I am so happythat you took such delight in the Letterman interview. I agree with you that all journalist need to ask tougher questions.

Just out of curiousity, if Obama was in Letterman's hot seat instead of McCain, how loud would you be crowing about the great job Letterman did?

Hi Scooter, Thanks for the comment. Just got off a story and back to the blog and have much catching up to do. So, I might be a little brief. But your point about Obama is well taken. And compared to the grilling McCain got from Letterman, Obama has not been pressed that hard. Maybe we need a comedian to do what the journalists won't. Thanks. Z

Of course, he can't say the woman is drastically unfit and has little qualification...but isn't everyone guilty of the same for O'Bama?

Completely wrong on so many levels.

I don't go to David Letterman's show for political grillings and discomfort. It's been going this way for the last few years and I've been hoping it would stop but obviously that's not gonna happen.

On another level, this was a completely disrespectful way to treat an American War Hero. At one point Dave asked John about his relationship with G. Gordon Liddy (?) and without even giving him a chance to answer went to a commercial.

Completely disrespectful. No longer watching.

I think McCain held his head up decently well. You did a fine job of keeping up with what happened.

I would be interested to see how Obama would handle this situation but that would never happen. Letterman said he was an independent but it is so blatantly obvious he is more to the left. I am not just saying that because he is a Bush hater (because I know many to the right her are opposed to Bush) but he all around politics on the show.

I think he did a fine job grilling McCain because I do not know anyone else who would do that indiscrete and to the point, though I felt he was harsh on him. He was trying to provoke something and it worked well for Letterman. Be harsh and provoking though, I think it displayed an important thing for McCain to handle it well. My only problem is Ayres and his clan are very very different than Liddy. Who the heck did Liddy bomb!! A NYS building had a bomb in it, Liddy did not do that. Liddy's friends didn't die in a town house in NY because they were bomb building like Bill Ayres friends!!!! Ayres statements that McCain mentioned are on record too.

To finally note, you are right about the gross vs. profit issue related to taxes. But hey, he isn't a political commentator... not that those folks get it right in the first place...

McCain is an idiot and as dumb as Palin to even go there...He has got way too many skeltons in his closet, but no one has yet confronted him with those yet...McCain and Palin has pretty much gotten away with their serious baggages which they have. Poor judement on McCains part to even consider Palin as his VP...very under qualified individual.

Interested stuff, but instead of just Letterman's questions, I would have liked to have read a sample of McCain's answers as well. I don't really watch much TV, which is why I read your column sometimes; to catch the important things I miss.

Great article and great point on Letterman, Stewart, and Fey... but it makes for a sad state of affairs, doesn't it!

Good recap, David. McCain has not come across well on TV lately. He just seems uncomfortable and out of sorts. His body language is very telling. I thought Letterman did a great job asking him some pretty tough questions, and he wouldn't let up. He's a great interviewer.

Ah!! If only Obama were treated the same way. Here are a few questions he should answer. 1) You want to help Americans but your half brother survives on a dollar a month. Why aren't you helping your own family?. 2) You and your wife refer to your humble roots but this country afforded both of you a harvard education. Yet your wife said she wasn't proud of this country. Do you agree with her? 3) There's a lawsuit regarding your birth certificate. why haven't you cooperated? 4) Your running mate's son was a lobbyist for the porn industry. Were you aware of this?
I'd be satisfied with those four as a start.

I agree... Great Job Dave! McCain cannot possibly think that Palin was a smart choice, especially given the financial crisis. Romney would be a gift for McCain at this time. I'm not sure I'd let Sarah Palin watch my children let alone chose her for VP. I know that I'd spend more time interviewing her than McCain did - for the babysitting job, I mean.

I couldn't agree more. What happened to reporters with the guts to ask tough questions and follow them up? They're journalists, not contestants in a popularity contest.

Why is the so-called "liberal media" so afraid of asking the hard questions? How is it that Palin's extremely poor character (Troopergate, librarian, dogma without information, unable to empathize [rape victims paying for rape kits; her reaction during VP debate when Biden teared up;] constant sarcasm; inciting division and even violence at rallies; poor boundaries [not speaking up when someone shouted "terrorist" or "kill Obama"...], shooting wolves from planes and calling it "pest control"???] I mean, this woman is clearly not of the kind of character we need in the white house. These brilliant comedians have TOUCHED on it; the mainstream media has practically ignored it. Contrast with Michele Obama, for example - refuses to say anything negative - always turns back to the issues - classy to the core. Incredibly grounded and a powerful moral foundation. Am I the only one who sees this character issue as CENTRAL and OBVIOUS?

So many people keep harping on IF anything happens to John McCain, Sara would be president—and how can you think she is qualified to lead if he dies/we have a terrorists attack. But what about Obama? If he is flat out elected he WILL be president….is he qualified to lead if there is a terrorist attack? What qualifications does he have that Sara doesn’t that makes it imperative that he and Biden be elected because of something that MIGHT happen??? Also altho Pres Bush was in a plane to be kept safe after the 9-11 attacks, he was then in DC and still president. It was not like the VP was president for years and years, a ship w/o a rudder. There are people that I am SURE counseled with Bush after the attacks, while he was in the air and while on the ground. Sure he made final decisions, but he took counsel as would Sarah. If someone could nicely (not ranting or treating my question as if I were a fool) explain this to me, I would appreciate it as I’d really like to know.

Thank you David Letterman for asking the tough questions everyone is afraid to ask regarding Sarah Palin. Yes, your show is for entertainment, but your show is viewed by millions and what you do say, or not say, IS relavent in todays political environment.
When a political candidate purposely uses words like "pals around with terrorists" and "not like you or me" that candidate SHOULD be brought to task. Aren't there laws that apply to "inciting a riot"? This type of behavior should be questioned and condemned. . .for the sake of the country, not just a particular candidate.
Wheather Sarah Palin was really John McCain's choice or the choice of the GOP powers that be is moot. . .she has shown her true colours and they "ain't red, white and blue".

Hi Boomer Woman, Yes, I was so pleased to see him not let McCain squirm out of acknowledging that what she did was wrong with her reckless and stupid terrorist talk. Thanks. Boomer Man Z

Thanks for pointing out that media has not been doing its job. Thanks for giving credit to Letterman. He deserves it. Palin needs to be exposed for the hypocrite she has been.

Hi Dorothy, I have seen no one on TV this side of Katie Couric so skillfully and forcefully voice the questions about Sarah Palin that so many people have. Frankly, Letterman surprised me last night. But it sure was a pleasant surprise. And he was so well prepared and informed -- better than anyone this side of Couric or Charles Gibson. Kudos to Letterman, I mean it. Z

Thank God Letterman had the gumption to ask hard questions, when journalists have SO failed to do so. Why can investigative journalists manage to interview Fidel Castro, Mafia bosses, drug czars, reclusive artists, but cannot do an incisive, complete, no-holds-barred interview with a presidential and vice-presidential candidate? This campaign has shown up the press as wimps.

No one admires yellow journalism, but investigative journalism has been a powerful weapon of the truth in our country.

Why don't they ask the difficult questions?!?!?!?!?

Hi Ruth, I mostly agree with you about wimps. But let's not forget Katie Couric and Charles Gibson. They did well in ethir own right. But Letterman was something to behold last night. Z

It all boils down to this: EVERYONE, for some inexplicable reason, has dumbed down the process to accommodate Palin.

This was never more evident than during the Vice Presidential "debate" in which Gwen Ifyll was afraid to ask difficult questions or follow up questions lest she be seen as pro-Obama and Biden was afraid to show what he had lest he be seen as overbearing, sexist or condescending.

Why won't Letterman ask the hard questions of Obama and Biden? "These men have have shown their true colors", Janet. Are they with out fault or weakness? Right. "The chosen one".

To all those who feel that Obama hasn't received a grilling, or that no one will do it....did you miss Obama on O'Reilly? Doesn't that count?

Yeah, I find it strange how you didn't print any of McCain's answers. I thought he did a very good job of responding to Dave's interrogation. What an upside down world the media lives in where serious questions are asked by late night talk show hosts and 'journalists' provide only entertainment.

Hi, Trish. How do you feel about McCain saying "millions of words are said in an election," by way of explaining Palin's false accusations against Obama? In my mind, millions of words said do not justify even one that is false or slanderous. That is one quote I did include, and I think it is the one that matters most. Thanks. Z

PS I do agree about the upside down nature of things. But I am very clear in my journalistic compass that you do not say false things that could damage someone's reputation the way Sarah Palin has consistently done on the campaign trail. And kudos to Letterman for calling McCain on it and not letting McCain josh his way out of it.

It still boggles my mind that less than three weeks to the election and much of Americans still defend his pick of Sarah Palin. I praise David Letterman for putting McCain on the hotseat for this selection. God forbid, they get elected and McCain passes away, we would be the absolute joke of the world. She is soo unqualified for the job and American journalists have yet to really let Americans, or the world, how dangerous she is for our country.
Here's to you David Letterman!! For hopefully breaking the ice and showing the "real" journalists how it should be done.

It is precisely because Letterman is not a journalist and thus does not have a professional duty to appear unbiased that he is free to ask whatever questions he wants. Also, as a comedian he possesses the skills to disarm and relax his guests. McCain was so apprehensive about offending Letterman over his previous cancelation that he seemed to be taking pains to get back in Dave's good graces. The genial reception he got from the host allowed Mac to be more at ease and coherent than in recent interviews or debates. Yes, Letterman was persistent and provocative but I wouldn't call him harsh; he was warm, humorous, and imploringly asked John McCain exactly what I, Joe Citizen would like
to know. Bravo to the New Media.

Hi Laura, while I agree with much of what you say, you are stretching it a bit to call dave Letterman 'new media,' don't you think? Z

Oops Dave, you're right, Letterman has been around a few years. I guess what I meant by 'new media' was the idea that an admittedly biased person who is not a journalist but has a microphone can serve as a mediator between a presidential candidate and me. Thanks for your two-way conversation.

Hi Laura. Thanks. I agree with you on "new" in the sense that press no longer owns that traditional role of "gatekeeper" for information about the candidate. I think we both agree Letterman did it better than most "journalists" last night. And it is part of a larger democratization of information. Thanks. Z

Scotter and "Z":

Obama hasn't been grilled?! Did you see Bill O'Reilly's interview of Obama? You could've fried eggs on O'Reilly he got so fired up at times.

Hi Nick, Good point about O'Reilly. I have to admit O'Reilly is such a shameless partisan and ideologue that I do not think of that as an interview in the sense of trying to provide the viewer-voyter with information. But you are right to make the point about an interviewer breathing fire in Obama's face. Thanks. Z

Hi, June. This is my opinion, which may not 'explain' much and it's as valid as yours.
Palin vs. Obama in case of a 9/11 situation... They both don't have a lot of experience, true. But I see Obama having an overwhelming advantage in terms of: 1) Intelligence: Obama can think on his feet and answer unexpected questions without regurgitating a script; Palin hasn't shown this yet. She either recites, is completely stuck, or blabs inanities when she's asked something she doesn't have a prepared answer for. Thinking also goes a long way in terms of taking in advise and processing it before making a decision.
2) Qualifications: Obama is a Harvard graduate, with true curiosity and knowledge about the world around him and the problems that face, not only this country, but the world as a whole. He has MUCH more knowledge of foreign affairs than Palin does (she has shown shameful ignorance in the most basic issues, like, uh, what papers she reads...). This makes a HUGE difference in case of a terrorist attack.
3) Demeanor: The way Obama handles himself--calm, collected, able to pay attention and listen in the middle of being attacked (fairly or unfairly--not the point) by McCain is to me an indication of how he would act under an attack to our country. One has to be calm and able to think when attacked, because a hot reaction is usually what terrorists are after and benefit from. By contrast, Palin has either ignored any attacks as if they didn't exist, or has bullied herself out of them (like for example, blaming Couric for asking her basic questions). Whether she's being advised to act a certain way, or it's her natural self, her displays have been dreadful and, if President, potentially dangerous.
4) Advisers (to your point): Palin has said that the worst that Cheney has ever done was to have that hunting mishap. This leads me to believe she would seek the advise of people like Cheney, who (Biden said and I agree with), has been one of the most dangerous VPs this country has seen, and who lied to everyone to make a case to go to war with Irak, where there were no WMD or Al Qaeda before we went after Saddam. In the meantime, Bin Laden is at large and we're spending 10 BILLION a month. Sadly, it seems as if the VP HAS been running as President for years and years...
And 5) Foreign Relations: Our image around the world has deteriorated dramatically in the past decade. For the U.S. to continue (or go back to) being a beacon of freedom in the world, we can't ignore the way we're perceived. Palin seems like a continuation of a policy of arrogance, ignorance and ultimately, isolation. Ignoring the world around you is a recipe for disaster and makes the ground fertile for terrorism (too many examples in history).
Let me know your thoughts, June!

McCain may escape this campaign with dignity, but Palin is destined for Celebrity Boxing.

Great line. If she keeps on the downward trajectory she has been following in recent weeks, Celebrity Boxing might be shooting kind of high. Z

I would just like to say as an American woman I am embarrassed & disappointed by Sarah Palin. I feel like all the hard work done by Hillary and the good women before her to help women to be taken seriously and equal to men in politics has now been set back fifty years. The fact that Sarah has even been considered for let alone nominated as the VP canidate has made us look like total idiots to the rest of the world.

Hi, I am surprised by the number of women who have said the same thing in one form or another in comments on this blog. Thanks. Z

I agree with Fred's post absolutely. Palin is sorely underqualified. McCain's choice in picking her as VP candidate was a disservice to this nation on so many levels and is flat-out dangerous to this country's well being and security.

Mr.Obama has shown time and again that he will be an effective leader, and he has the intelligence and calm demeanor to make level-headed decisions to the betterment of all of us.

McCain has simply sunk himself to a new low. If people are really keeping up on the facts, reading and listening and not just picking up on what you want to hear, you will see that Mr.Obama has been very up-front and solid, while Mr.McCain keeps harping on the same lines over and over again, even after Mr.Obama has explained himself thoroughly.

Both Pain and McCain are simply sticking to their negative rhetoric to try to undermine Mr.Obama's character and ability, they have nothing left to try because their ideas are counter-productive to the overall needs of this nation and the collective majority of its people.

The fact is that Palin was a very bad decision when it comes down to who America needs to represent our country and who is most qualified professionally to step into the roll of the highest job positions in the United States.

This is a job interview, and while McCain surely has the years behind him, Palin is too risky a gamble and choosing her lays bare McCain's lack of good judgment regarding the safety and well being of this nation.

I think one of the things that's missed with all the "liberal media" comments is the basic fact that journelist's job is to grill those in power. The media certainly didn't shrink from blaring the Clinton scandals... but now when it's turned on the other side, they're all left-wing biased? No. They're doing their job... scrutinizing the those that hold the keys to the country. And should it come to pass that Obama and the Democrats win in November, they'll recieve more than enough scrutiny from all sides, and not just the Fox News and AM radio talk show.

Oh, and if McCain hadn't ducked Dave in the first place, I'm sure he would have gotten the puff piece he originally anticipated.

Yes, Tony. Great point -- how we seem to have forgotten that this is the normal role of the press. But in recent years, too much of the press is given to questions that begin with phrases like, "So how fabulous was it for you to be so successful and wonderful and great?" The press has become more comfortable cheerleading and sucking up to those in power. Thanks. Z

I understand your relief that hard questions were asked but has Barack Obama ever had to answer the tough questions? Even Bill O'Reilly let him off the hook. The hardest question he's had to answer is from "Joe the Plumber" and he did so poorly on that one they had to try to destroy Joe as if he was the issue.

John McCain what in the world were you thinking? I hate the fact that I even know of her. I say we take her off the endangered list and lock her up in a mental ward.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/presidentbush/2008/10/bush-to-palin-b.html

I respect John McCain very much and have confidence in his choices. Letterman has the right to ask any questions he wants to ask, but he should do it with respect, especially for an somebody like John McCain.

what kind of judgment does j.mccain have to cancel a t.v. show 1 1/2 hours before a show tapes in front of a live audience and go across the street and do another show on the same network. His vps' husband has been working to have Alaska a country separate from the U.S.A is that patriotic. She is running with a war hero, who is out to protect and defend our country, not a traitor. Sarah is up on charges of abuse of power, and funneling funds for her and her family.

Hi Rochelle, Good point about judgment. As for the rest of the comment, facts are facts...thanks. Z

Obama has been grilled lots of times about Ayers and other nonsense that McCain's camp keeps coming up with. He answers politely and directly every time. The problem with people who only vote for their own party is that they don't even bother to read all the news and watch speeches by the other candidate without skewed commentary. I thought Letterman asked some great questions and McCain held himself just fine. Too bad Palin is bringing him down. If McCain wants to be leader of the free world, he better get used to holding his own against other leaders of the world and people who want to bring us down. If he can't face some difficult questions with the calm and steady that Obama does, then he probably shouldn't be president.

It seems that every time a liberal comments on a conservative the first weapon out of their quiver is that the conservative is an idiot. We saw this demonstrated in the last election when Hollywood and the elite media could not figure out what the red states could have possibly been thinking when they cast their votes.
Senator Obama seems to a bright, eloquent man who I just happen to disagree with. Is there no one who can say the same for John McCain or Sara Palin without branding them as idiots solely because they do not share your beliefs?
As for Dave Letterman asking the tough questions, how about Joe the Plumber distinguishing himself from the likes of Katie Couric and Charles Gibson? Who elevated those two to the ranks of intellectuals?

Sorry, I would have to disagree with you about Joe, the plumber who doesn't have a plumbing license and tax expert who doesn't pay his taxes. Go back and read or view his interview with Couric and focus on the words he used to describe Barack Obama's reaction to being confronted. I thought the words and the comparison he made showed tremendous insensitivity. I'll not repeat then here. Z

Thom, Thom, Thom. It's impossible to win with you guys. No matter how it comes out, your guy got shafted and the other guy was treated with kid gloves. I'm not sure how you can feel that Obama has never had to answer the hard questions - have you been asleep for the past 6 months or so? Perhaps you feel that way because he's managed to answer them without getting angry or flustered, so in your mind it doesn't count. Life is easier if you decide the answer before you read the question, but that's a dangerous way to operate.

For heaven's sake - Bill Ayers did not hurt anyone but McCain was dropping bombs on innocent people before he was captured.

The weather underground killed three of their own members and no-one else.

When they bombed they set little bombs in toilets late at night that broke windows and not much else.

When napalm or agent orange dropped on Vietnam everything was destroyed and people are still dying today because of the agent orange.

Some of you need to get some sense of proportion.

Ayers could not serve his time because he was not convicted of anything.

I think the media (and many others as well) is biased towards Obama, but maybe for good reason..

I also think that McCain's campaign has created an identity crisis for him that he cannot dig his way out of. Will the real John McCain please stand up?

Regarding the "tremendously insensitive" comparison used in the Couric/Joe the Plumber interview - are you seriously trying to imply that was somehow a racist remark? I realize that some people try to find racism in every statement made publicly, but that's really stretching it, don't you think?

Hi Mike, I am not sure if you are referring to something I said or one of the others who commented. please calrify, and I will reply. Thanks. Z

I was talking about the tap dance remark in the Couric interview. I'm assuming that was the comparison you think showed tremendous insensitivity and did not want to repeat here. I'll respect your wishes and not say it, but I really think you are reaching if you are trying to paint that as a racist remark.