There won't be a backlash, there will just be glowing coverage for the brilliant Sarah Palin, who somehow managed to match wits with Joe Biden.

    Parent
    A 5th grader could match wits with Joe (none / 0) (#24)
    by tigercourse on Sun Sep 28, 2008 at 01:04:41 AM EST
    Biden.

    Parent
    Well, that's a sword that cuts both ways, no? (none / 0) (#26)
    by andgarden on Sun Sep 28, 2008 at 01:07:11 AM EST


    Parent
    Good thing he's debating. . . (none / 0) (#47)
    by LarryInNYC on Sun Sep 28, 2008 at 08:18:44 AM EST
    someone who has yet to master the third grade social studies curriculum.

    Parent
    I Don't Buy It. (none / 0) (#37)
    by Brillo on Sun Sep 28, 2008 at 01:28:42 AM EST
    The clueless/uninformed/stupid/out-of-her-league criticisms are only dangerous for us if they're untrue.  There is no smart, worldly, well informed Palin lurking behind what we've all seen these last few weeks, just waiting to pop out during the debate with Biden to impress everyone.  

    Parent
    Do you understand how debates work? (none / 0) (#38)
    by andgarden on Sun Sep 28, 2008 at 01:33:02 AM EST
    You don't have to be a rocket scientist to do well.

    Parent
    Do You? (none / 0) (#40)
    by Brillo on Sun Sep 28, 2008 at 01:36:14 AM EST
    Because just 24 hours ago you were declaring the debate a disaster for Obama...  

    Parent
    The first 15% seemed like it (none / 0) (#42)
    by andgarden on Sun Sep 28, 2008 at 01:39:23 AM EST
    Obama did not take the opportunity to land a knockout punch on the economy, and he just wasn't comfortable.

    Parent
    hm (none / 0) (#51)
    by connecticut yankee on Sun Sep 28, 2008 at 11:27:15 AM EST
    Well, she did the convention well and reports are that she was a good debater in AK.

    It's the material that is killing her in interviews.  They will be planning for that and giving her safe places to retreat to if needed.

    Assuming she'll tank is a huge mistake. We should build her up because beating expectations is her  bread and butter.

    Parent

    Portraying the first female Gov of Alaska (none / 0) (#19)
    by nycstray on Sun Sep 28, 2008 at 12:57:57 AM EST
    as stupid, is stupid. Especially after the beating women have taken lately . . . and are still taking.

    I doubt anyone's going to believe the Obama camp's assessment of her "good" debate skills pre-debate. Somebody should have clued in Wolfson what the talking point was before he went on Fox though.

    Parent

    That's how she comes across (none / 0) (#21)
    by Jeralyn on Sun Sep 28, 2008 at 01:00:45 AM EST
    should we ignore it? If we do, it's at our peril.  

    Parent
    I don't think she's stupid (5.00 / 1) (#32)
    by nycstray on Sun Sep 28, 2008 at 01:12:35 AM EST
    not up to speed maybe, but stupid? Nope.

    We should take a journey back and look at young Obama about 18mos ago  ;) Of course, if we called him "stupid", we were racist, lol!~

    Parent

    No one called her stupid (5.00 / 0) (#35)
    by Jeralyn on Sun Sep 28, 2008 at 01:22:01 AM EST
    you are the one accusing people of that. Criticizing how she comes across -- and she does come across as clueless on just about every topic -- is not saying she's dumb. It's saying she appears dumb.

    Parent
    I was working off of this (5.00 / 1) (#41)
    by nycstray on Sun Sep 28, 2008 at 01:36:46 AM EST
    "Palin is stupid" schtick

    as a portrayal, I think it's a bad idea. And I would even stay away from "dumb". Inexperienced is much better, imo. And the perceived "peril", larger. Also, lowering the bar on her to the "appears" stupid, dumb could really bite.

    Actually, she should be treated like the boys. Not that she's one heart beat away (OMG!!!), or appears dumb or stupid. How about, "Does she look Presidential?" "All she needs to do for this debate is hold her own and appear Presidential." "This is an opportunity to show America she can lead. Let's see how she does." "She needs to stay on the offense and not defend too much. She won't look Presidential if she's always on the defense." Sound familiar?  ;)

    Parent

    The main problem is incoherence. (5.00 / 0) (#46)
    by andrys on Sun Sep 28, 2008 at 08:15:19 AM EST
    Her sentences too often don't make sense.  At the least it gives an indication of how she thinks and it doesn't appear that there's a whole lot going on there without some confusion shown, and caused, when she tries to explain things.  

    Obviously she's a smart-enough person to even have become Governor in the atmosphere that is Alaska and to deal with the oil companies in a way that surprised them, which is why people caution us not to underestimate her.

      But she seems laser-beamed onto specific interests like the pipeline and doesn't seem to like to think about other aspects of her job (it's said she neglects them) or the world.

      The other day she asked a rally crowd to go on and ask her questions and try to stump her. She said this a couple of times.  I thought that was odd, and the campaign folks sort of got her away from there soon after.

    Parent

    At this point (none / 0) (#43)
    by lilburro on Sun Sep 28, 2008 at 01:59:45 AM EST
    I think her appearance at the debate will seem as if she is returning from the moon.  Who really knows what she is like?  The story has been the lack of stories from her camp.  And now she's going to be sequestered, again...

    The McCain camp is undermining Palin's potential by allowing this "she's inaccessible" storyline to develop.  Hillary was certainly not like that..and right now, with McCain down in the polls, it seems like a loser running away from losing...and who is inspired by that?

    Parent

    ya (none / 0) (#52)
    by connecticut yankee on Sun Sep 28, 2008 at 11:31:27 AM EST
    SHe's not stupid.

    She's uninformed and from what Ive read she lacks curiosity.  Bush has similar traits, though he was further ahead on the prep, and he was still elected twice.

    We need to be real careful here.  It's a mistake to think she'll blow the debate.

    Parent

    I'd rather debate George Bush than Sarah Palin (none / 0) (#29)
    by andgarden on Sun Sep 28, 2008 at 01:10:44 AM EST
    Quite honestly. And I mean in 2004.

    Parent
    BTW, I'd put Obama as slightly favored (5.00 / 1) (#11)
    by andgarden on Sun Sep 28, 2008 at 12:38:18 AM EST
    in Indiana now. it's because McCain let loose against Ethanol subsides. They're stupid, of course. But politicians aren't allowed to say anything bad about welfare for farmers.

    Really? (none / 0) (#15)
    by Steve M on Sun Sep 28, 2008 at 12:55:54 AM EST
    I would have thought that anyone who is a single-issue voter on ethanol subsidies would have already known that McCain is their most famous opponent.

    Parent
    Well, it's a kind of a wedge issue (none / 0) (#23)
    by andgarden on Sun Sep 28, 2008 at 01:04:35 AM EST
    and you can't always assume that people know the relevant info.

    Do you know how many Americans probably still think that John McCain is pro-choice, or at least did a couple of weeks ago before Obama started advertising about it?

    Parent

    Shrug (none / 0) (#31)
    by Steve M on Sun Sep 28, 2008 at 01:11:46 AM EST
    That analogy seems totally inapposite to me.  We're talking about people who care enough about the specific issue of ethanol subsidies to base their vote on it, yet somehow don't realize that John McCain has been the most outspoken opponent of those subsidies in Washington for many, many years.

    I just don't think there are enough people in that category to suddenly move Indiana from one column to the other.

    Parent

    I think under the prism of (none / 0) (#33)
    by andgarden on Sun Sep 28, 2008 at 01:17:26 AM EST
    "bad for our state" it has the potential to move some votes.

    Obama would probably have to demagogue it in an ad, though.

    Parent

    Fey's Minnesota accent (5.00 / 0) (#55)
    by seesdifferent on Sun Sep 28, 2008 at 07:13:37 PM EST
    was insanely accurate. She must have lived in Minnesota or Wisconsin.

    I added the link to the post (none / 0) (#17)
    by Jeralyn on Sun Sep 28, 2008 at 12:56:29 AM EST
    you can put urls in comments but only if in html format because long ones skew the site. You can always get a short link at tinyurl.com

    hilarious (none / 0) (#20)
    by dws3665 on Sun Sep 28, 2008 at 01:00:10 AM EST
    I loved how Tina basically used Palin's own word salad in the middle of the skit -- literally, it writes itself.

    Why so hard on Duffy? (none / 0) (#30)
    by FoxholeAtheist on Sun Sep 28, 2008 at 01:11:09 AM EST
    Perhaps she's one of those phenoms that one either loves or hates. For what it's worth, she's 23; she writes her own music and lyrics and her voice has been called a mezzo soprano. She's classified as part of a new female, British invasion.

    For those of you who may have been charmed (I confess, I was) read this: Duffy the voice: a new star is born, from The TimesOnline.

    I thought I was watching (none / 0) (#36)
    by Jeralyn on Sun Sep 28, 2008 at 01:23:57 AM EST
    an old '70's video and her choreography was worse than my aerobics classes back then. Her outfit was also very '70's -- like a hot pants outfit. If she has a voice, she sure didn't use it.

    Parent
    I guess there's no accounting for taste (none / 0) (#44)
    by cymro on Sun Sep 28, 2008 at 02:55:40 AM EST
    I thought her voice was interesting and rather distinctive.

    Parent
    Any news (none / 0) (#34)
    by CST on Sun Sep 28, 2008 at 01:17:44 AM EST
    on where we can find the debate sketch?

    nbc.com should have these up by the next night (none / 0) (#48)
    by andrys on Sun Sep 28, 2008 at 08:29:05 AM EST
    Brightcove provides the HuffPost copy but normally they can't provide a whole skit due to NBC copyright concerns as seen on their video-gallery set for SNL on their site.  

      The NBC ones are in highest quality at any rate and usually don't take more than one day to go up.

    Parent

    I just watched (none / 0) (#39)
    by lilburro on Sun Sep 28, 2008 at 01:34:24 AM EST
    the Jarmusch movie, "Night on Earth."  I highly recommend it!  I liked the LA/NY cab rides best...and I promise, it's not because I have anything against subtitles.  Although I don't really like Roberto Benigni.

    Also, paging Mark Warner...this movie features an early cell phone.

    an early cell phone? (none / 0) (#49)
    by dws3665 on Sun Sep 28, 2008 at 09:12:29 AM EST
    just part of the miracle brought to you by John McCain. /s

    Parent
    SNL parody of Palin/Couric (none / 0) (#53)
    by maryyooch on Sun Sep 28, 2008 at 11:42:35 AM EST
    The opening skit of the Palin/Couric interview was spot on! The funniest thing about it was that what Tina Fey said in response to the questions were nearly verbatim to what Palin's were!

    Vice presidential Debate (none / 0) (#54)
    by thinkyourownhead on Sun Sep 28, 2008 at 02:03:37 PM EST
    I cannot wait for the vice presidential debate on Thursday!

    Guess those index cardz she used weren't really that helpful after all. Maybe improved, electronic version - the Study Cardz - might do better this time? Here's a tip, honey, www.studycardz.com :)

    Seriously, I hope in five days from now, Ms. Palin does her best and once again demonstrate her fabulousness to us. I'm counting on you dear! Women are with you, darling, and all the way!

    Saturday Night Riffs Palin-Couric and Obama-McCain Debate | 53 comments (53 topical)

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