Fencepost Palin Reads Her Cards Well, And All Are in Awe -- But Joe Biden Actually Won Debate

The talking fencepost had been prepped to the gills and so Palin proved she can memorize talking points, even if she cannot think beyond them. Because it was not a real debate, more of a joint segmented speech, she was more in her element. Because she did not fall off the stage, the Republican spin masters trumpeted her performance.

The fact that she looked at the camera was seen as a fantastic thing, but you would think that since her only degree was in broadcasting, that should not be seen as such a badge of honor. Still, the bravos were flowing from the chattering Republican shills, on cue and according to their own well-written talking points.

"She dominated the stage," said one. "She even winked at the camera twice. I have never seen that in a Vice-Presidential debate!" Well, sir, that is because no one so shallow, coy, or brassy as Sarah "Barracuda" has even been nominated by a presidential candidate with such poor judgment as McCain before.

Yes, Palin exceeded the super low expectations, as I predicted here yesterday. In fact, I am not so sure she helped drive those expectations low herself, so she could rebound "miraculously." The McCain campaign is that devious.

Look at it this way --either Palin cannot handle questions off script -- which I feel disqualifies her to be President, or it was a devious ruse, which also should disqualify her to be President -- and the Vice-President must be ready to be President.

Even in this quasi-debate, she broke the rules and chose not to answer some of the questions. If you cannot go by the rule of a competition, will you go by the rule of law? Oh, I forgot, Troopergate and its cover-up prove that she could care less about the laws of the land. Of course, the media, with its news cycle Alzheimer's, has already put Troopergate in its rear view mirror.

No matter what the Republican propaganda machine tells you, it was evident that, on substance and facts, Senator Joe Biden won the debate hands down. He showed himself to be graceful against her incessant attacks, as she scrambled from note card to note card to blast him and Senator Obama. His answers were filled with his insight and experience. And he really tried ot answer the questions, as opposed to using questions to launch pre-programmed talking points.

True to the McCain campaign, Palin was loose with the facts, sketchy on any kind of policy, but strong on the fact hollow values statements. She repeated many Republican talking points, including "John McCain knows how to win a war!" Oh really? If I remember we lost in Viet Nam, didn't we? Or are the Republicans re-writing that history, too?

As I said in yesterday's column, the smoke and mirrors brigade would trumpet how wonderful Sarah Palin was in her second coming. But you must look beyond her style and supposed personality and look at the ideology and policies she represents.

Her ideas are bad for the country, no matter how well she smiles or how well she remembers her carefully devised (by someone else) talking points. A vote for Palin is a vote for four more years of the last eight years, or worse!