Going into this debate, the luster that had surrounded Sarah Palin had started to fade and her glittering aura a had begun to tarnish due largely to some unflattering interview performances. 

The interviews with Gibson and Couric both featured a Palin who was scripted, nervous and somewhat awkward.

No amount of apologetics can deny that.

Granted, both interviews were conducted by ‘journalists’ who were more concerned with exposing her and had every intention of trying to trap her into a “gotcha” moment with some political gaffe that would sow the world her unsuitability.  In those interviews, she was over prepared and too constrained to talking points. 

Ironically, that is really not that unusual in politics.  Politicians love to fall back on prepared talking points, safe answers. 

Also deep in a sense of irony is the fact that a VP candidate is rarely subjected to this amount of scrutiny.  She has actually face harder media scrutiny that Obama in some ways. 

Let me stop and admit that the over analyzing of Sarah Palin is not necessarily a bad thing.  Obama and McCain have been media figured well over a year now, as has Biden due to his earlier presidential run.

But to be fair, why was Biden not scrutinized, particularly his many negative comments about his (now) favorite guy, Obama?  The answer may be that despite that, Biden is another known element.  But still Palin has undergone a harsh introduction to the media show less about her and more about the shallowness and true motivation of the media - and I am not talking about political or liberal partisanship.  I am talking about the medias vulture like attention to a weak politician.  they are the rabid dogs that you must never show fear to.

Tonights debate was likely one of the most important in recent history.  If Palin had tanked in the debate, the McCain campaign for the president would be over.  His judgment already in question, he would have to defend a poor choice, or admit he blundered.

No matter that  Biden has made several serious gaffes in recent months.