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

[Eileen]

How frightening that there are people in this country who might vote for a woman whose qualifications do not include the ability to answer questions about the important issues facing America.

[Clumberfeet]

The GOP is busily teaching her to say "The rain in Spain falls mainly in the plain." Softening the glass shattering 'rain, Spain and plain' and dropping the two 'oo's in 'falls'.

[Jane in PA]

The McCain campaign is sounding alot like Bush & Cheney hiding their blunders and corruption under the guise of "executive privilege". If Palin can't answer questions, how is she going to take over the presidency when McCain's senility goes full blown?

[Sue in MN]

Sticking up for a person running for one of the highest positions in the nation (whichever you party affiliations may be) for NOT willing to answer some tough questions on vital issues that could affect every single one of us is like watching lemming follow each other off the cliff. And seriously, there is no time to waste or is this what they're hoping we'll all fall for?
Furthermore, recycling Bush writer Matthew Scully's speech she gave at the convention at every opportunity instead of actually letting us learn more about her, impresses me not. She has a hell of a lot of catching up to do and being unavailable is a bridge to nowhere, but she sure was in her element stretching the truth both ways as most politicians do given the golden opportunity.
Pit bull with lipstick?...is that only when she chooses to come out of the dog house?

[Adam]

Let me get this right...She is ready to lead the country but she isn't ready for an interview!?

[kayakbiker]

Palin: Ready from Day one to hide and manipulate the press

[none]

I'd much rather see Nader and Ron Paul in the spotlight than the buffoons you mention.

[Jen]

"not because some may view it as a required initiation for a major political player"

That statement right there should scare every single American.

[David]

"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."

Country First??????? Another puppet. Remember how the last puppet performed?

Anyone who thinks this VP in a bubble is OK needs their head examined.

[pablito]

Forget the wingnut Sarah Palin. She is a myopic nightmare, plain and simple, who knows next to nothing about the issues, and what she does know is filtered through her hard right ignorance. She would make a fool of herself on the Sunday pundit shows just as she would make a fool of herself answering real questions from reporters. Joe Biden is going to slice and dice her at the debate, and this election will be OVER.

[Scott]

So much for "country first."

[monk]

"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."
But I thought these guys were about putting "country first."
Mr. Davis, the American people have an absolute right to know who will be a heartbeat away from the presidency. Vetting Sarah Palin is in America's best interest.

[David]

Wow! Two points -
1) It is clear that you liberals realize you are in trouble and can do nothing about it.
2) How fast did O'Biden hit the circuit after his nomination?
01.20.09 I, John S. McCain do solemnly......................

[Edwin Dale]

And Josey Wales, what are the facts that support your list of statements? Just curious.

[raven]

John Mccain - POW
Sarah Palin - MIA

[Sarah]

I really miss Tim Russert right now!!!!!!
Sarah Palin can't come on Sunday talk shows because she hasn't finished her homework yet! Not that it will help, after we learn about all of her previous lies, which are coming on a daily basis. No one will believe a word she says!
Can't wait 'till Hillary gets hold of her...oh look, the shark ate the pit bull, darn!!!
Palin is a menace in a pant suit!!!!!

[quoin]

If Obama can go on O'Reilly then why can't secessionist Palin talk to the press.

What appears to be troubling is that people aren't more upset with her anti-American views, I mean you Donna, Steve, Steve H. Michelle Obama writes a dissertation on the state of racism and she's considered a terrorist when this women openly displays her Anti-American views. Sarah Palin is the new face of the Republican party, yes we see that. The Republicans are now the Neo-Fascist's that they've been itching to become.

[biddiebig]

Now allegations from the National Enquirer that Sarah had an affair with her husband's business partner who just attempted (and lost) his attempt to seal his divorce records. Family values? So how will McCain's handlers spin this one if it's true?

[raven]

Her pastor said, " God will Damn America!"

[Pragmatus]

The GOP is barring any meaningful access to Sarah Palin for the same reason reporters don't interview guard dogs--besides the snarling and barking they have nothing to say, and what would that look like to the American public? Sarah Palin looking blank in the headlights is not the picture they want to convey. However some realities about this newly minted Rottweiler surface nonetheless.

1. If Sarah Palin was such a big boost to the ticket, where's the post-convention bounce? Gallup still has Obama in the lead.

2. All the talk about how Palin has "energized" the GOP base is just that; talk. So far the only "evidence" of Palin's effect has come from GOP spin-meisters. The fact is for every Republican excited by her two are turned off by the fact that she is a brash, inexperienced woman whose morals are all over the place and who seems to have been picked by McCain in desperation.

[spunsilk_coach]

Hey posters: Steve | September 05, 2008 at 11:45 PM and Josey Wales | September 06, 2008 at 01:05 AM

yeah, you got that durn librel media runnin' scared now...PLEASE keep up the good work. Why should anyone want to know what McPalin-PaCain really thinks anyway?

Only have stump speeches with no questions from the media. No unscripted speeches. Maybe you can get her on a rough and tumble interview on FOX...but don't rush it.

Yeah, that's what Americans want after eight years of obscufication, outright lies, and anti-middle class policies--MORE OF THE SAME!!!

Keep up the good work hahaha - I beseech you!

[Jake]

The really sad thing is that the public will give the McCain campaing (and Sarah Palin) a pass and well might elect the ticket in November because the Republicans once again start pushing the red neck buttons that some many subscribe to without regard to teir own self interests.

[Jim]

This story is yet another pathetic example of the media making its own news. Who cares? The McCain campaign has made it clear that it is not going to let the media run the agenda in his campaign, and I don't blame them. Since she was announced as the running mate, hundreds of nasty hit pieces and hateful blog entries have come out of the woodwork. It's OK if you don't want to vote for the GOP ticket, but be a responsible voter and at least give Governor Palin a chance.

She is going to debate Biden, so we'll see what she's made of then, if not before. I, for one, plan to carefully listen to what the candidates THEMSELVES are saying (not what CNN has to say about their words), so that I can make an informed decision in November.

[Zzxno]

Sarah Palin, so ready to lead that we won't put her out there withour a teleprompter and a prepared speech! It's highly telling that they are so scared to put Palin into a situation where her credentials and ability could actually be tested. The lies are getting so thick now that even the best GOP spin masters are having trouble keeping up.

[jzic]

Hey! Take it easy on Sarah. After all, John McCain was a POW for five years.