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.

Yes, it's as if McCain cannot help himself.

My plan is to record the debate and start watching after watching Supernatural live.

Assuming, of course, that I don't want to rewatch SPN RIGHT AWAY.

aww, a nice story in the NY Times about Biden's sister who is an alum of my (tiny) high school!

[link]

She spoke at my graduation.

So am I the only one looking at this debate as pure dog-n-pony show?

Largely. I think there is a real downside for the McCain campaign. If Palin doesn't do any better that the Katie Couric interviews, I think that could have a small impact. Small impacts could be really important with so many close states.

Biden is know for gaffes, but he has had tons of exposure and really only came up with the FDR gaffe. Jon tried to pin a gun related gaffe on him too, but Beretta does make shotguns, lots of them.

So am I the only one looking at this debate as pure dog-n-pony show?

I'm looking at it as more of a sideshow. *Freak*show, really. The old-school kind, back in the 1930s, where they had truly gruesome stuff.

I'm making popcorn.

Totally!!! My preemptive schadenfreude is amped up to a level I didn't think possible.

Happy birthday, telescope! A Stellar History: The Telescope Turns 400

On Oct. 2, 1608, officials in the Netherlands pondered over a patent application. It was submitted by spectacle-maker Hans Lippershey for a "device by means of which all things at a very great distance can be seen as if they were nearby." This is the earliest known record of a telescope. A few months later, scientist Galileo Galilei would get his hands on one.