If a deal is reached Friday morning, I assume the debate will go forward, the stock market will rally, Obama and McCain will argue about who gets credit for the rally, and McCain can at least start talking in past, not future tense about this financial stomach flu while turning as much attention as possible to foreign policy.

If a deal is not reached, then what will McCain do? He could, of course, show up in Mississippi and champion the House Republican position. That would certainly be dramatic. Or, he could show up with his tail between his legs and bemoan the gridlock in Washington. Hard to see how this works for him, given that he promised not to leave without a deal. Or, he could skip the debate and hang around for a deal to be reached on Saturday. In that case, he would take immense media heat Friday night (think Night One of the RNC with Palin's daughter-gate) for what would probably be a stock market cascade in the absence of a deal. Hard to see how that helps him, either, at least in the short run.

It seems to me he almost has to either have a deal (even though he may not be able to control the outcome), or go for broke by adopting the House position. If he lays up and takes the Saturday route, he will need even more time to recover from the likely hit to his standing.

Back in 68, Muskie was the cat's meow and Spiro Agnew was a detested goat. Muskie failed to help his ticket carry anything; Agnew delivered border states and a Nixon victory.

Back in 88, Bentsen was the "most popular man in the south" and Dan Quayle was sliced salami. Bentsen failed to help his ticket carry Texas; Quayle delivered social conservatives across the board and helped Bush win.

Now in 2008 -- hmmm, every twenty years this seems to happen, we have the wandering gas bag Biden who ostensibly claims Pennsylvania as his home. Pop quiz: given that he left Scranton at age 10, how many kids' noses do we really think bloody Joe bloodied so he could walk down Main Street with pride? (Sorry, I digress). And, we have Palin, the Most Looked Down Upon Politician since Quayle and Agnew, who I happen to think will help McCain in November.

I could be wrong. But I do have history on my side. Would be ironic if pro-life Catholics in Pennsylvania (of all places) tip the electoral tide for McCain/Palin.

Actually, Palin quoted Hillary Clinton for the proposition that Obama's proposal to visit Iran without preconditions is "naive." Katie Couric then pointed out to her viewers afterward that Henry Kissinger has since apparently adopted Obama's position. So, if Palin is a "dumbass," so is Hillary.

The world was not tough enough on Dan Quayle?

Lest anyone forget, at Dan's inaugural press conference, he was asked about an alleged affair (dry well), other improprieties (dry well), and why he did not go to Vietnam (National Guard). With nothing to pursue, the media invented an issue out of wholecloth. Or, to be more precise, a question about whether there was an issue: was it possible that Quayle got bumped up the roster so that some poor stiff had to fight and die in his place.

Fast forward, for a moment -- two weeks later it was revealed there was never a wait list and no one was rejected for the Indiana Guard. Now rewind two weeks, to the RNC. Quayle and his family were treated to the most savage, unfair press coverage in history. It was the ultimate Seinfeld feeding frenzy -- utterly about nothing. Dan Rather broke into daytime soap operas for Special Reports on the Guard. To top it off, John Chancellor of NBC ran a prime time "editorial" showing body bags coming home from Vietnam and telling Dan Quayle he must be happy knowing they were filled with people who were bumped down the list to take his place. Er, assuming that happened, which it turned out it didn't.

We all know what happened at the debates. Quayle was asked no less than three times what he would do the exact moment he was alerted George Bush had suddenly died (convening the cabinet and calling world leaders were deemed insufficient). Only during answer number three did an exasperated Quayle note that other young men had served in high office, including Kennedy. The rest, as they say, is history.

The only saving grace in the whole affair was the spectacle of arrogant Lloyd Bentsen choking on humble pie and the media watching their wretched campaign against Quayle go down in flames on election night.