Web Letters: Pitbull in the Headlights

I am amazed at the lack of courtesy of Mrs. Couric during this interview. I found nothing particularly "incompetent" about Mrs. Palin during the interview. It was obvious that the interviewer expected certain answers, which she wasn't getting, but she is supposed to be asking questions, not debating. The partisan nature of the interview is embarassing.

I am amazed that a name as large as CBS News could produce such a horrible story and strongly disagree with the article.

Jonathan Baumgartner

Lower Lake, CA

Tina Fey's portrayal of Sarah Palin is easily the funniest thing to come out of SNL in years, and the Couric interview was less than favorable to Palin. That being said, why is there this sense that somehow all of indignation heaped on her might just set off a sympathetic backlash at precisely the time America goes to the polls? Should we be concerned that a great deal of this public criticism plays directly into the claims raised by many conservatives that the "media" is "liberally biased" and obviously out to discredit all and any of thier candidates by any means necessary (regardless of whether or not they would appear to do it to themselves)? If that's the case, McCain may know exactly what he is doing by picking her as a running mate and provoking a perceived "negative election" upon the Obama/Biden without either of the Democratic candidates approving an attack ad.

I voted for Gore in 2000 and Kerry in 2004 and watched the intellectual rigor of both candidates campaigns fall victim late in the game to the kryptonite folkism of President Simpleton, banging the anti-liberal drum with claims of media bias and conservative persecution and what did we end up with? A close call in 2000 and a clear Republican victory in 2004.

So, as tempting as it may be, perhaps it is time for Democrats to stop the "Palin hating" and instead go to the "kill with kindness" or "give 'em enough rope" strategy. The stakes are far too high this time around to risk a similar result.

Charles Clark

Seattle, WA

What needs to be thought out is that the response by Palin, "I'll get back to ya," isn't the important element. The omission of any handy reference is because there aren't many that come to mind. That is at the crux of this. McCain-Feingold could have been used as an example, but that would have blurred campaign reform with political and economic reform, so basically you can't find McCain as a populist anywhere in legislation.Palin's incompetence is obvious, however. I give her one more week, tops.

Richard Ray Harris

Desert Hot Springs, CA

I'll bet there are more than a few Israeli women wishing they could say of their neighbors what Palin says of hers.

Or how about this: If everyone had the faith in women that some liberals (and especially some women among them) have in Sarah Palin, there'd never have been such a thing as a kibbutz--and Israel as we know it would not exist.

Palin may not have played an active role in bringing about the peace that the US shares with Russia, but that peace, along with her appreciation of it, represents the ideal.

Cameron Jones

Indiana, PA