Why Sarah Palin should appear on Letterman’s show
posted at 2:17 pm on June 16, 2009 by Repurblican
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A lot has been said already about David Letterman’s comments on Governor Sarah Palin’s daughters. And some aren’t going to like what the title of this post suggests, but I do think it’s worth exploring the possibility that the Governor would appear on the Late Show, now that he has apologized and Governor Palin has accepted.
When Letterman first offered to have Palin on, I think everyone recognized it for the “joke” that it was: a not-so-subtle challenge to Palin that if she wanted to engage him, it would be on his terms and without a mea culpa for her daughters. No doubt, his drubbing over the last week from the full spectrum of political observers, most notably NOW, compelled some reflection on Letterman’s part about the apology, which brought us to last night’s soliloquy of sorry. As far as Letterman is concerned, his apology (and it was, I think, a full and sincere one) ends the issue.
But this episode, for a variety of reasons, shouldn’t just end there, and it’s a mistake to interpret a Palin appearance to be a reward to Letterman for bad behavior. Letterman’s invitation is an opportunity to remind Americans of, or alternately introduce them to, the subtext of the Letterman-Palin feud — that Palin and her family are a special target for the lib media. That her appearance resulted from a symptom of the media’s double-standard disease is all the more important.
And Palin and Letterman don’t even have to say a word about the subtext at all. Through Letterman, Palin would get to engage her detractors openly, comprehensively, confidently, and on a highly visible public stage, simply by being present. It’s an opportunity that to this point hasn’t really been possible.
As a rhetorical strategy, Palin’s timing actually makes a great deal of sense, said Richard Vatz, a professor of political communication at Towson University and a self-described conservative. Noting that the pregnant-daughter jokes had been dying down, Letterman’s crack stood out, making him easier to isolate for criticism, he said.
“If a large number of people are doing something against you, it’s hard to take on the whole group,” Vatz said.
Palin can’t do much to curb the anti-Palin misogyny that’s out there, but she can make its most visible and egregious instances a cautionary tale that she and her family are not just going to be stepped on, and one of the best ways to do that is to draw those critics closer to her when they’re weakest. And not all critics should be, or have to be, addressed on-set; Bill Maher is more amoeba than big fish. The Governor can’t be running around, putting out embers in the middle of a forest fire.
And make no mistake, Letterman won’t become some Palin partisan if she comes to his studio, but an appearance on his show, under these circumstances, will do much to undermine and undercut future shots at her and her family, a clear demonstration that rather than avoiding controversy, the Palins and Sarah Palin specifically are not afraid to fight their detractors, defeat them, and bring them if not into an orbit of congeniality, then some semblence of neutrality. Crazier things have happened.
MARCIE KLEIN, SENIOR PRODUCER “SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE”: Well, the first, I actually was the first person to meet her. She, one of the NBC pages, or someone in my office brought her up to the eighth floor, and I was standing there, and I, I, I thought, “Oh my God, she looks just like Tina.” I mean, I couldn’t believe how much she looked liked Tina. And, Tina was happened to be in my office, and I ran into my office, I shook her hand, and she had incredibly strong, you know, handshake, but I was overwhelmed by how much she physically looked like Tina, and how — Tina Fey — and how a lot of people come to our show, actors, musicians, and they’re nervous. I mean, you know, “Saturday Night Live, I watched this my whole life.” She was not nervous. I thought, “This is the most confident person I’ve ever met.” I walked into my office and said to Tina, “You’re gonna freak out, she looks exactly like you, or you like exactly like her.” She said, “She’s prettier than I am.”
MENIN: Do you think that maybe she wasn’t nervous because she hadn’t watched the show before? Did she say if she’d watched the show before?
KLEIN: I’m sure she watched the show before, I don’t know, but I think she’s just a person with a lot of confidence. And I think when you see people with confidence, you like that. You know, you trust, you know, you, there’s something, there’s something to confidence that, that people respond to.
Indeed, there is.
Letterman won’t be the last on-air personality, blogger, or media entity that takes a shot at Palin, and I think everyone appreciates the fact that Palin’s unique place in the American psyche will compel other scumbags to besmirch the Governor in ways unimaginable for other politicians, particularly Democrats. But the fact that she won’t be afforded such common courtesies of decent dialogue and criticism isn’t a sufficient reason to spurn those who come, hat in hand, to atone for their over-reaches. In fact, it’s a reason to do the opposite.
It’s not about Letterman. It’s about Sarah Palin effectively defending her family and herself, now and for the long haul. And one of the best ways to do that is to appear on Letterman’s show.
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My thoughts exactly. He’s invited her to the track, so why not take a victory lap?
Jim Treacher on June 16, 2009 at 2:30 PM
Maybe a couple of months down the line, but not now. Do it now, and Letterman will be under huge pressure from the left to “avenge” the recent humiliation by at the very least going full Katie Couric on her during the interview. No jokes about the kids, but a treatment that would make Dave’s recent visits with Bill O’Reilly look like love-fests by comparison (and if he feels like he’s getting in trouble, it would simply be time for the old Jon Stewart “Clown Nose Off/Clown Nose On” routine). Plus no matter what the segment goes like, the media spin the next day work be that Dave “pulled victory from the jaws of defeat” by doing something or getting Palin to say something on the show.
Better to delay the visit until sometime down the line, when most people have put the Willowdonneybrook out of their minds, and where if Letterman starts bringing this battle up again in a hostile tone, it would just show he can’t let go of his Palin hatred.
jon1979 on June 16, 2009 at 4:00 PM
There is no way he’s going to do the “full Katie Couric.” If he even hints that he’s going after her, this all starts up all over again. He already knows he can lose business by attacking this lady. I really think it could be the perfect opportunity for her to show she’s got what it takes to play this game.
Jim Treacher on June 16, 2009 at 4:22 PM
Couldn’t disagree more. as jon1979 states, she’ll be set up for something which will end up in the media as “Letterman exposes Palin’s stupidity/hypocrisy/bad mothering…”. What conservatives should be doing is ramping up the pressure to get Letterman fired. He’s a sack of shit who needs to be put in the trash. Anyone who thinks his apology sincere, or his attitude changed is delusional. Palin is correct to forgive, in keeping with her Christian beliefs, and to get out of the way so that the base can take this guy out while the getting is good. Palin should never go on his show, in his home court and sit in the hot seat while he presides over her behind the big desk. If he wants her on his show, then he goes to Alaska, he sits in the baby seat while she presides, and he kisses the ring.
fitzsweetpea on June 16, 2009 at 4:46 PM
Since it’s still a hot issue, he’d have people from CBS, NBC and other liberal magazines giving him questions to grill Palin with. And like I said, he would keep the kids out of it, to the point it would be more like a “60 Minutes” piece than a segment on a late-night show, unless there was trouble. Then it would be “Clown Nose On” time.
Sure, a lot of conservatives would be outraged and say this proves he learned nothing and the apology was insincere, but the left would counter that Dave asked Sarah hard news questions, and the right is just whining that their girl was treated unfairly (never mind that the last time Letterman grilled a liberal hard was when he went after James Carville in 1999 because he was pissed over how Clinton had screwed up the Democrats’ agenda with his Lewinsky diddiling). And of course, in scoring the rematch, the media would be about as fair as one of Vince McMahon’s WWE referees.
Give it a few months, and Letterman will still be hot over being forced to apologize, and the people he talks to and reads will still be hot over losing this skirmish, while most normal-thinking humans will have gone on to other issues. If we’re 4-5 months down the line and Palin’s said nothing about Dave between now and then, and then he comes out and treats her like Mike Wallace confronting some neerdowell in a hidden camera ambush interview, you’ll have a lot more of the public understanding that Letterman both holds a grudge and is carrying water for Palin’s potential opponents.
jon1979 on June 16, 2009 at 5:08 PM
I’m fine with either one, but that would indeed be sweet.
Jim Treacher on June 16, 2009 at 5:09 PM
You’re full of sh!t, Patrick.
Your claptrap is nothing but a mouthful of mealy-mouthed double-talk from a moderate trying too hard to be nice.
She said what she said, and she won’t be going on his show.
It saddens me that we have lowered ourselves to congenially accepting and rewarding such unacceptable behavior!
You have made no valid point, worth repeating!
Period.
Because it would be rewarding bad behavior to go on his show and only someone taught in a liberal school system – where bad behavior is rewarded all the time – would say something like you just did.
You are sickening, really.
Mcguyver on June 16, 2009 at 5:11 PM
He is not going to grill her. He just got done apologizing to her in front of the whole country. It’s in his best interest, professionally speaking, to appear as evenhanded as possible with her.
Jim Treacher on June 16, 2009 at 5:11 PM
Not everything is best solved with a full frontal assault, General.
Jim Treacher on June 16, 2009 at 5:12 PM
that would be sa-weeeeeeeeeeet!
however, i am inclined to think that he is not worth her trouble.
i mean, what did sarah get out of her appearance on SNL? and what about mccain’s back-and-forth with letterman during the campaigh? did it really help john at all? doesn’t seem like it did…
it’s a tough call.
homesickamerican on June 16, 2009 at 5:23 PM
You might have a point.
But at times I wonder if the only way to win is not to play. A little … Outlaw, as it were.
TheUnrepentantGeek on June 16, 2009 at 5:24 PM
Tell me how you really feel.
Patrick on June 16, 2009 at 5:24 PM
She said she would not go on his show and boost his ratings and she should stick to that plan, for a long time. If his show is still on the air when she’s running for office, then re-evaluate. At this point it wouldl definitely be rewarding bad behavior and setting an example for the likes of Maher and other idiots.
liv2race on June 16, 2009 at 5:35 PM
Again, little socialist educated children…. rewarding bad behavior at any point afterward, is NOT WHAT WE USED TO DO.
But, I see this is a mute point, since I see that I am talking to damaged brains. And so of course it’s all Greek clap-trap to you.
I give up.
Enjoy your country.
You deserve it.
Good bye.
Mcguyver on June 16, 2009 at 5:49 PM
if he were a “journalist” trying to appear objective, i would agree.
but he’s not. he’s a bitter old leftist comedian with a hard-on for sarah, and i seriously doubt that he would be able to control himself.
homesickamerican on June 16, 2009 at 5:52 PM
I assume you mean “moot point.”
Patrick on June 16, 2009 at 5:57 PM
btw, nice blog, patrick!
homesickamerican on June 16, 2009 at 6:00 PM
Thanks!
Patrick on June 16, 2009 at 6:04 PM
For some reason I can’t read this guy’s stuff without hearing “Macho Man” by Village People in the background.
TheUnrepentantGeek on June 16, 2009 at 6:14 PM
That was before he apologized. It’s an entirely different environment now. If she waits, say, six months, everybody will have forgotten the whole thing and he’ll be free to play his little games again. Right now he isn’t.
There no humor like unintentional humor.
Jim Treacher on June 16, 2009 at 6:17 PM
And there’s nothing like making a spelling error while laughing at somebody else’s spelling error!
Jim Treacher on June 16, 2009 at 6:18 PM
Karma ran over your dogma.
What can I say, I like antiques.
TheUnrepentantGeek on June 16, 2009 at 6:21 PM
Huh. I might have to get a television for that one.
fronclynne on June 16, 2009 at 6:32 PM
Actually, it would be rewarding good behavior – the apology. It would establish the symbolic reality that A LIBERAL CAN APOLOGIZE to Sarah Palin and re-join the human race. That’s something that we should want lots of people who’ve gone idiotically strange over Sarah Palin to feel like doing. Purely as a political matter – and regardless of whether or not you believe She’s the One.
The easiest way to teach a dog to do something is to show it another dog that already knows how to do it – eating from a bowl, using a doggie-door, taking “a walk” outside.
The more dogs we get to walk through the door and take their walks outside, the better.
I concur with Mr Treacher and Patrick.
For the puppies.
CK MacLeod on June 16, 2009 at 6:51 PM
Summarizing: “It’s OK to change your mind and be nice to conservatives.”
Isn’t that a big part of the political message we need to send to a few million voters sooner or later?
CK MacLeod on June 16, 2009 at 6:54 PM
Most likely it would be, not just OK, but GREAT for Letterman. As bitter and squinched a repellent loser as he may be, he couldn’t help but treat her gently. He might even find himself liking her. He’s certainly like the ratings boost. Political message: It’s GREAT to be nice to Sarah Palin. As for forgiving bad behavior, she’s a believing Christian and bigger than any insults. She wants to be a leader of all the people, even the bitter and squinched repellent losers.
Idunno, sorry for over-posting, but I’m liking this idea a lot. Another rule of American culture: Feed the beast!
CK MacLeod on June 16, 2009 at 6:58 PM
What the guy who’s way smarter than me said.
Jim Treacher on June 16, 2009 at 7:06 PM
Oh IF ONLY. Please inform my puppy of this.
TheUnrepentantGeek on June 16, 2009 at 7:15 PM
I think it would be a good idea, actually. But Sarah Palin is only human, and a lot of the insane moonbat search-and-destroy tactics have no doubt hurt her personally. So I don’t see it happening.
ddrintn on June 16, 2009 at 7:16 PM
I look about as much like Sarah Palin as Tina Fey does.
ddrintn on June 16, 2009 at 7:22 PM
No. If you’re Sarah Palin, you pick Sweeps Week (in November, I believe), then you ask NBC (quietly) if you can go on Conan during their hottest viewing night (isn’t that Thursday?).
You go on Conan during Sweeps Week and never breathe a word about Dave during the interview with Conan.
victor82 on June 16, 2009 at 7:38 PM
Gov. Palin does not need to appear on Letterman’s show. He’s dying in the ratings and needs every boost he can get. She could go on Conan’s and get her point across.
Kissmygrits on June 16, 2009 at 8:37 PM
First of all, she needs to run a state that’s a whole night’s journey away from NYC. Did you recognize that? Or do you want her to fly down just for this pervert’s sake?
promachus on June 16, 2009 at 8:42 PM
Letterman is now joking/mocking about Palin accepting his apology.
As if she can be bought.
I don’t buy the sincerity of his apology. He is trying to milk it. If Sarah went on his show he would mock her still, while benefiting from huge ratings.
Can’t imagine why anyone would think it is a good idea for her to go on his show. Letterman’s audience would boo her every word.
Geochelone on June 16, 2009 at 8:43 PM
Actually, you ignore the late night losers and you do your job in Alaska. If serious journalists want to talk to you, you either do it via satellite or they come to you.
Sarah Palin is bigger than these fools, and far more important.
Shotgun Messiah on June 16, 2009 at 8:46 PM
Be careful what you wish for. Anyone that gets snippy with Letterman to his face gets their ass handed to them.
Letterman would obliterate Palin. I thought the classy (and politically smart) thing to do would have been for her to go to his show and receive an apology in person. Too late for that.
Anyone that actually believes Palin can stand toe to toe with Letterman is way wrong.
Letterman won’t forget how he has been treated by Palin and her fans, anyway. If Palin runs in 2012, Letterman will be waiting. It’s supposed to be his last year on the air, and he will unload everything on her with no filters whatsoever.
Moesart on June 16, 2009 at 8:46 PM
I don’t think she needs to go on Letterman. First of all it is exactly rewarding him for bad behavior. He’ll tell his sponsors, “Look she even came on the show, we’re not so bad…” and then like others have said he’ll try to do a 60 minutes type interview with her. What exactly does Palin gain by going on Letterman???? I only see a lose-lose situation. Remember it didn’t help her by going on SNL to confront Tina Fey other than Fey saying she was nice, etc. Palin’s problem right now is the late-night shows and people just not taking her as serious as they should. Going on Letterman’s show isn’t going to help that. Doing more Matt Lauer segments where she sounds confident and articulate are what will help.
LtBarnwell02 on June 16, 2009 at 8:47 PM
Quite frankly the people who watch Letterman are the rabid Left and will never like or vote for her. She should not grace him with her presence and she should not give him the ratings boost.
CCRWM on June 16, 2009 at 8:49 PM
Well, now that Mobysart has spoken, we all know the truth.
Jim Treacher on June 16, 2009 at 8:49 PM
Moesart on June 16, 2009 at 8:46 PM
You didn’t see Letterman groveling his a$$ off?
CCRWM on June 16, 2009 at 8:50 PM
I think the general strategy for Palin is to use her talents to drown her enemies.
Letterman attacks her – she appears on Conan – have fun with that Letterman.
The NRSC attacks her – she campaigns for Mario Rubio (a conservative republican the NRSC declared war on).
You want to win a firefight – you have to outflank the enemy.
HondaV65 on June 16, 2009 at 8:52 PM
I’m pretty sick of the ‘as long as he/she apologizes, all’s well’ garbage.
Something to be rewarded ? Get real.
Don’t ever bother with this idiot, Sarah.
Now that’s a decent idea, victor82 on June 16, 2009 at 7:38 PM
LOL
pambi on June 16, 2009 at 8:53 PM
“Now when I call your name, please come forward and pick up your apology. [Laughter, applause] I wanna get through this as quickly as possibly so you folks can get to the ‘Fire Dave Rally.’ [Cheering] It’s nice that people hate me who are no longer just part of my immediate family. My son, he’s telling everybody at school that his father is Conan!”
“The good news is Sarah Palin has accepted my apology. She also accepted a $500 gift certificate from Lens Crafters. I thought that was a nice touch,” he said. “I tell you, I was quite nervous about this whole thing, and I was really nervous about an apology to Sarah Palin, so when I did get my confidence up and my nerves to settle down, I rehearsed by apologizing to Tina Fey. That helped. That was a big help. [Applause]”
“The big news here today in New York City is the ‘Fire Dave Protest Rally’ and it’s going on right now. You folks are missing the real show, I’m sorry. Do we have a camera out there? Let’s check in on the Fire Dave Rally, it’s at 54th and Broadway!” he said. Directors then cut to footage of various looting rallies from around the world, with a graphic reading “Midtown Paralyzed By Anti-Letterman Protest” underneath.
Letterman’s famous “Top Ten” list was also written to poke fun at the protest, appropriately titled “Top Ten Things Overheard at the Fire David Letterman Rally.” It included such quips as “David who?” and “When does Cheney get here with the waterboarding gear?”
————————————-
That’s what happens when you go up against a pro. You end up being the joke. You can’t say you weren’t warned.
Moesart on June 16, 2009 at 8:53 PM
Absolutely, that is just what I was thinking, go on Conan. What a great ’screw you Dave’ and he deserves it. If anyone thinks that sorry-a$$ apology was from the heart, you are just kidding yourself. Ugly old dave will be nipping at her again before you can count to 10…….
clinker46 on June 16, 2009 at 8:56 PM
And…how creepy for Sarah to sit there with the guy who announced on his show that he gets aroused by her …ewwww yuck!
CCRWM on June 16, 2009 at 8:57 PM
Moesart on June 16, 2009 at 8:53 PM
All he is saying is you don’t bother me neener neener neener
CCRWM on June 16, 2009 at 9:00 PM
You have to grovel at her feet for forgiveness.
Jim Treacher on June 16, 2009 at 9:01 PM
Wrong wrong wrong to even suggest Sara Palin go on Letterman. Letterman wouldn’t attack her, but you can bet your ass that his bookers would have someone like Garafolo or some drooler like that to attack her for him. It’d be a setup. Forget Letterman.
Go on Conan.
44Magnum on June 16, 2009 at 9:02 PM
Classic projection.
What’s sickening is your display of breathless, overwrought, hyperbolic ad hominem spewage. You didn’t even try to substantively address any of the author’s points; in fact, I’m reasonably sure you didn’t even read what he wrote. You just spewed bile.
Sickening. And pathetic. And ironically a pretty good illustration of exactly what the author was explaining: when you confront infantile vulgarity with rational maturity, you generally come out looking awfully good by comparison.
Palin is to Letterman, as Patrick is to you. And Patrick owes you a thanks for so clearly illustrating his point.
Professor Blather on June 16, 2009 at 9:06 PM
I agree with Patrick. There’s very little downside, and I think Letterman would be on his best behavior considering.
changer1701 on June 16, 2009 at 9:07 PM
By the way, it sounds like the main humor there was not at the expense of Palin — a LensCrafters joke is pretty tame, don’t you think? — but those who aren’t accepting Letterman’s apology.
Jim Treacher on June 16, 2009 at 9:08 PM
Well, how about the liberals who claimed Sarah Palin was just seeking publicity by escalating her public feud with Letterman? It’s a bad idea for Sarah to go on there because it gives more validity to that accusation. You don’t accuse a man of essentially being a pervert toward your children then turn around and be a guest on the guy’s show for some lighthearted banter. She would lose credibility. He would gain some along with a ratings boost.
Ever since Palin became a national figure, Letterman’s jabs have been very personal and demeaning to her as a woman. I’ll never watch him again and would lose respect for Sarah as a mother if she did decide to appear on his show.
Christina_M on June 16, 2009 at 9:10 PM
Only if he allows Willow one knee to the groin.
The Ugly American on June 16, 2009 at 9:11 PM
If she can’t go toe to toe with Janeane Garafolo, how do you expect her to stand up to… fill-in-the-blank.
I agree that his routine quoted above may somewhat cheapen his apology, but it sounded pretty mild considering he was reacting to a Fire Dave rally, and didn’t reflect much on Palin or the apology.
To answer promachus, I certainly wouldn’t recommend she make a special trip to NYC just to be on his show. She should invite him to Alaska and show him Russia. Seriously. Then shoot him. Either that or see if there’s time on her schedule on her next trip to the Northeast. Or not…
Alright, alright – I’m cooling to the idea. Not sure any long that I agree with the guy who’s way funnier than I am (at least intentionally). She accepted his apology. She can forget about it all – or not – or see if Bristol or Willow or Todd or some c4p person feels like going on the show. That’s it, send Todd… Whatever.
I still think it’s sometimes worth giving the enemy an avenue of retreat or a chance to surrender in order to take the city more easily than if you force him to fight to the death. And I still think we need to train some segment of the population to feel OK about reversing themselves.
CK MacLeod on June 16, 2009 at 9:16 PM
So she gives Letterman a huge ratings boost by showing up and Conan isn’t going to say, “Hey, I want some of that. Have you heard the one about Piper and ….”
No, she should go right to Conan.
Ronnie on June 16, 2009 at 9:20 PM
It doesn’t matter to them what Palin does, they’ll still claim whatever they want. To suggest her appearance adds validity to their accusation on this is akin to those who said the fact she didn’t provide videotaped record of Trig being born as “proof” the child is really Bristol’s.
If she is to be a viable national candidate she needs to start turning around the image many have of her. She’ll never do so with most Lefties, but she can certainly sway others. Why not let her show her stuff in front of his audience? She can handle David Letterman.
changer1701 on June 16, 2009 at 9:20 PM
I would watch her on Letterman’s show, and since I don’t own a TV (I download shows I want to watch) it probably wouldn’t effect ratings.
I would hope that she would not accept any serious invite to appear. Dave can go lick windows.
Ugly on June 16, 2009 at 9:39 PM
Yes, very good point.
Geochelone on June 16, 2009 at 9:49 PM
Ooooooh, big scary Dave. What’s he going to say? That the Palins are a family of serial killers?
Letterman got his ass handed to him in this exchange. It won’t matter how bilious he is in the future.
ddrintn on June 16, 2009 at 9:53 PM
Ow! Devastating!!! ROFL
It’s worth quoting a recent article by Jay Valentine at American Thinker. Let it sink in, Moesart.
ddrintn on June 16, 2009 at 10:08 PM
Palin accepted David Letterman’s apology. You guys here and Patrick are free to give your opinions just as I am giving mine. I suggest to you all to stop treating this interchange as a score card of a tennis match gaming the one up manship.
Advantage Palin 40 love. If Sarah can ace this next serve, she’ll win this match outright.
.
Sarah will be Sarah, so for me I would say that the next time that state business calls for Sarah to be in NY she can either go on his show or not. There are some Alaskan’s who have a tendancy to file complaints against this women and I think I’ll go with her measured judgement instead of all of yours.
Americannodash on June 16, 2009 at 10:29 PM
Sarah Palin has already proven that she can take a joke. Her appearance on SNL established her as a bona fide political star. Letterman’s joke was tasteless and humorless. He knew he was pushing the envelope, but he thought he could get away with his bad boy antics. He crossed the line.
Now that he’s been put in his place, this story should die. The left would love to canonize him, and his career needs it. They will never relent on the attacks by just being nice. We tried that. Palin needs to be serious, because no amount of appeasement will clue her rabid attackers in to her humanity.
Think about it. These animals called her special needs baby an inbred bastard. They don’t play nice or fair and have no respect for the Republicans who roll over for them. Not to mention that it’s a lot of effort to be in NY for Palin.
alliebobbitt on June 16, 2009 at 10:31 PM
She just proved she could handle Letterman. I think Palin gained respect in unexpected places from this exchange. But the minds she would change were reached by appearing on The Today Show and The Situation Room. Letterman interviews celebrities. We already know Palin has star power going.
alliebobbitt on June 16, 2009 at 10:36 PM
+ 100
alliebobbitt on June 16, 2009 at 10:37 PM
I originally thought it would be better if Palin avoided Letterman’s show, even after the apology, but I think you make a convincing case, Patrick. It would be a good opportunity for her to increase her visibility, and reinforce the public impression of her strength and confidence.
For what it’s worth, I think CBS should have fired Letterman after his embarrassing Non-Apology Version 1.0, and I’m not sure why they think keeping a bitter, increasingly unfunny near-septuagenarian as their late-night host is worth the kind of dough they’re paying him. They didn’t fire him, although there must have been some absolutely fascinating conversations between Letterman and the CBS brass leading up to Apology Version 2.0. I understand the feelings of people who think even this version of the apology could use a sincerity patch and some humility plug-ins, but since Governor Palin accepted the apology, I really don’t see any point in beating this drum any further. To paraphrase the wisdom of Harvey Dent, you either retire from the field a victorious hero, or hang around long enough to become the villain.
My lingering discontent with the resolution of the Letterman affair is that no one can ever un-say what he said about Willow and Bristol Palin. The price for their vile and uncalled-for slander was a few days of inconvenience for a millionaire who will stroll on stage to the thunderous applause of his loyal audience tonight. There ain’t no justice.
Still, it probably killed Letterman to make this more sincere apology, and if Palin does appear on his show and benefits from the exposure, his liberal friends will never let him hear the end of it… especially since his new contract could run out right about the time President Palin takes the oath of office. That would be a pretty sweet epitaph for his career. Come to think of it, that would be more painful that having Todd Palin punch his lights out. It’ll hurt for longer.
Doctor Zero on June 16, 2009 at 10:42 PM
I don’t know if Sarah Palin has the stuff to develop into Presidential timber in 3 years, but if she is planning to do so she’d better be able to run rings around an idiot like Letterman today. If she can’t do that, we need to know it now.
RegularJoe on June 16, 2009 at 10:43 PM
Well, I never heard that before, but it sounds uncommon nonsense.
Cheshire Cat on June 16, 2009 at 10:46 PM
Actually, some lyrics from My Fair Lady just came to mind:
From what I’ve seen lately, Palin can pass this test.
RegularJoe on June 16, 2009 at 10:49 PM
Mute? Moot?
You’re both wrong – the correct usage is here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLwYpSCrlHU
massrighty on June 16, 2009 at 10:59 PM
Misogyny. If you want to be taken seriously, learn how to spell.
B26354 on June 16, 2009 at 11:12 PM
Not sure what this means.
massrighty on June 16, 2009 at 11:15 PM
Letterman never gets Palin. I think he knew that before the remarks, and in my opinion the fact she was in NYC and he knew she’d never do his show might have added to his slimy attacks. Just a thought.
The thing is, she can stay in Alaska and do Today, GMA, Meet The Press, whatever. I think people need to get out of this mode that she need to prove she needs to prove she can handle the Dave Lettermans of the world. They will never give her a break, and frankly she doesn’t need it.
Shotgun Messiah on June 16, 2009 at 11:15 PM
Jim Treacher on June 16, 2009 at 5:11 PM:
Wrong. His fans and the left have accepted his apology, and Bristol is still joke fodder for them. Besides, as already mentioned, Palin has said she won’t go on. The part about not contributing to his ratings was very smart. It’s a subtle and effective insult, regardless of the fact that it isn’t true, because the unspoken message is that she doesn’t need him, which IS true. Remember how Oprah said she didn’t understand why she wouldn’t go on her show after the election? She has her answer.
They have 2 major (all things considered) wins: NOW condemned him, and an advertiser withdrew from the CBS site. I’m sure CBS got the message. Palin’s right to just let it sink in everywhere else. Making nice will totally enable further attacks on her. Escalating the attacks on Letterman will produce a backlash.
JimC on June 16, 2009 at 11:24 PM
Not for him. Not ever again.
That was when it looked like he wasn’t going to apologize.
I don’t know about you guys, but when the facts change, I change my opinion.
Jim Treacher on June 16, 2009 at 11:28 PM
Sarah Palin travel all the way to be on Losserman’s turf so he can have his way with her?
What a colossal, breath-takeingly stupid idea that is.
I could see him traveling to Juneau and interview her in the hallway outside her office.
That would be worth putting batteries in the remote for.
lsheldon on June 16, 2009 at 11:38 PM
You’re in good company Jim, since that sentiment has been attributed to both David Mamet, and John Maynard Keynes.
Great minds apparently work alike, too.
massrighty on June 16, 2009 at 11:40 PM
I believe it means he could find no flaw with the content of the original post, so he jumped on the mis-spelled word.
Mind you, I agree that everyone should spell accurately, but this strikes me as a case of straining at a gnat and swallowing a camel.
RegularJoe on June 16, 2009 at 11:49 PM
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Facts? Read my prior post today. Go back to being funny. You performance on exposing David was fine an the objective was obtained. Let Sarah consider what Sarah should do from this day forward. You proved to me in some of your writings that you don’t think things through. You are not the best at political strategies. Sarah will take it from here. Take that under advisement.
Americannodash on June 16, 2009 at 11:50 PM
These threads show much residual anger bubbling about this. I’m torn on it.
I really don’t think “Late Nite” talk shows are worth a crap anymore, no matter who the host is.
Letterman is worn out and stale, as is The Tonight Show. Conan is no better, he kisses celebrity butts to get them on his show, he’s a lefty also.
I don’t trust any of these twerps to behave themselves.
I smell an ambush in showbiz for conservatives, especially Sarah Palin.
However, I do think she could make something out of the appearance, if it had to happen.
My bias against all of these showbiz people says don’t waste your time, but also I think she would do well if she wanted to do it.
Guess what? It’s up to Sarah Palin, and I’ll back what she decides to do.
Brian1972 on June 16, 2009 at 11:53 PM
I think you may be right – the comment (which may or may not have been aimed at me,) has me stumped.
My post was a joke – a takeoff on the Mute/Moot dialog further up the thread (and a link to Joey Tribiani’s view on the “moot point.”
I just didn’t understand B26354’s post – and was hoping it would be clarified.
massrighty on June 16, 2009 at 11:59 PM
I don’t know about you guys, but when the facts change, I change my opinion.
Jim Treacher on June 16, 2009 at 11:28 PM
Americannodash on June 17, 2009 at 12:23 AM
I stand corrected. Darn cows!
I also stand corrected on the spelling of “misogyny.” Now that we’ve fixed that single word, anything you’d like to say about this post on its merits?
Patrick on June 17, 2009 at 2:06 AM
When was this???
True, I don’t have your calm detachment and analytical eye.
Jim Treacher on June 17, 2009 at 2:57 AM
Would that be the “pro” who lost sponsors over this?
Hawkins1701 on June 17, 2009 at 3:26 AM
What’s with this suggestion that Palin wouldn’t be able to cut it in an interview with Letterman? It’s especially baffling since it seems like a lot of that view is coming from some of the very people who would support her for higher office, 2012 or beyond. What makes you think she couldn’t handle a clown on late night TV, but could handle a belligerent foreign leader?
Patrick on June 17, 2009 at 3:34 AM
Go back to being funny.
When was this???
You proved to me in some of your writings that you don’t think things through.
Americannodash on June 16, 2009 at 11:50 PM
True, I don’t have your calm detachment and analytical eye.
Jim Treacher on June 17, 2009 at 2:57 AM
.
Irony, I see what you did there.
Americannodash on June 17, 2009 at 3:36 AM
Jim Treacher on June 17, 2009 at 2:57 AM
,
BTW, I also took your friend to task on the following thread:
http://hotair.com/archives/2009/06/16/ensign-i-did-a-bad-bad-thing/#comments
Americannodash on June 16, 2009 at 11:56 PM
.
I just heard that he under the weather so maybe I should lighten up on him. ——-> Naw.
Americannodash on June 17, 2009 at 3:43 AM
I hear you there. I think Sarah can handle him just fine, and I think it’s possible that she could gain something out of it, but I keep coming back to why bother with jokeboy?
I’m inclined to think that her time is better spent handling the media types, the ones that at least claim some credibility on the serious policy issues, the way she dealt with Matt Lauer and Wolf Blitzer. That seems to me to be more worthy of the effort. People like Letterman always can retreat to their stupid nonsense when they get cornered on something meaningful. That is his escape hatch, “look at me, the goofy white guy!”, while Matt and Wolfy had nowhere to go when Sarah did her thing there.
It just feels wrong to reward his buffoonery with an appearance. I think the “apology” has been rewarded with the public acceptance, and that should be it. He has more to gain than she does, IMHO. There are plenty of other ways she can reach people and change the false perceptions about her without giving him the benefit of her star power, which he has spent the last few months trying to undermine.
That’s just how I feel about it now. If there is an announcement next week, Palin on Letterman Tuesday Night, then I’ll think she has decided to use the opportunity as you suggest, and perhaps it would be worth it after all. Sarah can certainly charm and disarm people face to face very effectively. I just don’t trust celebrity asskissers, they are a shifty bunch.
The anger over this episode is pretty remarkable, even now isn’t it?
Brian1972 on June 17, 2009 at 3:58 AM
For the same reason everyone else goes there — they draw large audiences, and give the guest a chance to promote their movie, song, candidacy, or whatever. A lot of potential movie-goers, music buyers and VOTERS watch these shows, and any chance to address them — FOR FREE — should be taken.
RegularJoe on June 17, 2009 at 6:30 AM
For the same reason everyone else goes there — they draw large audiences, and give the guest a chance to promote their movie, song, candidacy, or whatever. A lot of potential movie-goers, music buyers and VOTERS watch these shows, and any chance to address them — FOR FREE — should be taken.
RegularJoe on June 17, 2009 at 6:30 AM
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Free? Tell us who is going to foot the bill for this FREE flight to NY & back to Alaska. This does not include all the other cost that will be incurred. Look to my prior post on this thread & get back to me, Will you?
Americannodash on June 17, 2009 at 6:48 AM
She should. And bring her “Ol Man with her. Have him look Dave right in the eye, and see what he’s made of.
LtE126 on June 17, 2009 at 7:11 AM
I agree. She could also remind Dave her family simply reacted the way he did when he went off on Stern for talking about his gf some years ago.
aikidoka on June 17, 2009 at 7:13 AM
agree. She could also remind Dave her family simply reacted the way he did when he went off on Stern for talking about his gf some years ago.
aikidoka on June 17, 2009 at 7:13 AM
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Oh yes, the neener neener you reacted the same way too bit. That will really make a big splash. Sarah will no doubt take the high ground concerning this matter. Class is classic and should always remain so. End of story.
Americannodash on June 17, 2009 at 7:44 AM
My problem would be more that if she went on right now, Dave would try and do a straight interview in the O’Reilly style, with a couple of “What’s the Gross National Product of Uzbekistan?” style queries thrown in to make sure there’s at least one “Palin is an idiot” soundbytes for the next day’s TV shows.
Remember, Letterman is apparently a guy who actually thinks Keith Olbermann knows what he’s talking about. If Palin were to go on any time in the near future it would be not only an event, but one that all of Dave’s anti-Palin associates would be telling him he has to challenger her with Clown Nose Off, because it’s too dangerous for The World Itself to let her get away with this (Letterman’s two jokes about Palin on Tuesday night’s show indicate he’s not going to let this go, and there’s still a lot of anger seething inside. If she’s going to go on, let it be several months down the line, where if he decides to go full-Olby on her, while saying since the kids aren’t mentioned, it’s OK, it will be long enough since the controversy that it will come across more as an unprovoked attack by a bitter old man, no matter how the big media tries to spin it).
jon1979 on June 17, 2009 at 7:57 AM
Nichole? Ms Wallace? Is that you?
Geochelone on June 17, 2009 at 8:22 AM
By appearing on his show would continue to legitimize and enable Snaggle Tooth on the subjects.
Wade on June 17, 2009 at 8:25 AM
Cathy Young wrote about “Stones Flying From Both Houses”, the popular “hypocrisy” straw man argument, making a comeback with “She asked for it” and “Honest, I thought she was 18.”
This country is lying face-down in the gutter.
Unfortunately, RCP is not posting comments. It looks like the comments are open until you try to publish them. But Young brought up Ted Nugent on Hillary Clinton. My take…
At least Nugent made his remarks on political merit; Hillary Clinton and most Democrats are gun grabbers . (Look at the piece by Jesse Jackson in the Chicago Sun-Times. ) That was nothing compared to the assault leveled at Hillary by her party when she dared to run against the first black president.
Politics can get ugly when you stand in the way of ambition. Hillary got ceaselessly beat up on until she laid down and got back with the program. Then the left went after Sarah Palin, and they will not relent until 2012. They want their historic president in for two terms, pushing policies that will hurt our great country, and if the ends justify the means, they will say or do anything to Palin, her family — even her special needs baby, as we’ve seen. The rapes jokes about 14 YO Willow were, sadly, more typical than not of this party that professed to stand for equal opportunity, but in actuality stands for brutal opportunism and the kind of appalling class strife that has nothing to with the America I knew.
alliebobbitt on June 17, 2009 at 8:28 AM
I had to double check to make sure I hadn’t mistakenly clicked into the Huff Po – this idea is that stupid.
I am tempted to wonder if those who seem to think Letterman really gave a sincere apology have been nipping at the Obama koolaid. Or have some of you turned naive enough to think that anyone in Letterman’s demographic will suddenly be willing to look beyond the stereotype. Unfortunately too many of them are like him – a waste of space & air. Should she also start blogging at the Daily Kos?
I thought all the pundits were harping about how Gov Palin needs to increase her “gravitas,” how she needs to show she has an understanding of issues on the national level, how she needs to go on serious news programs. I fail to see how going on a late night show emceed by a proven liberal AH does any of that.
katiejane on June 17, 2009 at 8:28 AM
This post is pure stupidity. Anything she does for Dave takes away from her smashing victory.
bill30097 on June 17, 2009 at 9:43 AM
You don’t think she’d know by now that she needs to call them out on that? Remind them that they’d never in a million years ask Biden such questions, let alone Obama?
If she avoids opportunities because someone else might use them dishonestly, what’s the point of being in public office?
Jim Treacher on June 17, 2009 at 10:09 AM
If she avoids opportunities because someone else might use them dishonestly, what’s the point of being in public office?
Jim Treacher on June 17, 2009 at 10:09 AM
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So says Jim Treacher political strategist. Oh yes, Let’s all listen to Jim political advice for a sitting governor. Oh yes, ignore Charle Krauthammer and listen to Jim Treacher by all means. I leaning toward Charles K myself, but for the rest of you go ahead and take Jim Treacher’s advise. ——> NOT!!!.
Americannodash on June 17, 2009 at 11:34 AM
Remember, I’m not saying don’t ever do it, I’m just saying don’t do it right now, when the left and the big media (OK, an admitted redundancy) are drooling at the prospect of paying Palin back as soon as possible. That’s when one of those “gotcha” questions gets tossed in there and then touted by Letterman’s supporters as helping to somehow at least prove his point that she’s no better than a “Slutty Flight Attendant”. And as long as there are no shots at Bristol or Willow, the media will say the questions are fair, no matter how obscure they are.
Wait a few months, to the point that if they’re going to try and pull the same crap, they’ll have to gin up the hype from about a 1.5 on a scale of 1-10 on the heavy rotation pop culture scale, and their actions at trying to get back at Sarah will seem far more obvious. Doing it now, they could justify the hype and ensuing spin by saying everyone wants to see Letterman confront Palin and they’re just giving the public what they want.
jon1979 on June 17, 2009 at 3:19 PM
I detect a faint note of disapproval.
Jim Treacher on June 17, 2009 at 9:53 PM
I detect a faint note of disapproval.
Jim Treacher on June 17, 2009 at 9:53 PM
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The wordsmith that you usually display on a daily basis is lacking, I know that you could have come up with a better words than faint disapproval. Faint disapproval from my point of view does not come to mind but outright distain of your positioned opinion may have been a better choice. By the way, are you getting a lot of positive feedback about encouraging your point of view on this matter? I mean besides my positive input to you.
Americannodash on June 17, 2009 at 11:31 PM
I understand what you’re saying.
Jim Treacher on June 18, 2009 at 2:01 AM
Americannodash on June 18, 2009 at 8:00 AM