1) thanks for bringing that to my attention!
That is important information to have before watching the debate!

2) McCain's camp should have done better research on this and on their VP pick. Let's just watch and see how biased she is.

3) Ifill should have done the right thing and disclosed the information to the McCain camp.

4) It is unacceptable that the debate will be moderated by an individual that will most definitely benefit from the Obama/Biden ticket winning the debate and the election.

5) This assumes that all other moderators are unbiased or bias-free, which is nearly impossible. I am sure Jim Lehrer is planning to vote as well and no one complained about him last week. He's a democrat in fact but I think he did a good job of keeping the questions fair for both parties.

6) Good point Denny,

But does Jim Lehrer have any direct financial benefits to gain, other than taxes, if McCain or Obama wins?

7) If Palin is going to be asked to potentially deal with Ahmadinejad, Kim Jung-Il, and Abu Mazen....she best be able to deal with a biased two-bit "moderator".

8) The BeanCounter agrees with you about the moderator for tonight. The moderator seems the type person as Michelle Obama, personally, I think Rush Limbaugh would have been a better choice. The Republicans have not been a very good of moderators, IFIL and that clown in Mississippi.

9) We talked about this some on my blog yesterday and today. Check this article out:

http://www.npr.org/blogs/newsandviews/2008/10/forthcomi...

The McCain camp knew about the book ahead of time and as of yesterday still did not raise any objections. This will be the ticket's scapegoat if Palin falls flat on her face. It would have to be pretty blatant to try and "fix" anything anyway, especially if both candidates are being asked the same questions. I agree with Denny, Lehrer did a good job and I hope Ifill follows a similar format to what he had. I'm not sure who decides the format, though. I think a lot of it is left to the moderator, but maybe someone else here knows more about that.

10) From what I have read the book is a historical reference of Obama and it will be published regardless of if he wins or loses. She also started writing it early in the candidacy. I don't think the fact that she has an opinion on the matter will prevent her from being professional this evening. We'll see though and I am sure America will let us know if she did her job or not.

11) The McCain camp knew about the book when they agreed to the debate...If they don't care then why should we? Maybe McCain has confidence in his VP pick?

12) http://www.humzoo.com/soundchick/blog/12/

Start reading @ #14.

13) I guess I shouldn't care, but it just seems unfair that the moderator will definitely benefit from the Democratic outcome of the election more so than a republican outcome. Then again, she would have to be pretty gutsy to be unfair because of all of this heat she is stirring up. Most republicans are going to be watching her with a magnifying glass waiting for her to say something that is relatively bias. Who Knows!!!!

14) Exactly. If anything, she'll probably overcompensate. I'll be listening closely for a hint of Alaskan accent in her questions.

15) Will, don't back down now. You were on a roll. :)

16) Ah yes.... a day late and 700 billion dollars short. Someone already dug in this spot.

17) I will back down and cry in the corner if I want to!!!!! You cant stop me from climbing Mt Everest.

18) Will, you should do your research before you post a blog out on Humzoo. ;) I kid, I kid!

19) I totally see the Republican viewpoint on this, but the more I read about the synopsis of the book, the more it just seems to be about a history of black politicians. Until yesterday, I had no idea who Ifill was so I looked a little bit up. She seems pretty respected in most circles, even McCain praised her before the subject of her as a moderator ever came up. I think everyone should just give her the benefit of the doubt. Believe me, I'll be the first one crying foul if there's any funny business. Like I said before, as long as they're being asked the same questions, it's kind of hard to find bias in that unless she only gives Palin 5 seconds to answer a question and (God help us) Biden 5 minutes to answer the same question.

20) Will, dust that magnifying glass off dude. We all know your party hasn't had many chances to use it lately. Sorry we've been digging in your basement for a while, learning about all your secrets and your secret tunnel to Russia. That's so cool dude, the Democrats really need something cool like that too.

21) Okay , now I'm getting railed. Awesome.

From now on I will delete all comments on this blog. :)

22) Why dig a tunnel when you "can see Russia from my house"

23) Will, you like to get railed!!!

24) I'm voting for Pedro.

25) The more I see IFILL, the more she makes me want to "UPCHUCK".

26) Because....?

27) As long as the questions and timing are the same I think it will be pretty difficult to skew the debate one way or the other, plus she will have all the people who have rushed to judgement ready to rake her over the coals if she misses by a second. Of all the things to get upset about this is way low on the totem pole. I think if there was anything really significant the McCain crew would have been screaming loud but then look how great they did on their "vetting" process for the vp.

28) There has to be some Ifill/Upchuck pun I'm missing. Oh well.

29) I said it yesterday, and I will say it again. Get over it! She is a professional and they had their chance to protest. Denny is absolutely correct. Every reporter, moderator, dishwasher, carpenter, etc. has an opinion and will vote for their preferred candidate, but it is her job to ask questions and moderate a debate. If you guys think she'll ask her tough questions and ask Biden what his favorite ice cream flavor is, then I can only assume that you have never seen a debate before. Leave it alone! It is bullshizen. Damned liberal whining wussy republicans...huh?

30) Of course every reporter, moderator, dishwasher, carpenter, etc has an opinion. My point is pretty simple to get. Can you honestly tell me that Ifill will not make more money off of her book if Obama wins the election. Ifill is obviously writing a book to sell so she can make money. It is obvious that she has been a fervent Obama supporter in the past and she will be in the future. I dont have a problem with her wanting to write a book about her opinions and sell it. Rush Limbaugh writes books about republicans and is very bias towards McCain. Would it be as Kosher if he was chosen to moderate the only vice presidential debate?? I think someone were a little less vocal about which candidate they support would be a better pick.

Matt-
By they way how does the Weekend of November 15th sound for Backpacking. Of course, I am bringing along my good buddy Jim. Grant Deaton and Myself along with a few others are going to head to either Pisgah or the Shining Rock Wilderness for a trip.

31) Rush Limbaugh is not a professional. He makes no effort to ever hide his opinion or to be fair in his conversations. He is a name-calling, pig-headed moron that is not even afraid to deny that fact. She is a journalist and a reporter, not a one-sided commentator, and I didn't feel that there was a hint of bias in her voice throughout the entire debate.

Yes, camping sounds good. I'm pretty sure I can work it out for the 15th.

32) Gwen Ifell ≠ Rush Limbaugh

33) Thats it... I vote Bob Barr.

34) Sweet. I'll send you the ballot.

35) Thanks for inviting me camping Will! You da man! I'm getting a new tent on Saturday. Are you guys taking Driggs?

The debate was better than I thought it would be. Palin certainly learned a few things in boot camp this week (although she got a couple important names and numbers wrong), but I still felt that Biden displayed more experience and conducted himself well. Just my opinion, no need to debate it or start a new thread people. And thanks.

Ifill was more than professional. To be honest I would never have known which side she was for, or that she has a book in the works. She was concise, posed some interesting topics and managed the debate very well. Both candidates were very professional and responded well to each others remarks. I got a better sense for both VP candidates from the debate. Then again, the VP debates hold little weight in comparison to the Presidential debates when it comes down to election day.

36) I have a two man, Denny. You can just bunk with me.
Just make sure you bring the x-mas picture sweater.

37) "The BeanCounter agrees with you about the moderator for tonight."

Beano,
When did you turn into Bob Dole?

"The moderator seems the type person as Michelle Obama."

Why? Because she's black, female and intelligent? Does that bother you? In what ways? Should black women not be smart? Does that make them even more ugly? What gives? Do you ever realize how ridiculous you sound when you make such racist comments?

38) I also take Jim camping. Will can expand on Jim.

Will who all is coming? Is there room? I seriously might be able to go/or bring Niki too.

39) I know all about Jim.

40) Yo, Bek and Driggs are not coming along for this ride... I think we are going to leave on Friday the 14th and stay for 2 nights.... Probably about a 20 miler or so in Shining Rock... I will have plenty of extra gear since Bek is not going. So far.. Justin Kalweit, Grant, Brent Belue, Zac Bolton(Cousin of Michael), Matt Pike, Myself and Nancy Pelosi(She is carrying Jim.)

It should make for a great time.

Its probably going to be quite chilly... I am saving Driggs 1st Backpacking trip for a 1 nighter in the Spring. But you will have to come then too.

41) Damn. I'm going to have to exercise before this trip. I haven't done 20 miles in a long time. It's all good. I have a backpacking defibrulator. It runs on cold and wet environments and only weighs 60 lbs.

42) Twenty miles? What?? We lost a lot of good men out there.

Geez that is a long way. Dude, get tired driving 20 miles. I need to think long and hard about this. How many weeks is this hike spread over?

43) Hi Bek...totally off subject, but if you'd like we can plan a mommie and sweet little Driggs and Addie weekend getaway while Will is backpacking.