LAST NIGHT'S DEBATE, AND TODAY'S BAILOUT --A rough consensus has already emerged that Joe Biden 'won' last night's debate against Sarah Palin. The big point coming out of that debate, however, is less that Biden 'did' better than that he clearly is better.

Policy and character both matter in elections--regardless of how much the infotainment media try to take the focus elsewhere. And on grounds of both policy and character, Joe Biden is a universe beyond Sarah Palin in merit needed for high office. Indeed, the two people sometimes looked and sounded last night as though they live in two different universes, Palin's being the one of pure self-advancement, Self-Advancement Uber Alles, and Biden's being the one of life experience and somber observation.

Descending to trivialities--or small details--Palin has probably been done no favors by her political handlers or by whoever coached her for last night. Over and over, she kept giving the same snarky, sideways smile while Biden was speaking. Some advisor or handler got that one wrong: In these scripted televised debates, Mr. or Ms. Candidate, you give that snarky, sideways smile only when the other candidate is taking a shot at you personally (something Biden did not do last night). It is the cheerful-disdain arrow in your quiver, reserved for brushing off personal attacks. You do not pull it out when the other candidate is talking about somber topics like job loss under the current administration, or people's fear of losing their houses because of the laissez-faire 'deregulation' pushed by Bush and McCain. Especially you do not use it when the other candidate refers to ill health and deaths.

On a more serious note, Palin did say a couple of things that were probably highly sincere--unlike her canned folksiness and her big friendly smile while insulting well- respected Gwen Ifill. One was Palin's reference to "redistribution," on which she said frankly that she disagrees with the opposition. That one was quite believable. To a certainty, Palin favors extreme trickle-down economics--the kind pushed to its limit in the ghettos of Rio or Sri Lanka--one of the world's poorest countries, yet cursed with some billionaires--and starving families so poor that fathers sell their own daughters on the streets.

The other was her indirect suggestion that she sees Cheney as a role model as Vice President.

In all this, there is much to be concerned about. But at least there was one bright note, sort of, in the televised presentation: Both candidates stayed well away from the giant bailout bill.

Any sign of being in touch with reality is a good sign. At least one of the candidates must know the bailout is a disaster.