Deborah Tannen, Author and professor of linguistics:
It felt like two different shows playing side by side on a split screen. Biden was debating policy, talking specifics: of what was done wrong in the present administration, what an Obama adminstration would do differently. Palin relied on a small number of tactics: folksy speech (heck of a lot, darn right, John said That's where I wanchuh, dropped g's), references to her daily life, and repetition of a few mantras: government is bad (folksily phrased as dialogue: "Sayin' government, yknow you're not the solution"), John can win wars, Democrats will raise taxes, John is a maverick).
She was ready with a cover for not being able to answer questions: "I may not answer the way you want but I'm gonna talk straight." I'm wondering if commentators will pick up on any of her mis-speaks; one that sticks in my mind was: "John McCain is the man we need to leave. uh lead.
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