For better or worse, the vice presidential debate will not affect the outcome of the race one iota. Nonetheless, one of its most striking features – with implications for Wednesday night’s clash – was the radical disconnect between the views expressed by commentators and those of the voters, whose reactions the analysts were presumably trying to anticipate. Bamboozled into parroting the Republicans’ line, the commentariat graded the candidates on the curve, against unrealistic “expectations,” while voters insisted on judging them as presidents.

Aided by the soft bigotry of low expectations, Sarah Palin apparently was required only to avoid drooling into the camera to “merit” a tie, if not a win, from many instant analysts.

Peggy Noonan awarded Palin a clear victory – “She killed. It was her evening. She was the star.” NBC anchor Brian Williams compared Palin to Noonan’s former boss – “Like Ronald Reagan … this is a trained communicator