Some facts adrift in veep debate

She didn't answer because all she's got is talking points.  She is a Female GW.

I agree.  Too often she just changed the question.  

Right, she'd be asked a question about foreign policy and she'd just say "No, I want to talk about taxes" and then turn on the tape recorder in her mouth into which the McCain people had recited the company line. She was like a robot.

I agree whole heartedly!  Sarah Palin is a pretty mouthpiece and nothing more!  She did well when her coached answers coincided with the information she was drilled on, but when it diverged from her comfort zone her answers were vague and she quickly veered back to safer ground.  Just as with the phrase Achilles Heel, I think it doubtful that Sarah Palin knows the meaning of the word Maverick!  As for the reason Senator Biden was asked questions first, that is because of a coin toss that occured before the debate.

Palin tried to separate herself from George Bush, yet she could not say one thing that she would have done differently from Bush. Either she is not aware of Bush's actions, or she agreed with everything he has done!

Or maybe GW Bush isn't a topic and talking about his policies accomplished nothing in a debate between VPs

I agree Palin did not answer questions. Joe Biden did extremely well

Really? Palin side stepped a couple of questions, but gave answers later on. Biden and Palin outright did not answer:

how, as vice president, would you work to shrink this gap of polarization which has sprung up in Washington, which you both have spoken about here tonight?

and Ifill caught that and didn't let it go unchecked:

Governor, Senator, neither of you really answered that last question about what you would do as vice president. I'm going to come back to that throughout the evening to try to see if we can look forward, as well.

I cannot believe people can believe Palin was able to respond based on her own knowledge and not merely because she has been well trained by McCain's people.

Both of them had prepared responses - Biden kept looking down adn messing with papers.

"Or maybe GW Bush isn't a topic and talking about his policies accomplished nothing in a debate between VPs"

That may be the case.  On the other hand, if I were McCain, I would take my cue from the Republican Convention, which, after Bush's opening comment, went on as though he and Cheney were non-persons.

OF COURSE McCain and Palin want to look forward only.  They are counting on skhort memories.

OF COURSE McCain and Palin want to look forward only. They are counting on skhort memories.

sort of like how Obama and Biden are looking forward to the citizenry losing focus on a short list of achievements and a so-so list of here and now things they've had only a hand in?

The reason Senator's Obama and Biden have been looking back on the past eight years so much is because the differences between Senator McCain's proposed agenda and the failed policies of the current administration are few and those that do vary from the current policies are extremely slight in their differences.  I think what Alec was trying to express is that to look back at the past eight years is to get a glimpse of what the next four years would look like under McCain.
As for your statement:
sort of like how Obama and Biden are looking forward to the citizenry losing focus on a short list of achievements and a so-so list of here and now things they've had only a hand in?
I would like to address this if I may.  While I will concede that Senator Obama has less time in office than do Senators McCain and Biden, he has accomplished much in the time he has been in.  For example: Senator Obama has sponsored 152 bills and resolution and has co-sponsored 427, two of which have already been passed into law.  The Lugar-Obama expands efforts to destroy WMD in places such as the former Soviet Union.  The Coburn-Obama Transparency Act created a website for ensuring transparency of funds allocated to government agencies.  The website tracks all federal spending and allows google type searches based on agency type, types of funding and so on.  Senator Obama also kept his promise to the people of Illinois by sponsoring a bill to increase funding of Pell Grants which was crushed by a then republican senate.  In addition to the accomplishments of his relatively short US Senate career, Senator Obama had several noteworthy accomplishments while serving as a member of the Illinois State Senate which he served as a senate member for eight years.  For seven of his eight years in office as a state senator, the senate was dominated by republicans and bill after bill which he introduced were squelched.  During his last year serving as State Senator, the senate became predominantly Democratic, and during this time he sponsored 26 bills which were passed into law including bills that expanded children's health insurance, and made state earned income tax credit refundable for low income families.
Now let's look at the more seasoned Senator Biden.  Senator Biden is the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee.  He has consistantly fought to keep partisan judges such as Samual Alito from becoming Supreme Court Justices.  He supported the Equal Work/Equal Paycheck Fairness Act which Senator McCain did not support.  Senator Biden also voted to increase the federal minimum wage from a disgraceful $5.15 per hour to an improved $7.25 per hour.  He introduced the College Access Legislation that if approved will provide a $3,000 refundable tax credit to students and their families to help cover the cost of education.  He co-sponsored the Employee Free Choice Act which protects the rights of employees to form a union without being hassled by their employers.  Senator Biden's Crime Bill passed in the 1990's added 100,000 police officers to the streets, helping to decrease the crime rate for eight consecutive years before funding was cut by the Bush administration.  His new crime bill which is on the congress floor now would add 50,000 police officers and 1,000 FBI agents to the current number.  His Second Chance Act provides housing, drug and alcohol treatment, job training, and counseling for parolees so they may become positive members of society.  Senator Biden's Violence against Women Act set up a system of national shelters for abused women and children, as well a national hotline that an estimated 1.5 million victims have utilized.  He is currently working on a new bill The National Domestic Violence Volunteer Attorney Network Act which will create a national system to recruit and train volunteer lawyers and infuse 100,000 new volunteer lawyers into the system.  These are just a few of his many accomplishments and if you like I could give you many more.

Palin is an IDIOT and if she gets into office I am moving to Mexico.

Great! Go down there and stand out in front of one of their home depot's, cavrone.

You'll probably do better as a mule.