[kh99]

I'm not familiar with that area, but just looking at what you posted, you could do this:

    <div class="blockrow">
        <label class="thirdleft">{vb:rawphrase published}</label>
        <div class="twothirdsright">
            <ul class="multifield group floatcontainer">
                <li><input type="radio" value="0" name="setpublish" id="setpublish0" tabindex="1" checked="checked" /> <label for="setpublish0" class="secondary">{vb:rawphrase yes}</label>&nbsp;&nbsp;{vb:stylevar dirmark}</li>
                <li><input type="radio" value="1" name="setpublish" id="setpublish1" tabindex="1"  /> <label for="setpublish1" class="secondary">{vb:rawphrase no}</label></li>
            </ul>
        </div>
    </div>

But that will make "Yes" selected every time, even if "No" was chosen before. I'm not sure that would ever happen, but maybe it does when editing an article? Anyway, to make 'Yes' the default only the first time you'd probably need a plugin (assuming there's a hook location that allows you do change that default).