Watching the debate at a Fortune women's conference, I asked Meg Whitman, the co-chair of McCain's campaign, what she thought of Palin's performance. "Good enough," she said. But good enough for what, exactly? After Thursday night, the only thing Palin proved herself good enough for is starring in her own reality show. Watching Biden and Palin on the same stage was like watching a tennis champion walk onto Centre Court at Wimbledon only to find himself facing an over-eager amateur from the local high school. The only subject on which Palin displayed superior knowledge was when she corrected Biden on the proper delivery of "Drill, baby, drill!" Christie Hefner thought Palin's sex-tinged twist on the chant should be appropriated for a commercial. Perhaps for Viagra. My patience with Sarah Palin is waving the white flag of surrender.
CNN had a graph running along the bottom of the screen during the debate, allegedly representing the moment-by-moment feelings of a group of independent voters. This is no way to watch a debate.
Governor Palin, I know General McKiernan, and he is no George McClellan. I hope that you can learn the difference. Some things cannot be shrugged off with a snarky wink and a winning smile.
Hillary Clinton and Geraldine Ferraro had ideas you could disagree with. But Sarah Palin is perky and inscrutable at once, you betcha. She talks. We listen but we have no idea what's been said.
Sarah Palin has experience being a runner-up -- which will come in handy in November. Tonight she barely kept up. By any rational assessment, Palin wasn't up to the job.
Tonight, Joe Biden showed why he is the right person for that job. On question after question, he demonstrated knowledge, careful thought, and a willingness to make hard decisions.
It turns out that Secretary Paulson played an even more direct rule in bringing down our financial system than his failure to recognize the housing bubble.
The moment when Biden talked about the death of his wife and child, and raising his sons himself was tremendously moving and genuine. It was a bold -- and very relevant -- point to make.
Not only do I want to grab a beer with Biden but I might even have three or four and maybe some onion rings. He was masterful tonight.
The debate got away from Gwen Ifill, and Sarah Palin got away with passing off folksy platitudes as substitutes for substance.
I, for one, am terrified that all the "soccer moms" and the "Joe six-packs" will fall for the likable candidate as being qualified to lead our country. I don't want someone who is likable.
It was very interesting to watch Palin when the camera was on Biden. On foreign policy and other points where she gave light answers, she was intently reviewing her notes on the podium.
In all, she was just an actress off-book. She had no business being on the same stage with Biden, nor criticizing Obama. She was outclassed, and outgunned, intellectually.
