VP Debate – Live Blog

Last night Vice Presidential hopefuls, Joe Biden and Sarah Palin took the stage for their one debate of the election.

Joe Biden was sedate and almost careful, while Sarah Palin went on the attack and broadcast her “homespun” charm to the viewers.

Find the complete transcript of our Live Blog after the jump.

Sorry about the delay = the computer is being very ornery today
9:18
The vice presidential candidates are speaking about taxes
9:18
Sarah Palin suggests that Barack Obama’s tax plan is a backwards step
9:21
Sarah Palin is talking about health care
9:23
Joe Biden is now speaking about the promises that their administration will not be able to keep – foreign aid is the one he suggests they will have to slow down
9:24
Sarah Palin speaking about the energy plan – that Obama voted for tax breaks for oil companies
9:24
Palin Says that she took on the oil companies
9:28
Joe Biden says that Obama wants to return the surpluses of the oil company to the people
9:28
Palin says that John McCain brought together the parties to get the bailout bill
9:30
Joe Biden says that Barack Obama was on top of the mortgage crisis while mccain didn’t know that it existed
9:30
Palin has gone back to her record on energy
9:31
that energy independence is the key
9:31
Palin is asked about the changes in the climate
9:31
Palin says that there are changes – and that we need to clean up the planet
9:32
we’ve gotta become energy independent – because other countries polute more
9:33
Biden – I think it is man made – this explains the differences – if you don’t understand the causes – then you can’t come up with a solution
9:33
John McCain has voted against energy alternatives -
9:34
China is poluting – we need to be greening jobs and exporting technology
9:34
Palin – “drill baby drill”
9:36
Clean coal – Biden – look at my record
9:36
Next questions – do you support granting same sex benefits?
9:39
Biden – absolutely
9:39
same sex couples should be afforded the same benefits as hetrosexual couples
9:40
questions turn to Iraq
9:41
What is Palin’s plan for withdrawal in Iraq
9:41
she says there should not be a premature withdrawal
9:42
Biden says they have a plan – the same plan that is in negotiation now
9:42
Time to have over responsibility to the Iraqis now
9:43
Palin says “your plan is a white flag of surrender”
9:45
[Comment From Guest]
malachi and talibani?
9:45
[Comment From Guest]
is that right?
9:45
[Comment From Guest]
He’s looking at her — she’s looking at the camera
9:45
what is the greatest threat?
9:46
biden – we need to focus on pakistan
9:46
iran would be dangerous – but they don’t have weapons now
9:47
McCain says that the terrorists are in Iraq – they’re not – they’re in Afghanistan
9:47
Palin says – both are extremely dangerous
9:47
an armed iran is dangerous to consider – israel is in jeopardy
9:48
Dangerous dictators are people who Barack Obama has said he would meet with
9:49
that is dangerous – they should not be met with without preconditions
9:49
former Secretaries of State have said that enemies should be met with – are they wrong
9:49
Palin – no – but it can’t be without condidtions. Diplomacy is hard work
9:50
Biden – can I clarify? it’s not true
9:50
our friends and allies have been saying – sit down and talk
9:51
McCain said that he would make an agreement but he wouldn’t sit down
9:51
McCain said that he wouldn’t sit down with Spain
9:52
Regarding Israel – Palin – a 2 state system is the solution
9:52
[Comment From Guest]
and the Spain gaffe rears its head
9:53
Biden – no one in the US Senate been a better friend to Israel than Joe Biden and I wouldn’t have joined the ticket if Barack didn’t agree
9:54
But this administration has been an abject failure
9:55
[Comment From Guest]
Love for Isreal all over the place
9:56
I can’t really figure out what Palin is talking about – she’s talking about change – when the question was about George Bush
9:56
Biden – McCain has not said how or when he will make changes
9:56
[Comment From Guest]
She’s hitting the talking points, but all mixed up
9:57
Question – what should be done about the use of weapons/
9:57
Palin – our enemies can’t get weapons
9:58
but McCain is different than George Bush on Afghanistan
10:00
we spend more in 3 weeks in iraq than we have in 7 years in Afg
10:00
Biden – our commanding general in Afg said that a surge principle will not work
10:01
[Comment From Guest]
Nook-you-lerr — Palin pronounces it just like Bush
10:02
Intervention – Biden supports intervention in Darfur
10:03
Biden says – i don’t have a stomach for genocide. we should move the world to act
10:04
Palin – i’m an outsider – you politicians are for something until you’re not for it
10:04
Americans are hungry for straight talk
10:04
we support the no-fly zone in Darfur
10:05
We called for divestment for our investments in Sudan
10:06
biden – the line that should be drawn is 1. if we have the capacity to do something 2. when a country commits genocide they forfeit their right to say that you can’t come in
10:07
Palin is insisting that Biden is changing his story about the war
10:09
[Comment From Guest]
How on earth does McCain “know how to win a war”???? No one has explained that yet
10:09
Question – how would your Admin differ from your running mates?
10:09
[Comment From Guest]
CNN’s undecided voter tracker seems to look good for Biden
10:14
[Comment From Guest]
She’s commenting on education in ungrammatical sentences/
10:14
[Comment From Guest]
Yikes — she like the veep having more authority
10:15
[Comment From Guest]
Good — Biden’s getting back to education
10:16
Biden- as VP I would take the legislative initiative – and consult with the president
10:17
Palin – the VP would have, by virtue of the constitution, more power – not just in the executive branch but in the legislative branch as well
10:17
[Comment From Guest]
Biden is kicking some Cheney butt! Yea!
10:18
Biden – that was invented by Cheney – it’s clearly not a part of the const
10:19
Palin was asked her weakness was – but she’s talking about how she does have experience
10:19
and her world view
10:20
[Comment From Guest]
we’re PERFECT?!
10:20
Biden says his one weakness might be his passion
10:23
[Comment From Guest]
Every time she reverts to maverick the CNN voter meter goes down
10:25
can you think of a single issue which you were forced to change due to the current circumstances?
10:25
[Comment From Guest]
ideology of judges
10:26
biden – I led the charge against Judge Bork – I was the first to say that we need to look at ideology
10:26
[Comment From Guest]
the women on the CNN meter are loving the Bork remarks
10:26
Palin – no I haven’t comprimised – we always seem to get things done
10:27
[Comment From Guest]
She has never changed her mind, apparently, and the voters aren’t liking it
10:28
Biden – i have been able to work across the aisle – I have never questioned the motive of my fellow senators
10:28
[Comment From Guest]
Biden has learned a lesson — and people are liking it
10:28
Palin – I have people of all backgrounds in my family – but the policies have to speak for themselves
10:28
[Comment From Guest]
Palin is reverting to family again
10:29
[Comment From Guest]
ooh, when she started on the “killing jobs” claim the meter went down
10:31
[Comment From Guest]
OK, they’re liking her closing since she’s hitting on “middle class”
10:32
[Comment From Guest]
whoa, looooooong quote from Reagan
10:32
Closing statements
10:32
[Comment From Guest]
They’re liking Biden’s closing a lot, too
10:33
[Comment From Guest]
Interesting . . . .