First of all, the best part about this debate, for me, was being able to sit down and have an intelligent and in-depth discussion about it, after the fact, with a couple of people... ...I gave birth to! That fact for me is as much a historical and memorable event than anything else. My college sophomore is in Baltimore, MD, but, my 12 and 13 year old watched the debate from home while I attended a couple of debate watch parties! We later talked about it and agreed on many things, but, we also disagreed on some things. My children look up to me and value my opinion, but, they are also just as stubborn and opinionated as I am and aren't afraid or intimidated to voice their own opinions. I LOVE THAT ABOUT THEM! They recognize at an early age to follow their own beliefs and philosophies, as they are developing and they understand the importance and significance of what is transpiring in our world today and are steadily looking for ways in which to have their voices heard, wanting so much to have the ability to vote in this election. They are in fact mentoring me and I am in awe of them! At any rate, I must say, Palin did much better than I had expected that she would. I had pictured her being nervous and stumbling over the issues under Biden's wisdom and experiences. I noticed that their debate offered its spectators more personality, they were more likable being in debate mode than Obama and McCain. Palin's a beautiful woman with a beautiful smile and even in the midst of being unable to adequately respond to the issues that Biden brought up, she never lost her flavor. She, however, was clearly and undeniably a novice compared to Biden! Biden lead the debate with Palin being reactionary! She was diligent in her efforts to stick to her notes, to bring up the points that had been so poignantly written for her. Whenever Biden's response would cause her to move beyond or off the topics that she wanted to address, she was quick to start the game of word play and double talk, to say a lot of something that meant a lot of nothing, but, she did it with such finesse, poise and charisma. Then there was the CONSTANT statement... "You can choose a ticket that will bring jobs or you can choose a ticket that will raise taxes!" She NEVER talked about or elaborated on the proposed plan to bring jobs into a faltering economy, into an economy that is faltering due to the misappropriation of power and monies by the current administration. She faulted Biden for the comparison of the current administration with McCain, but, as Biden pointed out, nothing that McCain has said so far goes against the position and activity of the current administration. In fact, if McCain is elected President, it'll be just like Bush was still in office. What really got me was when Palin attempted to capitalize off the use of Obama's "CHANGE" by saying something to the effect that her and McCain's ticket was the right ticket for "CHANGE" in this country. Biden then listed a number of issues, one by one, stating as a matter of fact that he failed to see where McCain was offering "CHANGE" with any of those issues. Right there, Palin stumbled, but, she regrouped and talked her way on to a topic that was much closer to her comfort zone. I was a bit turned off because I really and sincerely wanted to hear what McCain was proposing on the various issues lined up against Obama's proposed offers towards "CHANGE"! We didn't get that last night. Palin attempted on several occasions to say that Obama voted to raise taxes. Biden clarified that his vote had to do with taxing the wealthy and putting a stop on the tax breaks that the wealthy have become so accustomed to. I think that it was a dumb strategy on the part of the McCain campaign to try and attack Obama on the tax issue knowing damn well that Biden was going to clarify Obama's position on that issue and seeing how the economy is what it is, most of Obama's voters are not wealthy and could give a shit about the wealthy being taxed. In fact, if their tax breaks being taken away somehow means some relief to the lower and middle class, guess what McCain/Palin...a topic that you should have steered clear of! I want to say too that I failed to do my homework where Biden was concerned and was unaware of the tragic death of his wife and daughter and the hospitalization of his sons. As he told that story, to show that he understood the trials and tribulations of the working class at having to move because there were no jobs where they were and being a single father raising his sons and the loss of his wife and daughter...as he got choked up reliving that story, which came from his gut, I sat there close to tears myself, feeling his pain as I sat in a restaurant/lounge thinking of my own children, one hundreds of miles away from me. If there were anybody who connected with the working class, the lower to middle class families, between Obama, McCain, Biden and Palin, it was Biden! At that very moment, I saw a father who had struggled instead of a politician and more importantly, as last night's debate moderator, Gwen Ifill, asked the question concerning the position of Vice President, I saw a man who could run this country, side by side with the President. Palin's a beautiful woman who has a beautiful smile and lots of charisma, but, do I trust her at the helm? Hell no! I don't trust her with McCain, let alone having her in the position to run this country without him or in lieu of him! I thought that it was funny as hell and really quite interesting when Ifill asked them about the Vice Presidency position. Palin responded that she and McCain had spoken along those lines and that McCain had advised her of several tasks that she would head! When it was Biden's turn, he too stated that he and Obama had spoken along those lines and that Obama had advised him that he (Biden) would be in the room with him during all major decision making! WOW! Amazing! There is no secret that I am an Obama/Biden loyalist, but, anyone who knows me personally, if I have to eat crow, I'll put out my napkin and fork without hesitation! Prove me wrong! Show me that I've misjudged you! Make me second guess my opinion of you and your abilities! I don't have to like a person to give them credit where credit is due! I take my vote as seriously as I take raising my children and breathing the air around me! I've maintained that where I am pro black, I am more pro right and will not vote for Obama just because he's a black man, but, I will vote for him if I think that he's the right man for the job who just happens to be a black man! So far folks, for me, there are no grays in between this race! When I look at the state that this country is in both economically and in regard to international ties that have been severed...and I look at the tickets Obama/Biden and McCain/Palin, I'm sorry, but, the two folks I trust to run this country, to govern over the lives of me and my family and my neighbors and friends, to bridge international relationships so that the United States regain the respect of its international neighbors and former allies, Obama/Biden wins hands down and yesterday's debate, I don't need media polls to tell me that Biden won the debate! Shit! I was one of the judges and I had my tally sheets and when it comes to my vote on November 4, 2008, Obama/Biden got it without question, without hesitation!
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