The most striking moment in the debate was when Palin didn’t know what Gwen Ifill meant when she asked about her “achilles heel.” Not one commentator has mentioned this. Watch a replay. Palin has no idea what Ifill is talking about.

I am a rural (Central Texas), white, soccer mom but I know what an “achilles heel” is and I think any intelligent person should.

Simply amazing.

Nancy Yates

Her unbridled adoration of McCain as ‘maverick’. Does it NOT matter how he got his maverick ‘reputation’. After being swift boated in the 2000 campaign by the Bush/Cheney forces, he was understandably ‘upset’. [Remember, they called his wife a drug addict, him a homosexual, and a Manchurian candidate.]
SO, for a brief period he opposed everything Bush and even supported Jeffords who went Independent.
He opposed tax cuts for rich, now does NOT. He opposed gun legislation, climate change, and a couple of other issues.
ahhh, BUT a few Committee appointments and he was back in the fold. FIND any opposition to Bush from 2001!
One day he says NO to a bail out with PORK. The next day he was signing it!!!
What is a ‘maverick’, after all? An orphaned calf that anybody can claim by branding it! a loner! a flip flopper! He is a maverick all right!

Sarah Palin has not earned the right to wink at me like I’m a part of her little swindle.

Sarah Palin set Joe Biden up for a planned name attack. When she asked for permission to call him Joe, she was putting in place the stingers to come. Sarah Palin referred to Joe Biden as Senator Biden or Biden until she wanted use her stingers/jokes. This is very disrespectful. She was not asking for the permission to be cordial. This was planned and only the regular “Joes” can see this clearly.

Biden won the the debate hands down, Palin gave a solid performance in mediocre babble I was not at all impressed with her. How many times does she say ‘also’ when she babbles.

What worries me is that America will sleep walk into voting for McPalin because she winks.

the VP debate was stunning. Palin did a decent job faking about 20% of the questions and didn’t even bother answering the other 80%.

i couldn’t help thinking of the end of the movie Billy Madison, when the debate moderator says to Adam Sandler, “Mr. Madison, what you’ve just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.”

Plain’s non-answer gaffes were the highlight of the debate for me. Her “folksy” demeanor seems demeaning. I don’t understand why any person, male or female, can not see through her games. She’s a power hungy egoist.

Biden won the debate because he carried himself well, answered the questions and treated Palin with respect though she did not return the favor.

Does anyone know why CNN does not post Conservative posts? Do we live in a republic or is this the Soviet Union of CNN?
If I post the gaffs that Sen Biden made last night why not post them?

That is one scary thought James.

The fact that McCain chose Sarah Palin to be his ruining mate, just shows me the horrible types of judgments he is possible of making if he were to become president.

John:
As a Hoosier from the highest “blue collar” population in the US, Indiana may be turning toward Obama/Biden for one reason: survival. We don’t need a soccer mom as vice president; we need someone who understands the working class in America.

Though Senator Biden did mention his working class background and his “blue collar” friends from Pennsylvania in the debate, the vote he gave yesterday for the people of Delaware may not have been the wishes of his constituency; it was just about plain politics.

As for Governor Palin, she is out of touch with Indiana. Most Indiana soccer moms are more affluent, are driving mammoth SUV’s and are color coordinating their child’s team colors with their purse and shoes.

Most blue collar moms and dads have to work overtime to meet the responsibility of house payments, increased energy bills and gas prices. They may not be able to go to every soccer or athletic game but try to when they can.

Every day I talk to people who have been laid-off - from car salesmen to factory workers who have worked for decades in their jobs. Even though Indiana foreclosures, at the moment, are not increasing, we don’t expect it to get any better for a long time.

I realize there are not guarantees in life or politics, but I know one thing: I am still in charge of my vote.

@ James, England: hope not! I think we, Americans, are starting to wake-up!

Listening closely, all Gov. Palin had to do is repeat over and over the same party-and-campaign-lines she had memorized.

Please, folks, we already had (have) Joe-six-pack in the highest office! George W., is the typical Joe-six-pack. We need intelligence and eloquence. Our best and brightest!

Is it TOO MUCH TO ASK FOR A PRESIDENT THAT CAN PRONOUNCED …….NUCLEAR? For Pete’s sake, English is our “official” language and even poor Sarah can’t pronounce the …….word!

Yes, James in England, you are gosh-darn-right, that Joe won last night! Ya betcha!

Biden made some some big gaffes that were factually wrong…but I am sure they are way over anyones head who has posted here, and CNN wouldn’t want you to know what they were. So as you knit pick Palin, you are ignorant to the real mistakes.

Gilby-HI It is harder than heck to get CNN to post anything conservative. I am open for a fair minded debate, but can’t ever get in on the game. Wish the blog was open for everyone to participate in all the time.

Clearly America was looking for answers and solutions in detail. Not talking points, or cute stupidity. This is not a high school race for class president . This is for the real thing, and probably the most important of all American’s lives. Please look at our problems, how serious they are, and why we got here. Look at democrats ready to pass the same bill without the pork. Realize that 8/10 of the pork added was too convince the republicans to say yes, instead of what was for America in a time of crisis. Oh Americans, please wake up and see the 800 pound gorilla in front of your face!

After Nov. 4, we will be able took back at the McPalin phenomenon and be a little more generous, perhaps. She has lowered the bar so much for future candidates that maybe it will generate some “fresh faces” and interesting new choices to future elections - and these new candidates will bring fresh perspectives, more energy and creativity, more intelligence and greater opportunities for the vast majority of Americans they serve. *sigh*

But enough of the Pollyanna platitudes: I think Palin’s candidacy is a total farce, and McCain shouldn’t even be running for President, and if we elect these two, we will be the laughing stock of the world — if it wasn’t such a tragedy.

Sarah Palin purposefully neglected to answer the debate questions because she was very focused on presenting her Stump Speech over and over…and over and over.

As a political tactic it seemed to have been highly effective since none of the press has taken her to task for that.

What is wrong with us americans? I command Governor Palin for her ability to connect with American People but this was not her slot for speach, it was a vice presidential debate. I feel ashamed and insulted that my future VP Candidate does not know the basics of a scripted, prepared speach vs. a debate! I think she owes an apology to public and some thing needs to be done for her attitude on the podium! People wanted to watch an intellectual debate and not her speach! SHe should have been disqualified from the debate after couple of warnings!
Senator Biden gave the performance of his life. Congratulations, Senator Biden. We need a President and VP who are intellectual and have basic capacity to understand a difference between a debate and a speach! Ofcourse Senator Obama and Senator Biden brings a lot to the table over and above the basics of politics!

The most telling thing that happened last night was what happened on CNN immediately following the debate. When they went to the so-called Focus Group of 32 people The first thing the CNN person hosting the focus group said she wanted a show of hands for those who thought Biden won the debate. 12-13 hands went up. Her response was “OK, overwhelming”. Then she asked for hands of those who thought Palin won. 11-12 hands went up. Her response? “OK, so Biden wins by a significant margin”. Is she kidding me? This is a prime example of how the ultra-liberal media uses even the most subtle cues to try and manipulate the voters by attempting to influence those who are listening and watching. How dare CNN? Is this really what the founding fathers had in mind when they drafted the 1st ammedment? Makes me sick to my stomach.

The format of the debate was dumbed down so that Sarah Palin could use talking points. Palin did a fair job remembering her lines as she did when addressing the GOP Convention. When she is not provided with a script she is clueless. This has been proven by the Katie Couric interviews.

If Joe Biden is such a man of the people why has he been in Washington his whole life as a “career Politician” and no one heard of him doing anything significant.

Hey folks….they’ll be using this as a comparison for how much she’s improved over the next four to eight years when she reappears. McCain cooked the Republican ticket’s goose on his own and actually it was Palin who kept it afloat so long. But in the final tally, McCain reverted back to supporting his his brother, George W. Bush and that lousy bailout package.

I had to watch the debate re-run. lol But I managed to make it through with only moderate stiffness today from all the cringing at Palin’s responses. Im not even sure how extensive her knowledge is where energy is concerned. I keep hearing her go over her small resume over and over again and I literally wanted to jump through the TV at her when she said that Senator Biden kept going back to the past and that isnt going to accomplish anything.

Whew. Glad to get that off my chest. I never realized that world history was so irrelevant to our future. If McCain and Palin can continually point out that McCain himself was a POW, isn’t that delving into the past??? I have great respect for McCain, I’m a military brat, but Palin triggers my gag reflex every time she opens her mouth.

I find that she likes to point out that she has a special needs child also. As a widow and single mother who lost her only son who also had special needs, I find it detestable. I also found that Senator Biden’s response was the most earnest remark of the entire evening. His response was straight forward and basically told her that she is not the only person in the US who has had to face such adversities. Mr. Biden is welcome to come sit at my dinner table anytime. Gov. Palin sounds like she is from outer space.

Now let me just say that for me, this election is now about the VP choices. I was leaning towards McCain, I’m an Independent, but I can’t put that loon in a position to potentially control our country. I just can’t vote for her in any way. She is so far out of her league. Condie would have been a much better choice.

Gordon - I totally agree! I thought the same thing and it struck me as very pathetic. She wants to throw the sarcasm but then retreats and claims she is picked on when ever she gets called out.

Ha! I thought I was just tired and imagining that Palin couldn’t pronounce NUCLEAR!

Hey, I know, I was an energy regulator for 5 years, does that qualify me to run for the VP slot?????

“Say it ain’t so, Sen Biden”

Not as catchy as “Say it ain’t so, Joe” so Miss “I am just a hockey mom” made sure that the microphones heard her ask “Can I call you Joe?”. You will note that nothing else they said to each other before or after the debate was picked up by the mics. Now I am not surprised that Palin planned that - She is a politician. I would also not be surprised to learn that most Americans don’t realize what she was doing. But I have been surprised to see multiple journalists, including Campbell Brown, describe her “Can I call you Joe” as “friendly”. Were these journalists born yesterday?

The contrast between the 2 VP candidates was very clear last night - Biden whose knowledge and experience would have allowed him to talk intelligently about anything asked and Palin who seems to only know about energy - usually energy from oil from her own state. Palin seems to be a nice person but she doesn’t look to be a qualified person to be VP. If she was ever in the position to take that 3am call, we’d all be in trouble.

Annie Kate
Birmingham AL

When you go on an interview for a job, you are prepared, you answer questions that you are asked and you are professional. You don’t wink and send out shout-outs. You don’t state that you are not going to answer the questions, but instead will only talk about what you are comfortable with. (Debate coaches decision)

If you are so in touch with the people, wouldn’t you have shown compassion to Sen. Biden, when he spoke about losing his wife and child and raising his two boys himself????? No, you continue to talk about how Sen. McCain is a maverick.

There were far better choices for Sen. McCain to choose from, but I it is quite obvious what his motives are.

Lets get real America. I now can run as a vice president. You don’t need to be professional….give shout outs. You don’t have to answer any questions…..just wink. You don’t have to have any experience as everyone claims Obama needs. So you know my comment is she was a disgrace to me a woman. Hillary was classy and professional. Isn’t that a qualification for a top position. This is serious. Let’s just wink the war and economy away. This was the first time I saw Palin and was sad for her. You should be too. Women don’t need sympathy. We need a competent Vice President.

I would be greatly appreciated if Palin STOP WINKING at us or the camera especially when the Republican claims the media is harsh on Palin & sexist.

well… Sarah Palin didn’t look as foolish as her las 3 press interviews. I still have no clue who this robot is. Joe Biden has been around a long time, but since becoming Obama’s running mate he has done nearly 100 press interviews. Palin has done 3!!!!

Sarah Palin provides a good presentation of herself, but not necessarily of the facts. She can carry a line with confidence, but honestly, she seems to dodge soe of the difficult ones, both last night and generally speaking in the mainstream interview process. She held it together and did put on a good “show” which I think is all she could be asked to do. The rest of the deal has to be closed by John McCain. I don’t know if he can, though. His campaign on the economy is alittle broken and inconsistent. I don’t think there is time for the economy to fall from the top of the list.

Biden, I thought was brilliant, walking the line between ot attacking and not seeming condesending. his answers, for the most part were factual sounding, and believable. Palin at times seemed like it was a speech instead of a debate. Biden could have capped her on a couple of mis-steps last night but showed excellent restraint, and stuck with the strategy.

Both did what they do best.

What matters ? After the panic and emergency crisis to pass a bail out bill of 700 billion of which includes tax previsions for rum,wooden arrows,sheep and wool,race car tracks and other areas at a bottom line of extra’s at 155 million , frankly that has put us in a state of cognitive melt down to comprehend, what does matter ? Why in crisis would they even consider such add ons and how do we revise under the circumstances to better utilize the so called sweetners ? The ext on unemployment passed today because of the democrats were there to vote in the house ! Could we use the 155 million in areas of critical concern and trim the fat off the chicken before we fry it or does it matter ? “Say it ain’t so Joe.” “When you hear the hounds,keep going !” Stop the bleeding ? Go get the doctor and we need stitches on these absurd extras in light of a Bill passed in a created need projected emergency.

Sarah Palin, must have worked at a waffle house. I have never seen anyone running for VP, so unqualified. She was very unprofessional. A VP conducting themself like her, is a disgrace and an embarrassment to the people of the United States of America.

WHAT MATTERS IS THE AMERICAN PEOPLE , WHICH DO NOT SEEN TO MATTER ANY MORE , WHAT HAPPEN TO THE DREAMS, SECURITY ,HOPE, FUTURE AND PROSPERITY. ALL OF THIS WILL NO LONGER EXIST IF WE DO NOT ALL COME TOGETHER. UNITED WE STAND DIVIDED WE FALL. WE NEED A CHANGE FOR ALL PEOPLE IN U.S.A.!

$110 billion in fat on the chicken in an economic emergency ? What matters Washington ?

I liked Biden. He was especially good at debunking the idea that McCain is a maverick. Only in the eyes of McCain is McCain a Maverick, but in real policy decisions he is a bush! Biden was very good on Iraq and the war. Palin at one point was so full of herself that she said she wasn’t going to answer a question that was given to her and expected of her to answer but that she was going to talk about what she wanted to talk about. She has a big ego. When Senator Biden responded to the energy question and ended with the thought that the main solution that McCain/Pailin offered was “Dill! Drill! Drill”, she corrected him saying, “Joe you got it wrong on the trail its, “Drill, Baby, Drill!” Also Palin is, at times, a bit flippant, a bit too folksy with winking of the eye.

Biden also was super when he spoke about a son that was in an accident and what he as a single Dad had to deal with — he got emotional. Way to go Joe! — There is nothing more real than that! And it shows that in America we need to have an equal number of good Dads to Moms. Both Biden and Obama have shown in their life that they live that and that they value the family and family life. As a mother Gov. Palin has shown that and I am sure that McCain has been a good father, too. But it was great to see Senator Biden

In my world, I don’t know what to make of a person who talks one way during a debate in Alaska, and another way in a debate in St. Louis. Where were the winks and you betcha’s then??

I’m an Independant who did enough research on Palin to run straight to the Obama/Biden ticket. Not only is she unknowledgeable, she is overly-opinionated at a time when openmindedness is required, she quotes McCain constantly when it’s clear she doesn’t know what she’s talking about, and her bizarre religious background is frightening.

I was also astonished at her lack of polish and terrible grammar. “Folksey” is fine, but mixing up tenses? I can see why it took her six years and six not-so-hot colleges to scrape up a degree, and I can also see why she isn’t working in journalism.

While I am not able to vote in your election as I am a Canadian - I have to say that as a woman I was shocked to see Gov. Palin act in a way that was completely off topic, refusing to answer questions - or more likely UNABLE to answer the questions and stick to her script.

I do understand that it is difficult for any news organization to point this out for fear of backlash but please, please do not elect this person (team) into office….this is not a joke, this woman doesn’t understand a basic question because she has only been at this for “five weeks” - what??? She is running for the second most important position in the American political system and no matter her “experience as a mayor, governor” she has admitted on national TV during the debate, she is not ready.

Good luck America - hopefully people will stop defending her because she is affiliated with a specific party and wake up in the next month.

Sarah Palin has a record of accomplishment in the state of Alaska. I find it really funny how people on these blogs who support Obama try to pick apart everything she says and ignore her accomplishments, when they have a candidate running for President who only talks and has little or no record because he voted present over 100 times when he could have made a difference.

Speaking from abroad, I must agree with Anita of Georgia. It is a disgrace. I am still bewildered by her nomination. Please, american people, elect you president (and vp) wisely. The world´s future depends on it.

I think with all the talk of taxes during the evening no one ever mentioned that Alaska has no State Income Tax or Sales Tax.. Actually residents get a $1,200 a annualy due to the sales of gas and oil. Sarah Palin is living in a tax bubble way up there in good ole’ Alaska.

Palin was composed and mentally prepared for the debate . He performance exceeded my expectation. However, she is still inexperienced and definitely not VP material. Biden was the clear winner as he was cool and had the experience and knowledge needed to respond effectively and concisely to all questions asked spontaneously. His demeanour was like a real statesman.

I think CNN should take Palin up on her request to have more of these debates in the next month. Get someone like Anderson Cooper to moderate the debate and have him unbiasedly make sure both candidates stay on topic and answer the question at hand and not spew canned attacks like Palin did. She said she wanted more and if she turns you down, she will look like a lying hypocrite, so she has to say yes and Biden would undoubtedly say yes for the more he gets to show his knowledge and wisdom the better for his ticket and it will take away her hit-and-run low blows by making her talk of things of substance in a debate moderated by someone unbiased. The problem with the debate was that the moderator was so afraid of people saying she was biased since she was writing a book on blacks in politics or some such thing, that she didn’t hold Palin to stay on topic and answer the questions, when most of the time she didn’t even listen to the question at hand and just spewed rehearsed commercials. Anderson, no one better than you could moderate a debate, please try!

And I think this self-proclaimed baracuda pitt bull with lipstick is just that and nothing else, and her can I call you Joe was so transparent, one to put him off his game but he is a bigger man than she could ever imagine so it didn’t put him off at all, and her quaint condescending remarks while calling him Joe, show us just what a disingenuous sneaky unprofessional unrespectful self-proclaimed baracuda pitt bull with lipstick and now winking flirt she is… give us a break and please don’t give us another day after the election of covering this obnoxious woman after she and McCain LOSE!

Sarah Palin equals - Winkin Blinkin and Nod
What a Portfolio for VP!

Joe should ask her the next time they meet if he can call her Winkie or Cutsie!

What a disgrace to America! If this woman is John McCain’s pereception of someone who could literally take the reigns should he become incapacitated, He truly needs help! And if by some miracle they win, America will need another miracle to survive! Breathtaking? Absolutely!

While Sarah Palin was more prepared for the debate than her previous controversial interviews, she clearly was rehearsed with talking points but no substance. This obviously is why she side-stepped many questions hoping a populist appeal would work. She is clearly not qualified to serve in the VP spot. This is the most important decision that we Americans will make, especially this year. John McCain’s choice for VP appears much like many of his choices lately, not well thought out and all over the board. Disturbing, because I once was a huge fan. Wink!

I like Sarah Palin
I don’t think she is qualified for the job
I dry-heave when there were some comparisons of her to Hillary Clinton
I feel for her that she and her family have been put through this, but even if they don’t win the election I don’t think this is the last we are going to hear from her

John McCain and the President and the other republicans did nothing to stop the greed and scandal on Wall Street and in Washington. There were very little regulations in place and poor oversight of the financial markets. This has hurt our country big time. The upper class has gotten wealthier at the expense of the middle class. The republicans do not deserve another chance at this time in 2008 - 2009. Sorry Sarah Pailin but you just joined a group of politicians who proved they can not do it. Your efforts and skills will all be for naught at this given time.

dear elise i read your comments pretty intresting…….god understand womens. you know what if joe biden want to corner palin he would have done it…..right at the moment she refuse to answer. But he din’t if he did so you would have felt pit for SARAH PALIN…..and that want joe doesn’;t want tooo.

I call em as I see em. Sarah did fine and Biden did all the lying.

I’m in Michigan. Thought this maverick was going to fight fight fight for us
WHAT… is he out of Breath ….cough cough

Can’t stand up with the big dogs….. so he’s getting out of the race.
OH God ! and guess who is trying to be a heartbeat away.
At the debate Palin reminded me of one of those old Shirley Temple movies Good ship Lollypop or something.
or was she auditioning for last comic standing.

In conclusion ,”It’s just another day for you and me in paradice…..think about it “,Obama,Biden,McCain and Palin ! We hear your reasons of justifications and support what matters but here is the bail out Bill and do you think we can do without wooden arrows,rum and will our race tracks survive and can bike rider’s take a chill until we stop the economic global bleeding? Which one is talking on the stump on the now of what the bill is and getting specific ? None of them and why not ? Where would they revise the bail out bill to feed their families ? Ask that question please media !

These debates really get on my last nerve. All of the candidates agitated me in their debates. Why do I want to watch grown adults bicker like little children?
Their tv ads are really too much right now as well…… I ONLY want to hear the facts and what these candidates actually stand for and believe in and will vote for. I do NOT want to hear how “bad” the other candidate is. The bottom line is this, yes the Pres & VP are the most important offices in our country…. BUT the president & vp are not the Kings of America! No one person can “fix” this countries problems just like not one person can make them. I do not get why so many people act like that isn’t so. It is our entire Congress as well as our pres & vp (both dems & republicans) who need to get with it and actually realize they all work for the citizens of this country and stop behaving so irresponsibly! We all need to get out & vote intelligently for all of the offices up for re-election in every one of our local, state & national primary & general elections, not just this one. Each one is an important piece to the puzzle that is our government.

A big barracuda from a very small pond.

And I have never seen anyone running for president as unqualified as Obama, no experience just coached speaches and the media’s love for him. Certainly CNN is very good at protecting Obama and putting down anyone else such it was with the Clintons and now with Palin…biased journalizm except you John…the same analyst always repeting the same things–I started to dislike Larry King and 360 as well, just totally biased and unfair to the country in an economy that is just about to give up on everyone–

Biden was the clear winner of the debate. And now the Rebublican’s tactics to smear Obama with false, old, half truths is disgusting. The media would never tolerate this from the Democrats and they should demand the same of Palin and the McCain campaign. I also would like to understand how the Palins have that fabulous home in Alaska that was shown after the convention, with the income they claimed on their taxes, were the “books cooked?” Unfortunately there are a lot of people in the US that only listen to sound-bites, not whole stories. Palin’s attacks and strategies should not be tolerated and covered by the media. If you can’t ask her questions about what she says, don’t give her air time!

Palin is simply too simple for the office of Vice President. Then entire debate response was scripted. Did anyone else notice the “note checking?

Sorry, but what’s up with all that winking and folksy talk. It’s just too cutesy for me and not very professional. I want to vote for a candidate that’s intelligent so they can fix our country. I don’t want to vote for a Joe six pack or a hockey mom type candidate that pretends to be one of us. Voting for a candidate that can’t answer questions intelligently, just seem like another 4-years of Bush!

can’t believe that republicans defend Palin with “her being one of us”, … we don’t need one like us, we need somebody who knows what he/she is doing to save this country… I can’t even think that we have a vice president nominee who doesn’t even know as much as I do….. a self employed , working my a… off, but still find time to read and listen to news to know what is going on and who is who and what they have done or at least I know which newspaper or magazines I read to get the news!!!!….
all I know if McCain/Palin wins, we deserve to be a laughing matter for the world … another dumb one in white house…..

Here are the facts, and the polls seem to show it: The whole folksy “Aw shucks, little ol’ me” did not play well at all with Sarah’s “Joe six pack” audience. Who are those people anyway? When Sarah Palin winked at the camera, my girlfriend found the gesture really offensive, as I am sure other intelligent, well educated females did. Sarah Palin did not stick to the issues, and if she were ever on a debating team and told the moderators that she did not want to actually answer the question but rather speak to the audience, well she would have been immediately disqualified. Her “say it ain’t so Joe” comment which I am sure was supposed to have been the night’s show stopper fell flat.
Joe Biden stuck to the issues, did not take any personal shots at Palin with one exception, and showed that he has an encyclopedic knowledge of all the issues that were brought up. In these times I would prefer 2 gentlemen in the Oval office with a wealth of knowledge to draw upon, rather than one seasoned politician, and another that is completely out of her league.

Ask Sarah same question today, she will fumble over and over and over just like she did on CBS. One mission she had that day was release the crammed literature before they get flushed out of the brain buffer. She is Dumbest person running for higher office of our life time. God help us if this ticket make it to the white house. It will be most Catastrophic event ever happen to this country. We all know why McCain picked this dumb governor: He is desperate.

JOHN KING-
Pretty much everyone that I know thought her peformance was ridiculous. Whether they are Republicans, Democrats, or Independents. In fact, this debate actually prompted my husband-an undecided, first time voter, to vote for Obama. The nerve of her-winking into the camera, not answering (or even understanding) the questions, was an embarassment. We’ve had enough of this type of ignorance, haven’t we? Is it too much to ask that we have someone in the White House that has a brain? Do we really need a JOE SIX PACK up there for four more years? Enough is Enough!

I am quite surprised at the negative response of the women. Have they spent so much time watching the coiffed, manicured women we see on television every day that they don’t recognize honesty, integrity and intelligence when seen all embodied in one person? Sarah was factual in her answers and I happen to watch politics closely enough to recognize that Joe Biden made more than eight errors during the debate. The failed economic policies started during the Clinton years when the Free Trade agreements began and all politicans were 100 percent behind them. Now that the jobs have moved overseas during the past ten years, Americans are blaming the Bush administration.

To Sanda, THE reason why more conservative comments are not on CNN is that most can not or do not want to understand the reasoning or logic involved int the arguments here. Knowleadge is the key to understanding. Look for the facts.

the actual focus group vote was 12 for Biden 14 for Palin. It was said that Biden was factual sounding. Unfortunately, if anyone were to check he only screw up 16 times including on his knowledge of the constituion. Palin also answered the questions. On those she probably was less knowledgable on her answers wer short 1-2 words. She used the rest of the time discussing what she wanted to talk about. The real sad thing is how negative this blog is and how insulting towards Palin CNN is allowing the post. SO much for their comment policy.

I must admit when Sarah Palin walked up to the podium and started talking, I almost fell off my couch. She was coherent! It was amazing. It made me wonder if her previous interviews were just a ploy to lower expectations, however when she started constantly looking at her notes and ignoring questions, I realized that the previous interviews were in fact genuine. She just showed up to the debate completely rehearsed. Her performance was scripted from the blown kiss to the husband, to the can I call you Joe, to the holding the baby onstage at 11 o’clock at night. Seriously, can’t she find a babysitter? And to make matters worse they also took the baby to the rally after the debate. I’m sure she loves her son, but it seems to me that she’s using him as a prop during this election. Say it ain’t so joe.

I say, give her a “Pom-Pom”! Go, Maverick’s, Go!!! Another one of McCain’s desperate calling’s. Can’t win on his own. Want to up your vote’s McCain? That, 13 bedroom mansion you have for sale. I suggest you open it, as, a bed and breakfast for the HOMELESS VETERAN”S!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Show how much you reallllllllllly care. If, you’re not part of the solution. You’re part of the problem! At least, have the dignity to do that much.Tutor Palin with someone else’s speech tape’s. She’s sounding like a broken record. She says a lot. But, doesn’t get very far with it. She’s stuck on saying, the same-ole-nothing. Tell us something that, actually means “something”. WINK! WINK!

I thought the best part of the debate was when Palin was talking with pride about her Alaska “windfall profit” sharing policy she created and Joe Biden said” Barack Obama and I both support that policy and want to do that for all Americans, hopefully you can convince John McCain to do that” Immediately after that she looked like a deer in the headlights (couldn’t script that one). To her credit she did recover with her deep insightful answers succeeding questions.

Wow it is truly amazing reading the comments that are so degrading to sarah palin. It is like you are all a bunch of followers with none of your own ideas. YOu just spit out what cnn and all the biased news people tell you to say. Do you really hate Sarah Palin for the ridiculous reasons stated. Maybe you are all from the Entitlement group that says ask what my counrty will do for me and here is the list. She is a regular woman trying to live up to th high expectations that we all have put on her. She would make sure that you all would not have to pay high taxes and earmarks in bills and fight for what is right in the world. SHe may not know everything she need to yet but I believe judgement is just as imortant as a Harvard grad or years of experience. Good judgement and honor is what we teach our children
and what is most important. There are plenty of experienced politicians who are robbing you blind you fools.

ANita , Clinton was the govenor of Arkansas and knew very little when he started but did a fine job except for that deregulation of lending trees. YOu might not want to dis the hardworking people who start at the bottom. Waffle house workers need love too A vp conducting herself like what. You may want to actually think before you write

It really is true that the media give John McCain a break.They never mention the Keating Five, at least I have never heard any one on CNN or any other network mention it and yet, it is so important that the president be an honest and reliable person. I was horrified at what he said at the biker convention at Sturgeon Fall about his wife and yet almost no one in media mentioned it. It goes to show what kind of person he is.

Sarah, Sarah, Sarah,
What’s up with your Investigation. Can you please got and answer the question. Then when you come back you can talk, until then you can tell me nothing.

What mattered to me is who has the “class” to handle world leaders.
We are in a horrible mess - We need someone who knows what has been going on all along with the war as Pres & VP - I really don’t care who voted for it - I bet half the people voting for it thought it would be another six week event like the 1st Gulf War. I care about admitting we made a terrible mistake and we must bring this to an end. John McCain has insulted every American thinking we need more lies from a tuff baracuda valleygirl with absolutely no class or manners would be able to go in and represent anybody in the United States of America in any world crisis and we have alot thanks to Bush! I would never want either representing me or my family for anything - It would be like believeing Bush again that there are WMD again!

You are posting very selectively to Obama’s favour…Here is my prediction==Obama will not be the president no matter how unfair you all are to Palin.

If Obama will be the president than America is destined to fall, and will be part of God’s plan based on Old and New Testament.

Lets see what happens… in the main time God Bless America!

I enjoy Sarah Palin’s conversation about nothing. But, I wish she would leave her baby boy at home so he can get his rest. Also, stop letting her youngest daughter hold the baby. As a concerned mother, the daughter should be at home getting rest and school homework also.

Palin is a whiner, self serving individual. The fact that she absolutely failed to follow the program at the VP Debate is such a telling sign of her weakness in her knowledge of so many issues. The fact that she right off the get-go tells Gwen Ifill, “And I may not answer the questions that either the moderator or you want to hear, but I’m going to talk straight to the American people and let them know my track record also.” tells everyone she did not respect Ifill or honor the stage she is upon. We know about her track record, heard it multiple times over. Talk about ignoring questions put to her, only shows she is not willing or able to answer questions as put to her. Questions do not follow her notes!! Reminds me of a student that cheats on exams by hiding notes. The more I hear McCain/Palin speak only reinforces my faith in and decision to vote for Obama.

I think Campbell Brown was born yesterday. Its like she comes in each day with no knowledge of politics and spurts out amateurish non thought out sentences with no thought. I think she has no thought, Just getting a paycheck. She is very misguided.

Sara Palin did a great job at the debate and so did Sen. Biden. But let us look at reality here. The country is in crisis due to failed economic policies under the Republican Bush administration. We are spending billions of dollars for a war that does not benefit the american people. Unemployment is up 8% more and rising. It has been to long that we have had a government for the few and by the few. It is time to take back America, restore trust, and build back our communties and more jobs. Surely Sen. Obama’s will be the next president. Voting for Sen. Mccain would be like gambling with American lives. This is serious! Thanks!

She is being used,like no more tomorrows.She has no idea,how sick,and evil,her republicans are.Well,i feel sorry,for her son in Iraq.We on the far-left know,that something bad will happen to him,before 11-4.There’s nothing,the republicans,won’t do to win.

Palin is a neophyte who has no interest in policy and government she is all for Palin and would cut McCain’s throat if she could. McCain has no idea what he has wrought! Palin not only failed to answer the questions asked of her she failed to talk up the agenda of McCain when asked how different a McCain presidency would be after the failed Bush years. Review the tapes and see how many times she said I—instead of McCain. She was there for Palin and winked, flirted, and played up to the camera instead of focusing on her objective. McCain’s agenda. I found it utterly disrespectul of her not to answer the questions posed to her–she went of on tangents. She is a perfect fit for Bush—I’ll do want I want, when I want, how I want and if you don’t like it, tough. I feel sorry for McCain, Palin would/will turn on him on a dime.

I hope and pray McCain/Palin do NOT win, if they do I don’t know what will happen to the nation. We have seen a Republican candidate for president who has supported deregulation of Wall Street for his entire 25-year career in the Senate. Why would he suddently “change” and become an advocate for increased govermental oversight. I do not have confidence in a McCain/Palin ticket. Palin is out for Palin she is way out of her league and in the lybyrinths of her mind she thinks she can fake it, and come out winning. At this point, we need strong, knowledable, responsible and accountable leadership who will think first and move in a conscientious way that will be good for the nation. America needs to know they CAN depend on and look to Washington for firm leadership.

Since John King is always talking about Red States and Blue States, I recommend he read a recent book by Professor Andrew Gelman of Columbia University entitled Red State, Blue State, Rich State, Poor State: why Americans vote the way they do. It is unbelievably timely and an extremely good read.

The Republican Vice-Presidential running mate, a Pentecostal, praises a line from “Ronald Reagan” about the “city on the hill.” As a church window designer/fabricator of some 35 years, for all denominations, with a reference library of 599 books , I know that placing a city on a hill in my window stands in for , and has for many centuries, Christ’s church, the one He founded, the Christian , Catholic one, and so do all the congregants who have such windows. Not only does Paladin seem to think it is a Reagan idea but she fails to realize that it designates the Catholic Chuch. Perhaps she meant to say “The Unheavenly City” or “The Unheavenly City Revisited’, but what she said was “The Catholic Church”, which must shine even from a distance as an example for all. This would seem to contradict her espoused religious beliefs. She should look things up in “everything laid out in front of her to read”, and then some, before shooting off her mouth.

it was hard to rate sarah ..because she put on that stupid act or dum act just befor the debate ..so she would get a better rating ….so I do not see that is was so good at all …just better than stupid …

I feel I am correct—Sarah Palin is not qualified to run for VP. After reading the blogs on mudflats/word press, there are many , many people in Alaska that would agree. They hold rally’s every Sat.,but I have yet to hear about them on CNN, or other media outlets. The people in the rallys have also been threatened. Scary!! They know her , much better than anyone in the lower 48. Not qualified.

What really mattered is that Biden lied, lied and lied again. He knows the Democrasts are responsible for the economic crisis. He knows Barney Frank and Obama and Senator Dodd took money from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and that Obama pushed and trained Acorn to push these bad unqualified loans to people who could not afford to make payments. He also knew that the Republicans had tried to put regulations on Lending Institutions and were blocked by the Democrats every time. He lied and pushed other ajenda just to keep from answering the true cause of the financial crisis. He also lied about the foreign affairs line that Obama did not say he would sit down with Iran’s President without preconditions. I heard Obama say that with my own ears. Why would he lie- because he is covering up the truth- We don’t need lies. Palin may not be a polished speaker, but she tells the American People the truth!!!!!!!

palin is not qualified for democrats.
She does not have America-hater friends, no radical ex-urban-terrorists and no semi-illegal activities organization relations (ACORN). Obama with no real achievement and shady associations implying dangerous judgment is qualified???… gi’me a big break!!!!!

It is unfortunate that the moderator has full control of what questions gets asked. Hopefully at thwe town hall debates, Obama has a chance to explain his affiliation with various anti-American radicals starting with his former pastor and his connection to ACORN who is being investigated by the FBI for voter fraud in multiple states.

What was disappointing to me–given that it’s likely that the McCain will now put Ms. Palin back in her Pumpkin Shell until the votes are counted–is what was NOT asked.
For instance, what is her view on the separation between Church and State? The reason I bring this up is that Sarah, as a member of her Wasilla Assembly of God church, was ‘annointed’ and blessed there by a Kenyan cleric Witch Caster who preached that “There are people who are WIRED TO POLITICS because God wants to take the Spirit dimensions of our societies and those are people we should be praying for. We need the..tongue talking, devil casting… brethren right inside”. He then lays hands on Sarah and asks the congregation to pray for Sarah’s political ambitions because “we want righteousness in this state, in this nation”. Fast forward to Palin’s response that “I didn’t blink, I’m WIRED that way” when she was asked be McCain’s running mate. This is a woman of incredible ignorance, arrogance and ambition who, having been annointed by Muthee, must step up because it is certainly God’s Will that she do so. No separation of Church and State there, folks. We fell for that line with George W. Could we be stupid enough to fall for that again? God help us.

One other comment. Sarah’s indictment that Obama and Biden are foolishly “looking backward’ instead of looking toward the future is laughable. Since when did NOT looking back at the debacle of the last 7+ years of Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld/Rice/Rove/Libby and the PNAC scheisters become ‘intelligent and foward looking’?? I guess none of that matters???? Especially when Sarah’s main squeeze, McSame, was in their hip pocket 90+% of the time??? Guess that doesn’t matter either, right? Ya Betcha!! But then Sarah steps in it by borrowing several snippets of Ronald Reagan nonsense to spice up her arrogant rhetoric. Quoting Ronald Reagan isn’t just looking BACKWARD, it’s more like an archeological dig. That she is so arrogant and so lacking in the ability to self-reflect and keeps repeating the same convention sound bites, even when they have been proven to be untrue (Another word for LIES) speaks volumes. As many others have said: WAKE UP, AMERICA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bloggers,

Sarah Palin and Boone Pickens are working on the CNG project. A project that will allow us to pay as low as 90cents per gallon to fuel our car. It will also let us have fueling stations at home at a discount.

I’m a democrat, but Obama from Chicago and Pelosi from San Francisco will be the most powerful people in the world starting 11/2009. Is this what we really want? McCain, Biden, and Obama are in the Senate. Shouldn’t we get someone that represents the outside and the little people? I have a small business and didn’t like the Biden coment of raising my taxes. More taxes will kill my little office.

As a woman who grew up in the midwest,, more specific the U.P. of Michigan. I don’t remember being taught that it was approprate for me to wink at strangers, let alone a whole group of stranges. My question is…if Senator Joe Biden winked throughout the debate as Governor Sara Palin did would this have been considered unprofessional and/or sexual harrassment?

Sarah Palin did not act professionally during the Vice Presidential debates. Although it was obvious that she was a “quick study” of the issues after her interview with Katie Couric, her winks, and saying things such as “darn”, “say it ain’t so ,Joe”, referring to middle-class men and women as “6-pack Joes”, and “Soccer Mom’s”, plus the hello to the elementary school class were disrespectful and inappropriate in the vice presidential debates! Would she act like that on a job interview? Would you hire someone who winked at you or acted like that on a job interview? In the debates, she was on a job interview for the 2nd highest position in this country and yet she chose to act in a very boorish, discourteous way. My husband and I will not vote for her or McCain after such a ludicrous performance. She is an appalling role model for young women and does not possess the etiquette or decorum to be the 2nd in line for the Presidency of the United States. We do vote and will vote for Obama and Biden!!!