Vice Presidential Candidate Sarah Palin watches the debate...

...from the "Boli's on the Boulevard" restaurant in Greenville, North Carolina. (PHOTO CREDIT: BETHANY SWAIN CNN)

Now...I'm just a simple lad from Scotland. But I can see Russia from my penthouse when I wear the blue kilt. So be patient with me as I muse over this great photo by CNN's Bethany Swain. So--McCain is having a debate with Obama. [aside] "okay so that's a pretty big deal; probably a great moment to show party peep solidarity.. or..." [end aside]. Okay so *why* isn't she someplace more official to watch this? Like the wings of the venue? Or backstage? Or party headquarters? Oh, wait, judging my the beer (go Palin!) I guess it IS party HQ...

I really feel for a poor dunce who may be feeling like they should be ready to stand and support, or maybe make an official statement about a running mate having a debate--but it takes someone with huge, "possibly-presidential" swagger and a true aloofness of national leadership style...to throw on a wind-breaker and head down to the local for a pitcher of Bud. Judging by the lack of an ostensible security perimeter, it would appear no one was really worried for her safety while out mingling with the bar folk. She was told to leave the gun in her hotel room... My friends--there can be no substitute for top-tier-leadership class -- er, wait, no wait-- it just might be Stella Artois she's drinking. Note the fine light-golden hue and effervescance. Nevermind, I take it all back.

Transcendental grade for coming across *so* regular you look out of place in a Presidential Election race: sorry folks we're going to have to go to the Wang Saen Suk scale for this: 5/7 Suks.

Holy Hocky Mom! After further investigatoryishness I have the official story!:

Boli's on the Boulevard is located at 703 S.E. Greenville Blvd., across the parking lot from Kmart in the former location of Courtyard Tavern. It's the sister restaurant of Boli's on Fifth Street, 123 E. Fifth St. in downton Greenville.[Near the KMART--it's starting to make sense]

The dining room has sage green walls and light wood trim. There is seating for 120 at booths, tables and bar stools. There are eight high-definition televisions and a big screen TV over the bar, but Tesoriero said the new restaurant is “more a family-friendly restaurant than a sports bar.”[NO Moose heads or other taxidermy]

It's primarily Italian, with a variety of pizzas, calzones, strombolis and pasta dishes. Several new pasta dishes have been added, including manicotti, blackened chicken pasta, eggplant parmesan pasta, crab meat lasagna and ravioli. Pasta dishes are served with a house salad and range in price from $9.95-$14.95.Pizzas range in price from a $3 personal pizza to the large Behemoth with multiple toppings for $21.45.

Boli's on the Boulevard has all ABC permits. [It's a good thing with no moose heads hanging...]

So there you have it! She was watching the debate across from K-Mart!

What. oh. you wanted the other scoop? picky picky... here ya go:

Palin Watching Debate at N.C. Pizzeria

The Post's Perry Bacon Jr. is in Greenville, N.C., where he filed a pool report on GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin watching the presidential debate. A modified version of his report follows:

The Alaska governor arrived at Boli's on the Boulevard here in Greenville about ten minutes before 9 p.m. She had changed from her suit and high heels into jeans, an Eastern Carolina purple windbreaker and brown shoes. She shook hands and posed for pictures for about ten minutes. She then sat down at a table with N.C. Republican Sens. Richard Burr and Elizabeth Dole, Burr's wife, and the mayor of Charlotte. Palin dined on pizza and spaghetti.[So this oviously IS an official gathering of powers - my bad. I was completely and utterly wrong and I apologize for focusing on the proximity to K-mart and lack of moose heads]

During the debate, when McCain spoke, Palin exclaimed "yes" when he answered a bailout question by talking about energy independence. She had a pen and paper out and occasionally took notes, but mostly either watched the screen or typed on her mobile phone. [do I really need to make a statement about her taking notes--possibly something to do with "cramming for a test" or some other telling event in her future?...]

Disclaimer:
Even though it may appear so, I did not go to NC to hunt this story down. I re-posted it, with [editorial additions], for the purpose of making light of a circumstance that might actually be troubling to some. No animals were hurt in the article. And similarity to persons living, or deceased is strictly coincident...oops, wrong disclaimer.

Folks--don't take this too seriously. It's a joke. In a way not to terribly unlike many points in this race...

Oh btw, here's how CNN scored the debate. Not definitive, mind you, but still:

Obama won.