I watched the entire VP "debate" and was fuming through most it. A debate is supposed to be an argument between two (or preferably more!) people where their interactions are formally structured. At its most basic, to win a debate, a participant should at least answer the questions directly...

Over and over again, Palin decided that she didn't need to answer the questions, but instead launched into some unrelated talking point she had prepared. There was a lot of talk on right wing blogs about an apparent Biden gaffe, and I admit that I was a little confused as well by one of Biden's claims that "we" had kicked Hezbollah out of Lebanon (he probably meant Syria out of Lebanon since Hezbollah has been linked to Syria and Iran?), but since he was the only one attempting to answer the questions at all - whether he was confused or just making it up doesn't seem to matter. Palin didn't question his statement, or counter any of his other arguments or even attempt to stay on topic. Here I am, some average "Joe Sixpack" as Palin referred to me (by the way, I was personally shocked and offended that someone vying for a leadership role of the greatest nation on earth would deign to use this term to refer to voters in a formal debate) and I can tell she was purposely avoiding the questions. You can only make a "gaffe" in a debate if you actually attempt to answer a question and get the details wrong! Palin was clearly coached to change the topic, and say something else whenever she was unable to speak to the point. It is unfair to hold Biden to a different standard here. I suggest that in future debates we have a more formalized on screen scoring system like in sporting events with points for staying on topic, accuracy, and persuasive argument.