Really now, what did you expect?

Did anyone honestly believe Gov. Charlie Crist, R-Mr. Blue Bird On My Shoulder, would stand before the Florida Legislature the other evening and proclaim - “We are such toast!”

This was the state of the state address after all, a time when the governor is supposed to stand before the public and insist all is right with the world, even if giant badgers were gnawing at his ankles.

This session the Legislature is confronted with slashing $3 billion from the state budget. That means schools will be impacted. Social services will be cut. Parks and recreational facilities will feel the blade. And even public safety will have to do with one less pair of handcuffs, probably.

And all of this belt-tightening is occurring on the watch of Governor Happy Pants, a man so eternally optimistic, he would make Norman Vincent Peale seem suicidal.

So while the state of the state may be in a state, it would hardly behoove Gov. Everything Is Beautiful to stand up before the Legislature and announce: A) “We’re doomed !” and/or B) “Can somebody do something about this giant badger?”

Besides for Charlie Crist, R-Bubbles, how would it look for a potential vice presidential running mate to John McCain to admit the state’s finances are in worse shape than Michael Jackson?

Oh and if you had any remote doubt, Gov. Brigadoon is already thinking of picking out the drapes for the veep’s mansion, consider that he started quoting Ronald Reagan during his state of Charlie Crist’s career speech Tuesday, alluding to Florida as a “shining city on a hill.”

Oh dear. Does that qualify as plagiarism - or simply oratorical grave robbing?