The VP debate

I just started watching the debate, and I have to say that Palin's not doing well. The first thing I heard her address made me groan. She was asked about an exit plan for Iraq, and instead of saying what the McCain/Palin plan was, she attacked Obama. The question wasn't "What do you think Obama did wrong?" It was "What's your plan?" And Biden was right when he said, "I didn't hear a plan." When she got her turn to respond to Biden, she didn't seem to have listened to what he said. She seems to be going to her rebuttal point. Eventually, buried near the tail end of her rebuttal, she got to some solid points. But she needed to START WITH THOSE POINTS. The time to critique your opponent is during the rebuttal, when you tear down the opponent's claims.

On this question, at least, it seemed as if she had her cards backward.

And is there any such thing as a Republican on the national stage who can pronounce "nuclear?" If she can pronounce Ahmadinejad she should be able to handle a three-syllable English word.

I hate the way Biden keeps referring to Senator McCain on a first-name basis.

5:51 PM: She did seem to be more to the point on the Palistinian/Israel question.

Biden's response indicates that he listened to her and wasn't just planning what he'd say next.

9:55: Palin launched into some "She speaks yet she says nothing." And when Biden responded, he held her feet to the fire for not giving a straight answer, but then he also failed to give a straight answer.

9:57: She gives a good answer about Afghanistan -- to a different question.

Biden started out trying to rebut Palin by saying that the "surge principle" wouldn't work, then he proposed -- a surge. He just used different words.

At least he can pronounce nuclear.

Now he's picking on McCain, which means he's not answering the question. He's doing what it grated on me to hear Palin doing.

10:00: Her rebuttal is starting out sharp. She brings up counterinsurgency strategy and building infrastructure. So she did much better on this.

So, it sounds to me like two politicians each taking turns doing a little dance. Each of them does, in no particular order:

1. Give a fairly solid, straightforward answer.
2. Bob and weave and say very little.
3. Point fingers at the opponent instead of answering the question.
4. Answer a different question entirely.

Biden adds an extra step: Bash Bush.

But other than that they keep both doing the same things that grate on my nerves.

I'm about ready to turn it off and just take a bath instead.

10:06: I don't like the way she never wipes the smile off her face. These are serious issues we're discussing. It makes her look like Vanna White, who, as Dave Barry said, "could smile radiantly while having her spleen removed by weasels." Lose the grin, Sarah!

I liked the "What if the Prez died and you stepped into his shoes. What would you do that would be different from your Prez?" That's a helluva question. Biden is just saying he'd carry on the Obama plan totally and he reiterated the talking points of the campaing. The question is "How would you be different?" He never answered it.

Palin did indicate that she disagreed with McCain on ANWAR, while softening it, before doing the "I'd carry on his fine plan". She reiterated the talking points.

So there, at least Palin answered the question. A little bit.

Biden then rebuts by bashing Bush. Which has exactly what to do with the issue?

10:12: Too much folksy stuff, Sarah! And I missed how both of them drifted off into education. She's really tearing into it, but that wasn't the topic!

I started to do more comments on specifics, but really each of them is spending way too much time going off into "When can I stuff THIS point in?"