SARAH DID NOT EMBARRASS HERSELF!

In my blog, "Sarah! Stop Embarrassing Yourself!" (9-29-08), I wrote that, because of her pathetic responses to some of Katie Couric's questions, I was afraid that Sarah Palin was headed for a complete meltdown. But unlike columnist Kathleen Parker, I was not ready to agree with her that Palin should withdraw as the vice presidential nominee. I wanted to wait and see how she performed in her debate with Joe Biden.

Well, the debate has come and gone. Sarah did not embarrass herself! Instead, she did rather well. Other than getting a general's name wrong and fumbling the ball with her answer on the use of nuclear weapons, she certainly held her own. Who won the debate? Neither did. Both got some of their facts wrong. Biden ignored Palin and scored points when he attacked McCain over and over again, always linking him to the policies of President Bush. Palin clearly identified herself with "Joe Sixpack" and soccer moms, scoring points there. There were no knock-down blows between them.

I am sure the media will criticize Palin for not answering many of the moderator's questions. However, she was smart in not answering questions on matters of which she obviously had little knowledge, thereby avoiding making a fool of herself, a la the Couric intervews. The media has to be dissapointed because it was looking forward to celebrating a lopsided defeat for Palin in the debate with Biden.

Now that the debate is over, I will say that for better or worse, Palin should remain on the Republican ticket. I understand why Kathleen Parker called on her to withdraw. While Palin's remarks in those interviews with Couric were God awful, she did redeem herself in the debate with Biden. Can McCain and Palin win in November? Probably not. I just keep hoping that the electorate will smarten up and realize that McCain-Palin is by far the better of two mediocre choices.