Not quite a victory, but no blood on the stage

The biggest story of the day is that Sarah Palin didn't crash and burn last night as everyone was so sure she would.

I mean, come on guys ... she's been stuck in the world's most intense study session for the past week. Of course she didn't choke, but ...

She was extremely repetitive and sometimes failed to answer the question that was posed, almost as if McCain had told her, "Now, Sarah, make sure you mention this and this and that at some point in the debate. Make me proud, my little barracuda!"

Despite her shortcomings, Palin held her own with Sen. Joe Biden (except for that part when she called him Sen. Obiden ... the Obama/Biden hybrid, perhaps? Oh, and the numerous times that she pronounced "nuclear" wrong). All in all, I was proud of Palin, and I gained respect for her when she admitted that she and McCain don't always agree on everything. Who wants a vice president who's nothing but a yes woman? The VP should act as a natural balance to the president's power ... the voice of reason, a second opinion.

I was pleasantly surprised at how friendly the debaters were toward each other, often smiling good-naturedly as the other kindly pointed out past and present faults.

But probably the most enjoyable part of the debate was the stark contrast between Biden and Palin. He has all the makings of a politician: strong voice, strong stance, distinctive white hair. Palin reminds me of a kids movie: hockey mom goes to Washington.

The Los Angeles Times noticed it, too:

"Palin's novelty was on full display: Rarely are debates at this level peppered, as Thursday's was, with references to Saturday soccer games and casual phrasings like 'I'll betcha,' 'darn right' and 'doggone it.' She winked repeatedly, and often uttered remarks in a sing-song lilt more often heard in a children's classroom than on the national stage."

Is this a bad thing? That remains to be seen, but it's certainly not something we're used to seeing behind a podium. There's a word for that ... oh yes, change.