Yeah, I loved how he kept using the word "fair".  When a liberal says "fair", you better watch your back because you are about to be screwed.

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.

IN short form - Neither embarrassed the top of their tickets.

So far, I have read Charles, Zoo's and your analysis of the debates.  I move you to the top of the list of trying to present the most unbiased analysis.  Thanks for writing it.

Disclaimer:  I am not slamming Charles or Zoo's articles.  But they were presented from a biased - as admitted to by them - perspective and not trying to be unbiased.

It helped that Biden and McCain are friends (or friendly) outside the politics. That is a credit to both. The people that eat, sleep, and breathe this stuff, they are the ones that scare me.

Tova7 your right the dem ticket is upside down...what are they thinking?

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.)

I am in agreement with you Jill.  I didn't really see anyone dominate over the other.  I find it interesting that both sides are claiming victories here.  I think both represented themselves and their party well.  I thought that both put a likeable foot forward that is consistent with their personality.  I think the media was greatly disappointed in their anticipation of Palin falling on her face.  

After looking at FactCheck.org on the debate both misrepresented information.  There wasn't any information that was outright false.  There were minor details when talking about their main ticket records (ie Obama and McCain).  From that site it looked like there were pretty close to the same amount and same level of 'oops.'

For the most part I thought it was better than the Obama vs McCain debate.  I think Ifill did a good job having relatively unbiased questions and fairness despite her questionably Pro-Obama book coming out on Inauguration day.

On a more bias/personal analysis:

I have liked Palin since before she was nominated for the Veep.  There are issues I disagree with but I do find myself agreeing on more issues than anyone else in the race.

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.

In the end almost everyone agreed, this was a great debate, both stood their grounds, neither messed up greatly and both proved they could be professional and decent in the process while still getting their points across. Maybe Obama and McCain can learn a thing or 2 from their VP choices.

As I understand it, the picks were made before she announced her book.  And she did do a decent job of what she was picked to do.

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

If you had to be stranded on a desert island with only one of the 4 candidates - which would you pick?