Four Aces

In the debate last night there was a bit of poker word-play when Candidate Romney noted that Candidate Perry had been "dealt four aces" when it came to the Texas economy.

If Texas was four aces, then California was a Royal Flush. What the hell happened to that hand?

Actually, Southern Man understands. He has vivid memories of a grad-school game of spades in which he was dealt ten - yes, count' em, ten - of those black beauties. And two of the three non-spades were face cards, including an ace. It was the best spades hand he's ever seen, before or since. And then he mis-bid it, and then he mis-played it. It's surprisingly easy to blow a good thing.