Sarah Palin will be missing from action Sunday a.m.

As is The Ticket's custom, a post listing the entire roster of appearances on this Sunday's interview programs will pop up Saturday at noon PDT (3 p.m. EDT).

But here's an advance heads up, in part because of who WON'T be found on any of the chat shows.

Three of the four now-official candidates on the major-party presidential tickets are scheduled to sit down for questions: Democrat Barack Obama on ABC's "This Week," his running mate, Joe Biden, on NBC's "Meet the Press" and Republican John McCain on CBS' "Face the Nation."

Absent from this list, of course, is the GOP's star of the moment, the not-so-long-ago obscure governor of Alaska who is McCain's running mate, Sarah Palin.

Since she was thrust onto the national stage a week ago, her appearances on it have been tightly regulated by the McCain campaign: a few side-by-side campaign stops with him and, of course, her big speech to the GOP's convention Wednesday night.

Today, top McCain aide Rick Davis indicated the campaign isn't in any hurry to slot Palin for a Sunday show appearance -- and will do so only if he and other strategists determine it serves the ticket's purposes, not because some may view it as a required initiation for a major political player.

Appearing on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" show, Davis said, "I'd never commit to anything in the future. ... Our strategy is in our hands, not the media's. We're going to do what's in our best interests to try to win the election. If we think going on TV news shows are [sic] in our best interests, we'll do it. If we don't, we won't."

Palin still will be busy this weekend. She'll campaign Saturday with McCain in two key states -- Colorado and New Mexico -- and she'll deliver his campaign's weekly radio address. That's one of those trappings of the presidency McCain has borrowed (notwithstanding the barbs his forces like to sling at Obama along these lines).

-- Don Frederick

Photo credit: AFP/Getty Images

Comments

[Isabella]

Please, please, please!!!!! She is ready to be PRESIDENT of the Unites states of America TODAY and she is not ready to be part on the sit down TV program where only one person will be asking her questions? What a contradiction....This is INSANE. Please help!!!!

[MD]

When this Pentacostal Vixen rises again into the public eye, it will be spun that she was just being a mother to her five children, rightfully out of the spotlight. It wasn't out of fear, but silent noble duty as a mother, Fox News will report.

You see, privately, Republicans are ashamed of the actions of their standard bearers of late. They are so eager for good news they will believe that Sarah Palin can do no wrong.

[Mark F]

She's so lousy that they're afraid to put her in front of the public. They're probably trying to see if they can prep her well enough so that she sounds like she knows what she's talking about before they commit to anything. This is such a sham.

If the press were doing their job, they'd be all over this story, and relentlessly ask what the McCain camp is afraid of. It's like McCain is trying to sneak a criminal into the White House or something.

[kevon]

The republicsham party is now the party of ( working people, union's, feminist,sex education,teen pregnancy,anti big business/air mark's). Thats what i took from that convenction.

[Donovan]

Cathy you make a good point.... "If this woman, Sarah Palin, cannot handle a few questions from the press how can she handle the Vice Presidency or possibly the Presidency if 72 year old McCain becomes incapacitated? ".....This should be the democratic narrative until she actually is forced into talking to real journalists.

The bottom line is that Palin is not qualified for the office of VP .. espescially when McCain is the oldest first term president in history, and has battled cancer 4 times. If McCain gets elected I will pray everyday for his health because we dont need a newbie dittohead in the whitehouse, she could be more disastrous than GWB.

[nyes]

sally, i totally agree with you. this is a game they are playing-just like how she went mia before her big convention speech. it's definitely a way of lowering expectations so she looks great in comparison. please, democrats, stop taking the bait. focus on mccain and his platform and stop getting distracted by the red herring that is sarah...

[Bo Lein]

Maybe should start a ticker like Fox News did for Obama. Start the counting NOW.

[stclaire for Obama 08Marie]

It's very obvious that Sarah Palin took the position not because of COUNTRY FIRST but the prestige and power that comes with it. She blatantly accused Sen. Obama of almost being "no brainer" politician and did not have the common sense to study or research further what this man is all about. She indeed succeeded in parroting the same lame tactics of the republicans but now that the conventions are over she opted to put herself in a bubble and hoping the people of this great nation will somehow buy this staged strategy. I for one don’t have to worry about financial strain caused by the economy but I can’t as a citizen of this country to go on with my daily life and ignore the economic collapse of many families in my neighborhood and other parts of the country. My question is, does McCain/Palin seriously think that people are naïve and stupid after years of unresolved economic , school system, healthcare, veterans affairs and unpopular war will suddenly change our mind and change party because of Palin unprecedented popularity? I don’t think so.

[Michael]

Rick Davis made it obvious they are out to win they could care less about what the American people want, sound familiar (Bush).

[delfinajones]

Peg Bundy usually spent Saturdays trying to trick AL into having sex. I am sure nothing has changed since she moved to Alaska.

[Larry Love]

If you want to play with the big boys, You got to get in the ring....Get in the ring, Sarah!

[Michael]

Rick Davis made it obvious they want to win they could care less what the American people want sound familiar (Bush)

[Howie]

If the GOP is so chicken to have her interviewed because it might embarrass her and the GOP for her lack of knowledge this proves how dangerous electing John McCain is. In fact a vote for John McCain is a vote for evil, hate, fear, and the rich.

[jack]

Palin was only chosen to be a "distraction" and to provide them an "excuse" for why on earth they would vote republican. The shame is that the distraction is working -people are focusing less on their lies and rhetoric., but more on the "stunts" from Palin.

In reality, no other kids have ever been off limits until now and no ones personal life and experience has ever been "not for discussion" until now. but that is what the republican's do best, throw stones from behind their backs and cry "what?" when they're called on it. and our problem is that we don't call them on it w/as much force as they used to throw the stone.

I am most amazed by how their nominee could throw their party under the bus and say that he only became serious about his military role while in captivity -not before (considering his family's level of involvement) and they support him. It's just a shame and an example of their ignorance and desperation.

[Chelsea H.]

Barely getting through college, lying about putting planes on eBay, Jerry Springer-type home life, combative and crass, never generating her own thoughts, demeaning community activism, Troopergate, allegations of sexual impropriety with co-worker of her husband, and on and on and on ... if this woman gets anywhere near the White House, the country will definitely become third world, replete with trashy values.

[jack]

Palin was only chosen to be a "distraction" and to provide them an "excuse" for why on earth they would vote republican. The shame is that the distraction is working -people are focusing less on their lies and rhetoric., but more on the "stunts" from Palin.

In reality, no other kids have ever been off limits until now and no ones personal life and experience has ever been "not for discussion" until now. but that is what the republican's do best, throw stones from behind their backs and cry "what?" when they're called on it. and our problem is that we don't call them on it w/as much force as they used to throw the stone.

I am most amazed by how their nominee could throw their party under the bus and say that he only became serious about his military role while in captivity -not before (considering his family's level of involvement) and they support him. It's just a shame and an example of their ignorance and desperation.

[Len]

Need there be any more proof that this candidate is

NOT READY FOR PRIME TIME !!!

Should be every major newspaper's Monday morning headline.....

PLEASE!!!!

[A Christian Doctor]

I find it amazing that all of the comments posted here can be placed in one of 2 categories

category 1:
Intelligent thoughtful answers from people who see through this vice presidential choice and recognize the right of the people to see who Mrs. Palin really is before all the coaching necessary due to of her LACK of EXPERIENCE. Posts that look at the actual issues and break them down critically.

-The above category consists of true Americans who care about their country, who are not racist or at least can look passed there own prejudice, are non-sexist and obviously actually know how to read and write and thus can spell (come on you could use spell check). And FYI these are Democrats, Independents and Republicans who are savvy enough to realize the presidency is about more than one issue (I also am against abortion but I am not so self-righteous that I am ready to cast the first stone and tell an incest victim that she MUST carry a child to term for 8 months because it makes me feel better, while hypocritically supporting capital punishment when that was neither Christ’s teaching nor are all the condemned guilty given the dozen’s of men who have been taken off of death row with the emergence of DNA testing recently) and fortunately one of the two teams running actually cares about the mountain of obstacles facing this country (the economy, environment, energy, education, healthcare, poverty, fat tax cuts for the wealthy while middle class white, black, latinos, etc. can not afford adequate health insurance and are losing their homes) after 8 years of mismanagement by Bush.

Category 2: (of the Palin supporters there was one exception to the below statement)
Answers that are ignorant, baseless, rude, name-calling, unsubstantiated tirades that just completely ignore all of the issues, and play to emotions and give accolades that just are not true.

Are you telling me that I should just give up on a better country because mccain is a good man when he was not even the topic of the article or majority of the posts? Ok, so if we are going off subject you are telling me that a man who has been happily married to one woman and has children only with her, is a Christian who found his faith as an adult and has lived a truly Christian life working for the people as a community leader, then state and US senator who continues to state a real plan to better this country is not a GOOD MAN.

However, another man who after returning from 5 years as a POW: abandoned his recently crippled wife and children after running around with a rich blond bombshell and marring her and all her money which helped him make waves in the political scene is the real good man because he watched a Vietnamese soldier etch a cross in the ground, a guy who chooses a less qualified running mate just because she is a woman and anti-abortion who herself is in the middle of a scandal of using her power to oust her ex-brother- in-law from his job. Not to mention she pulled social programs identical to ones in her own town from other parts of Alaska while leaving those in her own area. And lets not forget that she is so busy rising without qualifications that mothering takes a back seat her teenager is pregnant OUT OF WEDLOCK and (obviously her abstinence policy DOESN"T WORK, even in her OWN HOUSEHOLD.

These are really quality people I am definitely going to run out and vote for them now. When you look at the issues and even when you play on emotions the Obama ticket is the way to go. I really wish people would dig further, the very individuals who will so emphatically support mccain and palin are the same ones who will suffer the most, unless they are the lucky 5% of the countries most wealthy, all the rest will get screwed. So I take this all back to you who are posting if you make 5 million dollars or more because yes you would somewhat benefit from a mccain administration even though your gas will cost more, your child may die in a needless never-ending war, and you can’t find any educated workers because the schools are so bad.

[Tg Bekele]

I think McCain under estimate the intellect of the American people. He just shows up with Bush's failed policies and expects us to elect him. That is not going to happen.

[DE]

Here's the sad truth -- and it really makes me feel hopeless for this country. Much of the heartland (read: anything between the two coasts and/or those whose main concern is pro-life) is eating her up. Did you see the poll this morning -- something like 42% believe she's qualified to be PRES. Remember how confident we all were that "they" would see through W? Eight years later, look where we sit. Somehow the Dems are going to blow it. What looked like the stupidest decision McCain ever made, is starting to look brilliant. P.S. Biden won't be able to tear her up -- he'll look either mean or rambling.

[DiBaskin]

This is Insane. First they don't want America to ask quesions or pry into her personal life. Now they don't want her interviewed. Once she accepted he nomination her life was no longer private. McCain doesn't even know her and he wants us to vote for her. GMAB!

[Stan]

Put her on Oprah and put her there now !

[Pronoia]

I would love to see SArah Palin subjected to the kind of tough interview given by Bill O'Reilly of Barak Obama.

[Celia Welles]

Good for Sarah. Why would anyone with a modicum of pride or dignity appear on these silly geek shows?

[Kimberly]

They think we're that stupid, and that just galls me!!!

ARE YOU KIDDING!

A 72 year old man, with 4 bout with serious skin cancer, and you want us to believe and just take for granted that, McCain, should be trusted to have made a great choice? Someone on the McCain strategy team, I don't know if is Rick, must being saying to themselves,..."they (us) are just as apathetic as they were in 2000 and 2004 - they aren't even paying attention!" "All we have to do, it what Bush/Chenney and Co. have been doing for the last 8 years.

In the words of Chenney, "So.....???"