Ever since I heard that Gwen Ifill, the moderator for tonight’s debate, had a book coming out—on Inauguration Day, with Obama’s name in the title—I’ve been concerned.

With good reason. Ms. Ifill didn’t look happy when she commented on Gov. Palin’s speech at the Republican Convention. Perhaps her bias was showing?

She looked much happier in this picture with Obama. I wondered if it might have something to do with all that time she spent with the Obamas for her story for Essence magazine.

She claims that Obama is a small part of the book and she hasn’t even written the chapter on him yet. Maybe not, but I bet she has some ideas of where she’s going with it whichever way the election goes.

It looks like this is her first book (it’s the only one that shows up on Amazon), so she has a lot riding on this election.

I must say I was pleasantly surprised. Ms. Ifill handled it very professionally. I admit I kept listening to see if she’d call Sen. Biden “Dear” like she did Gov. Palin.

I’ll be looking forward to the dissection of the candidates’ statements tomorrow by people who have researchers to look up what is—and isn’t—true. Me, I’m going to bed.

I heard a caller on Shanin and Parks this week say that she and her husband paid $8,000—apiece—to attend tonight’s vice-presidential debate. I hope they got their money’s worth.

Juanell Garrett--Midwest Voices '08