The upside for Sarah Palin from her widely panned sit-down with Katie Couric

Sarah Palin received generally poor marks for her third interview with a major media type since becoming the Republican vice presidential nominee.

Howard Kurtz of the Washington Post called Palin's comment, during her Q & A with Katie Couric of CBS, that the U.S. had achieved "victory" in Iraq "an apparent misstep."

Our own James Rainey, in critiquing the entire interview that was aired in two parts Wednesday and Thursday nights, declared Palin "rambling, marginally responsive and even more adrift than during her network debut with ABC’s Charles Gibson."

Like many, Rainey was particularly struck by an exchange from the second segment, when Couric asked Palin about her claims that, as the governor of Alaska, the state's proximity to Russia gave her a foreign policy credential.

Rainey posits that it was "good news" for Palin that the nation's financial crisis and the uncertain status of tonight's John McCain-Barack Obama debate diverted what had been an unrelenting spotlight on her.

The analysts at MSNBC's political shop see it much the same way, saying in their daily "First Read" memo that "had it not been for it not been for McCain's debate gambit, Palin's near-disastrous two-part interview ... would be dominating the political discussion right now."

They identify another possible positive -- "she has moved her debate expectations to an all-time low."

Might Thursday's Palin-Joe Biden get-together outdraw tonight's McCain-Obama face-off (especially with so many Americans preoccupied with high school football and other start-of-the-weekend activities)?

Regardless, the VP debate promises great theater, given that -- as The Ticket recently noted -- Biden hasn't exactly been hitting the ball out of the park either.

-- Don Frederick

Comments

[trojanz]

I felt bad for Sarah in that interview. She has clearly lost her confidence and every word from her mouth drips with an internal battle between self consciousness and talking point.

The strategy to limit media access to her has left this candidate a muttering mess. I couldn't even understand what she was saying half the time. Maybe I should have watched more of her interview than seeing us get slapped around by Oregon St.

Fight on!

[Rodney]

To those who do not get their news exclusively from television, it is all too obvious that Sarah Palin is even more qualified to be president of the United States than Obama is. She has more experience, her ideas are more in line with the pro-individualism basis of the US, she is not friends with terrorists, she is not disqualified from being president are virtue of holding a dual citizenship, she does not have multiple skeletons in her closet, she did not cheat in the primaries by means of coercion and fraud, her running mate has not been shown as being the recipient of illegal campaign contributions from Gaza--the list goes on and on and on. Just read the blogs on both sides of these issues, and think! If you imagine you are getting anything like the full story even by watching Fox, you are sadly, sadly mistaken.

If the Republican ticket were reversed from McCain/Palin to Palin/McCain, the choice would still be clear. Obama needs to be vetted now, and quickly, before this disaster proceeds any further.

By the way, I personally am an atheist. But I would support McCain/Palin as the closest thing to America's original principles of individualism and capitalism being offered to us today. One always has to ignore certain things and certain positions taken by politicians, and select the closest thing to one's own views. Twice during the Republican convention I heard the phrase "individual rights"--a rare and precious thing nowadays!

Use the Internet to look into the past that Obama is strenuously hiding, and you'll see that there can be no question of voting for him under any circumstances. Even if his opponent were Hillary Clinton. In fact, I would rather have Hillary as president right now, without an election, than for this election to go ahead and risk getting Obama elected.

[jake]

She was much better in her interview with Hannity, which is the kind of interviews obama has gotten this whole campaign. I'd like to see how Obama does with a bunch of interviews where the interviewers are doing everything they can to make him look like a fool.

Watch her interviews with anyone who is not trying to make her look bad, like her interviews on CNBC with Larry Kudlow. She comes across as very knowledeable, articulate, and likable. She is obviously either very nervous or confused trying to remember all the things her handlers are instructing her to do.

[wuj212]

Quote from 2T3MzooK (email: rr.rawlings@sympatico.ca) "To those who do not get their news exclusively from television, it is all too obvious that Sarah Palin is even more qualified to be president of the United States than Obama is."

Sadly, Palin's recently interview has proved that there is value to a presidental candidate who can actually can give a good speech. I will be thinking about Palin/McCain supporters as the Republican ship sinks on Nov. 5th. I wish the best for your evolution from walled-off oblivious conservatives to joining the ranks of a more balanced, and less blame-filled, worldview. Perhaps you should encourage your hero, Sarah Palin, to travel a little more as well with her brand new passport. Some of us have been traveling the world for years, and her viewpoints, sadly, are just the same old tired conservative rhetoric, delivered in awkward and unsteady fashion. The above quote solidified my opinion that Palin supporters are just as blind as she.

[whynot]

This is not even funny anymore. I am starting to feel bad for her.

[Lawrence]

Hey 2T3MzooK - are you for real? "Individual rights?"

How would the overturning of Roe Vs. Wade contribute to "individual rights?" The right for a woman to choose isn't one of those, eh?

And same sex couples not being allowed to marry or have civil unions - yeah, those aren't individual rights either.

How about the right to learn about how to protect yourself from AIDS - realistically, via safer sex since clearly TEENS HAVE SEX ANYWAY IF YOU LOOK AT OL' BRISTOL AND ALL THE HIGH STD TRANSMISSION RATES AMONGST YOUTH IN RURAL AREAS LIKE TEXAS - in public school? Where one should learn these details?

You're a tool.

[HowAboutSomeRealNews]

Sarah Palin is an incredible, dynamo of intellectual prowess and depth of knowledge. This woman would leave the Founding Fathers scratching their heads. She is on a WHOLE OTHER LEVEL!!!

We should be so lucky that something untoward would happen to McCain after he becomes President and that she would become our Great Leader.

[When Pigs Fly]

Sarah's snippets of fragmented thoughts were indicative and more too
The soft approach interview cast a shadow on an already
persona now being characterized by Rainey as profiting from crisis.

Is there such a word? you know.. Politica-babel

[STanveer]

I am reading comments in the different websites about Sarah Palin interview. I am reminded of a study by a psychologist which shows that if you feel personally vested to a person, as do most Palin supporters to her, you will feel hostile to who ever is criticizing or making that person look bad. The connection of Palin supporter to her is organic; they can relate to her and feel she will fight for them With that kind of organic connection, they are not always amenable to plain rational reasoning. If this interview were conducted before Palin's support had gelled, I bet any reasonable person would have concluded that it was a disaster.

Anyway, let me leave aside psychoanalysis. Let me ask Palin supporters--think of a President Palin--indeed this is a good possibility with McCain's age and bouts with cancer. Suppose she takes us to war against all the "bad guys" in the world--besides bad guys in Iraq and Afghanistan, add Iran, Syria, North Korea and a Nuclear Russia--the latter because they are hounding our friend Georgia. Where is she going to get the troops? Believe me NATO allies are not going to fight the "bad guys". For an end-gamer, which is part of her religious belief, it may be OK because it is all God's will that the world should come to an end soon, but for the rest of us, it is a frightening prospect.

[TerrifiedInVegas]

How gently does the right wing want the media to treat the Rep. candidates?

Obama has been mercilessly vetted by the media for almost two years. FOX ran the Rev Wright clip on an endless loop for a month and Obama still went toe-to-toe with Bill O'Reilly.

Why shouldn't we be concerned that McCain and Palin run and hide from any media that aren't deemed "deferential" enough to them?

[CDC]

Someone please remind Ms. Palin that Moscow is actually much closer geographically to Washington DC/East Coast than to Alaska.

[steve rodriguez]

Let's have Sarah debate Barrack, that would be a more fair and interesting debate!

[Mike]

No one needs to make Palin look like a fool. Face it people she is a liability, not qualified and nothing short of a political bafoon.

I think the reporters have been easy on her. The Couric interview was a good example. Asking for examples of her running mates record is not picking on her.

I'm on the right for most issues. The prospect of a President Palin is quite frankly the scariest what-if I could possible imagine.

[nic]

The only thing funny about this situation is the partisan defenses of Palin...

This is getting sad...

[Ben Aveling]

Your moose hunter appears to be more of a deer in the headlights.

[ltreader]

To Jake:
Would you consider Obama's interview with The O'reiley Factor a walk in the park?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_753sLQQ8q8

By comparison - Katie Couric could be mistaken as Sarah Palin's therapist. The look on Couric's face was a combination of disbelief and sorrow for Palin. She really could have been much harsher with the tone and questions - as O'reilly was with Obama.. but fact is she didn't need to be.. Palin did it all to herself.

[Anna]

I DO FEEL SORRY FOR HER.

[Cohen]

This wasn't even funny: she is so disturbingly dumb...A heartbeat away from the presidency? Please, God, don't let it happen. She is a disaster!

[john barry]

Barack Obama has NO foreign policy experience. He has NO executive experience. Presumably Katie Couric will make an issue of this. Just take a look at this from Obama
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPMTGIh6N6I
The man is clueless on foreign policy

[s.b.]

Sarah does infinately better than Joe Biden who is know to make three collosal gaffes a day. No one interviews Obama like she has been grilled, except maybe Oreilly and that was recently. No one interprets what Obama or Biden says through the ridiculously negative lens they have for her. She does just fine a whole lot better than obama would have done two weeks out of the gate if he had actually ever been grilled by the press. I'm so tired of the cotcha questions being distorted btw? Depression, Holy War, these are words from the interviewer not Sarah. It's like asking someone do you deny beating your wife? It's tiresome from people who are supposed to be journalists.

[ATTENTION REPUBLICANS:]

ATTENTION REPUBLICANS:
RE: SARAH PALIN

Obviously there has been a HUGE mistake.....

Palin's Dribble, Weasel Wording, Mush-Mush, Ass-Backwards speak Cleary demonstrates who carries the Down Syndrome trait in her family, because of this we (the democrats) will allow you to send her back to Wacky-silla without prejudice and select another candidate.

For this consideration the Republicans agree to sell Alaska to Russia (with Palin) and never mention the State of Alaska or her again. PALLIN=DOWNS SYNDROME

The Democrats

[Peter]

What is patently evident is not that this woman is a buffoon, but she doesn't believe what she is saying.
And to be truthful the Neo Con line is incoherent, imposing Democracy (how do you impose a populist movement), how do you impose democracy by bombing people, what Paln believes is the following... you are responsible for your action... no bailout...
Russia is a neighbor of ours we share a waterway.. so I have some experience.. (forget the Georgia Neo Con nonsense)... Israel is a country we have close ties with due to a shared religious past, but they have to take care of their own stuff. Get the Lieberman, Pearl, Krystol loonies to leave this woman alone. And we might find out that she tyalks a lot of common sense

[Jane]

To 2T3MzooK: This is to congratulate you on your recovery from a two-year coma. "Obama needs to be vetted now"? Sorry you missed it. If we vetted Obama any more thoroughly we would need a CAT scan and a proctoscope. Vetting? It's not Obama the media have gone easy on. We saw endless hours of Obama's nutty church, but the mainstream media have not touched the video of Sarah Palin being proofed against witches, in church, by her pastor and two others. We heard details of Obama's wife's college paper, but we have not heard from the MSM that Sarah Palin needed six years to get through five very minimal colleges and that she was on the verge of flunking out of the University of Idaho when the school reinstated her after she made up courses at a community college. Nor that John McCain graduated #894 in his Annapolis class of 899. And can you can be sure that if Obama's daughter were ten years older and turned up pregnant, with a tough-talking boyfriend in tow, we would hear plenty about disgusting ghetto mores.

[JakeR]

> She comes across as very knowledeable

Ahh, so THAT'S the word for it. I was wondering.

She should've stayed at a Holiday Inn Express that night.

[Arthur]

I feel dumber just watching it

[kuppey]

While suturing a cut on the hand of a 75-year old Texas rancher whose hand was caught in a gate while working cattle, the doctor struck up a conversation with the old man.

Eventually the topic got around to Sarah Palin and her bid to be a heartbeat away from being President .

The old rancher said, 'Well, ya know, Palin is a post turtle.'

Not being familiar with the term, the doctor asked him what a post turtle was.

The old rancher said, 'When you're driving down a country road and you come across a fence post with a turtle balanced on top, it's a post turtle.'

The old rancher saw a puzzled look on the doctor's face, so he continued to explain.

'You know she didn't get up there by herself, she doesn't belong up there, she doesn't know what to do while she is up there, and you just wonder what kind of dumb ass put her up there to begin with.

[Jess]

Palin reminds me of the Indian politician Laloo Prasad Yadav.
He was rustic (a people's choice) who was very proud of his small-town values and support. He would make similar remarks. He would eat, walk and talk in small town ways..

He was RIDICULED to the core by the press and made into a laughing-stock by the elite.
Today, he ended up today at the top reforming the Indian Train system as a Railway Minster in a dazzling success story which has left the nation stunned, leaving his mockers way behind.

Lesson: Who we laugh at today may end up laughing at us tomorrow.

P.S. Palin still does not have my vote (I'm an animal rights advocate and do not agree with her polices). However, I am appalled at the 'delighted glee' of her treatment meted out to her. Shame on us who are supposed to embrace all !!

[Brigitte]

Sarah comes accross like someone who has to say things she rehearsed, but never thought about herself that way and, in the Couric interview, I got a sense that she just had it of making an effort to repeat someone else's slogans. She could't find the right word, felt she had to be assertive on foreign policy rather than admit that it interests her but that she hasn't had any chance to do it, because a state governor doesn't usually engage in foreign policy. The problem appears to me that she isn't allowed to speak her own ways. They may not always fit with the Republican agenda, but they might bring some fresh air into this despotic, calcified campaign of McCain's, in which people are to trust and believe into McCain like daddy knows best even when he doesn't care at all what the problems of the regular people really are. Remember, at the beginning Condi Rice was really not more than a mouthpiece for Bush, Cheney et al. Only in the second half of the Bush presidency did she develop an approach more of her own and she looks so much better that way; after not being taken seriously for 4 years, she built herself a position, which can't be ignored anymore and which foreign leaders respect and insist that it be followed by Bush.

I won't vote for McCain, not just because Palin isn't really qualified, but because I think that McCain isn't qualified to be president, not because of lack of experience, but because of his despotism sold as "my friends" and war time heroism, but no empathy for the regular U.S. people.

[SLB]

It's possible that her "duh" moment with Katie Couric was a big put-on, designed to drop our expectations for the debate. We all know she is going to fail in comparison to Biden. And I agree with the reviewer who said that McCain shielding her from the public view has eroded any sense of confidence she could have in herself. So poor thing, the best she can hope for now is to surpass our rock-bottom expectations. Even if she delivers in the tiniest little way, that will make people think she did "great." I think it's dangerous to get complacent in our low expectations of Palin.

[Liz]

I am an Obama supporter, and thought McCain's choice of Palin was an insult to all women who work hard to be taken seriously based on their merit, accomplishment, and achievement.

Even so, I expected Palin to be a smart woman - NOT intellectual or experienced, but smart in her own way possessing basic raw intelligence.

After I watched the now infamous Couric interview, I realize that this woman is flat out dumb. Evem if she did not have all the advantage of sophisticated education and intellectual training, basic intelligence, common sense judgement, and weeks of time to think through issues and anticipate other people's reactions and opinions would have warned her that repeating the Russia is my neighbour argument would make her look irrevocably stupid. This being the case, I have no choice but to come to an obvious conclusion that she has something missing up there over her shoulder.

This is just one example - the fact that she can't even form a coherent sentence with proper grammar - tells me that if she were a computer, it is missing a few of critical processor chips up there.

[keithnewman]

Palin believes the end of the world is near. No way should she be in the vicinity of the nuclear football.
Please send her back to her dead lake-house home, put her in a helicopter, give her the AK47, and let her kill 40 wolves at a time. After all, she is a committed environmentalist.

[Sunny]

I am an Alaskan who suffered through our last two Governors, one Harvard educated Democrat and one experienced Republican. Sarah Palin has been a better Governor than either of them were and has done more good things for Alaska than either of her predecessors. Even our liberal state newspaper made a positive analysis of her. Funny, she didn't do so well in the debates in Alaska either but when she was elected she did a fabulous job. All the education and experience in the world won't do you any good if you are immoral and power hungry. All the noise about troopergate is funny because what we have is a corrupt safety department which she was trying to change since some of our troopers get away with things the normal citizen would go to jail for. My vote is for McCain/Palin.

[Mark]

Palin's interview was incredible. Incredible that she barely managed a coherent sentence and completely choked on every serious question. She was obviously unprepared for even expected questions, had no confidence or command of the issues, and was obviously parroting someone else's words. Thank goodness for her it was Katie Couric interviewing her rather than Keith Olbermann.

This is the best McCain can do? This is "Country First"? No, Mr. McCain, it's manipulative politics at a time when we need your best and not your worst. I hope the press takes off the kid gloves and pounds her without mercy as they do with every on other candidate. They certainly showed no mercy on Hillary.

While the V.P. isn't a huge part of most administrations, she will be a heartbeat away from the Presidency and what will she do if she has to stand face-to-face to Putin? Challenge him to a charity bake-off? I feel cheated McCain has shown such a complete lack of judgment and contempt for American citizens.

[espaz]

man that was fun reading all these remarks! i feel like 50 pounds was lifted from my shoulders. it really is difficult to believe that we're all sitting around having to debate this one in the first place! i mean.....isn't this election a no brainer ?? don't we have a whole grab bag full of scandles to choose from ?? how bout the cia outing incident for starters.....jesus fn christ...i can't believe half the people in this country are so ......so.....oops , palin moment....

[Marcos El Malo]

I'm a disgruntled Republican who will be voting for Bob Barr this November, and it's not because I have any libertarian leanings. It's because I cannot in good conscience vote for or support McCain or Palin.

McCain's choice of Palin alone disqualifies him from the presidency. Palin is not mentally incapacitated, as some Dems are unfairly suggesting, but she is way out of her league. Choosing her for VP was a political gimmick that is backfiring. The choice comes across as an impulsive one.

For this and other reasons, I cannot vote for McCain. Obama is pretty certain to take CA, so my vote for Barr will be a protest vote, both against the GOP and the two party system. I urge other Republicans to do the same.

[Deborah J.]

Palin's problem isn't about confidence, it's about COMPETENCE.

[Michael Huppman (Folsom, PA)]

Don't feel sorry for Sarah, folks. These were political softballs and she blew it. This interview might be the worst I've ever seen. I am a republican wasn't voting for Senator McCain in any event. This justy makes me happy about the decision I've made.

[Robert Wilson,Manchester,England]

I'm not a democrat,but I really hope Obama wins the election,so that all you mugs who treat him like the second coming of christ,will see he's a political lightweight.

By the way all this "Change",he loves to drone on about,has he ever specified what he's changing to and from?.Finally I'd like to thank your media for giving the rest of us a cheap laugh,with their "Neutrality",if they get anymore "Neutral",they'll all be wearing Obama pins,during their broadcast.

[BREAKING NEWS:]

BREAKING NEWS:

PALIN TEAMS CLAIMS DEBATE POINTS HANDICAPP:

PALIN Camp now claims 5+ Debate points for the mentally disabled under [11CFR110-- Sec.110.13].

Citing:

Warning signs of ADHD:

1) Failure to listen to instructions:

-Couric: I'm just going to ask you one more time - not to belabor the point. Specific examples in his 26 years of pushing for more regulation.

-Palin: I'll try to find you some and I'll bring them to you.

2) Inability to organize oneself (Incoherent responses)

-Couric: What other Supreme Court decisions do you disagree with?

-Palin: Well, let's see.....(you know the rest)

3) Leaving projects unfinished (Bridge To Nowhere)

4) Trouble paying attention to and responding to details
- Couric what publications she had read to stay informed and to understand the world?
- Palin- "I've read most of them, again with a great appreciation for the press, for the media," Palin replied. Asked for examples, she said, "Um, all of them, any of them that have been in front of me all these years."
5) Talking too much (blabbering, blathering ) Insert any answer 1 thru 4 here_____________.

As respectfully submitted Pursuant to Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 56, Candidate Sarah Palin respectfully moves for summary judgment in this action. In support of this motion, plaintiff relies upon the accompanying memorandum and the statement of undisputed material facts.

Signed,

THE REPUBLICANS

[Rajens]

I am just amazed at the vitriolic comments by so many people that just spew bitter, and destructive comments about Sarah Palin. I don't see that type of commentary about Senator Biden and this just points to the dicotomy between those on one hand who support the McCain/Palin camp and on the other hand those who support the Obama/Biden camp. I'd rather be with those who aren't spewing the caustic and bitter finger pointing but with those have hope and a can do attitude with respect for even those who live in the acerbic world of fear and hopeless "woe are we".