Old news on Biden, already addressed umpteen times; and unsubstantiated and/or incomplete-truth claims about back then, and about what's transpiring next. I think it would be good to find the “compassionate conservative” in you to refrain from disparaging his parents and his nickname and/or middle name because that is ENTIRELY irrelevant to what's going on.

You think you know what's going on? Then come save the USA. I have more than 1/2, probably 2/3, of your resume from the biographical details you've provided on this site. I'll type you up a resume while you're packing and getting a plane ticket. Can you get to the U.S. within four weeks? That would be handy. I assume you'll be wanting to locate with the McCain campaign HQ. I'll get right on finding that address...

[Sarcasm off, do you not think we Americans are rather embroiled in and very serious about this election and the current state of affairs, e.g., economics, wars, et al, et al? And do you really truly find what you provided to the dicussion productive in any way???]

I appreciated both your responses to this "debate prep" discussion and likely ways it could unfold. I've had some experience in this area myself and could relate to what you put forth.

I do foresee "zingers"--that seems to be her forte.

But I wasn't aware of this: "Because of the debate forum, Ifill cannot repeat the question or ask Palin to actually answer what was asked." That seems like a lame debate forum in my opinion, but anyway...

"If Biden tries to do this - he may come across as a bully or end up spending more time trying to get Palin to actually respond to the relevant question than responding himself."

May I ask either or both of you (or anybody!) to respond to a question I've posed more than once: Why should he not participate as he would with any other contender? He's debated in many settings and certainly with women in the Senate for years. I understand that "nailin' ailin' Palin" could back-fire poltically, but geez...getting her to actually answer direct questions and state her positions...shouldn't that be the objective?

I agree with mearro that Palin will "play dirty" (she has proven her one shining ability for evading answers re: her ability to divert attention to sarcastic and often nasty remarks about her opponents). I'm just annoyed (no, make that angry) that Biden presumably has to "treat her gingerly" because she's a woman? Courtesy and respect during a debate are a given ideal. But why the emphasis on special treatment?

Oh, I suppose my questions are moot, at best. If the debate provokes nothing more than rote responses, well, that's a lot less than I had hoped for.

"So does she agree with Griswold? Nah. If she's heard of that case, she probably thinks it's about National Lampoon's Vacation."

This totally cracked me up! Thanks. I needed the laugh.

It's very hard to "play dumb" if you're not. Just as it's very hard to "sing badly" if you actually can sing well. Unless you are a very talented actress. @nancerich, I'm with you on the Judy Holliday reference--she worked it (playing dumb) totally, because she was a very talented actress. Is that Sarah? I don't think so. She's given it the old college try, just not sure which of the several colleges she's attended gave her inadequate skills to portray herself differently--maybe she should have taken some theatre classes?

As for the clips...I've seen them before this particular Salon alert. Note that she doesn't really answer questions (directly or indirectly). She appropriately responds to patronizing behavior, but even with that, she doesn't answer the question. Geez, forget the gender gap--I would find her infuriating and could easily get patronizing just trying to get a freakin' straight answer out of her. Yeah, yeah, I know politicians go circular all the time. At best, she responds (sometimes) to questions within her area/arena of expertise. I just don't happen to think that her limited area/arena of expertise is suitable for a potential VP with odds-on becoming Prez.

Serious question--how does this report jive with the following AP article?

"Estimates show Palin assets top $1 million"

http://apnews.excite.com/article/20081002/D93I46LG0.html

EXCERPT:

"Add up the couple's 2007 income and the estimated value of their property and investments and they appear to be worth at least $1.2 million. That would make the Palins, like Democratic vice presidential rival Joe Biden and his wife Jill, well-off but not nearly as wealthy as multimillionaire couples John and Cindy McCain and, to a lesser extent, Barack and Michelle Obama."

In any event...Jane & Joe Six-Pack my a**. All I can say is "well, bless their hearts, doggone it, doncha know?"

“SAY IT AIN'T FAIR, SAR!”

Doggone it, you did all that hard memorizing and that mean commentator (and that old guy you used to watch in 2nd grade) kept asking you questions you didn’t know the answers to. But you done good. You just said to yourself: “I’m going to say whatever I want to say, cuz I’m a MAVERICK, and by golly, I like hockey AND soccer and I'm a mom, and I’ve seen Russia, and I’m just here crackin’ that ceiling like my idol Geraldine. I challenge anyone to put on lipstick better than me, bless their hearts. I know it’s all about job creation and I’m just gonna create one for me so I can win the war and get that Tal-ee-ban. Best of all, I know God is on MY side.”

How could anybody do anything but “back you up there”…doncha know?

(wink, wink)