Was that really a Debate?

Everybody has a certain style.  Mine could be described as spontaneous, enthusiastic, passionate, revealing, sometimes too loud and often out of bounds.  That's exactly how I like my debates.  Oh, Gwen Ifill did an excellent job, all things considered.  She broke her ankle a few days ago and then there was the pre-debate whippin' she took for moderating while being black.  The latter had to constrain her psychologically, as all PBS people pride themselves on being fair, balanced and unbiased. 

The actual debate left me asking, Where's the Beef?

The real test of a Vice President is not whether he or she can memorize rhetoric and spout it from cliff notes, but rather if that person has the disposition and knowledge to take over for the president in case of death or disability.  I don't see Sarah as having what it takes, but that's just my impresson.  I have to admit I really like Biden, in spite of an occasional unguarded remark.  To me that means he is an authentic person who isn't always scheming, or in other words, a normal human being. 

I tend to trust people like Biden more because of those thoughtless remarks.  Most politicians are too sly to be caught in what the press has called Biden's tendency for verbal gaffes.   Besides, who wouldn't like a man who described Rudy Guliani's debating style as 'A noun, a verb and 9/11'?

Biden is about twenty years older than Palin but seven years younger than John McCain.  She passed a snarky remark in that passive aggressive way, with a big smile on her face, attempting to diminish him because he is an older man.  It annoyed me actually, as I thought it was the kettle's handle calling the pot black.   I find Biden to be a witty, gracious, loyal and passionate figure.  If he died his hair he would look seven years younger, but he is not afraid to be who he is.  Imagine. 

He has overcome tragedy in his life and somehow managed to maintain his middle class values.  While having been exposed to the Washington, D.C., cesspool of questionable behavior and ethics for decades, he has never been corrupted by it.  So when I say I was relieved he didn't attack Sarah Palin - after all, it would not be a fair fight - I never really expected him to beat up on her.

After they both warmed up, it was obvious there were not going to be any fireworks. I was surprised to learn that Sarah's extended family had its share of school teachers, which included her father and brother.  That was just a general curiosity, as although she talked about the importance of education, it has not seemed to be a family value evidenced in her own home.

The format, however, was the biggest problem for me.  The two minute answers presented a restriction to challenging each other in any real way. That made the entire concept of debating seem more like the format of a national geography competition but without the intensity the kids bring to the podium.

Sarah Palin did almost as well as I thought she would, but that is because I had such low expecations.  Of course, she could not help releasing a bit of the passive aggressive snarkiness for which she is so well known in Alaska.  Most of the time she was effectively playing to the camera, stringing cliches into sentences and acting like a politician's parrot.  Her attempts to repeat the 'straight talking points' from McCain's campaign whenever she didn't want to answer something - or I assumed didn't know how to answer - were transparent.

When she did not want to talk about a specific subject and said she would not answer the questions she didn't want to answer, I was rather appalled.  Her justification?  She wanted to talk to the 'American People', the 'Viewers', the 'hockey moms' and the 'Joe 6-packs' directly, without the pundits and commentators.  In other words, she wanted to give a speech without interruption.  We know she's good at that, but what we need to know is if she can think on her feet.  A president is not always going to have a life coach there to help him or her prepare.  He or she has to be able to think and act decisively and independently.

The Media, which she has managed to avoid since her initial two interviews went so badly, would love to give her a forum.  Keith Olbermann and Rachel Maddow are going to offer to have her on their shows, in good faith, if she agrees to answer 20% of their questions.  Yes, this was said in jest, but what is the point of going on television in what was called a 'debate' and then refusing to answer the questions you don't like?

Okay, so if they were personal questions?  Like about Trooper/Brother-in-law Gate or her religious beliefs, I would say she was within her rights, but she is asking us to vote for her so I believe she really does need to tell us her views.   

Biden did well too.  He restrained his answers, didn't go on too long - who could, there were flashing lights when the two minutes were almost up - and he was passionate without being a bully.  I thought he comported himself like a gentleman, and I will be proud when he is vice president.  I liked how Biden gave details and specifics, although some others thought this was 'boring' in the first half hour.  I don't think the average person was bored, however, as most of us don't really know government policy that well or have time to study all the issues.  We rely more on general information, our own research and certainly our favorite commentators who we expect to properly guide us.

All in all, it was interesting, but certainly not riveting.  That's okay too.  I think with Obama's poll numbers rising across the country I can't take too much more excitement anyway.  Besides, a Thursday?  We are all too wiped out from working all week to really give a damn.  Now Fridays are a whole different story.  That's party time!

In summary, people who like Palin, and think a president or vice president should be as dumb as we are... well, they'll like her that much more after tonight because she only wanted to talk at us. 

Those who are not crazy about Biden, but think he is a great counterpoint to Palin will certainly be proud of his demeanor and performance, but I am a little disappointed.  I was hoping he'd get out a few real zingers at McCain while he had the whole country watching.  He got out facts and figures, of course, but we need a catchy phrase like the Guliani putdown.  Then again, I still thought he was great anyway as he seemed so calm and intelligent, so sue me.

After all, as Joe said, this is the most important election in our lifetimes.  Certainly, it wasn't the most important debate by any means.