Well, it's over. How do you feel about the VP debate?

[BuyingThyme]

[Kerrytravelers]

1. I feel great. And I feel even better after hearing the overall analysis that Palin just repeated

talking points without having any grasp of the issues. I figured this is exactly what we would hear. I'm glad this seems to be understood by a majority of people.

[Omnibus]

2. I noticed Palin was dodging questions...

...and reciting answers. I'm pleasantly surprised to see that the MSM and much of America noticed, too.

[BuyingThyme]

3. Mee to. I wasn't sure how it would play, but now I feel very good.

[vaberella]

4. My concern is Brokaw....this was a cake walk for Biden. n/t

[Raine]

10. Mine too, Brokaw is a RW shill and

is going to do whatever he can to help McINSANE and to make Obama look bad. :-(

[vaberella]

12. Exactly. n/t

[CakeGrrl]

5. It's a repeat of Obama/Biden Part I when it comes to the real measure:

The polls, especially among indies, overwhelmingly say Biden won the debate. MSM spin didn't help McCain, and it probably won't help Palin either. Her chance to be a game-changer has passed.

[gravity]

6. We can focus on McCain now

Although Palin did better than expected, it was no game changer. The threat has been neutralized.

I don't think Biden and Palin will have a big impact on the race anymore, and it will be decided on the front runner, which plays to our advantage.

[Frank Booth]

7. I though Palin actually did really well, like I expected her to.

When I saw that no follow-up questions would be allowed, and after the Republicans have been working Gwen Ifill over the whole week, I had a feeling that Palin would be allowed to spout cliches without consequence. She was allowed to do so, and she's very good at it.

But Biden just blew me away. I don't think he was going all out, but he still came across as extremely sharp and intelligent.

Huge win for Biden, which is impressive considering that Palin easily beat expectations.

[Liberal_in_LA]

8. during debate I went to a non partison newsite. poster after poster was saying 'answer the question!

or "Palin's not answering the question". Average Americans could see
through her act of question avoidance.

[Waiting For Everyman]

9. It was exactly what I expected.

Palin was like a "Chatty Cathy" doll with a 90 minute tape.

Biden shone.

[Imagevision]

11. Glad it's over - Biden won - wanna see Obama & McBush go back at it.

[DeadElephant_ORG]

13. Bad. I'd really hoped for Palin to "be Palin", and put the McCain campaign on the ropes tonight.

Didn't happen.

[TheDonkey]

14. Other: VERY GOOD!!!

[old mark]

15. Palin still cannot speak English sentences or think.

Biden seemed almost amused by her at times.

Pat Buchanan says Palin is," A breath of fresh air."
WSJ woman said that Palin was clear winner.
Righties are saying that knowledge of facts and ability to communicate ideas verbally are now not as important as Palin's manner, image and "charm".

I believe this is another indicator the Repubs have little hope for the future. Bush regime and McCain/Palin might spell the end of the line for the GOP as a real party.

Stay tuned.

mark

[Awsi Dooger]

16. Biden was terrific and Palin struggled to overcome the prep sessions

Best debate effort I've seen from Biden. He was incredibly relaxed with no sign of coaching of preparation. Everything was from experience and knowledge, like you could have taken him off a month's vacation and he would have given the exact same answers. It was easily the best performance among the four debaters so far.

Palin was incredibly disappointing. She only exceeded expectation if someone was a brain dead handicapper who had never seen her debate previously. In the 2006 Alaska debates she was personable throughout and felt no need to force awkward talking points that obviously didn't fit her vocabulary or style. But that's all she did for a major chunk of the middle of tonight's debate. The GOP handlers obviously have no clue what to do with her. She would have been far better served to use her typical style minus any preparation. The personable generic stuff did peek through at the beginning and the end but otherwise I agreed with Chris Matthews that it seemed like a spelling bee, struggling to summon items in specific order.

[jeanpalmer]

17. Biden was great

As you say, the best he has been. He spoke with conviction, was forceful, articulate, and made sense and I think was able to connect with middle class Americans. He was able to speak to their concerns. Palin was unable to do that, she simply repeated bureaucratic talking points that in no way showed she understood what people are going through as they try to deal with the financial crisis. Palin will get points from the right for not imploding, but that's not looking at it correctly. This was a blowout, make no mistake about it.

[magdalena]

18. I feel wonderful.

Biden did incredible as expected, and the polls seem to show that the independents really appreciate intelligence and substance. Regardless of what all the RW pundits are insisting, few people are letting this "Palin is charming and can relate to the average American" shit influence their vote.

[BuyingThyme]

19. ..