Even if you've read about the threats of several Clinton supporters to vote for McCain, you might be surprised to learn that, according to a (relatively) recent Gallup Poll, almost 30% of Clinton advocates intend to "steer right" next week. Although this threat may ring hollow for some, stated intentions like these can have very real effects in such a tumultuous election period.

Though Democrats have enjoyed labeling McCain's selection of Palin as a "herculean political blunder," it just might earn the votes of some indignant Clinton supporters who yearn for a female in the Oval Office, even though, politically, Palin is obviously nothing like Clinton. Even if these misguided Clintonites don't intend to follow through on their threat, their successful conflation of Clinton and Palin could "Naderize" the Obama ticket.

In this era of profound partisanship, there is no room for frivolous threats targeting your nearest ally. If Clinton supporters want four more years of ol' Walker-Bush, then this sort of intransigence is a viable recourse. If, however, they want the sort of fundamental change that Clinton herself espouses, they would be wise to follow the requests of their leader. Who knew advocacy groups could be so sophomoric? Kids are supposed to throw self-defeating tantrums, not political advocates.

So why have Clinton supporters been throwing their weight behind the McCain campaign? Perhaps it's because they know that when our 72-year-old Commander-in-Chief kicks the bucket, Hill-Dog will have no problem beating out the moose-hunting wonder-woman in her 2012 re-election bid. I dread the day when our President stands eye to eye with Putin and "sees three letters...KRB. Or KGB, I don't know, I didn't pay much attention to the whole Cold War thing - I had a beauty pageant that weekend." May G-d help us.