She Didn't Fall Over and Start Drooling!

The Great Plotnik was somewhat involved with the Plotzers' 5-run second inning last night, which he was "watching" on the computer while the tv was occupied with the debate between Senator Biden and Governor Dipwad. But he heard plenty, enough to look forward with glee to the Talking Heads' comments afterwards, since what Plotnik had heard issue from the Governor's mouth was little but "gee, gosh darn and golly, say it ain't so, Joe!"

But then his jaw dropped to hear people he respects, like David Brooks and Marc Shields, comment that the Governor had done well and probably positioned herself for a run in 2012.

This morning Mummy Plotnik called, to tell Plottie she was going to the dentist later on today. He asked her if she'd seen the debate last night. "Of course," she said. "I thought Sarah Palin did very well."

Maybe this is why Plotnik loves baseball. You win or you lose, and it's done. Nothing else matters. If you were expected to end up in last place but you managed to end up in fourth place instead, you still lost.

People were afraid for Sarah Palin. They thought she might embarrass herself, that she could fall off the podium into a puddle of drool. That she didn't, even though the only question she actually answered was the one she'll have to take back about supporting the civil rights of gay couples, and even though she slobbered and stammered continually about her glorious "Maverick," she is said to have done well.

Or: since she didn't drop dead, she is still alive. This seems to be enough for Republicans. And Mummy Plotnik. And all the news columnists. And maybe you too.



Plot really does like Joe Biden. It's easy to see why -- he's bright, well spoken and has been around many blocks many times. Plot liked Biden more than he liked Obama, at the beginning, though Plottie will admit this photo makes ol' Joe look like an official at Forest Lawn.

But since Sarah Palin showed up on the scene, after that first night at the Republican convention when even Plotnik had to admit the woman has refreshing spunk, she has really gotten under his skin. Since the whole Hillary/Barack conversation of only a few months ago is still fresh in his mind, Plotnik has had to do a little self-investigation, to ask himself why he dislikes Sarah Palin so much?

Guess what? Sarah Palin is not Hillary Clinton. Hillary was mean but brilliant. Sarah Palin is just plain mediocre.

This is what drives Plotnik crazy. How can a country settle for mediocrity, AGAIN? Do we learn nothing? It's not that she's dumb, she's just not terribly bright. John McCain is a very loose cannon. He needs a brilliant sidekick, not a spunky Sancho Panza who thinks John McCain is a glorious knight on a white horse.

It's not that she's a soccer mom, it's that governments don't play soccer. Yes, she can see Russia from her house. Plotnik can see The @#$#@! Big Dipper from his house. So @#$#@! what?

OK, it's her voice too, you betcha. But the other things are more important.

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But let's keep our eyes upon the larger prize. There are two bites out of the bratwurst. That last one will be the hard one to get, but we're hungry. We're hopeful. And if we lose to the Cubs, we can't say we won. No one will believe us. We will have to go home.