I watched the whole thing. 

Sarah did better than I thought she would.  Not that I think she's stupid or anything, but until 5 weeks ago her primary focus was Alaska and seeing the world through the filter of how it affects her state.  I could tell she's studied, and good for her.

I too agree with her policy statements more than Bidens.

The one thing I really didn't expect from the debate was how well I liked Joe Biden.  I saw his restraint a few times (like when she used the wrong last name for one of our generals..oops) and really liked the way he was respectful toward her.  In fact, I can't believe someone like Joe is running with such a green inexperienced politician like Obama.  That ticket is def upside down.

I also liked the way he interacted with Sarah after the debate.  I saw his smile, the way he talked to her, and I really think he likes her despite differing politics.  Almost like he was welcoming her to Washington, yadda yadda.

Sure it could be fake, planned, but whatever, it worked.  I thought he came across as warm and friendly and most of all like a gentleman.  

He didn't attack her, and while I won't be voting for him in November, I certainly have a new respect for the man. 

I agree, a draw.  No fava beans & a fine chianti, which I'm sure disappointed many.

As someone who's still on the fence for various reasons (Obama supports universal healthcare, for example, and no government in the world has gotten that one right, so I have no hope of ours doing it, while McCain is way too hawkish and not diplomatic enough) I have to say, I got fed up of hearing talking points about midway through the debate.

I did see Gov. Palin give 90-second awnsers that in no way matched the questions, which caused an eyebrow raise.  And I think if I hear the words "Maverick" or "Up In Alaska" much more I'll vomit.

At the same time, Biden wasn't much better - some of his awnsers were a little too practiced, and he spent a lot of time trying to put the comparison in people's heads of McCain -> George W. Bush, when he should be focusing on the specific policies he feels show this and not such a broad stroke.  I did notice and appreciate his actual emotion when he spoke about some of his family's past troubles, as opposed to Sarah who I think more and more uses her special needs child as a campaign tool.

Sidenote: I've read so much rhetoric from both sides throughout this election I think we should take out the party system entirely at this point.  It seems to be inspiring some very emotional decisions about what should be simple logic - an example of this is Island Dog's first post -

That's something I'd kind of expect to hear out of a pundit/mouthpeice like Rush Limbaugh or Olbermann (against conservatives). The fact that the average voter will make such a broad brushstroke against a civil servant based on wether they have a D or R in thier name is an epidemic.  (Not lashing out at you, ID, you just made a really good example of my point. Nothing personal against you for it.)

Not a worry. That's why I said my comments were in part biased. I guess it's not easy to say how one believes one person did better than the other one without showing some bais in th process.

Oh, I'm pretty damn biased.   Even if I try to ignore that, I still think Palin did poorly...it's really all that pandering that got to me.  Your "Joe Sixpack", your "hockey moms", the winking, the "TERRORISTS HATE OUR FREEDOMS!, the "I KNOW GAY PEOPLE SO I'M NOT A HOMOPHOBE LOL!"  All just empty, fairly stupid, emotional appeal.  I wasn't looking for a pep rally I was looking for information and viewpoints....Biden gave me those, Palin avoided it.("I'd like to go back to energy, I'd like to talk about Afghanistan, I'd like to talk about Alaska."  It's like she ran from any direct questioning.

Then again, I never liked her in the first place and seeing that debate has not changed that one bit.

~Zoo

Tina Fey, hands down.

Ock, you're married keep your hands off!  

I think Biden did a good job in the debate despite the fact that I have serious disagreements with him.  He was very straight about things I differ from his party on.  He claims it is "clear" that global warming is man made.  He refers to wealth redistribution as "fair" (I call it socialism).  He claims that small businesses won't be affected by their tax plan...80% of small businesses make less than $250k?! 

Ha!  My husband and I talked about these same talking points at length last night as they came up.  Many of my husband's clients as small business owners make about that $250K mark so he was quick to bring that up. 

 We talked about Biden's "fair" as well which isn't "fair" at all. It is most definitely socialism.  How do you figure taking from those who do and give it to those who don't is fair?   E

ven the Scientists can't agree on global warming's source yet he comes out and says it's man-made?  So yes, had a problem with that as well.

I too thought it was a draw.  I actually thought he did a bit better in the beginning and Sarah did better at the end although some may have thought the opposite.  I took pretty good notes as it went along marking their facial expressions.  One thing I noticed was he got a bit agitated or seemingly angry a few times with his voice rising  where she seemed to come across as tongue in cheek and cheerful much of the time. 

He came across much more emotional than she.  She was tough I thought and immoveable.  She's not a pushover. I think that's exactly where she needs to be.  It's ok for Biden to tear up, but had she done so?  It would be over! 

I could definitely see tho, that the "energy" subject is her cup of tea and will probably be what she'll be working on in this administration if the Republicans get elected.  She seems most animated when she talks about energy  than any other subject. 

At least he's trying to pinpoint a reason. Unlike Palin:

"I don't know what caused it, we should just fix it."  Puh-leeze...you have to know the cause before you can solve anything.

~Zoo

I know damn well what she meant.  What I mean is: How can you mitigate an effect when you don't know the cause?

Let's have doctors try that and see what happens.  "Hey, buddy looks like you're crying blood.  Not sure what's causing that, but let's just try stuff and see what happens."

~Zoo