Last night's VP debate

Gov. Palin actually did well, I thought. She had few moments when I wondered just what in the heck she was talking about. Seemed assured and confident. Man, her debate camp must have been rigorous, because she did so much better than the awkward and disappointing interviews she's given in the last few weeks. Good for her, she seems a quick study and aggressive. It would have, in my opinion, been a tragedy for this nation to have Gov. Palin fall flat on her face in front of the world. It would have embarrassed our country and made Senator McCain look awful. I was not rooting against her, because I am a patriotic American and believe the USA to be the best place to live on the planet, and the Governor has a good shot at being both VP and eventually President. We don't need blathering idiots running the world. And she is not moron. Once again, good for her.


But I felt that Senator Biden clearly won the debate, in the sense that he seemed reasoned and assured. Making a clear case for Senator Obama as the best candidate for POTUS, Sen. Biden made sure the audience and the viewers understood that the Democrats and Republicans have clear cut differences of opinion over: 1) the economy - The Democrats want to reign in the excesses of the last eight years. The Republicans do not. 2) the war in Iraq - The Democrats want to end the war responsibly. The Republicans want to stay in Iraq until we achieve "victory", feeling that it would be an embarrassment to the nation to leave. In my opinion, the lives spent and the money wasted there are too great a price to pay for nation honor, and that we should leave Iraq asap. 3) The Dems feel that we should engage in responsible dialogue with all nations throughout the globe, both allies and enemies. The Republicans want to continue the Bush course of trying to isolate rogue nations through economic sanctions. I believe history will judge the Democrats plan as being the better course. 4) The GOP wants to avoid what the Gov. called "redistribution" of wealth. The Democrats want to tax the wealthy more fairly. A clear cut difference.

Hopefully, the debate last night drew an enormous audience both in the US and worldwide. It is such an important election, and I would hope that all voting eligible Americans cast a ballot in November.

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Columnist Tom Shales of The Washington Post gives his thought, post-debate, which are similar to my impressions.

Nice running analysis of the debate by the NY Times. Lengthy, but worth reading.

The Anchorage Daily News scores it a win for Senator Biden.