Because clearly, John McCain cannot trust Sarah Palin to come bat for him after his own debate in the post-debate spin zone. Where is Sarah Palin? Why is she hiding out on one of the most important days of the campaign?

Meanwhile, Joe Biden is doing exactly what a Vice Presidential nominee should do. Throw spittle at the other guy. He was brilliant last night at doing that. Where was Sarah Palin? Holed up in some hotel practicing her lines for next week’s debate? Based on her Couric interview, she better practice hard, because I get the feeling her answers are going to be just as bad, if not worse, in a rather hostile environment that she will experience on Thursday. She has participated in debates before, but not about national issues. Her responses to very mild interviews with Gibson and Couric (and the propaganda infomercial with Hannity) were simply not up to the standard for the office of Vice President.

Now, Joe Biden will be a respectful debater and won’t be hostile to Mrs. Palin, but Mrs. Palin should not be treated with kid’s gloves. She’s running for the second highest office in the land. She should be able to take some punches. If she can’t, she should respectfully resign.