After so many weeks of autumn surf glory, the Atlantic Ocean has been taking a breather. No, it hasn’t been six-days-of-cold-northwest-winds-in-January-style flat, but the faucet of fall magic slowed to a drip after consecutive swell events of spitting tubes, overhead drops and backside snaps. And without as much surf to talk about, it only seems fair that we address the fly in the ointment of last week’s vice presidential debate.

Now, I’m told surf columnists aren’t supposed to talk about politics.