9:02 -- Intro. Hi, Gwen. Hope the wingnuts have only steeled your spine.
9:05 -- First question. Both look like they're referring to notes. Hope this doesn't persist.
9:09 -- So far, nothing but boilerplate and talking points. Hope someone is keeping count of how many times Palin says "reform," "maverick," etc.
9:10 -- Interesting that Palin blames the "predatory lenders." This is different from the wingnut trope that poor, irresponsible (read: minorities) people caused the crash.
9:14 -- the "$42,000" tax raise lie again
9:15 -- Palin goes for "talk straight." Yeah, that was spontaneous. Not. Note she switched to saying "Barack" after hearing Biden say "John."
9:18 -- I call "garish" at the size of Palin's flag lapel pin, but I expect my view on this will not be the universal one.
9:20 -- Biden good on specifics of "McCain will tax your health care". Oooh. "Bridge to Nowhere" worked in! Minor zing.
9:23 -- Palin says McCain doesn't tell one thing to one group and another to another. LOL! That's been his entire campaign so far -- flip-flopping.
9:25 -- Palin says she's only been at this for five weeks. Possible snippet for an attack ad.
9:29 -- Extremely clumsy change of subject by Palin when asked a direct question about bankruptcy/mortgages, to energy. Obviously, she's determined to spit out every talking point she's crammed in prep. Wonder if that will come across to people not predisposed to dislike her.
9:31 -- Palin "I'm not one to attribute blah blah" on climate change. Yep, we've heard that before. She didn't mangle it quite as badly this time.
9:35 -- Palin says "nukyular."
9:37 -- Good answer from Biden on same-sex couples. Palin kind of trying to have it both ways, but good enough for her base, I guess.
9:39 -- Sad to hear Biden clearly against gay marriage. Realities of politics, but still sad.
9:40 -- What's your exit strategy from Iraq, Governor? Not answered.
9:41 -- Biden calls her on that. Good man. Could have been a little punchier on his/Obama's plan besides timeline. Good on rebuttal, though.
9:47 -- Palin says "nukyular" again. And again. Keeps invoking Petraeus and Ahmadinejad. And now Castro? More talking points dumpage. Yep, got the "naivety" word in, too.
9:51 -- Biden gets McCain's Spain gaffe into the diplomacy discussion. Nice.
9:52 -- Interesting. Palin doesn't address the Spain thing. Probably for the best -- there really is no walking back that one.
9:56 -- Biden: "haven't heard how his [McCain's] policy will be different from George Bush's." Like the repetition, from the point of view of hammering the underinformed voters.
9:58 -- More clumsy transition to pre-planned talking points by Palin. Clearly, she's reading from notes. Wonder how many will pick this up.
9:59 -- Biden reading from notes, too. Granted, both have been writing them in real time, but some talking points from both sound planned and look like they come from prepared notes.
10:01 -- Biden good on making the point on Obama ahead of McCain on recognizing that Afghanistan was a problem after McCain had earlier declared victory.
10:03 -- As important as the questions that Ifill has asked, I'm annoyed that she has yet to ask anything that couldn't have been easily anticipated. No chance to see whether the candidates can think on their feet.
10:04 -- I am really getting tired of Palin's cutesy smile when she delivers attack lines. Probably works with her fan base. Wonder how the undecideds see it.
10:07 -- Palin mentions, not for the first time, blunders of Bush Administration. Wonder if that will work for the underinformed.
10:09 -- Biden slips in "Bush Doctrine." Hee hee.
10:10 -- Ewww. She just winked.
10:12 -- Palin clumsily says "there you go again." Leftosphere hurls.
10:14 -- weird thing where Palin says Constitution should give more authority to VP over Senate. What's that about?
10:14 -- Palin: "John McCain has already tapped me." Snicker.
10:16 -- Good follow-up by Ifill on the Constitution question. No real answer from Palin on it, but hints of "flexibility" in Constitution strikes me as a weird thing, especially given the way Cheney has run amok. Good for Biden for jumping all over this.
10:18 -- Biden keeps hammering on Cheney. Excellent.
10:19 -- Why does Palin keep saying "tapped?" She stands firm for American exeptionalism. Bone for the base.
10:22 -- I am really tired of Palin's smiling at weird places. It comes off like a news reader, not a serious leader.
10:23 -- Nice to see Biden push back against the "maverick" mantra at the end of the debate. Plant those seeds.
10:28 -- Second time Palin says she has "a very diverse family." Clank.
10:29 -- Maybe the "diverse family" thing is dog whistle to soften the unwed pregnant daughter problem? [Added 12:57: in retrospect, probably more to remind everyone what a Supermom she is, esp. wrt to the Down's Syndrome baby.]
10:29 -- LOL @ Palin claiming she wishes she could answer more questions. Please. And then works in an attack on the mainstream media, too. Please.
10:31 -- Palin smiles while predicting doom. Ick.
10:33 -- Done.
10:35 -- Weird to have everyone on stage after the applause has ended.
10:36 -- The all-important baby prop. Was there really any other reason to bring a 1-year-old to this event?
10:39 -- Stage empties. We now stand by while every MSM pundit says Palin won by beating expectations.
Closing thoughts: No obvious gaffes. I found the whole thing pretty useless. The format allowed for little else besides spouting sound bites and slogans, and since I've been following the race pretty closely, I've heard them all before too many times. Probably people just tuning into the race will feel differently.
I'm sure Palin did nothing but boost enthusiasm for her supporters tonight. I'm 99% sure she did nothing to change the minds of those who think she's not ready for the job. I have no idea how the undecideds will view this. Some, doubtless, will find her cutesiness appealing. Some, I hope, will think it made her look shallow. Ultimately, I think no major changes happen in the polls as a result of this, although there will probably be a little bit of a temporary bump for McCain/Palin. Or, at least, a slowing of their declining numbers.
