V.P. Debate

IMPRESSIONS

The debate was full of political talking points with very little substance. If all you base your vote on is which side sounds better and just trust them to come through on their promises, than this was the debate for you. If, on the other hand, you want to know how they're going to come through on what they promise and, more importantly, what that effectually means in terms of the government's power, than you must have been left wanting like I was.

To be honest, the debate left me very conflicted. I want to talk about everything they discussed, from taxes to Iran, from the War in Iraq to Health Care. But I've been thinking this over for an hour and a half and have come to realize that to really treat each issue with the attention I want, I am going to have to do it in successive posts. Which was my plan all along, so that works out quite nicely. But I can't not comment on the debate so here are some of my quick hits:

- People wanting to see a train wreck must be disappointed. Governor Palin didn't self destruct like many were hoping and thought she would. She proved she is more than capable of going toe to toe with someone who has been part of the political machine for over 30 years. On the other hand, Senator Biden didn't get himself in trouble by saying something silly, insulting, or by plagiarizing someone else's work like some on the right were hoping. It was a pretty uneventful debate on that front.

- I can't help but watch Senator Biden and end up thinking that the Democratic ticket should be reversed. Senator McCain and Senator Biden both have the experience, have been to the foreign countries, visited the rural areas of which they speak, and discussed policy with the foreign leaders that they quote. Senator Obama and Governor Palin are much more similar in how they can speak in general terms about what they would like to do, but can't draw on a wealth of experience. Senators McCain and Biden honestly look like they are teaching their respective opposition as much as they are debating them.

- It was nice to see Governor Palin call out Senator Biden and the Democrats for constantly referring to President Bush as though they are running against him. I have grown quite tired of every one of their answers being premised with, "If the failure of the Bush Administration has taught us anything..." It is a political trick that should have been addressed a long time ago.

- I was impressed with Senator Biden's restraint in not correcting Governor Palin when she misspoke the name of the Commander in Afghanistan. He just kept on debating as if it never happened. Pretty classy.

- On the other hand, did Senator Biden honestly talk himself up for his insight in advocating action in Kosovo and Bosnia, and then chastise President Bush for doing the same thing in Iraq? He spoke of the great success in uniting the different cultures in those areas, while mocking President Bush for thinking he could do the same things in Iraq with the Shiite and Sunni. I don't know if Palin missed that, or if she was returning the courtesy favor.

- When asked how each candidate would get past all the partisanship that cripples the Congress, I think their answers were telling. Governor Palin said that you lead by example, as she did by appointing Democrats in her administration in Alaska. Senator Biden said you do it by not second guessing people's motives, but second guessing their judgement. I would tend to agree with the Governor on this one, I don't see how thinking that everyone else is a moron would help you work with them better.

- The most poignant thing mentioned in the debate goes to Governor Palin. When asked what makes her qualified to be V.P., she said, among other things, her World View. Amen! Shouldn't this be the single most important think about a candidate? Their personal philosophy about government will play an enormous role in how they govern, and as such should be something everyone should question.

Lastly, I don't think anyone won this debate in the traditional sense. Both did a good job, and while I don't agree with a lot of the principles Senator Biden asks us to adopt, he does a superb job communicating and speaking about them in a rational and well thought out way. Governor Palin did a great job of holding her own, and in the minds of a lot of people who were getting worried about her should look a lot better.

I wish I could get into the issues more, but since the debate was pretty superficial I'll keep my post the same. I'll get into more specifics in future posts.