Politics and Culture

1. I don't think it's appropriate to ask "who won?" In a way, I think they both won since they each left the stage without having spontaneously combusted- Biden didn't say anything too stupid and Palin didn't say anything embarrassing right before an extended giggle. I think the more relevant answer is "who will people like most?"

2. I guess the national consensus is that non-married couples need benefits, but that we shouldn't call their relationship a "marriage." But would either Obama or Biden campaign for pro-traditional marriage propositions like 8 in California. In other words, besides saying that marriage should be between a man and a woman, will either Obama and Biden do anything to keep it that way?

3. I think Palin's line about "check the record tomorrow" was good.

4. I think Biden sounded more like he knew what he was talking about.

5. Palin was rehearsed. I don't know what the question was, but it didn't have to do with education. She played against stereotype when she said that she "watched the Democratic debates."

6. The real problem was that Palin didn't have the knowledge base to effectively attack Biden's policy silliness. She couldn't defend Cheney, for example. That being said, her autobiographical moments were fine.

7. Oh, I remember: She said something about "not looking backwards." She should have said that Biden's policies aren't new, they're very old. And, they caused the current mess we're in.

8. In some ways, this debate was a carbon copy of the Obama-McCain one, with McCain knowing more and Obama being "likable."

8. Overall, I don't see this as a huge game-changer. Palin seemed more likable and Biden more knowledgable- even if that knowledge leads to the wrong conclusions. Again, somebody a little more experienced would have mentioned it.

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