Hard to understand the folks in the conservative chattering classes (Parker, Chapman, others) ripping Palin a new one and second-guessing and backbiting McCain.

Stipulating ad arguendo the metaphor that "It's the middle of the 4th Quarter, we're down by 8 points, the refs are in  the tank for the other team, the crowd is against us, the wind and sun are in our face, etc."

It would seem it is NOT the time to start throwing water bottles at the team captains, walk off the field, criticize the coaches, take a smoke break, etc.

It would seem like it would be the time to get down and execute our assignments to the best of our ability because one team or the other is going to win this thing. Personally I'd like it to be ours. There will be plenty of time for Monday-morning quarterbacking come November 5. Do we really want to wake up hearing about "President-elect Obama?"

The folks nominally on our team who are not pulling their weight shouldn't complain about cleat marks on their butt if they end up getting run over.

I'm taking the team (my 3 kids still at home) to Wisconsin this Saturday to make as many phone calls and knock on as many doors for McCain as possible.

How about you?