Tonight's Vice Presidential Debate: Three Predictions, One Recommendation

Just to set the table for tonight's one and only vice presidential debate between Republican Sarah Palin and Democrat Joe Biden, here are three predictions... and one recommendation...

PREDICTION ONE: This debate will end up drawing the most viewers of any vice presidential debate in history. Not only that, it'll outdraw the first John McCain-Barack Obama debate, and the two others to come, as well.

PREDICTION TWO: No matter what happens, Biden will be criticized in some quarters of sexist behavior, charged with being either too condescending or too harsh towards Palin.

PREDICTION THREE: No matter what happens, moderator Gwen Ifill of PBS wil be criticized in some quarters of sexist behavior of her own, charged with being either too gentle or too harsh with Palin or Biden.

RECOMMENDATION ONE: As soon as the debate is over, run through the channels like you're playing a video game. Speed counts. Listen, and listen fast, to what they have to say at the broadcast and cable networks -- and at BBC America. It all matters, and it all will be, at the very least, interesting.

But whatever you do, watch this damned thing tonight. TV doesn't get much more important than this...