Schaffer, is going be upset, McCain promised him she would be on Face The Schaffer.

It's a reward for his stellar work while moderating the Democratic debates.

It's sure good to see good reporters and unbiased news organizations getting rewarded for their excellent work.

Softball City. She'll tell the same lies and Gibson will let her get away with it (for the most part -- he has his journalistic integrity to consider don't you know /snark).

I hope he asks her a number of specific questions about Russia, which we're told tops the list of her areas of foreign policy expertise

The McCain camp has surely issued talking points to be strictly adhered to. They have made it plain to ABC executives they will not stand for "gotcha" queries, will not allow for an interview deliberately heavy on foreign policy or Alaska ethics issues. Gibson and ABC will lie about a dictated predetermined agenda and they know treading on sensitive or forbidden territory will cause negative consequences later. Both McCain and Palin are capable of vindictive behavior. After this first interview is out of the way word will spread what it takes to get Palin to sit and the rules will be followed across various media, or else.

everyone beat me to it.

If they were smart and had any balls the Democrats would do this: schedule a big press conference with Joe Biden the day before her interview where he would explicitly spell out all the questions and topics that needed to be coverd. They need to unleash the real pitbull.

Glenn Greenwald has this act covered: "When they decide in a couple of weeks that Palin is ready to do so, she'll go and sit down with Brit Hume or Larry King or Charlie Gibson or some other pleasant, accommodating person who plays a journalist on TV and have a nice, amiable, entertaining chat about topics that are easily anticipated. Having been preceded by all sorts of campaign drama about her first interview and the excitement that she's not up to the task, her TV appearance will be widely touted, score big ratings, and will be nice entertainment for the network that presents it. It will achieve many things. Undermining propaganda isn't one of them."

I'd love to see the Obama campaign purchase a 3 (or so) minute rebuttal later in the show to counter all the lies she'll tell since we know Gibson won't have any follow up questions or counter any of her or the McCain campaign's claims during the interview.

"John McCain: Worse than Bush" is right. Joe Biden should outline the questions that *should* be asked of a potential VP, in a heavily publicized press release that is given to ALL the networks. Live.

Well I'm sure you have all noticed how when the Rovians really took over the campaign how even ol' flappy lips McCain had been instructed to stay on message and was apparently told not to answer questions from the unwashed masses as is witnessed by his terse one word answers to the likes of Time and other two bit media outlets. They hornswaggled the populace last time and for all intents and purposes are set to do it again unless the MSM speaks up (FAT CHANCE). Unfortunately no one except us (the choir) and the trolls read these pages.

Just in time for the bounce to run its course... and to keep the lead in the polls away from Obama.

Anonymous at 3:16 PM apparently doesn't look at too many polls or they would know that Obama leads in the polls now as he always has.

Close is as good as McCain gets.

I've heard that moveon.org has a clock up showing how long it has been since Palin answered a question.

It might be a good idea to start clocks for a number of key areas. When was the last time, ever, she answered a question or gave her personal/political opinion on any number of subjects?

National Security?

Health Care?

Hurricane Relief?

Anyway, the main issue isn't simply the fact that she has not answered questions, but that for many important national and international issues she has never expressed any interest or curiosity about them, much less an opinion.

What's the point? With Gibson, the "interview" will be a joke-- a mere advertisement,her stump speech all over again. More lies and propaganda that she will get to re-inforce.

I really think its vital for the Democrats to set the agenda for this. By the time she sits down for that interview the Femocrats should have relentlessly spelled out what she needs to explain and cover to satisfaction. They need to set a very high bar befitting the office of VP. Hold not only her feet, but Gibson's feet to the fire. When its a puff peice they should go ballistic.

The Palin affair is exactly like so many other unimportant issues the Pugs (GOP) use so effectively against us Democrats. Leftwing blogs seem think this is the issue that somehow can win the election just like calling Bush stupid over and over was suppose to 4 and 8 years ago. John McCain will make the election about anything but the issues. We on the left are already a long way down the road of letting him do so.
Why not examine how they have beaten us repeatedly in the past and learn some lessons? Why not use the Rove method of solely attacking your opponents strong points? For example, how many aircraft did the Navy let McCain crash because he was the elitist son of a famous admiral? If McCain could not standup to Bush 8 years ago in South Carolina how can we expect him to stand up to the Russians? When has he ever actually been the successful leader of anything? Time is running out and at this point it looks like McCain is on track to win.

What a joke to do an "interview" with Gibson. He's deferential alright--this will amount to nothing more propaganda and enforcing her stump speech.

Gibson will ask her why Clinton let 9/11 happen.

And then it'll go downhill from there.

Gibson always distorts the democratic tax plan, as if the "small business owners " will be punished.

Right out of the GOP TPs.

Will it be a "sit-down" or will this be one of those lame features where she makes him walk around some favorite place of hers in Alaska?

Saint Zak with emphasis added:

If they were smart and had any balls the Democrats would do this: schedule a big press conference with Joe Biden the day before her interview where he would explicitly spell out all the questions and topics that needed to be coverd. They need to unleash the real pitbull.

It is time.
I sense the numbers are slipping away a bit.

Anybody know what happens when the low-info voter makes up its mind? Does it ever change it again? Or does it just settle deeper in the sofa, shut its ears, and follow the path of least resistance?

One more thing: Obviously Palin lies. Is that a good thing or a bad thing? Read this book interview to throw another variable in the equation:

The Ethics of the Lie

Juiciest power quote:

Rabaté seems to be on to something in discussing the Bush administration’s embrace of an ideology of simplism. “In a sense,� writes Rabaté, “the lie is always more simple, and thus always more seductive. When simplism is erected into a state ideology, it is the state lie that dictates politics. The lie is simplifying, and brings in its wake a circular process.�

Palin is a hot ticket. If it were my decision I'd keep her under wraps until debates.

After all she is only a vp. and the liberals are going to win by huge margin. So why waste time with ABC interview?

Don,

An onsite interview might not be that bad.

They could stop by the church she attends where she heard her pastor basically say the Jews are getting what they deserve for dissing Jesus.

Or the place where she gave a speech to the segregationalist party.

So many fun places to visit.

Since Sean Hannity was able to plant questions to with ABC, will Charles Gibson give Rachel Maddow a chance to do the same...she has talk show on radio and a tv show at 9pm...

that would be fair right?

btw-this site should a have a permanent diary on the recommend list with Charles Gibson's questions to Obama for comparison to his questions to Palin.

Every single question to Obama could be asked to Palin...her church, love of country, ethical innuendo...

I predict this will prove Gibson is just as much a shill as Fournier...

I am sure the negotiated deal included advance copy of all questions and editorial rights to say what is broadcast from the interview...total Potemkin Village style...

PALIN TO TALK TO ABC

or Screech?!

My bet is she'll have nothing to offer but culture war soundbites and reasons that McCain is our (POW) guy for the next four years. Harpy!

doubtful, at 3:23, that was me at 3:16. I based my comments on the fact that today, McCain ties or holds the lead in several polls and the fact that pollsters said McCain's bounce would disappear by the end of next week.

I figure Rove will drag her out just in time. The media hoopla will start up just before the polls settle out so that Obama can't regain his lead. It makes me sick to think about it.

Has anyone noticed that Hillary is giving a half-hearted effort at campaigning for Obama? I'm wondering it has anything to do with the Penn-Black connection.

Sarah Palin is a very active member of Feminists for Life. Go over to their website and look up "contraception." You'll find them coy on the subject, saying only "that some of their members support the use of non-abortifacient contraceptives." Do some more googling and you'll discover that they consider the Pill an abortifacient. Do some more googling and you'll find that while they won't give an interview on the topic, they are essentially against contraception. So I reckon there are two questions for Ms. Palin: 1. "Will you work to overturn Roe vs Wade?" 2. "Will you support the right of all women to have access to and insurance support for contraceptives, including the Pill?" The American public needs to hear those answers in prime time in clear language. The Obama campaign should do whatever it takes to get those questions on the table.

pol,

Daily tracking polls from the weekend are notoriously bad.

Do you have any links we can look into?

Gibson's idea of being tough will be to ask her about her daughter's pregnancy. This will set her up to defend her daughter. How much do you want to bet that Gibson will not challenge her with specifics about things that really matter-- her lies about the bridge to nowhere, her lies about earmarks, her views on teaching creationism?

IMPEACHMENT WILL STOP A MCCAIN PRESIDENCY, call Pelosi @1-202-225-0100 DEMAND IMPEACHMENT.

Just as Glenn Greenwald predicted at salon.com today, the interview will be with Charles Gibson who will no doubt help Palin denounce her detractors while allowing her to rave on with her talking points but never…ever doing any follow up questions calling her out on her dishonesty or the deceitful claims she will make. Gibson will aid her in what ever way he can allowing her to play victim against any possible scandal while praising her openness and candor and strength for standing up against such “tough� questions under extreme scrutiny. Let the dog and pony show begin.

Amazing that Palin does exactly what Bush has done under investigation yet she calls it “reform�. She assumes the public is that stupid to buy it all over again. I pray she is wrong.

Looks like the Minutemen of this blog already have the high points covered - to wit, Gibson will have to submit his questions in advance for vetting, and they'll either take out the ones they don't like, or brief her ad nauseum on the answers. Rather than an interview, it becomes an exercise in propaganda, with Palin set up to look razor-sharp and all over his question before the air is even cold around it. The usual lineup of halfwits will rhapsodize in preorgasmic moans about how fab she is, and how at the top of his game McCain is to appoint her.

For his part, Gibson will be happy to meet those conditions, in order to get the exclusive that will allow him to drink free for weeks in his favourite pseudo-journalist watering hole. If he wanders from the script, or throws Palin a curveball, he can kiss any further interviews goodbye. If he's a good boy, he gets to occasionally be the new McCain campaign microphone.

Everybody wins except the Democrats, as usual. Networks or would-be interviewers who won't follow the gameplan will not be invited on the new turbocharged version of the Straight Talk Express.

There's more at stake for Obama and Democrats in this election than just winning or losing the presidential race. If they lose, it will be the third consecutive embarrassing failure to fight off the lying, wretched tactics of the modern GOP. Obama will be tainted as a loser just like Kerry, and the next Democratic presidential challenger will have this horrible impotent legacy on their backs.

Obama shut up a lot of his critics in Denver. But Jesus it's not enough. If they can't learn draw some blood and occasionally own the news cycle, they will continue to look like losers. Not because they don't have the brains and the right answers for governing, but because they're so complacent and aloof that they start to look like fools. Whether they like it or not, this is like the worst of high school all over again. The GOP is the nasty creep who slaps a 'kick me' sign to the smart kid's back, or tapes a roll of toilet paper to their shoe. Sure, it's immature and unserious. But not reacting or defending yourself makes you look like a chump.

This isn't brain surgery. Look how wobbly the McCain camp gets when they're attacked - even a little bit. Start calling McCain/Palin out for being the liars that they are. Start asking how McCain's POW experience helps the middle class keep their houses, their jobs, or control their healthcare costs. Loudly demand whether Palin is the BEST possible VP choice that was availabe and why.

If I hear Joe Biden say one more word about how much he admires John McCain, I'm going to cut my face off.

Will the interview be live or on tape? Live means the risk of an unrecoverable gaffe. On tape means ABC can run a longer interview and edit things down. How will the Repugs control this? What has ABC negotiatied for, if anything? And what has ABC's coverage of Palin focused on so far? Because that's the narrative they're going to follow.

As for banning--have I INSULTED anyone? Call YOU a bad name? Said ANYTHING other than what would benefit AMERICA? YOUR censorship does not help this nation, does nothing to further free choice, and alienates people TRYING TO HELP YOU.

And how will the Repugs ties this in -- as part of their media/marketing strategy -- to the Obama/McCain joint appearance on 9/11? How will she be used to do what McCain himself cannot in that environment?

I like c6Logic's idea for a side by side comparison of the questions Gibson asked the Dems and the ones asked of Palin.

Also, I'm sure the McRovebots have an analysis of the kind of lies Gibson is prone to agree with and one's that he might actually meekly oppose.

Maybe Gibson will surprise us, as much as he's patsy for the Republicans, the barely suppressed hatred of women most of these guys have might surface and he might get tough.

That's Just What I Said

pol,

Hillary Clinton is out stumping for Obama right now! WTF are you talking about? He's running the campaign so she's undoubtedly staying on message re attacking Palin, etc.

Honestly, don't blame HRC if Obama can't win on his own. She garnered 18 million voters - many of those in working-class swing states - and the Democrats weren't smart enough to get her on the ticket in what promises to be a close election (ala Kennedy swallowing hard and picking LBJ).

You're for freedom of choice, right? Obama chose Biden (with his literally thousands of votes in a tiny blue state). Live with it.

Over 40mil. abortions since Roe v Wade...There was also over 40mil before Roe V Wade. Over 70% of Americans support R v W and republican leaders know this. They don't want to overturn R V Wade and McCain has made that point and wants to give it to the states. So Basicall republican leaders want R v W in place to campaign against becasue it draws so many votes to them by people who don't seem to understand that they only campaing on it, they never intend to change it.

Pro-choice is not pro abortion but it keeps getting framed that way. Pro -life people don't understand their "all or nothing" approach is actually hypocritical in that it also means doing nothing to reduce the number of abortions.

Obama has made it part of the party platform to make a concentrated effort to reduce the number of abortions. They point out that it must be legal, safe, and especially rare. By providing education, birth control, medical help and treatment, adoption, job training, counseling to prevent unwanted pregnancies and to make it easier to begin a family. Republicans have stood in the way of funding all of these approaches demanding only that abortions be made illegal. While they continue to be exploited by the republican party on this issue there are countless decisions being made for abortions that otherwise might be persuaded to follow another path if it were offered.

In short, at least dems are doing something about decreasing the number of abortions performed besides just bitching about it. The repubs merely exploit the issue with talking points to garner votes. That's not change or reform, that's pure self righteous exploitation. If you can't make it illegal at this time you can at least make it very rare which is better than doing nothing. Palin's approach, besides being entirely unrealistic, is a fanatical extremist exploitation.

colonpowwow: I MUST AGREE. The dems pasted up the winning ticket, it would have been a lansslide. Mccain would have chosen someone else to keep from looking like cloneing the campaign. I'd bet EVEN Palin would have voted for Hillary, too bad.

It is gut time...

Every single question to Obama could be asked to Palin...her church, love of country, ethical innuendo...

Yes but, Senator Inhofe just questioned Barack's patriotism and got national exposure doing so. Representative Steve King of Iowa followed that up with more of the same.

Boda-boom. Boda-bing.

Is there one person of such stature on our side questioning the patriotism or the competence of McCain? (Sit down and shut up Wesley.) Is there any tit for tat? Nope. They are shoveling shit on Barack with a backhoe and his best response is: They think you are stupid.

Well doh. We are fucking stupid. We elected Bush in 2004 didn't we? If that is not QED what is? And does Barack really think that line resonates with undecided couch potatoes who don't know what the capital of Canada is? And don't care that they don't know? Please.

You've got to go after the low-info's guts to get their votes. Why do you think the Republicans are slinging Patriotism? Guts. Why do you think they choose Caribou Barbie? For her brains or for her tits? Why do you think she was showing her boobs during McCain's speech? Guts.

And Tits.
And God.
And Guns.
And Country.
And Flags.
And drill baby drill.

They think you are stupid?
No. They know you are stupid.
And they play the game to the proper level...

We either bring the fight to the republicans now with some hard-hitting son-of-bitch ads that question McCain's and Palin's integrity and their character.

Or. We. Lose.

::I'd love to see the Obama campaign purchase a 3 (or so) minute rebuttal later in the show to counter all the lies she'll tell since we know Gibson won't have any follow up questions or counter any of her or the McCain campaign's claims during the interview.::

I'd like to see a "Truth Squad" bird dogging Palin everywhere, buying air time in every market she is in to set the record straight. Obama's campaign doesn't even have to do this. It could easily be accomplished by MoveOn or Daily Kos.

Palin is a trivial matter.

The press and the public will be done with her in a week. What else is new?

Eventually Obama and McCain will debate and the slow-talk express is going to really turn a lot of people off.

It's a bit hard to avoid talking about issues during a debate. And when it comes to issues, facts or the truth, the Republican campaign is really rather fucked.

I'd bet EVEN Palin would have voted for Hillary, too bad. -Mike Meyer

I believe you have completely lost your mind.

Fucking Joe Biden better get in where he fit in. Fast.

Gibson is worse than Chris Wallace.

Before Gibson interviews Palin, he needs to decide if is wants to be a man or just stay girlie man that he is.
He will likely ask her how she compared a Mooseburger with Mink burger - and ask recipes for both.

Sure, doubtful.

http://dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/9/7/95735/44289/24/589846

and

http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2008/09/todays-polls-97.htm

Doesn't matter if they're tracking polls. The media (read: McCain) will make hay out of it.

doubtful: No just observent. This is a red state and I've talk to a lot of women who WERE thinking of voting dem because of Hillary, but they ALL love Palin now. Western women are strong fighters for women's rights and are very assertive in the matter. Hillary was their flag bearer, their hope.

Sorry, that was me at 5:09.

Hillary should have been sniping as soon as Palin was announced. She has been largely silent.

Campaigning today? Last time I heard it was tomorrow in Florida.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/us_elections/article4692457.ece

Look, I like Hillary, although I did vote for Obama. But, my Democratic friends in the know who were Clinton supporters are saying she needs to do more.

She'll assure him that they'll cut the tax on his capital gains and that will be enough to satisfy him.

Charlie Gibson lost all credibilty with me when he and George Stephanapoulos went after Barack Obama in that debate. I was a huge, huge, fan of GMA and Peter Jenning's. Sadly, ABC is becoming just another FUX......

Sarge
Indianpolis

pol,

Thanks for the links. Re: the Hillary attacking issue, for the most part the Democrats were respectfully silent during the GOP primary, not just Hillary. All of the attack dogs were caged.

Now, Hillary is out there, and the others will be, too.

Mike Meyer,

Anecdotes are not good evidence, especially not of what a politician of another political party would do. I honestly think you're crazy for asserting that Palin would have voted for a ticket with Hillary on it. It just doesn't make sense.

And anecdotes work both ways. In Indiana, all of the Republicans I know were disappointed with Palin and are voting Obama or not voting. It's a good warm fuzzy story, but I won't extrapolate it to the entire electorate.

Western women are strong fighters for women's rights and are very assertive in the matter. -Mike Meyer

If that is true, let's be honest, Palin is not their woman.

Here's an idea. ABC News and Charlie Gibson should be buried in an avalanche of emails espressing what kind of questions and the quality of follow ups are expected.

I agree with Saint Zak, upthread: Provide the media, all the media, a list of questions to be asked of Palin. Another suggested that all the questions asked of Obama concerning religion, patriotism, relevant experience, family values, etc. be asked of Palin. This will clearly demonstrate the obfuscation and dodging of issues, which is a direct issue of character/personality. They don't want to discuss the issues? Fine, her character cannot stand close scrutiny, so she cannot win on that strategy, either.
This will be fun!

peace,
st john

Well, I'm doing it, and I'm making people I know do it. If anyone is good at organizing on a bigger scale that would be great. I think they should know a puff piece isn't acceptable

For God's sake get ahead of this thing.

The worst thing that could happen would be to just sit around and wait but then afterwards complain because Gibson threw her softballs.

Gibson should be informed ahead of time how tough he was with Obama before the PA primary and told that he is expected to be equally tough with Palin. Everybody else, the media, the public, everybody - should be told ahead of time how tough Gibson was so there is no excuse for a softball interview.

And do not sit around waiting for the Democrats to make this point. How often have they fumbled the ball aready? Dailykos, Moveon, everybody should be making this. Write letters to your local newspaper about this.

Let's face it, there's a significant chance this woman will actually be president within the next four years. We all better look this horse in the mouth.

I agree with another commenter that the public needs to know the terms of the negotiations with ABC for Failin's "interview." I want to know who sets the agenda. I want to know whether or not Failin gets the questions in advance. I want to know whether or not she will just be allowed to state her talking points or whether Gibson will challenge her in any meaningful way. And by meaningful I don't mean the just one follow-up up question,she repeats the talking point, and then Gibson moves on formula. I don't want to hear about her fucked-up family. I want to hear her positions and msame's plan to address issues that are important to the citizens of this country. If she states a position that is in conflict with her record, I want her called on it. I don't want to hear about mcsame's war record but if it does come up, I want to hear how a man who was tortured and broken by the enemy and forced to make propoganda films for the enemy squares that experience with his vote to allow others to be tortured and how good he thinks the information obtained as a result of that torture is.

But I am willing to put up cash money - how does $500 sound - that we will hear none of that during Gibson's "interview" with Failin. Any takers? BTW, I lost my most recent bet. I bet that it would be Diane Sawyer or Barbara Walters who would get the first interview. Close, but no cigar. Now, if mcsame was REALLY sure Failin was ready for prime time - she'd be answering questions from Helen Thomas. Sure Helen's a print journalist but I'm willing to bet she'd do a temp job for ABC.

Deferential? Excuse me, I'm Canadian, but isn't the correct American response to this:

I am an American. I defer to no-one.

Or have you gone soft?

Wow! If 'deferential' is the criteria (or even reverential, when do Barack Obama and Joe Biden qualify for that treatment. If they had waited for the 'perfect' moment they'd never have given an interview. It sounds like total show business to be .... but wait, that's what Republican politics is. Smoke and mirrors, reality and facts not wanted. God help America.

Well, you want to make your feelings known in advance of the interview? You want to suggest a few questions that need answering? Knock yourself out:

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/comments?type=story&id=5747205

Shit, you know they will submit the questions they want her to be asked to Gibson and he will kiss their ass.

What a fucking joke.

A McCain-Palin adviser says an interview was offered to ABC's Charlie Gibson several days ago

That's funny; the Palin/McCain people told the FOX people today that the Palin-messiah wasn't going to talk to any people for at least several weeks. Who'd have ever thought that the oo-gah-dee-boo-gah-dee thumper tribe would lie to their own propaganda machine....

Start with the premise that given McCain's age, the prospect of her having to step up to the Oval Office prematurely is higher than for any other potential VP in history. Because of that, the questions she must answer will be presidential. Stipulate that she is perfectly capable of trying her best to do whatever President McCain would ask her to do, but what if he isn't there?

The most damaging questions might be seemingly benign and philosophical with follow-ups that are increasingly specific to her responses and history. Give her enough rope to hang herself.

For example, hang her on the tree of trickle down economics. Hang her on gov't non-regulation of business. Hang her on the out-sourcing of gov't functions to NGOs. Hang her on corporate welfare and bailouts. Hang her on global warming. Creationism as science. Ask her what she the basic guiding principle(s) of conservatism are, specifically related to the role of gov't. Ask her to explain why conservatism in action never remotely conforms to its own principles. Ask her if theoretical conservatism is no more feasible than communism. Ask her why universal regulated health care is cheaper and more beneficial than our system. Emergency rooms??

This election is about the corrupt, reckless, disingenuous implementation of a fanciful, egghead idealogy with its roots in social darwinism.

Let Sarah be Sarah. If she is, the majority of Americans won't like her.

Let Sarah be Sarah. If she is, the majority of Americans won't like her.

That is to be determined. One can only hope. Hope and faith are intrinsically linked on many different levels, and I gave up on faith regarding the majority of Americans making the right decisions. But there's always hope...

I know this is off topic but this is nonsense to be talking about the latest move of the Republican operation. Good god. Accept the fact that this election will be about personality rather than issues. That was true for the last three presidential cycles.

Forget McCain, this is Palin's election. The question is, in fear politics, what do independents fear? A healthy percentage fear the religious right. I know from first hand experience that Religious Fundamentalism is disease that is common to all major religions. In terms of psychology there is no difference between Christian Fundamentalism and Islamic Fundamentalism.

We need to develop a meme that puts fear in the hearts of independents that by electing Palin we have just handed the United States Government to the Fundamentalists. These people truly believe that God talks to them. God will tell Sara (She is the namesake of Abraham's wife, this will not be lost on the fundies) that its god's will that the usa take unilateral action against Iran, in the same way that Islamic fundamentalists women decide to be suicide bombers. (Joe Lieberman right now is encoding her fundamentalist mentality with the Neocon brand. It's a perfect fit. The Neocons don't care who they use.)

If the fundamentalists take over the United States their cultural war will become a geopolitical event. They're intention is nothing less than a religious war with Islam. By instigating that conflict they believe they are hastening the second coming. The Evangelicals know that McCain is no match for them. He caved. He might think he's on the top of the ticket, but he made a Faustian bargain. If Sara Palin win, the Terrorists win.

Cultural wars are won by creating demons. In my opinion Christian Evangelical (and their Catholic enablers) Fundamentalism is the greatest enemy that the United States has ever faced, greater than Islamic Terrorism, greater than Communism, because the threat comes as a Trojan horse from within. These people aren't patriotic, unless you are talking about the USA they believe in. Everyone else can get the hell out.

Ask an independent how he she feels about not just abortion, but a constitutional amendment regarding marriage, the ten commandments, judges who legislate fundamentalist Christian values, nativism, civil rights, freedom of speech. The Supreme Court with the help of Bush is already hard at work on that. McCain has vowed to finish the job. (It was one of the requirements the devil required). In the politics of fear, I think more than a few independents might find this troublesome.

Sorry for the long post.

Palin disappears for a period of time to be worked over by Rove's psych doctors. First question in the first interview after her reappearance:

Gibson: "What do you really think of John McCain?"

Palin: "John McCain is the kindest, warmest, bravest, most wonderful human being I have ever known in my life."

Charlie "Flag Pin" "Capital Gains" Gibson?

I'm shocked, shocked I tell you.

Apologies to those who may have already been shocked, shocked.

@ Angry Spittle You said it brother What a fucking joke THE FIX IS IN! as if you ever doubted for one minute . The republicans have successfully turned this election into an episode of American Idol with all the compliant MSM doing little puff pieces with the occasional mention of troopergate. No questions about how does this totally unqualified woman get a heartbeat away from the presidency. This going on while the Democrats pull their collective peckers and say things like ooh.. he is a great American and a true patriot instead of saying he is totally unqualified like Westley Clark said. They wouldn't even stand behind him. Pussy ass idiots deserve to loose .

Gibson is such a lightweight, as all US interviewers are. Get that Irish lassie that grilled Bush a while back. She's got the cajones that we lack.

Anyone see Meet The Press today? Tom (FOX wannabe) Brokaw tried his best to take Biden down - but Biden kicked his ass. He not only asked gotcha questions, but followed up three and four times trying to "get" Biden.
If only he would do that with McCain or Palin. He has already tipped his hand on that by offering at the RNC - "troopergate has no legs. There is not even a bump in the road there."
We need a "527" (that unfortunately cannot be MoveOn, as the rethugs have already damaged them beyond redemption) - and I would certainly donate to one that would force the talking heads to hold the rethugs' feet to the fire.
In the meantime we should all contact NBC and demand Brokaw handles any interview with McCain or Palin the same as he did with Biden.

What Scott F said.

And if you want a meme to light the fear of the fundies in independents and the low-info voters then go to her book banning episode.

And for god sakes don't be afraid to push the edge of the truth on that a little. It is okay to lie. In fact, arguably, lying wins you the respect of the American people. Lying shows how big your balls you have. In other words: Sarah sought to ban Harry Potter. That ought to scare the feces out of the typical feckless independent.

Koreyel - It's worse than that. Her Church preaches censorship. All books must conform to the narrow fundamentalist view of what is "godly". There is no good art, no good literature, unless it conforms with god's divine word, as her preacher defines. Sara believes that she had been appointed by God to return America to its former self. Not only is abortion against god's law, but homosexuality, interracial marriage, and social programs aimed at helping the poor. The races are meant to be separate. Sara prayers to god on a regular basis. Many of us do. The only difference is that Sara's god answers back. Trust me, she regularly hears god in the form of a still small voice in the back of her mind. Her job is to be an instrument of his will, the United States be damned. She doesn't give a shit about the United States unless it is conforming to the will of god. What is that will. The world defined in black and white, devoid of grey. An epic struggle between the forces of good and evil, and she is always the good, there is never a doubt in her mind. No room for second guessing. Sound familiar. Please, GWB was rational compared to this woman. This is a woman who, before every major decision in which she is involved in the White House, will pray about it and base her decision on that still small voice. It's simplistic yes, but she will never question that. She truly believes the world was created in 7 twenty four hours periods, and at the end of it, God was exhausted and rested. She does not believe in science. She can't believe in science, because Genesis contradicts science and evolution. She won't tell you this, but she would rather pray over her children than give them medicine. God is the great healer. This is who she is. She is not cynically using her religion. SHE REALLY BELIEVES IT. (Sorry about the caps).

Again, if you're not already doing so, volunteer for Obama, get out and register people to vote, and canvass. I've been out canvassing 6 or 7 times this week, and I've been making a special point of underscoring Obama's tax plan points and how McCain is lying about it. Palin doesn't come up when I'm knocking on doors.

Let's not watch. I think a media/audience blackout is in order.

I have tried to communicate with several political web sites and also have to Obama. He is going to lose unless he starts today fighting just like the Repubs. I have send $1000 dollars last week to Obama and an willing to send the maximun but I want to see attacks, attacks, attacks. This is the only way to win in the current environment. Winning is the number one priority. After elected President, he and Congress and implement new laws requring fair elections. Tom

I have tried to communicate with several political web sites and also have to Obama. He is going to lose unless he starts today fighting just like the Repubs. I have send $1000 dollars last week to Obama and an willing to send the maximun but I want to see attacks, attacks, attacks. This is the only way to win in the current environment. Winning is the number one priority. After elected President, he and Congress and implement new laws requring fair elections. Tom

I have tried to communicate with several political web sites and also have to Obama. He is going to lose unless he starts today fighting just like the Repubs. I have send $1000 dollars last week to Obama and an willing to send the maximun but I want to see attacks, attacks, attacks. This is the only way to win in the current environment. Winning is the number one priority. After elected President, he and Congress and implement new laws requring fair elections. Tom

The McCain camp selected Gibson to do this first interview because of his universally panned conduct during the April 16th Democratic debate. Should he by accident lay a glove or two on Palin with regard to substantive issues the Republicans will cry foul and use Obama's criticism of Gibson as evidence that the problem was him and not Palin. It will be difficult for Obama and other Democrats to argue otherwise. Tactically the Republicans once again have made a very smart move.

I wish I knew how to counter this move. I don't.

+Yes, we are all catching on to this Hillary plug in. Sarah Palin, the new rock star, the new wave, down with Obama, up with the beauty queen, here, Palin is getting the support of the complicit Media across the board CNN, MSNBC,FOX, CBS all the while these first line Journalist charge she is being treated unfairly.

This whole strategy with Palin’s pick was forged way, way, back. The ideal to condemn and torpedo Hillary out of the ticket was the primary goal. It almost didn’t work; actually it was so close the Republican’s found them in a sweat. All the while highlighting Obama as a rock star was and is the goal to knock Hillary out of the park and bring Palin in.

Ladies and Gentleman of America this scenario is “Media and Personality�. Scott F also had a deep and penetrating comment in relation to the religious aspect, but, like some may think that cultural connection that Black White heritage that Obama is made of could be very honest about leading, likely being honest he will transcend these Neo-Con warped ideals. That’s what the Republicans are afraid of, no they are in a panic.

Can you see it, can you read the strategy? Yes indeed Americans suck this stupid stuff up. As Andre Mitchell said only uneducated Americas are going to vote for Palin. Here, nice ways to say Americans are stupid. The amazing relation is that time Hillary put in the Champaign is simply converted by the Republicans. Americans don’t appreciate the time and effort Hillary strove for Universal Health Care, over a year of stumping. Here, for the next sixty days this dopy broad who wins the governorship in Alaska is going to be your friend in government? Palin fits just right.

Thanks, and happy to be here Charlie. Let's just cut to the chase, shall we... yup, yup, nope, nope, nope, yup, nope, yup, yup, nope, nope, nope, nope, yup, yup, yup, nope, nope, nope, yup, nope, nope, yup. And let me be crystal clear: yup, yup, nope, nope, nope, nope, yup, yup, yup, yup. Thanks again, it's been a pleasure.

Oh, fine. Vive la deference.

I'm late here, but I guess everyone figured "deference" means not asking "tough" questions, like what do you think about X, etc., the ordinary questions any candidate should be asked.

SAdly, I've come to the conclusion that this really was "check mate." The Paris HIlton/Britney Spears attacks make perfect sense now. "Celebrity" was the Republican's secret weapon. They found someone who out Omama-ed Obama. He's last year's model now. They enflamed the conservative base and served up an extremist for the masses at the same time. There's only a few weeks to the election and the GOP can ride this public Palin-drunk right to a win.

I've tried to deny it and pretend its not that bad, but I can't tell you how may people at work who were supporting Obama have done complete switches this week for no other reason than "SHE'S WONDERFULL!"

I blame the Democrats. Palin's name has been floating around for awhile. They should have been ready to attack at a moments notice. They've roalled over and played dead, and now the situation has gotten away from them. Its taken on a life of its own.

And I'll never understand why Obama, Biden and everyone else with a "D" after their name insists on beginning every statement or remark with "We honor his service. He's a true hero" and "She's a skilled politician with a remarkable story." Why don't they just conceed right now?

Republicans know how to win elections and Democrats jnow how to lose them...and this was a masterful job on both sides.

I'm really not happy right now.

The one saving grace here is that the moderator for the veep debate is Gwen Ifil, who I consider to have one of the more finely tuned bullshit sensors in MSM, and who is usually willing to call people out when they dish out crap. I was kind of disappointed when she was relegated to the veep debate, but now I think it may be fortunate - she is one of the only interviewers who I think could have a chance of piercing the fog. (Prediction: if the debate goes badly for Palin, watch for the accusations of racism against Ifil.)

I think the "experience" question is going to be the most difficult question to answer. Sooner or later the "executive experience" answer will get old.

As a Palin supporter (and one who totally thinks the left and right have the completely wrong impression of her), I would like to see her answer the "experience" question something along the lines of this.

If by experience do you mean do I know how things are done in Washington, then by that definition, I don't have it, but I am not going to Washington to do things the same old way it's been done for years. But I do have experience in harnessing the best and the brightest of all parties and working across the aisle to accomplish things that benefit the people of Alaska. As VP, I will use this experience to work with members of both parties and help John McCain develop realistic and workable solutions to the problems of energy and the economy.

SHE LIED. I am watching CSPAN's coverage of the Alaskan governor's debate. She lied. She claims that she was against the bridge to nowhere, but she was not. In the debate, she said she would not torpedo the road to the bridge to nowhere. She would not torpedo the project. The other two contenders said it was stupid to build the road when Congress had already pulled the funding. They new congress had pulled the funding before she was governor. SHE LIED. The Bridge was dead before she became governor. We have a world class liar on our hands. Bush with lipstick. If issues still matter. (And I've argued that they don't). She lied. Palin and simple. And the debate footage proves it. Charlie Gibson won't ask the question, but Obama sure as hell had better. Folks, Look at the footage. SHE IS NOT TELLING THE TRUTH. Her singular line in her speech. CSPAN is doing us a huge favor showing this. Spread the word. Everywhere. Make Sure TPM knows, Andrew Sullivan. Everyone. Get it out. She lied about the bridge. Don't let up.

They need to point out very publicly that Palin and McCain cheat on their spouses and Obama has been loyal throughout his marriage:

http://www.drudgereport.com/flash3ne.htm

send this to everyone you know and encourage them to all of their friends and send it to any undecides.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=PdJUCU1UH2w

Palin is sligh of hand. Keep our eyes on the real issues.

oops.

sorry for spelling and not logging in. it's been a long day.

send this to everyone you know and encourage them to send it to all of their friends and send it to any undecides.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=PdJUCU1UH2w

Palin is slight of hand. Keep our eyes on the real issues.

Saint Zak,

If poll numbers got you down, and all the talk of Palin has you blue, just go check out the last several months of voter registrations in swing states.

Then keep in mind that these are not considered likely voters by pollsters because they don't have a history of voting.

McSame and Palin refuse to answer questions by New Mexico resident:

http://www.americablog.com/2008/09/how-americablog-reader-asked-john-and.html

I don't think attack ads and strategies don't play well with independents. Concisely articulated plans for solving issues in their lives do. It's about ground game at this point. People need to get off their asses and into swing states. Encourage friends to pitch in and help out. It's a call to duty at this point.

Also we have real fear on our side. Not cartoon fear that Rove puts out but real fear, fear of their children getting nuked or being shipped off to fight a war for oil, fear of getting tossed on the street and having no health care. Use that when need be.

I think the "experience" question is going to be the most difficult question to answer. Sooner or later the "executive experience" answer will get old.

As a Palin supporter (and one who totally thinks the left and right have the completely wrong impression of her), I would like to see her answer the "experience" question something along the lines of this.

If by experience do you mean do I know how things are done in Washington, then by that definition, I don't have it, but I am not going to Washington to do things the same old way it's been done for years. But I do have experience in harnessing the best and the brightest of all parties and working across the aisle to accomplish things that benefit the people of Alaska. As VP, I will use this experience to work with members of both parties and help John McCain develop realistic and workable solutions to the problems of energy and the economy.
Posted by: rory on September 7, 2008 at 10:46 PM |

-----

yeah that's a great "answer" you cocked up. do you even fucking care about The United States of America?

The abortion question isn't life or choice; it is
whether abortion should be criminalized, and what punishment should be given to those who have abortions and to those who attempt to provide medically safe abortions. If you don't think
women who have abortions should be punished with a criminal conviction (capital punishment?), then
you must then be "pro-choice", since the "Rowe-Wade-like" position is simply that the government should not be used in enforcement against the privacy of a woman's womb.

I haven't heard you Progressives mention the voting machines for a while. I would recommend you start focusing on those machines--that would provide an area for blame, venting, and conspiracy theories when the first Tuesday in November rolls around.

The one saving grace here is that the moderator for the veep debate is Gwen Ifil, who I consider to have one of the more finely tuned bullshit sensors in MSM...

Can't say this makes me optimistic. Did the debates matter last election? By all measures Kerry kicked the snot right out of Bush's nose and onto the tv screen. You have to ask: Do debates matter?

Sorry... I'm with Saint Zak. The steed looks to have flown the stable. It is all about destroying your opponents credibility at the precisely perfect moment. Once it is destroyed you can't get it back. Having Caribou Barbie up there pissing a stream of pretty shit all over Barack by itself didn't do the trick. It was the passivity of the response that iced the dirty deal.

Calling Palin a liar is also treading water. It doesn't move the ball one foot forward, and it assumes that lying is necessarily a bad thing. But everyone lies. And so everyone understands lying at some basal personal level. Arguably everyone can identify with a liar. Identification with a candidate is huge. It is a bond. The lying candidate is also saying: I care enough about this election to lie to win. Again on some basal level that strikes home with voters.

The bottom line is that conservatives are better primitives. Call them knuckle-draggers if you want, but all of us have knuckles. Barack has chosen to win this like a gentleman. It worked up up to a point. It won't work going forward. Like it or not, he has got to show Americans that he has got knuckles too. Even then, it may be too late...

Simmer down, people; some of you are starting to get wall-eyed like a rabbit that smells a dog. Don't attribute this to Republican genius; somebody earlier suggested this had been planned from the beginning, and that the Republicans concentrated on "knocking Hillary out of the park" so they could bring in Palin. Nonsense. John "the Mavrick" McCain made an impulse pick, or was forced into selecting Palin because she was the only one available with the right credentials to appease the base. Her name was NOT "floating around" for a long time, and this is not evidence of Republican Machiavellianism. The Republicans are the blunt instruments of politics - unschooled, unlettered and social hand-grenades to the last one. They only know a one-note song, and they play it as loud as they can; that's why they're called the Republican Noise Machine. Mind-readers they're not, and Iraq should tell you all you need to know about their ability to think a long game.

It's certainly true that Sarah Palin must be exposed as the dimbulb she apparently is, but just because Gibson isn't going to do it doesn't mean it won't happen. The media is interested now, and that line in her speech about not going to Washington to please the media didn't go over well with them.

Get a grip. Mobilize, sure, and get out the vote to the best of your ability. But stop keening "all is lost, we've been outmaneuvered" like you're at a wake - it serves no purpose, and the Repubs love it. Buck up, buttercups.

orange

Saint Zack,

I agree with your comments above about some Dems going overboard acknowleding and even praising their opponents first. It's almost like they are apologizing for what they are about to say.

Just stick to the point you are trying to make.

Michael Moore said it best the other night on CNN:
"You don't show up for a gunfight with a pea-shooter".

I'm with Lori on this. How do we know that the questions are not given or leaked to Ms. Palin prior to the interview? How legitimate will this interview be?

There is too much at stake for them now.Not only will their revenue streams be put on hold or seriously altered but there is allot of jail time looking right at these guys.
There are no more rules if there ever were any.
They are fighting for thier lives and the continuation of their addiction to greed.
Never ever forget kenron lay is their hero in business management.
Bushcon did not get caught with hands in the cookie jar, they live in the cookie jar.
When all is exposed they have no escape. They are all in there, everyone.
Don't you think there is big big planning and big big back-up plans too? You know there are.
You think any of these guys will go to jail?

Email or call ABC everyday until the interview, let them know they can't allow a cake walk. We aren't interested in hearing the same lies she's been repeating on the stump. Expose her for the liar she's become.

Josh Marshall notes that Palin agreed to a series of interviews with Gibson of ABC. That guarantees that they will be softballs, because there is no way in hell that the McCain campaign would agree to multiple interviews if they had the potential to damage Miss Wassila.

"yeah that's a great "answer" you cocked up. do you even fucking care about The United States of America?"

Yep. That's why I am in the Air Force. And why I am voting for Palin (and McCain too).

Don't stress out though... like I have been saying, the Republican party has more to fear from her than Democrats.

Picking up on Megalomania's point, why do I get the feeling that while McCain was encouraged to entertain notions of putting his friend Lieberman on the ticket right up until the last possible moment, Palin had been picked for him as his veep candidate by the grown-ups a long, long time ago?

Charlie Gibson, an actor who plays a journalist on TV, will not ask Sarah Palin any questions about her "executive experience" of mismanagement, incompetence, negligence, corruption, ideological extremism, divisiveness, and vindictive abuse of power. Nor will he press her on the numerous, brazen lies that she has been telling the American people.

That's not Charlie Gibson's job. That's not what he receives huge paychecks from a giant corporation for.

Charlie Gibson will earn his huge paycheck by working closely with the Rove-Palin campaign and the openly partisan right-wing extremist media, to craft a Palin-McCain propaganda event.

That's Charlie Gibson's job, just as it is the job of all the highly-paid, fawning, obsequious courtiers to right-wing Republican power who are the "on-air personalities" of the corporate-owned mass media.

"why do I get the feeling that while McCain was encouraged to entertain notions of putting his friend Lieberman on the ticket right up until the last possible moment, Palin had been picked for him as his veep candidate by the grown-ups a long, long time ago?"

In fact, her name had been floating around for awhile. No one paid much attention as she wasn't seen as a serious contender. Rove knew what he was doing, and his timing has been sublime. The Palin strategy would have worked equally well whether Obama or Clinton had been nominated. It was all in the timing and the manufacturing of her as a "star" attraction.

If the situation were reversed and Sarah Palin was Obama's choice for runningmate, the announcement would have been made on a Friday morning and she would have dropped out Monday morning: the Republican responce would have been so severe, brutal and well crafted. The Democrats did nothing, and in fact, acted terrified. Early in the Primary campaign Obama was asked about the coming Republican attacks. He said not to worry that he came from Chicago politics. Richie Daley must be ashamed right now.

Both Obama and Biden were on the Sunday talk show circuit yesterday morning. Read the news today, barely a mention of either. The Democrats allowed this situation to get away from them and now they can't cut through the noise.

Time is on the GOP's side now. They don't have to sustain this very long and Palin-mania isn't close to peaking yet. All of those new registered Domcratic voters? There's no guarantee how they'll vote.

This is not good.

NO, it is NOT GOOD...and again those who have manipulated and misrepresented their way into POWER are still in charge...AMERICA IS ALL ABOUT MONEY...not Democracy as they would have one believe...sad for us that it was OBAMA who was chosen for this "fight" because, yes, he wants to do it as a gentleman and Biden is more of the same...there's your "peashooter"...the short time left to have those that should be ENRAGED (as if her being hidden away until the proper shill was found isn't enough)will make difficult the job of shaking into realization all those who sit out there UNINFORMED and UNCONCERNED or luke warm about what FOUR MORE YEARS will mean to this once proud land...GOODBYE AMERICA...

I agree completely that Sarah should be taken to task for her many lies, for her lack of management skills, for her ignorance about the issues that are of true concern to the nation and world, for her scientific illiteracy and for vengeful behavior.

It won't happen on ABC, the channel owned by historically right wing extremist Disney, the one that led the way to installing Bush in the White House with its chronic and deliberate repetition of lies about Gore. It certainly won't happen during Gibson's infomercial with Palin, based on his odious past and particularly on his double-teaming Obama in Pennsylvania with fellow creep, Clinton hack George Stephanopolous. We're going to hear the pro-Palin version of flag pins and Rev. Wright.

The McSame campaign trusts going with Gibson/ABC because O'Reilly/Fox would be too obvious, though they'd give identical treatment.

"Anyone see Meet The Press today?"

Biden ROCKED. THAT was the way to discuss "the Surge." THAT was the way to discuss abortion.

Can Obama get a bad cold or something and send Biden to talk to the press every time?

Laryngitis, yeah, that's the ticket. Obama's got laryngitis REAL bad.

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