Theater of the Absurd I'm beginning to wonder if McCain's attempts to delay tonight's debate really were an attempt to delay Sarah Palin's debate next week. Last night he suggested that McCain vs Obama, round 1, could be moved to the VP slot and another time could be found for Ms. Palin and Mr. Biden somewhere down the line.

Those who suggested this motivation yesterday struck me as crazy. But after watching Palin's performance with Katie Couric, which was taped a day prior to McCain's drama-queen antics, and the McCain Camp's freakout over press coverage of Palin at the UN, I have begun to think that this conspiracy theory is not terribly far fetched. In fact, after watching Palin's disaster with Couric, I almost felt bad for Sarah - almost..... Maybe pity is the word I am looking for.

Add to this the fact that McCain is doing nothing in D.C. but gumming up the negotiations over the Wall Street bailout and posturing himself with the far-right Enron-style deregulation crowd in the House, there seem to be few other non-wacko scenarios that make sense.

The only thing I am truly certain of is that McCain's stated motives for trying to suspend the Mississippi debate are not the real ones.

UPDATE: It seems I am not the only one who is smelling Palin's fear and feeling a little sorry for her.

UPDATE PART DUEX: More cringing liberal empathy here, here, here, .... And an unrepentant white supremist conservative woman chimes in here. I thought the choice of Palin was lousy when it was announced, but I didn't expect someone who couldn't hold her own. Oy.  ¶ 1:12 AM