CBS Webcast: Examining the Biden-Palin debate
The first and only debate between the two vice presidential candidates, Sen. Joe Biden and Gov. Sarah Palin, covered a broad array of subjects, including the economy, war, taxes, and their readiness to help govern the country.
Neither technology nor the tech industry came up in the 90-minute debate, which took place Thursday night at Washington University in St. Louis. However, the issues of alternate energy and oil dependence were brought up several times.
Although many pundits had predicted a verbal battlefield and the possibility of gaffes from Palin, the two were generally cordial to one another, and Palin made no major mistakes.
For a recap of the debate, see the Webcast presented here from Katie Couric and the CBS News political team.
For more stories about the debate, including fact checking of the veep candidates' statements and a post-debate poll of uncommitted voters, see the complete coverage of the campaign from CBS News.
The final two presidential debates are set for Tuesday and October 15, respectively. CNET News will likewise feature links to the live streaming of those debates and the wrap-ups from CBS News.
Natalie Weinstein is an associate editor who works out of Austin, Texas. She spent a decade as a reporter and editor in the newspaper industry before joining the CNET News staff in 2000. E-mail Natalie. 
I must have missed the memo when they announced "What newspapers do you read?" counted as a hardball question.
But lets assume that you're right, and that the majority of the mainstream media does have a liberal bias. Why might that be? Its not about money - the stations are owned by huge corporations that are sponsored by other huge corporations selling us products, whose interests are usually served by Republicans (It was W., after all, who urged us to "go shopping" after 9/11).
I think we can agree that one thing all journalists have in common, by the very nature of their jobs, is that they are better informed about the world than they average "Joe-sixpack:" They have greater access to world leaders and the inside story on world issues. They engage in informed and lively debate both with politicians and themselves on a regular basis.
So the best informed among us lean to the left.
Maybe, just *maybe* that means that the left has better answers.
"No," you'll say, "the MSM is elitist. They don't understand me and my life."
If you want to talk about bias, lets then talk about the bias "Joe Sixpack" has for education and intelligence. I don't know why or when being informed came to equal "elite" came to equal: BAD. Shouldn't smart and informed be *good?* Isn't any enterprise (whether its the grocery store you run with your Dad, city hall or the US Senate) better served by being informed and smart about the day-to-day issues you will face? I don't want someone who can't count running my cash register, and I certainly don't want someone who doesn't read world newspapers running my country.
So please help me understand why Palin *not* reading newspapers is a good thing.
In what way are these unfair questions? indeed she asked Biden the same Supreme Court question, and it posed no problems for Biden, he knows what he's talking about. I believe you're blaming the messenger for the bad news -- Palin is unprepared for political office at such a high level at this point.
Ever since CBS took over, this site is becoming politicized and true tech news stories are updated much less frequently. I used to visit here several times a day ... now other sites are much more up to date and on topic .. they get my eyes.
It is just part of the socialism reform that is occurring in the United States, which will soon be converted to communism. So enjoy what little freedoms you have now, the MSM and BHO will ensure you have none later.
This and all these articles like this on CNET is nothing more than dog squeeze that you avoid in the back yard.
I disagree significantly with liberals, but I don't consider them the root of all evil. In my experience, liberals resort almost immediately to ad hominem attacks while conservatives try, at least, to argue based upon information and logic. Conservatives can make mistakes, but they generally want to learn about them. They don't resort to personal attacks anything like I see from liberals. The worst I recall seeing is the "bleeding heart liberal" moniker.
Yes, Palin had some pat answers. She often answered a question quickly and then veered toward some other point she wanted to make. That's not wrong, it's smart.
i couldn't help thinking of the end of the movie Billy Madison, when the Principal says to Adam Sandler, "Mr. Madison, what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul."
My point is that if you vote for Palin just because you want a woman in the White House - Just know what you are getting. Like Clarence Thomas, she is clearly not the best qualified, she does not support women's rights and I believe that in a position of authority as President or Vice President, she will do all in her power to halt and even erode all progress women have made on equality. So again, I repeat - Be careful what you wish for.
As much as I would love to see a woman in the White House, Sarah Palin is not the one who will stand up for women. I, for one would rather have Joe Biden in the White House. I am positive that supports women's rights and will continue to support legislation that promotes equality for all Americans!
- by bekind2 October 4, 2008 1:20 AM PDT
- Please, stop the bullying all of you. Katie Couric, I am so ashamed of you. You were salivating at the opportunity to mock and humiliate Sarah Palin. You should know better by now, Mrs. Couric, how difficult it is in today's world to be taken seriously as a woman. Your ratings are poor, so I guess you figured if you stoop down low enough, you would be able to get the attention of those that reside in the sewer slandering, hurting, and demeaning people. I'm sure you love the idea that David Letterman and others continue to refer to your so called interview with Sarah Palin, as a success for the Democrats, but how do you live with yourself? Aren't you raising girls, is this how you taught them to play with others on the play ground? Shame on you, now I know where the idea for the movie Mean Girls came from.
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