After seeing the Couric/Palin interview (in either the original or SNL-enhanced version), I think we can conclude that the McCain campaign's cram sessions have not been effective. Palin is walking into the Thursday debate knowing little or nothing on any topic of national or international scope. (Until she botched the amount of energy that Alaska delivers to the USA, I would have credited her with knowledge of energy issues even if her policies were mistaken. No longer.) Unless Gwen Ifill is asking questions about Heather has Two Mommies at the public library, Palin will be unprepared.
That has me worried about a possible GOP backup plan.
Remember that strange, never-explained hump on George W. Bush's back when he went to debate? What's to stop Palin from wearing an earpiece and getting instructions from offstage? It can't be too hard to hide that in designer glasses.
Can someone make sure the Obama campaign is prepared for this? Perhaps a sophisticated scanner can be used backstage. I'd love to see what happens if Team Obama finds an open channel of Palin's cues and generates a little feedback squeal.
Remember the McCain philosophy: cheating isn't dishonorable when you are a man of honor. No, it didn't make sense to me either.