Couric is the one who introduced the term 'Great Depression'! Palin repeated it only to disagree and give a milder reply. Then Couric went to McCain and presented it as Palin's term! This is dishonest and unfair!

See h t t p : / / newscred.com/article/show/title/couric-scolds-palin-for-great-depression-scare-which-couric-raised-48dae35c6b182

Also, spotlighting Palin's unfamiliarity with McCain's record is unfair. Has Couric asked Obama such questions about his OWN record?

I always liked McCain before he started running for president. However, the way his organization has stumbled around really makes me wonder how badly they'd do the same if her were elected. However, the way things are going, we might never know.

I did not watch because Couric is someone who put me to sleep get someone like Rosie or Whoopi or Sean Hannity and I would love to see Palin. But, Couric is so plain and boring

I did not watch because Couric is someone who put me to sleep get someone like Rosie or Whoopi or Sean Hannity and I would love to see Palin. But, Couric is so plain and boring

Well, you clearly showed your political bias, but here's 3 Simple Points You Missed...
#1: MSNBC & Olbermann are DEAD LAST in the ratings, almost 10X less than FOX News!
#2: Katie Couric is DEAD LAST in ratings for CBS.
#3: Even Letterman doesn't win his time slot.
If a tree falls in the woods...

Hi, actually you are wrong about MSNBC. As much as it pains me to admit it, Olbermann and MSNBC are soaring in the ratings -- even newcomer ideologue Rachel Maddow is an instant ratings hit. It pains me because I think our country is much better off with the kind of straight, fact-based journalism you get from the NewsHour with Jim Lehrer on PBS or most of CNN. But unlike ideologues, I accept and value facts, and these are the facts -- and you are wrong. Check Olbermann's ratings. He and Maddow are killing CNN. As for a tree falling in the woods, my friend, when a last place MSM network shows finishes last, its audience is still measured in millions of ears hearing it fall. Letterman is still making lots of money for CBS and has a huge audience. You do not even have to open the window or put your ear to the TV screen, to hear the buzz over what he said last night. Thanks. Z

McCain and Palin...dumb and dumber.

Thank you for highlighting the phony, grandstanding, lone-ranger-riding to-the-rescue gesture of John McCain, the can't-get-past-slogans shallowness of Sarah Palin, and the great job that Couric and Letterman did in showing that the emperors of the Republican party have no clothes.

I think what Letterman did last night and the skill with which he did it -- first saying how much he admired McCain as a hero for his war refcord -- and then ridiculing his unilateral decsision to suspend his campaign, will be devastating to the McCain. The decision might be open to debate, but the contradiction of saying he had to "rsuh" to washington because the economy is "cratering," then to be seen doing other interviews in Mahattan makes him look phony or foolish. McCain's handlers made a huge mistake telling him it would be all right to diss David Letterman. But it also shows what a tin ear -- or utter lack of knowledge -- McCain and his handlers have for the popular culture of the "real Americans" they are always proclaiming to be speaking for. Thanks for your comment, Mary. Z

Does anyone know when Big Love will be returning for a new season?

Hi Camicola, I promise an answer by the end of the day right here. Posted in Italics. Please check back later and I will have it. Z

’m more than a little disappointed by Letterman's behavior. Suprise, it turns out he and Couric are both Political hacks of Obama's.

Katie just shows she is as word twisting as the best of them. Hardly what I would call an unbiased interview. It is obvious why people still dont like her.

I thought journalists were supposed to be unbiased and objective? Couric seems to think McCain has been in Washington too long. Perhaps Couric has been in the news "business" too long! Her lack of ojectivity and political bias were blatantly obvious!

I thought journalists were supposed to be unbiased and objective? Couric seems to think McCain has been in Washington too long. Perhaphs Couric has been in the news "business" too long! Her lack of ojectivity and political bias were blatantly obvious!

Obviously David, you like Couric and Letterman, are a liberal far left wing knuckleheads just like the greedy folks that got us into this mess in the first place.

All of this started when Bill Clinton was President and telling Freddie Mac and Fannie May to loosen the purse strings becuase it was politically correct to include low income people in "The American Dream" of home ownership. Which is the exact reason greed started in the home builders and lending business to fill all of the new over blown, overextended borrowing crazed people who could not afford what they were buying. Then once they had them locked into a mortgage they couldn't afford they packaged it off to investment bankers. And now the whole deck of cards is crashing down. John McCain warned of this months and months ago and the Democratic controlled Congress kept the grid lock in place. The worse they could make America look leading up to the election the better their chances were in the election they thought. To hell with the Country they thought. Greedily they planned for more power. They must have it! Well this too will be back to bight them in the @ss. McCain will win in 2008.

If we do nothing Couric and you do not realize how bad it could get. Many many businesses will fail if we do nothing. So Sarah Palin is seeing this with realistic eyes if we do nothing. Wake up America! Barak Obama's closest advisor left from being the head of Freddie Mac with 90 million dollars lining his pockets!!! Now they want the White House! McCain 2008!

Obama and Biden...dumb and dumber

Obviously David, you like Couric and Letterman, are a liberal far left wing knuckleheads just like the greedy folks that got us into this mess in the first place.

All of this started when Bill Clinton was President and telling Freddie Mac and Fannie May to loosen the purse strings becuase it was politically correct to include low income people in "The American Dream" of home ownership. Which is the exact reason greed started in the home builders and lending business to fill all of the new over blown, overextended borrowing crazed people who could not afford what they were buying. Then once they had them locked into a mortgage they couldn't afford they packaged it off to investment bankers. And now the whole deck of cards is crashing down. John McCain warned of this months and months ago and the Democratic controlled Congress kept the grid lock in place. The worse they could make America look leading up to the election the better their chances were in the election they thought. To hell with the Country they thought. Greedily they planned for more power. They must have it! Well this too will be back to bight them in the @ss. McCain will win in 2008.

If we do nothing Couric and you do not realize how bad it could get. Many many businesses will fail if we do nothing. So Sarah Palin is seeing this with realistic eyes if we do nothing. Wake up America! Barak Obama's closest advisor left from being the head of Freddie Mac with 90 million dollars lining his pockets!!! Now they want the White House! McCain 2008!

Obviously David, you like Couric and Letterman, are a liberal far left wing knuckleheads just like the greedy folks that got us into this mess in the first place.

All of this started when Bill Clinton was President and telling Freddie Mac and Fannie May to loosen the purse strings becuase it was politically correct to include low income people in "The American Dream" of home ownership. Which is the exact reason greed started in the home builders and lending business to fill all of the new over blown, overextended borrowing crazed people who could not afford what they were buying. Then once they had them locked into a mortgage they couldn't afford they packaged it off to investment bankers. And now the whole deck of cards is crashing down. John McCain warned of this months and months ago and the Democratic controlled Congress kept the grid lock in place. The worse they could make America look leading up to the election the better their chances were in the election they thought. To hell with the Country they thought. Greedily they planned for more power. They must have it! Well this too will be back to bight them in the @ss. McCain will win in 2008.

If we do nothing Couric and you do not realize how bad it could get. Many many businesses will fail if we do nothing. So Sarah Palin is seeing this with realistic eyes if we do nothing. Wake up America! Barak Obama's closest advisor left from being the head of Freddie Mac with 90 million dollars lining his pockets!!! Now they want the White House! McCain 2008!

Obama and Biden...dumb and dumber

Thank God,
It's about time, my god Palin looked and sounded like a mindless face women , and McCain was thinking, "What have I done", when Katie was asking him about Palins Depression answers. These two did more damage in one night too them selves than any Obama attack adds could have every done.

Hello, that is much the way I saw it. I think even some traditional campaign political reporters and commentators won't realize the damage done because it didn't happen in a debate or press conference. But, like you, I believe this is worse -- tens of millions of Americans watching in their homes. Thanks. Z

Thank God,
It's about time, my god Palin looked and sounded like a mindless face women , and McCain was thinking, "What have I done", when Katie was asking him about Palins Depression answers. These two did more damage in one night too them selves than any Obama attack adds could have every done.

Nobody is fooled by this stall tactic of McCain. More than likely neither he nor Palin have been "prepped" enough to sufficiently hold their own in the debates, so he uses the state of the economy as a smoke screen.

I wouldnt be surprised if he puts out an ad extoling the fact that he tried to put policitics aside to focus on the economy and that qualifies him as the better leader. I'm with Letterman...something about this stinks!

It was unusual and abrupt, and had more than a few news executives last night wondering about McCain's judgment. Letterman's constant refrain last night: "You don't just susepnd your campaign." And I think it was devastating. It became a litany and punchline of ridicule. And then, Letterman really turned the knife when he followed it by asking if McCain would just suspend the presidency one day if he were president, and then said, oh wait, we already have a president like that. All the rhetoric and ads trying to tie McCain to Bush are nothing compared to the impact of a clever punchline like that on a network show. Thanks. Z

Surprise, another post about how much better and smarter you are than Senator McCain and Governor Palin.

How much is the Obama campaign paying you anyway?

In the interest of 'balanced' coverage, I'd like to see Couric interview Obama and press him for some answers on his relationship with Bill Ayers, Tony Rezko, Jeremiah Wright and Larry Sinclair. She might also ask him to explain Black Liberation Theology and how Saul Alinksky's book influenced him.

Oh, no, that might not be a good idea. It might actually expose viewers to the truth about The One.

Amazing that Obama continues to get a free ride from the blatantly balanced MSM yet the same MSM goes ballistic because Sarah Palin has words put in her mouth by Katie Couric.

By the way, there's a word for what John McCain did by suggesting both candidates suspend their campaigns and focus on the proposed bailout plan. It's called leadership. By suggesting the campaigns and debate go on, Obama once again shows that it's about him, The One, first and the Country a distant second.

For the first time in a LONG time, we the people...would like to give thanks to the media. Rather than opinionating, the press is REPORTING. KEEP GIVING US FACTS KATIE COURIC!! And Dave Letterman, thank you for making us laugh at an absolutely disgusting situation with McCain/Palin clown show. WAKE UP AMERICA!!!!! Vote for Obama

Ok, Diane, this is what I am saying about news people doing their job as journalists. That is what Couric did. As I was driving home from the office last night, I thought of what a great job she did with her homework. She was reesarched to the gills, while Palin again looked like the student who hadn't cracked a book. Couric really did come through as an interviewer, and it was mainly hard work (preparation), intense focus and smarts. Good for her. Good for the media. Good for democracy. I mean it. Z

Letterman needs to get his head out of his behind. How egotistical is he, to be berating McCain for missing his show because ... oh yeah, he's going to Washington to do his job, to serve the American people. Wise up, Dave.

David, you have proven yourself to be nothing more than a partisan hack in every article you've written. How do you live with yourself, calling yourself a "reporter"?

Ummmm...excuse me, but asking tough questions of a person running for office, and holding them accountable for their actions and words, is NOT being biased or unfair. In FACT, it is called being a journalist. I'm pleased Couric wants to be a journalist and not just a "repeater." Kudos to her and please keep it up - ask Obama the same tough questions, that's just fine with me. When Keith Olbermann plays the words and video of a person running for office and talks about it, it's called shedding light on the subject. When Rush Limbaugh talks - he doesn't bother with the truth. I'm so tired of the right whining all the time that Palin won't speak to the press because they treat her so badly! Bullcrap! Does she expect softballs thrown at her like Charlie Gibson did, with time in between takes to review her notes? Poor baby, that's her job - to speak to the people, through the press. The press is supposed to be the watchdog, not the lapdog!!

By the way, there's a word for what John McCain did by suggesting both candidates suspend their campaigns and focus on the proposed bailout plan. It's called leadership. By suggesting the campaigns and debate go on, Obama once again shows that it's about him, The One, first and the Country a distant second.

__________________________________

It is called not being able to do two things at once, not leadership. Leadership would be going out there and letting the American people know what your presidency will do for the country. All McCain is doing is adding presidential politics to an issue of congress. He has not been a voting member of the senate since April, why start now?

Actually Barack Obama did go on FOX news and face one of the most biased news organizations and most biased "news" person in Bill O'reilly and even O'reilly had to admit that Barack answered all his questions and was tough. Of course he didn't agree with Barack but he did admit a grudging respect for Obama.
So stop bashing more liberal news people for doing the same to McCain/Palin and then whine when they get flustered and can't answer questions intelligently.

Great Article, thank you for bringing this to light. McCain & Palin are no more than a side show with plenty of smoke and mirrors.

Thank you for actually REPORTING on the fine job that two of your media counter-parts did today. I hope the Sun will allow it's editorial staff to do more reporting, just like this in the future.

Where is the report on the great Senator from Delaware and Democratic VP nominee telling Couric that at the start of the Great Depression in 1929 FRD, who was not President at the time, went on TV (no TV in 1929) to reassure the folks?

It looks like the Sun and staff are just as big a hack for Obama as Letterman and MSNBC. No wonder your circulation is in the dumpster.

Politics aside, this is why Letterman is great at what he does.

Jay Leno wouldn't have the guts to go after a presidential candidate the way Letterman did. Leno's too worried about offending one segment of this key demo, while Letterman continues to push boundaries with his wit and comedy. He used to make fun of the suits at NBC (which probably cost him the Tonight Show gig), but at least he kept a clear conscience.

You will get for what you wish. Obama and the dems in control of a collapsing economy. Obama is right they don't need him in Washington, he doesn't know what to do.

Question: Is Rachel Maddow a cross dresser? Just wondering

It's amusing to see all of the GOP lackeys pull out the same tired old lines: "It's media bias!"

It's not bias to actually expect someone to answer a question in a straightforward way. It's also not bias to expect a VP candidate who claims that her running-mate is a "maverick" to actually know her running mate's record - to at least be able to point out ONE example of him pushing for more regulation.

McCain wanted to gamble by picking an inexperienced, unknowledgeable nobody for his running mate then this is the price he pays. I don't want to have the country pay for those kinds of gambles should he win the presidency.

This answers the question about the Letterman/Couric link - tape of McCain getting ready for thr Couric interview

"All of this started when Bill Clinton was President and telling Freddie Mac and Fannie May to loosen the purse strings becuase it was politically correct to include low income people in "The American Dream" of home ownership. Which is the exact reason greed started in the home builders and lending business to fill all of the new over blown, overextended borrowing crazed people who could not afford what they were buying. Then once they had them locked into a mortgage they couldn't afford they packaged it off to investment bankers."

I've heard this same simplistic and half true slam against renters who want the American dream of home ownership, and then blaming Bill Clinton from guys like Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, and other talk radio demagogues.

Unfortunately this tale is missing over half the alphabet.

Conveniently left out of this story is home equity loans, credit cards, and car loans. Left out of the tale is rent-to-own scams by investors who prey on people, deliberately targeting less sophisticated folks and folks with damaged credit.

To listen to the quoted garbage above this whole crisis is from Bill Clinton and the liberals, or the left, those hateful people out to do in America.

What happened is folks bet on the housing market staying hot and on prices continuing to rise. They bet wrong. People used the paper equity in their homes for all sorts of things, and when the values went down, so did their ability to easily get out. We had a savings and loan crisis under Reagan. It may be that the failures then were due to a crisis in consumer confidence from folks seeing in a crystal ball that Bill Clinton will one day become the president.

So people who had no right to own homes made everyone else down the line become greedy or make poor decisions. Spare me.

To begin, I should identify myself as an unaffiliated outsider (from Australia). Having just seen Ms Palin's interview, I must say I'm astounded that the American people are considering her for the role of Vice President. Her speeches at the convention indicated that she was a gifted communicator, and the fact that Mr McCain's selected her suggested that she was an intelligent woman. Neither faculty was in evidence in the Couric interview. One can only hope, for the sake of the wider world, that this performance was an aberration.

McCain/Palin supporters need to wake up and see that their team is not ready for the White House. You can cry about media bias all you want, but I think yesterday's TV appearances (or lack thereof) speak for themselves.

Not to quibble, but Palin didn't say "I'll bring them to you" she said "I'll bring 'em to ya." I've never thought that experience alone is all you need to be pres., and I think a lot of governors could be VP (Ed Rendell for one). But Palin seems pretty backwater and insulated from the world at large.

I am really frightened to imagine her as Pres. And why are they hiding her if they think she's so great? The way the McCain camp has been treating the press and only sending out a prepackaged message, seems downright socialist to me.

You said: Ok, Diane, this is what I am saying about news people doing their job as journalists. That is what Couric did. As I was driving home from the office last night, I thought of what a great job she did with her homework. She was reesarched to the gills, while Palin again looked like the student who hadn't cracked a book. Couric really did come through as an interviewer, and it was mainly hard work (preparation), intense focus and smarts. Good for her. Good for the media. Good for democracy. I mean it. Z

Don't you really mean to say "Good for Obama"?

I can't believe you actually get paid to write this. Does Obama Himself sign your checks?

BTW, in my previous post I obviously meant to say "biased MSM". Your comments above sure prove it. Couric may have done her "homework" on Palin, but where is the homework on Obama? Please answer THAT!

You said: "Ok, Diane, this is what I am saying about news people doing their job as journalists. That is what Couric did. As I was driving home from the office last night, I thought of what a great job she did with her homework. She was reesarched to the gills, while Palin again looked like the student who hadn't cracked a book. Couric really did come through as an interviewer, and it was mainly hard work (preparation), intense focus and smarts. Good for her. Good for the media. Good for democracy. I mean it. Z"

Don't you really mean to say "Good for Obama"?

I can't believe you actually get paid to write this. Does Obama Himself sign your checks?

BTW, in my previous post I obviously meant to say "biased MSM". Your comments above sure prove it. Couric may have done her "homework" on Palin, but where is the homework on Obama? Please answer THAT!

Z,

It's ok for you to write about tv. Nice, safe and cute, but when you start acting like you know what you are talking about, that is scary. Here are the latest cable tv ratings:

Category | Cable NewsRSS feed for this sectionCable News Ratings for Tuesday, September 23
Posted on 24 September 2008 by Robert Seidman

Live + Same Day Cable News Daily Ratings for September 23 2008

P2+ Total Day
FNC – 1,374,000 viewers
CNN –776,000 viewers
MSNBC – 521,000 viewers
CNBC – 296,000 viewers
HLN – 359,000 viewers

P2+ Prime Time
FNC – 2,951,000 viewers
CNN –1,461,000 viewers
MSNBC-1,209,000 viewers
CNBC –a scratch w/123,000 viewers
HLN – 805,000 viewers

Easy to get, so where did you do your research? MSNBC killing CNN? Hmmmm. Guess you, Olbermann and Maddow drink the same vintage of kool-aid. Hey, how about those Fox guys still sticking it to MSNBC? lololo Glad to see the Sun thinks your stuff is good. Hey, how about you do some research on their ratings (circulation)? Bet you will find they too are at the bottom of the tank.

Mark

The idea that John McCain is going to swoop into Washington and save our economy is laughable. As a devout deregulator he is responsible for this mess and unfortunately he lacks the intellectual capacity to clean it up.

How about we let the genius economists do their job John? Why don't you go take a nap and prepare for the debate? You know the one where you show you are superior to Obama in foreign policy?

I suspect you can easily prove this through your proven track record of confusing Shiites and Sunnis, talking about the fine nation of Czechoslovakia, regularly insisting Iran funds al-Qaeda, and not knowing the difference between Sudan and Somalia?

So go ahead John and let your genius and leadership shine! Debate!

Why not substitute Sarah Palin in the debate with Senator Obama, that way we can see if she really is ready and has as much or more experience than Senator OBama.
Why not give her the chance to show her brilliance?

Mr. Allison: If you don't see the difference between April and now, then you are clearly blinded by your partanship. I don't know if McCain is the best choice but I am impressed that he will lay aside partanship to serve his country. It's certainly rare and refreshing. Can't we at least agree on that??

Man, dave letterman was right on. Such commons sense. He is right....if McCain has to do something, why can't the great Sarah step in and run the show. I think we all know the answer to that.

Watch the youtube video...it is great

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjkCrfylq-E

This morning on Morning Joe, Scarborough, mort Zuckerman, et al. were outraged that CBS would air the live footage of McCain getting makeup applied prior to the Couric interview...Do they really think THAT was the outrageous thing about this whole thing, or are they trying desperately to defend themselves from claims of being "in the tank" for Obama??

Hell hath no fury like a Letterman scorned...ask GE, Crispin Glover and John Michael Higgins.

"It is called not being able to do two things at once, not leadership. Leadership would be going out there and letting the American people know what your presidency will do for the country. All McCain is doing is adding presidential politics to an issue of congress. He has not been a voting member of the senate since April, why start now?"

No, sorry, it's about putting off a lame debate in the interest of try to get something done that affects the entire country. You mean to tell me that The One thinks a debate is more important than the bailout legislation? Do you?

We already know what BHO will do for the Country. He'll "change" it. What will he "change" it to? Well, we don't know those details, do we? But we do know it's "change we can BELIEVE in....er....actually, no...now it's change we NEED....er...."

You really should do some research on your beloved candidate. Start with Bill Ayers, who thinks our government is "evil" and "racist." He also thinks it's ok to bomb public buildings.

Then look into Black Liberation Theology. Here's a primer: God says we can kill white people because of the color of their skin. What would Martin Luther King think of that?

This is where Barry H. Obama comes from.

Cheers, and have a good Socialist day.

You've made an error in one of Palin's statements. The correct quote to Katie from Palin is, “I'll try to find you some, and I'll bring 'em to you.”

Although it should be "...bring them..." as you wrote in your piece, that's not what she said. Candidate's remarks should not be edited for correction.

Hi Amy, Wiithout going back to the tape, I do believe you are correct. And I appreciate the correction. I will try to get back to this later today, and discuss this a bit more at length. Because the whole issue of how we hear certain people speak and whose language the press does or does not try ot improve is an illuminating one. Anyway thanks. And I do think the larger point stands: She didn't have the answer when pressed by the interviewer who had done her homework.Z

Journalism is definitely dead. These interviewers should ask straight forward questions, not trick questions. Regardless of who the VP is, should they have to take over the presidency, they are provided with a wide variety of experts and close advisors to help with any decisions that must be made. This 20/20 hindsight exhibited by the far left is amazing. No documentation, no job, no income verification, no credit report loans to the poor is a democratic decision which created this current financial crisis. How is your 20/20 hindsight now? This is reality, not a interview with trick questions being put forth by a news anchor failing in her job. Katie could apply for a position on SNL, I guess.

Journalism is definitely dead. These interviewers should ask straight forward questions, not trick questions. Regardless of who the VP is, should they have to take over the presidency, they are provided with a wide variety of experts and close advisors to help with any decisions that must be made. This 20/20 hindsight exhibited by the far left is amazing. No documentation, no job, no income verification, no credit report loans to the poor is a democratic decision which created this current financial crisis. How is your 20/20 hindsight now? This is reality, not a interview with trick questions being put forth by a news anchor failing in her job. Katie could apply for a position on SNL, I guess.

Where is the outrage on how Palin is not qualified to be VP? For the past 18 months Obama has been picked apart from A to Z. Why is Palin so off limits? She is a woman, but not the right woman for the job. How is it that Obama is demanded to prove his knowledge and qualifications but Palin can be hidden away from the media and that's just fine. We all know what comes between Palin and Obama. And it sure ain't lipstick. Americans will except no experience if it comes in the right shade of lipstick, if you know what I mean.

I did not watch because Couric is someone who put me to sleep get someone like Rosie or Whoopi or Sean Hannity and I would love to see Palin. But, Couric is so plain and boring

That's right, she's some wonderful exotic elusive creature. You know she's fantastic because that's the image of her you keep, like a picture in a locket. Actually seeing her in action would destroy this beautiful illusion of yours, so you dare not let the dream be sullied by reality.

Palin is a joke. Seriously. Wake up.

I want a president who will put politics on hold to tend to a country in crisis. Not a president that says, "call me if you need me" as he hangs out at the Biltmore in Florida!

What a stunt gone bad! Sarah Palin is a brainless twit. A disgrace to women who before her were educated enough to know what the VP position entailed. Talk about putting themselves first, Palin is the poster child for that add. McCain, tactics like that usually backfire. Once your POW story was heard 100 X you had nothing else to stand on. You deserted the actual people who voted you in for the nomination. You had initially presented yourself as a middle ground man. Your new stands is so far right that you stand for nothing you began with. Shame on you for playing games. Checkmate.

I am often baffled at the ridiculous things that are said admist this campaign by persons who are otherwise very bright. Is the choice really: 1) care about/handle the crisis or 2) campaign? It defies basic common sense to think that a candidate cannot do both/manage both tasks effectively. Further, if a candidate is unable to do so, it begs the question of whether the candidate is fit to be President. Actually, I would rather believe this is a campaign ploy than to think that the next potential President of the US cannot manage a debate while simultaneously do his part for the bailout. Even Republicans has admitted that McCain (who is not on any of the committees implicated) is overreacted..

The worst part of this whole thing is Sarah Palin's inability to speak in anything but cliches and generalities. She's possibly the most unqualified VP candidate to appear for a major party since Curtis LeMay. It's pretty clear that both her selection and suspending the campaign are just gimmicks. His poll numbers are sinking and will go sideways in a hurry if he doesn't give the American people a little more credit...I mean, we're only so stupid...

I notice that you did not mention the interview Ms. Couric had with Senator Biden. You know the one where he said that in 1929 President Roosevelt would have gotten on the TV and calmed Americans down about the Depression. Only problem is in 1929 Roosevelt was not President and there were no TV's. How come no mention of that Mr. Objective? Geez the Sun let's Greg Kane go and keeps someone like you. No wonder it is in such financial dire straights.

The worst part of this whole thing is Sarah Palin's inability to speak in anything but cliches and generalities. She's possibly the most unqualified VP candidate to appear for a major party since Curtis LeMay. It's pretty clear that both her selection and suspending the campaign are just gimmicks. His poll numbers are sinking and will go sideways in a hurry if he doesn't give the American people a little more credit...I mean, we're only so stupid...

I thought that news commentators were supposed to be "unbiased" and to report the facts. Katie Couric is obviously an Obama supporter: as is most of the liberalists in Hollywood, Yes I count Katie Couric as a member of Hollywood, because for someone from the midwest and the Heartland of America, she came off showing blatant favor to Obama. I don't see her questioning him about what he would do regarding the current financial crisis. Try that Katie. Also, it is very understandable why she is last in the ratings.

I notice that you did not mention the interview Ms. Couric had with Senator Biden. You know the one where he said that in 1929 President Roosevelt would have gotten on the TV and calmed Americans down about the Depression. Only problem is in 1929 Roosevelt was not President and there were no TV's. How come no mention of that Mr. Objective? Geez the Sun let's Greg Kane go and keeps someone like you. No wonder it is in such financial dire straights.

I thought that news commentators were supposed to be "unbiased" and to report the facts. Katie Couric is obviously an Obama supporter: as is most of the liberalists in Hollywood, Yes I count Katie Couric as a member of Hollywood, because for someone from the midwest and the Heartland of America, she came off showing blatant favor to Obama. I don't see her questioning him about what he would do regarding the current financial crisis. Try that Katie. Also, it is very understandable why she is last in the ratings.

I thought that news commentators were supposed to be "unbiased" and to report the facts. Katie Couric is obviously an Obama supporter: as is most of the liberalists in Hollywood, Yes I count Katie Couric as a member of Hollywood, because for someone from the midwest and the Heartland of America, she came off showing blatant favor to Obama. I don't see her questioning him about what he would do regarding the current financial crisis. Try that Katie. Also, it is very understandable why she is last in the ratings.

By the way, she sounded like some illiterate bimbob because she actually said
Palin: “I'll try to find you some, and I'll bring them to YA."

THIS is from someone who might someday represent this country to the world? As it is she is a laughing stock all over the world. What a joke they both are!

McCain is CRAZY.
Palin is a ROOKIE.

It is as simple as that.

I thought that news commentators were supposed to be "unbiased" and to report the facts. Katie Couric is obviously an Obama supporter: as are most of the liberalists in Hollywood, Yes I count Katie Couric as a member of Hollywood, because she was actively campaigning for Obama during this interview--does she get paid for that? From the perspective of someone from the midwest and the Heartland of America, Katie came off showing blatant favoritism to Obama. I don't see her questioning Obama about what he would do regarding the current financial crisis. Try that Katie. Also, it is very understandable why she is last in the ratings. It is a sad day when biased news commentators are attempting to sway voters with their blatantly biased rhetoric.

The thing is, Letterman's quip about a guy that would be likely to suspend his presidency was more dead-on-target than most people seem to realize.

Senator McCain is over 70 years old and it is more than likely, and more than understandable, that he does not quite have the mental (and physical!) stamina to indeed "do more than one thing at the same time."

Senator Obama is a young guy, and yes, may lack some big-time experience, but even if I do disagree with some of his politics, I believe that Americans are going to get a hard working, active and above all improvable president if and when he is elected.

He might even be painted out as someone who is a "little too smart for his own good", but hey, I'll take that over the alternative any day.

Crawfish... what are you on about stamping up and down about your fears about Obama that you cling to?

Labeling him and then undermining your own points by not being resourced when making false claims (details of change are easily available) shows you to be teetering on conspiracy theory wingnut status.

If you can tie together how he must be some satanic, black terrorist with his actions, then do it. You're banging on empty, because his actions show time and again the sort of optimistic, driven behavior that Americans of all stripe do every day.

He's not a perfect person, but he will be a president of whom we can be proud. His words and actions sit well together. Unfortunately, McCain, the more it seems things are lost, scrambles his words and actions so that he not only seems to be on the wrong side of important issues, but unable to cogently handle crisis. He'll say or do anything to win at this point. That's not the John McCain that was known as a "maverick." That's Karl Rove and George Bush.

As one who actually attended the rally where John McCain began his statement with 'the fundamentals of the economy are strong' and went on to expound upon the American people (as the fundamentals) that are strong and resilient and that we should be reassured by our ability to work through tough times, I am angry (but not surprised) that the liberal press jumped on it like a gorilla on a banana and proceeded to chop/dice/edit his remarks to their own edification.
That being said, this IS the greatest financial crisis since '29, almost 80 years ago. And, Obama wants to multi-task? I want both of these Senators to be working for the good of the American people! Swallow your pride that you didn't set the example, Obama, and show us that you truly are bipartisan. All I've seen so far points to he can sure talk the talk but he can't (or won't )walk the walk.

So much for any attempt at objective journalism here. What is refreshing about John McCain and Sarah Palin is that they both speak from the heart more than from the script, and at times, they might have some human moments, but it's so easy to take things any candidate says out of context and use it as a broom handle to beat them with.

This article is another example of prima-facie evidence that the entertainment industry is biased against the Republican party.

Do we really want to become the Socialist States of America?

It is a sad day in America where citizens are so blinded by their biases and prejudices that they cannot see clearly that Gov. Palin was the subject of a strategic and political move by Sen. McCain's campaign. Time has shown that Gov. Palin is not qualified to be on a presidental ticket for VP. What a "joke" this republican ticket has turned out to be. What an awesome job Couric did in exposing Gov. Palin's ineptitude.

Hi, I agree on Couric. She did her homework and was prepared, and she asked straightforward but tough questions in a respectful way. Couric did exactly the job the press is supposed to do. As to Palin's qualifications, I will leave that to political pundits. As a critic, I do know she looked pretty bad on TV last night, though. Thanks. Z

This is journalism? It is so FLAGRANTLY biased, it is amazing. These are the same people who lambast FOX for bias, and then practice bias on a daily basis... Examples? Try these phrases from the article:

"...it looks like some serious damage might have been done to the GOP ticket."

"...a couple of candidates who at times seemed overwhelmed by the intensely focused anchorwoman."

"...Couric revealed the near-total lack of evidence behind the talking-point bromides and clichés Palin rattles off in TV interviews."

"...McCain and Palin were not looking too good Wednesday under the unforgiving lights of TV news. But thanks mainly to Couric and Kaplan, it was a day when the industry did its job well and served the voters of a troubled nation with a revealing look at two if its candidates."

Can you imagine Obama or even Biden being treated so harshly? No way!

The good news? The commentator here has no pull whatsoever. So, really, who cares?

i think in the coming hours, days, and weeks, this grandstanding will seriously hurt the mccain/palin ticket, and deservedly so. mccain's a maverick...blah blah...we've heard it before and maybe that was true two decades ago, but he represents the establishment now, and palin, although new and fresh, clearly does not have the background to be 2nd in command, as her avoidance of press indicates. and when she does speak to the press, she digs a hole out of which she can't climb. David's article was great, and it deserves to be seen by everyone.

I find it disappointing that neither Mr. Letterman nor Mr. Zurawik see any difference between a news anchor's interview and an appearance on a late night comedian's show. While Sen. McCain's decision is surely open to discussion, no one can deny that congressional business is center stage right now in this time of crisis. To politicize McCain's attempt to show leadership, reflecting his choice for service over frivolity, is below the belt.

Katie, Letterman, CNN, MSNBC, word twisting fools. This is what I call an unbiased interview. It is obvious why people still dont like Katie,CNN MSNBC. I like Dave because he looks like the dumb and dumber Obama / Biden. Sorry Dave!

Well now...since Katie's nighttime show is tanking, maybe she's just looking for her next gig. Perhaps she can join the other political analysts on the "unbiased" (ha ha) news stations and talk about politicians 24/7. Is journalism the only degree that Universities give out these days? God help us- we've got enough of them already!!!

"Palin again looked like the student who hadn't cracked a book."

David:

Let's see; Palin the Governor of Alaska and you're a TV critic for a failing liberal rag. I think you've got to step back from your role as Democratic cheerleader. Sen. Biden represents a huge target for criticism, yet you've said little. For example; Biden relating that his helicopter was forced down in Afghanistan, intimating that it was from hostile fire but it was really weather related. Why the silence on your part? Blue Hen feathers stuck in your throat?

well...i didn't have to go far to look for mccain pushing for more regulation...

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s109-190&tab=summary

OH MY GOODNESS LOOK IT'S A BILL FOR HOUSING REGULATORY REFORM?! WOW HOW DID THIS EVER GET DEFEATED?

I think it's more than just a stretch to claim that Sarah Palin "spoke from her heart" while interviewed by Couric.

At this stage she is simply being hand-cuffed and presented to the media as a pretty neoconservative cover girl. It's not hard to understand why. When Couric broke through the conditioning, there was no-one home.

"[Couric] was reesarched to the gills, while Palin again looked like the student who hadn't cracked a book. Couric really did come through as an interviewer, and it was mainly hard work (preparation), intense focus and smarts. Good for her. Good for the media. Good for democracy."

See, that's part of the problem. The MSM has no problem doing whatever's necessary to get to the bottom of what going on on one side and be right about it while doing nothing of the sort when it comes to covering the other side. There simply is no unbiased media out there anymore, and because of that I don't feel like I can trust anything other than a candidate's voting record to decide whether he or she is worthy of my vote because you're a fool if you trust a candidate's words and you can't trust the media for anything.

It's sad what the fourth estate has become.

"...and between [Couric and Letterman], it looks like some serious damage might have been done to the GOP ticket"

Mission accomplished for them then, I guess.

The bias here seems to be that Palin gives a mediocre answer to a question and it's evidence of her lack of fitness. Biden repeatedly makes much larger mistakes of both accuracy and positions and basically gets a pass.

I don't think Letterman's rant hurts McCain, even people who like Letterman think he's kind of nuts.

Hi, This wasn't a rant by Letterman. It was more a full show of Letterman steadily needling and mocking McCain and Palin. I have not seen Letterman this focused or on his game in a long, long time. It was something to behold. I am sure parts of all of it are all over the Web. You should give it a look. Thanks. Z

Please! Sen. Obama has been speaking for a week about "the worse economic crisis since the . . . GREAT DEPRESSION!" His surrogates have been repeating the same phrase, over and over. News reports and sound bites from Washington have been filled with politicians repeating . . . "since the GREAT DEPRESSION". Are you telling me the media/Obama campaign don't want the American public to be concerned based on a perception that we are somehow on the brink of another . . . GREAT DEPRESSION!.

Conveniently left out of this story is home equity loans, credit cards, and car loans. Left out of the tale is rent-to-own scams by investors who prey on people, deliberately targeting less sophisticated folks and folks with damaged credit.
To listen to the quoted garbage above this whole crisis is from Bill Clinton and the liberals, or the left, those hateful people out to do in America.
What happened is folks bet on the housing market staying hot and on prices continuing to rise. They bet wrong. People used the paper equity in their homes for all sorts of things, and when the values went down, so did their ability to easily get out. We had a savings and loan crisis under Reagan. It may be that the failures then were due to a crisis in consumer confidence from folks seeing in a crystal ball that Bill Clinton will one day become the president.
So people who had no right to own homes made everyone else down the line become greedy or make poor decisions. Spare me.

Hey Ed “The Liberal”,

It IS the bundling of all the bad mortgages that IS now bringing down the Investment Bank house of cards. This IS and will directly affect ALL types of loan vehicles (equity, car, credit cards, etc.) This started with Bill “The Greedy (depends what IS, is) Liberal”!

The greedy folks who were preying on the Liberal Clinton Created newly undeserving housing market, then packaging the whole bundle of crap up and passed it off as an investment to the greedy investment banks who bet wrong and that have now crashed who also have their bosses walking away with hundreds of millions and are putting all of our 401k retirement accounts at risk and the future of our Country are all of the top contributors to the Democratic “Liberal” Party and BHO!
Wake up America!! McCain 2008!!

Hey J, I'm just a simple country TV critic, but I have to tell you that is some of the most convoluted tap dancing I have ever seen -- your attempt of trying to blame the market meltdown on "Liberal Bill Clinton" and the "Democratic Party" and Barack Obama. Citizen Z, American voter and taxpayer, says (borrowing a phrase from David Letterman) "something stinks" about that analysis. But thanks for the mind-twisting exhilaration it provided. Trying to follow it was like trying to make a puzzle work with several pieces missing. Z

The Republican partisan posters in this thread are getting a little too fond of throwing baseless accusasions now.

After all, Senator Obama did sit down in the chair with O'Reilly, and he wasn't exactly treated with kid gloves, but came through. Also, Biden is called on his gaffes in many media. However, clearly we're talking about different magnitudes here.

Biden might screw up about exactly who was the President eighty years ago, or complain about one of their own ads not being sensitive. Sure, it doesn't look pretty, but those are quite harmless mistakes. But, Palin unable to cite a single case of her co-runner going against the party line? That's worrying.

Why does every liberal have to start off every conversation with the disingenuous comment' " we respect John McCain's service? It's all BS. Why don't they just start with "In all due respect" before they spit on him? I just think all the liberals want the title of being the last person to spit on a Vietnam vet.

I fundamentally disagree with the premise that CBS did a good deal of damage to the GOP ticket. No, the damage to the GOP ticket was entirely self-inflicted. Can't fault a reporter for asking questions. Can't fault a talk show host for being miffed at being stood-up by a presidential candidate for... questionable... reasons, leaving him to scramble for a replacement guest.

I can now see why McCain is hiding Ms. Palin from the media and why he wants to cancel her debate with Biden indefintely.

He wasn't thinking with his head when he picked her as his V.P. running mate.

If the market crashes, the people of America have noone to blame but ourselves because at some point we stopped reading books and decided we care more about getting a flat screen and an Escalade (on credit), than our neighbor who is dying of cancer because they lack medical insurance.

And now our greed, shortsightedness, and decision to vote for leaders who are "just like us" are about to ruin what was once the greatest economy in the world.

Congratulations America!

Now I know why McCain dropped his bombshell trying to squirm out of Friday’s debate. It was a desperate gamble to deflect attention away from Palin’s bumbling interview with Katie Couric!!! It worked, but only for a couple of hours. Millions of Americans including me caught her panic-stricken, broken-record replies to questions about McCain campaign manager Rick Davis’ getting paid by Freddie Mac. This picture is worth a thousand words, so see it for yourself at:
Katie Couric talks to Sarah Palin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73Yx-RhHb4g
http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/zontv/2008/09/couric_letterman_too_much_for.html
Now, wait for the next bombshell: McCain will demand cancellation of the VP debate and air his debate then instead. He made the biggest mistake of his life picking this inexperienced bumbler for a VP, and now his campaign is reduced to playing keep-away with the media and the American people. Well it’s not going to work.
If you want to see what a real VP candidate looks like when talking to the press and answering difficult questions (without Cliff notes), see:
Joe Biden on Meet the Press
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JRiWazVoNQ&feature=related
Joe Biden on the Today Show Sept 16
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V544QfumwUY&feature=user

Ha. I love it! I love a blog that screened for public consuption by the media. How did McCain or Obama do today? I guess we will have to see what the MEDIA decides is important for us to know. Unless we get to watch our candidates live at every event ( which is impossible for working people) we have to rely on the media to show us what they deem important. The candidates don't shape our vote, the media does. Hey David...your can make media recommendations. How about this one? Give each candidate x amount of time everyday to pick the clip from their daily speeches that they think are important for us to know. I will dream on.

Hi, actually the candidates have lots of money and all kinds of media venues through which to reach voters directly -- like the Internet. The old conventional "wisdom" about gatekeepers putting a filter between candidates and voters, simply does not square with the new media facts of today. If they are not getting a winning message out, don't blame the media. Blame them. Thanks. Z

This Couric interview is a perfect example of the "Gotcha Media". Even this article is and example of that. Mr. Z you have obvious reservations about McCain's decision to suspend his campaign in order to deal with this proposed Bailout plan. Please, in the future do your best to report the news not manufacture or contribute to the manufacturing of news. Ms. Couric obviously used a loaded question to trap Palin into using the term "Great Depression". Granted Palin should have corrected Couric and said that the great depression was what it was. Where we are heading is into the land of Marxism, leaving the land of democratic capitalism. Please sir report the new, do not manufacture it.

Hang on, why *don't* you suspend your campaign? If this doesn't qualify as extraordinary circumstances, I don't know what does. Isn't a Senator's primary obligation - regardless of whether he/she is running in a Presidential race - to his/her constituents, and not to their, ahem, fans? Obama also sounds like the boy who cried wolf in this case, given the fact that he was challenged to a series of Lincoln/Douglas type debates by the McCain campaign in June and declined the invitation. So instead of spending the last month or so hearing about pigs, lipstick and extensive coverage of Biden's latest malaprop, we could have listened to the two candidates debate their views on the economy, international relations, etc.

This Couric interview is a perfect example of the "Gotcha Media". Even this article is and example of that. Mr. Z you have obvious reservations about McCain's decision to suspend his campaign in order to deal with this proposed Bailout plan. Please, in the future do your best to report the news not manufacture or contribute to the manufacturing of news. Ms. Couric obviously used a loaded question to trap Palin into using the term "Great Depression". Granted Palin should have corrected Couric and said that the great depression was what it was. Where we are heading is into the land of Marxism, leaving the land of Democratic Capitalism. Please sir report the news, do not manufacture it.

Hi, Citizen Z, again. I have to tell you if we are heading into the "land of Marxism," leaving the land of "Capitalism," it isn't the media leading there. We're not the ones suddenly abandoing a belief in a free functioning "marketplace" and saying the government needs to get involved in running some of the biggest businesses in the land. Citizen Z

For everyone asking, "Why hasn't Obama been questioned on this or that"

Obviously the conservative right does not watch interviews with Obama, read articles about Obama, research much of anything about Obama. If they did then they would know where and how Obama plans to fix the economy.

I read all I can about McCain and Palin, I want to know where they stand on the issues that matter to the economic future of this country. I don't really care if the conservative right doesn't want to learn about Obama, luckily there are more people who care about the issues and who are going to vot Obama than not.

3 weeks ago Obama was hammering the campaign trail about what he was going to do about the declining economy. Guess what folks, his 'hammering' is paying dividends now. Obama has consistantly stayed above the fray, and it shows. The minor pimple in polls the republicans got from selecting Palin is gone.

She clearly cannot open her mouth and say much of anything with any substance in it. I hear things like She has heart! and She's a fighter!

Well maybe so, but she knows nothing about presiding over the congeress [which would be one of her duties as VP in case you didn't know] And has no clue about foreign policy.

Sorry GOPers, this year is ripe for a democrat to take office.

Palin took the bait from Couric. She should be smarter than that. Couric was very measured and cordial in her demeanor. She was not pushing Palin or talking over her like some interviewers do. I don't think she had any overt pressure. Palin needs to think before she speaks. She acts like she is out of her league.

Hi, I totally agree on Couric. She was excellent as an interviewer and in no way did she hector Palin. Thanks. Z

McCain is a wimp. When his poll numbers tank he is AWOL. If you look back in history; Carter and Reagan debated during the Iran Hostage Crisis, Kennedy and Nixon debated after a third bomb was detonated in Times Square and Gore and Bush debated days after the attack on the USS Cole. The debate will take about three hours of McCain's time. If he can't fit that into his schedule, he has no right running the country.

Obama is a rookie.
Biden is crazy! Did you see the tape of that TV announcement in 1929 from FDR?

Can you be more specific on the tape? Thanks. Z

Honestly, I'm so fed up with people assuming that if their candidate looked bad in an interview, it was a biased "right-wing" or "liberal" media hose-job. So Katie Couric and Charles Gibson asked some open questions, ones that any V.P. candidate should be able to competently and calmly answer about their running mate and sitting President, and Palin had no answers beyond the coached rhetoric. The response from the majority of my "conservative" brethren? Left-wing bias.

How can anyone honestly watch a Hannity or O'Reilly interview and not see the incredible bias? It staggers the imagination. Yet those two (as well as Limbaugh, Olbermann, Carville, etc...) are the first to scream "BIAS!" when one or the other interviews someone and they don't like how it turns out. They create ratings for each other and the end result is a polarized America with many people too scared to think for themselves or do the homework on the candidates.

Bill O'Reilly and Keith Olbermann both take childish delight in ambushing people with unfair, leading questions when interviewing someone who isn't an left or right extremist like themselves.

I'm stunned that the right-wing lackeys have the GALL to think Couric was biased for asking straight questions? Or to assume that David Zurawik and the Sun are left-wingers because he reports that Palin and McCain once again looked like they aren't qualified to be President?

If Obama can go on O'Reilly's show and hold his own in the face of one of the most self-loving and hideously biased humans I've ever seen, then Palin should be able to handle Katie Couric and Charles Gibson. I tremble to think what she'd do if faced with Keith Olbermann, much less Dmitry Medvedev or Kim Jong Il.

It's a waste of time, breath, and energy to try to change the mind of a die-hard winger from either perspective, but the right-wing is particularly odious these days. I sincerely hope that other independents and morally-conscious Republicans can see beyond the "one issue" voting that see in members of my own family. Thank God we have the option of different parties (or none at all) so we can disassociate with either extremist idealogues. Kudos to the ones who think for themselves and refrain from repeating party rhetoric, but they're fewer and farther between each and every day.

Here's what I want to know Katie...when did you start wearing glasses in the middle of a newscast (interview with McCain)....you aren't trying to look like the woman you obviously detest are you? Not to mention when you are witchy, you become very, very unattractive!

This is avery, very interesting comment. No one commented about Charles Gibson wearing those glasses on the edge of his nose during his interview with Palin, so why should Couric's glasses matter? I actually found Gibson's glasses a little distracting because they made him look so much like a stern professor quizzing a student. But he did a good job, too, and I did not think it warranted a mention. But I think there is a lot more going on in terms of gender in this comment -- with it's warning to Couric that when she is focused, intense and professional she is "very unattractive." Hey, again, I'm just a simple country TV critic, but I'll take focused and professional in the workplace every time. Z

I think I know the real reason John McCain couldn't make it to Letterman... it was past his bedtime. So it's a good thing that the economy is in bad shape because then he has a convenient excuse. LOL!

Please, CBS is so inpet and no one watches them that I find it hard to beleive they could do damage to any one's campaign, be it DEM or GOP

Thank you unbiased, you post is fresh air for all the farts left here by GOP propagandists.

Bush, Bernanke, and Paulson have all been saying we have an economic gun to our heads, the media is just picking up on this talk. Nevertheless, Couric should have used a comment from one of the above officials and asked Palin if she agreed or not.

I just can't believe some of the comments on here. McCain and Palin are in way over their heads. They have no idea what they are doing and show it.

The fact that people still make up lies and support these two is astounding on a GRAND scale. Most of my friends are Republican, and they won't even CONSIDER McCain/Palin in this election. I just don't get how anyone can support that ticket...I can't fathom it.

GET REAL PEOPLE. We're a nation in trouble and I want someone who IS going to DO something, not stand up on a stage and point fingers at one another. THIS IS THE TIME TO DO SOMETHING!!!! I don't want someone for President who is going stand around blustering with his chest out squawking like a rooster about what he thinks should be done. I WANT someone who WILL go in with their sleeves rolled up and TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS. McCain has shown his maturity and his priorities: GET THE JOB DOWN - don't just stand around squawking. I think this proves that McCain has the maturity and experience that it takes to get the job done.

Sqwuak, Sqwuak Obama!!

And since WHEN does an entertainer get to decide who is President??????? Lettermen, take your millions and put them........

"Why does every liberal have to start off every conversation with the disingenuous comment' " we respect John McCain's service? It's all BS. Why don't they just start with "In all due respect" before they spit on him? I just think all the liberals want the title of being the last person to spit on a Vietnam vet."

I'm a vet myself, and I respect my fellow "squid" John McCain's service. I believe the majority of America does, regardless of their political affiliation. However, it is NOT spitting on his service or on McCain himself to state that he's not qualified to serve as President or that his running mate is a desperate political ploy to capture the "woman" vote lost when Obama came out ahead of Hillary in the primaries. His service is something to be respected and appreciated, but for the sake of veterans everywhere, please refrain from tying that respect in with whether or not a person believe McCain is the right candidate for the job.

He left the Navy what, 30 years ago? To insult people who respect what he did then because they don't agree with you now is what I, someone who served his country with pride, would consider spitting on a veteran's service. You have no concept of its value if you cannot differentiate between the two.

One would think Palin would be able to handle the media, since her degree is in journalism, but maybe that's why she avoids the media; she knows they'll ask questions she's unqualified to answer.

One would think Palin would be able to handle the media, since her degree is in journalism, but maybe that's why she avoids the media; she knows they'll ask questions she's unqualified to answer.

It doesn't matter if Palin is interviewing with Katie or Sean; she is in over her head. I love how Sean Hannity practically fed her lines in the interview and she didn't follow through. When he talked about Barack Obama's associations with people who have worked for Fannie or Freddie, Palin glossed over them and then said that the real people that we need to look out for are the lobbyists. By saying that, she indicated people in her own campaign. Very smart! She doesn't know how to take a gift.

Who is THIS guy? "Z" ? , Try "Y" Another lib hack trying to make a name for himself? Half of a statement from Palin is pure sun bull, cropping all republicans speeches or statements. Usual sun Bias. And man, who cares if Letterman is disappointed? He has been over for years. Who watches him anyway? McCain decided to go to Washington to help, or at least vote. Obama doesn't even vote on legislature. Somebody needs to tell him "present" is not a vote.

Ah, but you are aksing the question: Who is this guy Z? This is a good thing. This is the path to media wisdom. Z

Would have to say that by having Couric interview Palin, the "because she's a woman" defense was pulled off the table.

Would have to say that by having Couric interview Palin, the "because she's a woman" defense was pulled off the table.

I can't help but wonder, if these people find you to be an obnoxious tool of the Left, and The Sun a filthy discredited rag, why they are still reading your posts.

The media bias in unbelievable. I have never seen ANY interview with Obama where the reporter asked the SAME questions multiple times until they got the answer they wanted. Obama is constantly talking generalities. Yet he never gets called on it. Couric and Letterman have just lost another viewer.

If I had made the mistake of scheduling an appearance on Letterman, I would cancel it, too. The man is a total JERK!

its sad that when folks cannot find any thing to add to the discussion, they resort to name calling..

i dont see why this matters, but i am a lou dobbs independent voter, and proud of it!

I saw some of the interview of palin, she was, to quote chris bermann, stumblin, and bumblin..

man, that was sad, especially for a communications major...

and as for mccain, i agree with david letterman.. he lied and said he's going back to dc, but instead, goes on the evening news.. dave's po'ed, and he should be.. plus he's a comedian.. so..

and stop with the name calling folks.. this is a forum.. not the school yard..

What a lot of the McCain supporters are missing here is that he told Letterman he needed to pass on his show and head back to Washington. Letterman tapes while the CBS news is airing. That means McCain is still in NY and only about 8 blocks away from The Ed Sullivan Theater when he told Dave he needed to get back to Washington. Getting nasty at McCain and Palin doesn't mean Dave's some libera hippie or anything, it means he's seeing through more of the McCain lies.

You never see Obama asks the same question over because he answers it the first time. Something repubs don't do. McCain has not voted on anything since April and not the self admitted "know nothing about the economy "wants to go to D C and work. Palins not in congress so why postpone her debate. Running Scared.

First it was saber rattling with "Weapons of Mass Destruction" now it's "Financial Destruction of the Masses". Letterman got it right "this smells". The timing of the announcement of this financial crisis; the grandstanding of McCain as he rides off to handle it; and, his recent slide in the polls makes it smell even more. Desperate acts manufactured by a desperate republican party so they can be portrayed as saviors? Perhaps. Their only solution is a taxpayer bailout? How about a windfall profit tax from the oil companies? That should cover it easily.

Unfortunately for late night television Letterman hasn't been funny in about 10 years. He just keeps spiraling downward into a left wing curmudgeon who tries to make "statements" his producers feed him rather than providing the audience truly witty and funny material like he did in the eighties and early nineties. This guy was brilliant, a decade ago.

I have to tell you, John, he was funny last night -- brilliant, in fact. Even the pompous and self-important Keith Olbermann seemed in awe of seeing the old Dave at the top of game grinding the needle deeper and deeper into Palin and McCain. "You're on fire," Olbermann said respectfully and he wasn't being ironic. He meant it. Proof? Olbermann, who usually can't stop running his mouth, sat there like a schoolboy on his best behavior as Letterman fed on his prey. Like I said, it was something to behold. I would not have missed it for the world. Z

@crawfish - your quote regarding the
Cable News Ratings is not very well informed - considering that the day we are talking about is the 24th September and not the 23rd - oops

McCain and Palin are shown in bad light,due to their lack of preparation, and people who notice are "left wings", "bias" and "unfair". the truth of the matter is, if they can not handle couric (and letterman), they have no business being in office. Mccain should have told Letterman, due to the economic crisis, i am going to have to back out of the interview and do a primetime interview with Couric, along with Palin.could have made the interview for another day. Is it that hard for politicians to be direct and honest. I don't think any of these candidates are very good. The difference is Obama and Bidin have been up to taking any question. I'd like to see Couric or another host hammer these guys and see how they do.

Mccain should have gone with at least Romney; but would have been a miracle if he would have gone with Ron Paul.

people need to mellow out and look at everything from all angles. Everyone is entitled to vote how they like, that's what makes us American. Bill Clinton told everyone to chill out and respect each other's decision, no matter what it is based on. that is being American. i agree.

NOT FAIR! NOT FAIR! Everyone is playing dirty! The media is doing their jobs and exposing us! Not fair! the media is elitist and evil! Not fair! The media is doing to these Republican candidates, what they never did to this Republican administration! Not fair! NOT FAIR! REPUBLICANS ARE PEOPLE TOO! IT ISN"T FAIR! I AM GOING TO THROW A TANTRUM! NOT FAIR!

Oh wahhhhhh, CBS and Letterman didn't get their way and now they want to trash McCain. Calling it "a day when the industry did its job well and served the voters of a troubled nation with a revealing look at two if its candidates" because Sarah Palin didn't have a specific instance of a McCain vote on a regulatory matter? And then to draw a wide brushed sweeping conclusion that "Couric revealed the near-total lack of evidence behind the talking-point bromides and clichés Palin rattles off in TV interviews." I didn't realize that "I'll find them and get back to you" qualifies as numerous bromides and cliche's" Where did you people get your journalism degrees? My God!

Oh wahhhhhh, CBS and Letterman didn't get their way and now they want to trash McCain. Calling it "a day when the industry did its job well and served the voters of a troubled nation with a revealing look at two if its candidates" because Sarah Palin didn't have a specific instance of a McCain vote on a regulatory matter? And then to draw a wide brushed sweeping conclusion that "Couric revealed the near-total lack of evidence behind the talking-point bromides and clichés Palin rattles off in TV interviews." I didn't realize that "I'll find them and get back to you" qualifies as numerous bromides and cliche's" Where did you people get your journalism degrees? My God!

Letterman appeals to a younger audience. If you were watching him 20 years ago the humor is probably over your head.

i am tired of people on here complaining that Couric is biased. These same people don't seem to have a problem when Fox News talks about Obama while having a picture of Osama in the background. Fox News is the leader in biased right wing reporting

In response to the commenter "J" above, I am so sorry to have to point out to you that your interpretation of the political facts that have brought us to this economic crisis today are not correct. When Bill Clinton was in office, he was governing over a REPUBLICAN senate and congress. Bill Clinton did not have the authority to order Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to give mortgages to low income individuals. I can understand how you would not correctly understand the limitations of the Executive Branch, seeing how the current POTUS has stretched his powers to such a degree that he resembles a King. In all actuality, he is not.

If you are willing to look beyond partisan politics to see the facts of the economic road behind us, you would see the names Jake Garn, Newt Gingrich, Phil Gramm (hello, the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999). These are the actual LAWMAKERS responsible for this crisis. If you want to point fingers at Clinton you could say he didn't veto enough legislature. You certainly CAN NOT blame him personally (beside the fact that your post is so painfully classist).

Letterman appeals to a younger audience. And if you were watching 20 years ago his humor is probably over your head.

Wouldn't it be nice if most people that are involved with or follow politics spent less time trying to prove their party is better then the other and more time on making our country better? Imagine the things we could accomplish if we took the time everyone spends bashing the other party and used it constructively. I don't care which party you support the change that needs to happen in this country is both parties need to learn how to work together. People can twist things around to try and get the answers they want but until they realize that only makes things worse our country will continue to go downhill. Bashing a potential, current or past president is a sign of weakness to the rest of the world. The president is elected into office. That means that those poeple who could vote had their chance to go out and vote. At the end of the day there is a winner. It may not be the person you chose but more people out there chose that person over your choice. It is impossible to make everyone happy in this world. The sooner people can accept that and move forward the sooner we become a better country.

Z, you are a reporter for a newspaper. It is very clear that you support Obama and there is nothing wrong with that. The problem is you feel the need to write your article the best way you can to support Obama and bash McCain. Your job is to report to us on what's going on out in the world without bringing your personal bias into it.

Did anyone see "The Daily Show" last night? Jon Stewart certainly didn't give Biden a pass for his innaccurate historical comments. He nails everyone on both sides when the scent of bs is in the air. Seems like there's a little more of it on the right wing side of things - but just a little.

"Actually Barack Obama did go on FOX news and face one of the most biased news organizations and most biased "news" person in Bill O'reilly and even O'reilly had to admit that Barack answered all his questions and was tough. Of course he didn't agree with Barack but he did admit a grudging respect for Obama.
So stop bashing more liberal news people for doing the same to McCain/Palin and then whine when they get flustered and can't answer questions intelligently."

Exactly!!!!!!!!

I was a Republican that supported John McCain in 2000 in his quest for the White House. All of us on the Straight Talk Express were crushed when the Bushies pulled their stunts in the South Carolina with the push polling. We all admired John McCain and his efforts. This is not the same man. This guy has been taken over by the worst elements of the same Rovian campaign techniques that took him down back then. It is sad and scary to watch him now. Vote independent, people. Vote "None of the Above"...

Dear Katie Couric,
I truly was a saddened when you left the Today Show becouse I thought you and Matt were a class act of a team. But now I'm sorta glad you left. You are simply to report the news not create biased wrangling of candidates. Come on; why don't you just say it, instead of hiding behind your journalistic name tag to do it. You are for OBAMA. Well if you want to see your earnings go out the door by taxation then you go right on and support MR. OBAMA. Further more if you think the economic forcast is scary now just wait! Get a pro- abortion candidate like obama in there, and see how much more he can honk God off. Then the Great Deppression will look like childs play! As the bible says in Hebrews "it's a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of an angry God".

There is nothing scarier than the prospect of four more years of abysmal Republican failure than the thought of Palin having to step in as President should the need ever arise. I think everyone, Democrats and Republicans alike should demand that McCain and the Republican party revoke the nomination of Sarah Palin as VP, just as McGovern did with Eagleton in 72.
The Republicans need to get real about Palin and realize what a potentially catastrophic choice they have made in accepting her.

On another topic...I agree with lucca whole heartedly. I have no compassion for shallow people with an overdeveloped sense of entitlement who believe if they want something they should have it and are willing to gamble away their future security for the sake of the mcmansion and the hummer. It is a joke to believe that people losing their homes are all somehow innocent victims. Can someone please tell me how a balloon mortgage EVER appears to be a wise move?
Learn to live within your means and actually plan.

I was a Republican that supported John McCain in 2000 in his quest for the White House. All of us on the Straight Talk Express were crushed when the Bushies pulled their stunts in the South Carolina with the push polling. We all admired John McCain and his efforts. This is not the same man. This guy has been taken over by the worst elements of the same Rovian campaign techniques that took him down back then. It is sad and scary to watch him now. Vote independent, people. Vote "None of the Above"...

The media is not doing it's job - it's job is not to 'expose' people but to give unbiased inormation. Reporting that "Sarah Palin doesn't have the McCain's voting record memorized." doesn't add a lot to the discussion. And Palin was right on to emphasize the importance of this crisis.

How come conflicting views between Obama and Biden are not published by Pravda, I mean the Sun. Where are comments like the following:

Lauer was talking about how Obama hit Sen. McCain for flip-flopping on the AIG bailout -- saying he opposed it one day then announce he supported it the next day.

But, as Lauer pointed out, scarcely three minutes after McCain said he opposed the AIG bailout last week, "in an interview with Meredith Vieira, Joe Biden, your running mate was asked the exact same question, 'should the federal government bailout AIG?' And he said, 'No, the federal government should not bailout AIG.'" (As we noted at the time.) "And I think that in that situation," Obama said, "I think Joe should have waited as well.

It really is hard to try to defend McCain-Palin. But truthfully, does anyone believe Mainstream American Media aren't lying in wait to ambush them? You could ask Sen. Obama what he's done over the past 26 years in the United States Senate and you'd get -- oh, that's right, he's immune to that criticism by virtue of being a nobody for 23 of those 26 years. Or you could ask Sen. Joe Biden why Dems have, at times, clearly tried to stop the legislation which was aimed at regulating Fannie-Mae/Freddie-Mac. I looked through the articles at the New York Times and it doesn't really look good for either side on that particular issue. Which is my point here.

ps - who cares what David Letterman has to say about anything?

For your information, Jim Cramer has said repeatedly that this will be the Great Depression Sequel if a solution is not reached this week. He said it again this morning.

This article is simply more propaganda from the media propaganda arm of the Obama/Axelrod campaign and the voters are sick of it. The mainstream media is doing nothing more than regurgitating the talking points memos from Obama/Axelrod. You are showing your ignorance.

They are too busy looking in Sarah Palin's trash can in Alaska to cover the relevant stories of:

1. Obama's long term relationship with unrepentent terrorist Bill Ayers,

2. Obama's Church which is the most cited example of a church based on Black Liberation Theology,

3. the fact that according to the National Journal, Obama is the MOST LIBERAL member of the Senate and Biden is the THIRD MOST LIBERAL member of the Senate. That makes them MORE liberal than Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders who is a member of the SOCIALIST PARTY

4. That Obama has yet to produce a REAL BIRTH CERTIFICATE. The one posted on his web site was photoshopped.

5. The lawsuit filed in Pennsylvania challenging Obama's eligibility to be President.

The people will harshly judge the professional misconduct of the biased media during this campaign the way they are judging the frauds on Wall Street and Fannie and Freddie.
Neither one has any credibility left.

For your information, Jim Cramer has said repeatedly that this will be the Great Depression Sequel if a solution is not reached this week. He said it again this morning.

This article is simply more propaganda from the media propaganda arm of the Obama/Axelrod campaign and the voters are sick of it. The mainstream media is doing nothing more than regurgitating the talking points memos from Obama/Axelrod. You are showing your ignorance.

They are too busy looking in Sarah Palin's trash can in Alaska to cover the relevant stories of:

1. Obama's long term relationship with unrepentent terrorist Bill Ayers,

2. Obama's Church which is the most cited example of a church based on Black Liberation Theology,

3. the fact that according to the National Journal, Obama is the MOST LIBERAL member of the Senate and Biden is the THIRD MOST LIBERAL member of the Senate. That makes them MORE liberal than Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders who is a member of the SOCIALIST PARTY

4. That Obama has yet to produce a REAL BIRTH CERTIFICATE. The one posted on his web site was photoshopped.

5. The lawsuit filed in Pennsylvania challenging Obama's eligibility to be President.

The people will harshly judge the professional misconduct of the biased media during this campaign the way they are judging the frauds on Wall Street and Fannie and Freddie.
Neither one has any credibility left.

A devastating day at CBS? Then explain to me David why McCain/Palin are up in the polls again today to draw dead even?

And by the way, if you think that CNN is fact based honest journalism then you really have been in the biased media business too long.

Instead of writing about TV maybe you should get into TV because newspapers are a dying medium. Good luck.

Your Obama is showing...

Hi, Can you tell what polls your are ciitng. No one else in the universe seems to have that data. Thanks. Z

Missed the Couric interviews. A reasonable Palin response to the question the blog writer found so penetrating would have been, "Honey, regulation got us to this point." But that implies a level of understanding that eludes not only Palin and Couric.

As for Letterman: two minutes of it was funny. Then he was not only a crashing bore but a boor.

Letterman was right. McCain called TIME OUT when the ball was heading into his end-zone (his numbers were fading fast).

Why not sent Gov Palin? If McCain is afraid that she can not answer a question now, how will she answer questions if she becomes President. 9 of our 43 Presidents have obtained office following a death/resignation... that's over 20%, "my friends."

No I am not hoping for the demise of Mr. McCain. Yes, I am concerned that he is President and leaves office unexpectedly then we will have a President who can not handle Letterman, no less leaders of Iraq, Iran, China, etc...

That Senator John McCain would be repudiated by any sensible individual for not appearing at a social and entertainment event at present is absurd. I only regret that time constraints obliged Senator McCain to decline Mr. Letterman's invitation via phone rather than through blue-black ink on 100% cotton paper.

There is a reason why David Letterman is referred to as the HOST of his popular television show, Late Night with David Letterman. Mr. Letterman's show is a social forum, a diversionary entertainment; a corporate salon, nothing more.

In any context of true significance, Mr. Letterman is, indeed, a lightweight. Politicians are not and should not be at the beck-and-call of peevish, self-important salon-hosts.

As a HOST, Mr. Letterman issued an invitation to a GUEST, Senator McCain. Mr. Letterman's GUEST sent his regrets. Mr. McCain followed etiquette and protocol. Mr. Letterman, on the other hand, is found wanting in both realms. That Mr. Letterman's social events are scripted and televised makes no difference.

Mr. Letterman's spiteful, mediocre reference to "Metamucil" could not better illustrate Senator McCain's judgment in choosing to apply his focus elsewhere.

Why would Senator McCain, or anyone for that matter, squander their valuable time to appear at an uninspiring and uninspired entertainment event hosted by a person who cannot control his own spiteful hostility towards recalcitrant guests?

It seems that Mr. Letterman is a HOST deserving of a dwindling salon-circle, as he cannot refrain from denigrating the GUESTS he invites to his corporate social functions if they do not behave in the manner that Mr. Letterman would like.
.

What's so bad about media bias?

It is the nature of journalism to attract insightful, curious, intelligent, flexible-minded, and humanistic people. How can we expect them not to be appalled by wickedness?

Palin is just a women from alaska that is so far removed from what has been going on in washington. She has no idea of what McCain has done. They could of put me out there for the interview and I would have done better for McCain. Now I see why they don't want here to be interviewed, it really shows her lack of knowledge about whats been going on in washington. I don't even think they keep her in the loop in thier own campain. What looked like a good pick at first because, she is a good speaker, has turned out to be a disaster. I don't want McCain to die and have Palin running the country.

Hi, Thanks for the comment. ATTENTION ALL COMMENT MAKERS: I apologize for probelms with getting your comments published. The software went down again, and no one is madder than me that it threw an abolute brick in what was a great and spirited discussion. If you went away to another site, and come back, please comment now. I am here and responding. You could not possibly be as angry as me about this. A VERY ANGRY Z

A deal is made. Whooho the debates can go on as scheduled. Checkmate....your move...

Here's the Palin "great depression" clip so you can judge for yourself. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dToEnSIsddU

Letterman's Straight Talk Express was right on and warranted. For months now, McCain seems to be thinking that he can use the Rove/Bush playbook of distortion and lies and get away with it. Sorry, John, those days -- and the Limbaugh/O'Reilly water carriers -- will soon be coming to an end. No more free rides on the Crooked Talk Express. BTW: your choice of VP shows you are becoming senile or insane. Great for TV talk show lampooning, but good for little else: A Candidate for Nowhere from Nowhere.

Letterman's Straight Talk Express was right on and warranted. For months now, McCain seems to be thinking that he can use the Rove/Bush playbook of distortion and lies and get away with it. Sorry, John, those days -- and the Limbaugh/O'Reilly water carriers -- will soon be coming to an end. No more free rides on the Crooked Talk Express. BTW: your choice of VP shows you are becoming senile or insane. Great for TV talk show lampooning, but good for little else: A Candidate for Nowhere from Nowhere.

I saw the Couric interview and the Letterman show. OMG - it was embarrassing. Sarah is going to "find some evidence and bring to ya." McCain caught in a lie, a bold faced lie. And the audacity of McCain thinking that he could tell Letterman he needed to take care of the economy while he headed to an interview with Couric. Did McCain think this wouldn't be discovered? Did McCain think this wouldn't be reported? Did McCain think he'd get a pass because he invoked his sacred talking point "Country first"? It sure didn't look like county first - It looked like McCain first. Or did McCain just not think and instead just shoot from the hip. I'm stunned. This was the most embarrassing thing I've seen in politics since this morning when I saw The View play a video of Sarah being protected from witches in her church in Wasilla.

Another slant job from the left wing Sun and Dave Ziroquack. Katie introduces the term depression and asks Sarah's response, then passes ownership of the term to Palin and then McCain. Maybe this passes for journalism now at The Sun, but it sure appears to the ordinary man to be nothing but slight of hand.

Guess The Sun made no mention of Biden's claim to Couric that FDR went on Tv durng the great depression - either because they don't believe in equal time coverage or maybe they truly believe FDR and TV were around in the Great Depression (1919 ff). Take your pick; either reveals how far the Sun has set.

It is interesting that so many of the comments are blaming every one but McCain and Palin for their blunders! The fact is that they could not answer the questions because they did not have time to try to think of something to say!
Palin is a poor representative for women! Women ought to be ashamed that someone like her is being held up as a role model!
Currick and Letterman told the truth. Of course many people don't want to hear that!!

Oh.... what some in the media won't do for ratings .... what a bunch of self serving scags ... I certainly hope that the majority of the American people can see thru the bull crap ... otherwise they (the American public) will be like lambs led to the slaughter. These so called celebs are out to make a career for themselves and will stop at nothing to do it. They try to MAKE the news ... NOT REPORT IT at it actually is. They're like spiders ... they only SPIN.

y the way, there's a word for what John McCain did by suggesting both candidates suspend their campaigns and focus on the proposed bailout plan. It's called cowardice. Benedict Arnold was a hero at Saratoga and a traitor at West Point. A glancing acquaintance with existentialist notions of being quite simply states that a present vile action trumps heroic past actions. Adolph Hitler won an Iron Cross Second Class for four years in the trenches of World War I. Need one continue?

It really is hard to try to defend McCain-Palin. But truthfully, does anyone believe Mainstream American Media aren't lying in wait to ambush them? You could ask Sen. Obama what he's done over the past 26 years in the United States Senate and you'd get -- oh, that's right, he's immune to that criticism by virtue of being a nobody for 23 of those 26 years. (Though if you wanted to trip him up, ask him about the Fannie Mae-Freddie Mac regs legislation that has been in the U.S. Senate several times since 2003). Or you could ask Sen. Joe Biden why Dems have, at times, clearly tried to stop the legislation which was aimed at regulating Fannie-Mae/Freddie-Mac. I looked through the articles at the New York Times and it doesn't really look good for either side on that particular issue. Which is my point here.

ps - who cares what David Letterman has to say about anything?

Hi Betty, Do you really believe that latenight coimedians don't matter in the national discourse on politics -- particularly in a democracy and a medium that provides them with audiences measured in the millions? Yikes, that is very naive and out of touch of with American culture, if I may say so in the nicest way. Z

will someone please ask sarah palin about dinosaurs?

McCain sure did a lot in helping with the bailout negotiations. Since he took his time getting to Washington, interviewing with Katie Couric first, by the time his plane landed at Ronald Reagan Airport, the meeting about the bailout was just ending. Although, even if you did make it on time, you're not part of the Senate's Finance Committee or Banking Committe, so you wouldn't have been in the meeting anyway. Good job, Maverick! But hey, at least you get to do the photo-op at the White House today! Maybe that will help you try and convince some people that you actually did anything with the bailout negotiations. This campaign is a fraud! Nothing but one big circus!

Hi, I think letterman made the point nicely last as to what kind of hurry McCain really was in to get to D.C. Thanks. Z

ps - who cares what David Letterman has to say about anything?

Look up.

If no one cared, this would be an empty thread.

Hi, I challenged that statement, too. But your response was much more succinct and better than mine. Thanks. Z

The headlines: Palin told Couric she thinks "America may find itself on" the road to "another Great Depression."
WHAT A LIE. Below is the text of that comment from CBS.

Unfortunately, that is the road that America may find itself on. Not necessarily this, as it's been proposed, has to pass or we're going to find ourselves in another Great Depression. But, there has got to be action - bipartisan effort - Congress not pointing fingers at one another but finding the solution to this, taking action, and being serious about the reforms on Wall Street that are needed.

Is this news or an editorial? Couric and Letterman played "Gotcha" semantics....not a big deal...this can be done with anyone. They obviously hate McCain and Palin, and the audience can sense that....this won't affect the outcome of the election.

Ha! Ha! What a funny Obama campaign piece poorly disguised as media analysis. You Liberals in the media and wack jobs in the entertainment business exist in your own little world communicating with each other, trying to reassure yourselves that your views are shared by mainsteam Americans. What a shock November 5 will bring when Mccain gets 55% of the vote and you try to figure out what went wrong. Letterman is a has been and Couric never was. Who cares what they think?

Actually, folks like Letterman routinely address millions of American each night, and for most newspapers like the Sun, it is hundreds of thousands of readers. Not exactly our "own little world communicating with each other." In MSM, you don't communicate with a mass audience these days, you die. Kaput, end of media outlet. Thanks. Z

I'd like to further add that, if the Sun ever wants to actually grow their reader base, consider some balance on this issue by appointing an editorial/writer to cover it opposite the far left feelings of this writer...maybe one day media outlets will learn from why Fox dominates in ratings, like them or not.

Actually, we are growing it online with blogs like this. And as you can see, it is not going too badly. As for Fox dominating, what exactly do they dominate? Please be specific. They do not have any shows that draws a larger audience than the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric, for example, which is the lowest rated of the three network newscasts -- you know, the so-called dinosaurs. So, what do they dominate again? Thanks. Z

Bottom Lie: McCain got caught in a lie.
He personally told Letterman that he was canceling Letterman's show to go to Washington when he was going to another CBS studio in New York. And he told the whole nation he was suspending his campaign, but did the Couric interview anyway.

This was a lie so obvious and transparent he couldn't hope to get away with it. That makes him either stupid or so egotistical that he thinks the American people are stupid.

I figure he's counting on the race being close enough in a few key states for the Republican machine to rig a win in this election as it did in 2000 and 2004. They've had four more years to perfect their tactics.

Palin is simply not knowledgeable, thoughtful, insightful, well read, or "qualified" enough to be the VP of the USA. Please people, this is absurd. This is serious business. This country is in melt down mode. Why are we even considering this numb skull to lead? There should be some sort of rudimentary exam given before people are nominated for the office of President/VP. This is a complete embarrassment. She brings nothing to the table. I am in shock. What's next, my Aunt Betty from Peoria for Secretary of State? She watches the "Travel Channel".

Is this specific enough to see how Fox dominates in the Cable news ratings? http://tvbythenumbers.com/2008/09/23/monday-night-football-the-closer-and-saturday-ncaa-football-lead-cable-viewing/5268#more-5268

Perhaps you can also agree, that you are a democrat who almost always votes democrat (cite exceptions if any) and that the Sun doesn't cover a fair and balanced news approach., and that their revenues and readers have declined steadily for years now. (Can you post those figures) Thx

Cable news is not what you said, my friend. You said dominates news, and that is not true. And on big events -- like primary nights and debates -- Fox does not dominate even in the cable universe. Fox does well in the ratings. But dominate, no. Sorry. Again, I believe in facts. Facts trump ideology. You can say stuff like Fox doiminates in news, and then we can look for facts that establish the truth. And then, we can have an informed discussion, rather than a crackpot one. Thanks. Z

I'm a Republican and likely to support McCain in the election, although as a public relations professional I have to admit that the top of the GOP's ticket didn't do so well yesterday. It's remarkable to me that John McCain, a PR professional by training, would personally call David Letterman and give him the "rushing off to Washington, DC" line and then go to the Couric interview. He should know better.

As for the "gotcha" interview question concerning the "Great Depression" line (for both McCain and Palin), both politicians should have been briefed and skilled enough to handle things better than they did. Whether the problems are to be found in the candidates or with their handlers, this campaign is clearly not going to go down in the record books as a media triumph.

I guess I'm confused as to why McCain didn't go ahead and send Palin in to the Letterman interview and go to Washington as he said he would. Certainly, no one would expect the questions coming from Letterman to be more difficult or embarrassing than what Gov. Palin is prepping for from Joe Biden, would they? My guess is that Letterman would have been a gracious host (to avoid looking like an opportunistic bully at the very least) and the whole thing would have been a non-event.

The whole thing has been very poorly played by the Republicans.

Hi Mike, Thanks so much for this analysis from a PR professional. It is really helpful in focusing the conversation away from pure ideology and party affiliation to the basics of image-making and media identity. That is exactly what I meant in my post when I said it was a bad day for the candidates, and their appearances (or lack of an appearance) may have hurt the ticket. Thanks for the expertise and insight. Z

Wow, I didn't realize how many of the dogmatic deniers live read the Baltimore Sun! Now I know where the remnant 30% of the Bush/Rove/evangelist/Neocon conspiracy -- the Fact Free Nation -- live. Good luck with that bitterness, folks.

I think McCain's idea of postponing the debate to save the country was really a smoke screen hiding the real purpose: to make sure that Palin never has to debate Biden. I heard on NPR this a.m. that if the Pres debate were postponed, they would use the Oct. 2 date to make it up--the date the vp candidates were supposed to debate. Who believes the vp debate would be rescheduled between Oct.2 and Election Day?

I have to comment on jj's response about her Palin vs her Aunt Betty. It truly made me laugh out loud. At this point, I would vote for your Aunt Betty - does she watch the History Channel too? That's an added bonus. On another note, if McCain would have jumped on a plane immediately to Washington Wednesday AM instead of sticking around to speak to Katie Couric, then it wouldn't have looked like such a bold-face lie. For those that don't know, Letterman isn't live - it tapes in the afternoon - he showed McCain in the building prepping for his interview with Couric while the Letterman show was going on. He totally had time to do both and could have used the opportunity to talk about the economy to a different audience. Besides, his trip to Washington was too little to late. Dodd and Frank already had made tremendous strides in coming up with a legislative solution. McCain has to debate Obama and stand up in front of the American people and answer for all of his lies, his latest to David Letterman who has his own television show, you fool! Four more years. Enough!

Hello. May I call you Madame? Good point on Letterman taping in the afternoon. I was thinking like a business insider that everybody knew that, but you are the one who is right, and of course they do not. So thanks for making that clear. And I agree: If he had rushed off to D.C., it would have been much harder for Letterman to ridicule him. Z

David, your reply above cites exactly what is wrong with the Sun. You obvioulsy are a far left voter who seems agitated that someone doesn't agree with your politics. You have yet to answer any questions about admitting your left leaning democratic approach to your article and likely writing in general. You would hate to admit that Fox does in fact dominate in Cable news ratings (No other news networks else in the top 10...that's dominating, my friend...probably makes you cringe!) You also neglect to show the Sun's declining reader-base figures/declining revenues. If the Sun were to have a writer to balance your democratic approach, it would in fact help the bottom line. But we understand that the writer's/paper's ideology is too strong to admit that.

Ok, my friend, I know this might be hard to follow. Let me try again real slow. Go to the right hand rail of this blog and click on September archive. Then, go to the post in that archive that says "MSNBC Paying for Its Olbermann Sins." After you read that, move to the next one under the headline: "Is Moyers the Olbermann of PBS?" Then, try "Franken a foolish choice for SNL to tap." Okay, can you follow that? After you havedone that, I will be happy to entertain and respond to any more comments you might wish to make about a liberal bias. Can I speak to you like adult? Try doing 10 minutes of simple research before you post your next comment. You will be shocked at how informed it will seem compared to everything else you have posted today. I am just being straight with you. Or you can keep pounding out uninformed comments and sound like a fool. Up to you. Z

Anyone who watches this interview with Katie and thinks that Palin is qualified, needs to have their heads examined. She is obviously a shallow fish trying to swim in the deep. All of her answers to questions are rambling, non specific jibberish. When she finishes you wind up asking yourself "Huh?" Shes totally without knowledge and if you hear her explanation of her foreign credentials its a real joke. People, dont be fooled by the woman behind the lipstick. Shes a big phony.

I love how all of the McCain/Palin supporters have such selective memory when it comes to the MSM reporting on Obama/Biden. None of you seem to remember the scrutiny that Obama has faced over the last eight months or you just choose to ignore it. That is when you're not busy whining about the media's bias. These are the same people racing to their soap box about the lip stick comment. Wake up guys. Face the fact that you're candidate was RUNNER UP to the loser in the white house TWICE!! I heard all of your same rhetoric four years ago, and four years before that. McCain couldn't change his Depends much less the country!

Although Couric mis-stated the Palin remarks, what would you expect from the Leftist network? Couric actually lied to McCain about Palin's comments but the real A$$ is Letterman. What a cheapshot artist. Is it for laughs or is he trying to swing an election for a true incompetent? And we all know who the incompetent is..... Mr Community organizer - RIGHT! Give me proven leadership everytime. McCain all the way even with the mainstream media doing everything in their power to get a black man into the oval office. It's obvious that integrity is not a prerequisite to work on the Hussein Obama's stations.

It was not in interview......it was a debate. I am not interested in Katie Couric's platform

Palin On Foreign Policy " CBS Interview

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nokTjEdaUGg

Make it go viral!!
the ENTIRE interview was this horrible for Palin.....she is clueless...

hahahahahahahahahah.....republicans, are these 2 idiots the best you have to offer...oh, thats right...BUSH is! Ignorant leading the ignorant.

Hmmm ... I don't know whether McCain was right or wrong to want to drop out of the planned debate at the last minute (so to speak).
I do, though, find it strange that he just then noticed that the country was having a problem and that Congress was trying to decide what to do about it.
(The rest of us have known that for quite a while, John.)

Palin On Foreign Policy " CBS Interview

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nokTjEdaUGg

there is no spin or bias to this answer..this is this was a bad interview for palin

I e-mailed this message to Ms. Couric earlier today. I was very disappointed in the Sarah Palin interview yesterday, 9/24/08. Americans are trying to get to know her but Katie Couric seemed to have a different agenda for us yesterday afternoon. I saw a very biased political tactic emerge from the interviewer which is the last thing I expected from Ms. Couric. She asked Sarah Palin if (paraphrased) "there's a risk of another great depression" (if a proposed solution doesn't pass I suppose she meant). Ms. Palin confirmed that the possibility of a depression could unfold. Later in the afternoon, Ms. Couric reported that it was Sarah Palin who said we could be headed into a depression and "is that what our country needs to hear right now?" Katie clearly put the words "great depression" into Ms. Palin's mouth by the way she asked the question!! and then, in a critical tone, Ms. Couric implied that Sarah initiated this hysteria inducing verbage. That's not ethical journalism. Ms. Couric also pressed Sarah Palin on the issue of Sen. McCain accepting campaign money from a Freddy Mac lobbyist. "Isn't that a conflict of interest?" Katie asked. Sarah had already explained her grasp of the situation, but, it seemed like Ms. Couric simply wanted to corner Sarah into agreeing with her rhetorical question and then Ms. Palin's answer would in effect accuse the Senator. That seriously looks like manipulative and deceptive interviewing tactics. Ms. Couric should have the courage to accuse the Senator to his face if she is so inclined. It was an ignoble shot at Sarah who was obviously not expecting that kind of biased drilling. Ms. Palin's time could have been much better spent discussing how she plans to tackle both the economy and other concerns of greater national interest. That is of far greater importance to me and countless others. What I want to know is: has Ms. Couric decided, like so many of our other unethical news sources, that the viewing public is really so gullible? What is her motivation to engage in this kind of hard ball which I would not call fair, honest, and pure journalism that serves the viewing audience. This also hurts Ms. Couric's crediblity with viewers because we are looking for an impartial, insightful professional to help us discern between the ugly politics and the true hearts of those who are trying to lead our country. I sincerely hope that Ms. Couric will consider this and refocus on becoming a champion for the American viewer's needs and not the network's interests, her own, or a political party's. We desperately need credible, unbiased news sources!

McCain has demonstrated repeatedly during this campaign that he is not only out of touch but reckless. His judgment in selecting Gov. Palin as his running mate is mind boggling. To listen to her interview was painful. It's not only experience she lacks. She doesn't even have a rudimentary understanding of the issues facing America today.

McCain has seriously put America at risk with his VP selection. Does he think Americans are idiots? If his lack of judgment and her lack of substantive command on the issues weren't so frightening it would be laughable!

Wake up America! Obama '08

the fact that people are willing to defend mccain and palin are the things that disgust me. the media has NOT been friendly to obama. if mccain is being present poorly its because he is a poor candidate. i take issue with the fact that palin can't speak without uttering the word "maverick."

their campaign is an embarrassment.

How pompus is John Mc Cain? To believe that the all the people who are already working on this mess -could never complete a solution without him swooping in and saving the day. I am not saying the Obama is perfect, or that he makes all of the right decisions, but I also think he has confidence in his fellow senators to pound out this deal. I am neither Dem or Rep - I believe that we need both parties and it is time for a DEM.

Just more angry liberal propaganda...yawn.

Thanks for for breaking your pose of psuedo-sophistication long enough to comment. Z

I have to say I came across this article from a link on google as searching for news on the palin couric interview. It is refreshing to read something that truly analyzes what is really going on here without having to endure a "fox news" type spin. It should be aparently obvious from anyone with half a brain to realize that McCains campaign is an absolute joke. Palin is so woefully unqualified that is actually scares me to think that she could be the vice president. McCain doesnt tell the truth, pure and simple. Letterman called this for what it is, a political stunt. The fact that they would do this in the face of the enormous challenges facing our country shows he is not up for the task.

Im a registered Republican by the way.

Everyone that watches Katie Couric raise your hand....

Ok... you can put your hands down...both of you....

Anyway, what is the media, like this "Z on TV" clown going to do when McCain wins in a landslide?...all their propoganda and their bias fails ONCE AGAIN.

Hey Z, can't you realize that us intelligent people see right through your bias and left wing agenda? Get a real job as you and your colleagues have destroyed your own profession. 2008=The year journalism officially died.

Let me get this straight.
If a pundit asks Palin or McSame a question they cannot answer, they are in the tank for Obama? Don't Americans want a smart leader???

The reason Obama is not made to "look stupid" by the media is because...He knows the answers because he is intelligent, and aware of the world (outside of Alaska and private jet flying, 16 car driving, 7 house owning McCain).

Listen guys, do we really want another uneducated, centrist, gun toting warrior for president? (McCain graduated 96th out of 100 and Palin got a Journalism degree after attending 5 schools, graduating laudy laudy)...
REALLY? I mean, Really? Heck, if someone is just like me, I'm not sure I could or should be president if that's the hook.

David, your reply above cites exactly what is wrong with the Sun. You obvioulsy are a far left voter who seems agitated that someone doesn't agree with your politics. You have yet to answer any questions about admitting your left leaning democratic approach to your article and likely writing in general. You would hate to admit that Fox does in fact dominate in Cable news ratings (No other news networks else in the top 10...that's dominating, my friend...probably makes you cringe!) You also neglect to show the Sun's declining reader-base figures/declining revenues. If the Sun were to have a writer to balance your democratic approach, it would in fact help the bottom line. But we understand that the writer's/paper's ideology is too strong to admit that.

Ok, my friend, I know this might be hard to follow. Let me try again real slow. Go to the right hand rail of this blog and click on September archive. Then, go to the post in that archive that says "MSNBC Paying for Its Olbermann Sins." After you read that, move to the next one under the headline: "Is Moyers the Olbermann of PBS?" Then, try "Franken a foolish choice for SNL to tap." Okay, can you follow that? After you havedone that, I will be happy to entertain and respond to any more comments you might wish to make about a liberal bias. Can I speak to you like adult? Try doing 10 minutes of simple research before you post your next comment. You will be shocked at how informed it will seem compared to everything else you have posted today. I am just being straight with you. Or you can keep pounding out uninformed comments and sound like a fool. Up to you. Z

Posted

David: Your resorting to name calling (how's that for professionalism?) once again demonstrates your far left ideology, where you neglect to answer any of the questions about your political views. This is very common for someone who leans far one way or another. Instead of admitting your strong left bias, you cite ignorance and name call. I thought you'd be more noble than that! You knock THE FACT that Fox news had 3 programs in the top 20 of the Nielson ratings, where NO OTHER NEWS STATION HAD A SINGLE SHOW IN THE TOP 20, and that's not dominating? Your refusal to admit the far left lean of the Sun paper is precisely what keeps the Sun from growing as a news publication to the next level.

From the Washington Post:

"Palin has been interviewed by Charles Gibson of ABC News and Sean Hannity of Fox News, but she has held no news conferences and has responded to exactly one question from the reporters who follow her around the country. Since Palin's selection was announced Aug. 29, Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr., the Democratic vice presidential nominee, has held four news conferences and granted 89 interviews, sitting for Couric, "Meet the Press" and The Washington Post, among others."

Honestly, this is disgraceful. Americans have a right to know what these nominees are all about, what they believe and how they will govern.

Also, to those of you saying that Palin's strength lies in her charm (rather than anything more substantive), I'd like to remind you that one of the reasons people cited voting for Bush is that he was the type of guy you could "sit down and have a beer with." I don't want to sit down and have a beer with the most powerful man or woman in the U.S. I want them to be able to govern effectively.

The people who are attacking Katie Couric for asking sound, objective questions represent what's wrong with this country. The public school system has churned out generations of dimwits across the United States. They can't assess things from an objective, analytical point of view.

Here is an absolute. Sarah Palin is a lightweight. Did you analyze her answers over the last two days? Most of them aren't complete sentences. What's worse she's using incorrect grammar half the time. Finally, she heaps together whatever she can remember from her tutorial sessions without whatever comes off the top of her head to give incomprehensible answers.
It has been said you get the government you deserve. If the McCain ticket wins, heaven help all of us.

As a Canadian who has no real stake in this game, I nonetheless admit to watching this US election with considerable interest. By any measure Ms. Palin has stumbled badly in both the Couric and Gibson interviews. She appears to have memorized a number of phrases and concepts but has no clear understanding of the issues of which one would expect the VP of the US to have a strong working knowledge. This is evidenced by her disjointed, and at times nonsensical, comments. At times in both interviews I have found myself squirming in my seat out of embarrassment for her.

It would seem the best strategy for the democrats would be to get her talking whenever possible. LIstening to her would be quite amusing if it wasn't so sad.

Science is all about discovering the truth, as much and as best as we can. In recent decades, the Republicans have been extremely disappointing in their disregard and abuse of science and truth. They denied that global warming was happening, apparently for the sake of their "friends" in the oil industry. Oil no doubt played a role in why we invaded Iraq. They wish to teach Intelligent Design in science classes. This is not the Republican party of fiscal conservatism and responsibility and intelligence that I once knew and supported. I hoped McCain, the maverick outsider and reformer, would break from this recent lurch into patently wrong thinking, this pervasive intellectual dishonesty and anti-intellectualism. His choice of Palin shows that he is going to continue taking the Republican party down this pit of lying and delusion. Palin wants Intelligent Design taught and denies that we are causing global warming. These are both issues that science can address, and have answered. Evolution may never be perfect, but nothing else even comes close to fitting the facts we have. And there's no question we are causing global warming.

As just one example of what I'm talking about with intellectual dishonesty is the accusation another poster made that the current economic mess is all Clinton's fault because he loosened up regulations. But for 6 years after Clinton, the Republicans controlled the House, the Senate, and the Presidency. They could have reversed this damage, and they didn't. How can that poster honestly blame Clinton for something that happened under the other party's watch, years after they took complete control? That's the kind of dishonest thinking that is killing the party of self-reliance, prudence, and good business.

I'm a Republican and it is evident that McCain missed with Palin. Hopefullly the Republicans will do the right thing and vote for Obama (as much as it pains me). What a disaster.

Okay, so McCain suddenly realizes that our economy is in a mess. So much so, in fact, that it is all of a sudden Zero Hour and all of Wall Street is going to self-implode in a matter of minutes. He must make the biggest sacrifice he can and postpone, possibly even cancel, the debates to single-handedly save us all! This kind of reminds me of one of those old Superman serials where Clark has to sacrifice his date with Lois in order to don the cape and save the bus full of children. Spare me. Seems awful convenient, especially since I've been having a tough time with employment for the past year (with 2 degrees under my belt, and NOT in Art History, thank you) and the terrible economy is no new news to lowly ole me who's just simply trying to live some semblance of a quality life. This is just another bad decision of his in an endless stream of bad decisions.

So, what's next on the agenda? Postponing the election? Getting our buddy Dubya some extra playing time like we all feared he was going to try and pull? Like I said, seems awful convenient. I've actually been saying that a lot these past 8 years. Well, that and "I told you so." Looks like I'll have another 4 years of repeating the same mantras because McCain is definitely getting the presidency (if and when it happens). Why wouldn't he? This is America. We love to make mockeries of the things that we should be cherishing and honoring. And this isn't liberal or socialist (getting real sick of that one) propaganda. It's reading between the billions of lines and having an inkling of common sense. Oh, and having my head removed from my rear helps, too.

I just can not believe
that the american public
can not see past the smoke and mirror show that Obama is putting out there. I want to know how many days he has actually worked by in congress and how many votes he has actual cast. Cspan use to carry all of that info. I was a life long Democratic until Obama-now I have no other choice to admit that yes, I have seen the light and I will vote for Mccain/Palin.

I'm completely & totally perplexed that there are citizens out there who honestly believe that Palin (& therefore, McCain) should be elected to the White House. It blows my mind. In general, this woman has NO IDEA what she's talking about, and seriously scares the crap out of me.

Oh My Gosh! "it was a day when the industry did its job well and served the voters of a troubled nation with a revealing look at two if its candidates."
ARE YOU KIDDING ME???? This is SICK!!!! Obama is a PAID senator and he is supposed to RESPOND to this crisis in person, not say - "call me if you need me". For cryin' out loud, no wonder there is a money crisis in Washington... with the likes of him! If my job summoned me and I said, "I'm busy with a campaign, but you know how to find me, so call if you need me" I think my boss might just tell me what I could do with that attitude and what I could do with the job I just gave up. Good Grief!! Something is terribly wrong with our media these days - both on TV and in print. They are so far out of touch with reality. Nobody I KNOW would think this was a good job done by Katie and David Letterman... They would be appalled at best.

I don't know why Sarah Palin would waste her time with Couric. Couric was so unfair with her "gotta" questions.
Sarah Palin would be a much better president than Obama. His ties to Rev. Wright disqualify him. He thinks we are stupid when he says he went there to church for 20 years and never heard Wright with all his anti-american and anti-white talk.
Come on people, open your eyes. I believe he is a socialist and wants to redistribute all our incomes. He says he will cut taxes for 95% of the people, but almost half don't even pay taxes.

Are Palin and Miss South Caroline kin?

http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=lj3iNxZ8Dww

Dear right wingnuts,

its over. thanks for playing.

As a previously staunch Republican voter, I am sickened by the lies and posturing I have seen in this campaign. I am one woman who is not impressed by Sarah Palin. She is clearly unqualified not only on a global level, but on a national level. I am sure she is a nice woman, but she carries baggage that we will not have time to get resolved, thanks to Mr. McCain's end-run, an insult to all women, whether they realize it or not. "Nominate a woman - they'll all vote for her, no matter how unqualified and incapable." His arrogance is, that at 72, he will be around and effective for one whole term, possibly two?

I'm voting Dem for the first time in my life. God help this country.

As a previously staunch Republican voter, I am sickened by the lies and posturing I have seen in this campaign. I am one woman who is not impressed by Sarah Palin. She is clearly unqualified not only on a global level, but on a national level. I am sure she is a nice woman, but she carries baggage that we will not have time to get resolved, thanks to Mr. McCain's end-run, an insult to all women, whether they realize it or not. "Nominate a woman - they'll all vote for her, no matter how unqualified and incapable." His arrogance is, that at 72, he will be around and effective for one whole term, possibly two?

I'm voting Dem for the first time in my life. God help this country.

reading some of these emails makes me realize how dumb Americans are.They are the same dummies that elected Mr. Bush. Now they bash Obama a cool person in a crisis for an idiot like McCain. How many of you know that McCain graduated fifth from the bottom in a class of 900 at Annapolis and that was only the beginning of his stupidity. He is a politician and we do not need a politician in the White House. At least Obama has a brain.

"I'm a uniter, not a divider" - GW Bush Junior

On Sept. 12th, 2001 George Bush and all of those that voted for the Iraq Invasion plundered unheard of unity. Never before has ALL humanity been so drawn together than on Sept. 11th, 2001. Domestic and international. You all saw the support around the globe.

But then, Bush and McCain's Invasion of Iraq not only erased that unity, but they turned millions against the USA and have divided this nation deeply. For those " 'Mericans" out there that continue to hold that "go it alone" attitude and say who cares what anyone else thinks, then sorry to say, you have bigger problems at home because the division Bush gauged into our comrades is huge. That is his legacy.

Regardless of your partisanship, that division and the reason for that division cannot be disputed.

Afghanistan should be well on its way to a tourist destination, but it is losing ground again.

McCain voted for this Invasion, Obama did not. Obama showed proper judgment, McCain did not.

Voting against the Invasion does not show weakness towards the fight against terrorism. The greatest myth the Republicans are trying to hold onto is that somehow left-leaning ideas are weak on national security. Complete bunk!

The McPain ticket is pulling another shallow political stunt. As McCain "races" to Washington with his cape, his pawn states, "America is waiting to hear what John McCain has to say about the bailout, not Barrack Obama" - Sarah Palin.

What!? --- let's all say that like condescending Rudy Gioulianni

What is the difference between Bush and Palin?

lipstick

Good G--D... People please wake up! or else we're all gonna get the government we deserve...which ain't saying much, considering we let GWB remain as prez for two terms..oh, and btw, when FOX news personalities lambast "the horrible, biased media", just what does that make FOX? I mean, RMurdoch owns Media, and he owns Fox..therefore, FOX is part of THE Media....or, does media suddenly not include them??? puhleeeeeze...

Dear Greg, may I first start out by saying I found the intro to your post quiet quaint. I enjoyed your attempt at humor. I say “attempt” because I found the rest of your post equally as funny, though I don’t believe you intended it to be. I’m also going to venture a guess to say you didn’t watch the interviews, which means that you didn’t see Palin flounder at the simple topic of foreign policy. While I admire your blind faith in a candidate, I might ask you and those intelligent people you referred to (could both of you raise your hands?) to occasionally turn on the TV and hear what your party is actually saying before you attack all of journalism.

Oh, and by the way, the phrase is “by a landslide” not “in a landslide.” When in a landslide, no one wins.

Palin should be able to spin anything, and in particular, should be prepared to answer questions about deregulation, and McCain's record on it -- her handlers failed her. She still scores an F... she should have known these questions would be asked, and should have been able to spin "maverick" rhetoric on such a fundamental GOP idea.

At this point tv reporters have to be more than just journalists- they have to be entertaining and I am really proud of how smart those two turned out to be. Show America what they could end up with- respectable, whether they had targeted McCain or Obama. Its good for candidates to be challenged- so as for all these republicans freaking out on you, Z, I ask what are they worried about? If their candidate is the right one then some silly reporters shouldn't be able to bring them down (despite the ratings)

Ok, you want to hammer on Palin? Where is this wonderful, hard-hitting journalism when it comes to the idotic, incorrect and completely laughable comments made by Mr. Biden? Haven't heard one word from the "mainstream" big hitters about the BS that spills out of that man's mouth.

After watching the disdain that Couric had for Palin, I can only say that Couric is not just a poor newsman, she is hideous.

McCian/Palin will win so get used to them and democrats firgure it out no one buys your message... the media has lost all credability with well minded americans so none of this really matters americans really only believe the media when it comes to huricane coverage and entertainment news and that is the saddest casualty of this election. We are not FREE without a FREE press. We need to legislate affirmative action in the press 45% R, 45% D and 10% other it is the only chance we have.

....the last 2 years under Dem control and what, nada!!!

McCain/Palin - What a sadomasochist pair
And the women of North America supporting her?? You should be ashamed of your selves if you even have one. Wake up and get a mind and hold on to your body you're starting to look like a remake of the Stepford Wives

Something that many of you are missing is that the MCCAIN CAMPAIGN PICKS WHO GETS TO INTERVIEW PALIN. That means they though Couric, of all journalists, was going to be one of the more friendly and forgiving as Palin.

She didn't bait Palin into the subject of McCain's record. Palin voluntarily went into the wrong soundbite about McCain's economic stance in the past. All Couric did was ask her to specify what she's talking about. So, not only was Palin wrong in saying what she said, she dug herself deeper and deeper in a hole by doing so.

That's GREAT journalism, and I'm excited beyond all reason that our free press is PRESSING our potential leaders for information. Palin and McCain don't appear to have any to give us, or at least, any that we can't automatically write off as false.

Something that many of you are missing is that the MCCAIN CAMPAIGN PICKS WHO GETS TO INTERVIEW PALIN. That means they though Couric, of all journalists, was going to be one of the more friendly and forgiving as Palin.

She didn't bait Palin into the subject of McCain's record. Palin voluntarily went into the wrong soundbite about McCain's economic stance in the past. All Couric did was ask her to specify what she's talking about. So, not only was Palin wrong in saying what she said, she dug herself deeper and deeper in a hole by doing so.

That's GREAT journalism, and I'm excited beyond all reason that our free press is PRESSING our potential leaders for information. Palin and McCain don't appear to have any to give us, or at least, any that we can't automatically write off as false.

How does Sarah Palin know about the amended bailout oroposal which she divulged to Couric in an interview on Tuesday if McCain hasn't even written it until after his interview on Wednesday?

Katie Couric is a biased newswoman who puts words into the mouths of her interviewer. I studied journalism at the University of Missouri and know that true, ethical journalism asks questions which give the interviewee an opportunity to express THEIR views. Instead, Katie Couric expresses her views (or desire to cut down the candidate) in the forms of her questions, asking closed, biased questions which give us no opportunity to get to know the candidate. It is horrible journalism, and the liberal media hold her up to be a venerable newswoman. Incredible. The media clearly want Obama to win, and they do not ask the tough questions of him about his dangerous associations and policies. He is a socialist who will wreck our economy and our culture with his proposed 'youth camps' and other such government funded programs. Americans should be terrified of this and wanting at all costs to preserve our freedoms, which he will take away through the brainwashing of our younger generation.

Katie Couric is a biased newswoman who puts words into the mouths of her interviewee. I studied journalism at the University of Missouri and know that true, ethical journalism asks questions which give the interviewee an opportunity to express THEIR views. Instead, Katie Couric expresses her views (or desire to cut down the candidate) in the forms of her questions, asking closed, biased questions which give us no opportunity to get to know the candidate. It is horrible journalism, and the liberal media hold her up to be a venerable newswoman. Incredible. The media clearly want Obama to win, and they do not ask the tough questions of him about his dangerous associations and policies. He is a socialist who will wreck our economy and our culture with his proposed 'youth camps' and other such government funded programs. Americans should be terrified of this and wanting at all costs to preserve our freedoms, which he will take away through the brainwashing of our younger generation.

Couric is much better as an interviewer than as an anchorwoman. Unlike Charles Gibson, Couric seemed more assertive in her questioning of Palin, and it was a much more revealing interview for the tv audience. Both, McCain and Palin, came off as being ill-prepared for their interviews and the latter came across as incompetent. I think I'll start watching The CBS Evening News more so than ABC.

To all Americans who lack the ability to discern between a great future President in Barack Obama and a great American war hero John McCain,who lacks total credibility & would be a disaster as President of the United States,I cannot wait until November 4 to see the look on all your faces as Barack Obama accepts the Presidency of the United States!

Wow! As a Canadian, I feel sorry for you guy's down south. When I first saw Palin and heard her speak I was somewhat impressed by her enthusiasm and spunk. However, as time went by and after listening to the Curic interview tonight I have only this to say: God help the American people if McCain is elected. Even if you give her some credit for being "green" and nervous, there is absolutely nothing that can raise her above being the Mayor of a small town. The thought that Palin could one day become President of the 2nd greatest nation on earth is so completely and utterly frightening. Good luck to you all if you vote for McCain.

Dishonest , Unfair ??? ... You have just described the McCain Campaign ... or debacle , or disaster , or whatever you can try to call it now .
Their "Campaign" theme song should be "The Wreck of the Edmond Fitzgerald" by Gordon Lightfoot

Dishonest , Unfair ??? ... You have just described the McCain Campaign ... or debacle , or disaster , or whatever you can try to call it now .
Their "Campaign" theme song should be "The Wreck of the Edmond Fitzgerald" by Gordon Lightfoot

What do you expect people to ask Palin? Where did you get your nails done? Name one thing you have to bring to a Moose hunt? Come on, she doesn't know crap and she 's not the type that can keep uninteresting stuff like foreign policy and economics in her head. She'd rather read Cosmopolitan than wasting what little brain cells she have left on remembering what McCain is for or against. She probably tells her husband that McCain smells. She should just hide herself. The McCain campaign was smart to hide her. Just hide till after the election. If you still want to win, hide her, and while you're at it hide McCain too. Oh wait he is already hiding... But no think of something that can get you going. Say... McCain why don't you make up some more stuff like you are really sick. Or just say some Obama supporter tried to assassinate you because you were winning in the polls or they are jealous you have a hot chick by your side and they don't. And just sit back and watch your polls rise while the dumb voters, I mean ones that are actually dumb and not like you of course, because I believe you are pretty creative, just not as creative as I am. And let the dumb, emotional, uneducated, blind, illogical, bush voter push your polls back up. I think that is your best chance. Shake it up some more. I am so addicted to see what you are going to do next that I only read about you and Palin. I just love seeing her fumble. They should make this into a movie. Or better yet, a tv series. I won't be voting for you because I still want America to be a power house and not turn into Russia over night. Imagine all those countries we beat up on while we were strong. Man I would hate to see them gang up on us. I'm sure you won't want that to happen either. And you know you can't do crap when you become president. You've already lost all respect as a decent human being. Yes the whole world was watching you. Who's going trust someone or a nation lead by someone who can't stop lying. You are like that guy in lier lier. But I love the entertainment you and Palin bring me. I thank you for that. Oh and if you do by chance become president, make sure you save a nuclear war head for ourselves in case we get into more wars and our dollar isn't worth crap and we have no money to fight all the enemies Bush made us. So we should bomb ourselves as a last option so that we don't get taken alive by those damn terrorist wanna-be that we annihilated for the wrong reason.

I found the Palin interview with Katie Couric eerily reminiscent of the Miss Teen USA meltdown. Judge for yourself:

Palin "That's why I say I, like every American I'm speaking with, we're ill about this position that we have been put in where it is the taxpayers looking to bail out. But ultimately, what the bailout does is help those who are concerned about the healthcare reform that is needed to help shore up our economy. Um, helping, oh -- it's got to be all about job creation too. Shoring up our economy, and putting it back on the right track. So healthcare reform and reducing taxes and reining in spending has got to accompany tax reductions, and tax relief for Americans, and trade, we've got to see trade as opportunity, not as a competitive, um, scary thing, but 1 in 5 jobs being created in the trade sector today. We've got to look at that as more opportunity. All of those things under the umbrella of job creation. This bailout is a part of that."

Miss Teen USA "I personally believe that U.S. Americans are unable to do so because some people out there in our nation don't have maps. And, I believe that our education, like such as in South Africa and the Iraq, everywhere like such as. . . And, I believe they should our education over here, in the U.S. should help the U.S. or should help South Africa or should help the Iraq and Asian countries, so we will be able to build our future for us."

Just remember:
Who started Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac? -DEMOCRATS.
Who ran Freddie and Fannie into a ditch? -DEMOCRATS.
Who intimidated mortgage companies to make questionable loans? -DEMOCRATS.
What party do most of the CEO of the failed investment firms belong? -DEMOCRATIC.
Who blocked legislation and ignored warnings about Freddie and Fannie in 2005? -DEMOCRATS.
Who said just two months ago Fannie and Freddie were in good shape? Chris Dodd (D) and Barney Frank (D) -DEMOCRATS.
Who has blocked domestic production of oil, clean coal, shale, nuclear etc.? -DEMOCRATS.
Who want to raise taxes during an economic crisis -DEMOCRATS.

You're going to need more than Hollywood operatives to try and erase these deeds. Well done, do-nothing Congress - orange jumpsuits for all of you!

One of the real delights of reading some of the comments to this post it seeing the contortions that conservative writers, with their love of the almighty marketplace and deregulation, are now bending themselves and their arguments into in a pitiful attempt to try and pin what could become the greatest economic calamity since 1929 on Democrats. Z

First time I have ever read your comments: I am speechless. About all I can think of to say is "Here's Your Sign." Keep up the good work. We all need entertainment at times, the sad part is some mindless dupe will absorb your dribble as enlightening and factual.

I just feel sorry for those who are so in denial that they keep making excuses for McCain/Palin. Stop being ignorant! Pull it together and realize that if these two people run this country, it's going to be the same crap as the last 8 years, except at some point, after McCain dies, the country will be led by a former beauty queen who knows little to nothing about what she is doing. Then we'll all be in (more?) trouble.

Whether a democrat or a republican, after watching Palin's performance with Katie Couric, people can agree that her lack of knowledge, articulation, and ease in the interview was strikingly apparent. The fact of the matter is that if she cannot handle and manuever herself in a television appearance what does this mean for her possible future in the white house? Also besides the Couric and Gibson interviews, I have yet to see her perform in a way that is consistent with other candidates in the presidential campaign. The McCain campaign seems to be limiting her appearances to standing for photos or seen shaking hands with other notable figures (Kissinger.) What does that say about her reputation if she is censored or protected from voicing her opinions or is allowed less participation compared to her male counterparts? If this is to potentially be a monumental feat for women in politics, then I would say it seems to be just a ceremonial way of acknowledging a female in the vice presidential position rather than an actual qualified and competent female for the job.

Whether a democrat or a republican, after watching Palin's performance with Katie Couric, people can agree that her lack of knowledge, articulation, and ease in the interview was strikingly apparent. The fact of the matter is that if she cannot handle and manuever herself in a television appearance what does this mean for her possible future in the white house? Also besides the Couric and Gibson interviews, I have yet to see her perform in a way that is consistent with other candidates in the presidential campaign. The McCain campaign seems to be limiting her appearances to standing for photos or seen shaking hands with other notable figures (Kissinger.) What does that say about her reputation if she is censored or protected from voicing her opinions or is allowed less participation compared to her male counterparts? If this is to potentially be a monumental feat for women in politics, then I would say it seems to be just a ceremonial way of acknowledging a female in the vice presidential position rather than an actual qualified and competent female for the job.

If Obama was asked the same questions would he do any better??? Only in the cocaine-soaked minds of the left wing media. Let's hold judgement until Obama has to 'wing it' in a debate; it could get VERY ugly!

Hey Amy "The Liberal" R. (from above) - Do your research before throwing up on yourself -

Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 - and The Clinton Administration Changes of 1995

In 1995, as a result of interest from President Bill Clinton's administration, the implementing regulations for the CRA were strengthened by focusing the financial regulators' attention on institutions' performance in helping to meet community credit needs.

These revisions with an effective starting date of January 31, 1995 were credited with substantially increasing the number and aggregate amount of loans to small businesses and to low- and moderate-income borrowers for home loans. These changes were very controversial and as a result, the regulators agreed to revisit the rule after it had been fully implemented for seven years. Thus in 2002, the regulators opened up the regulation for review and potential revision.

Part of the increase in home loans was due to increased efficiency and the genesis of lenders, like Countrywide, that do not mitigate loan risk with savings deposits as do traditional banks using the new subprime authorization. This is known as the secondary market for mortgage loans. The revisions allowed the securitization of CRA loans containing subprime mortgages. The first public securitization of CRA loans started in 1997 by Bear Stearns. The number of CRA mortgage loans increased by 39 percent between 1993 and 1998, while other loans increased by only 17 percent.

Other rule changes gave Fannie and Freddie extraordinary leverage, allowing them to hold just 2.5% of capital to back their investments, vs. 10% for banks. By 2007, Fannie and Freddie owned or guaranteed nearly half of the $12 trillion U.S. mortgage market. (Obama is one of the biggest recipients of campain contributions from Fannie and Freddie)

When the Bush Administration was in power and the Democrats in 2002 now had control of Congress and the legislation came up for review, Democratic law makers blocked all attemps by McCain and others to reign in the greed at Freddie and Fannie hanging around America's neck and impending financial meltdown. McCain nailed it on the head when he warned of this and Pelosi and Reid blocked it at every turn. The "Democratic Plan" to make America look bad under a Republican President was in place so they could steal back the White House at any cost and satisfy their greed for power. Wake Up America!! McCain 2008!!

It really is hard to try to defend McCain-Palin. But truthfully, does anyone believe Mainstream American Media aren't lying in wait to ambush them? Katie Couric asks Sarah Palin to tell viewers what John McCain has done about the economy during his 26 years in Congress. That's fair enough. But she could ask Sen. Obama what he's done over the past 26 years in the United States Congress and she'd get -- oh, that's right, he's immune to that criticism by virtue of being a nobody for 23 of those 26 years. (Though if you wanted to trip him up, ask him about the Fannie Mae-Freddie Mac legislation that has been sitting around the U.S. Senate for the past few years). Or you could ask Sen. Joe Biden, who hasn't been a nobody on the national stage for 23 of the past 26 years, why Democrats -- particularly Senate Democrats -- have, at times, clearly tried to stop that same legislation which was aimed at regulating Fannie-Mae/Freddie-Mac. I looked through the articles at the New York Times archives and it doesn't really look good for either side on that particular issue. Which is my point here. Dems and Pubs have a lot to answer for on the current economic mess.

Couric should be asking Palin specific questions such as whether Palin really believes Earth is 6000 years old and whether Palin would prefer that all abortions be banned. Not nebulus questions that are simply attempts to trip up the Pub VP candidate. Especially when some other equally biased interviewer could just as easily get Barack Obama or Joe Biden to stumble.

ps - who cares what David Letterman has to say about anything?

It surprises me that we dont want to see our candidates GRILLED. I am studying International Relations right now as a graduate student, and I can tell you that the rest of the world is not going to bow down and go easy on them. Shame on us for not treating this candidacy like a complete pressure cooker where only the strong survive.

I am also a woman who would really love to see a woman in leadership someday - but not if she can't take the heat. If you can't stand up to a couple of reporters and an entertainment host - then truly what business do you have leading?

And as for the postponed campaign - there are 100 members of congress and 435 members of the House of Representatives. You mean to tell me that all of these high paid government people can't do their jobs without having their hands held by John McCain and Senator Obama? We also HAVE a president . . . 'nuff said there.

I think it would have been profoundly more useful to find out what kind of future president these guys would make. I for one need to make an informed decision. It doesnt help me to choose if the campiagn is suspended. I think it shows John McCain has no faith in the Institions of the Senate and House. Guess what, after the election these groups will STILL need to do their work whether he is there or not.

So suspend a campaign?? It's grandstanding and lying and yes Letterman is right - something stinks about it. Too afraid to debate Obama? Needing to look all patriotic in the wake of such an awful VP pick?? Need to draw off some of the negative heat from Palin (and it matters not whether it is biased - they should be able to handle BOTH types of interviews)??

I can guarntee that no one else in the world will treat Miss Bubblehead like royalty and let her off easy - if she doesn't know her stuff from foreign policy to global warming to global and local economics - she cant run the country - not even in "second place". Scariest thing is, due to McCain's age we as Americans have a DUTY to view her as a possible "president", much more so than Obama's VP. Those are just the facts.

America - instead of looking for a theological leader who shares your spiritual beliefs (that is what Church leaders are for) find someone who has the resume to do THE JOB of president.

The fact that Sarah Palin represents "mainstream america" is too much for the "uppity" class america to handle.....what difference does it make if she has a passport or not - get real! As for David Letterman...he is pathetic - maybe someday he will actually grow up!

It's always interesting to see how people respond to questions and present themselves when they don't have the chance to prepare themselves like they would when giving a speech. Politics aren't really my bag and I can't say I'm very knowledgeable on the topic, but I agree with one of the commenters stating that going through with the debates is important. Yes, the country has a great economic crisis to deal with, but seeing as how we are only a few weeks away from voting for the next president, it would be important for the American public to hear how the two candidates are going to deal with this issue when they take office.

A poster said the media had ignored Biden's gaffes and misstatements. I found these examples in five seconds. My gut tells me that the poster was well aware that Biden's assorted blunders, gaffes, and misstatements have been subjected to widespread scrutiny.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/12/us/politics/12biden.html?ex=1378872000&en=f5e4b31643be0c80&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/08/joe-bidens-mout.html

http://www.slate.com/id/2198597/

Since when did Letterman become a reputable political and news anchorman? He is a comedian and variety talk show host. Period. I like him but I am totally disinterested in his political leanings.

Won't post my last comment Z? Truth hurts huh! Wake Up America!! McCain 2008!!

My mother-in-law is gah-gah about Sara Palin. When we went into this election year, I thought, who on earth will the republicans get who can adequately appeal to my mother-in-law, a Christian fundamentalist who thinks everyone else is their project. McCain's choice of Palin is an unabashed, end run at the Christian fundamentalists like my mother-in-law who think the world, and particularly the media, is out to get them. It is paranoia.

But the thing I find funniest is this. They pray for someone to come and fix things. Like fix the country - and God brings us smart people who are well educated and capable of doing great things, and they say they would rather vote for someone "they feel comfortable having a beer with" (Bush see above)

This year the southeast experienced terrible drought conditions. Rather than listen to the scientists that God has created to help us to get through this; the Christian-right would rather get in their SUV's and drive to a prayer vigil with the governor of Georgia (I swear it happened), to pray for rain. It is this type of ignorant denial mentality that has brought you Sara Palin. God does answer prayers, but with educated people.

Sara Palin is not qualified to do the job and McCain chose her to pander to a special interest group and it's sad that of all the well educated women that he could have chosen; women and young girls, have instead, Miss Bubblehead as their role model.

ok lets look at the facts instead of automatically thinking that who you are running for will automatically be in the right if anyone paid attention sarah palin did say we may be on our way to another great depression out of her own mouth it was in the news before the intrview couric just asked her about it ike she was suppose to. and on the issue of holding the debates in order to focus on the economy well how exactly would it help when obama and mcain aren't even in a position to help right now. so explain to me what they themseves could possibly do i would rather hear them debate on what they would do to change the mess then to let a day go by were there sitting with their hands tied.

ok lets look at the facts instead of automatically thinking that who you are running for will automatically be in the right if anyone paid attention sarah palin did say we may be on our way to another great depression out of her own mouth it was in the news before the intrview couric just asked her about it ike she was suppose to. and on the issue of holding the debates in order to focus on the economy well how exactly would it help when obama and mcain aren't even in a position to help right now. so explain to me what they themseves could possibly do i would rather hear them debate on what they would do to change the mess then to let a day go by were there sitting with their hands tied.

OH PLEASE.... by McCain saying he is going to cancel the debate to go handle the bailout plan sounds like superman...DADADADAAA it's MCCAIN MAN come to save the United States. What, he can't do both?

Does unbiased and fair just mean that you have to ask the easy questions? Obviously, Sarah Palin looked like a stumbling fool when Couric asked her about her foreign policy experience and how that related to Alaska's proximity to Russia. I think she should step down and resign from the vice-presidential campaign. It is very scary to think she could be president and McCain is looking older everyday.

OH PLEASE.... by McCain saying he is going to cancel the debate to go handle the bailout plan sounds like superman...DADADADAAA it's MCCAIN MAN come to save the United States. What, he can't do both?

My mother-in-law is gah-gah about Sara Palin. When we went into this election year, I thought, who on earth will the republicans get who can adequately appeal to my mother-in-law, a Christian fundamentalist who thinks everyone else is their project. McCain's choice of Palin is an unabashed, end run at the Christian fundamentalists like my mother-in-law who think the world, and particularly the media, is out to get them. It is paranoia and you can see it here in some of the comments made.

But the thing I find funniest is this. They pray for someone to come and fix things. Like fix the country - and God brings us smart people who are well educated and capable of doing great things, and they say they would rather vote for someone "they feel comfortable having a beer with" (Bush see above)

This year the southeast experienced terrible drought conditions. Rather than listen to the scientists that God has created to help us to get through this; the Christian-right would rather get in their SUV's and drive to a prayer vigil with the governor of Georgia (I swear it happened), to pray for rain. It is this type of ignorant denial mentality that has brought you Sara Palin. God does answer prayers, but with educated people.

Sara Palin is not qualified to do the job and McCain chose her to pander to a special interest group and it's sad that of all the well educated women that he could have chosen; women and young girls, have instead, Miss Bubblehead as their role model.

Being a simple country TV critic, the high sheriffs here frown on me getting too overtly political. But I must say I was smiling through the stuff about your mother-in-law. As they say in Texas where I had the great misfortune of working for the Dallas Times Herald in the 1980s at the height of Reagan-mania: "Well, bless your mother-in-law. Doesn't she just sound like a special and precious person. Lucky you." Thanks. Z

McCain needs to be at the debates. Multi-tasking is a big part of the presidential job. You can't tell me that he can't fly down for the debate then leave after to get back to Washington to "Help" with the economy fiasco. I don't buy it

HI, I could not agree more about multi-tasking and the American presidency. Great point. Thanks. Z.

Palin is dusturbingly dumb!!! A heartbeat away from the Presidency! Scary scary prospect!!!!!!!!
Obama/Biden'08.

My God.. How can republicans keep on staying behind these morons.. Wow..Its incredible how much religious fanatics will back someone regardless of what they think, say or do.

I was a republican years ago, but that party has completely gone astray.. Religious fanatics, greedy money grubbing losers and criminals is all that remains of a once (quasi) decent politcal party.

This year the republicans will be punished badly in the election and then maybe they can spend the following 4-10 years finding a way back from the hijacking of the religious freaks, liars and criminals who currently populate it.

The rest of the world is moving forward and the repubs are on the fast track to medievil times.

I cant wait for the world to perfect stem cell treatment for cancer, paralysis, diabetes and 1000 other diseases. No friggin conservative better touch that stuff!!! They should just "pray" and see if they live or not.

Please read related article titled "Liberals Forgot Obama Stiffed SNL Only Two Weeks Ago! Bring On The Ginko Biloba!" at http://www.cliffyworld.com/blogs

I have lost all respect for CBS news and their anchors. The media hack campaign shows a complete disdain for the intelligence of the public.

The only loser in the Katie Couric interview with Palin was Katie Couric.

I do not like Palin already. However, the cheap shots at Palin and despicable attitrude from Katie was not lost on me.

Katie must be bedfellows with Kevin Sharer (Amgen), another despicable character.

I really am tired of hearing that Obama should be asked the same questions as Palin. Oh cry me big crocodile tears for Palin already! HE HAS BEEN asked, relatively speaking, the same questions. Duh America - the man has been campaigning since April at least! His campaign has been gone over with a fine tooth comb because of the race with Hillary Clinton being so contested. And he has taken on some very tough criticism and interviews and handled them with a great deal of composure under fire. She has done, what, 3 or 4 TV interviews? and bombed 3 out of 4? Never done a national debate? He has also been through some very tough TELEVISED debates along the way. You all make it sound like he has never been interveiwed?!

I'm sorry, I didnt really think the Couric interview was hostile or biased. Sarah screwed up and will continue to do so - because she has no idea what she is doing. These are the facts - it is NOT a conspiracy. THANK YOU Katie Couric!

Bo of California writes: "Can I be vice-president, please?
Who would have thought it was this easy? I even have foreign policy experience, like my trip to Hawaii. The Chinese fly through there all the time. You know, those damn Commies. Anyway, we've got to protect marriage and drill so the environment can lower taxes for pipeline. and some such."

I found this on US News and World Report - thought it summed it up nicely - Bo should write for Letterman lol . . .

Link: http://www.usnews.com/blogs/robert-schlesinger/2008/9/25/sarah-palin-out-of-control-talking-point-machine-or-political-magnetic-poetry/comments/7#624438

As a long standing republican I am so disappointed at how badly McCain's decision making has been lately. I don't plan on voting this year. I just can't......

Why are people bashing Katie Couric?
Palin's answers should reflect on her regardless of the interviewer. I would hope that is Palin thinks she can handle a high office in this country that she could answer Katie Couric.
Did you all feel sorry for Hillary when she was pressed in difficult interviews?
Palin must have known that the "Russia's in my backyard" question would come up and she didn't even seem prepared to answer that one.
Palin is beautiful, passionate, caring, but she should stick to her current job.
I'll take the former president of the Harvard Law Review and veteran Joe Biden over the McCain Palin ticket any day.

If McCain had told Letterman that he felt that because the country was in a serious economic crisis, he didn't think it was appropriate for him to go on a comedy show and make jokes at this time; but McCain instead needed to be seen in a serious interview with Couric to reassure the American public-I think Letterman would have taken it in stride.

But McCain didn't-he lied about having to "rush" right off to Washington, so he could instead do something he thought would be more beneficial to his campaign.

This seems to be the point that everyone is missing. He lied about it.

And this kind of convenient lying behavior seems to be a pattern with McCain and his campaign.

Lying to David Letterman-on a point that was easily checked-just wasn't very smart. McCain has no one to blame but himself for Letterman's backlash.

McCain is losing it. He is tapped out. He has been having a tough time zeroing in on a clear message. In part this is because he has changed his message so often - he likes to copy what Obama says - and in part it is because he does seem a bit confused at times. Every time he tries to make a spontaneous remark - he puts his foot in his mouth so no more reporters on his bus. The numerous times McCain has fumbled or mumbled himself into a corner over these past many weeks is alarming- a week ago the economy was fundamentally sound for McCain. We saw a lot of these signs in Ronald Reagan when he needed extra help from his wife. Furthermore, in his flailing attempts to regain momentum, McCain is making a mockery of this election. His "debate is off/now its on" stunt and his choice of Palin, who failed the Couric interview, are proof positive of McCain's shoot-from-the-hip lack of judgment. We must reject the McCain/Palin ticket as a matter of nation security if nothing else.

Republicans being attacked by Letterman and a so called "unbiased" interview by the media being seen as negative for the party. What is the news here?

Who has been tough on Obama in the "unbiased" media?

Okay to all of you posting comments, let's be a little bit reasonable here. First of all, Couric is a reporter and is supposed to ask probing questions of the candidates. It is not a question of favoritism or preferential treatment. I am sure if Obama or Biden were to appear in an interview with her similar questions would be asked. SECONDLY. On the matter of Letterman. He is an entertainer. He says what he says to get laughs. He doesn't HAVE to be fair. The thing that peeved him that night was in the forefront of his mind so that's what he used to get laughs. Move past it! How about you concentrate on the fact that a large percent of the country is blaming the GOP for the current economic situation. I think your energies would be better used campaigning than being annoyed if you really cared that much.

It just shows that McCain & Palin think they can lie about anything and get away with it. Many thanks to Katy and Dave Letterman - you were both great!!

Whether democrat or republican, one can agree that Palin's interview with Couric clearly showed the vice presidential hopeful as lacking the knowledge and ease to handle tough questions and thus possible future situations if elected. This leads me to a major question for the McCain campaign: Is Palin actually qualified and able to carry out her duties if she is elected vice president or was she chosen as a running mate solely because shes a woman that would gain more female votes for the ticket? As a female, I feel this interview blatantly proved that the choice of Palin as the vice presidential candidate was decided mainly based on the fact that shes a woman....which completely undermines the whole movement of women gaining more of an equal voice and representation in the white house. Though I think she is capable of being a mayor or a good mother or many other positions considering her accomplished background, still she does not have the experience or skills for a position of this caliber.

Whether democrat or republican, one can agree that Palin's interview with Couric clearly showed the vice presidential hopeful as lacking the knowledge and ease to handle tough questions and thus possible future situations if elected. This leads me to a major question for the McCain campaign: Is Palin actually qualified and will she be able to carry out her duties if elected or was she chosen as a running mate solely because shes a woman that would gain more female votes for the ticket? As a female, I feel this interview blatantly proved that the choice of Palin as the vice presidential candidate was decided mainly based on the fact that shes a woman....which completely undermines the whole movement of women gaining more of an equal voice and representation in the white house. Though I think she is capable of being a mayor or a good mother or many other positions considering her accomplished background, still she does not have the experience or skills for a position of this caliber.

On the Alaska-is-next-to Russia issue - most kids in grade school know that Russia is across the strait from Alaska. Does that make them all foreign policy experts?

With that line of thinking, anyone in any state bordering Canada or Mexico has foreign policy credentials.

Why any conservative would grace themselves with anyone on ABC is a mystery to me. Palin may have some limitations, but she is vice president. At least she does not say ah, ah , ah every sentence. Obama 's words are empty and his past is full of people who have proven they do not like America. Anyone that does not research who they are voting and gets their information from the libera media, is down right stupid no matter how much education they may have or how well they speak.

As an Alaskan, I'd like to report that Palin has already suspended her governing of our state. When she campaigned for governor, she said she would resign if she ran for national office. But instead she has turned over gubernatorial functions to her lieutenant governor, and she has kept her title so she can use its power to help thwart the ethics investigation against her. Our lieutenant governor is doing a much better job than Palin, but we'd still like to keep her on as governor of Alaska. It's embarrassing, but at least we can limit her potential for harm. Even among Alaskans who are pretty tolerant of corruption, she won't have much credibility left after this disastrous campaign.

I have become quite interested in the commentary on this thread. Having never read them before, I must ask: can no one spell anymore, or are you just too excited to finish the post? As for the topic, as a woman I am insulted the GOP thinks they can "buy" the vote just by having what they consider an attractive woman on the ticket. Why can't we have the basic info on what she can bring to the ticket? How can we make an informed decision? Do you all realize the early voting is already happened in some states? Do you also know about the voting challenges facing those who are displaced by the recent hurricanes, foreclosures, etc.? I will echo a few of the previous statements "God Help Us."

People...we need to start asking the right questions. Couric certainly did. Hannity's interview with Palin was pure fluff, and an abject failure. He acted as though he was a junior journalist who had a crush on the celebrity he was interviewing with soft-peddle questions.

Some interesting points about Palin's "record" if you can call it that:

Check out the position paper a member of her own special counsel actually wrote that appeared in the Juneau newspaper in March of this year; this is just one example that clearly proves that Palin did NOT say "no" to the bridge to nowhere; or the road to nowhere, for that matter. Congress told her, "no," then instructed her to cut back on her earmark funding requests.

Check out the lawsuits she filed against the US Federal Government to challenge the Alaskan natives' fishing and hunting subsidence in order to develop commercial fishing and hunting.

Check out how many of these native Alaskans live in abject poverty with no indoor plumbing.

Check out why she wanted to file suit against the US Federal Government to have polar bears removed from the endangered species list. (You can't drill for oil or gas in areas that are inhabited by an endangered species.)

Check out how she has replaced the "old boy network," and “dummy downed” key government positions by filling them with her “old girl network” of grossly under qualified friends when she took over as governor.

Check out how she actually asked the librarian in Wasilla about the process by which books could be removed from the library shelves; she asked her not once, not twice, but three times.

Check out how this "fiscal reformer" actually left the village of Wasilla with a $22 mil deficit, and how she has actually increased the State's budget spending in the past 18 months.

This is just the tip of the iceberg.

Watching this endless, pointless debate makes me want to hurl my cookies. Left leaning "journalists" beat up on Republicans. Right leaning "journalists" beat up on Democrats. I don't understand why anyone listens anymore.
Well, what do you expect from a country that elected a moron - TWICE!

Could we please interview a person with a brain? All I can say is if people actually think she’s qualified to be a vice president, and you elect her, you deserve living another 4 years with an idiot in Washington. Lets be realistic if you had a company, would you interview people and find someone qualified or hire some one who doesn’t have a clue. Her and McCain lie so much they believe their own lies. I think they should hire Caylee Anthony as an advisor. If Palin gets in office, I will take one of her guns and blow my own head off.

I think McCain/Palin is a dead horse who will continue to make empty moves until election day. In the past 48 hours they have nailed their own coffin shut.

Hi JUan, Let's hold off and see how McCian does in the debate tonight. If you are online, check back here, and I will have a review. Thanks. Z

The problem with blaming Bill Clinton for the collapse of the Freddie and Fannie is that he had no choice - he was up against a Republican Congress who had the votes to override any veto he could throw out, therefore, for anything at all to get done in Washington, he had to do his best to make sure bills were as close to the middle as he could, since anything he objected to would be steamrolled over him. Like McCain, armchair republicans are especially adept at rewriting their own history, so they are held blameless. Just like Palin and her "Thanks but no thanks" statements (where is all the money, Sarah???) or McCain the Maverick boasting about his decades of fighting the good fight (can anyone say "Keating 5"?), real history will catch up to them. Bush's dire warnings and fear mongering mirrors his speech where he demanded that Congress roll over to finance the Iraq disaster. When will we learn? The likes of Bush and McCain have never put the country first. And as for the g-dropping, smiley-face writing, moose killer - now that's something to be afraid of. God forbid that loony bird ever gets near the football. With her background, if McCain chokes on a chicken bone, she'll take that as a sign that God wants her to start the rapture....

Will do Z.

Am going to a 'debate watching party' this evening....and am encouraging as many people as possible to do the same!

Debate '08

I made up my mind weeks ago that McCain and Palin have my vote. There is too much background on Osama Obama that I really don't care for and no one is addressing. GOOD NEWS for you libs, you won't have to scrape the bumper stickers off your cars that say, "He's Not My President."

I made up my mind weeks ago that McCain and Palin have my vote. There is too much background on Osama Obama that I really don't care for and no one is addressing. GOOD NEWS for you libs, you won't have to scrape the bumper stickers off your cars that say, "He's Not My President."

Z is just Sun critic David Zurawik.

Looking from the outside in (Canada to the US), elect McCain / Palin and you wish you would like Bush back. Now there is a scary thought.

This entire Mc Cain flip-flop on the debate encapsulates his presidential campaign, if not his political career and life.

As much is made of his “heroic” status, that is a sham. He finished close to the bottom of his class at Annaplolis, managed to crash four jets before being shot down over Vietnam where he had the best technology in the world to prevent that happening. He was then taken prisoner unlike your typical grunt who was summarily shot. This is a hero? If you want to hear about a real hero try Chuck Yeager. McCain was a poor student, a poor pilot, and spent some time in the Hanoi Hilton. Is this a hero? If that’s the test for a hero, the jails are full of them.

Back to my point, the man lacks courage. He states he will not be at the debate, then he caves in. This sums up his life and career. No guts just talk…

Well, you clearly showed your political bias, but here's 3 Simple Points You Missed...
#1: MSNBC & Olbermann are DEAD LAST in the ratings, almost 10X less than FOX News!
#2: Katie Couric is DEAD LAST in ratings for CBS.
#3: Even Letterman doesn't win his time slot.
If a tree falls in the woods...

I just want to point out that this point is not only incorrect, but it has absolutely nothing to do with anything being discussed. Why bring up irrelevant points to argue something? It doesn't help.

Actually, if you actually watched and listened to Courics interview with Palin, Palin NEVER said we were heading for another great depression. Couric asked Palin is she thought we were heading for another great depression and Palin never said yes. She said if something isn't done quickly, then we could possibly find ourselves in a bad way. Couric lied to John McCain and his expression was one of disbelief and he did not want to make Palin look bad if she did say it, but she didn't. It is just another example of the left wing media spinning the truth. And Katie Couric lost a lot of viewers in November of 2000 when she acted like a child when it looked like Bush won the election. She stood up and shoved her chair and stomped away. She's a loser and this latest stunt proves it.

i'm canadian, so the issue of who will be next in the white house is very important.

please, PLEASE, by all that's holy and good in the world, do NOT put that Stylin' Barbie Head (TM) in the white house! what happened - did McCain watch "legally blonde" and think "yeah... yeah! it could happen!"!???

as for the comment about TV in 1929: if i read the quote correctly, he said (paraphrasing): "the president WOULD HAVE gone on TV" - he didn't say "the president WENT on tv", nor did he imply in any other way that there was television in 1929. he was suggesting a course of action that he believes would have been taken by the then-incumbent had he been in today's situation.

english lesson over.

Thanks. But what di you think of the debate tonight?Z

another thought occurs:

since "leader of the free world" is one of the more hubristic appellations accorded the POTUS (minus the "tu"), why aren't other countries allowed to vote?

Why doesn't the Governor Palin have a passport? O yeah, she is not a privledged prep school kid and she worked two jobs. But she can lead 281 million people ...pleaseeeeeee

Does anyone remember Couric ambushing George Bush Sr.in an interview on Today. They had to send in Barbara Bush in the middle of the interview to rescue the President of the United States from the downright disrespectful , liberal, biased, democratic operative Couric. Same with the Palin interview. The Democratic Party should be paying Couric if she's not allready on their payroll.

Wow! I'll bring the scratching post by with some cat food tomorrow! What will Obama do with Joey?? Now it is a gaffe a day. Really scary...would he be ready to be president??

Palin, the GOP's wet dream is turning out to be a nightmare.

It amuses me how the news media has to berate anything said or done by Republicans. They never say a word when Obama misspeaks. Where was Katie when BO said they were 57 states? Where was she when he laid claim to events or accomplishments he never was involved in? You think she and the rest of the liberal news media are in the tank for the boy wonder? That’s my observation. This claim that Palin is not qualified to be VP is nothing but an attempt to move the spotlight off of OB because he has zero qualifications to be president. I’m better qualified than he is, as is 20-30 million other people in this country. Obama has done nothing in his life that qualifies him.
You think the media will tell you WHO really caused the home loan crisis? Carter & Clinton push for loaning money to unqualified borrows and the Democrats who blocked oversight regulations presented by the republicans. The CEOs that cooked the books and reap millions dollars for themselves are now advisors” to Obama. Where was Katie with this story?
But, hey………let’s all go out and vote for the boy wonder so we can say we were part of history. Heck, the Europeans like him. They must be right because they done such a great job with their own countries. 200,000 Germans showed for bands, beer and Barry. But, 200,000 Germans showed up for Hitler…not a ringing endorsement. He has the support of all the Muslin terrorist groups. …that makes me feel warm & fuzzy. Remember, if you don’t vote for him because he is kind of black, then you are a racist. Hum, what if you vote for him only because he is kind of black….what does that make you?
I will not be voting for him. Not because he is kind of black. I won’t vote for him because he is an arrogant little pick and a Marxist.

Richard, Try reading my analysis of Friday's debate.. There is an actual mention of Barack Obama mis-speaking. Much of the post deals with things McCain did Ok at. At the risk of being less "amused," you might actually write something informed. Thanks. z

Obviously you are so biased and unable. None of them can solve all of the issues before them alone. All I know is that I will vote for a man who fought for this country, spent 5 years in a POW camp for this country, and loves and respects the flag of this country. I would love for someone to ask Obama to recite the national anthem. I bet he couldn't do it! It should be all about love of country people! First, we need to get back to the basics that this country was founded on and the son of a historc military family has my vote over the son of a Kenyan muslim who sat in a church and listened to a racist preacher who hates this country. John McCain would have never sat and listened to those rants without standing up for this country.

To those who accuse Couric of bias: It's my belief that the best journalists ask the questions that we, the viewers, are also asking. Such journalists give the candidates a direct opportunity to defend themselves against the accusations in the air, to get their points of view and their plans out into the open.

Those candidates with wise points of view and serious, well-thought-out strategies have nothing to fear from good journalism.

grow up people. There is no such thing as a hard question or being unfair when interviewing A VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE.

No matter who you support. Stop crying about hard questions. If you can't answer them, fine. But you ALSO should not be on a Presidential ticket.

You don't hear much about Biden and his TV comments about the wrong president during the depression and the TV remark. Liberal News Medias! A rookie senator and a man who ran for president before and remember Obama's father was for communism and his view which his son agrees with is never tell anyone what your plans are till you have the power to do it! I guess thats why the terrorist group's keep donating to his campaign! They know they'll be safe to hurt the U.S.

The interview was anything but biased! Since when can't a VP nominee name the stance the his or her fellow/presidential nominee stands for? Come on. The fact is Palin does not know who is running with. She jumped at the opportunity to be VP, like it was a great job opportunity like a good job for me or you! Duh!

Obama and Biden have made countless appearances and have been asked hard questions.
The answer to questions ALL these candidates' experience as a chief executive is obvious: Obama, Biden and McCain have none; Palin has some as governor of Alaska.
Whether or not Palin has had the intellectual curiousity to learn about how the world works is pretty obvious, too. So far, she's proven to viewers of her interviews that she is underinformed and has a hard time putting a clear sentence together. McCain offers more Bush/Cheney madness. Palin offers Christian Right Wing bluster and nothing more. Not for me, an anti-war, pro-choice small business owner.
I'm voting for Obama/Biden, with confidence.

If Palin thought Couric's use of the term "Great Depression" was inaccurate or misleading, she could have re-phrased the terminology. The fact that she picked up the term from Couric and used it in her own statement shows agreement with the assessment, and makes it adequate fodder for Couric's follow-up question to McCain, imho

Hi, it is curious the way Palin supporters want to blame each of her many gaffes on the press. Anybody but the person making the mistakes. But I do not think it is working very well. The press has done an excellent job of showing the public who and what she is. Thanks. Z

Z - I couldn't agree with you more. Why is it when Sarah Palin opens her mouth and makes a fool of herself the Palin supporters cry that it was a "trick" or "gotcha" question. The excuses they'll make for that woman is unbelievable. She needs to show that she has more to offer than breasts, a bible, and a bulldog. If you're going to run around touting the terms "maverick" and "reformer" then please have some evidence to back it up. She can do nothing more then recite talking points and take pot shots at Obama. Complete idiot and the right will think she's ready to lead the country should McCain pass on. UNBELIEVABLE!!!

If someone can put words into Palins mouth. And if she's VP. Ah do you think bin laden or someone else can do the same PLEASE

Why is it that when any newscaster who has something negative to say about either McCain or Palin, they are perceived as biased or "hacks" because of it?

I don't want anyone 72 years old running the country. I don't want the person who could potentially take his place coming off in interviews as being uninformed and unprepared to handle the job. She is going to have to handle issues far more important and tougher than unfair questions if they are elected. What world did you people wake up in and it was fair there? If she looks this bad now, how do you think she is going to look when things really heat up?

Where were all the McCain supporters when he was running for the job 8 years ago? Why is now the right candidate when he wasn't then? Is this some kind of make up for electing Bush? McCain’s window of opportunity is gone.

I'm not totally sold on Obama, but right now he is definitely the lesser of two evils. How sad has our Presidential election process become when our choices for the most powerful job in the world come down to an unproven candidate, who got his start because a sex scandal all but guaranteed he would win his party's Senatorial nomination, and the other candidate being a War hero (a war that has been over for 33 years!) who dumps his wife, immediately marries a younger (richer) woman and inexplicably chooses a running mate who is clearly not ready for that position?

I think they're crazy for wanting to be janitor to the mess that they are being left to clean up.

Good luck to both of them.

It is easy to see how biased CBS News is. Whatever happened to FAIR AND BALANCED??
How about asking Obama some of the same questions and pushing for an answer. Shame on you Katie! Your liberality and bias is shwowing.

Couric was blood-thirsty. Did you see the steel in her eyes? The tone of her voice? Big difference from her interview with Biden. Couric lost points with me b/c she couldn't set aside her personal idealogy to deliver two even-handed interviews.

Couric did a great job as she probed further into Palin's responses.....Palin has no depth....if she wasn't so conceited she would have turned McCain down as VP.....she's not ready to be a heartbeat away from being President of the largest nation of the free world.....SCARY IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO MCCAIN......THE ECONOMY IS IN TROUBLE ENOUGH....

Sarah Palin is not right for the job, and it is not because she's a woman, not because she's young; it is because she is ill-equipped and is without a verbal filter. We have already had that in the White House for 8 years; I think it is time for something new. I'm a woman who continues to be angered by the fact that the Republicans thought I can't think for myself and will kneejerk the vote to Palin. Guess what? Not happening. My vote goes to the ones who deserve it: Obama/Biden in 2008!

I think what to American people are seeing is the lack of judgment John McCAIN has. With the pick of an un experienced running mate, after bashing Obama for months using the inexperience card over and over again, he chooses Palin. He had to have known that the media and the Democratic party would have a field day with this decission, or was it just bad judgment? Statements such as "
I reaslly don't know much about the economy", or i'm suspending my campiagn top go to Washington and help clear up this mess". bad judgement! I think hthese and other statements are clear indications that this man is not ready to lead the USA into any type of campaign whether it be domestic or international. This could be because of age. Really the man is 72 years old, odds are that he will not make through the whole 8 year term, or even 4 yrs. Ronald Reagan started to show signs of dementia, these same signs are starting to appear in McCains speeches and actions.So what happens when he falters?Sarah Palin takes control? Her interviews and few answers she has given to the media have shown her true side, inex[perience,and her willingness to have the Republican Party use her as a scape goat for the next national Presidential election loss. Mark my words, she will be mentioned by high ranking GOPS as the reason for their loss.

I'd just like to say that regardless of ideologies, it should be of note that Katie Couric showed greater intelligence and knowledge of the facts than Palin, who is the person with her eyes on the VP slot. It shouldn't matter, even if, as some say, Couric is a Obama supporter. I'm sure that any opposing country leaders will be supporters of their country, and it would be a liability if our representative couldn't hold their own. The further ramification is that supposed "Country First" McCain thought that this was the best candidate to take his place should something happen to him. Again, ideology aside, it's poor judgment. I'm sure that there are Republican leaders that can think of better qualified women candidates than Palin, but this publicity stunt apparently was more important than serving the "country first."

On a funnier note, the comedy website 236 had a feature poking fun at Sarah Palin on CBS with Katie Couric. It's definitely worth checking out: http://www.236.com/video/2008/sarah_palin_gets_instructions_9171.php

Just to clarify, what Palin said to Couric was, "I'll try to find you some, and I'll bring them to ya." Ya. I'll bring them to ya in the same way that one might bring a basket of buttons or a casserole to ya.

God help us.

I'm an ex-pat American watching this election unfold from Australia, I was in the US when McCain nominated Sarah Palin as his VP choice. I said it then and I still maintain, "this is the single most irresponsible decision I have seen in presidential politics". I've been involved and watching since Kennedy's election. I'd love to see ideas what other decisions may have topped this one. Maybe we'll have to wait til that Tuesday in November to see how right I am. Or maybe worse, years down the road when she proves me right.

A lot of you are missing the point. Mccain cancelled his interview with Letterman saying that he needed to get to Washington to assist with the bailout. But was later seen getting ready to do the interview with Katie Couric. If he was in such a big hurry to help Congress, why was he still in the studio doing interviews with someone else? He didnt have to lie. He should have just told Dave that he didnt want to do the interview and been done with it.

I have voted both for both Republican and Democrat in the past, and I am always impressed more when either party can intelligently acknowledge that the other party may have a good point or a good idea, or that someone in their own party is obviously lacking. I cannot stomach the "blinders" most Republicans have on when it comes to Palin - any idiot can watch her interviews and see that she knows next to nothing, and the only good points she may make in the VP debate are those that she is being spoon-fed this week by advisors. To the two GOP people who got caught with their microphones still on while saying what a bad choice Palin was, hey guys, at least you know how to call them like you see them!!! You are the ones who get my vote!

Once again, "liberal-bashers" use their nasty language in an attempt to prove themselves somehow better Americans. In most situations, I doubt that people like "J" (liberals=knuckleheads) even understand the term. It reminds me of a football game. One side dresses in red and white and calls themselves the Conservatives. Even when they lose the game, they will moan, groan, make excuses, accuse the other side of cheating, and sticking out their tongues at those nasty liberals dressed in blue and white who play a better game.

McCain, the maverick - what a week for him. It is unbelievable that the election is as close as it is at the moment. McCain's gambit at "suspending" his campaign (did he really, or did he simply take campaigning to a ugly low?). The disasterous Sarah Palin/Katie Couric interview where she could barely put two sentences together (after video is released of a preacher driving witches from her, no less). And let's not even mention the direct tie between his campaign manager (receiving payments from Freddie Mac) and the mortgage crisis (OK, I did it). What a mess.

And yet, the McCainiacs remain faithful, trusting in the promise that the label "maverick" holds, and that they can somehow plausibly use this label to mesmerize the public into thinking that McCain will fight the very system of which he is a part. Unfortunately, for McCain, "maverick" is now just another synonym for irratic and risky. His high stakes ploys to resusitate his campaign (first the Sarah Palin pick; this week, attempting to insert himself into the bailout talks) should indicate just how dangerous a McCain presidency would be to America and to foreign policy.

I respect McCain. I wrote McCain just after the Abu Ghraib scandal to ask him to personally intervene to be sure that America would never preside over such a thing again. He is a special person whose personal history and sacrifice can't be denied. But I agree with many on the right who assess that he does not have the temperment to be president.

I'm sure the press would love a McCain presidency in that special way that the press loves a compelling story - and certainly McCain will generate a story a day as he pivots and dodges his way through America's myriad and substantial problems. But is this what we need? Can we absorb another blow like the series of gut punches we've had for the past 8 years? I think not.

The vice presidential debates are coming soon. I have to wonder if McCain may ask Sarah Palin to resign before that time and fill the spot with Joe Lieberman? It's possible. And McCain would say to the conservatives I had no other choice but to pull her from the ticket and they would buy it and everything would be okay again with the conservatives. McCain is a game player and game players don't always win.

Hi, there is no doubt that the Thursday debate is awaited with tremendous anticipation -- maybe more even than the first presidential debate last week. And I think it is because so many people wonder how Sarah Palin will stand up under 90 minutes of questioning. Thanks. Z

Palin's Couric interview and her rambling at Ground Zero reminded me of that movie, The Stepford Wives. When the circuitry went haywire, the robot wives would repeat in random order the phrases they had been programmed to say. "I just HAVE to get that recipe!" and "How was your day, dear?" If McCain dies in office, I just have to get those tax breaks through with Obama saying no preconditions to talks with Iran, and Palin has to take over, then how was your mortgage, dear, in Alaska between two foreign countries, Russia and Canada? Scary.

Very savvy analysis. Thanks. Z

great article til the very last word......fingrenails on the blackboard

Finally our newscasters are growing a pair!! Sorry for the Palin/McCain ideologues that can't see pass their noses, but Kouric hit both Palin and McCain with questions that scrutinized their figuring and posturing throughout this week and through this campaign. The public got to see how clueless Palin is on economics and foreign affairs as well as her own running mate previous experience on issues that are currently being discussed nationally. McCain followers got to see that their candidate's patriotic words of putting his country first has nothing to do with country and everything to do with winning. As for Letterman, he is a comic. He caught McCain on a lie and exposed him which seems to be the job of the newsmedia not of the comedians in this country. But, for lack of media guts, thank goodness!, we still have comics. Thanks, Katie and Letterman for doing this country a big favor. Neoconservatives might not be interested to see the truth but independents like myself will be the ones who will get to decide the outcome of this election. Mr. McCain, Ms. Palin I will have to say to both of you: "Thanks, but no thanks" .

I am not interested in whether the questions asked of candidates are equally difficult. I am interested in answers to questions from candidates that can tell me about their value, personality, and ability. Any question of that kind to any candidate is a good one. Senator McCain showed disrespect for the Vice Presidency, and the Presidency of the United States, and, ultimately, for the people of this country. He should admit his mistake, correct it, and apologize to his fellow countrymen. There are more important things for Senator McCain to do at this time than running for President.

The media continually mention the Couric interview with Sarah Palin and how poorly she did in the interview. I must admit that my impression of Couric years ago was wrong, she's a degree of magnitude worst than I thought she was. She's an unethical air-head.

Her sole purpose in the interview was to catch Palin in trying to answer impossible questions about McCain and the air-head constantly interrupted. Considering the stupidity of Couric's questions, I thought Palin did very well.
For example, Couric asked Palin about whether it was appropriate for McCain to accept money from an individual at Fanny Mae. How the hell would Palin know the details about something that happened perhaps a year or more ago. That's perhaps a question for McCain not Palin.

Did any wise-ass so called reporters ask Obama about the money he received from Freddie Mac and Fanny Mae. By far Obama received more money than anyone in Congress. The two corrupt former CEO's of Freddie Mac(black Fred Rhines?) and Fanny Mae(William Johnson) are now advisors for Obama. Suspicious? Both Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, with an major assist from Bill Clinton and the Democrats are the main reason for our financial problems. Do you think Couric, Gibson, the media and the investigative reporters should explore the corruption or should they continue trying to get Palin?

Have you noticed the hatchet job Saturday Night Live, the View, and the other Bas---ds, like Dave Letterman and Jay Leno have been doing on McCain and Palin? They're all in the tank for that lying phony Obama. How could they ignore all his past and present garbage?

I truly believe the left has captured the Universities, the media, etc and we will not see a balance in our lifetime. The greatness of America is on the decline.

"WE ARE WITNESSING A PUBLIC LYNCHING"

Hi, David Zurawik...

Interesting comments on this topic. So many half-truths and 10th-truths (and a few zero-truths).

Reminded me of a recent encounter (but not of the Bill O'Rielly sort) I had with a comely young thing in a mid-PA Save-Rite. As she seemed to be the responsible one, managing the whole store w/o benefit of other staff, I figured she was old enough to vote.

Who're you going to vote for? I asked.

Well, I'm not old enough to vote
[not even by Nov 4? I butted in?] No. But I would probably vote for McCain.

Why is that?

Because he has more experience than Obama.

More experience? D'you mean that you're impressed that in the two-plus decades he's been in office we've had four or so wars that only cost us dead Americans for no particular benefit, that we've been a debtor nation since ~1985, have had about three recessions and are now in for a DEpression. With that kind of experience, don't you think he should retire, and not run for office?

Oh, no. It's the experience that counts.

I had to go back for my bismuth sulphate. So I asked her (since it's my current hobby), Can you recite the Preamble to the US Constitution?

No.

Well, here's how it goes [since everyone reading this knows it by heart, I won't repeat it].

She countered with:

Did you know that the Constitution mentions God in four places?

Well, no, I didn't. In fact, I don't think you're correct. But I'll check. (Could she have been confusing the hymn "God in three persons, holy trinity"? I wondered.)

Back at my computer, I called up my trusty eText version of said Constitution. No hits for "God," "Yahweh," Buddha, Muhammed, Shiva.

As gas station was next to drug store when I was preparing for 300-mile ride home, I popped in to tell her that I'd searched in vain for four references to God in the Constitution.

Oh, she said, I didn't mean gee oh dee -- I meant to a "higher power".

OK. Then can you cite me the occurrences, by article, section and clause?

Unfortunately, I don't have my Constitution with me. I usually carry my copy with me.

Hmm. Well, here's my email
address. Send me the references by email, if you would be so kind.

Now, I would have been ready to fall over in astonishment if she had produced a copy of the Constitution, even in a senior HS history book. But given the interactions, I don't put much stock in the assertion.

And I've not received any email with the "four 'higher power'" citations, now two weeks later.

Finally, after another re-reading, no references do I find to "higher power," supreme being or any equivalent construct.

True, there are six references to the supreme court and one to the supreme Law of the Land, but that's it for "supreme." And many "power"s.

Why this experience has relevance to this thread, I humbly assert, is how surprisingly frequently people will assert as fact the most easily refutable false or erroneous statements.

One assumes that folks posting comments via a web-form log actually have an internet connection and a web browser, with which they could search for, or "google" or "Mozilla" or "Alta Vista" or "Ask Jeeves" or search Wikipedia, almost all of their assertions.

That is, give at least one "fact check" (and two spell-checks) to every assertion they're about to make.

It does take time to do that. But if we're unwilling to do it now, in the face of another four years of governmental criminality--malfeasance on the part of some--Cheney, Bush, Hadley, Rice, Gonzales come quickly to mind--and feckless NONfeasance by pretty much the entire 535 members of Congress who have obviously foresworn their oaths of office, to "support and defend" the US Constitution against "all enemies foreign and Cheney/bush--well, I guess we'll have a leisurely four years to do our googling from Nov 5 2008 to Jan 20 2013.

Otherwise, what's the point? (unless you just want all the readers of your posts to just "fwow up".

(David, could you have posted Letterman's clip(s))?

Hi, thanks for these comments. The last is the easiest to answer first: Yes, I wich I could have posted Letterman's clips. If I had done this in the office, that would have been possible. But I did it from home, and sadly that is not possible. I am not working with the greatest system in the world here. But the powers that be claim to be working on improvements. You should be around the Sun bloggers when we are gettinga lot of trraffic, and the system just locks up or shuts down.It is not fun to try and create content people are interested in, and then when they respond, the delivery system fails. Enough griping. I believe in lighting a candle. I will find a way to include it next time and every time thereafter. Now, as to the false fcats. If you read through the thread, you wil see me challenging such "facts" on several occasions. I do not catch them all, but I am disturned as you are by people writing make-believe facts in the their comments thinking they can just b.s. their way through. Enough or I will get crazy about this. Thanks. Z

Katie, I just want to say "well done" and "thank you" for terrific interviews exposing the shallowness and hypocrisy of the McCain - Palin ticket. Words like "not prepared to be Vice President" do not come even close to describing how frighteningly short Sarah Palin is on experience, integrity, and ability to reason. To be sure, she's a couple of hundred percent above what Bush was when he ran for President, but that is damning with faintest praise. I marvel -- and weep -- for my country to read that as many as 40% of American voters actually favor McCain and Palin and approve of Bush. Haven't they learned anything from the past eight years? It all just makes me want to crawl in bed, pull the covers up over my eyes, and go into a long, long sleep.

What NO ONE points out -- but needs to acknowledge here -- is: (ONE) that KATIE COURIC is veteran television personality ('not' a journalist, by the way), who makes $50 million a year that helps with her illustrious facial plastic surgery, personal trainer, and elitist wardrobe -- in order to always have the upper hand in on-air interview; (TWO) that Sarah Palin has very little television experience so immediately the odds were stacked in Couric's favour; (THREE) that television interviews for ANYONE WITHOUT EXPERIENCE is a daunting setup and experience (just look at the impromptu interviews of 'people on the street' asked to comment on news stories...because of their inexperience with television interview, they usually come across stammering or as imbeciles); (FOUR) for a completely fair and pointed interview, Couric's myriad staff could have provided Palin with a prep sheet that would have optimized the interview instead of achieving Couric's network goal of setting up a situation that would make anyone -- not just Palin -- choke; (FIVE) when will CBS and the other major (and rapidly fading) networks get rid of fluff, exceedingly over-priced television personalities like Couric whose only talent is her ability to patronize but only when she knows the cards are stacked in her favour.

DEAR CBS: WHY NOT HAVE A 2ND INTERVIEW NOW THAT PALIN KNOWS WHAT TO EXPECT? OH, THAT'S RIGHT, YOU WOULDN'T DARE, BECAUSE THEN THE AMERICAN/WORLD PUBLIC WOULD GET TO SEE COURIC PUT HER IN HER PLACE.

I was at a diner in Alaska and Palin was there..this was in 1998, she was using jargon that was racist and she was really cruel making other men laugh about someone who worked with them.

First, if Letterman had a brain cell left in his puny head, he sure doesn't want anyone to know about it...

Second, Ms Couric as well as all news media... if Palin WASN'T a female, would she be interviewed as much as Biden. Has he even been on a primetime interview..

HELLO America!!! WAKE up! The news media is democratic... they are in charge of deciding what the viewers see... that is why we are seeing all the downsides of Rep Party... we see what they let us... and NO more

Well Cara, that's certainly one person's opinion. Thanks. Z

Katie Couric is such a bxxxx. She was so obviously condescending. I hope she is the next to be axed. I'm boycotting CBS until she is. I despise her.

Katic did not have the guts to question Obama's paper foreign experience. If she did she will be outcasted.
Here is Obama's experience:
Obama claimed he had foreign experience because he lived in Indonesia when he was a child.
Then he visited Pakistan while he was young Muslim for 4 weeks in 1981.
These visits counted towards foreign experience for the president.
What else he had before he put his papers for president.
Media likes those credentials for President. But for VP, they really crucify her.
Media must bring out the facts and be neutral

Couric threw softballs at McCain, yet saved all the hard questions for Palin, knowing she would look like a fool. What is going on? It looked she was interviewing her father for God's sake. She should have gotten him a cup of coffee while he was talking.
Katie Couric was the loser in this interview.

No one here is going to sway anyone's vote, obviously. But it is time, time for us to stop the finger pointing and get down to business.
We have a bunch of fiscal crisises headed our way. We have TRILLIONS in unfunded mandates, our treasury has been emptied, we are dependent on a foreign source of energy that swings wildly in price and availablilty, we trail the world in education, all the while we are a net debtor nation with grim prospects of reversing that in the next 30 years. So while you fiddle about with partisan smears and political sniping, Rome burns. WAKE UP!! We have to let go of the past and move this country forward, that will take both effort and sacrifice. We risk leaving the coming generations not only the burden of our failures, but no model of citizenship

As the great Stephen Colbert once remarked "Reality has a liberal bias."

What you people need to remember is that these "gotcha" interviews are part of the campaign. Enough crying about news bias and attacks... it happens on both sides. By Nov. 4th all republicans will think the media was harsher on McCain/Palin and democrats will believe the media was harsher on Obama/Biden. It happens every election... please don't be ignorant to this point. The fact is these candidates should have the skills and intelligence to handle tough "gothcha" questions in any situation. We need a leader that can think on their feet. 99.9% of people who criticize the way issues should be handled wouldn't have a CLUE what to do if they were put in a position to make decisions. Shut up with your backseat driver comments and criticism on the media... IT IS WHAT IT IS... our unintelligent country feeds off the way propaganda is presented to us - it isn't going to change no matter how many comments you make on these articles.

Z, you do a wonderful job with your writing!

What you people need to remember is that these "gotcha" interviews are part of the campaign. Enough crying about news bias and attacks... it happens on both sides. By Nov. 4th all republicans will think the media was harsher on McCain/Palin and democrats will believe the media was harsher on Obama/Biden. It happens every election... please don't be ignorant to this point. The fact is these candidates should have the skills and intelligence to handle tough "gothcha" questions in any situation. We need a leader that can think on their feet. 99.9% of people who criticize the way issues should be handled wouldn't have a CLUE what to do if they were put in a position to make decisions. Shut up with your backseat driver comments and criticism on the media... IT IS WHAT IT IS... our unintelligent country feeds off the way propaganda is presented to us - it isn't going to change no matter how many comments you make on these articles.

Z, you do a wonderful job with your writing!

I use to defend Katie Couric, but she and the likes of David Letterman - an old Howdy Dooooodie - are nothing but far left idiots. She needs to get off of the air and Letterman needs to retire. We, Americans, are getting quite sick of the both of them.

Let's compare the education of our options

Obama...Occidental College 2 yrs
Columbia University-BA political science with a specialization in international relations.
Harvard J.D. Magna Cum Laude

Biden...University of Delaware BA in history and a BA in political science
Syracuse University College of Law Juris Doctor

McCain...U.S. Naval Academy class rank 894 of 899

Palin...Hawii pacific University 1 sem, North Idaho college 2 sem general study University of Idaho 2 sem Journalism Matanuska- Susita College 1 sem University of Idaho 3 sem BA in Journalism

Seems to me Palin is qualified to take Curics place

Wow! Even in this modern day I'm still amazed how candidates lie to the American people on a daily basis and what's even more amazing is the fact that the American People do not hold these candidates to a higher standard. Which we should. Case in point, McCain and Obama are displeasd with Congress not passing the bill to restore confidence in the market place yet they make no mention of the fact that the bill that was presented by our numb skull of a president was greatly flawed from the onset. It was flawed in the sense that the bill didn't address the root cause of the problem. That bill would have rewared the industry that was at least 50% responsible for the problem in terms of offering loans to people who couldn't afford the loans. But that small fact didn't matter to the mortgage companies because they would sell most of the loans within thirty days anyway, The other party that's responsible are the homeowners who agreeded to the loans knowing full well they couldn't afford the mortgages from day one.

Ole Brother John is so out of touch with reality and is seems at times has no respect for the American Voters in the sense that he will say just about anything and will get angry when he's called on it. I will make no mention of his choice in a Vice President other than if he's elected I pray that he stays very healthy and mentally sound because the alternative is something that is a little scary to ponder. Obama, what can I say about Obama. I believe that he believes he's going to do a good job. Given the opportunity, Obama just might be successfull.

What has happend to our country? What happend to going into public life because you wanted to do good job?

John is clueless to the fact that 113 of his fellow Republicans voted against the bill because it was flawed, so I submit this question to you Bro. John. Is your goal to have a bill passed and passed quickly or to have a bill passed that actually can do some good for the American People?

I must warn you, think before you answer.

I pity Hannity, that right wing rabid attack dog both for Fox and the Republicans. He seems to be obsessed with Barack Obama. He brays all the time because Obama ignores him. Next thing Hannity will be stalking him and trying to get Obama to notice and acknowledge him. Too bad Hannity, never gonna happen, yer not his type, just go back to your hole.

Katie Couric is a veteran interviewer and has never demonstrated any partisan behavior that I've seen. She didn't show any in Ms. Palin's interviews either.
I remember Katie asking FAR more direct and embarrassing questions of many people, like President Clinton, for one. She had me squirming.
Ms. Palin is clearly not qualifed to be president any more than I am. And I am better informed and am more intelligent. If I were Ms. Palin, I would have declined the nomination as VP, knowing that it was the wrong move in my career.
We don't need another Dan Quayle.

Katie Couric and the Baltimore Sun aren't really shining as bright as they think they are. I challenge Katie to let me interview her. I would love to ask some Gotcha ?'s. Let's face the facts, this was Couric's last chance. Her career was dying on the vine and she was desperate to do anything to save it. Anyone in journalism can play dirty pool and that is certainly what she and others are doing in tearing Palin apart. Good luck in the future Couric when there are no more Gotchas to be done.

I want to thank Katie for doing such a great job with the interview with Palin. That was great! She did it in a very reserved intelligent way to bring the real Sarah Palin out. Everybody has been going gaga about Palin but that was before everybody knew anything about her and the two interviews with her finally showed us the true Palin. There is so many things wrong with this woman. I think she should just give up and go home with the excuse that her baby needs her more than we do. Someday, we'll have a woman that is really ready to be in the highest office but not now. People that are still defending Ms. Palin, need to go back and listen to her interviews.

EVERYBODY WATCH THE PALIN/BIDEN DEBATE TOMORROW! I CAN'T WAIT! I REALLY WANT A GOOD LAUGH AGAIN! PALIN IS JUST SO FUNNY. I WANT TO SEE ANOTHER SKIT ON SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE. ITS JUST TOO FUNNY!!

I have to admit I have always liked watching David Letterman going way back when he jumped on the wall with the velcro suit, but in the past few weeks he has changed my opinion permanently. The "great moments in presidential speeches" never bothered me (I thought it was one of the funniest skits on the show) but his past comments and his nastiness veiled by "humor" is not funny to me. It is amazing in such a short time I see a person I used to like to someone I can not stand watching. If they cancelled his show (which I am sure would not be immediate), it would not bother me. He has lost this once very loyal viewer.

I refuse to watch Couric because she is so bias against Republicians. I also cannot watch the Today show for the same reason. Spineless.
Letterman's comments were just as bad as Imus's remarks about the Duke basketball players. He should be suspended immediately. NBC/MSNBC is too busy sucking up to Obama to care about the other 50 million who voted against him or the other 25 million who now regret they did. There is no comment from the 20 million fictious voters signed up by Acorn. NBC is a joke.

BIAS UNINTERRUPTED