Okay, Joe, practice the line, just like this:

“With all due respect, Governor, your answer is gibberish.”

Yes, of course, you shouldn’t condescend.  Of course, you shouldn’t call her “Sarah” or “Sweetie” or act frustrated with her.  Of course you should be polite and wear a broad smile for the duration of the debate.

But please don’t be too nice.  Please don’t pull any punches.  Lord knows, she won’t.  Sarah Palin will be in attack mode, and you can’t just be playing defense.  Attack.  Attack.  Attack — gently, and with a smile — but attack, please.  Don’t be hamstrung by all this caution that your handlers are preaching. 

And, for crying out loud, when she is inarticulate, call her on it.  Draw attention to it.  Will you be criticized for this afterwards?  Yes, but that will happen anyway.  By calling out Palin’s verbal gibberish, you will force her words to be re-examined and replayed.  And that’s as it should be.

PREDICTION: Joe Biden will be mostly gaffe-free, Palin, more articulate than expected, but still shaky.  All of her ills will be blamed on moderator Gwen Ifill’s ”biased” questioning. 

CONSPIRACY THEORY: McCain’s campaign knew about Ifill’s Obama book before she was announced as moderator, but chose not to say anything about it at the time.  Why?  They knew she would be an even-handed questioner, but a late hour revelation of the book would allow them to use her as a scapegoat, pegged with their new favorite expression: “in the tank for Obama.”