I think there were two fundamental differences that became even more
apparent tonight, between the two parties. ( BTW fundamental is apparently
both candidates favorite word).

Do we want to stay in this war any longer than necessary? If no –then Biden
-if yes then Palin.
The second big issue is our economy ...who can fix it? The polls said Biden
won. Palin –not so much!

Two separate polls taken tonight (CBS and CNN) showed this answer on who
the viewer had more confidence in fixing our economy. Both polls favored
Biden.

Knowledge of issues poll said Biden before debate 79%. Same question after
debate 98%! Couldn’t get much better that!

Palin knowledge before debate 43% -66% after. Not that impressive!
Prepare to be VP Now Biden before 77% after 81% Palin before 39% not is
pathetic! After 55%

The polls also showed that Biden won.

My opinion? Republicans first-

I felt like Sarah Palin was trying to shove an entire apple
pie down our throats! She was pouring on the good old guys with their six packs, soccer and hockey moms, and the “aah shucks... Y’all ...so thick ..that I almost saw was my dinner coming back up again with all that pie!

She may have impressed the republicans because she was able to talk. However
it was so obvious to me that all she really did was recite talking points!
She DID NOT answer the moderators questions. She did not reassure people
expecting answers and solutions she only offered her rhetoric about what she
was taught to sell. She sounded like canned commercials. She ignored the
actual purpose of the debate. She had her own agenda, which was
sell-sell-sell!

But guess what? She didn’t sell me! Why? Well lets see ...she never
answered questions she would get the floor and then she would just go off on
all her obviously rehearsed commercial! Through the all the rhetoric she revealed a
couple of things.

She doesn’t believe in global warming. “I don’t blame all changes on man”
Can we say... in denial ?

Again I’ve blogged about this..it is more dangerous not to talk to your enemies. Republican no talk
let’s just fight! Not smart. War happy people will get our country into a
nuclear war, if they are not more careful! Democrats make sense because intelligent
people talk. Stupid people fight without talking it out first.

McCain plans to give $4BILLION DOLLARS to Exxon Mobil..well I hate to say I
told you so...but I Knew it! No wonder he’s pushing Drill, Drill, Drill. I
don’t want to give Oil companies another penny!

Here it is again people...republicans plan to screw American middle class
again!! They want to have the government..the same one they say will be
decreased if they win...Hah... they want the government to get all of Us to pay for
their drilling!!

They want to charge us 4billion this outrageous amount of money so that
Exxon makes even more huge profits! As much as the oil industry has pocketed
in enormous oil revenues over the prices they have been gouging us with for
years ...now the government would like for the American tax payers to fund these
oil rigs they want build too? These oil rigs they want to pollute every
corner of our vastly depleting “green earth” with.. Where is this 4 billion
dollars coming from anyway? I thought we were in a financial crisis? The republicans have no money to put
toward the middle class, or no proposed plan to help middle America -but
they have money to fund Exxon? How does that set with you? Sarah said
government get out of my way" I say Sarah and McCain stay out of my purse!

This republican chant .. Government get out of my way ..aah...dah... the
president of the United States? About as high as you can go in the
“government”. The point is to completely change this government.
Barrack will do that ..McCain yep ...more of the same.

Oh yeah..Sarah let us know tonight that she also wants to change the
constitution so that she can run the senate! I guess as she said she's only
been doing this for 5 weeks so of course she should take the helm of the
senate in addition to the white house! Scary Sarah just keeps getting more
scary!

Biden answered the questions INTELLIGENTLY. He offered SOLUTIONS. He made
sense. He was no-confrontational and gave instant great answers to the questions he was asked. Sarah ignored the questions and recited practiced republican public announcements! She was
not capable yet again of thinking on her feet!

The difference in the two agendas. Democrats are talking change. Obviously
from all the polls before this debate and after...more people believe that
the democrats are believable. Democrats are solutions to the problems we are facing right now. Democrats are giving people hope. They are
ahead in the polls because of that fact.

Republicans and even our republican friends who blog here...keep saying when questioned about McCain’s deception practices that it is just “campaigning” and
everyone does it. That comment says that the Republicans are agreeing that
their candidate is lying. And it’s apparently okay with them. It’s saying
that if you are republican then its common practice...expects it..because it has always been that way.
It’s saying... he lies but I want to vote republican, so I will vote even when I
know there has been deception!

People that are voting for Obama, has a total opposite view on why they are
voting for their candidate! They are voting for democrat because Obama and
Bidden will make the changes that more American want right now and it is
definitely not ensuring that Exxon-Mobil will continue to get fatter and
fatter for the next 2 decades, while the government ignores You and me and
our needs!? No war. contest over .

Dem's won hands down!

A Vote for Obama...will result in the real change America needs. Send Sarah Plain back to
Alaska, let her supervise and more importantly breathe the oil wells that
she & McCain want to push on America. But for me in the beautiful coastlines
of California I don’t want Bush’s , McCain's or Palin’s oil wells in my
sights or MY LUNGS, or the lungs of my children... and I don’t want to pay them or
for a war, any longer. I don’t want lose another life to this ridiculous war. So if we go home
we’re cowards? That’s ludicrous! I’m sick and tired of the war mongers, politicians who only want to
..enrich oil companies, while ignoring real Americans needs. The policies of the
McCain IS the same as Bush’s are. This is not the answer. Let’s
send a clear message send Sarah home to play with oil rigs to her hearts
content, and send McCain to the rocking chair he is destined for!

Bar-rack the vote! Obama/Biden ‘08

Would someone please inform Sarah Palin that the commanding General in Afghanistan is General David McKiernan and not General McClellan...I'm sure she must have confused him with Scott McClellan the former White House Press Secretary! That's an honest mistake, right?

I still think this is a man aganist women election. This will be for sometime. Women have slowly made their way into the business world and now into politics(look at the speaker of the house and the supreme court), of course every one says no,no,no that isn't what is going on but it is hard to look at and hear what she say's without realizing what gender she is. We have always been a culture of people not ready to see a woman as a leader, but give her 20 kids and a bus and a destination and say, "there you go get them there safely and feed them too and by the way if you have time do some laundry, pay some bills...... Doesn't this sound like women handle most every thing anyways,"Honey where's my sock's", she has to go and get these too!

Joe Biden instilled me with confidence. He is very knowledgeble and understands the big picture both domestically and with respect to our international relations. He connects with people in a very real way.

Governor Palin showed herself as lacking depth in every single subject. Parroting soundbites does not make you capable of holding the second highest office in the country, and certainly doesn't make you qualified to take over should something happen to your No. 1.

This has nothing to do with her being a woman, this has to do with her being sorely unqualified for the position to which she aspires as she showed yet again last night.

So ok we are all surprised that Sarah Palin did better than we thought she would. But seriously... seriously did she answer half the questions asked? No she simply kept going back to the coupla subjects she was familiar with.. exactly what was the point of the debate anyways...? Oh yeah to remind us that she's so much like the common people at making 6 figures a year!

Sarah Palin is perky and charming, but she overdid the 'folksy' stuff to the point of embarrassment. She said she wanted to be judged on her record, but didn't state any accomplishments.
At the same time, Biden wasn't able to decisively articulate his 25+ year advantage in dealing with national/international issues.
Biden was the clear winner, but not by the margin he should have had.

BIDEN AND PALIN CAME IN 50/50. FOR ALL THE HYPE OF HER BEING A "COUNTRY BUMPKIN" SHE SHOWED SHE IS PRETTY SAVVY. I ESPECIALLY AGREE WITH ONE POINT SHE MADE: I KNOW WHAT BUSH DID! NOW I WANT TO KNOW WHAT OBAMA AND MCCAIN ARE GOING TO DO.

Frank -

No one really won. Biden attacked and Palin showed her homebody side! Same old speeches - nothing new!

Biden attacked McCain in an attempt to make people think he is "W" and without telling people where Obama is coming up with the billions needed to pay for all his new spending; Palin stood her ground and supported McCain's positions. Palin was folksy and Biden was stiff.

Obama/Biden keep telling us about all these new "Government" run programs but never once have they told us "How" these programs are going to be paid for. If they raise my taxes, which I expect them too if they win, I will have to layoff people to cover them. Now what does that accomplish!!!

The Vice Presidential debate was really................is it just me or does Ginger Chan look extremely sexy today?

I believe that Joe Biden won the debate as he clearly answered all the questions asked. Although Sarah Palin did better than expected, she did not answer some of the key questions (i.e. taxing medical benefits, McCain's policies on deregulation). Instead Palin kept going back to her comfort zone which was energy. She even outright said on one occasion that she wasn't going to answer the moderator's question the way that you would expect. Also, I guess that she doesn't know what the term Achilles Heel means, because she didn't answer that question directly either. I want a VP candidate more experienced and politically intelligent than your average "hockey mom" or "Joe six pack". I would want my candidate to be smarter than I am in this position to go up against the many diverse world leaders and the complex problems this nation faces.

Unfortunately I think Palin was better than Biden.

I believe it was supposed to be a debate, and I did not see much of debating at all. Joe Biden just presented his views, Sarah Palin did the same, but at least she tried to address Joe Biden directly, she referred to his previous speeches, she expected that he would comment on her statements. It did not happen. Joe Biden called Sarah Palin "she", which shows he did not want to discuss any issues, he just wanted to present his ideas.

But telling the truth, I believe most American have already made their minds. Those who will vote for Obama, will criticize Palin, those who will vote for McCain, we say positive things about Palin. Although I support the Democratic Party, I think Sarah Palin was more charming, more honest, was able to recognize her limitations and tried to debate. Joe Biden was flat and boring.

Clearly Biden won. Palin showed that she can be coached. I thought it was nice when Biden didn't correct Palin's mistake on naming the General during the foreign policy talk. Sarah Palin is not ready to be VP or President. The Joe Six Pack and Soccer Moms comment isn't good enough to represent the other diverse members of America. The Republicans should really call Mitt Romney and find out if he's still available. Sarah Palin is not the answer to America's question - Will John McCain be a good President. His choice of Palin is a bad decision.

didn't know that The Stepford Wives were
on the ballot.. but since Ms. Palin is a charter member, it may bode well to position Tina Fey and send Ms.Palin to Moose Hunters rehab....

lamesabassman..... Biden... Si

I for one was offended by the "Joe Six pack" comment. How dare anyone assume that because I am middle class that I sit around with my nightly six pack!
I think Sarah Palin is a breath of fresh air!
I am sick of all the "stuffed Shirts" in politics!
I thought it was truly poor judgemnt last night when Joe Biden kept making faces and and nodding to audience members while Sarah Palin was speaking. She showed class and I am proud to have her running!
Cherie

I think Sarah Palin won.

It bugs me that all the talk is of Palin’s “lack of experience”, and that she would only be a heartbeat away from becoming president. If, being generous to Obama- who has not served as an executive at any level, and who is only two thirds into his only term in the senate (half of which he has spent campaigning for president), we place him on a level playing field with Palin, his ticket is attempting to vote him directly into the office of the president. He really does not have the experience, and he would not have the time to learn before taking office. Who is really taking a chance here? Palin is a quick study and would learn and gain experience as VP if the unfortunate should happen and she is elevated to the presidency.

Palin did come off a little too folksy for my taste, but she held her own against Biden. I think she changed some minds.

I was interested to hear what each candidate had to say about the various issues that are so important to our nation in these rough times. Joe Bidden was professional and direct, stating what the Obama/Biden policies would be if elected. On the other hand, Sarah Palin seemed too casual and often, like she had done before, wouldn't answer the questions but try to redirect the debate to energy or her experience as a govenor and mayor. The smiling and winking just didn't do the job. I was wondering how that approach would work with leaders of other nations. We don't need an "Everyday Person" to help lead the United States of America. We need an exceptional person who, not only we as Americans can respect, but also leaders of the nations of the world. Just remember, George Bush was the candidate that people felt with whom they would most like to sit down and have a beer.

I've been a lifetime Republican and a true social conservative at heart. However, I am voting Democratic this election. Our economy is a disaster and Palin/McCain are not differentiating themselves from Bush/Cheney.

I was deeply annoyed by Palin yesterday. What was she smiling about during the entire debate? The economy (big smile)? The war (big smile)? Energy (bigger smile)? This woman is a heartbeat away from the presidency. Honestly, she may be a heart attack away from it! She is not ready. She'll be a puppet if she becomes President.

"Awww shucks!" Give me a break!!!

I think Sarah Palin did excellent yesterday. Who cares if she pronounced a word wrong or took a second to think before speaking....more people should do that anyway! I think she would be a great VP. I am not worried in the least that she has limited experience in certain fields, that is why they have advisors.
Quit picking on her, she is very qualified to make some great changes in the world and I think Washington needs a womens perspective and work ethic to get the job done!!
Go Sarah Palin!!

Would you give Sarah Palin more credit if she answered the questions while standing on her head? The fact is that you have already made up your mind and no matter what she did, it would never be good enough for the Liberal Media.

Anyone who says Sarah Palin won is delusional! What debate were you watching? She was coached,she made decisions to NOT answer direct questions from Gwen Ifill, instead she answered questions she had been coached on! And that folksy character...ugh!
1. People need to stop following the party line just because.
2. White women seem to just want ANY WHITE WOMAN. No matter if she's the person for the job or not. No way they watched that debate and can say she is qualified to be VP. No way.

I think stupidity won last night. I was very disappointed that Biden was scared to take Palin down with the plethora of ammunition that she has provided through her ignorance, refusal to stay on topic, and total lack of knowledge about the country/world in which she lives.

Biden and Palin have got to be the two worst running mates I've seen in my 43 years. I feel they both do a great disservice to the presidential candidates and an even greater disservice to the citizens of this country.

They both won.

Biden won on issues. He obviously knew his subject. Experience showed. He was articulate, emphatic. Nervous at first, he tripped over Barack Obama's name, and searched for what to call Gov. Palin. But 10 minutes into their debate he seemed to relax and enjoy their comic opera.

Palin won on visibility. She seemed relaxed. She'd obviously learned the buzz words cause she repeated them ad nauseum - "also," "maverick," "change," "reform," "John McCain," whether they addressed the question or not. She did her job. Kept her head above water. With or without John McCain she wins on visibility. She's no longer governor from obscure Wasila. She's an "American icon" (CNN pundit). And she'll be on the political scene for years to come.

Obama/Biden '08

The sad truth is that we live in a Liberal Democrat state. So Republican candidates will never get a fair shake here. At the end of the day the election is between McCain and Obama. I would suggest that you watch those debates, and really see who is scripted and inexperienced, how do you think Obama would sound if he wasn't traveling around without his teleprompter?

Everyone keeps talking about Sarah Palin not having enough experience, but remember she is the VP candidate, but you aren't concerned with the experience level the person running for President!!
Please!! Wake up people, Obama is the real puppet, staged and practiced, coached. When you elect Obama and your taxes go up, and things get worse, I told you so!!!

I don't understand how Sarah Palin being "folksy" convinces people that she is qualified to be V.P. The reference to Joe Six Pack conjures up images of Homer Simpson! When I think of a qualified woman in power I think of Condelesa Rice...can you imagine Condi winking into the camera during such an important time in history? I don't think so.
Heather