Date: September 11, 2008.

Scene: Cozy Harlem joint. Ex-U.S. President Bill Clinton and Dem nominee Barack Obama are are engrossed in conversation over Cosi sandwiches and flatbread pizza.

Obama: What should I do, Bill? This Palin thing is killing me.

Bill: sniggers

Obama (angry): It’s not funny!

Bill (sips diet soft drink to squelch lingering smirk): Okay. Yeah. You’re right. Not funny.

Obama: This isn’t just about me, you know. It’s also about the Party.

Bill: Yeah, that’s right, sure.

Obama: So?

Bill (leans over table): Well, I do have one idea.

Obama: What! What!

Bill: Not many people know this . . .

Obama (half stands, then sits) : Know what? Know what?

Bill: John McCain . . .

Obama: whimpers

Bill (lowers voice further): John McCain . . . has a self-confessed inability to . . . send emails!

Obama: Oh WOW! That is . . . and you think . . . ?

Bill (sits back): I do think. Just link it back to change. ‘John McCain, he’s not about change, he can’t even send an email’! They’ll eat it up.

Obama (moaning slightly in relief): Oh wow, Bill, really, I don’t know how to thank you. Really, I don’t.

Bill: Never mind, Bar, your next attack ad will be (coughs) . . . thanks enough.

finis