Despite all the silliness since Gov. Palin was named Sen. McCain’s running mate, she and Sen. Biden were able to put much of it behind them and give us a good debate last night. Not a GREAT debate, but adequate.
I just saw on CNN where one of the most fun parts of debate viewing might have been people who were playing “Palin Bingo.” Someone put together a grid like a Bingo card, using pet phrases from Palin’s stump speeches (lipstick on a pit bull, you betcha, etc.), then each phrase she used was covered as it appeared in the debate. (Remember the red flag thrown up when Sen. Obama referred to “lipstick on a pig” and the former Republican governor of Massachusetts was outraged?)
In some ways, Palin’s performance encouraged me a bit. I got the feeling she has more intellectual substance than the media and/or “SLN” give her credit for. I seriously doubt she’s truly experienced enough to be president — but she probably could get up to speed in a hurry, should the McCain-Palin ticket triumph and should she suddenly become president.
Now — that debate is behind us and we need to focus on getting some “band-aids” or an “economic acne treatment” or something helpful done about the economy. Even as I tap this keyboard, I see a quick television report that the bailout bill appears to be passing in the House. Sadly, the already bad legislation was bloated up with added “earmarks” and tax breaks it should have done without — but at least it’s probably the best we can hope for right now.
We’ll pay for it, true. But better to pony up this flawed bill than watch the economy drop another couple of TRILLION in investment losses, job losses, credit freezes, etc., like we got on the first House bailout vote.
I think.