Pretty much everyone was expecting some sort of spectacle at the VP debate. Sarah Palin is the most controversial vice presidential candidate in recent memory, and her gaffes in interviews have kept people entertained for the past few weeks. How would she do in a debate, during which her rehearsed talking points could only take her so far? Would Joe Biden, a renowned political bulldog, take her down and make her cry?

Things started out pretty normal. Biden appeared to be on some heavy tranquilizers, which prevented him from interrupting Palin or leaping across the stage to strangle her. Each candidate introduced themselves as they were wont to do. They discussed the economy, the bailout, and all the things you’d expect. In the IRC channel in which I was discussing the proceedings, someone said, “has it really only been 30 minutes?” It did feel like longer. The first half-hour of the debate was pretty weak.

Then, the real fun started. Sarah Palin: Told the moderator that she might not “answer questions the way you want to hear,” but she was going to give the American people the TRUTH! (Which was a coded way of saying “I’m going to stick to my rehearsed talking points rather than addressing questions.”) Explained approximately 80 times that Senator McCain is a “maverick.” Referred often to Alaska’s “natural resources” and “energy” and “small town values” and “hockey moms” and “drilling and “special needs.” In reference to Biden voting in favor of the war in Iraq, said, “well I guess this is just an example of how I don’t understand how things work up there in Washington. I think you should vote for things you believe in!”

As Biden was defending the ticket against one of her allegations, turned to him and said “WELL GOLLY GEE JOE, THERE YA GO AGAIN!” I am not making this up.

There were a few surprises in store from Joe Biden, too. He choked up when referring to his son in the armed forces, a display of humanity that I think will serve him very well, given his sometimes off-putting “tough guy” image. When the subject came to gay marriage, Palin used the word “tolerance” many times with a sour expression on her face, while Biden said that it should be left up to the states, and that gay couples should have the same civil rights as married couples blah blah blah. Nothing exciting there, and it was the only social issue they covered.

Unfortunately, since families are off-limits in this debate, Biden couldn’t say “I guess abstinence-only education worked really well for Bristol, huh?”

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