I had a blast watching last night’s debate with friends over drinks and commenting on the debate.  I personally thought both Palin and Biden did well; both were very passionate, although Palin did slip up a few times (I wonder if it’s a Republican tradition to have a faulty grasp of the pronunciation of the word “nuclear”).  However, did anyone else notice how little Palin’s face moved?  Not to be judgmental, but I wonder if she’s had work done…  Biden also looked totally tawny–I wonder whether it was fake-bake or spray tan…

However, more interesting to me (although definitely less significant than the other issues at had) was the way Bristol Palin, the eldest daughter of Sarah Palin–who is pregnant–was presented as the families of the candidates came on stage to embrace one another after the debate.  Bristol looked really plainly dressed (actually, she wore a rather boxy, unflattering dress), her hair and makeup was pretty simple, and she was in charge of holding her baby brother.  I know this sounds really cynical of me, but when she was walking on stage, I really felt like she resembled the way Hester Prynne was treated in the Scarlet Letter, like the stylist for the campaign was maybe conveying the message that now that Bristol is pregnant, she’s definitely not going to be sexy and she’s definitely not going to be emphasized in the campaign.

Did anyone else get that feeling?

Meanwhile, of all the media commenting on the debate, I most value my younger sister Allie’s take on the debate: “Sarah Palin should ride her polar bear back to Alaska.”

Here, here!