Biden came out with a great list of prepared talking points and responses. Palin was a little nervous and not quite as well prepared. And of course not as familiar with the Washington/PBS topics that Biden and Ifill are so experienced in. But about half way through, Biden ran out of prepared remarks and rebuttals, and he seemed to run out of gas. And then Palin started speaking from the heart in a way that Biden couldn't match. Palin finally caught fire with than long run where she quoted Reagan and such.Palin was held back by the debate format and just wanted to forget anyone else was there and speak to the camera. Biden was right at home in the debate format which played to his strengths. But eventually Palin was able to seize the cadence and take control of the meeting. Biden has never been a leader, Palin has. So they gravitated toward the roles they are familiar with.So I would say Biden won the first half, Palin won the second half. And it was a more authentic debate than the Presidential debate. But I wonder if other people will give Palin more credit than I gave her, just as they gave Obama more credit than I gave him, for that soaring oratory that utimately made her opponent a mumbling spectator. Both Biden and Palin did something their opponents could not match. It depends what your taste is. I appreciate the great speech-making that Palin is capable of, but I am not a big fan of it.

I thought my girl had the best comment of the night: ""John McCain is the man we need to leave."

Palin simply talks nonsense when she speaks what she thinks. when she repeats whatever they told her to say, she's kinda Ok. I can't imagine her being in White House. she'll be gone i 40 days. we'll never hear from her again.

QuoteOriginally posted by: jawabeanPalin simply talks nonsense when she speaks what she thinks.This was her best moment:QuoteMy experience as an executive will be put to good use as a mayor and business owner and oil and gas regulator and then as governor of a huge state, a huge energy producing state that is accounting for much progress towards getting our nation energy independence and that's extremely important.But it wasn't just that experience tapped into, it was my connection to the heartland of America. Being a mom, one very concerned about a son in the war, about a special needs child, about kids heading off to college, how are we going to pay those tuition bills? About times and Todd and our marriage in our past where we didn't have health insurance and we know what other Americans are going through as they sit around the kitchen table and try to figure out how are they going to pay out-of-pocket for health care? We've been there also so that connection was important.But even more important is that world view that I share with John McCain. That world view that says that America is a nation of exceptionalism. And we are to be that shining city on a hill, as President Reagan so beautifully said, that we are a beacon of hope and that we are unapologetic here. We are not perfect as a nation. But together, we represent a perfect ideal. And that is democracy and tolerance and freedom and equal rights. Those things that we stand for that can be put to good use as a force for good in this world.John McCain and I share that. You combine all that with being a team with the only track record of making a really, a difference in where we've been and reforming, that's a good team, it's a good ticket.

QuoteThat world view that says that America is a nation of exceptionalism. And we are to be that shining city on a hill, as President Reagan so beautifully said, that brought a tear to my eye

QuoteOriginally posted by: farmerQuoteOriginally posted by: jawabeanPalin simply talks nonsense when she speaks what she thinks.This was her best moment:that's because she memorized it.why was she so disastrous in interviews with Katie Couric? because unlike in election 2000, the journalist did her job: insisted on answers. did u see that interview?! it was embarrassing and painful to watch. especially the part on Supreme Court judgments, which she disagree with.

QuoteOriginally posted by: jawabeanwhy was she so disastrous in interviews with Katie Couric? because unlike in election 2000, the journalist did her job: insisted on answers. did u see that interview?! it was embarrassing and painful to watch. It was embarrassing how dumb Katie Couric is. It is no surprise why her ratings suck and CBS has been an inch from dumping her for a year. But there is some small demographic of people who relate to Katie, I guess, while the Governor of Alaska is still a little over their head.

My favoite quote by Palin was telling us how her and McCain would running the country."There have been huge blunders in the war. There have been huge blunders throughout this administration, asthere are with every administration."

QuoteOriginally posted by: jawabeanshe memorized itI guess she has twice as much memory as Joe Biden, because he had run out of stuff to say at that point, which freed her up to recite her heartfelt beliefs.

there seems to have been at least one gaffe by biden, but the media largely gave him a pass on it.As farmer says, biden seemed to run out of gas while America's sweetheart seemed full of energy

Quote"There have been huge blunders in the war. There have been huge blunders throughout this administration, asshe is setting the bar really high then should she and McCain cockup

QuoteOriginally posted by: daveangelQuote"There have been huge blunders in the war. There have been huge blunders throughout this administration, asshe is setting the bar really high then should she and McCain cockupbasically, whenever she doesnt say something incredibly stupid, people r applauding her intelligence.

QuoteOriginally posted by: farmerBut I wonder if other people will give Palin more credit than I gave her, just as they gave Obama more credit than I gave him, for that soaring oratoryIndeed, the numbers are in and this seems to have been the case. Palin did exactly what she was hired to do: She went on TV and got McCain some votes.

On interview with Couric, I believe that she was over-rehearsed and seized up.Not a fan, mind you, but you can imagine the political cramdown she has undergone with a battalion of advisers for the past five weeks.

actually, it's all irrelevant. there's no way she's getting into White House. Obama's gonna be our next president, get used to it