With the likely nominations of Barack Obama by the Democrats and John McCain by the Republicans, one of these two parties is headed for a 2009 crack-up that could prove as messy as any party civil war in recent history.

In 2008, Barack Obama did get Democrats hyperventilating, whipped up to a creamy froth, while John McCain creaked ahead like a cranky granddad whom Republicans let move to the front of the buffet line, deferring to seniority, as they had in 1996, when Bob Dole turtled to the top of the ticket.

I can't stand John McCain.

Barack Obama is the worst President in history.

I voted for Barack Obama.

Experience is a legitimate issue when John McCain raises it about Obama, and it's also legitimate for us to raise it about Palin.