After waiting 25+ years to return to the playoffs, the Brewers don't appear to have much gas left in the tank.   Very, very disappointing...

I've been very busy at work lately and wish I had more time to go into depth about a few of the big news stories.  However, like my beloved Brewers I'm running on fumes these days.  Despite this lack of energy, I did record the vice-presidential debate and here are a few (hopefully) semi-coherent stream of consciousness thoughts before I collapse into bed... 

 - In case you didn't know it already, John McCain is a maverick.  You betcha he is, because Sarah has said it over and over the past five weeks (including about ten times earlier tonight).  Oh, and in addition to being a reformer, Sarah is a maverick as well. 

 - I had Sarah as an 11 1/2 point underdog going into the debate after a less than stellar showing in interviews with Charlie Gibson and Katie Couric.  After it was all said and done, I'd honestly have to say that Palin covered the spread and performed better than I expected. 

 - However, with that said, I don't think she really swayed any independent voters/fence sitters over to the Republicans with her performance.   

- Although there were no real colossal blunders, there is still going to be plenty of material for Tina Fey and the SNL writers on Saturday night (e.g.  Palin winking and mugging at the camera). 

-  Perhaps it was intentional, but Joe Biden appeared to be very restrained and low-key for most of the debate. 

-  Palin's strategy of barely answering the moderator's questions or brushing them off completely to get back to her talking points and scripted answers was a little more than mildly irritating. 

- I wonder how the Christian Coalition of America feels about Palin essentially agreeing with the Democratic position about gay rights.  Something tells me that Sarah is going to have to clarify her position in the coming days.

- It was after 10:00 p.m. in St. Louis when all the family members (minus Bristol Palin from what I could tell) were milling around on stage.  Why wasn't Trig in his crib sleeping?  The little man sure does get a lot of camera time.

- I've done eight of these now and seven are about Palin and/or her family.  There is no doubt that she is an intriguing figure and comes off as very personable. 

- The Over/Under on future sit down Sarah Palin interviews prior to 11/4/08 is 1...and I'm taking the Under.  The format of this debate suited Palin and I doubt she'll sit down for another interview until after the election.

**I guess because of my comatose state last night my quip about Sarah Nuke-you-ler was somehow inadvertently deleted.  Oh well.  I'm sure Tina will mention this once, twice or twenty times on SNL this weekend.