Loise Barnard : Ms. Eifil works for you according to PBS. Ethical behavior demands an ability to discern right from wrong. Ms Eifel, or anyone who defends her position does not understand her failed judjment has compromised her (lack of) moral position. Liberalism is easy. Do whatever you want and to whomever you wantand make it up as you go along. No consequence.

Eric Worthington : Gwen Ifill should recuse herself from tonights debate. She stands to financially gain if Obama/Biden win, and to financially lose if Obama/Biden lose. It is ethically wrong for her to moderate the debate and it will reflect poorly on PBS if she does.

Lew Day : I would love to heat Gwen ask the Question To Palin: Do you think that 95% of the citizenry or 5% of the citizenry should get a federal income tax cut? First of all that Gwen insists that her answer can only be direct to the question, with no explanation of why!

Dave : What's your point Loise??? It's a debate. She asks questions, they answer it.

SoldierLady : What an incredible let down from PBS. Had the moderator been the smallest bit right leaning, she would have been dismissed from the first word uttered. I don't believe that Ms. Ifill will go out of her way to biased, but why take the chance. Especially in an election that has the potential to racially divide this country once again. I will not watch PBS any longer, in fact, I will block all PBS programing from my televisions. Better yet, I will reach out across our great military and suggest they do the same.

Anyone but Loise Barnard : Can someone post the link to the live stream? I'd like to watch and judge Ms. Ifill's actual work, rather than comment on it before it occurs. (Trolling on blogs is easy, just say whatever you want and about whomever you want and make it up as you go along. No consequence.)

Tracy : Gwen is a biased moderator right from the start. This is unacceptable,

Peter Sampson : I'm a lifelong Independent and have never belonged to any party or movement. I judge candidates and commentators on their merits. And if one thinks that Gwen Ifill won't do a thourough, professional, job as moderator? One has not watched the same Gwen Ifill I've watched all these years. And if one thinks that Ms. Ifill will, in some way, harm Ms. Palin? One is either hopelessly partisan and paranoid or, one realizes that Ms. Palin is unlikely to impress on any stage because she is unqualified for the position she finds herself in.

lalanicooki : I find it very unprofessional to have Gwen Ifill moderate the one and only VP debate tonight. How on earth can she be professional when she is about to release her book which is reportedly 75% bias towards B.Obama as well as her being an outspoken staunch democrat? What great “free” advertising for her book and then try to “hide” her political convictions. I find it rather degrading to PBS for her to moderate the debate. Isn’t this conflict of interest? I would think that Gwen is professional enough to realize this and would have gracefully stepped down from moderating the debate. I also find it next to impossible for her to even think she can be unbiased with her moderation tonight….whether she believes she can or not nor how “professional” she views herself. It was rather obvious with the vast change in her coverage during the Democratic Convention versus the Republican Convention. She took great care in reporting from the DNC with a very positive and length approach. However when it came to her coverage at the RNC it was obviously a nonchalant attitude, short and non detailed approach and filled with a negative twist….even with her body language. Should PBS not have stepped in and released her from this assignment and found a more “open” moderator? How can any American listen to the one-sided biased questioning tonight and make an educated decision on the real issues and candidate. It is disheartening to realize how PBS has changed over the years to support this type of programming.

mushyliberal : Reactionism is easy. You don't have to make sense or spell correctly and if you don't agree with something you don't have to trouble yourself to understand it ... just mouth off about it. Or maybe I'm missing a very important point in Loise Barnard's post? Please explain, Loise.

Adam : As I cringe hearing Sarah's Frickin' voice talking about blenders in war and the Bush Nuckular weapons I hope that the US voters recognize a huge mistake. Breaking News: Uncut Footage of Sarah Palin in the setup for the debates. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOAm9ZCCpqg

docr : One of the most important questions, which neither candidate directly addressed, is which of them is best prepared to become president in case of a national emergency. You guess.

Peter Sampson : I hope everyone enjoyed the debate and/or found it informative. I think Gwen Ifill did a very professional job, as I expected, and even put up with a couple rather testy and condescending remarks from the GOP candidate. Though I'm sure that many of the more Right leaning types will disagree.

Jim Mauch : I will not vote for someone as low class as that. This ad is why I'm voting for Obama/Biden.

Shamika : Was it just me or did Biden seem VERY prepared on a few 'out of the ordinary' questions? Especially one of the latter questions Ms. Ifill asked which was basically (not given here word for word) "Can you tell us a single policy issue that you forced to change a long held view in order to accomodate changed circumstances" Biden JUMPED right on that question in a VERY PREPARED way as he LOOKED down at his podium as though READING that response!!! Not anything like his other off the cuff responses.

Marie K : I am amazed and aghast, as a woman, how the news media is pussy footing around how poorly Governor Palin did tonight during the VP debate. I can only begin to imagine what you would be saying if you had heard the same rote garbage from a man. You all seem so afraid to just come out with the truth by saying she is not VP material and what a poor choice McCain made by choosing her as his running mate. At this point, her "down home, six-pack, just ordinary, Suzie homemaker routine is making me want to vomit. Bidden, who I never felt that strongly about one way or the other, was phenomenal and the clear winner. The difference between the two of them was so obvious and I am dissapointed in your reactions tonight. Whether you agree with Bidden's views, or not, he at least answered the questions. He was in command and clearly had the upper hand. In fact, it was the one of the most unequal match-ups I'd ever seen in a national debate. Please don't tell me that you are all swayed by her smile and sweetness and can't see through it. She did not answer questions, but just responded from a script of issues that were prepared ahead of time and quite repetitive. You talk down to middle america by thinking that just because she didn't come across like an "idiot" as she did in other interviews, that she succeeded. I am insulted that you think that just because she talks like the average person, which I certainly consider myself to be, that I would place any confidence in her to be a leader of this country. She is unprepared and quite honestly, not smart enough to be the VP. I watch PBS because I enjoy listening to your response to the debates and other important issues of the day. I was appalled, as was my husband, who is usually quite conservative in his thinking and as of two months ago would probably have voted for McCain. Thank you Sarah Palin..for in this house, in this election, there will be two votes for the Democrats. Don't even question it. She is definitely, "Gidget goes to Washington"!

Sharon Ray : Sarah Palin is not ready to run this country or be the VP. McCain only pick her to get back at Hillary Clinton and Sarah donot take a stand to Hillary. in a way i wish that Hillary could have been the VP to put sarah in her place back to Alaska were she has been in corruction and she still is Sarah is a big shame to our country her and McCain.

Richard G : While I like Gwen Ifill and was proud of her moderating last night, I have to express some strong disappointment. Why did Gwen not challenge Gov. Palin who did not answer the majority of questions posed to her, and even at one point openly stated that she would NOT answer the questions posed by the moderator? Isn't that the primary job of the moderator of a debate - to force the debaters to address the questions posed to them? This open defiance might play well with energizing her far right conservative base, but I hope the rest of America see this for what it is and I, for one, am outraged. This is shocking enough, but when combined with Gov. Palin's own admission that, in continuing in the "fine tradition" of Vice President Dick Cheney, she wants MORE power allocated to the role of Vice President, it is "downright scary, wouldn't cha know Governor (you bet 'cha)!" Lastly, Gov. Palin also openly defied the entire mass media in yesterday's debate - I hope the mass media responds accordingly and doesn't let her get away with this!

john steward : Again Palin was on to teasing Joe, disrespecting him by not calling him senator, using slang language and bringing the quality of debate down, talking about personality rather than ideaological issue like biden did and overall trying to use sexism in television to attract male audience to like her and give her favourable reviews. Joe Biden was at huge disadvantage, due to the fac that he was competing against a beauty pagent and whenever he picked up issues related to ideology and technically, Sarah would bring it down to people and politics. Sarah did not give a single reason why she was ready, other than asserting again and again that she is ready. Vice presidents of America should be known for their intellectual ability and ability to guide the presidents in serious issues rather than be a show piece for media to be diverted to. America has resonsiblity towards rest of the world to be stable and be a leader in issues. If the leaders of america are show pieces then we have huge problems for the world as a whole What the political commentators missed in the post-debate discussion was how Sarah palin did not speak her mind on key issues concerning foreign policy, internal job creation, supreme court rulings, health care or any other serious policy issue which effects american people. The only policy issue she was comfortable was energy issue and her solution is to dig through the problem rather than provide incentives to alternate sources of energy. Her foreign policy solutions are very arrogant in nature like Mccain in not talking to Iran or north korea, but to bomb their way out and leave diplomacy out of the door. This kind of policy pursued by Bush has resulted in American isolation in rest of the world. While Iran has friends now, America has none. If America needs to be respected throughtout the world, they need to show the diplomacy carrot. If you hurt the ego of any soverign nation, they will do exactly what you tell them not to do. Bombing countries should be simply ruled out as foreign policy option. USA should not be in perpetual state of War and then claim that war needs to be continued for the sake of soldiers who died. Sarah palin has single point of solution to all economic problems, cut taxes. Cutting taxes will make American government go bankrupt, like American banks. She does not understand economy or any other issue. He main strengthe is her charm, winks and feminine simle and using sexism to maximum advantage. The post-debate commentators said that Sarah palin did much better than expectations, but Joe Biden won the debate. The questions one needs to ask these people is why do they lower their expectations for Sarah Palin? There should be basic entrance exams like GMAT/SAT etc, which will test the candidates basic knowledge and understanding of foreign affairs, domestic problems, health care, economic issues and only candiadates who excel in that should be made eligible for the post of president or vice president. Sarah Palin's ignorance on basic policy issues has put entire ameirca to shame. It has shown the failings of democracy and often brings wrong choices for the people to choose from. It was an insult to Joe biden that he had to debate a complete novice like Sarah palin on serious economic, political and foreign policy issues. Joe was clearly at discomfort because the opposiiton candidate did not understand what he spoke of and Sarah palin stood to her own rhetoric throughout the debate without responding intelligently to any of problems of America. It's a shame that GOP is not able to field a suitable candiate to give a country a good debate for presidential elections. The country deserves much better.

Rudy Vietmeier : VP Debate 10/2/08:After listening to the Vice Presidential debates on PBS and the analysis I concluded ,I must be stupid. All of the commentaries put Palin on equal footing with Biden.That is sure not the way I saw it.To me Palin came across as a rank amature totally out of her league.On more than one occasion she ignored the question and made a speech instesd and the speeches were not even on the same subject.She even tried the lame Reagan trick, "there you go again". Presuming if it worked for Reagan it should work this time.

Maureen : I have to agree with Marie K. and Richard G. People (including the media) need to raise their standards for Sarah Palin. Holding her to a lower standard than they would a man for fear of being called a bully serves no one. Unfortunately, maybe Gwen Ifill was reluctant to redirect Gov. Palin to answer the questions in light of the brewing storm about her ability to be impartial. If so, it's a shame she has to compromise her professionalism on one hand to keep it from being attacked on the other. By the way, it's worth noting that, of course, both campaigns agreed to Ms. Ifill's moderating the debates back in July, and her book was no secret at that time.

JamesMichael : Governor Palin was totally out of touch last night. I was disappointed that Ifill did not challenge her to answer the actual questions. Sen. Biden did answer most of the questions. Ifill should have inisited that the candidates answer the question. Also, it was rude and scary that Palin would defy Ifill and say, "I will not answer your questions." Palin is out of her league. Biden is intelligent and prepared and light years ahead of Palin.

Billie : I have watched Jim Lehrer, Mark Shields, and various conservation journalists over the years: Paul Gigot, David Gurgen, and now David Brooks discuss politics and politicians, and have respected them all for their honesty and insight. I do not understand David Brooks' gleeful acceptance of the performance of Sarah Palin last night. What on earth is he thinking about? Isn't this acceptance by reporters and journalists of second (third or fourth) rate what got us into George W. Bush's disastrous reign? I could understand if David had couched his comments about Palin in contrast to Biden's outstanding comprehension of the facts and the gravity of our country's situation. Palin did not offer one solution (except to have a surge in Afghanistan which our commanding general says won't work) to the many catastrophic problems facing our country. She is not "good cholesterol". Her folksy ways of sitting around the table to discuss how to spend Alaska's surplus does not impress me one bit, and letting her get off Scot-free is leading us down the same gosh-darn-Sarah-let's-have-a-beer-together path that was the way to W and the mess in which we now find ourselves and the problems W's successor will have to solve. Also, I know Gwen Ifill was under incredible pressure to "be fair," but REALLY, couldn't she have followed-up at least one of Palin's non-answers to have Palin articulate at least one of her questions...soft-ball questions at that. Shame on you, David Brooks! Make debaters answer questions, Gwen! Respectfully submitted.

Wilma : Mrs. Palin would make a horrible vp. She already believes that she does not have to follow the rules. Not answering questions shows ignorance of McCain's policies. What would they change?

John A : I think you people are confused. Palin did exactly what she should have. As a woman she is automatically at a downfall with 75% of the american population. If you realise that she was trying to tell everyone of you what she has accomplished in her reign as governor. The issue is the economy right now, and the war, and both was what Palin was concerned about. Look at Alaska, it went from great financial debt to capitalising over 15 million dollars a year, and it is given back to the people of Alaska, and as for the war, we cant pull our soldiers out now, we have been there this long, if we give up now, no country will ever take the United States of America seriously again. I think Palin did a great job, she was facing a biased moderator, and someone many years her senior in politics, you tell me could you have stood up on that same stage under those same conditions, and done better. I emplore you to look more at the facts, and less at the accuasations. Joe Biden has already said he did not agree with Barrack Obama, and he is a democrat, so what does that say about this ticket, it will be a fumble from the get go. Make up your mind Joe Biden is Osama Capable or not. I dont believe that he is. McCain however is ready, we need someone for the people, and he is for the people. Obama however is not, he is for the 21st century, and by the way palin is in touch with todays society.

Lance Dugger : Your same bland white myopic commentators and reporters all must be on the McCain payroll. Now that I think about it pretty much all the political press is lily white, I guess black opinion is thought of as highly by the media elite as a black cantidate for president is. Thats a shame, for it seems to me that black political thought for at least the past 10 presidental races favoured the cantidate who if elected made an excellent president and if elected without black support was an unmitigated disaster. I guess that kind of track record has to be ignored as a fluke, huh? When is this nation going to smarten up? You better pray that Sen Obama is elected on Nov.4 and that the idiots that elected George Bush to two terms as president get a clue or oversleep. The Vice Presidential debate was a farce. It doesn't qualify as a debate if one of the debaters refuses to answer the queries put to her. Moderator Ifill should have stoped Gov. Palin from delivering what amounted to a standard stump speech. Allowing her to parrot on, in whatever vein she memorized from her tutors in the campaign, gave her a national platform to disseminate their propaganda, and presented no test of her intellect or readiness to adress policy questions under pressure of public scrutiny. Her performance was abysmal, and inexplicably admired by almost all the mainstream media. Go figure. I nor any of my friends can.

Kyle McGervey : Truthfully, the comments here just speak to the fact that people have already made up their minds. Those who dislike Palin would find fault no matter how well she answered a question. Those who dislike Biden would be hoping for a classic gaffe. The fact is they both have placed their foot in their mouth many a time. It was wonderful to have PBS mediating. Gwen, although great to watch, was not an unbiased choice. When we are flooded daily with mainstream media's interpretation of the world, PBS is our only hope of truly unbiased journalism. Being an Obama supporter and having a financial interest, made her an unfair choice. I did like how it was not angry and adversarial. I understand that some people really like the drama and conflict, but it is much better just to have the candidates behave as "civil" cival servants. Jim's insistance of having the candidates talk to each other was not a concern to me. I am not looking forward to the next debate. I am a long time registered Democrat and the overt bias by the media just makes me cringe. This is a job interview. I hope people vote for the most qualified applicant.

Shamika : Haven’t we elected enough L-I-A-R-S in Washington? It is one thing to avoid a question it is quite another to outright lie as Biden did numerous times during the debate. Showmanship over ethics has gotten us into this mess. Obama changes his mind continually and has a career of ‘campaigning’ and voting ‘present’. VOTE for HONESTY. Do the people Biden/Obama appeal to … just NOT care about TRUTH? 1. TAX VOTE: Biden said McCain voted “the exact same way” as Obama to increase taxes on Americans earning just $42,000, but McCain DID NOT VOTE THAT WAY. 2. AHMEDINIJAD MEETING: Joe Biden lied when he said that Barack Obama never said that he would sit down unconditionally with Mahmoud Ahmedinijad of Iran. Barack Obama did say specifically, and Joe Biden attacked him for it. 3. OFFSHORE OIL DRILLING: Biden said, “Drill we must.” But Biden has opposed offshore drilling and even compared offshore drilling to “raping” the Outer Continental Shelf.” 4. TROOP FUNDING: Joe Biden lied when he indicated that John McCain and Barack Obama voted the same way against funding the troops in the field. John McCain opposed a bill that included a timeline, that the President of the United States had already said he would veto regardless of it’s passage. 5. OPPOSING CLEAN COAL: Biden says he’s always been for clean coal, but he just told a voter that he is against clean coal and any new coal plants in America and has a record of voting against clean coal and coal in the U.S. Senate. 6. ALERNATIVE ENERGY VOTES: According to FactCheck.org, Biden is exaggerating and overstating John McCain’s record voting for alternative energy when he says he voted against it 23 times. 7. HEALTH INSURANCE: Biden falsely said McCain will raise taxes on people's health insurance coverage -- they get a tax credit to offset any tax hike. Independent fact checkers have confirmed this attack is false 8. OIL TAXES: Biden falsely said Palin supported a windfall profits tax in Alaska -- she reformed the state tax and revenue system, it's not a windfall profits tax. 9. AFGHANISTAN / GEN. MCKIERNAN COMMENTS: Biden said that top military commander in Iraq said the principles of the surge could not be applied to Afghanistan, but the commander of NATO's International Security Assistance Force Gen. David D. McKiernan said that there were principles of the surge strategy, including working with tribes, that could be applied in Afghanistan. 10. REGULATION: Biden falsely said McCain weakened regulation -- he actually called for more regulation on Fannie and Freddie. 11. IRAQ: When Joe Biden lied when he said that John McCain was “dead wrong on Iraq”, because Joe Biden shared the same vote to authorize the war and differed on the surge strategy where they John McCain has been proven right. 12. TAX INCREASES: Biden said Americans earning less than $250,000 wouldn’t see higher taxes, but the Obama-Biden tax plan would raise taxes on individuals making $200,000 or more. 13. BAILOUT: Biden said the economic rescue legislation matches the four principles that Obama laid out, but in reality it doesn’t meet two of the four principles that Obama outlined on Sept. 19, which were that it include an emergency economic stimulus package, and that it be part of “part of a globally coordinated effort with our partners in the G-20.” 14. REAGAN TAX RATES: Biden is wrong in saying that under Obama, Americans won't pay any more in taxes then they did under Reagan. Info Shared from M.G.

Dready : Gwen Ifill's job of "moderating" the VP debate was pathetic. There was NO debate, Biden answered questions and Palin read a speech broken into segments. When Palin professed that she would not be answering the moderators questions she rightfully should have been asked if she wished to resign from the debate. I respectfully submit that Ms. Ifill allowed the Republican propaganda machine to influence her performance, and the country as a whole will possibly suffer for her inaction.

Ms B : How was Gwen Ifill bias? She was just the moderator...the questions were agreed upon months ago...she did not write them...duh! Her job was to keep the time while asking the questions..nothing else! But you republican babies cried and cried...foul! She is black therefore voting for Obama!!!! What?!!!? Anyway she did a very good job as far as she could. Palin disrespected Joe Biden and Gwen Ifill but we knew she would do so and all of you how rah rah her said what good job she did...did not answer one question, did her stump speech and called Joe a liar and Obama a terrorist, a black one.