The Debate

[smofbabe]

Here we are, on the cusp of possibly the most anticipated candidate debate in a Presidential campaign season. To no one's surprise, the spin has started already. Obama's camp has released videos of Palin showing what a great debater she is; McCain's camp is claiming that the moderator is prejudiced in favor of Obama because of a book she's writing about the new era of African American politicians and also spinning that it doesn't matter to the American people whether she can answer every single question:

"She's not lived in the world of Washington, so she doesn't know every detail of all the questions senators deal with," Lieberman told NBC's Andrea Mitchell. "But, frankly, that's her strength. I think that's why a lot of regular people out across America think she's going to be their voice."

Mitchell interjected, "Senator, she wants to be a heartbeat away from the presidency. You know, that doesn't mean just being an average mom, it means bringing other skills."

But Lieberman stayed on the point, stating later, "I think tonight is not a kind of final college exam. I think the point is who is she as a person... Whether she can answer every detailed question, I don't think that ultimately matters to the American people so long as they think she passes those other personal thresholds."

My hope is that Palin produces at least one quotable gaffe that unquestionably shows her unreadiness for the office, and that Biden manages to be succinct and walk the thin line between being perceived as condescending or bullying. A quotable zinger on McCain would be helpful, too.

To add to the fun of your debate parties, you might want to pass out Palin bingo cards.