After tonight’s debate, America will be screaming, “Where the heck are Nordlinger’s notes?” They’ll be doing the same after the second presidential debate. And if Palin or McCain does poorly, Dems will be flooding my inbox with, “Too dispirited to face the music, huh, dude?” (The names they use aren’t so nice as “dude.”)

No, no, there won’t be any screaming — but maybe some wondering among certain readers. I will forgo the joys of instant analysis for a trip to Iraq, where a group of us will be doing some looking around. And of course I will report back to NRO World in due course.

Let me leave you with a note from a friend that I found hilarious, in addition to a little wise: “I’m a bit worried about Sarah tonight after the Couric interviews. At least she’s really hot, a nice person, and probably doesn’t care from a purely ego point of view — this combo makes her dangerous to Biden!”

Actually, that may be a lot wise, rather than a little. See you!