(Jake Turcotte)
Couric strikes again - asks Palin impossible question
By Jimmy Orr | 10.01.08
With a little more than 24 hours to go before Joe Biden locks horns with the Thrilla’ from Wasilla (thanks to our reader Bob who suggested the nickname this morning) it seems everything that Sarah Palin says is under the microscope. Everything.
For example, a big story in the media today is Palin’s curious response to – again Katie Couric – about where the Alaska Governor gets her news.
Gotcha
People can debate all they want about “gotcha’ journalism” and whether Palin has been a victim of it. But asking someone what newspapers they read cannot be stretched even by the most radical of partisans to be in that category. That would truly be a bridge to nowhere. Not even Rush Limbaugh would try to cross that one.
It was a pretty simple question.
“When it comes to establishing your worldview, I was curious, what newspapers and magazines did you regularly read before you were tapped for this to stay informed and to understand the world?” Couric asked.
“I’ve read most of them, again with a great appreciation for the press, for the media,” Palin responded.
Take two
You think Couric may have had a follow-up to that response? You’d be correct. And it wasn’t a devious follow-up. In fact, it was two words. “What specifically?”
Same response. “Um, all of them, any of them that have been in front of me all these years,” she said.
This could lead some viewers to think aloud, “How about throwing the hometown paper a bone? The Mat Su Valley Frontiersman. Or the Anchorage Daily News. Or heck, say the Weekly World News. But just name one.
Third time’s a charm
No dice. When Couric tried one last time, Palin responded:
“I have a vast variety of sources where we get our news, too,” she said. “Alaska isn’t a foreign country, where it’s kind of suggested, ‘Wow, how could you keep in touch with what the rest of Washington, D.C., may be thinking when you live up there in Alaska?’ Believe me, Alaska is like a microcosm of America.”
So let’s be fair about this. Is this newsworthy? Does it deserve the paper it’s printed on the pixels to render this?
Biden’s hostile snowstorm
After all, Joe Biden can lead audiences to believe he was under fire from a hostile enemy and forced down in a helicopter while flying over in Afghanistan. The truth was, he was caught up in a snowstorm. But he doesn’t tell that part.
In fact, fellow Senator John Kerry – who was on the same helicopter – joked about it after the incident stating, ““We were going to send Biden out to fight the Taliban with snowballs, but we didn’t have to do it…Other than getting a little cold, it was fine.”
Shot at (while shaving)
Biden also claimed during a debate last year that he was “shot at” while in Iraq.
“You take all the troops out – you better have helicopters ready to take those 3,000 civilians inside the Green Zone, where I have been seven times and shot at,” he told the crowd attending the debate.
After the debate, he “clarified” his statement as reported by the Washington, DC political newspaper “The Hill.”
“Biden said the incident happened in the morning while he and at least one other senator were shaving. Although he said it shook the building, he wasn’t rattled enough to duck and cover. ‘No one got up and ran from the room—it wasn’t that kind of thing,’ he said. ‘…It’s not like I had someone holding a gun to my head.’ Thinking about it now, he said, a more accurate comment would have been: ‘I was near where a shot landed.’”
He got away with that?
Why does Joe Biden seem to get a free pass?
Democratic strategist Chris Lehane told The Vote he wears a coat of teflon for a number of reasons. Lehane says Biden likes the press and the press likes him and that extends into media coverage.
“He is a good guy whose good guy nature buys him an awful lot of goodwill,” Lehane says. “That’s complimented by the fact that he appreciates the truest way to the fourth estate’s heart – access and showing them you like them.”
Lehane says some extra goodwill exists because some reporters believe he was unfairly treated in the 1988 presidential campaign. And when Biden screws up – he does it in the right way.
“His gaffes usually do not play into a larger negative storyline that would cause harm to the ticket,” Lehane explained. “He is not doing or saying things that would be seen as arrogant, elitist or inexperienced, which is where the ticket would be vulnerable.”
Unfair to Palin?
Why doesn’t Palin get the same treatment then?
Republican strategist Trent Duffy explained to The Vote that its because she’s an unknown commodity – she’s brand new.
“Every time she offers an initial position or has a slightly different take on something it will be magnified,” Duffy explains. “That’s just reality and that’s the risk of a new candidate, the reward of course is the energy she’s bringing to the campaign, so it’s a tradeoff.”
Duffy’s right. By claiming to read all of the newspapers – every single one – that is definitely a different take on something.
<< Sarah “Joe Six Pack” Palin gets ready to rumble | MainComments
2. Joe | 10.01.08
Exactly. She’s new. People have to know what Palin believes if we’re going to vote for her. Right now, regardless of what she believes, it doesnt appear that she has a lot of facts to support her positions.
Joe Biden has been around. We know what he believes. And even if we disagree with him, and if he talks crazier than a dog in a hubcap factory, we know already he knows his stuff.
Better comparison is Obama. He’s new. We watch him closely. We disagree sometimes. But he seems to know the issues. Even when he just agrees with Hillary and McCain in debates, he shows he knows the issue from his own perspective.
Will Palin show that she knows the issues from her own perspective tomorrow?
3. Janet Lovelady | 10.01.08
The present economic mess affects us all in a very immediate way and the American public has a right to know how we got to this point. I urge you to watch the you tube video listed below with an open mind, as an independent thinker. If you feel it has value, please pass it along. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RZVw3no2A4
4. Grimy | 10.01.08
Palin is a passive aggressive whiner. She picks at people when she has a safe opening… but then cries foul when she cannot answer a question. If McCain and Palin win… we are going to be in for a bizarre and tragic four years.
5. Susan | 10.01.08
She didn’t want to say she read the National Enquirer, World Weekly News and Glamour!
7. hrh | 10.01.08
Can I just point out the obvious that this question is only a question a media person would ask?
Talk about wanting someone to stroke your ego! It’s the media equivalent of saying “Does this outfit make me look fat?”
Puhlease.
Good on you, Governor Palin, for refusing to namecheck specific media outlets that want some ego stroking!
8. Anne | 10.01.08
Could it be that Palin never reads anything at all? Some form of literacy would be nice in a vice-presidential candidate.
9. Jill Again | 10.01.08
I think it’s a reasonable question to ask, and a fluff brush off. When that didn’t work, she went down the Miss South Carolina Teen USA path. It’s fair just like drawing comparisons with Fox “News” and MSNBC. We should know.
10. California | 10.01.08
If Palin answered her hometown newspaper, the media would go, “Oh, how insulated she is!” If Palin answered “Washington Post” or “New York Times”, the media would have said, “Oh, she only restricts herself to conservative views” or “Oh, who would believe she reads the New York Times!”
The question was clearly a gotcha question. Damned if you, damned if you don’t. If the question was, “What books have you read that shaped your worldview…?” Then that would have been in a different league. And a legitimate question at that.
11. palinslist.org | 10.01.08
Grimy, you nailed it on the passive aggressive bit. She’s very defensive and cries “foul” way too often.
I like how she tried to accuse Katie of ‘gotcha’ journalism by doing the microcosm schpeel.
If she were more accommodating to the press, they would treat her as they treat Biden, or even Bush to a certain degree.
As to her non answer, I took as saying, “I’m a little embarrassed by what I read, so let’s let it go…” I have no doubt she knows what she reads, and reads magazines on a regular basis.
12. robo1936 | 10.01.08
Whats wrong with the American media and Sarah Palin. She can,t seem to please them at all. Its wrong for her to say that she reads All the papers. What if she said that everybody knows about Americas financial troubles No they don,t its just an exaggeration to say that most peole know of it but I wouldn,t critise someone for saying everyone did. What if someone said people don,t care about others anymore. It doesn,t meant everyone its just an exaggeration making the point that too many people don,t I think the word is hyperbole. Come on give her a break. You treated Hilary Clinton terribly and she was a better candidate than Obama will ever be but I suppose its the old gender thing again. Perhaps Schwarzenegger or Bloomberg would be more acceptable because they are men.
13. Matt D. | 10.01.08
This is senseless, Palin continues to avoid answering simple questions with details, she is too caught up in the politics of hiding behind nonanswers, even from insignificant questions. If she does not get out there and speak up, with detail and not just stalling and deflection sound bites, she is going to sink the McCain Palin ship beyond the point of no return.
We can’t sit around and cheerlead all day for her when she will not (or can not) express herself beyond sound bites and partisan buffonery. Someone needs to be kicked out of the campaign for influencing her this way. They are coaching her in a way that makes her look like another Quayle, and its no suprise the general media is picking up on that and running with it.
14. JL | 10.01.08
And yet ironically, hrh (#7), here you are utilizing a media outlet for your own self-aggrandizing cheerleading. Weird.
15. edward elliot | 10.01.08
Biden knows his stuff, by that do you mean he’s been in washington for over 30 years, is that change you can believe in? His son is creating in the state of delaware a dream environment for tort lawyers intent on bilking millions of dollars from companies for absbestos claims, thousands of which have been discredited over the years. This is the same Joe Biden who voted against the first gulf war,voted for the iraq war, then voted against it, voted against the surge and then strongly advocated the only way forward was a ’soft’three way partion of iraq, incidentally that really thoughtful and knowledgable position has now been taken off his web site. So much for 30+ years of experience and countless taxpayer visits around the world.
16. jbi | 10.01.08
Palin’s response on the question of print news sources is even more pathetic when you consider she supposedly got her bachelor’s degree from U of Idaho in communication/journalism.
17. Maggy M’Gill | 10.01.08
You Liberals are all the same. So what if she doesn’t read. Big deal. She already knows what she thinks about everything, and if there is anything that comes up, she will make the right choices when her handlers give them to her. Good grief, she’s just as smart as any other monosyllabic, rote memorized, teleprompter fed, incurious minded…Hey, come to think of it, she is even MORE presidential than I initially thought!!!
18. Navel | 10.01.08
Joe writes: “Will Palin show that she knows the issues from her own perspective tomorrow?”
Honestly, I doubt it will matter. Her supporters will make up excuses for her no matter how she does. McCain’s camp has already gotten the debate format modified to play to Palin’s strength: the one-shot “gotcha” comment. She won’t be asked any follow-up questions that would highlight her level of ignorance (and that’s where Couric has been methodically exposing Palin’s weakness - through follow-up questions which Palin’s acolytes subsequently refer to as “gotcha journalism.” Heaven forbid Palin be asked to defend or clarify her views with SPECIFICS - why, that’s manifestly unfair! (Note: Yes, that was sarcasm…) There is no DEPTH to Palin’s knowledge, and it’s through follow-up questioning that this becomes most apparent. She could spout utter nonsense tomorrow night - heck, she could just read GREEN EGGS AND HAM - and if she does it with confidence and a smile, her supporters will still be fawning all over her. I expect she’ll deliver exactly what has endeared her to her base - a lot of vague, circuitous, obviously memorized soundbites and a lot of cheap shots at Obama. Oh, and nice gams…
19. bert | 10.01.08
So let me see, now. Palin is a college graduate with a degree in Journalism. She was a mayor and a governor. And she cannot identify a single newspaper she (purportedly) reads? I challenge every reader here to ask themself: assuming you read a newspaper or newspaper on a regular or semi-regular basis (ANYTHING — sports, comics, op-ed, classifieds, local news, religious section, etc.) what is the name of the paper?
Now then, that wasn’t so hard, was it?
It should be perfectly obvious — OBVIOUS — that the reason Palin could not answer the question is simple: SHE DOES NOT READ ANY NEWSPAPERS!
20. 11thCavVet | 10.01.08
I think most people know and understand that people under the microscope make mistakes and most of the time they are forgiven for them. But Palin’s responses are non-sensical and border on incoherent in many cases. These are not gaffes. These are not a slip of the tongue or a stretching of the truth. They are attempts to substitute meaningless verbiage for substantive discussion and people know it. It’s very transparent.
21. thule222 | 10.01.08
I wonder. My answer would be identical to hers. I don’t read newspapers, I skim my local paper occasionaly but that’s all. I certainly don’t read the Christian Science Monitor. I’m here because I followed a link from Google news. I follow it and Drudge and Yahoo news regularly. So I read articles from everywhere, but I don’t actually read a paper. I seem to most often read LA and NY Times and WSJ but I don’t read those papers. I don’t read any papers, they’re too slow. I follow the news on the Internet.
I think she’s just being modern.
22. Doctor Doo-Little | 10.01.08
Why can’t we give Governor Sarah Palin a chance? I can’t believe my eyes to read all these negative comments …..could that be out of jeloulsy or even envy? At least give her the credit of taking on a position where she is able to change the atmosphere of Alaska; rooted out corruption and bring in a breath of fresh air. Better than just complain and do nothing. Rather than shooting arrows of negativities will you consider praying for Sarah?
23. Bob | 10.01.08
Problem is, that she’s only one melanoma metastasis away from the Presidency. That’s a truly horrifying, gruesome fact.
24. ffldc | 10.01.08
barbara, susan, Grimy, ericmiami — really clever - is name calling all you got?
25. Robert Johnson | 10.01.08
Sounds to me like people are grouping for things to argue about. The stock market just plummetted and we have reports asking Ninny questions like what papers do you read. Katie Couric is allowed to interview because just that, Spider Jerusalim We Need You
26. mkk | 10.01.08
The point is, in light of Palin’s absolute inexperience with anything outside of Alaska, it’s important to know where she gained her information about what happens in the world. The question about her reading material is a follow up PALIN’s assertation that she knows about foreign policy because she reads a lot. She was unable to list one book or newspaper that she has read. This matters.
28. Ilovemycountry | 10.01.08
Typical spineless article - the author love Palin more than America.
Couric asked pretty simple questions, but because Palin is so overwhelmed she can’t answer basic questions. Then she has the nerve to blame the person asking the questions while taking no accountability for the words coming out of her own mouth.
To the author of this article:
It’s pretty sad, but thanks for apologizing for supporting McCain. I’m sure your parents are proud knowing they raised a person who will vote for anybody as long as their skin is white.
29. Nik | 10.01.08
It shouldn’t be surprising that Palin doesn’t read. McCain didn’t bother to read the original three page bailout proposal that Paulson/Bernanke submitted to Congress. They are probably both still stuck on page two of “The Bible for Dummies.”
31. CJC | 10.01.08
McCain needs to make an important decision. If he really puts the country first, he should reconsider his VP pick. Sarah Palin is not salvageable and if he is in the game to win, he needs someone who is ready to run the country.
32. Scott | 10.01.08
Agreed both candidates make gaffs. The attention on Palin is more substantiated in my opinion. Biden has had a few gaffs over the last few years while conducting likely hundreds of interviews. Palin, in contrast, has had gaffs on just about all of her recent interviews in the past few weeks.
A new campaign measure should be the development of a ratio of gaffs to interviews (Gaff ratio) - the public can look at the ratio and know how the candidates are fairing in a glance.
33. Rajiv | 10.01.08
This whole thing is sad. Palin is either not ready or just unprepared. McCain did a disservice to the country in making this pick. A great war hero and maverick like McCain is unfortunately going to lose as a result.
34. Tom | 10.01.08
hrh, I love it, you are complaining about the question “what newspapers and magazines do you read? ”
hrh, please suggest a question that is more of a softball than that, one that you feel it is OK to ask Palin?
35. Ron | 10.01.08
Please be reminded that Mr O Bama only has 143 days of experience as a Senator. Which he mostly voted present. He has been an attorney which in my estimation is just another word for actor. So of course he can use words to sway the people. What is interesting that both McCain and Obama have put them selves on even ground. Biden is the more experienced in Obama’s camp and McCain who is running for President is the most experienced in his camp.I hope that the same questions that are asked would be asked by all that are running for office. But that just does not seem to be the case. Just go back and watch the View how one sided can a group get!
36. Denise | 10.01.08
Simple put…you have develop a world view and have an undertanding of complex issues in a couple months by being brief on the cliff’s note/movie version.
Most politician AND Americans in their 40’s have paid attention to the world around them for decades–listen to different sides and takes–sometimes adjusting on positions–then ultimately use logic to come to form a conclusion.
As for Elliot — Are you sure you want to debate the canditate’s personal backgrounds and their families into this???
37. pantherhare | 10.01.08
Freaking liberals, expecting a VP candidate to read. Who do they think they are? I don’t read. If I want to know what’s going out in the world, I do what Palin does and just pray to God and He tells me all the answers. And if God isn’t answering that day, I can just turn on the radio and listen to Rush Limbaugh for advice. Who needs reading? Elitists, that’s who. (I didn’t even read this article, God told me about it in a dream)
38. Angelou | 10.01.08
SHE BROUGHT THIS ON HERSELF. At the beginning we were all open to hear what she was about, what she had to offer, we liked her, she’s kind of cute. The thing is that she never delivered, we waited and waited and she did not make herself available to us so that we could get to know her. All we know at this point is what the media gives us along with any bias which they might consider putting in.
39. u | 10.01.08
If somebody brand new that nobody knows walks up to a car enthusiast and collector of cars and says to the car enthusiast, “I want to be your mechanic.” One question that the car enthusiast would probably ask is, “So, what cars do you like?” If the mechanic responded, “All of them,” the car enthusiast would press, “Well, which ones specifically?” And if the mechanic failed to name anything specifically, the car enthusiast would frown and decline to let that unknown person be their mechanic since they seem to show either no interest or no knowledge in the job that they wish to perform.
This isn’t “gotcha jourrnalism” from Katie Couric, these are important questions that the public needs to know before they choose Palin as their vice president. All she had to do was name a few media outlets and say if she missed somebody, it’s not nescessarily because she doesn’t keep up with them, but because she’s just listing the ones off the top of her head.
For example, my answer would have been, “I read or watch CBS news (especially since that’s the network interviewing Palin that Couric works for), Time magazine (since Palin’s picture is on the cover), ABC, Fox, NBC, the Washington Post, the NY Times, the LA Times, BBC, PBS, various Alaskan media outlets, and the Christian Science Monitor (just so I’m not leaving out you guys here). If I missed any of the important media outlets, it’s not because I don’t read or watch that outlet, I’m just naming those I can think of off the top of my head.”
See, it’s not that hard, and yes I could have spouted that off as soon as the question was asked. For Palin not to name anything lends to the thought that she really doesn’t read much of the news, and therefore doesn’t keep up with current events (like not knowing anything about the Bush Doctorine), and therefore is not nescessarily the best pick to be a leader of this great nation.
40. Katie | 10.01.08
What are you all talking about? She’s utterly unfit to even be running and she should quit while she’s ahead to save women, america, and john mccain’s presidential campaign.
41. wut | 10.01.08
thule222:
Pointing out that you browse a news aggregating service and read articles from many different papers to get a more balanced view would have been an acceptable answer. Saying you read all the newspapers in the world is not.
43. Jules | 10.01.08
Even Brittney or Paris could have answered that question and then more. Palin could have said she read the Wall Street Journal for financial news, the NYT, the Washington Post and because she’s close to Russia and Canada she could have impressed us with some least known newspaper from those countries. She needs to drop before the world think that Americans are air-headed bible fanatics who rule by instints and not by reasoning and wisdom.
44. jpags | 10.01.08
Why would anyone want the press to go easy on her? It’s insane. She may very well have to take the reins and NO ONE will go easy on her after that. IF she can’t stand up and answer softball questions from an anchorwoman, how will she lead a nation? This is her only testing ground. Better she fails now, then after McCain succumbs to a third round of melanoma and the fate of this great country lands in the lap of an cynically appointed (not earned by votes) Governor who surrounds herself with old classmates and yes men and women. A woman who has her husband sit in on official business and copies him on all her work related emails. She weak, and has no confidence if she needs her husband to hear about everything that’s going on. She needs her own inner compass. This country doesn’t always get it right, I think this year they will.
45. Deb | 10.01.08
Re: response #21 — your response is not at all identical to Palin’s. You stated your varied sources quite clearly in one brief paragraph, and presented a convincing argument why it is not possible for you to list specific sources of news and information.
Clear, concise, and brief… and you answered the question.
It is scary how often I have seen or heard references to the South Carolina beauty queen when people are discussing Mrs. Palin this week.
46. randomthoughts | 10.01.08
I think that “Susan” is close to the truth, but it’s even worse…Palin probably reads “Moose Hunting Monthly”.
47. Mark | 10.01.08
Biden does not get off the hook completly for his gaffes, but he is swimming in different waters. There is no doubt that he is experienced, knowledgeable, and competent on a wide range of domestic and foreign policy issues. Given that, the gaffes, verbal slippages, and boo-boos of themselves are not such a big deal. Palin, on the other hand, has yet to establish that she has basic competence for the office. For her, these kinds of mistakes may indeed reveal that she is not at all ready. If she claims, for example, that she has knowledge of foreign affairs through the media, then it is absolutely fair to ask what media. Her non-response is inexplicable. Until she shows otherwise, it forces us to assume she hasn’t read much at all.
48. CG | 10.01.08
I believe Christopher Hutchins referred to Palin as the Thriller from Wasilla a few days ago, it might have been a piece in the Washington Post. So, if you’re going to give credit, then it should go to Mr. Hutchins and not Bob.
49. sigh | 10.01.08
passive aggressive whiner? what’s Obama, for crying “foul” to pretty much everything McCain ever says, even befor ehe says it? (e.g., race)
and by the way, as for not reading, I don’t know what you liberals are thinking, but I’m pretty sure if she had said anything other than the liberally-biased news sources she would have been criticized for reading only “biased” news sources (because NYT, Boston, Washington Post, LA Times, etc., are credible and unbiased news sources but Fox is completely incredible and right-wing-wacko …. hm).
And if you want to compare the Republican *VP* vs the Democrat *P* … well, Obama has even less executive/governing/actual decision making experience than Palin. He’s probably read a lot more (including probably communist books by Frank…), but what really matters is WHAT you read and WHAT you know and HOW you act, not how much you’ve read.
50. Craig | 10.01.08
YES, this is important!
Every educated person from the founders on (and well before!) kept up with the news of the day by reading publications.
As with any human being, she surely has one or two favorites…
So why not just say “The Wall Street Journal and The Economist” or something like that?
Why?
Because either she does not read any of them or is not sure of the names of them….scary.
52. beevee | 10.01.08
When it comes to national and international issues Palin is an illiterate. I don’t think she knows much beyond Alaska which is a far removed state. There are very few people who are really interested in national issues that live over there. That is why the pitbull won the governer’s race there. It does’nt look like she is even well read.
53. Sandra | 10.01.08
There shouldn’t even be a debate with this woman. There are serious problems as always in the world, and we need serious people, not a training ground for the next Ms. America pageant or an audition to play Tina Fey on SNL. This selection was a farce and to continue to support the farce is an example of the populace being duped into thinking the Emperor is wearing clothes.
She is inherently wrong for the job. We already know about her, and if there was any more to know, McCain would not have been hiding her away from the prying eyes of the people who need to know. I really don’t believe that she has the knowledge or wisdom needed to be in the second most powerful position in the country, and a two months course in American and world history and politics is going to cut it.
54. Kim | 10.01.08
Leave Palin alone. Stop insulting her intelligence and fabricating rumors against her. Family oriented women in this country adore Sarah Palin. They see themselves in her. She will fix DC as an outsider and will bring in a fresh perspective based on American pragmatism. Sarah is refreshing in the context of lifetime egotistical male politicians like McCain, Obama and Biden.
55. Sandra | 10.01.08
Correction: to #38, and a two months’ course in American and world history and current politics is NOT going to cut it.
56. txtransplant | 10.01.08
To paraphrase Bill Clinton…”it depends on what your definition of (read)is”… I consider myself fairly well informed and I don’t actually read “a” newspaper. I read “all” of them by going on the internet and finding articles of interest to me (like this one). Actually most Americans no longer read a newspaper, but use the internet or cable news to get their information.
57. Shripathi Kamath | 10.01.08
I agree that it is kind of silly to press Palin on specifics, and pressing her on the specific newspapers she allegedly reads was the epitome of silliness.
So what is the set of questions that should be asked of a VP candidate?
And specifically, what is the smaller set of questions that should be asked of Palin because she is just a hockey mom with lipstick?
I know.
“Ms. Palin, what is your favorite lipstick shade?”
58. misty | 10.01.08
I think as a VP candidate, the lowest criteria would be for a candidate to have at least basic domestic and international aknowledge. Without it how can you make a sound decision? And newspaper, TV, internet would be one kind of source to get it. I am appalled that she couldn’t even mention one source at all.
I am not personally against Palin. But I think the country will be better off with different candidate. So will McCain.
I am an independent.
59. Rex Strother | 10.01.08
I don’t know if anyone else has covered this - because I don’t read and I certain don’t read posts that might affect my worldview.
But I think I know Palin and I’m sure whatever it was she was reading, it wasn’t something that should be banned.
60. Sandra | 10.01.08
#35 - I don’t listen to Limbaugh or Fox and I would appreciate it if you not regurgitate their rhetoric.
61. kathy | 10.01.08
You folks are posting this to the Christian Science Moitor.If this is Christianity, I certianly do not want to be part of it. Perhaps you think this is cute. And to the previous post from Barbara, I am sure that if I had any converstion with you that I would soon find out who the real dummy is.
62. beatupfromfeetup | 10.01.08
I can’t believe she doesn’t answer with Bushies ” Mission Accomplished”! She has earned that right!
63. Emil | 10.01.08
A lot of people like me will be voting for McCain/Palin because we don’t want to see Obama in the White House. No matter how much dirt the media throws Palin’s way, or how inexperienced she is, I believe in her. Obama, on the other hand, was involved with a black racist minister (whom he claims not to have known) and supports live birth abortions (look it up). He also claims to be a Christian (as Biden claims to a Catholic) when they willfully reject Jesus Christ’s teachings.
If we vote for those who honor life and battle prejudice, God will help us out. Obama is not the one.
64. Rachel | 10.01.08
Couric does not speak for me. Sarah is the best thing that happened in this campaign and I am voting Republican for the first time because of her.
65. iagp-1931 | 10.01.08
any body ever hear of Harry Truman?she’s got a pair and is not male.any more jealousy out there?
66. James | 10.01.08
All she had to do was say some local Alaska newspaper, sheesh. It was a really easy question. She could have said National Geographic for crying out loud. If she wanted to be honest, she could say she reads the Bible. But hey, who said politicians are usually honest? I am asked easy questions like this in job interviews all the time, and the point of them is to see how you think on your feet. How does Palin think on her feet? Enough with defending Palin for VP, McCain was cruel and ruined her political career by thrusting her to the national stage too early.
67. andy | 10.01.08
who cares what she reads?
No one cares what Alexander the great reads….nor any
one cares what magazine or book Napoleon reads,
or what shapes the Mogoleans that almost conquer the world (if they had books at all) or what George Washington reads or Winston Churchhill reads…
Great leaders are great because they are…no need to read from someone else’s idea that is inferior….
End of story…
Now Couric can find another victim so that she can increase a little of her
bad rating so that she won’t lose her job and muti-million dollar contract.
68. andy | 10.01.08
who cares what she reads?
No one cares what Alexander the great reads….nor any
one cares what magazine or book Napoleon reads,
or what shapes the Mogoleans that almost conquer the world (if they had books at all) or what George Washington reads or Winston Churchhill reads…
Great leaders are great because they are…no need to read from someone else’s idea that is inferior….
End of story…
Now Couric can find another victim so that she can increase a little of her
bad rating so that she won’t lose her job and muti-million dollar contract for asking stupid questions that had beedn asked before..
There is no originality of her work. Period.
69. Charles | 10.01.08
How hard is it to list off a few? US News & World Report, The New Yorker, Newsweek, the Wall Street Journal. Come on Palin, it’s not that difficult.
70. Thomas chicago | 10.01.08
She went to 5 colleges before she got a Bachelors. I don’t think she was reading well even before she became a VP Candidate.
Why can’t the republicans admit John McCain, made a decision with out much thought and now we know Sara don’t have a lot of light bulbs burning up there. May be it is OK for Alaska. It shouldn’t be OK for USA.
72. JP Ramer | 10.01.08
So, basically, if the press like you they are not as hard on you and you get a pass. Hmmmm, where can I go to get fair and balanced news reporting? Don’t answer that, it was rhetorical.
73. BOO-HOO | 10.01.08
I am very happy to hear that Sarah Palin can read. But wait, what does she read?
74. Steven Jones | 10.01.08
It’s very simple. You cannot elect a president, who is a heartbeat away from passing on (sorry folks…McCain is the oldest on record to run)…and have as a back-up, someone as inexperienced as Palin. It’s just plain ridiculous. It’s like having the water boy back up Brett Favre….forget it!
Next…the whole spin of religion into politics. The Republicans have duped religious folks into thinking they stand for religious principles. It’s all B.S. Fact is….Jesus was a democrat. Just look at what he stood for: helping thy neighbour, helping the needy and poor, NOT killing others, not stealing, civil services….geez, just all the things that base the democratic platform. It is UNREAL that the republicans have been able to pull the wool over the eyes of religious folks (and I am religious) to convince them of this madness. Bush, Cheney and Rove…have been wolves in sheeps clothing. Let the real sheep stand-up…
76. Rich | 10.01.08
Palin is a college graduate with a degree in Journalism. She was a mayor and a governor. She saw a baited question from a liberal light-weight and tried to avoid specifics. Sounds like a very able politian to me. Go Sarah!
77. Kimberly | 10.01.08
It seems that most of you have never heard the phrase “Don’t judge man until you walk a mile in his shoes”.
It is not obvious that she didn’t list information sources that she doe not have any.
Why is that a question. Have all You obama fan’s dissected what he reads.
I do not care is she is qualified, governor, mayer. what. She was doing a fine job (according to all her constituents) minding her own business. McCain comes to town and all of a sudden she is under the microscope.
take a second and think about that. What if all the major news station that you know do not agree with you came barging into your home. Do you have dirty dishes int he sink. Do you want Every American knowing what you read before bed. Seriously look at all the comments everyone has their ‘expert’ opinion on her no answering the question.
She seems like a bold hard worker, she doesn’t seem like a person that wants all her enemies to know about her family secrets and everything.
republican or democrat . .we analyze and judge people on things we simply do not know.
look at the scandalous reports that the special needs baby was really her daughters. seriously! how long have you know Sarah Palin existed and already you are judging on what if any at all newspapers she reads. I am an independent and I am ashamed at how biased our media is and how quick the people of my great country are to belittle those that serve our country.
Kim
78. flyfishchef | 10.01.08
Is this article a bit of cleverly disguised satire? “Couric strikes again - asks Palin impossible question”. Asking a public figure what newspapers they read as a direct follow up to that person’s assertion that they are well versed in current events because they read many newspapers is a logical train of inquiring that any high school journalism student would follow when interviewing someone for their school newspaper. How is that the absurdly termed “gotcha!” journalism? It’s not as if Couric asked Governor Palin who authored the most authoritative article on the bail out she’s read recently.
Don’t insult the public’s intelligence by crying “Wolf” when there isn’t one. Save the rhetoric for a time it will be valid or else you undermine and cheapen your argument.
Mrs. Palin gave a very compelling speech at the Republican National Convention and I feel the campaign is doing her a great disservice trying to force feed her talking points and expecting her to repeat them. I think she’ll do a much better job of articulating her positions in the more free form style of Thursday night’s debate and I am looking forward to seeing her and Biden discuss relevant issues in full context without the lens of reportage coloring the candidates’ words.
Thursday evening we shall see what are both candidates’ positions on the issues facing our country and then we’ll able to make informed judgments as to their suitability for office. Until then, I’ll reserve final judgment.
79. G MAn | 10.01.08
Ron, #35, it’s 135 SESSIONS not days. Typical, you have zero understanding of how the US political system works. Maybe Palin needs a press secretary - i think you’d be qualified.
80. Scotty | 10.01.08
Barbara @ 6 said: “She is a dummy……”
Gosh Barb, don’t you think you’re oversimplifying things a bit? Our Sarah’s a bit deeper than that. Shame on you!
How about an *animatronic* dummy (sorta like a Stepford wife), crossed with a badly-done Eliza Doolittle, perhaps? Better, eh?
81. Redneck Liberal | 10.01.08
Ohohohohohohoho!
Stooopid libruls! allways peckin on gud chrissten wommen. god’ll get you fur this
82. DoTheMath | 10.01.08
According to the Anchorage Daily News, Palin majored in journalism, but does not appear to have worked for the college newspaper or campus television station in any of the five colleges she attended.
http://www.adn.com/palin/story/516085.html
Many of us who have taken a strong interest in this campaign have visited, and even contributed to, more news sites than we can name, in addition to reading our local papers and maybe watching one or more news shows on TV. Still, I would wager half my savings (if my credit union is still solvent) that we could all manage to name our favorites, especially if asked a second time “specifically.”
83. G MAn | 10.01.08
Rich has an IQ of 12 and supports the purty lady from up north. I bet she can see Santa’s workshop from her porch. Go Rich!
84. StillUndecided | 10.01.08
Palin; our new Bill Clinton. Never answer the question. Makes me wonder.. did anyone in 1992 ever ask Bill Clinton what he read to establish his world view? What was his answer? The New York Times, the Wall Street Journal? There is no way he would answer a question like that directly.
86. Garbage | 10.01.08
Couric’s question regarding what news papaers Palin reads was not as fair as it is argued to be in this interview. On the other hand, her response was ridiculous. Just name a paper, your local paper, Time magazine, I don’t know, just say something…
The question wasn’t entirely fair because Couric did not simply ask what publications Sarah reads. instead, she asked what publications Palin reads to “stay informed and understand the world”. Hmm, thats a tough question for a VP who doesn’t want to stick a foot in her mouth. Had she said, the Wasilla local paper, it would’ve gathered much criticism. you don’t understnd the world by reading the local Wasilla press… Then again, had she said the New York Times, well, then she’d be a hypocrite and “liberal lover” to joe six-pack republicans (haha).
I would guess Palin has regularly read most local Newspapers as well as the New York Times or WSJ. Too bad she doesn’t have joe-sixpack’s spheres to admit it.
87. oldman | 10.01.08
Dr. Doo-Little:
I’ll pray for Sarah! Pray she stays on the ticket - too entertaining and much better than most sit-coms.
But really. Number 2 in line for President of the United States? You got to be kidding!
88. Bob | 10.01.08
Look… If someone asks me “What books have you read over the past year?” I could say “A few.”
Now, if he/she asked again for a specific one, then I would say something like “The Color Purple.”
Why should answering such a simple question stump Palin? Not answering makes me very suspicious. Not that reading” which ever” news source really matters, but answering such a basic question with such a complicated answer that went absolutely nowhere does not reassure me that she actually does utilize a variety of beneficial and meaningful news sources.
But, this is the strategy of Sarah Palin. She answers the question with other questions or with obscure answers. The reason that Couric pressed Palin is because the question should have been a no-brainer. But then again, we are talking about Palin.
89. gisaco | 10.01.08
Isn’t it just possible that a staffer reads the newspapers for her and then briefs her on events? I could be way off base, but perhaps … just perhaps, she does get her news, but in a different way than you and I do?? Of course, if that were the case, then she could have just said so. JMHO
91. Eldrid | 10.01.08
She should have answered that, like most Americans, she gets her news from Fox. Newspapers are so 20th century. No one except smartypants elites still read them anyway.
92. Celia | 10.01.08
If Palin becomes VP, all of God’s good creatures will be having babies in high school and out of wedlock, and riding the powerful wave of apathy and ignorance that has swept through America since Bush took office. Couric knows better: America never should have declared war on Iraq. If we hadn’t, we would have saved trillions of dollars, which could be put towards progressive efforts on our own soil. Couric was picking Palin’s brain in an interview, which is what an interview is all about! To understand someone and their perspective better! And I think now we understand even more than we initially did about Ms. Palin. I’m moving to Canada if McCain takes office. ***Watch the movie Idiocracy to understand America’s future with McCain/Palin in office***
93. Robby | 10.01.08
Bunch of bitter Liberals commenting on this. Palin scares you not because she didn’t name a newspaper, but because she is ProLife.
94. Rocky | 10.01.08
The point is
Do you want her to be president if something happens to McCain?
That alone should make one not to vote for McCain
95. jdins | 10.01.08
You are all so funny! obviously you have not been under any kind of real scrutiny in your entire pitiful lives.
You’ve never been the subject of loaded questions and leading suggestions. Face it, you have NO IDEA what you are talking about because you have not even come close to walking in Palin’s slippers, much less her mucking boots.
96. Mike | 10.01.08
A: “I read a lot of different things Time, Newsweek, the Post, the Boston Globe… hey I am just like everyone else .. sometimes I read People. I watch CBS, but I also watch NBC, ABC, CNN, and Fox. I am a governor so I also get briefed every morning on local, state, and national news …” How hard is that? Unfortunately it’s not true. She’s a Know-it-All idiot that can’t tell you what the Bush Doctrine is or how many kids got killed last year with automatic weapons in Anchorage .. but they will argue all day that Dinosaurs never existed, Jesus was white,vand how global warming is a “bunch of hogwash.”
I can not believe that people actually think this moron will be taken seriously by any nation in the G8 or the Outreach 5 for that matter (I guarantee she has no idea what the Outreach 5 is).
I didn’t think we could find anyone dumber than Bush … American ingenuity! 
97. Eric | 10.01.08
“I am subscriber to the Economist, I like to skim through a few local weeklies, I like my local paper for Sports and local issues, and I’m apt to pick up almost anything when I’m at the doctor’s office.”
Wow that was hard.
100. MaxMax | 10.01.08
Like Bush, Palin clearly does not read. How hard is it to pick a paper or magazine? She could have made one up! Foreign Affairs, USA Today, NY Times, Wall Street Journal, National Review, CS Monitor, pick on ANY ONE. It’s like whenpoliticians are asked to pick their favorite football team and their worried they might offend someone if they pick the “wrong” team. Except in this example Palin doesn’t even have a team. This woman is SCARY!
101. Nick P. | 10.01.08
I was going to write something profound and insightful but what’s the use.
Instead, I will make fun of her.
Couric: When it comes to establishing your worldview, I was curious, what newspapers and magazines did you before you were tapped for this to stay informed and to understand the world?
Palin: Do movies count?
Couric: Umm, No.
Palin: Well, then, what about Radio?
Couric: My Question was what do you regularly read to stay informed and to understand the world?
Palin: I’ll have to get back to ya’ on that one.
102. Teri B. | 10.01.08
I went to college with LOTS of stupid people. Having a college degree doesn’t make one “a reader” or informed, obviously, not qualified to step into the shoes of the leader of the free world. Palin has pretty much demonstrated that, but you’d think at one of those 5 or 6 colleges she attended she would have developed a love for reading and knowledge.
Heck, I could name 10 sources I read for news and information on a weekly basis, include websites - LIKE THIS ONE. Doesn’t she even use “the internets.” Sad.
I think a lot of people look at Palin and think, “She’s just like me. I could be president.” Uh, NO you can’t honey. I’d actually like he persony who graduated with honors from Harvard to run things for a change, not the nimrods who only got into a good school because of their daddy, who barely passed at that.
Palin’s a joke, because she clearly has spent more time on her hairdo than developing intellectual abilities, and McCain and Bush lucked into great educational opporunities by virtue of their birth, and blew it off to party.
Obama worked hard to get a fine education on his own dime, and has made the most of it.
I’m so sick of stupid people. They’re fine running the Jiffy Lube, but can we please not put anymore of them in the White House? Has it ever been more clear where that has gotten us?
103. Len | 10.01.08
To thule222;
Your answer was considered, honest and WAAYY better than Palin’s. If she had said (as you did)”I don’t read any papers, they’re too slow. I follow the news on the Internet.” -she’d have at least shown she understood the question.
Her supporters defend her using the same parrot-like catch phrases and regurgitated speaking points that Palin uses, so they probably don’t see the problem.
To address one point in the “Palin treatment unfair” sing-along;
If Joe Biden were interviewing for job of TV repairman and mis-spoke about TV/radio creation, I would NOT hire him. If Palin were interviewing for a national leadership role and mis-spoke about her foreign policy experience, I would NOT hire her….oh wait…
104. cosmo | 10.01.08
I don’t think she’s the dumbest person alive but I think in the public media right now…she’s the most incompetent and unprepared example. she’s just damn scary…when did she find the time between having a baby, selling airplanes on ebay, and being governor to call the library to have Harry Potter books banned? I wonder if her kids are going trick or treating for halloween being that it’s an AWFULLY Pagan holiday.
105. Lizardgrad89 | 10.01.08
Palin’s supporters were disappointed that their request to change the format to debate/wet t-shirt contest was denied.
She would have won that hands down.
106. Oskar | 10.01.08
When McCain croakes and we have PRESIDENT Palin it will be comforting to know that she gets her foreign policy advice from RUNNER’S WORLD because those feet go and set down all over the world. This ditz is a caribou in head lights and we could have her as Commander-in-chief sooner than you think. Now that is comforting isn’t it?
107. JOHN | 10.01.08
Is it really that difficult to understand? It’s obvious she doesn’t read them. When she does do something, she has no problem saying it. You know, things like putting planes on ebay. It is also obvious she doesn’t read any publications because she can’t answer the simplest of questions about anyting related to international issues, or domestic for that matter. Mom? Yes. Wife? Yes. VP of United States with potential of being President? Give me a break. How low have our expectiations of who we want as leaders is stunning and down right frightening to me.
108. Barry | 10.01.08
Well, we all know where Barry got his worldview: from the racist Reverend Wright. We didn’t vote for David Duke, so we shouldn’t be voting for Barry either.
109. jaradams | 10.01.08
45. Andy
Alexander always had the Iliad with him wherever he went. He studied with Aristotle.
Napoleon was an avid reader, in love with Plutarch and Tasso, Voltaire and Goethe.
Washington owned a library of over 1000 volumes, and maintained correspondences with many authors.
Churchill not only was a voracious reader, but a voluminous author, winning the Nobel Prize for Literature.
Somebody must have cared what these people read in order to have collected this much information on their reading. One can even argue that, knowing what they read before coming to power, you’d have known the sort of leader they’d be.
110. RoBoTech | 10.01.08
People that attack Palin for no reason aren’t going to vote McCain, anyway.
They are just happy to have something to be nasty about and that makes their petty, pathetic lives seem more important.
Their opinion means nothing to anyone that actually DOES want to know more about Palin, or are sure they are going to vote McCain.
Very sad people, really.
Hey, when Obama loses in Nov, the Obamaberry koolaid supply will be cut off and all the addicts will commit suicide, YAYA!!
I am starting a suicide assistance org just for them. make sure they go out with peace and dignity, even if they can’t seem to give the rest of us peace and dignity, now.
I’m just humanitarian that way.
111. Rosanne | 10.01.08
People, please! Palin would be one (frankly questionable) heartbeat from the Oval Office - and she’s floored by a simple question like that? The article’s suggestion that she just didn’t want to get ‘trapped’ by naming any newspaper with a known bias misses the point completely.
A politician at this level needs to be able to think on their feet. “As governor of Alaska, naturally I focus first on the state news. I then read further afield to stay informed, including different political viewpoints [names any 3 or 4 major news sources].” How difficult is that? Can I be VP now, please?
112. Tom | 10.01.08
It is a simple simple simple question. Palin failed.
If someone is incapable of simply saying what types of news they watch or read then they are idiots. It’s really easy…..see:
CNN, NYT, FOX, CSM, BBC to name a few. Personally I hit Google News for updated headlines from nearly every news source and then some.
Guess that’s why I realize McCain-Palin is fail.
113. bob democrat | 10.01.08
I pray she gets in,
I love to watch mean spirited
psuedo intellectuals
explain how they know everything.
114. Dominique | 10.01.08
For one, thing she is smarter than Couric,
I hope she gets in and if she does not watch out Couric she may get your job……..and probably would be better at it and certainly more interesting to listen to
Dominique
115. Victor Nunnally | 10.01.08
To not name a newspaper is also not promoting a newspaper. Any magazine or newspaper Mrs. Palin stated would have been affected by her statement. She did not want to become liable for it’s success or failure. However, her responses are vague and misleading to the public and are made out to be inexperienced. I wonder if Hillary Clinton had won the Democratic ticket would Mccain have chosen Palin.
116. flyfishchef | 10.01.08
RE: Andy
The individuals you mention were all exceptionally well educated and most of them were authors in their own right.
Alexander the Great was Aristotle’s pupil.
Napoleon attended the French National Military Academy, École Militaire.
George Washington was home schooled as were many men of his day.
Winston Churchhill was educated at the British Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst
The Mongols are an entire tribe of people but their leaders, especially Kublai Khan, had been educated by the Chinese Royal Court by the time of their great world conquests under Kublai.
All of the men you mention were highly literate and well-read by the standards of any age including our own. I would wager they would be able to name the books, writings and authors that had an impact on their lives and worldviews.
For a proposed leader to not be able to name their preferred choice of how they obtain information on current events indicates either a lack of curiosity a la G.W. Bush or an inability to think on their feet. Neither trait is compelling for a twenty-first century leader in our modern, hyper-connected world.
117. Mark | 10.01.08
I can see a lot of similarities between Sara Palin and George W. Bush. Neither ever say the right things… they jumble words, repeat themselves…. they do not read often, are/were not ready for the national stage, etc.
I am a life long Republican and strong supporter of John McCain, however, it terrifies me that Sara Palin could be next in line for the presidency. I am extremely disappointed.
118. Angoose | 10.01.08
#50 - Rich writes:
“Palin is a college graduate with a degree in Journalism. She was a mayor and a governor. She saw a baited question from a liberal light-weight and tried to avoid specifics. Sounds like a very able politian to me. Go Sarah!”
I believe her degree was in broadcat journalism, you know reading the news on television kind of stuff and it took five different schools for her to get there. I’m not really sure what a “politian” is but you’re right, she seems to be a very able one of those. Glad that it looks like her days of being a politician are nearing an end with each rambling incoherent attempt to answer questions of the media. Its only going to get worse dude, unless she can do nothing but hold open-book tests with Hannity and O’Reilly until the election.
119. Kimberly | 10.01.08
soem of you just dont get it. why would she answer these questions. who else is answering these questions? She knows, unlike most of you, no matter what honest answer she gives she will be attacked and scutinized negatively and called names and be demeaned. just as so many of you have proven on this blog.
if she was asked her favorite color, everyone would analyze of if its red she wants to go to war.
if it is yellow she isn’t concerned with the climate.
give it a break. ask question that actually pertain to her being VP.
and if reading materials is so important why hasn’t Biden and Obama been asked.
Why don’t they have to prove their knowledge of world views from he newspaper subscriptions.
If your enemy came to your door, if a collection agency called you and asked you what you read, what would you say? I bet you would answer just like gov Palin did.
If you are that critical of people why cant you seem to pick apart anything Obama does. that hatred and tunnel vision I see hear makes me want to vote for Palin only to hopefully shut you up.
But I am a responsible person that will non emotionally look at the issues and vote.
120. Aycee | 10.01.08
Geez, wake me up when this is over. In less than a month Palin has managed to lower the iq. bar for the vp position by at least a digit or so. She can now pack her bags for Alaska and say that she’s accomplished a lot in such short a time–she can say that she’s experienced.
121. bob democrat | 10.01.08
most of the political media
are insiders, and as such,
have no grasp of real americans.
this blog is a perfect example.
another spin meister,
trying to mislead the american
public to his thwarted,
sad view.
Thank You.
122. txtransplant | 10.01.08
Teri B:
You might want to find out a little more about Obama’s financing of his Harvard education. It wasn’t “on his own dime”. That and the other people he “owes” is what really scares me.
123. M Coil | 10.01.08
When Palin actually has to “think” about her answer to a question that doesn’t come within her rehearsed list of talking points, she comes off like a complete moron. (Remember the recent Miss Teen USA contestant from South Carolina?) It’s just sad (but no longer suprising) that our country has gotten to a point where someone this unqualified, shallow and just flat-out stupid holds a major government office and could actually become president.
Say I’m getting a heart transplant. I want someone more capable than myself, with superior training and education, to perform that surgery. Most people would agree - this is hardly an elitist viewpoint. However, when I express a similar preference for my elected officials, this now becomes an elitist viewpoint. Stupid, uneducated people make terrible decisions, waste money and write bad laws. Period. Let’s stop voting for such people. Make sense? Good.
124. Cronos | 10.01.08
For #45 - Andy
Napoleon? Alexander the Great? George Washington?
They all had world experience before going into their respective offices
125. david | 10.01.08
What a great question. I have guessed for a while now that Palin does not read the news or care about the rest of the country/world, so I was hoping someone would ask her this question. And her answer obviously supports my suspicions. I’m sorry but she hasn’t even thought about these issues, so how is she going to lead us? She will just be a mouthpiece for some unelected group that truly has the power.
126. Robert | 10.01.08
I don’t think Ms. Palin is dumb. Nobody becomes governor of a state - even Alaska - without either contacts, a legacy or some smarts. There is no evidence of the first two - the only possibility would appear to be the smarts. But her deficiency, which endears her to some, and scares the bejeebers out of the rest, is her inability to articulate her position with logic and clarity, coupled with her rock-solid certainty in the righteousness of that position. For those of us who remember the past (with apologies to Santayana) - specifically the past 8 years, she is an uncomfortably close incarnation of W. Her semi-literate packaged bumper-sticker non-sequitur answers to the simplest of questions, together with her irritating voice certainly remind me of W and his slogans in that irritating faux-Texan swagger tone. That may also be too close to W for our allies as well.
127. Chad | 10.01.08
I couldnt agree more with Newsweek journalist and author Fareed Zakaria when he stated that Palin is “dangerously ignorant and unprepared for the job of vice president, let alone president”. He added that for McCain “to choose Sara Palin to be his running mate is fundamentally irresponsible”.
Not since Ross Perot chose Admiral Stockdale as his running mate has there been a vice presidential candidate who is less qualified to serve in this capacity.
Listening to Sarah Palin answer Katie Couric’s questions felt like Palin was suddenly transformed into Miss South Carolina at the Miss Teen pageant:
Katie Couric: Why isn’t it better, Gov. Palin, to spend $700 billion helping middle-class families who are struggling with health care, housing, gas and groceries; allow them to spend more and put more money into the economy instead of helping these big financial institutions that played a role in creating this mess?
Gov. Sarah 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 health-care reform that is needed to help shore up our economy, helping the — it’s got to be all about job creation, too, shoring up our economy and putting it back on the right track. So health-care 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, scary thing. But one in five jobs being created in the trade sector today, we’ve got to look at that as more opportunity. All those things under the umbrella of job creation. This bailout is a part of that.
128. Joe W | 10.01.08
I find it hard too believe that asking anyone what newspaper they read is a hard question or a trick question. Is this a take-home question?
Seriously, try to imagine an even easier question. Is there even ONE?
It’s like asking school children what subjects they take.
We need adults in Washington.
129. Debbie | 10.01.08
Palin is very inexperince I cant belive that Ron and Maggy M’Gill is perfectly ok with this person to be second in charge of our country. I think its the color of the skin that matters to alot of people ask yourself this question if Omaba was white you wouldnt have a problem with him now would you. You know God said Red YEllow Black or White we are all the same in his eyes so if we all belive in God then why do we not believe the same. I know I have had enought of these last eight years Bush has destroyed our country and I am willing to try someone new and its not the McCain ticket. Just watch him on TV he’s got the same silly look as Bush he thinks everything is funny. Yes Palin could of named just one newspaper to show that she can think on her feet we need a president that can think no to try to mutter throught stuff. But then again America we are really voting skin color arent we??????
130. Carter | 10.01.08
I agree with Chad. There really isnt much difference between Palin and Miss South Carolina: http://gawker.com/5055560/palin-or-miss-teen-south-carolina
Maybe McCain should consider Miss South Carolina as his running mate? Why not?
131. snoopy08 | 10.01.08
As an average citizen I’ve read dozens of newspapers/magazines, hundreds of websites and countless non-fiction books over the course of a lifetime, although I don’t currently have a passport. Ask her which writings, historical figures or role models have had the greatest influence on her life. Is that unreasonable?
132. michael coleman | 10.01.08
Ron- Your response about Obama voting present in the Senate is merely a reiteration of GOP talking points. You cannot vote present in the U.S. Senate. It was in the Illinois Senate that he voted present,and voting present is a strategy to move legislation forward. If you believe that all candidates should be asked the same questions why has Palin granted just three softball type interviews during this campaign? When will we see her on “Meet the Press” or “Face the Nation?” Obama has been running for President for almost two years and has appeared on all the news shows even with O’Reilly. He has answered every kind of question from foreign policy to the economy.
133. Adam Bailey | 10.01.08
Dear CSM
I live in the UK, and am not religious. However, I read and respect the CSM, along with several other US news sources (and, yes, I could name them), as well as news sites in UK, EU, and Asia. Why? Because what happens over your side of the pond affects what happens this side, and because if I only read the news sources I like, I will learn nothing.
Sarah Palin should not have been stumped by this question. Worried about ‘gotcha’ questions? She’s running on the Republican ticket - we don’t expect her to be in love with the NYT!
Maybe she just got flustered. OK, but what if it’s eyeball-to-eyeball time with Vladimir Putin?
Good luck, America, I fear you might need it. (And we ‘Old Europeans’ care greatly for you, despite what you may read)
134. JP Ramer | 10.01.08
To all people posting their vitriol here the most interesting thing really is that you think that at this point you have only something to say and nothing to learn. Maybe I read only one of you leaving their final determination to something beyond what they already know. To that person though - well done.
135. Brian Harney | 10.01.08
You absolutely nailed it 11th Cav Vet (#20). That’s Palin in a nutshell. She can’t think on her feet because she simply doesn’t have the knowledge that would allow her to do so. Absent that, she tries to use smoke and mirrors to bluff her way through a question.
Phantom Fixer
136. Garbage | 10.01.08
I need to repost someones post, because it was a meritable response to an extremely ignorant poster:
45. Andy
Alexander always had the Iliad with him wherever he went. He studied with Aristotle.
Napoleon was an avid reader, in love with Plutarch and Tasso, Voltaire and Goethe.
Washington owned a library of over 1000 volumes, and maintained correspondences with many authors.
Churchill not only was a voracious reader, but a voluminous author, winning the Nobel Prize for Literature.
Somebody must have cared what these people read in order to have collected this much information on their reading. One can even argue that, knowing what they read before coming to power, you’d have known the sort of leader they’d be.
;
this has nothing to do with Palin, just answering a stupid comment.
As far as Palin goes, the question was not as easy as people are passing it off.
The question wasn’t simply, what do you read, but what do you read to shape your worldview etc. Whatever answer she had given would’ve been like shooting herself in the foot. To be honest, i’m fairly sure she reads the New York Times, but she can’t admit it because of the “liberal Media” phantom bs.
137. Niels | 10.01.08
I don’t think the real issue here is whether she has ever read a news paper. Even though she hasn’t mentioned a single title, I do believe on occasion she has looked inside a newspaper or a magazine. What we see here, I believe, is someone who is afraid to go into specifics. It’s clear in every interview and also in the debates in 2006, she does very well when sticking to generalities and often even falls back on hollow rhetoric. When asked for specifics, she gets very nervous and it seems she just blanks out. She certainly is no Nobel prize winner, nor does she claim to be, but she is not a complete retard either. So when asked about newspapers she has read, she in principle could have come up with a few titles, but she simply blanked out. To me it shows she fears controversy. At the republican rallies she is daring and bold, but there she is met with people who cheer for her whatever she says. Outside of the safety of being surrounded by “friends”, she seems to be overly cautious, almost afraid to show her true colors.
138. frank burns | 10.01.08
Palin likes to talk like she is pro-choice, but really she wants to criminalize abortions. Do not be fooled. Anyone who comes around saying that abortion is murder is not going to respect “the opinions of others” as Sarah is fond of equivocating.
139. Kali | 10.01.08
Biden is out there with people, with the press, open to all. He gets wound into a narrative at times. He has e good grace to walk it back.
McCain and Palin are both uncapable of recovering from their misstatements because they can never acknowledge they are wrong. McCain actually chose to go with the story that he may not meet with the PM of Spain to avoid having to admit he did not hear or understand a Spanish reporters question clearly.
Palin has had so many times she could have been authentic and told the truth in a way people would understand. She could have said, I don’t have all of the foreign policy experience of some people, but I have…x,y,z…
Instead, they prefer to be blatantly inauthentic. Look at Palin denying she meant anything negative about Biden with her unbelievable claim she listened to him speak since she was in second grade. She clearly thought she was being cute with Katie in denying it. Anyone who saw her big smirky set up knows that is not true. Why should we believe this woman when she so clearly likes lying?
140. G$ | 10.01.08
“Who cares what she reads?” Maybe nobody; but I certainly do care how she presents herself in an interview! How would she do with a HARD question?
After multiple years of cringing whenever our Commander in Chief opened his mouth, I would like to be proud of our leaders again. I hope to be represented by people who are intelligent — or can at least act like it.
141. david felix | 10.01.08
It would seem that you only publish negative anti-Palin comments.. Now I know I wont be reading the ‘Christian’ Science Monitor anymore. You people make me sick. The simple fact is that no matter what you read, watch or listen to, your only going to get partisan 1/2 truths, outright lies, facts taken out of context and anything deceitful that the media can shove down your throats( actually you are all so ignorant & evil you want to eat that ****). Wake up, reach down, and grab your ears and pull your brainless heads out of the sand; and at least TRY to think for yourselves. David Felix
142. Jose | 10.01.08
How about USA Today or her local newspaper? Anything, just not ‘Wow, how could you keep in touch with what the rest of Washington, D.C., may be thinking when you live up there in Alaska?’ Can anyone make any sense out of that blunder?
143. David | 10.01.08
This was a softball question.
They don’t get much softer. This was easy stuff that anyone could answer. A high-school student running for class secretary could answer it. That Sara could not is shocking. It suggests she doesn’t read any newspapers or news-oriented magazines at all. And yes, it matters.
Time, Wall Street Journal, Weekly Standard, LA Times, Fairbanks Daily News Miner. There. Easy.
This isn’t “gotcha” journalism. It’s a legitimate interview question and a gimme at that. If any of the other candidates answered it the same way, it’d be the lead story on the evening news and prime fodder for the newspapers and blogs.
Every time Sarah Palin’s asked a substantive question she can’t answer without lapsing into meaningless babble, her apologists blame the media. Now they want to lower the bar so far she can’t even be asked what she reads.
Stop drinking the Kool aid.
144. Joe | 10.01.08
Anyone know when Track Palin’s birthday is? Was he conceived out of wedlock? I know it is personal, however, for a candidate that preaches “abstinance first”, what kind of example is she setting?
145. wellprettydeep | 10.01.08
There are those that care because… they stroke their own ego… they care about others… they have a natural instinct for survival… they are just like us… nah, that is just fantasy. I must say, these minds have to be one of the largest caissons to hold out a successfull resolution to a problem I have seen in some time. A most liberal conservative if you want to reassure your decisions prior to ever reading anything.
146. Debra | 10.01.08
Wow. How can anyone defend Palin’s response. It is a normal question. How many newspapers, blogs, magazines, newsletters does she read. Her inability to name a single publication should frighten all of us. How about Time, Newsweek, The Economist, Harvard Business Review, The Washington Post, The LA Times, The San Jose Mercury News, any publication.
Look the woman is intellectually lazy, which is a euphamism for dull witted. Sarah Palin should go back to Alaska, govern her state and leave the American people alone. She will end up hurting us in the end. McCain needs to dump her quickly. She is a non-starter.
147. Peter Higgins | 10.01.08
I think it is unfair to say she is the dumbest personality in the media eye. To my mind both Britney and Bush junior lay strong claims to that title, and it shouldn’t be bestowed without a fight. How about a fair live TV discussion between the three of them on global affairs? If that didn’t get ratings above 50 million then I am a dutchman (which I am not).
148. DisFisCon | 10.01.08
Palin’s response to anything uncomfortable seems to be to obfuscate. That’s been her response to questions of no great consequence like “what newspapers do you read” and to questions of great consequence like “tell me about Troopergate”.
Say what you will about Joe Biden - I’d rather have someone in charge who’s a little bit loquacious (like Biden or for that matter McCain) than someone as secretive as Cheney.
McCain might not be the big disaster if the Republicans win the White House. But Palin as his side kick would definitely be a Cheney-like figure in many ways (vindictive, secretive, demanding loyalty to person before loyalty to country). Look at all the damage that Dick Cheney did to this country. Now imagine what would have happened if Bush had died, and take note of McCain’s age.
149. Robert | 10.01.08
115 Joe:
April 20, 1989. The 100th anniversary of Adolf Hitler’s birth. ROFLMAO.
Conceived out of wedlock, almost certainly. Wedding/elopement was August 29, 1988.
150. lu | 10.01.08
In response to Meggie M’Gill’s comment.
I quote ” So what if she doesn’t read. Big deal. She already knows what she thinks about everything, and if there is anything that comes up, she will make the right choices when her handlers give them to her.”
You Have Got to Be Kidding, right?!!! Right?!!!
You can’t go to the other side of town without googling the location let alone lead a nation on pure hunches and “make the right choices” if something comes up.
Acquiring knowledge is not even simple reading, it is being equiped with the brain power and the insight to comprehend issues and respond approprietly.
She lacks that. Sorry.
151. whocares | 10.01.08
Really - who cares? It was a dumb question - I can’t imagine anybody caring about the answer, as it has little if anything to do with being qualified for public office. But then most of the stuff that gets debated in the media has little or nothing to do with being qualified for office. A lot of questions are obviously intended to disqualify the candidate by making them look bad on some relatively trivial point. If the media truly cared about important matters, they would be digging like frantic little beavers into who in Congress is responsible for the Fannie Mae mess that is costing everybody a lot of money - real money. Who pushed Fannie to generate these ridiculous loans to unqualfied borrowers, who looked the other way when Fannie cooked the books worse than Enron, who tried to do something about it and who knew about it and did nothing. These would seem to be real reasons to vote for or against somebody - not what newspapers they read or what they think about science class. Based on the “in depth” reporting so far, the media has spent a lot more time digging into the trivia of Sarah Palin’s life than into the biggest financial boondoggle in 50 years. Which one affects your life more?
152. Jesus Gomez | 10.01.08
We give John McCain too much credit for being a war hero. Whatever he was in the 1970s does not translate to what we see in him today. I’ve noticed that nobody else calls him a maverick other than he himself. He was rejected in 2000 b the republicans. The only reason he chose Sarah Palin is because he thinks the only job for a vice president in his own words “is to enquire about the health of the president on a daily basis and to attend the funerals of third world dictators”. If that is all he wants from Sarah Palin ie. to attend to him like a naughty nurse on a daily basis he got the right gal.
153. Dwelltime | 10.01.08
Andy[45],
I take exception to your statement that great leaders don’t need to read. I’m not sure about Alexander, but Napoleon was a tremendous reader. It was his knowledge of Italian history and geography that led to his first command as general (at the age of 25) and to his first great military victory. Truman was also a great reader as was Churchill. Reading is probably the one common trait among all great leaders. In today’s world the ability to read quickly, to distinguish between differing viewpoints, and to think critically is essential in a leader.
154. leonard | 10.01.08
We are talking about someone being qualified to be the second most powerful person in the world. I cannot comprehend how these Palin supporters continue to make excuses for her lack of intelligence. I have heard Fifth Graders on TV with better diction than this woman has. Affirmative action must be live and well in ALASKA for this woman to become the governor..
If Palin were black, she would be called a bafoon and sent back to ALASKA..
It is so obvious that OBAMA is far more intelligent than both Palin and McCain. Yet some of you cannot accept this fact because of the color of his skin.. This is racism at its worst.. Shame on you..
155. Mark Serdona | 10.01.08
McCain has really lost his backbone. Over the past two years if you listen to what he has said about different policies you will notice that he has contradicted everything he said in 2007 in 2008. His sole friend Lieberman who hangs around with him all the time is a defector from the other party. Nowadays ever since he got his eyes on Sarah Palin, he has ignored his friend. We don’t see Lieberman anywhere near him. Maybe he wants Lieberman away from him until Nov.4th so that the gun totting, prolife Christian conservatives do not despise him for hanging around with a jewish democrat. Sarah Palin is just an ey candy for McCain to bring some crowd for his campaign. Iff he gets elected she will probably have no job description other than cleaning the window sills in the white house.
156. Chris | 10.01.08
Let’s give her a break. She gets her news from…..
http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=palin+and+witch+hunting&hl=en&emb=0&aq=f#
157. John | 10.01.08
WhoCares@122: I can’t imagine anybody caring about the answer, as it has little if anything to do with being qualified for public office.
Really? If I had two candidates, and one said that she got her news from C-SPAN, The Economist, the NYT, or the Washington Post, I would feel that that candidate is more informed than one who got her news from Newsweek and Fox News. Is wanting a candidate who follows the issues and gets her news from reputable, reliable, established sources wrong? How can this be “a dumb question”?
And when you follow up with “If the media truly cared about important matters, they would be [investigating who] is responsible for the Fannie Mae mess…” But when they did ask Sarah Palin a question related to this, she spouted a bunch of nothing and tied it into health care reform (?!). So you complain about a softball question like, “What newspapers do you read,” but ignore the fact that she can’t answer an important question? And this is someone who could very likely be our next president?
People have a strange sense of what’s important and what’s not…
158. Carol | 10.01.08
McCain would have been better off selecting Paris Hilton instead of Sarah Palin. Paris Hilton gave some very good policy statements on energy policy for the US. Not only that Paris Hilton did not have any trouble being on late night talk shows or other interviews with the papparazi or the media. She has the experience of hard life behind bars, as well as she knows what it is like to be rich. She has visited many countries. McCain can still dump Sarah Palin and ask Paris Hilton to be his running mate.
159. Davo | 10.01.08
I wonder if the debate questions will push her at all beyond her comfortably rehearsed talking points? This is where she tends to fail and resort to gibberish..
160. Stormin | 10.01.08
Do a little research on acorn and Obama my lost children and you would vote for a pig in lipstick (which Palin is not), you better pull your head out of the sand. Unless your hero is Barney Frank.
161. scotty | 10.01.08
Carol @ 129:
And the truly perverse thing is that Paris almost seems credible as VP compared to Sarah. Preferable, even.
How standards have sunk.
162. B. Paul | 10.01.08
To even get onto the Harvard Law Review is an achievement beyond words. Obama exceeded all the brilliant people that attend that law school by making the law review. And to be President of that body means his depth of ability to grasp issues and grapple with them and resolve them is truly masterful. I know. My husband was 6th in his class at Harvard Law School and on the Harvard Law Review too. It took intense work and requires a truly outstanding and able mind. Obama has got it. There is simply no way that a lightweight like Palin should be on anyone’s ticket. To be admitted to the Harvard Law Review takes serious commitment, endless perseverence and extraordinary personal sacrifice of time. It is indicative of how Obama will tackle problems this country will face. This is especially important for those who, even if they do read, may be hindered so much by their biases that they either don’t understand or are unable to make careful judgments by weighing the issues.
163. kevin | 10.01.08
It’s a “gotcha” question because:
1. It was designed to create bad press for Gov Palin - no matter which way she answered the press would have twisted it.
and 2. We don’t elect a VP based on who can best answer pop-quizzes.
She was absolutely right to blow it off, as any candidate would have been.
re:John: If you think the Washington post and NYT are are unbiased news sources than you haven’t read them in the last 30 years, or are way out of the political mainstream. I doubt more than 10% of their readership would even agree with that assessment.
164. Oregon4Obama | 10.01.08
I feel sorry for Palin…..she is a caged bird in the McCain camp….she can only eat, play, and speak when they say she can…..
Palin is not the same person we saw during the convention and its because the McCain camp wants her to be something she’s not…..a world savvy political figure…..
Palin should stick to her homegrown small town story that got her elected in Alaska…..she won debates in Alaska because she identified herself as a moose hunting, gun shooting, child rearing, goal chasing, career minded conservative with a religous passion that people were looking for.
But now, she gives canned answers and well scripted responses…..she is a shell of the woman she was…..The McCain campaign should be ashamed of treating Palin like a vote magnet, and only allowing her to behave on their agenda……The McCAin camp has no respect for Palin and they dont trust her to learn on her own….it just shows that McCain picked her for her gender and not her substance or what she could be if she wasn’t caged
165. Robert | 10.01.08
131 Stormin - don’t be so patronizing. The only people peddling that story are the right wing ideologues regurgitating now-familiar taliking points. If there were any legs to the story, you can bet a 529 would have been advertising it on TV by now, and the matter would be out in the open. Instead it’s currently in the hands of some raving-loony conspiracy theorists. Grow up, and quit your nonsensical pretensions.
166. mavrick | 10.01.08
Really!
You all can not be serious. You really want someone to form their world views by reading a newspaper?
I have not read a newspaper in over 8 years. If I want to know whats going on in the world. I turn to the net for many sorces and form my opinions suchly from the information I gather.
I have listened to the liberal media for 8 years go on and on about the republicans.
Seems to me as long as anyone in charge of the country is not a liberal all they can do is tear this person down.
While on the other hand their guy gets a free pass no mater who or what he is tied too.
Welcome to the dumbing down of America and all you sheep that follow
167. kevin | 10.01.08
Look, if you want to say she was inarticulate or unprepared in answering some of the questions go ahead. But no one can legitimately ctiticize the intelligence of someone with her accomplishments - especially when she achieved them on her own without any family connections.
Neither can you legitimately criticize her for a lacjk of experience when you’re voting for someone who has NO experience relative to the job.
As for the comment above questioning why she linked the financial mess to health care - what she said was that solving the crisis was linked to all other economic issues (she mentioned several).
168. Andy | 10.01.08
Sarah Palin doesn’t get the same treatment from the papers because, and let’s be clear about this, she’s plain dumb. Joe Biden isn’t and has a proven track record of makin’ decent decisions. I guess the press are trying to find out just how dumb Palin is?
169. Marcpatriot | 10.01.08
For all the media-buy in of the artificial “expectations game,” the bar to clear for Palin will be Presidential stature. The main if not only question to be answered in the public mind is does she have the capacity to govern.
170. Marg Leah | 10.01.08
Executives used to read clips from a variety of newspapers. When I was a receptionist we clipped pertinent articles for the director who scanned them. I can’t imagine wasting their time with a lot of the garbage printed on the front pages of many major papers. She’s no fool. And, as has been said she was being baited..it wasn’t meant to inquire.
Iagp-1931 Tell us about Harry Truman..you are right…Sarah’s got help as an informed vp thanks to him.
Robby #66 Your comment “She is Pro-life” that’s why they hate her is the best. That means she’d protect all of the fools here and this country just as she’s been protecting her little helpless baby…as God wills. Pray for her? Yes. The American people are..bet on it.
Celia..Watch the movie “American Carol” be uplifted and entertained.
171. Kris | 10.01.08
Here’s a quote from the Washington Post subscription website when I entered the Wasilla, Alaska zip code:
“Home delivery of the print edition is not available in your area, but you’re qualified to receive the Washington Post e-Replica – an exact digital replica of the printed newspaper delivered to you each morning online, for 36% off the print home delivery price!”
Maybe she subscribes to various papers online or reads free news websites and didn’t want to go into the details of not getting paper delivery where she lives. I bet that’s the case for many major newspapers. How many of you have seen “No delivery to Hawaii and Alaska” on something you’re ordering? I read the biography of her called “Sarah” and it said she read their local newspaper thoroughly every day before school. She loved reading and would devour books. I bet she was a gifted child.
If she said the Ankorage Daily, people would have been looking down on her for that - and saying she only knows local issues - but it’s probably the truth. And, it’s the right paper to read if you’re the governor of Alaska since it talks about Alaska issues. She was anticipating those attacks and tried to avoid the path they were leading her down.
When they attack her, it’s like they are attacking me, honestly. I don’t hunt or fish and I name my kids really traditional names, so we’re probably very different people, but the mistake the media is making is that she is just like a lot of us in a more fundamental way. I went to a great university with a famous name, but I’m also very aware that if I were in the public arena, everyone would make fun of me and I’d go off and cry. She is standing up for the rest of us who don’t have the guts to do it ourselves. We’d love to serve America and straighten out the government, and she’s willing to go through the **** the media is putting her through to get to that goal. She actually governed and made huge positive changes for her state, and Obama just talks and talks and hasn’t accomplished anything in the Senate. Who is the better choice?
You go girl!
172. Kris | 10.01.08
I said H E double hockey sticks in the above comment! Not sure if that deserves the asterisks.
173. c tekin | 10.01.08
The apologists comments on this page are ridiculous. Simply put, it can easily be concluded from her answer that she does not read the newspaper. She is uninformed, which is relevant, because what she lacks in information she compensates for with unwarranted certainty in her beliefs. It is in this way that she is most similar to George W. Bush. Rather than believe in something because she can support it with facts and information, she just believes it harder and with more certainty. Really, it is scary. And somewhat fascist. And totally and completely alarming. Is it really “gotcha journalism” to want to know that somebody is qualified?
174. jclablanc | 10.01.08
# 21 if she just answered the way you did (she gets internet news instead of print media), that would at least be an answer. She is starting to look like she is not just dumb but a liar if she is so guarded she can’t think of the truth. Sounds lie Bush in a skirt.
Plus, this is a perfectly great question a version of which I have even be asked at job interviews: “What is the latest book you have read?”- this is not a question for only journalists or even English/journalism majors. I find it difficult to believe she was a journalism major since her run-on sentences don’t all have nouns and verbs . Are these schools Caribou Barbie attended accredited ?
175. ChicagoSpeaks | 10.01.08
To California . . . it’s impossible to believe that a question about what a VP candidate reads - which speaks to worldliness, and yes, viewpoints, which voters have a right and duty to investigate - would be considered by you a “gotcha” question. For God’s sake, they dragged out Michelle Obama’s college thesis and published it! And no one cried “gotcha” journalism. Certain things are expected of our candidates, and one of them is literacy. She doesn’t come off as educated and, frankly, isn’t very educated, i.e., 5 colleges in 6 years. Look, conservatives need to open their minds, for once - very un-Hannity-like, I know - and look at the facts. I know, I know, “don’t confuse me with facts, my mind’s made up.”
176. MacFaux | 10.01.08
900 words and 140+ comments on what newspapers she reads? Can we just invite the Chinese to foreclose on the country now? Get it over with…
177. ailey | 10.01.08
Her interviews are beyond parody. I expected my children, when they were in middle school, to have more substance than Sarah Palin demonstrates. She is clearly the ‘popular girl’ who became Governor on style points, with absolutely no substance underlying it all. I used to respect McCain, but I don’t any more. This is a grotesque joke that he has played on the country, and if he wins, we will have a vice president with the most dangerous combination of ignorance and certitude I have seen in a public figure in my lifetime.
178. John Carpenter | 10.01.08
We’ve got about 24 hours left before Barry Obama echoes Struther Martin’s words in”Butch Cassidy and the Sundown Kid”;
“Idiots. I’ve got idiots on my team.”
Palin spanked Frank Murkowski in debates–Alaska’s former U.S. Senator who had served on thehill for 21 years.
In 1998 he was relected by receiving 75% of the vote.
In 2002 he won the race for governor by 15 points.
Four years later she defeated Representative John Binkley by 19 points and Murkowski by more than 30.
Even Secretariat lost two races and for those who don’t follow thoroughbred racing last June Big Brown went off at 2-5 in the Belmont and was expected to win by 10 lengths by all the pundits.
He turned in the worst performance of a favorite in the more than 100 year-old history of the race finishing last beaten by a pole.
Bill Clinton has been warning Obama and Biden not to take Palin’s debating skills lightly.
So yuck it up. What possibly could Clinton know that the Obama roadies don’t?
179. Hensley | 10.01.08
I liked Couric, very little and, i did visit her program 3 times a week, however, after the Palin interviews, I started to hate her. She is uncaring has no scrupples, and seem to me unprofessional. This was suppose to be an interview not a debate, to get to know more about Palin, she did not expect that Couric was going to be so mean. Couric’s eyes, teeth, and nails sharpend up. She unrattled Palin, because I don’t feel that Palin, saw Curic as a competetive hateful liberal, who had already made up her mind that she was not going to like her. Couric was mean spirited, I hope she goes down, and very soon.
180. Hensley | 10.01.08
I wonder if Couric, could ever be elected to be Governor of Any place in the world. She can’t even keep up with the ratings, against those good old boys on the other stations.
181. Jimmybug | 10.01.08
Why is Palin not get fair? OBAMA am elistist terrorist and as PROOF! I as seen video of Obama as show him terorrist and as Mulsin. As PROOF!
Palin as good American, as to be president with McCain!
As be Get! McCain and Palin 2008! As Be Get!
182. Bill | 10.01.08
Judging from these letters, many of you seem to get great pleasure from calling
Sarah names - like “Dummy” for instance - making snide remarks about her,
and generally, behaving towards her in a disgustingly bad-mannered way.
Even if she does not become more successful than she already is, how many of
you clever critics could be half as much.
Try to be decent.
183. Pete Rivers | 10.01.08
The Couric interviews both with Biden and Palin were pure puff pieces.
Biden has long been the kind of guy who opens his mouth before putting his brain into gear, but in Biden’s case, he has also served in the Government at the highest levels for a long time, and accroding to Palin, we have been hearing of Biden’s speeches since she was in the second grade, so we have some idea of what he’s like. He’s a known quantity. He has done more than three interviews — unlike Palin.
It’s hardly surprsing that with someone as evidently ignorant and evasive as Palin, that the heat is on her to be specific. Here’s someone who doesn’t understand who Hamas is, who thinks she’s part of the NORAD defence data drop list (which was news to NORAD) who wasn’t paying attention when McCain debated Obama because she didn’t realise what McCain’s position was on intervention in Pakistan. She claimed to have read widely but couldn’t name a single paper she’d read — not one and so ducked and dissembled.
What we are learning is that Palin is an empty vessel into which any ideas can be put and then come out garbled. Beyond empty slogans about “protecting the American people” and “cutting government spending” and “lower taxes” she has no coherent ideas of her own, which raises questions about how credible her claims to being able to “shake up Washington” are. Will the Washington beltway quake in fear at this savvy and clever operator with a coherent and viable agenda or shake with laughter as they mess with her head and her handlers cry foul?
These are key questions. It’s worth recalling that the term “maverick” refers to an unbranded and typically motherless calf. Palin is still very much unbranded. What does she believe, exactly? We don’t know. What does she read? We don’t know. We have seen her given blessed protection against witchcraft by a Kenyan “witch smeller” and seen her acknowledge his role in her political success. She is linked with groups that favour Alaskan independence and yet others who think the End of Days will draw the faithful to Alaska. More recently, conservatives like Larison see her as a vehicle to enlist conservative support for non-conservative policies favoured by McCain. So which is it? It’s all very murky. Couric could have asked far more. This is the most powerful office on the planet we are discussing and McCain is atdding PTA member to her resume? Give me a break.
184. Pete Rivers | 10.01.08
Take a look at the “real McCoy” — the bedrock upon which the McCain/Palin campaign depends. This, my fellow Americans, is how we are being seen across the world.
185. Pete Rivers | 10.01.08
Take a look at the “real McCoy” — the bedrock upon which the McCain/Palin campaign depends. This, my fellow Americans, is how we are being seen across the world.
The TOS prevents posting the link but google youtube + youtube + white trash woman disses Obama …
Truly frightening
186. whocares | 10.01.08
John@128
You missed my point. My point is that the media is obsessed with investigating and then trying to trip up Sarah Palin, and asking in depth, critically important questions like ” what papers do you read”. At the same time some politicians and some mortgage companies have wreaked havoc on the financial system and I have not seen a single serious ‘investigation’ by the mainstream media - they just report the spin from the politicians. Compared to huge financial losses anyone with a retirement or investment portfolio has taken, I’m astounded that the media seems to be spending more time on dumb stuff like the VP candidate’s reading habits. Just suppose for a moment that some key members of Congress or key advisors of a presidential candidate bear some responsibility for the financial fiasco - maybe that would be nice to know??? And if they aren’t implicated, that would also be nice to know??? That’s my point - media priorities appear biased and out of touch with what’s important.
187. Venay Ganeson | 10.01.08
I am writing from Asia. Sarah Palin is a fun character as she is the most entertaining of the 4! I look forward to more of her comedy! If she ever gets to be President, the US will be the laughing stock of the world!
188. Judy | 10.02.08
Most people get there news from a variety of sources over the internet along with CNN, Fox and other major newscast. It allows for a more well rounded view and check the facts. Sarah Palin is too green to survive this campaign. When you act righteous you invite people to knock you off your pedistal.
189. Katharine | 10.02.08
Ron, let the lie stop here please. Barack Obama has 12 years experience as s Senator, 8 in the State Senate and almost 4 in the US Senate. During his 8 years in the State Senate he voted over 4,000 times, and about 120,or 3% of his vote was ‘present’, a common practice in his state. In the US senate during this presidential campaign, John McCain has missed more votes than hObama has. This is an example of the Republicans dumbing down the American people and spewing out one sentence sound bites that become part of the electorates false understanding. I’m sure you are better than that. Check your facts, and don’t take this stuff for granted when you hear it.
190. hillary voter | 10.02.08
UMMMMM STATE OF ALASKA - PALIN IS THE NAME OF ITS GOVERNOR. RIGHT?
SO COME ON YOU IDIOTS, IS SHE REALLY THAT STUPID JUST BECAUSE SHE DIDN’T ANSWER
“THAT WRINKLED PRUNE REPORTER, WITH CROW’S FEET LONGER THAN THE COAST OF FLORIDA…COURIC..”
NOW COURIC IS AN ATTORNEY AND KNOWS ALL THE RELEVANT PRECEDENT LANDMARK SETTING LAW CASES!!!
GIVE ME A BREAK, MABY PALIN WILL ASK COURIC A QUESTION ONE DAY WHEN SHE IS VP
LIKE: now ms. couric “what will you do now that you have been retired… you old looking sun-dried prune of a hag??”
NONE OF YOU CA LAY CLAIM TO SUCH AN HONORABLE CLAIM AS TO BE CALLED A GOVERNOR OF A STATE LIKE PALIN DOES! - DOES THAT MEAN YOU ARE ALL LOSERS? MORONS???? WELL REALLY PERHAPS….
MUST BE SOME IGNORANT DEMOCRATIC VOTERS WRITING HERE…..
192. I. Gotta Haddock | 10.02.08
She’s not an idiot. She’s just ambitious. And incurious about anything that’s not in the yard. Things have come pretty easily for ol’ Sarah up there in the hinterlands, and I think she thought this would come easily, too. It’s not breaking that way. I think the shock to her confidence in seeing that, and the apparent lack of confidence in her by her handlers, has stupefied her. She simply doesn’t know what to say anymore. She wants to say the right thing, but she’s not entirely sure what that is. It’s all so new. What did they tell me? The entire terrain is now more uneven than tundra. Hard to believe she can take a sure, unscripted step in the 30 days remaining before the election with that caribou of doubt on her plate.
193. With Respect | 10.02.08
GIVE ME PRESIDENT SARAH PALIN ANY DAY OVER PRESIDENT BARAK OBAMA! Of course she stays on top of the news via her preferred sources. If she had named ANY specific, she would have been lynched no matter what she cited. GOVERNOR, soon-to-be Vice President, Sarah Palin, is a WISE WOMAN and showed it! Some are attacking her NOT for her interviews, but for her true integrity, principles, and stands on the priority, MORAL issues of our day! Governor Sarah Palin has my deep respect and TRUST!
194. kate | 10.02.08
I tired of some people crying about Palin being questioned by gotcha questions in her interviews. Nobody knew this person and everybody wanted to know her and what she stands for and she should be questioned. Citizens wanted to find why McCain picked her. She did good when reading teleprompter with what the Party gave her to read but when on her own, she couldn’t even answer basic questions. I wonder how she ever became a mayor and then a govener. The questions were questions that anybody in Poltics should be able to answer. In the interview, there was nobody to help her out. I agree she is interesting and very popular, but if something were to happen to McCain, I would be so terrified to have this woman in the highest office making world decisions, economy and so on and so forth. I looking forward to see the debate. I think it will be interesting. Watching her interviews are very revealing.
195. Pat | 10.02.08
How stupid are you people who believe that Sarah Palin couldn’t name a newspaper. She easily could have said New York Times, Washington Post or her
Alaskan newspaper. She was smart enough to not give Katie Couric (whom I cannot
stand now or ever could) another cheap shot. I’m sure she had another stupid
question about an article that one of her writers picked out for her to ask
about to see if Sarah had read it.
I also don’t read the Christian (?) Science Monitor, I also happened on this
site from another link.
I can name many names of newspapers, none of which I read because like our
three main tv networks they report what they want us to hear and not the whole
truth. I heard on a reputable station that the interview Sarah had with Charlie Gibson (another one I can’t stand) was edited so that interview
was also done to try to make Sarah look bad. The funny thing is that I
think all this is going to back fire on Katie and her cohorts because
I think she and the others are really making themselves look bad and
it makes you want to stick up for Sarah. Our news media people are not
very professional like in the old days. They didn’t take sides on the air.
So keep it up Katie, I don’t think this is going to help your sorry ratings
at all. I’m sure Biden reads all the newspapers and knows all the bills
passed and so on, but what has he done, how has it helped him–He doesn’t
seem to be so great. It is time for a change alright but I do want someone
who truly loves this country to be our next President and it sure isn’t
Obama.
196. Sue | 10.02.08
Wow, I just finished reading the comments here. No wonder our country is
in a mess. All of you poor people who only believe what your read in the
very biased newspaper and what you hear on the very biased liberal tv
stations. Wake up and do some research because you are being grossly misinformed. Obama may have made very good grades in a very good school but
that doesn’t make him good Presidential material which affects us much more
than Sarah being VP. By the way, when McCain and Palin get elected you will
be very impressed with her.
197. Pat | 10.02.08
Wow, I just went back and read all of the comments here. No wonder our country
is in a mess. I am surprised at the number of you who rely on the very biased
liberal newspapers and very biased liberal tv stations for your information.
Wake up and do some research on your on because you are being very misinformed.
Obama may have made very good grades in a very good school but that does not
make him Presidential material. I know several very smart college grads but that doesn’t mean they can run this country.
However when McCain and Palin are elected I think you will be very impressed
with her.
198. Hugh Briss | 10.02.08
Why should she read the papers, which are all in the tank for Obama?
She can learn anything she needs to know just by watching FoxNews.
199. Andrewinjordan | 10.02.08
I think being able to name the newspapers and magazines you read is not a tough ask. Just asked my 6 year old what he has read in the last month and he rattled it off.
201. PersimmonNJ | 10.02.08
The Vice Presidency is not an internship.
#59: She could have bypassed the “gotcha” with a 2-part answer. She could have mentioned a local paper as a source for local interests and named a couple of well-known papers from the mainland as sources for what’s going on in the rest of the country. Easy to bypass the “too colloquial” answer with a followup of broader interests.
Part of the problem is that she has schooled herself (probably starting back in her pageant days) to work the “non-answer” and relies on projecting popularity/personality over ever being specific. That sort of thing can work a crowd big time, but it fails at the national level.
Couric is not a hard-hitter as far as interviewers go. How much easier do they have to go on her? Should she be interviewed by Hanna Montana? “What’s your favorite color?” “All of them.” Hmm. Maybe not.
202. fuller | 10.02.08
Palin doesnt give direct answers to questions. She avoids, changes the subject, gives unresponsive answer, or answers a previous question. Is it so difficult to say what material you read? Or is it so difficult to answer yes or no regarding a question about abortion?
She is an attractive women dressed for display, so she is paraded on stage for guys to ogle & lure uninformed women voters.
203. Mark | 10.02.08
hrh blurted :
“Can I just point out the obvious that this question is only a question a media person would ask?”
And a good question it is. Tells us, the electorate, how she keeps up with current events. “Nationa Enquirer” or “National Review” ?
And if the media doesn’t ask , *who will: ?
204. KC | 10.02.08
People seems to forget that the objective of the interview should be to learn more about the candidates and their position. To name a specific Supreme Court that you are opposed to mean nothing to me. I rather want to know the guiding principle that you will use to make decision. In this case, I believe that we have learned that Palin is for minimal federal intervention. Katie couric should have leave the answer at that instead of being a B… to stretch for a response that does not add anything to the discussion. Shame on you Couric.
205. Jenny-From-The-Block | 10.02.08
So is this a move to get a Christian - any Christian - into the White House - one who can lie and cheat and try to destroy people’s lives who cross them - but still says I’m a Christian - maybe smacks of desperation within the Evangelical (Right) community.
It reminds me of those Islamic countries - who leaders use their religion as a way to stay in power -
Palin as - the article written in ssmonitor - doesn’t think that the facts and figures are important - so far she has gotten away with her folksy tales and her sportscaster abilities (and her looks).
She spent 88 days as governor - the other 330 days she remained at home and billed the taxpayer for it.
She’s has lied so many times -
It reminds me of looking at Islamic practices - as the Christian support for Palin is not logical.
206. john | 10.02.08
Of course it is a legitimate question. Anyone running for a national office should be able to name specific sources where he or she reads the news. For example, although I am not running for a national office - or any office, for that matter - had the question been asked of me, I would have answered: The New York Times, The Guardian (UK), The New Yorker, Time Magazine, The Advocate, The Courier-Journal (Kentucky), The Times (UK), The Economist, Vanity Fair, CNN, Fox News, and the Huffington Post. See how easy that is? In no way whatsoever is it an “impossible” question.
207. Bill S… | 10.02.08
Impossible questions??? For who? A third grade student? Like many who have responded, I have a number of newspaper and online news web sites to find national and world news. It only takes a few minutes each day to puruse the headlines.
Supreme court decisions? I can name a few that I would like to reverse.
I’m no lawyer, nor am I running for the second highest office in this great country. I’m just an ordinary citizen who would like our leaders to have some realization that there are issues with more than one side. And, we have international neighbors who are our friends and those who would would be delighted in our downfall. Shouldn’t our leaders know one from the other before they get into office?
208. goodness me | 10.02.08
Maybe she reads PRAVDA online.
Quote…
Like George Bush, who is demonstrably imbecilic and morally retarded, the “hockey mom” who “worked her way to the top with grit and determination,” also fuels the naïve, jejune notion that “anyone can be President of the United States because we live in a democracy.” Forget the pablum concocted to pacify the masses; the POTUS could actually be ‘anyone who hails from a family with direct ties to the power elite of our bourgeois democracy or who shares their sociopathic tendencies and is willing to sell their souls to do their bidding.’ But who amongst us wants to burden our atrophying minds attempting to understand complexities when the simplistic sweet little lies are so much more palatable and takes so few brain cells to process?
209. RL GUMM | 10.02.08
It’s time to take off the kid gloves, quit pusseyfooting around like Sarah Palin is some delicate little doll that Joe Biden might unwittingly tramp on. She is trying to get herself elected to an office that would literally put her a heartbeat away from the office of the president of the U.S. I would expect her to be grilled and vetted by anybody and everybody, and would be very upset with our election process if she weren’t. I don’t take kindly to anybody wanting to give her a pass on foreign affairs experience simply on the strength of her being governor of a nearby state, or consider her membership in the PTA as having any credence at all toward preparing her for the office of VP as was suggested by her mentor, John McCain.
It is time to wake up, and grow up, America - this is not a child’s game being played out here.
210. Marilyn | 10.02.08
Just wondering…did anyone see the interview Couric had with Biden? Where he said that President Franklin D Roosevelt got on TV when the Stock Market crashed in 1929. There were no follow up questions or media disection of that statement. Roosevelt wasn’t president in 1929 & Americans didn’t yet have TVs. You may want to check out many of his other made up stories before casting your vote. The media likes Joe & they aren’t letting the facts get in the way of a good story!!!
212. HRHbutSMART | 10.02.08
HRH,
Huh? Asking someone running for office where they get their info isn’t strange or out of line. It’s very relevent and apt. People that read tend to wonder what others read. Understand?
213. Niraj | 10.02.08
President Bush does not read the newspapers, either. As he said in one interview, he gets his messages directly from God.
Sarah Palin is simply more of the same.
214. JaneACM | 10.02.08
I absolutely can’t believe that people are defending Palin in her answers and attacking Couric in asking this very basic question. It’s not a devious question, it’s not shrewd, or one that an interview would think would be a stumper. The fact that Palin couldn’t answer is extremely disturbing. It likely means one (or all) of the following:
–she truly doesn’t read newspaper or magazines. Or, apparently, news sites on the internet. A perfectly acceptable answer would have been something like, “I get most of my news via the internet, sites such as [insert news outlets here].” We don’t care if she actually picks up a paper and reads it with her morning coffee. We do care that she reads and is informed.
–she only reads fluff like People and didn’t want to admit it
–she actually does read, but froze up under the grilling by Couric
We currently have a president who seems proud of the fact he doesn’t read periodicals. He also surrounds himself with “yes men.” We see how well that turned out.
Do we really want a VP (and possibly Prez) that is so ignorant and unready?
215. Levi Cro | 10.02.08
wow.. when it comes to tossing out BS she knows the way.. sadly when pinned down BS is exposed as just that…
so she read everything in front of her… well.. at least she didnt claim she read everything behind her… but apparently its all really just beneath her…. and stop asking questions.. she doesnt need to know anything about the world.. she can see it all from her window…. and if she needs to know whats going on she asks the Russians hanging around her yard in the mornings before she shoos them away…. they of course speak perfect English and are very worldly…
216. Rodger Lemonde | 10.02.08
Palin may be brighter than I thought. Admitting that all her information comes from Faux News and the National Inquirer wouldn’t play to well.
There is something really peculiar in her habit of giving a non responsive answer and just reordering the words if the question is asked again.
From her actions so far I doubt she would give a straight answer about what she had for breakfast. And then she would whine about “gotcha journalism”.
217. Allie | 10.02.08
I agree with John (Poster #179) — it seems to me she could have easily identified some, and followed it up with a comment that she wasn’t limited to those, they were just examples. Heck, she could have even bit a little more vague and just said that she read local newspapers as well as a variety of national publications, such as __. I think she got scared to answer because she thought it was a trap or was worried about that Couric would have follow-up questions.
I’ll be interested in seeing the debate tonight. My guess is that Palin is going to perform better than people expert her too because of not-impressive Couric interview.
218. Hensley | 10.02.08
I Believe that Palin will pull it off. She might have something under her sleeve, and really thought that Curic would somehow be nice. But,, she was not prepared to be rattled and attacked by this pirahanna. I hope and pray that she will show the world that she is a person of substance. God will be with her. We cannot afford to let this country go south towards socialism, which I think it is set up for. Heaven help us. we will be loosing our freedom as soon as BO, enters office. He is a socialists, and wants a welfare state. MCCAIN and PALIN in 2008. Maybe BO,& BenLaden, is laughing at us. Thanking ALA, that Ob might be president. GO MCCAIN….
220. Jena | 10.02.08
I am going to have to simply repost a wonderful point posted by someone named Liz on another site discussing the same issue:
Sarah Palin does not deserve to be defended she brought the newspaper/magazine question on herself when she told Couric, in her first interview, that she did not have a passport until recently, so she has learned about the world through reading books and magazines. That is how she became educated in the world SO, a logical question to ask would be “What books or magazines do you read?” To claim that Palin’s answer was ok (”I read, you know, everything that I come across, you know like a vast variety of stuff”) because her followers don’t read books or magazines either, is an argument that I would rethink….Have you forgotten that she is running to be VICE PRESIDENT? Why are you defending this? Unbelievable….
221. Scoty | 10.02.08
Rodger @ 189 said: “From her actions so far I doubt she would give a straight answer about what she had for breakfast”
It would go something like this Rodger: “In this great America, there are many, many breakfasts that we are blessed with that I could consider enjoying for MY breakfast. I don’t think any particular breakfast thing should, like, be federally mandated, however. It’s all down to the individual states to mandate that sort of thing. Especially since it has such a huge bearing on the state of the economy, ya, and healthcare, ya, in this great nation of ours. We often do trade missions to Russia to see what they have for breakfast. It’s just something we need to do more of”.
See, I can sound just like Sarah.
And that’s because…. SHE’S JUST LIKE ME! Ya!
222. Jerry Ulibarri | 10.02.08
1. ericmiami 10.01.08 wrote:
“She probably reads ’til her lips get tired.”
Eric, you got me laughing so hard, I almost choked.
223. Jerry Ulibarri | 10.02.08
#10 California writes:
“The question was clearly a gotcha question. Damned if you, damned if you don’t. If the question was, “What books have you read that shaped your worldview…?” Then that would have been in a different league. And a legitimate question at that.”
Seriously dude … I have no doubt the answer would have been the same. The chick doesn’t read. Even the state budget she approved had to be filled with differently colored and annotated post it notes!
224. Jerry Ulibarri | 10.02.08
17. Maggy M’Gill | 10.01.08 says: (incredibly)
“You Liberals are all the same. So what if she doesn’t read. Big deal. She already knows what she thinks about everything, and if there is anything that comes up, she will make the right choices when her handlers give them to her. Good grief, she’s just as smart as any other monosyllabic, rote memorized, teleprompter fed, incurious minded…Hey, come to think of it, she is even MORE presidential than I initially thought!!!”
So what if she doesn’t read! Amazing, Maggy M’Gill. I hope, for your sake, that you’re physically attractive like Palin. That, and an aggressive personality, may get you somewhere, with your attitude.
225. jsg | 10.02.08
It’s not that a question about what newspaper you read to form your worldview is a ‘gotcha’ question in and of itself. My problem is that neither Obama or Biden are asked those kinds of questions.
Remember when Bush was quizzed on the names of world leaders by an intrepid reporter? It was a gotcha question to show his inexperience in comparison to Gore. But no one ever asked that kind of question to Bill Clinton, who was a governor of a southern state with no foreign policy experience whatsoever. He literally had the same credentials that Palin has.
Now, I am also a realist. None of this excuses some of her answers. Tonight will be her judgment day. If she can’r answer quesitons intelligently then she is done.
226. Jerry Ulibarri | 10.02.08
21. thule222 | 10.01.08 writes:
“I wonder. My answer would be identical to hers. I don’t read newspapers, I skim my local paper occasionaly but that’s all. I certainly don’t read the Christian Science Monitor. I’m here because I followed a link from Google news. I follow it and Drudge and Yahoo news regularly. So I read articles from everywhere, but I don’t actually read a paper. I seem to most often read LA and NY Times and WSJ but I don’t read those papers. I don’t read any papers, they’re too slow. I follow the news on the Internet.
I think she’s just being modern.”
Well Thule, while it’s admirable for you to defend Palin by saying you would be similarly stumped, you inadvertently exposed yourself as an avid reader of many different sources. I would answer your position like this:
” I get my news primarily from the internet; I check Google News, and follow links to CSM, WSJ, LA and NY Times. I also follow Drudge and Yahoo News. I don’t bother with print media, it’s too slow for me.”
Excellent answer, Thule. Simply excellent. Unfortunately, Sarah Palin has left the distinct impression that she does not read at all. That is the point of the article.
227. C Kelly | 10.02.08
My gut reaction to the Couric interviews wasn’t for or against Palin, but, instead, complete disgust with Couric for the questions she asked. The trap was baited and set, and Couric was ready to spring it. I challenge you to find 3 co-workers or associates who can name 3 Supreme Court decisions. We can all discuss legalities that we disagree with, tho. I challenge you to find 3 co-workers or associates who have traveled abroad (unless they are retired or have grown children). I have very few friends who have passports. A better question would have been, “How do you feel about politicians who travel abroad at the tax payers’ expense and do nothing to advance the condition of their constituents as a result of that travel?” I challenge you to find 3 co-workers or associates who read more than 3 articles from start to finish in the morning newspaper. A better question would have been, “What kind of magazines and articles do you read the most?” Palin lives in an area where environmental issues are forefront. She knows about that! We all have limited time, and we all learn as we go. 90% of what we learn is directly related to what we have to do. When she has to affect the national scene, she will learn that, too. I used to miss Couric on the Today Show, but I’ll never purposefully watch her or have respect for her again.
228. Jerry Ulibarri | 10.02.08
137 Mavrick says:
“Really!
You all can not be serious. You really want someone to form their world views by reading a newspaper? I have not read a newspaper in over 8 years. If I want to know whats going on in the world. I turn to the net for many sorces and form my opinions suchly from the information I gather.”
Um, Mavrick, I hate to burst your bubble, but you just posted on one of the oldest and most respected “newspapers” in the world. The “Christian Science Monitor” was founded in 1908, and you’re reading it right now. The online version, yes, but The Christian Science Monitor, nonetheless.
This would have been a good one for Palin to cite.
229. Munichmaedchen | 10.02.08
Politicians do read a vast amount of newspapers to get as many points of views as possible. Compare it to actors who read their reviews in different papers. What’s wrong with Palin’s answer? After all, she could have answered whatever she wanted, the biased media would always find a way to pick on her.
Obama is already elected President by the media, acorn is put in place for voter fraud, the debate moderator publishs her book about Obama on inauguration day and looks forward today to do her share to put “the leader” into office while the Obama youth is already singing the new national anthem on youtube “Heil Obama”.
Palin can be the most brilliant speaker ever but will not win today’s debate because the media won’t allow it. The brainwashing continues and good people like Sarah Palin and John McCain are the victims.
230. D. Grant Haynes | 10.02.08
Munichmaedchen wrote, “Palin can be the most brilliant speaker ever… .”
___________________
And were the moon make of green cheese, I’d fly up and build a Swiss on rye snack for the debate… .
D. Grant Haynes
231. D. Siems | 10.02.08
I receive my news from many different sources,this website for instance. I have stopped my newspaper delivery, do’nt need it! I predict an executive has informants and other people doing the mundane. She probably has clearances she cant even reveal.
232. Sis | 10.02.08
I don’t care what Katie Couric has to say…she is an idiot. She is not a journalist, she has a two depth question profile. Please pay attention to the questions she asks any politician. She will ask the same question two times in a different way to any one she is questioning.
Biden is a thirty year vet in the senate…how out of touch is he? Do any of you get a vote on your annual raise?
Sarah may not have as much “experiance” that the Democratic Party likes to point out, but I would much rather vote for someone that does not have any loyalties to D.C., but that may actually be looking out for me (a middle class working single woman).
233. sebastian | 10.03.08
for McCain to win he must drop Palin. she is is so out of league against Joe Biden. She keeps on blabbing without answering the question. she seems to have memorize all her answers and looks like a robot. God help us all if
this woman becomes a president. no offense to women but she is very dangerous. this is no time for on the job training and honestly she is so dumb. this only shows the poor judgement that Mc Cain demonstrates. God help
us all if this Mc Cain and Palin wins. we are doomed.
234. kevin b | 10.03.08
I used to think Katie Couric was an honest journalist… but I have been increasingly alarmed by the things she has been doing. One group has really lost its way during this election — and that is the media in all of its forms. We no longer have any place we can turn for anything resembling the truth.
Thank you Katie for destroying your own credibility and making the moonbats from all ends of the political spectrum more credible.
My assessment… Pailin is pretty normal — everyone else in this campaign isn’t… Not Obama, Not McCain, and definitely not Biden.
I almost wish for an Obama Palin ticket… the way would be rocky but all of us would be better served — and Obama would get a better understanding of how a large part of America sees the world — something that will totally be discounted in the Obama Biden universe.
God help us.
235. Tim B | 10.03.08
Sis: “Sarah may not have as much “experiance” that the Democratic Party likes to point out, but I would much rather vote for someone that does not have any loyalties to D.C.”
1. We vote for Presidents in this country. Which one has more loyalty to DC?
2. Until he selected Palin, McCain based his entire campaign against Obama on the experience vs. novice theme. Suddenly experience is now subjective and depends largely upon which party you’re affiliated with. Gotcha.
3. I’m amused to no end to see Republicans using the exact same arguments for Palin that they ridiculed Democrats for a mere 6 weeks ago. You people move from one attack line to the next without even parsing the words that have been put in your mouths.
236. PB | 10.04.08
I think there is only one word for Sara Palin, “Shameful.” She should never have accepted the nomination. Unfortunately, she is given simple questions and does not know the answers. She has a lot to say about Biden and Obama. Yet, she can’t answer simple questions. Why should we give her a break? She needs to prove that she has a brain. She needs to prove that she can take McCain’s place in a crisis. But, guess what she has been given a chance to answer simple questions that she just can’t answer. In addition, she wants to cry about it and blame others for her lack of intelligence. Come on people, this has nothing to do with being a Democrat or a Republican. This is about our future and the future of our children. Our economy is suffering and Palin can’t answer simple questions. How is she going to handle more serious questions? McCain was well respected by many Democrats and Republicans until he selected Palin to step in if something should happen to him. In my opinion, she makes McCain look BAD every time she opens or does not open her mouth!!
237. Brad | 10.22.08
It’s interesting to see all of the slams leveled here against Gov. Palin. Posters have questioned her ability to read, suggested that her source for news is the National Enquirer and other various put downs. Yet, if I’m not mistaken, she was a journalism major in college. Having seen the work of some of the journalists - maybe they are right - perhaps she isn’t up to the job intellectually. Clearly they aren’t up to their jobs either. Most are incapable of writing an accurate story - though they are quite good at pushing their own agenda’s while claiming to be completely neutral.
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Jimmy Orr has worked in politics for the majority of his professional career working for two U.S. Senators, two Governors and one President. Most recently, Orr served as White House Spokesman and Internet Director for President George W. Bush and Special Advisor to Governor Schwarzenegger for Internet Communications.
David Cook is Washington bureau chief of The Christian Science Monitor and host of the Monitor's newsmaker breakfasts. He was the Monitor's editor from 1994 to 2001. Cook is a graduate of Principia College, served in the U.S. Army, was a Bagehot Fellow at Columbia University, and is a member of the Gridiron Club, Washington's oldest journalistic organization.
1. ericmiami | 10.01.08
She probably reads ’til her lips get tired.