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Do you remember the late James Stockdale during his '92 debate, Ross Perot's VP choice?

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mtnsnake Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Oct-01-08 09:00 PM
Original message
Do you remember the late James Stockdale during his '92 debate, Ross Perot's VP choice?
Was that awkward or what?

From what I know about him he was an honorable man and war hero, but wow did he ever bomb in the debates. I'll never forget how he would do that god-awful thing with his eyeglasses where he'd take them off and then snap them closed as if it were a magic trick whenever he'd have to answer a question. I felt really sorry for him, he was so fidgety and out of place.

Sarah Palin might come off as just as awkward tomorrow night, only I doubt like heck if I'll feel sorry for her if she does. She's just a little bit too smug and doesn't deserve to be in such a high and mighty position. I hope she bombs.
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sniffa Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Oct-01-08 09:02 PM
Response to Original message
1. Remember that time that Stockdale made some hilarious
statements that are still mouthed in my household despite it being 16 years later. That was pretty cool.
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Clio the Leo Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Oct-01-08 09:04 PM
Response to Reply #1
4. "Who am I? Why am I here?" ......
..... yep, I'm patiently waiting for Sarah to say that ..... I've thought a lot about Stockdale since she showed up.
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mtnsnake Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Oct-01-08 09:09 PM
Response to Reply #4
9. That was almost surreal seeing him open the debate like that
when he introduced himself. Poor guy. BTW, I guess he was one of the most decorated war veterans ever to come out of Vietnam.
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krkaufman Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Oct-01-08 09:18 PM
Response to Reply #4
17. I'll scrape-up a $100 and donate it to Obama if she says that tomorrow night.
That would be too splendid.
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Clio the Leo Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Oct-01-08 09:22 PM
Response to Reply #17
22. oh, lol, i'll name my first born if she does! NT
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Lex Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Oct-01-08 09:40 PM
Response to Reply #4
27. It was AWESOME! Gridlock!
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Lex Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Oct-01-08 09:40 PM
Response to Reply #4
28. .
Edited on Wed Oct-01-08 09:41 PM by Lex
self-delete / dupe
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ChimpersMcSmirkers Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Oct-01-08 09:02 PM
Response to Original message
2. I hope she goes down too. I think the odds are on our side...
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AlCzervik Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Oct-01-08 09:02 PM
Response to Original message
3. I felt totally bad for him and for all the laughs at his expense. Palin isn't fit to wipe his boots
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mtnsnake Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Oct-01-08 09:11 PM
Response to Reply #3
10. I wholeheartedly agree.
As awkward as Stockdale was on TV, he was a genuine honest and honorable American. Palin is as fake and undeserving as it gets.
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mitchum Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Oct-01-08 09:18 PM
Response to Reply #3
16. McCain isn't fit to wipe his boots either. Stockdale didn't pimp his POW status...
for personal gain.
To this day, many people are still unaware that he was a POW.
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AlCzervik Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Oct-01-08 09:19 PM
Response to Reply #16
19. yup, i remember at the time so many people would just be so insulting about him
because they were ignorant and you're absolutely spot on about Stockdale not pimping his pow status.
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mtnsnake Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Oct-01-08 09:22 PM
Response to Reply #16
21. Amen, bro!
You nailed it.
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Blaze Diem Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Oct-01-08 09:04 PM
Response to Original message
5. Spring hinges were new on the market back then.
it wasn't entirely his fault. ya know..about the glasses thing
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Jennicut Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Oct-01-08 09:05 PM
Response to Original message
6. I watched that debate with my Dad. I was 16 and I thought Stockdale was the funniest thing ever.
Thank God Al Gore turned out to be our VP, between Quayle and Stockdale he must have seemed like the smartest guy on the planet.
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rucky Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Oct-01-08 09:06 PM
Response to Original message
7. Remember when he said he created a utopian society
On an island or something. I wish he had elaborated on that some more.

Kurtz?
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AlinPA Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Oct-01-08 09:09 PM
Response to Original message
8. I'm hoping for her to make a truly indisputably ugly, stupid, statement, humiliating herself in
Edited on Wed Oct-01-08 09:09 PM by AlinPA
front of the largest audience ever for these debates and for it to be repeated on TV until she is completely humiliated forever.
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progressiveforever Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Oct-01-08 09:12 PM
Response to Original message
11. I fear that the media will say she did wonderfully even though....
sshe sucks beyond recognition.
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mtnsnake Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Oct-01-08 09:15 PM
Response to Reply #11
12. My biggest fear is that she'll do better than we think. Please dear lord don't let it happen!!
Let Sarah be Sarah! :evilgrin:
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Frank Booth Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Oct-01-08 09:15 PM
Response to Original message
13. That's still my favorite debate of all time. Pure entertainment.
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Chan790 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Oct-01-08 09:16 PM
Response to Original message
14. Yes...
actually I was reading about this recently.

Apparently, Perot had told him that he was just a placeholder and he'd never have to debate or do anything. He winged the debate, no prep. Also, his opening statement "Who am I, why am I where?" was a question he meant to get back to to frame how he was different from his opponents...war hero, veteran, POW, test pilot, retired from service to a career in academia, never run for political office before, etc.

He got a bad shake IMO. The best part...Perot never asked him his political opinions prior to choosing him or after he chose him. He had no idea what Stockdale believed.

He's a far more interesting figure than most people realize.
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mtnsnake Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Oct-01-08 09:20 PM
Response to Reply #14
20. Interesting post
Yeah, I remember hearing that Stockdale went into that debate with zero prepping and not knowing what to expect.

Thanks for the extra insights on Stockdale.
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Jennicut Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Oct-01-08 09:24 PM
Response to Reply #14
23. Poor Stockdale, I had no idea he had no prep.
I feel bad over 16 years later.
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Raine1967 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Oct-01-08 09:18 PM
Response to Original message
15. I still have that debate on Tape.
Good reminder, Admiral Stockdale is No Sarah Palin.

Stockdale understood that when he asked those questions... Who am I? Why am I here?

He really meant it. Sarah thinks she has a right to be there. She as an arrogance that iis stunning. Thee is not single ounce of humility with her.


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mtnsnake Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Oct-01-08 09:25 PM
Response to Reply #15
24. If anyone wants a perfect description of Palin, they should read your post
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Patsy Stone Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Oct-01-08 09:19 PM
Response to Original message
18. Admiral Stockdale
was self-aware enough to understand he didn't belong there. Not so with Sister Sarah. Nary a moment of doubt crosses that wide open field of a brain.
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cameozalaznick Donating Member (624 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Oct-01-08 09:26 PM
Response to Original message
25. I seem to remember that at one point, he appeared to have...
fallen asleep
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benddem Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Oct-01-08 09:39 PM
Response to Original message
26. How could anyone forget
that was the best comment on any debate.
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