[IMG1] The long awaited appearance of Sarah Palin finally took place last night in her debate with Joe Biden. In short, it wasn't as spectacular as her initial debut in Minneapolis, and no doubt disappointing for Tina Fey and the nation's comedy writers. No "Palinisms" to entertain the nation.
Over the last few weeks, Sarah has obviously learned a lot from her handlers. Taking a neophyte like Sarah to last night's performance was not an easy task. Like another Republican Bible toting politician of note who admitted that he doesn't read newspapers or magazines, it can be speculated that Sarah doesn't either since she couldn't say what she read when asked by Katie Couric. Since America seems to like folksy sayings: Teaching Sarah about domestic and foreign policy was probably as difficult as teaching a dog not to hump guest's legs at a dinner party.
Hopefully, Sarah doesn't play poker. On subjects that she had been well prepared for, she was all smiles and personable. On subjects that she wasn't well versed on, she didn't smile and was very hesitant in her responses. In the real world of diplomacy and politics, her inability to maintain a poker face, and inability to hide her insecurities, would be disastrous.
Both Biden and Palin were adept at not offering true solutions. All that they did was parrot the campaign lines and philosophies. In that sense, the debates were not all that beneficial for anyone wanting to make up their minds about who to vote for. Palin, true to form if her past debates in Alaska are any indication, avoided a lot of questions and tried to change the focus. While this is a good political ploy at times, with Palin it is most likely because she simply doesn't have any answers.
Sarah survived. The rules were established by political protocol and correctness. Biden had to be kind to poor Sarah. If he had not been, Sarah would have won in the eyes of people who think that women are vulnerable and should be protected. As a result, no one was able to see Sarah under pressure. Since she is barely qualified to verbally parry with facts, viable experience or experience, Americans still have no idea what she could or would do in confrontational situations. As such, she still remains an unknown.
If the polls are correct, which are predicting an Obama - Biden victory, it really doesn't matter. Sarah will be able to return to Alaska and relative obscurity. How obscure she will be will be dependent on the "Troopergate" findings due to be released within the next week. That could, though probably not likely, result in her impeachment as Governor. Should she be impeached, her political career would likely be finished.
Even if the "Troopergate" findings are not favorable to Palin, don't expect that to derail the McCain campaign. They will forge ahead until the last bittersweet vote is counted. Without a decisive victory for either party, the country will remain divided.
Judging from all the earmarks and pork in the "Wall Street Rescue Package" the country will be not only divided, but also broke and close to bankruptcy. None of the four candidates - Biden, McCain, Obama or Palin will or can change that. The die has been cast. At least Sarah has been able to bring some valuable comic relief to the campaign as Main Street America trudges down the path to the poor house.
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