Now here’s an initiative we can really get behind — a call for Sarah Palin to put her money where her mouth is, and debate Al Gore on climate change: Sarah vs Al: The People Want This One.

No time to be shy, “little” Sarah. Shooting spitballs and then hiding behind your computer screen isn’t going to get you into the White House. But nailing Gore’s carcass but good - that’s the stuff that conservative dreams are made of.

I think this will take more than a little bit of outside prodding. When asked about her interest in a debate with Gore, Palin balked at getting set up by Gore’s “friends.” If that’s her biggest problem, then she should listen to Ingraham, who is hardly going to be confused with someone from MoveOn.org. The two sides could find a neutral setting like the Oxford Union, which has honestly hosted generations of debates, and head into the debate knowing they were on an equal footing.

In fact, the more I think about this, the more I want it to happen. Look, it’s been a long and lousy year for most folks (unless you happen to work for Goldman Sachs.) Unemployment soared, the Octomom and Jon Gosselin wouldn’t disappear and the Yankees won the World Series. Could it get much worse? (I ask that knowing full well that the Tiger Woods novella is just getting started.)

So as 2010 comes to a close, we deserve a break. A prime time one-on-one showdown - the people deserve this one. Bill it as “The Thrilla From Wasilla” versus “The Tennessee Tornado” - or whatever - and donate the proceeds to charity. But bring it on.