What counts more in a debate? Good looks or responding to the questions?

I won't belabor the point. Palin looked great, but .... 

In the Vice Presidential debate, Sarah Palin behaved like a teenager who read the dust cover and first chapter, but failed to finish the book she's giving a report on. Will America let Palin off the hook for her apparent inability to address the actual questions posed?

Many of Palin's responses were so disconnected from the questions put forth tonight, I kept expecting Gwen Ifill to tap on her mike and ask if it was actually working.

It's truly a shame (and sham) that the American public was robbed of a proper VP debate after the Commission agreed the sexist request of the McCain campaign to shorten the response times to accommodate Palin's ignorance. If Palin had been held to the normal standards of the big boys, her unreadiness would have been much more difficult to cover up.

Time will tell what most Americans think.

I'm discontinuing the cone of silence series and here's WHY

I don't think it's helping to harp on this.

More importantly, I think there are stronger points to be made in favor of Obama and against McCain.

Although, before I close this chapter, I would like to point out that Dan Quayle had his first interviews the very night of his nomination.

While delegates milled about on the floor of the Louisiana Superdome, Mr. Quayle made the rounds of the network anchor booths in an orchestrated effort to make a good first impression on the millions of Americans who had never seen him before.

I look forward to watching Palin's first interview on ABC.

I especially look forward to the Vice Presidentail Debate on Thursday, October 2, 2008, 8pm central.

Sarah Palin Cone of Silence DAY NINE (9)

It's now been NINE days since Sarah Palin has spoken with any reporters, taken any questions, been interviewed or said anything other than scripted talking points to supporters at official campaign rallies.

Remember, McCain spokesperson, Nicole Wallace, thinks that Palin is NOT accountable to the American voters, and therefore does not need to talk with actual reporters.

Palin is not even scheduled to appear on the Right-Wing mouthpiece Fox "News," which will instead be airing a documentary about the Alaska governor.

There are unverified claims that Palin is going to be interviewed next week by ABC's Charlie Gibson. But John McCain's chief campaign manager, Rick Davis (lobbyist for foreign intersts and linked to the Russian mafia) reportedly whined,

“Why would we want to throw Sarah Palin into a cycle of piranhas called the news media that have nothing better to ask questions about than her personal life and her children?” Davis said. “So until at which point in time we feel like the news media is going to treat her with some level of respect and deference, I think it would be foolhardy to put her out into that kind of environment.”

Translation: Waaaah! Waaah! The media are a bunch of bad guys!

What would happen if Palin were thrust into the presidency, and she had to deal with Russia (a country she's never set foot in, and whose leader she's never met or even talked to on the phone), Iran, China, Pakistan, or North Korea? Do you think they're going to sit around and wait for her to feel "comfortable" before she handles the matter?

Meanwhile, Palin's right-wing handlers are doing their best to block the door of access and cover up Palin's inability to appear before cameras, even though one would think that her degree in journalism should have prepared her to handle the press.

I want to see Palin on the Daily Show! If Palin really has the mettle to be one heartbeat away from leading the Free World, she should be able to handle Jon Stewart just fine! Remember, Palin admonished Hillary when Hillary bristled at actual mud-slinging and lies. Now Palin is being sheltered from the media to avoid honest questions about her inexperience and the official investigation into her thuggish-style of governing.

Sarah Palin can talk the talk, but can she walk the walk? Only time will tell...

HOW MANY DAYS TIL THE VP DEBATE? She'll have to come up for air then, I guess. Can't wait!