While chatting with Chris, I think I figured out one of the reasons my visceral reaction to last night’s debate tilted in favor of Biden over Palin: I prefer the East Coast. I completely disagreed with 90% of what Biden said (excepting parts of his predictable anti-Bush diatribes), but found Palin very hard to stomach. This isn’t merely a pronunciation bias (although I’m sure it’s that, too). And I suppose that some might say that I was just annoyed at Palin’s utter lack of substance (which is also true). But that’s the point: our two coasts have respective cultural virtues and sins. The East is charming, but snobby; the West is relaxed, but lazy. The East claims the snooty Ivy League; the West’s best universities (U of C at Berk, UW, etc) are overrun by hippies. It’s the difference between Brooks Brothers and Birkenstock, Merlot and microbrews, education and entrepreneurialism. And it’s the difference between Mr. I-Think-I-Have-A-Higher-IQ-Than-You and Ms. I’ll-try-to-find-you-some-and-bring-them-to-you.
Not suggesting a right or wrong here, but it’s always refreshing to clarify reasons for personal preference.
Excuse me while I drink my Vernors.
