Joe Biden vs Sarah Palin Round 1 (and only round)
The Good: Personally I was happy to see someone actually start talking real figures. Joe Biden made a concise point about the war in Iraq when he said that 3 weeks of funding in Iraq is the same amount of money for 1 year in Afghanistan. Puts things into perspective. The fact that Palin repeatedly stated that she had no issue with the current plan for both those wars, and yet couldnt hold up the numbers that Biden was challenging her with; went a long way to show Palin for the performing monkey she is. No critical thought, no political savy, just a script to read. To me the best part of this debate was getting to know what Sarah Palin's writers had to say about things in general, I would've loved to hear her own thoughts. Digressing, I think that Biden drew the line in the sand regarding a few issues starting with gay rights which I think was not only brave but also necessary. I think it is time we stop harrasing citizens for their constitutionally given right to persue their happyness and actually worry about the policies that got us into this mess.
The Bad: I was less than impressed with the moderating of this debate. Palin was given the opportunity to outright say she was not going to answer certain questions, and instead of pressing her for answers the subject was just glossed over. I also think that some of the questions were too easy. Point in case, when Palin talked of success and victory in Iraq, I would've loved for someone to ask her to define said "Victory". I also could've done without some of the "I greatly respect you governor blah blah blah". Someone should send a memo to Joe Biden that refering to himself in the third person is annoying at best.
The Ugly: Overall, I felt less than "charmed" by Palin. To me she definitly came across as slimey and every bit as conniving as the "washington insiders" she tries to distance herself from. Moreover, I was somewhat disheartned when no one even mentioned the "Nukes for Mangoes" bill that had been passed that same day. I would've loved to hear some of their reactions to our current foreign nuclear policies. In as much as Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan are important, the fact that we are peddling nuclear technology to "allied" states should've been debated. I was happy to hear that Palin is "tolerant" of gays, cause you know, Im sure the gay community feels better knowing that she tolerates their way of life and have her reluctant blessing for their sexual orientation.
The Bad: I was less than impressed with the moderating of this debate. Palin was given the opportunity to outright say she was not going to answer certain questions, and instead of pressing her for answers the subject was just glossed over. I also think that some of the questions were too easy. Point in case, when Palin talked of success and victory in Iraq, I would've loved for someone to ask her to define said "Victory". I also could've done without some of the "I greatly respect you governor blah blah blah". Someone should send a memo to Joe Biden that refering to himself in the third person is annoying at best.
The Ugly: Overall, I felt less than "charmed" by Palin. To me she definitly came across as slimey and every bit as conniving as the "washington insiders" she tries to distance herself from. Moreover, I was somewhat disheartned when no one even mentioned the "Nukes for Mangoes" bill that had been passed that same day. I would've loved to hear some of their reactions to our current foreign nuclear policies. In as much as Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan are important, the fact that we are peddling nuclear technology to "allied" states should've been debated. I was happy to hear that Palin is "tolerant" of gays, cause you know, Im sure the gay community feels better knowing that she tolerates their way of life and have her reluctant blessing for their sexual orientation.