8:10 p.m.

We’re off to a good start–Biden is gaffe-free in his first two statements on the bailout and the economy, reiterating McCain’s flub about the “strong” economy.

Palin seems robotic in her opening salvo discussing the barometer of economic downturn as a group of soccer moms, saying that the “barometer would be resounding” and “the fundamental of our economy being strong.” She starts to warm up talking about Wall Street corruption. Oh, and for those of you playing Sarah Palin bingo, there was your first “maverick” and first “hockey mom” of the evening!

8:15 p.m.

Woo hoo! Biden calls Palin out on her deliberately misleading statements attempting to paint Obama as a tax-raising elitist. Palin then promptly changes the subject.

8:20 p.m.

Gwen poses a question about class warfare. To Biden–why is it okay to disproportionately tax the rich? To Palin, why is it okay to enact policies that would create more uninsured poor?

I can’t stand it when Palin replaces every instance of the word “the” with the word “that.” Instead of saying “with the $5,000 tax credit being offered,” she says “with that $5,000 tax credit being offered.” It’s a cheap attempt to sound folksy and it sounds like fingernails on a chalkboard to me.

Biden gets the first laugh of the night with a “bridge to nowhere” joke. Atta boy.

8:30 p.m.

The conversation has become a flurry of numbers. How many times did which candidate vote for how much money in tax breaks?

Palin is beginning to drop her G’s–”bringin” and “relyin” have jumped out at me so far. She now wants to talk about her “record on energy versus your ticket’s energy ticket also.”

8:39 p.m.

Palin takes positions on global warming that are so vague, anyone could agree with her. So far, however, she’s given us a disappointingly small number of overt gaffes to mock mercilessly.

Apparently Americans are “hungry” for oil, since Palin used the word twice in the same breath when referring to energy. Coached, anyone?

I am so happy to hear Biden take a firm stance in support of providing gay couples the exact same constitutional rights as straight couples. Palin, true to form, continues to refer to being gay as a choice. Lord give me patience.

8:45 p.m.

Palin just loooves to change the subject. We were talking about the war in Iraq, and Palin starts quoting things Biden said about Obama during the primaries that have nothing to do with the war.

“John McCain voted to cut off funding for the troops. Let me say that again.” *cheer*

Apparently Palin didn’t watch the presidential debate last week, because if she had she would know that the difference between McCain and Obama wasn’t on funding the troops–it was on the timeline for withdrawal.

8:49 p.m.

It’s NUCLEAR. For the last time. NEWK-LEE-ERR.

8:56 p.m.

That’s right, Sarah. They hate us for our freedom. Not for our persistent globalization or our support of Israel. It’s because of our freedom.

Biden’s “I haven’t heard how his policy is going to be different than George Bush’s” tic makes me want to hit the mute button.

9:20 p.m.

Is it just me or is Palin using the same buzzwords over and over? As with “hungry,” “main street” and “straight talk,” she keeps repeating herself, often within the same sentence. She also has an infuriating habit of replacing the word “you” with the word “ya.” Yet another grab at the “regular folks” vote.

It seems like, on both sides, the answers given by the candidates have little to do with the question asked.

Now the topic has shifted to the constitutional role of the VP. Biden says that the primary role of the veep is to act as adviser to the president on important decisions. Does anyone really see John McCain turning to Sarah Palin for her sage advice on foreign policy, national defense or the economy?

9:26 p.m.

Final question: Can you think of an issue in which you were forced to change your view to accommodate certain circumstances?

Biden: I switched positions on judicial partisanship with the nomination of Robert Bork.

Palin: We passed budgets that I did not veto (”quasai-caved”), but in general, no, nothing.

9:50 p.m.

Final thoughts. First of all, liveblogging sucks. I think I was only able to skim off the surface scum from what was undoubtedly a deep, stagnant pool of soundbite sludge.

Secondly, Biden did everything right. He smiled charmingly without coming off as sleazy or patronizing. He spoke eloquently and specifically about every subject. He showed passion without losing control of his words and making outrageous gaffes.

However.

The mere fact that Palin managed to get through the night without forgetting her lines or veering away from the talking points may mean that this debate is cast as a victory for her. She changed the subject masterfully when the moderator’s questions made her uncomfortable, and she threw non sequitur accusations at the other side at every opportunity. And just as so many pundits predicted, she was able to exceed expectations simply because expectations for her performance were so effing low.

Let’s hope tomorrow’s poll numbers don’t fall victim to the same low expectations.