Notes on the VP Debate

I just finished watching the debate. Due to my time zone, I had the unique experience of reading all sorts of news and punditry about the debate before actually viewing it, and I've just caught the CNN International replay. I'm anticipating an epic post by Travis regarding the intricacies and inanities found in the VP debate between Sarah Palin and Joe O'Biden, so like Katie Couric I won't beleaguer the point, but there were some things I wanted to point out.

• John McCain's "The fundamentals of the American economy are strong" comment has been subjected to some of the most ridiculous spinning I've ever seen. Does anybody honestly believe he was referring to the American workforce? If he was, it's so obvious that nobody would make that point, or cloak it in such vague terms. What would be the counterpoint? Yes... our banking, finance, and manufacturing sectors are extremely well set up and resistant to calamity, but these American workers are so damn lazy that we just might go down the tubes!
• Palin, in arguing against a national health care plan, said "Unless you're pleased with the way the federal government has been running anything lately..." You can't say that when your party is in the White House. I heard you might consider yourself a bit of a maverick (hey, you should use that!) but, again, who honestly believes that this team will bring about change? Almost everybody that Palin excites is already a huge Bush fan.
• The way Palin talks about energy independence is absolutely absurd. She said there are "domestic supplies of energy all over this great land, and instead we're relying on foreign countries." Therefore, the only way out of it is to drill, baby, drill (make sure you get it right, Joe!) Do they not understand that there is no "instead" about it, as long as we remain so dependent on petroleum? Or just she just not care, figuring that the American voter is too dumb to realize it? Thankfully, Biden called her out on this matter.
• Honest question: is Alaska more vulnerable to climate change than other parts of the country? I understand that ice caps may melt, but this affects the entire planet. I'm not saying it isn't true, but what is the science behind this? Please leave a comment if you know. If you, you know, trust science and all.
• The don't-talk-to-the-enemies crowd seems to think Obama wants to lacksidasically sit down and have a cup of tea with Ahmadinejad. Or, at least that's what they want you to think. Because to Palin, diplomacy is "hard work by serious people", unlike under a Democratic administration, where a bunch of screw-offs just wait for 5pm to roll around.
  
• Do you think Palin had heard of a no-fly zone in Sudan, or ever before considered the matter, before Biden conveniently said it right before she agreed that this was her policy, as well?
• Palin's winks (CREEPY!), facial tics, wiggles, nods, constantly talking with an inappropriate smile on her face, and general attempts at cuteness and spunkiness drive me crazy. It's like Ryan Seacrest going into politics. Biden looks a little weary, and his enormous smile can get a little creepy too, but at least he's not trying to out-cute everybody. Palin talks to the American public like we're in kindergarten.
• Palin harps on Biden's references to the Bush administration as dabbling in the past. Is she seriously trying to take the failures of the Bush administration off the table? I recall reading something once about those who don't understand the past are... wait, what was it? Eh, it was in the past, so must not be important. Onward!
• What was on the top of Palin's flash cards this week? I have a feeling it was "Greed and Corruption on Wall Street".
• Palin spoke happily of answering tough questions without a media filter. Except, she bragged early on that she might not answer the questions of Gwen or Joe, but would speak directly [and condescendingly] to the American people. So I guess she was answering the tough questions in her head. Since we don't know what they were, she probably answered all of them completely and directly.
  
• And finally, to both candidates, if you eat at the dining table instead of the kitchen table, does that make you an elitist?