Just watched the debate … in streaming video from CNN.
Big issue about the moderator, but she did fine. All the stuff leading up to it probably helped her be more fair, and I think she did an acceptable job.
There were a couple moments where Palin needed to answer the question and did the politician thing where she just used the two minutes as a talking point. That bothers me, and it bothered me when she did it. Biden did it, too, but not quite as often.
Biden did well. He said the kinds of things he needed to say, although he outright lied when it came to the Constitution. He defined the Vice Presidency based on a very modern view of the office, and challenged the different view that Palin might have of it … although her view is way more Constitutional. Just read the Constitution and see. Biden kinda played on ignorance there.
Palin did a good job calling Biden on how he’s stood with McCain and against Obama in the past, even though he tried to weasel his way out of it, and Palin did a good job holding him to it and sticking to her guns. She also called him on continuously saying unfair things about the Bush administration and being negative. Palin got to look like the one who wants to move forward instead of sit around and play blame to get elected.
The debate was kind of a draw, actually. As a debate, they both got in good points, and I think Palin would have won had she answered a couple questions and not gone on her own rants … and there were a couple Biden comments she could have slammed (for one: Biden said that we don’t need a surge in Afghanistan, that it wouldn’t work, but then stated we need more troops … huh? I thought that’s what a surge is …) but she didn’t take that opportunity.
The popularity “polls” will probably say that Biden won, but I think both parties got what they wanted out of the debate. The question is: what will stick with independents? The teary moment by Biden pulls people in, but I think Palin also had her moments where her message will click with people.
I liked the part at the end where the two families got on the stage and were kind to one another, talking. Could have been forced, but I still liked seeing it.
Peace.