When I was a child there was a popular doll that had a string attached to a voice box inside the doll. You pulled the string and the toy responded with a scratchy facsimile of a human voice. Its repertoire of phrases was limited, but nevertheless the doll's apparent chattiness was enough to impress children and adults who bought the toy for them. As I recall the doll was named "Chatty Cathy" or something similar. Governor Palin's debate performance reminded me of that doll. Each time the moderator asked a question, the Governor confidently issued a carefully rehearsed attack line--from a version of Reagan's "there you go again" to "raising the white flag in Iraq". I did admire her ability to memorize and apparent poise, but in terms of demonstrating a command of domestic and international issues, her performance was shallow. She managed not to embarrass herself or the Republican campaign, and demonstrated an admirable willingness to confront the more experienced Senator Biden, who fortunately remained restrained in his reactions to the novice. She did not distinguish her ticket from the disastrous policies of the current Regime in any significant way. Only the Republican evangelical base that revels in her "Joe Sixpack" folksiness (the Palins are worth $1.2 million) and is alienated by eastern intellectualism can believe she is actually ready to run the federal government or act as the nation's commander in chief if necessary. Wackydoodle sez: And on a clear day you can see Russia from Wasilla too![AP photo]