The news was poorly covered in states other than Alaska.

The following are photographs of the event taken by a participant. Photographs courtesy of Rachel Wolfe and Marilyn Detloff:

(Electric Elliot's live-blog after the fold. DON'T FORGET TO REFRESH FOR UPDATES.)

5:52pm: Be sure to share your opinion with the other Melonites in the comments section. I'll be referring to them and throwing them in the main post as well.

5:54pm: Is anyone else watching the end of Survivor: Random Island right now? Would they kill this waste of time already.

5:57pm: I wonder what exciting new ads will be premiered tonight.

5:59pm: One minute to showtime! Fuck yeah!

6:00pm: I'm watching CBS. Anyone think there will be better coverage elsewhere? Katie Couric, you're such a journalist.

6:02pm: Coin toss. Typical.

6:03pm: Booo! (as they enter). Palen: Can I call you Joe? Joe: No you may not.

6:04pm: Thanking the officiant and Palen, classic and safe move. He should have told them to fuck themselves.

6:05pm: And Joe is off to a quick and verbose start, not answering the question.

6:06pm: Ha, Palin refers to kids' soccer game. Digging a grave quickly. She looks well composed and intelligent, though. (Ha, cheers Walker. Right on.)

6:07pm: Biden, again not really answering the question but instead attacking McCain and pushing his bipartisanship to the forefront. We'll be seeing a lot of this tonight.

6:08pm: Palin fights back. She's speaking well tonight. This is going to be a fight. Oh, she dropped the maverick bomb.

6:09pm: When I stared into Palin's soul I saw K G B. Ha, new energy bs.

6:10pm: Yeah baby, that moderator rocked their asses.

6:11pm: Joe-six-pack. Did Palin just say that? Are you kidding me?

6:12pm: There we go. Biden actually saying something and attacking McCain at the same time.

6:13pm: Will Palin stop saying "darn right"? Palin is speaking well and hitting hard against Obama.

6:14pm: Deregulate that Palin! What? Taxes. We're talking about deregulation. She's not going to answer it, is she?

6:15pm: "It's called fairness" Biden/Obama for fairness. Ha, ha.

Matt Stevens: McCain's proposal to limit spending doesn't touch the Veterans Affairs, DoD, Iraq, and Social Security. He only has about $100 billion other dollars to cut. He can't get close to the deficit. Holding tough on spending doesn't mean shit until we get out of Iraq.

Point well taken. But Obama wants out of Iraq and into Afghanistan. Where's the money coming for that?

6:17pm: Biden drops the Regan name. Palin drops Patriotism. This is turning sour and stupid.

6:18pm: You might disagree with what Palin is saying, but she's sounding a hell of a lot smoother than in the Couric interview. What do you think?

6:20pm:

Walker Lindley: Straw man! No one is saying healthcare should be taken over by the government. Also, letting people buy insurance across state boundaries will bankrupt some states and give huge revenue boosts to others, that won't work.

Biden is laying down the facts. That's looking good, he's explaining it well. Oooohhh, bridge to nowhere. Nice.

6:23pm: Palin avoiding the question and turning to energy. McCain doesn't flip-flop? I call bullshit.

6:24pm: She's going to do what's right. Wow, I totally believe her. Fucking crock-o-shite.

6:26pm:

Walker Lindley: Oil companies have been getting tax breaks for decades, Obama didn't start that.

John McCain's call for reform? Ha, ha, I don't think so. That dude didn't have anything to do with the bailout beyond voting. Palin does acknowledge she disagrees though. So does Biden.

6:28pm:

Brandon Lueken: Corruption on Wall Street? Duh. But it doesn't stop there, you can't just keep blaming them! Also, wow, I could hear Biden breathe angrily.

6:29pm: Ha, ha, wow. Palin avoids that one. Energy is her backup. I think that might be all she has. Biden knows his stuff but Palin's townsee speak might woo voters.

Brandon Lueken: ..Is Palin implying that she wants to drill the shit out of her own state? You'd think she'd be the first one to say no to oil drilling in Alaska. Or do they have huge hydro-electric dams up there that I don't know about?

Hah, nope. Palin is totally for drilling. Gets her state some money. She does acknowledges climate change and that things need to be changed. Biden acknowledges the violently well-supported human-made climate change. Biden laying down the numbers again.

Matt Stevens: If someone is playing a drinking game to Palin saying "about" and Biden saying "umm" they need to get to the hospital immediately.

I'm too drunk to drive.

6:36pm: On gay-partnership. Biden: You won't be married, you'll be butt-buddies. Palin: I'm tolerant. We won't support you, we don't support civil-rights. Biden: I don't support civil-rights either. Let this be understood.

6:39pm: Info on clean coil -

Walker Lindley: Clean coal scrubs CO2 out of the smoke and stores it under ground. It's not entirely clear to me how much CO2 the ground can hold and what would prevent it from escaping.

Palin - The surge is fucking working! Why won't you let us win mother fuckers? Why won't you let us win. 100 more years!

Biden, it's not about "not funding the troops" it's not funding the war.

6:42pm: Palin just regressed. Surrender? That's Bush-talk!

6:43pm:

Matt Stevens: The Surge is not working. The surge is 10% additional troops. The surge is jack shit. The reduction in violence is happening because the genocide worked. the reduction in violence is due to the payments to the Sunni Awakening Councils who suddenly quit killing people. The reduction in violence is due mixed neighborhoods being destroyed and dominated by a single sect. The increase in troops did jack shit.

Palin, it's not cutting off funding for the troops. Biden, same thing. Motherfuckers, stop using American troops as a tool!

6:46pm: Biden doesn't want war...in Iraq. He wants war in Afghanistan and Pakistan. War on Terror II: Battle in AfghaniPakistan.

6:48pm: Palin - Obama would meet with our enemies, I would run in shooting.

6:49pm: Palin is playing the attack Obama game and using energy as her backup. Notice how she's taking the focus off of her.

6:51pm: Ooo. Biden just hit hard referring to McCain's reluctance to be diplomatic with Spain.

Brandon Lueken: ..Palin talked with Kissenger? Really? Did she just sort of coo while he twiddled his thumbs?

It was probably the first time they met. Kissenger makes most people nervous.

Did Palin really just mention avoiding a second Holocaust? Is that all Jews are good for? Fighting wars and holocausts?

6:53pm: The debate was looking pretty even at first, Palin was sounding smooth and composed, but now she's running out of material and Biden's mad experience is taking over. Don't get him too angry though, he's like the Hulk. You won't like him when he's angry. BIDEN SMASH!

6:55pm: Joe Biden goes for the jugular and connects Bush to McCain. Palin doesn't respond.

Walker Lindley - It's Obama's campaign that's done too much finger pointing? Has she been watching a different campaign?

Yeah, she's been looking in a mirror, trying to put lipstick on. Zing ;)

6:58pm: It's evident that Biden knows a bit more regarding Afghanistan and Nukes. Palin is playing the buzzwords though. Which is more effective?

7:01pm: Biden stumbles a little bit refuting Palin's claim that the US general in Afghanistan claimed the surge tactics wouldn't work there.

7:03pm: Palin - I'm just a simple mutated chicken

...ha ha ha. That'll probably ring her some points, nevertheless. And will she talk about Darfur? Yup, she agrees with Biden. Classic McCain tactic.

Brandon Lueken - She cites her lack of talent as a Washington outsider? She's got a loooooooooong hour ahead of her.

7:06pm: Palin is predicting the future and what the pundits are going to say. The pundits haven't been exactly on your side.

Walker Lindley - Palin saying Biden is the flip-flopper? Here's a list of McCain's over 75 flip flops: http://www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com/flipflops

7:08pm: Man, I'm really trying not to be biased here, but Palin isn't making it easy.

7:09pm: Palin - We're mavericks damn it. Why can't you just understand that!

7:12pm: Palin does well with her stupid ass ''extra credit" comment.

On Biden's comment:

Brandon Lueken - You're asking Home Depot employees about Foreign Affairs? What kind of schools do they have in Delaware?

7:13pm: Palin is doing a bit better. Sounding down to earth.

7:14pm: Biden is apparently one of three senators that all the other senators go to. Rumor on the street.

7:15pm:

Brandon Lueken - Less flexibility in No Child Left Behind? That *terrible* bill? My god, someone stop that woman!

We saw the realities of NCLB at a Tacoma School Board Meeting

7:17pm: Thank you Biden for pointing out the realities of Cheney's stealing of power.

Walker Lindley - Oh, oh, great question from Ifil about the Constitution. And oh my god. Palin agrees that the VP is part of two branches of our government. She says the Constitution gives flexibility there. IT DOES NOT. The Constitution says the VP is part of the Executive branch, end of story. No real Constitutional scholar worth anything would ever say otherwise.

7:18pm: Palin - I'm a mom. I'm qualified.

I doubt that Palin had to worry about many college tuition bills during her governorship. Sounding well with her claims of reform, even though it's bs.

Biden disects Palin's strong words decently. Almost gets caught up with the gender stuff though.

7:21pm: Palin - MAVERICK!!!!! WE'RE FUCKING MAVERICKS! WHY DOES NO ONE LISTEN TO ME! I AM MAVERICK MOM!

7:23pm: Thank you, Biden, for attacking the maverick claim. Way to go!

7:25pm: Biden probably just went over everyone's head.

7:26pm: Good questions by Ifil.

7:29pm: Palin is speaking in banalities claiming she's right and Biden is wrong. I really don't think either Palin or Biden are the average middle class family.

7:30pm: Gotta admit, Palin had a strong closing statement.

Walker Lindley - Ya, Palin had a good closing statement, although a lot of it was inaccurate. Her last line about McCain having been the only one to fight for your freedom was delivered well and had a good double-meaning. I bet we'll hear that line more and it'll be attributed to Palin. That way they get to keep using a line that sounds and feels good, plus it would make Palin look better.

7:32pm: Biden's closer was strong but a little rocky. Palin was likely a bit better.

Welp, that's the end of the one and only VP debate. Who performed best?

Electric Elliot's Analysis:

Strengths: Obvious experience and knowledge. Direct attribution to policies. Addressed Palin's attacks.

Weaknesses: Might have overdone explanations. Lazy attempts to pander.

Strengths: Didn't fuck up like everyone was expecting. Able to connect to average American. Down-to-Earth. Scores points with the outsider claim.

Weaknesses: Didn't answer many questions. Constant pandering. Didn't look as well versed in policy or Washington/World knowledge as Biden. Overused the "maverick" claim.

The Core: The fact that Palin didn't totally blow it tonight definitely helped her out a lot. Biden is an experienced politician and an experienced debater. Palin was able to run with him, but her lack of relevant knowledge and inability to answer questions without pandering and jumping back to the same "maverick", "we're the real change" rhetoric definitely hurt her.

Biden looked strong. Really strong. No blunders, no "clean black man" mess ups. He spoke to nearly every question with detailed explanations and a strong sense of professionalism. Palin definitely played the townee, "average American card" to the point that is seemed forced and overdone. It'll certainly still bring in some votes but a down to Earth but hollow performance was not able to compete with Biden's overthetop experience.

Electric Elliot's

VP DEBATE WINNER:

SEN. JOE BIDEN

What do you think? Did Biden show experience prowess? Did Palin connect to voters?

Thanks to everyone who followed and participated in The Melon's first live-blog. Please drop any additional information and reactions in our comments section.

Melonites Reaction:

Walker Lindley - I'm not sure I agree with all the analysis here: http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/10/2/23101/4268/952/618411 . But I'm once again surprised by the public's reaction to a debate that seemed, to me, be pretty even.

Also, I've been listening to NPR's call-in after the debate. Just now someone called in saying that Palin isn't prepared at all to be President and that it's scary to think she could be President. The host of the show asked the audience (they're broadcasting from a theater in St. Louis where they were all listening to the debate) if anyone disagreed. There was a good 10 seconds of silence followed by laughter. Wow, just....wow.

Emily Knudsen - I gotta disagree with you on the moderator comment. I thought she was one of the weakest moderators. She asked some pretty decent questions but she didn't hold them to answering them. She just let them answer however they wanted (as Palin claimed she would do anyhow), but I think their true colors would have stood out more if Ifill forced them to be specific. On another note, the format of this debate was starkly different than the presidential debate in which the moderator encouraged them to address one another. Of course, a true debate never really occurred but I wonder what would have happened if the two VP candidates were able to directly question the other. It would have made for a much more entertaining debate.

Chris "The Wedge" Van Vechten - We played Palin Bingo at the Cellar (UPS.)

I think she won the debate because she didn't fuck-up like everyone expected her to. She didn't answer a single question - but Biden looked old.

I think the Ds will be jugging ahead once Obama and McCain go back to debating. During the first debate Obama looked like he was preparing to be sworn in, and McCain like he was preparing to receive a life-time achievement award.

Liam Rosen - Why do we keep talking about "who won"? It's not a sporting match.

All I care about is the issues, and Biden was spot on with every single one.

Join me at 6pm PST and for an hour and a half of pure verbal murder on these Veep hopefuls. Who came up with Veep anyway? Isn't VP abbreviated enough? F*cking media idiots!

In what hits a 5 in my dumb shit-o-meter everyone's favorite animal rights organization (who has done some wonderful things) has once again acted a fool to prove a point. PETA has requested that Ben & Jerry's (of Ben & Jerry's Ice cream) replace all of the milk used in their ice cream with human breast milk. According to PETA, that would treat humans equal to the cattle and would benefit people because of the nutrients in breast milk. PETA notes that drinking milk from one animal over another isn't actually that different, so not that weird. As far as weirdness goes, I couldn't agree more. Drinking milk from cows is incredibly odd. I mean, we're talking about an animal that eats its own shit and we're drinking milk from it (I used to do stand up comedy and the cow milk routine went on for about five minutes.)

Ashley Byrne, a campaign coordinator for PETA, acknowledged the implausibility of substituting breast milk for cow's milk, but said it's no stranger than humans consuming the milk of another species.

"We're aware this idea is somewhat absurd, and that putting it into practice is a stretch. At the time same, it's pretty absurd for us to be drinking the milk of cows," she said.

Even PETA!!! When you make a statement so batshit that even you have to note that it's batshit, you're probably not being very effective. But at the same time, I'm writing about it, so hey, maybe PETA is on to something.

In all seriousness, you may question PETA's actions but there should be no question that they're fighting for a good cause. The way animals are treated in our society is inhuman and it needs to be stopped. A good first step? Educate yourself. Check out PETA's website.