By Susan Heathfield

Honestly, Lahle, by the end of your most recent blog, I was laughing out loud. I am woman. Hear me roar. And, roar Gov. Sarah Palin did in the vice presidential debate. She roared with style, substance, personality, honesty, values, experience, scruffiness, and humor.

She made Sen. Joe Biden and me laugh out loud. She allayed fears some conservatives have expressed about her ability to lead. My liberal friends are still sending me anti-Sarah diatribes; I’ve stopped reading them. They are so misled.

When you compare five weeks of preparation for the national television scene to Mr. Biden’s 36 years of Washington-based insider experience and preparation, Sarah knocked the debate out of the ballpark. I had hoped, of course, and she delivered. Sarah Palin won the debate (grin).

Joe Biden, veteran Washington insider, acquitted himself well, too. I didn’t know him before the debate and walked away liking him. Neither candidate let their party down.

I’m still scratching my head about this year’s Democratic preference for the light weight, unsubstantial, fast talking, Sen. Barack Obama and the fanatical devotion of my liberal friends. Don’t get it; can’t support it, and lately, can barely talk about it. The answer must lie in the fact that a vacuum existed because no Democratic candidate of substance was willing to run against the Clinton machine. And, so here we are.

Dr. Thomas Sowell, once again, raises a troubling question. He asks whether facts matter in this election. I’m sorry, Mr. Sowell, facts don’t matter in this election. As I said earlier, and will re-emphasize, Sen. Barack Obama’s candidacy, career, and beliefs have born little media scrutiny. The mainstream media is in his pocket. Earlier, I also sketched the history of the current economic woes. Unfortunately, the Bush administration will go down for the count despite the facts that I summarized and you detail.

Let’s be real here. Experience and gravitas belong at the top of the ticket. The second-in-command brings hope, ideas, influence, love, support, and inspiration. Sarah, you nailed it. Joe’s still trying to figure out how Mr. Obama became the inspiration for liberals. And, well he should be. I expect more from our president than Mr. Obama has ever demonstrated he can deliver. Much more. And, my liberal friends say Ms. Palin is unworthy. Ha.

My colleague, Justin Quinn, provides conservative analysis of the debate. Kathy Gill provides a measured perspective at About.com’s U.S. Politics.

This week's previous posts (most recent first): Still on the Tax Thing, Uncertain, Estrogen-Dominant Debate, Biden Wins, Reacting to the Veep Debate, Obama's Unscrutinized Life, The Madness of King John, Democrat's Fault, Lenders Gone Wild, Selling Out Americans, A Whole Lotta Nothing