We interrupt our regular bursts of political hand-wringing to bring you an important message. The results of Charlottesville-Albermarle SPCA’s election between the DemoCats and RePuplicans are in, with victory going to the DemoCats.

Unlike the first debate, in which the candidates seemed more or less evenly matched, I’d say Obama pretty solidly topped McCain this time around. Obama’s answers just seemed clearer and more down to earth. McCain came off as, well, dated.

At a panel on election cartooning this past weekend, a member of the audience asked whether we’d be at a loss for material if Obama wins. He corrected himself: “Or I should say, when Obama wins.”

I am troubled by the suggestion that because Palin did not have a truly spectacular brain-fart moment, that means she somehow “held her own.” She did not hold a candle to Biden.

I’ll be watching the Vice Presidential debate in the company of cartoonists and cartoon fans in Bethesda, MD, where I’ll be for the annual Small Press Expo. Should be an entertaining, if gut-wrenching evening.

Note to self: Start thrash band called Toxic Assets.

So you may have noticed that the Dow lost nearly 800 points on Monday. Yep, I caught that one too.

You know, I was thinking this weekend about my extensive foreign policy experience. I have several Facebook friends in other countries. Also, I have enjoyed many beers of the world, giving me some diplomatic bona fides should we ever enter a cold war with Ireland or Belgium.