Gwen Ifill is moderating, right? I have faith she'll ask good questions. The NYT has an editorial today with suggested questions.

You may but the right is already getting hysterical about the fact that she has a book in progress about the impact/historical significance of Obama's candidacy. The idea being that she has a conflict of interest since her book will be much more successful if he is.

The idea being that she has a conflict of interest since her book will be much more successful if he is.

Yeah, but the McCain campaign knew that (or should have known that) when they agreed to have Ifill be the moderator.

I just had my first experience with the magic of cell phones -- a cab driver just called me from my father's cell phone, which he had left in the cab. I gave him my parents' address, and he said he'd drop off the phone! Assuming he does that, instead of robbing my grandmother or some other awful thing, how great!

Yeah, but the McCain campaign knew that (or should have known that) when they agreed to have Ifill be the moderator.

Which is good for them. Gwen Ifill is a pro, she'll be fair, but if the debate doesn't go well for Palin, they can blame the ref.

I think she ought to bring along a backup moderator, and ask if either of the candidates objects to her being a moderator, AS THEY AGREED MONTHS AGO WHEN GWEN'S BOOK WAS ALREADY ANNOUNCED THROUGHOUT THE PRESS INCLUDING FOx NEWS AND TIME MAGAZINE. If there is any objection, here are five college debating team coaches to choose from.

Yeah, it's not like she wrote the damn book yesterday.

plus, Ifill has such a stellar reputation (at least, I think so)

So am I the only one looking at this debate as pure dog-n-pony show? The VP debate (even Quayle!) never actually changes any minds; the best real purpose it has (if there is one) is to focus on "is this person competent to take over", which has already been answered on both sides, and I think that's normal these days -- it was more of an issue when there was a lot less media attention and a relatively unknown VP nominee could stay relatively unknown.

I'm making popcorn. I'll throw some popcorn at the TV from time to time. This will make the dog extremely happy. I'll say snarky things on the internets, here and with my coworkers on Twitter.

I actually think there's a lot more substantive stuff out there this cycle than in a lot of past cycles; I think that the combination of Palin and the economy has finally shaken the media into asking more and following the script less than they ever did with either round of Bush. But the VP debate is all about the popcorn-tossing.

We've already seen this in the first debate, but....

Obama Makes McCain Very Uncomfortable

Let the record reflect that Barack Obama made the approach to John McCain tonight.

As the two shared the Senate floor tonight for the first time since they won their party nominations, Obama stood chatting with Democrats on his side of the aisle, and McCain stood on the Republican side of the aisle.

So Obama crossed over into enemy territory.

He walked over to where McCain was chatting with Republican Sen. Mel Martinez of Florida and Independent Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman of Connecticut. And he stretched out his arm and offered his hand to McCain.

McCain shook it, but with a “go away” look that no one could miss. He tried his best not to even look at Obama.

Finally, with a tight smile, McCain managed a greeting: “Good to see you.”

Obama got the message. He shook hands with Martinez and Lieberman — both of whom greeted him more warmly — and quickly beat a retreat back to the Democratic side.

McCain is a wanker.

Once again, Obama looks way more presidential.