Couric--Palin "What newpapers do you read?"

[Frisco]

Not a direct quote, but Palin said she reads them all. Couric asked her to name one and she couldn't!

Too sad. Next interview please ask her what's the last book she read? Who's your favorite author?

[Chundles]

I would be really put out if she didn't read at least the following:

The Illawarra Mercury
The Border Mail
The Wollongong and Northern Leader
The Trading Post

Anything else is really just filler...

[Cursor]

It's actually starting to get painful to watch any of her interviews. This debate on Thursday is going to be a total joke. That is, unless SuperMcCain suspends his campaign again, you know, to deal with the economy. Here is the link:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=xRkWebP2Q0Y

[Macaddicttt]

Holy crap. She couldn't even just say, "New York Times," or, "Washington Post"? Unbelievable.

I love how she explains how Alaska isn't cut off from the media, but can't name a single national newspaper.

[avigalante]

Holy crap. She couldn't even just say, "New York Times," or, "Washington Post"? Unbelievable.

I love how she explains how Alaska isn't cut off from the media, but can't name a single national newspaper.

+1

Incredibly pathetic that she can't even mention a major newspaper/magazine.

[donga]

in the video i love how katie asked the question, then asked for specifics, then just looked down and gave up on the question.

if she pursues it: too aggressive/biased.
if she doesn't: she gave up without getting a real answer.

what a joke

[Peace]

You know people it may very well be McCain has instructed her to be vary evasive until the debate and then she comes out with guns blazing and tries to catch Biden off guard.

She can't be that dumb.

[it5five]

And in traditional Palin fashion, she in no way answered the question and instead rambled until what she was saying made absolutely no sense.

[Thomas Veil]

You know people it may very well be McCain has instructed her to be vary evasive until the debate and then she comes out with guns blazing and tries to catch Biden off guard.

She can't be that dumb.I've been thinking this too. Because the alternative is just to horrible to contemplate.

[Tosser]

Wow, just wow!

Even I – an effing dane! – can name at least a few big american newspapers off-hand.
Does she read nothing but the bible?

[mkrishnan]

It's actually starting to get painful to watch any of her interviews. This debate on Thursday is going to be a total joke. That is, unless SuperMcCain suspends his campaign again, you know, to deal with the economy. Here is the link:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=xRkWebP2Q0Y

Wait, so, erm... is that Sarah Palin, or is that another Tina Fey sketch satirizing Sarah Palin? It's hard to keep track anymore. :o

[freeny]

Wow, just wow!

Even I – an effing dane! – can name at least a few big american newspapers off-hand.
Does she read nothing but the bible?

I'd be willing to bet money she doesn't even read the bible. Most likely skimmed it on Sundays to make it look like she was paying attention.

This is no stunt. She IS that dumb.

WTF happend to my country?.

[Tosser]

I'd be willing to bet money she doesn't even read the bible. Most likely skimmed it on Sundays to make it look like she was paying attention.

This is no stunt. She IS that dumb.

That scares me. Even if I do sit across the Atlantic from her …

[Anuba]

It's actually starting to get painful to watch any of her interviews. This debate on Thursday is going to be a total joke.
Sadly I don't think it will. They've kept her locked up in a basement for a week now and stuffed her chock full of pre-packaged answers. The way this debate is set up, there'll be no room for ad-libbing, so if she can only keep her nerves in check and remember her lines, it will look just like her speech at the RNC where the teleprompters kept her coherent. I'm afraid that all those (including myself) who will be glued to the TV waiting with baited breath for The Mother of All Bloopers and Freudian Slips will be very disappointed and disheartened after the debate. Remember that McCain's crew were able to prop up Dubya and make him look good enough to win not one, but TWO consecutive elections. These people could make Keanu Reeves look like Oscar material if needed. :(

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/10/01/martin.palin/index.html
Time for Palin to put up or shut up
Is Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin running for vice president of the United States or vice president of the student council?

Listening to some political strategists, pundits and radio and TV blowhards, you would think that all she has to do is show up, sign her name on the roll, and she's done enough to satisfy the requirement for president.

Do people really and truly understand that she will be sitting a heartbeat away from the presidency, backing up a 72-year-old guy who has a history of cancer?:D

[Cleverboy]

And in traditional Palin fashion, she in no way answered the question and instead rambled until what she was saying made absolutely no sense.It's supposed to be the mark of a true politician. NEVER answer the question... just redirect it onto grounds where you feel most comfortable. But, good reporters no this tactic, and if they have a follow-up with attempt again. A mark of confidence, for me... is for a politician to give a REAL answer (or at least part of one) before marginalizing the significance of it if they wish. Palin's "confidence" is paper-thin.

~ CB

[rdowns]

$100 bucks says Palin is carrying newspapers under her arm at the next photo op.

[atszyman]

It's supposed to be the mark of a true politician. NEVER answer the question... just redirect it onto grounds where you feel most comfortable. But, good reporters no this tactic, and if they have a follow-up with attempt again. A mark of confidence, for me... is for a politician to give a REAL answer (or at least part of one) before marginalizing the significance of it if they wish. Palin's "confidence" is paper-thin.

~ CB

Of course, had she said any newspaper she would have been nailed for it as well. Had she named a paper viewed as conservative everyone would claim she only gets her news from biased sources, had she named a paper viewed as more liberal everyone would have used that to put more credence into the stories of that paper (not that they're untrue, but it would undermine the conservative mantra of the "liberal" media) best to just say she reads a wide variety and keep the specifics out.

I'd be more interested in which sections of the paper she reads.

[freeny]

Of course, had she said any newspaper she would have been nailed for it as well. Had she named a paper viewed as conservative everyone would claim she only gets her news from biased sources, had she named a paper viewed as more liberal everyone would have used that to put more credence into the stories of that paper (not that they're untrue, but it would undermine the conservative mantra of the "liberal" media) best to just say she reads a wide variety and keep the specifics out.

I'd be more interested in which sections of the paper she reads.
you give her way too much credit.
"I read 'em all" does'nt really sound better.

Sadly I don't think it will. They've kept her locked up in a basement for a week now and stuffed her chock full of pre-packaged answers.

Palin at debate camp-

[atszyman]

you give her way too much credit.
"I read 'em all" does'nt really sound better.

I completely agree.

But had she said any specific papers then it will lend credence to every liberal op-ed in a paper that's perceived as having a liberal bias, and if it were a conservative paper, she'd be accused of only getting her information through biased sources.

Of course I'm not sure what answer would have been best in this scenario. Reading them all is very poor, since you can see it's a lie right from the start, and then not knowing the names of any is only icing on the cake, hell she could have at least said she looks at the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman (http://www.frontiersman.com/).

[Motley]

I completely agree.

But had she said any specific papers then it will lend credence to every liberal op-ed in a paper that's perceived as having a liberal bias, and if it were a conservative paper, she'd be accused of only getting her information through biased sources.


Couldn't she have named a few of each, to signify that she actually gets a well rounded view of the many varied opinions of the people of the country she wants to be VP of? Which I guess she does when she reads "all" of them.

[Peace]

I can tell you one paper she doesn't read.

The Anchorage Daily News (http://www.adn.com/)

[mactastic]

I Am Aware Of All Newspapers.

[Thomas Veil]

in the video i love how katie asked the question, then asked for specifics, then just looked down and gave up on the question.I have by now seen several videos in which a puzzled-looking Katie Couric, listening to Palin's answers, appears to be asking herself, "WTF is wrong with this woman?"

[mkrishnan]

I Am Aware Of All Newspapers.

All Your Newspapers Are Belong To Us?

[Frisco]

I have by now seen several videos in which a puzzled-looking Katie Couric, listening to Palin's answers, appears to be asking herself, "WTF is wrong with this woman?"

Exactly! And I have never seen this look with Katie before. Katie is thinking just like the rest of us are, "this must be a joke."

[dukebound85]

i consider myself a conservative but i cant vote for mccain anymore mostly because of palin


do you think mccain is having doubts on why he picked such a "blonde"?

[leekohler]

This woman is so ridiculously stupid that I can't watch her anymore. I'm skipping the debate tomorrow. I just feel that the more she talks, the more IQ points I lose. I was going to watch for comedic value, but it isn't funny, it's sad.

[dukebound85]

This woman is so ridiculously stupid that I can't watch her anymore. I'm skipping the debate tomorrow. I just feel that the more she talks, the more IQ points I lose. I was going to watch for comedic value, but it isn't funny, it's sad.

haha i want to watch the debate for prime time comedy!

[leekohler]

haha i want to watch the debate for prime time comedy!

Ha! I would, but it's just too hard after the Couric thing. I just can't put myself through it. I have a benefit to attend anyway. That will be a hell of a lot more fun. I'll be spending the debate sipping booze on a penthouse patio overlooking Millennium Park and Lakeshore Drive. Yay!

[savanahrose]

Actually I am looking forward to it. I really want to see how she does. I haven't watched the Katie Couric interview at all. I just don't like K.C.

[Frisco]

Actually I am looking forward to it. I really want to see how she does. I haven't watched the Katie Couric interview at all. I just don't like K.C.

But these interviews weren't about K.C.

[Mike Teezie]

Ha! I would, but it's just too hard after the Couric thing. I just can't put myself through it. I have a benefit to attend anyway. That will be a hell of a lot more fun. I'll be spending the debate sipping booze on a penthouse patio overlooking Millennium Park and Lakeshore Drive. Yay!

I'm happy for you Lee, because our situations are similar, but I'm having a hard time making the right choice you've already made. I'm invited to a posh new gallery opening, where the beautiful people will be. I'll be able to sip wine and flirt with some cute girlies, and maybe even see some good art.

But, a large part of me wants to stay home and watch the events unfold. Obsessed much? :o

[leekohler]

I'm happy for you Lee, because our situations are similar, but I'm having a hard time making the right choice you've already made. I'm invited to a posh new gallery opening, where the beautiful people will be. I'll be able to sip wine and flirt with some cute girlies, and maybe even see some good art.

But, a large part of me wants to stay home and watch the events unfold. Obsessed much? :o

Make the right choice- go to the gallery. ;)

[Abstract]

John McCain, if you become President, please don't die.



Would have been funny if her answer was, "Whichever paper has Calvin & Hobbes."

[Don't panic]

I'm happy for you Lee, because our situations are similar, but I'm having a hard time making the right choice you've already made. I'm invited to a posh new gallery opening, where the beautiful people will be. I'll be able to sip wine and flirt with some cute girlies, and maybe even see some good art.

But, a large part of me wants to stay home and watch the events unfold. Obsessed much? :o

tivo?

[Frisco]

John McCain, if you become President, please don't die.



Would have been funny if her answer was, "Whichever paper has Calvin & Hobbes."

He's already dead and still has a good chance of winning.

[Peace]

This woman is so ridiculously stupid that I can't watch her anymore. I'm skipping the debate tomorrow. I just feel that the more she talks, the more IQ points I lose. I was going to watch for comedic value, but it isn't funny, it's sad.

Lee I can almost guarantee you Palin has been pulling the wool over everybody's eyes the past couple of months. She's purposely shown herself as dumb.
She will go into that debate and surprise the hell out of everybody and most importantly Joe Biden.

I really hope I'm wrong but have this gut feeling.

[Don't panic]

who could have thought that both the new president AND vicepresident could be worse than the current ones?

[dukebound85]

Lee I can almost guarantee you Palin has been pulling the wool over everybody's eyes the past couple of months. She's purposely shown herself as dumb.
She will go into that debate and surprise the hell out of everybody and most importantly Joe Biden.

I really hope I'm wrong but have this gut feeling.

lol what advantage is there at all to being perceived as stupid all this time?

i think you are wrong and that she will be humiliated personally

[Abstract]

She will go into that debate and surprise the hell out of everybody and most importantly Joe Biden.

Our expectations of her are so low right now that if she can tie her own shoes, someone will applaud.

[Don't panic]

Lee I can almost guarantee you Palin has been pulling the wool over everybody's eyes the past couple of months. She's purposely shown herself as dumb.
She will go into that debate and surprise the hell out of everybody and most importantly Joe Biden.

I really hope I'm wrong but have this gut feeling.

peace, at this point i hope you are at least partially right.
i doubt the dems are not prepared though.
have you watched her previous debates? she does well, but it is almost exclusively by weaseling out of the questions with some generic 'charming' BS.
she almost never actually answer a question and i am not sure that's enough for a national debate.
i am convinced she'll do enough to convince those who like her that she is great, but not to change the opinions of those who differ

[Mike Teezie]

tivo?

I have two HDTV's, a PS3, Xbox 360, and an AppleTV - yet no Tivo. I'm hoping to catch it on a rerun, or maybe even Hulu.com if I must.

[abijnk]

I have two HDTV's, a PS3, Xbox 360, and an AppleTV - yet no Tivo. I'm hoping to catch it on a rerun, or maybe even Hulu.com if I must.

CSPAN will post it on YouTube.

[mactastic]

Lee I can almost guarantee you Palin has been pulling the wool over everybody's eyes the past couple of months. She's purposely shown herself as dumb.
She will go into that debate and surprise the hell out of everybody and most importantly Joe Biden.

I really hope I'm wrong but have this gut feeling.
I think you're right about the debate. I don't think that means Palin is any smarter or more informed than we all think she is, but the debate format seems to play to her strengths. She is able to project a folksy every-woman persona when the follow-up ability is limited. If she can stall or deflect for 90 seconds, she'll be ok. She's been rehearsing for this one event for nearly a solid month. She'll be well prepared with focus-group tested sound bites. Unless Ifil strays too far from the topics of the day (and if she does, she'll be accused of "gotcha" moderating) Palin will be well equipped to be adequate.

I don't think she'll surprise Biden though. He's been in the Senate long enough to have seen the tactics she will employ in action. It will be interesting to see how he handles the situation, but I think he realizes that he is up against someone who is not going to wilt or fall apart.

My guess is that Palin will conduct herself much like McCain did in the debate -- condescending, and combative. And because everyone is expecting Palin to bring a moose-load of fail to the debate, she'll be seen as the winner if she can keep her talking points in order. Sadly, I'm afraid that will be all it takes.

[freeny]

Lee I can almost guarantee you Palin has been pulling the wool over everybody's eyes the past couple of months. She's purposely shown herself as dumb.


This was Paris Hiltons excuse and she still hasnt pulled the wool off yet...

[atszyman]

Our expectations of her are so low right now that if she can tie her own shoes, someone will applaud.

Her shoes won't have laces. They don't want to risk her doing the "rabbit around the tree and through the hole" line on a live mic.

This was Paris Hiltons excuse and she still hasnt pulled the wool off yet...

Yes, but for Hilton, she can keep playing the part in perpetuity as long as she sees it benefiting herself socially or financially without much repercussion to the country. Palin on the other hand either has to stop the act tonight, or risk losing the election (or even worse winning...).

[rdowns]

He's already dead and still has a good chance of winning.

If America is stupid enough to elect him, then we're stupid enough for this.

[Thomas Veil]

There's a part of me that says, "Jesus Christ, the woman can't be that stupid. She just can't."

Maybe she's just one of those people who freezes up under stress. Perhaps she could put down a coherent answer on paper, given time to think about it, but can't speak intelligently off-the-cuff.

Of course, it doesn't say anything for her if she gets brain lock every time she's presented with a stressful situation. Yeah, that's really a quality you want in a VP who might be president some day. :rolleyes:

I dunno, I half expect that if she's presented with a tough question, or even an easy one tonight, she might start leaking fluid again. If you know what I mean.

[Anuba]

There's a part of me that says, "Jesus Christ, the woman can't be that stupid. She just can't."

Maybe she's just one of those people who freezes up under stress. Perhaps she could put down a coherent answer on paper, given time to think about it, but can't speak intelligently off-the-cuff.
Yeah, that's exactly what her (and Bush's) problem is. Neither of them are unintelligent per se, but the combination of stress, a camera and no teleprompter makes them behave like they're retarded.

If you look at old interviews and debates with Palin where she's inside her comfort zone (=Alaska), she's a whole different person. She's snappy, coherent and uses terms that has most people reaching for the dictionary ("fungible commodity", "untenable positions", "legislative gridlock" etc).

But she's not in her comfort zone now, and I think she "misunderestimated" (sorry, had to quote Bush) the scrutiny she would be subjected to on the national scene. She probably figured, "hey, everything else I've done so far has been a slam dunk so why couldn't I take on this challenge?". Now she's so fearful of saying something wrong that she ends up doing exactly that: saying the wrong things and looking like a damn fool.

She's probably also one of those people who perform much better in front of a large audience than one-on-one. There are plenty of public figures who are great on stage and look like they have all the self-confidence in the world, but in interviews they appear extremely shy, uncomfortable and insecure. Michael Jackson, Prince, the list goes on... it's as if they have this special 'crowd mode' where something toggles a switch in their heads and they take on an entirely different persona. If this is the issue with Palin on stage vs. Palin w/ Couric, she may hit a home run tonight. Lord help us.

[IJ Reilly]

I don't for minute assume that she is stupid. She has already rolled over quite a few opponents in Alaska who underestimated her political abilities. I think the real problem is that she comes into this race as a lightweight on the issues and to compensate has been crammed with information and talking points by her handlers. It's probably too steep a learning curve for nearly anyone to handle under the intense pressure of a presidential campaign. I suspect that if she'd had several months (or even weeks) to prepare that she'd be able to weave enough factual information in with her trademark folksiness to sound at least credible, and would be a formidable candidate. But for the time being, it's painfully evident that she is in way over her head.

[Anuba]

I don't for minute assume that she is stupid. She has already rolled over quite a few opponents in Alaska who underestimated her political abilities. I think the real problem is that she comes into this race as a lightweight on the issues and to compensate has been crammed with information and talking points by her handlers. It's probably too steep a learning curve for nearly anyone to handle under the intense pressure of a presidential campaign. I suspect that if she'd had several months (or even weeks) to prepare that she'd be able to weave enough factual information in with her trademark folksiness to sound at least credible, and would be a formidable candidate. But for the time being, it's painfully evident that she is in way over her head.
Sure, she may have potential of being a competent VP someday, her frightening views aside. But when there are probably 2,000 republican representatives who could've taken on this job without needing a crash course, why pick the rookie? I don't get it. If it had to be A) a woman, B) a fairly good-looking woman, C) an extreme conservative with values to the right of Attila the Hun, they could've gone for Michele Bachmann who can at least hold her own in an interview. It would seem that the main selling point they went for is Palin's "narrative", they hoped that the whole hockey-mom-with-5-kids story would sell McCain to gullible idiots who think this is a soap opera.

[IJ Reilly]

Sure, she may have potential of being a competent VP someday, her frightening views aside. But when there are probably 2,000 republican representatives who could've taken on this job without needing a crash course, why pick the rookie? I don't get it. If it had to be A) a woman, B) a fairly good-looking woman, C) an extreme conservative with values to the right of Attila the Hun, they could've gone for Michele Bachmann who can at least hold her own in an interview. It would seem that the main selling point they went for is Palin's "narrative", they hoped that the whole hockey-mom-with-5-kids story would sell McCain to gullible idiots who think this is a soap opera.

I'm making only a tactical political point about Palin. I find her views frightening, and I think she's clearly out of her depth, but I think it would be a big mistake to assume that she's stupid or not politically savvy. Sure, McCain picked her both on the strength of her personal story, which has some general appeal, and her views, which have the right wing of the party dancing in the streets. On paper it must have looked like an inspired choice, and for the first couple of weeks it seemed to be working. They could even manage to dig her out of the hole she's dug for herself, but I don't think there's time, unless Biden helps them tonight by coming off as supercilious, which is a bad habit of his.

[iShater]

All politicians have made it to where they are at because they are savvy. What is scary is that they will be in a position to make stupid decisions on a grand scale vs. campaign level.

[savanahrose]

But these interviews weren't about K.C.


Yes I know they weren't she was the one who did the interview and I have heard some of what was said and they way Katie Couric handled it.

[TheQuestion]

I don't for minute assume that she is stupid. She has already rolled over quite a few opponents in Alaska who underestimated her political abilities. I think the real problem is that she comes into this race as a lightweight on the issues and to compensate has been crammed with information and talking points by her handlers. It's probably too steep a learning curve for nearly anyone to handle under the intense pressure of a presidential campaign. I suspect that if she'd had several months (or even weeks) to prepare that she'd be able to weave enough factual information in with her trademark folksiness to sound at least credible, and would be a formidable candidate. But for the time being, it's painfully evident that she is in way over her head.

True, but despite her rosy crusader image during the AK 2006 gubernatorial election, some of skeptics said the same thing - in way over her head. yet, she turned on the folksy charm in the debates between her, former gov. Tony Knowles and businessman Andrew Halcro (the latter two way more qualified than she was). When she was attacked, she cried "victim", when she couldn't respond with evidence she uttered cliches and platitudes, when she had no clue what she was talking about she changed the subject. Knowles and Halcro came across as mean-spirited and negative. All Sarah has to do is let Biden talk himself into a corner (which he good at) and at worst, it'll be a draw.

[IJ Reilly]

Well right. There's something of a George Bush quality to Sarah Palin. Not very knowledgeable on the issues or very articulate, but with a likable quality that appeals to many people. Those who don't get the likability factor may wonder out loud how they got where they are in politics -- but that's precisely the sort of tactical mistake that allows them to be outflanked. I think Biden has the choice of directly attacking Palin's likability or pretty much totally ignoring her and making a case for the ticket. The former approach has a potentially big payoff, but is extremely dangerous to attempt so close to the election with your team ahead.

[TheQuestion]

Well right. There's something of a George Bush quality to Sarah Palin. Not very knowledgeable on the issues or very articulate, but with a likable quality that appeals to many people. Those who don't get the likability factor may wonder out loud how they got where they are in politics -- but that's precisely the sort of tactical mistake that allows them to be outflanked. I think Biden has the choice of directly attacking Palin's likability or pretty much totally ignoring her and making a case for the ticket. The former approach has a potentially big payoff, but is extremely dangerous to attempt so close to the election with your team ahead.

I am sure the liberal base would love it, and Knowles and Halcro thought the same thing in 2006. Didn't work out so well for them. It only galvanized the right. Biden should be respectful and stick to the issues and support for the ticket.

[Anuba]

I just saw on time.com that a poll shows Palin is less popular with women (45% favorable) than with men (52%).

It appears that the "gun-toting MILF" factor is working but the hockey mom factor backfired.

Guess I'm in the 48% who aren't sold on the MILF thing. That shrill voice is a huge turnoff, she sounds like that dumb wife who was kidnapped in the movie Fargo. "Daed? Are you steaying for suppur?"

[IJ Reilly]

I am sure the liberal base would love it, and Knowles and Halcro thought the same thing in 2006. Didn't work out so well for them. It only galvanized the right. Biden should be respectful and stick to the issues and support for the ticket.

Exactly, I agree, and I suspect this is the agreed-upon approach by the campaign. But Biden has a major running mouth issue. We'll seen if he can restrain himself tonight.

[Anuba]

OK, after the VP debate I think we can rule out the possibility that Palin is mentally handicapped, contrary to what the Couric interviews suggested. And she was never this dumb before the Couric interviews.

I'm starting to think that intelligent women are to Palin like Kryptonite to Superman. She's used to this old boy's world where she can use her winking and flirting as leverage to get what she wants. Drooling old men are very easy to persuade. She's their Kryptonite.

But none of that works on Couric. Palin can't use any of her superpowers; the folksiness won't work, the winking doesn't bite, she's got nothing.

[freeny]

OK, after the VP debate I think we can rule out the possibility that Palin is mentally handicapped, contrary to what the Couric interviews suggested. And she was never this dumb before the Couric interviews.

I'm starting to think that intelligent women are to Palin like Kryptonite to Superman. She's used to this old boy's world where she can use her winking and flirting as leverage to get what she wants. Drooling old men are very easy to persuade. She's their Kryptonite.

But none of that works on Couric. Palin can't use any of her superpowers; the folksiness won't work, the winking doesn't bite, she's got nothing.

$20 says Palin wont do another interview til after the election... :rolleyes:

[Anuba]

$20 says Palin wont do another interview til after the election... :rolleyes:
It's gonna be tricky... first the McCain people were worried about the debate, now they're bummed out that there won't be any more of them because it's the one context where she can perform well. The problem is that the effect of her debate performance will fade, just like her acceptance speech. Meanwhile, there will be more Couric interview segments, there will still be SNL skits, and stuff like that will keep trickling out over the next 30 days. The VP debate just wasn't enough to stop the bandwagon. SNL, John Stewart, Rachel Maddow and all those people aren't gonna stop calling her stupid just because she spoke coherently last night. Heck, people are still making fat jokes about Clinton even though he lost the excess fat ages ago.

So, eventually they'll have to cave in and let her do more interviews to improve her image, at the risk of making her look worse again.

[freeny]

It's gonna be tricky... first the McCain people were worried about the debate, now they're bummed out that there won't be any more of them because it's the one context where she can perform well. The problem is that the effect of her debate performance will fade, just like her acceptance speech. Meanwhile, there will be more Couric interview segments, there will still be SNL skits, and stuff like that will keep trickling out over the next 30 days. The VP debate just wasn't enough to stop the bandwagon. SNL, John Stewart, Rachel Maddow and all those people aren't gonna stop calling her stupid just because she spoke coherently last night. Heck, people are still making fat jokes about Clinton even though he lost the excess fat ages ago.

So, eventually they'll have to cave in and let her do more interviews to improve her image, at the risk of making her look worse again.

Good points, but im gonna stick to my wager...

BTW, there are MORE Couric clips? ones we havent seen yet?...

[bobber205]

Good points, but im gonna stick to my wager...

BTW, there are MORE Couric clips? ones we havent seen yet?...

I was under the impression part 4 of 4 is coming soon...

[Anuba]

I was under the impression part 4 of 4 is coming soon...
I hope she saved the best for last.

BTW, don't Palin and Couric have things in common? If I'm not mistaken, CBS was heavily criticized for promoting her to the anchor chair, arguing that Couric lacked the creds and experience in hard journalism compared to her predecessors Cronkite and Rather. Ring a bell?

[rdowns]

Maybe a little in common. I wouldn't equate VP of the US with an anchor at a major network.

[mactastic]

OK, after the VP debate I think we can rule out the possibility that Palin is mentally handicapped, contrary to what the Couric interviews suggested. And she was never this dumb before the Couric interviews.
There were no serious follow-ups allowed at last night's debate - by design. That puts Palin on much firmer territory than when she an interviewer is able to pin her down. If Ifil had asked her to provide an example of something other than Fannie and Freddy where McCain had bucked his party, she would have been able to deflect, redirect, and answer some other question; and neither Biden nor Ifil would have been able to do anything about it. But when you allow Couric to press her repeatedly on the issue, you find that she's got nothing beyond the talking point.

See the difference?

And it's not that Palin is dumb -- at least I don't think she is. She's just incurious, has never had to form opinions about things outside the Alaskan frame of reference.

$20 says Palin wont do another interview til after the election... :rolleyes:
Oh she will. She'll sit down with folks like Hugh Hewitt, Laura Ingraham, maybe BillO, Hannity, possibly even Limbaugh. And they'll ask her such tough questions as "Is Barack Obama merely dangerous, or the worst thing since Hitler?" and "Can you tell us exactly just how awesome John McCain is?".

Oh she'll do interviews. But only with friendlies.

[freeny]

Well right. There's something of a George Bush quality to Sarah Palin. Not very knowledgeable on the issues or very articulate, but with a likable quality that appeals to many people.

Back when I was in High School we had a student who was not quite considered "retarded" but scientifically close. He was VERY likable and quite popular. I assure you this was not due to pity, but his down to earth charm and simplicity....

certainly someone I would enjoy having a beer with.

[solvs]

certainly someone I would enjoy having a beer with.
I'm tired of us electing people we'd have a beer with. I wouldn't want to elect the people I have beers with. I definitely don't want to elect anyone the people who tend to vote for people like her like having beers with. Sure, cry elitism if you will. Because the half black, raised by a poor single Mother, smart guy who just paid off his student loans, owns 1 car, and 1 house is the elitist, while the guy who grew up privileged, and (re)married rich who's wife's outfit at the last convention cost more than most of us make in a year isn't somehow. And the dumb girl (yes, I'm calling her dumb at this point... not incurious, and I know she can memorize and play the down home girl, comeon, still dumb) is somehow folksy because she's "just like us". Well that's great. She isn't, but even if she was, how is she going to fix the very real problems were dealing with right now?

Hopefully more people are seeing this. I know she didn't totally screw up the debates. But she didn't win anyone over with her fake charms and talking points. She shored up the base. Good for them. The rest of us want some substance, and she ain't it.