And there it was in Yahoo’s second-quarter earnings call yesterday, when–as the first question–an analyst asked Yahoo CEO Carol Bartz what she thought about Bing, the new and innovative search offering from Microsoft.

“I think actually Bing is a good product,” said Bartz. “I think they’ve done a good job. I think Microsoft should be given kudos for Bing.”

It was a politic thing to say, to be sure, especially with Microsoft (MSFT) and Yahoo (YHOO) still zeroing in on a search and online advertising deal, as has been previously reported by BoomTown.

Sources I have spoken to over the past two days say the deal is still on good footing and could be struck very soon, even as early as tomorrow, although it is still not a certainty–especially given the bumpy history between Yahoo and Microsoft.

Thus, it behooves Bartz not to let loose with one of her patented zingers–and you just know she has several at the ready, in case the deal goes south–right now when the pair of companies that I have described as the Internet’s version of the Lindsay Lohan-Samantha Ronson drama might finally agree to join together in a partnership.

That’s why Bartz did not say, “I personally think we would be better off if we never heard the word ‘Microsoft,’” as she did at an investor conference in June, when asked about a possible search and online advertising deal.

And why she did not say, as she did on Fox Business Network around the same time, about the early kudos for Bing: “One day is one day…it does not a trend make.”

And why Bartz did not say, as she scribbled on a jokey-but-pokey Post-It note to Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer (see photo) that she left in the Green Room of the seventh D: All Things Digital conference:

“Steve,
forget it
won’t help
ha
Carol”

Nope, now is the time for some judicious happy talk from Bartz, who appears to have a lot more self-control than I have ever given her credit for.

She’ll need it, for sure, if she does actually pull off a deal with Microsoft–because that is when the real fireworks will begin between the Silicon Valley Internet giant and the Redmond, Wash., tech behemoth.

Well, I can dream, can’t I?

Or, as the perfect song, “Happy Talk,” from the classic musical, “South Pacific,” goes: “You got to have a dream/If you don’t have a dream/How you gonna have a dream come true?”

And, for those who have missed it (you cretins!), here it is in all its glory, in a video from the lovely movie version:

For Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, he could use some dreaming just about now, rather than the current night sweats he is likely getting from dealing with Yahoo, which has again rejected the software giant’s unsolicited bid to take over the troubled Internet icon.

One source close to the companies told me yesterday that Yahoo (YHOO) has actually been speaking with Microsoft (MSFT) behind the scenes, despite a spate of are-they-or-aren’t-they reports of talks and non-talks.

But, apparently, the most recent whispered words this week are terse and the same: Thanks, but no thanks.

The forecast: a 75% chance of partly-cloudy ugliness and scattered lawsuits.

Kicking Microsoft to the curb once more, who is Yahoo’s newest prospect in what has turned into a really dull version of “The Bachelor”? After unsuccessful canoodling with News Corp., Yahoo is now offering the rose to AOL this week! (My bet for next week: eBay.)

(Is it just me or does this bachelor look an awful lot like Yahoo exec Jeff Weiner?)

BoomTown has written two books about the never-ending traffic accident that has been AOL, since its merger with Time Warner. And, though combining their strong display ad businesses is not the worst of ideas, I cannot imagine a less copacetic pairing that these two companies, which have actually discussed joining together many times over the years.

So what could bring Yahoo back to talks with Microsoft, which has reportedly hired the mergers-and-acquisitions team of the financial advisory firm Deloitte to work out the fine points and paperwork of a possible deal?

“If they made it all cash or bumped up the price just a little bit, I don’t know how the Yahoo board could refuse,” said one source close to the companies. “Right now, they are trying to respect the emotions of [Yahoo CEO and Co-Founder] Jerry Yang, who still does not want to sell, but that just has to have its limits.”

Such sad words. Therefore, please enjoy this “Happy Talk” video below: