Kick the Anthill

This debate is brought to you by the word “fairness.”

7:57 - Getting ready for this thing to start.
8:02 - Yay! Here they are!
8:03 - Wowee. Okay, it’s the only time I’ll say it and it has nothing to do with anything, but YAY for going ahead and being a girl. She is beautiful.
8:05 - I appreciate eye-contact. Thank you, Governor.
8:06 - Wootiwoo! Did she just gesture toward Mr. B? Yes, I think she did!
8:07 - An aside: I used to think Joe Biden was attractive. I don’t anymore. A young John McCain was like, sooo much better looking. What do you think?

8:20 - This debate is brought to you by the word “fairness.”
8:27 - “Toxic mess”–I agree.
8:32 - Wait. What, Joe? I thought you opened this thing up with your biggest “fundamental difference?”
8:34 - Oh, you’ve always been for clean coal? That explains the clip I saw of you.
8:34 - Ten years to get a drop of that oil to us? Here, Joe, here’s my dad’s number. Just give him a call. If you need some oil I am sure that he’d be happy to get some to you, stat.
8:42 - No end in sight to the war? Are you kidding me?
8:43 - A white flag. Amen.
8:44 - Go ahead, giggle. It’s funny, Joe. How you loved John McCain, sang his praises, and said you’d love to run on a ticket with him until you had an offer from your own side of the aisle.
8:49 - Umm, I believe he did suggest sitting down and speaking with Ahmadinejad. Hold on. I’ll find the clip.
8:52 - Yeah, I’m sure he has a passion for Israel. Sure. But I am also fairly sure it’s not the same passion. Do with that what you will.
8:54 - LOL. Did you HEAR that intake of breath?! Are you watching his lips twitch?! Is he seething or is it just another aneurysm?
9:06 - John McCain “knows what evil is” and it smells like B.O.
9:07 - It would be a “national tragedy of historic proportions.” Well, at least it would be history then. “But if it did…”–one can only hope.
9:09 - You are doing good tonight, girl.
9:17 - Yeah, but umm…President of the Senate ex officio? Heard of that one?
9:20 - You’re not going to change, but isn’t that what your entire campaign is built around?
9:22 - Regarding Twitter updates I have been subjected to: you are tacky, you don’t love your country, and you, well, I’m just ashamed of you.
9:25 - Good. I’m ready for this to be over.
9:26 - Please do well, please do well, please do well.
9:27 - You sure think highly of yourself.
9:28 - You’ve never questioned another senator’s motives? Isn’t that what you are doing with most of what McCain stands for?
9:30 - I appreciate you, Gov. Palin. What you believe in, what you are not afraid to stand up for, the decisions that you make, and I appreciate the fact that I can be proud to have a woman like you, representing a woman like me in this age of change. Gov. Palin, you are my pick. I am not frightened at the thought of having you “a heartbeat away” from the presidency–I’m thrilled. For the first time in my life, I can say that I am proud to have a woman in your position representing me and the things that I stand for.

Go get ‘em.

UPDATE (Numenorean): Just good, clean fun for the whole family.  A good time was had by all. I don’t have many thoughts to share on this one:

(Me: These two both have very nice voices.  Biden really reminds me of my uncle — I’m trying very hard not to let that influence me.)
SP: “May I call you Joe?”  How adorable is that?  A huge thank you to the sound guys for leaving their mikes on for this moment.
GI: Cuts Palin off. What’s that about? Are there different rules for this debate? Why?
JB: “We will adjust not only the interest but also the principle on mortgages.” What?? Won’t that just lead us right back here to where we are all over again?
(Me: Worst moment of the night — both the Dem and Rep ticket agree on gay marriage/civil benefits. There’s a dark cloud for this happy day.)
SP: Eats Biden for lunch on correction about general’s quote on Afghanistan.
JB: (following above) The one moment I felt sorry for Biden — all I could think of was how his overlords would smite him for losing this moment.  To a hockey mom.
JB: Sneaks in the words “Bush doctrine.”
SP: “Say it ain’t so, Joe” — please, someone, anyone, put that on a t-shirt for me.
SP: Has anyone noticed how she is the one who brings up Biden’s son and wife instead of him bringing them up? I’m sure someone will smack her for that, but I think she did the right thing.
GI: “…Dick Cheney…” Well, she behaved up until now. I guess if you’re going to get attacked for something, you might as well do what you’re accused of doing. I ask you — as the moderator, could she not have worded that question in several other ways without mentioning Dick Cheney? As deliberate as the day is long. Only problem is, it’s a pathetic blow. The people who hate him, still hate him — and Palin. And the people who like him, still like him – and Palin. Low and uncreative blow, Miss Moderator.
JB: Almost cries. You might have a different opinion, but I don’t think he intended to do that at all. For my part I will acknowledge that he has a soul. Something else for his overlords to whip him for.
(Me: Props to Scranton! Say hi to Jim and Pam for me. )

Overall:

• This was one long debate. I started squirming in my seat about an hour after kick-off. And as the media pointed out afterward, they didn’t even get to half the issues — if I don’t hear Palin go after Biden on immigration, I think I’m going to scream. They really do need to stop at one hour and go as many nights as the Presidential candidates.
• I agree with the PBS commentators that Palin showed more personality and Biden focused more on talking points. Sarah put them on a first name basis and stayed real. Biden had an overlord agenda to answer to. Sarah showed herself an authentic average mom. Biden reconfirmed his many years as a Washington insider. I loved the tone of the debate and thought it was certainly more fun to watch than last Friday night’s.
• To me, Palin scored the victory because she did a great job of being on the offensive, she was the underdog, she was Mrs. Palin Goes to Washington — but all of these are reasons I would vote for her anyway. Biden also did well, but he did much more regurgitating and playing defence. It seemed like he really enjoyed sparring with her. But the real loser in this debate was Gwen Ifill.  She sure missed out on all the fun she could have had. Sarah Palin scores the KO.
• Did you catch the “Truth Squad” that NBC had on after the debates? I laughed so hard when I saw that — I had to blink to make sure I was reading it right. Nice to know they would try to sort all the facts out for us, but 1) politicians spit out waaay too many “facts” that could possibly be checked in such a short time, and 2) if it’s an attempt at impartiality, calling it the “Truth Squad” and coming from NBC reporters may not be the best plan.