The relatively overhyped experiment in cable television/internet politi-co-branding, the YouTube/CNN Presidential Debate, has come to a close. The debate was novel, the candidates answered questions ably and the pool of questioners from YouTube had relevant questions. The Los Angeles Times focused on the Marshall McLuhanness of it all:

The two-hour session, on the campus of The Citadel military college in Charleston, S.C., also included a few sparks, in particular over the war in Iraq. But perhaps the most noteworthy aspect was the freewheeling format and the lively session it produced: something much more akin to a game show — complete with commercial breaks — than anything Lincoln or Douglas might have imagined."

A cancer patient took off her wig to reveal a bald head before asking a question about federalized health care. A Planned Parenthood worker in Pennsylvania asked the candidates about what they told their children about sex (with only Barack Obama and John Edwards answering). Two young workers asked the candidates about the minimum wage. A man standing in front of flags comemmorating the deaths of family members in the military asked a question about Iraq. There were many questions about Iraq — for a look inside the American id on the subject, YouTube catalogued the rejected debate questions as well. TVNewser recapped the event.

Also, Joe Biden got ornery. Multiple times:

As reported by Variety:

"And other participants seemed to find parts of the debate just plain odd. One questioner, "Jered" from Michigan, asked about gun control and then displayed his "baby," an automatic assault weapon. "I will tell you, if that is his baby, he needs help," Biden said. "I think he made that admission against his self-interest. I don't think he is mentally qualified to own that gun." Then, he added, "I hope he doesn't come looking for me."

Reported by the Washington Post:

Biden, also hobbled by minor microphone problems, was refreshingly blunt. The producers chose to end the telecast with a cutesy question from a man in Colorado who wanted each candidate to say one good thing and one bad thing about the candidate to his or her left. Biden: "I think this is a ridiculous exercise."