Well, Sarah Palin didn't fall on her face, defying expectations. Joe Biden actually got a little more tongue-tied in one or two places, but was less scripted... it was clear that many of Palin's responses were hashed out and written in advance, and just broad enough to sound like an answer without really answering the questions.
General wisdom sez Biden won it... I should hope so!
When the criteria for good debating is lowered to a 'as long as she speaks in complete sentences, she'll be fine', then what?
This is just like when Bush was in debates against Gore and Kerry... folksy sound bites that really don't mean shit, tho to the great unwashed, it's 'real'.
There was nothing asked of the candidates that broached Palin's religious extremism... it was seemingly left out on purpose.
And to hear Palin speak, it's as if she's not a Republican! For an hour and a half, it was like she and McCain were not REALLY from the same party as Bush... there was plenty of calls for 'an end to business-as-usual' in the nation's capital. No matter that it has been her party that's been responsible for the grand fuckups of the last decade...
The only thing the Republicans seem willing to take credit for is 'The Surge' in Iraq. Other than that, they are distancing themselves from Bush in every way. I imagine there must be people stupid enough to buy into this deliberate revisionism, this baldfaced lie, but it's hard to believe that any Republican with any sense whatsoever is going to be able to suspend disbelief. McCain/Palin are not independents (tho she used the word 'maverick' a dozen times at least last night)... they are Republicans thru and thru.
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