Sarah Palin avoided another national embarassment

Yesterday's vice president debate turned out to be less a spectacle many of us have been expecting. Frankly, I was waiting for another comedy show by Palin in front of the national audience.

By sticking to the rehearsed talking points, and avoid answering questions, Palin avoided another national embarrassment. The entire republican party and McCain campaign sighed a collective relief. Sure, she was not answering questions directly. Sure she just repeated what she was instructed to say. But that was far better a performance than the interview she did with Katie Couric.

I thought Joe Biden did a great job, better than Barack Obama did in his first presidential debate. He kept hammering at McCain, calling him no maverick on critical issues, and continuing the failed Bush policies both domestic and international.

Indeed, there is basically NO difference when it comes to national defense policy, health care policy, tax policy, and energy policy, between Bush and McCain. Most troubling, and most dangerous (I believe), is that McCain has shown no sign of changing the course from the misguided Bush's beating-the-chest cowboy foreign policy, which has strengthened US enemies and alienated US allies. If this policy would continue, and I believe it would under McCain, we would continue to spending $10B/month in Iraq for the foreseeable future. McCain wants to cut domestic spending to preserve defense spending (Iraq war). That will lead to domestic economic decline and further stimulate the economy of the middle east. Thanks a lot McCain, our "friends" in the middle east would say.

We've got to elect Barack Obama President of the United States.