The VP Debate

In preparing to watch the vice presidential debate last night, I read a lot of different articles about what people were looking for from Senator Joe Biden and Governor Sarah Palin. The general consensus seemed to be that Senator Biden had to be careful not to seem "sexist" and guard against putting his foot in his mouth. On the other hand, Governor Palin just had to show up, keep breathing, and put at least one complete sentence together. I guess they both accomplished their goals and met those expectations.

Now, I have to admit that I went into the debate having already made up my mind to vote for Barack Obama, and at this point, there is very little that could change my mind. I didn't feel strongly one way or the other about Senator Obama's decision to choose Senator Biden as his running mate. I respect Senator Biden, but I am not totally familiar with him either. I've listened to him on the campaign trail, and I've grown to appreciate his experience and views, and I like the way he speaks from the heart. I have not known him to be fake or knowingly dishonest.

Joe Biden totally convinced me tonight that I'm backing the right ticket! Joe ROCKS!!!

The contrast between Senator Biden and Governor Palin was striking. Senator Biden had facts; Governor Palin had talking points. Senator Biden answered questions with facts and solid policy plans that he and Senator Obama have put forth. Governor Palin offered no solid plans from her side, but instead spoke in very general, vague terms.

When Governor Palin did try to inject facts into her responses, she got them wrong. She called Gen. David McKiernan, the commander of NATO forces in Afghanistan, "McClellan." Governor Palin also got her facts wrong when she tried to correct Senator Biden about what General McKiernan had said about the use of the surge principle in Iraq not working in Afghanistan. Thursday's Washington Post reported, "The new top U.S. commander in Afghanistan said yesterday that more U.S. troops are urgently required to combat a worsening insurgency, but he stated emphatically that no Iraq-style “surge” of forces will end the conflict there. “The word I don't use for Afghanistan is 'surge,' ” McKiernan emphasized.""

Now, Governor Palin obviously studied very hard this past week, and she did much better than in her interview with Katie Couric, but some of her "lines" she must have worked TOO hard in preparing. I mean, who wasn't expecting the slam on the media? And the, "Say it ain't so, Joe." You could tell she was eager to get that line in somewhere. While I'm on the subject of "debate camp", does it bother anyone else that she's had to spend a week, sequestered with Bush speech writers, to study for this event? She's running for the second highest office in the nation, not "cramming" for the final college exams. (And, I repeat, BUSH speech writers. I thought she and Senator McCain were trying to distance themselves from Bush. ???)

Today, I've been listening and reading the spin after the debate. I heard that Governor Palin, feeling quite pleased with herself after her performance last night, had a problem with Katie Couric not asking enough "issue-based" questions. Translation: "Well, gee! Katie didn't ask me the questions I had studied! Darn right it's Katie's fault that I couldn't put a coherent sentence together! That elite media, god bless 'em, just don't treat me like the wonderfully qualified hockey mom that I am!" Poor Sarah. :(

Sorry, I got off subject a little there, but it's all getting more than a bit ridiculous to me. I'm tired of "folksy" presented as a replacement for substance, proximity to a foreign nation supposedly substituting for foreign policy experience, and winks and "shout outs" standing in for actually answering the questions that are asked of someone who wants to be a heartbeat away from the highest office in our nation.

Like I said at the start of this, I have already made up my mind, and I don't foresee anything, at this point, that could change my mind. It was a good night to be an Obama/Biden supporter, though, because Senator Joe Biden did us all proud. I feel absolutely confident that if for any reason Senator Barack Obama would not be able to complete his term(s) as our president, Senator Biden is quite capable and qualified to step up to the plate and lead our nation.

And, darn it, Mrs. Palin, god bless her, can just go right back up there to Alaska and keep an eye out for us all in case "Putin rears his head" at some point. Wink, wink.