In a prior post, I indicated I was severing my long time viewership of David Letterman (having started with him on day time and traveled to see his NBC show live in its first two years in NY). I know, tragic, right? Well, bear with me.

Tonight I made my peace with Dave and watched the McCain interview. Big mistake.

First, Dave was not honest. He said he supported McCain's decision to "go to Washington" and only learned during his broadcast that McCain had not left immediately. Yet, he did not explain how Keith Olbermann showed up during the interim as a replacement guest. Clearly, Dave, as an establishment liberal, exploited the opportunity to abuse McCain and score points for the Democratic ticket.

Second, Dave was very ungracious tonight. McCain groveled and apologized, while Dave offered him a "second chance." Memo to McCain: get off the floor and act like a presidential candidate, not a supplicant at the 19th century Ethiopian court. McCain was too polite to mention it, but it would have been impolitic to do a comedy show while Rome was perceived to be burning.

Third, Dave really tore into him over Sarah Palin and William Ayres. It was entertaining, actually. Did not mind it, per se. But Dave's agenda was clear: this is not going to be entertainment tonight, bub. Obama is still my guy.

I hate to raise the dreaded sexism card, as to Sarah, but McCain made the case she is equally qualified with many prior male nominees. In response, Dave kept asking: is she really tough enough? Well, ask the Israelis what they think of Golda Meir, or the British of Margaret Thatcher. They both kicked butt, when they needed to. I think Palin could do the same.

Hey, wouldn't all of you liberals out there rather argue with me than thawk7, with quotes from Steve Martin movies?

Thawk7, you and I probably have a lot of things in common, and I have not bothered to read everything which preceded your prior post. But in defense of xrandadu hutman, he/she is a very smart person - keeps me on my toes with a lot of the stuff I throw up to stimulate debate. :)

If I can share a word of unsoliciated advice, from another famed movie: lighten up, Francis. No need to get ugly. I suggest a more civil debate.

Hey, glad to see you're still up and out there. Good to engage you in a dialogue.

I was just reading some of your earlier posts, with Limbaugh-esque dialogue like *feminazis* and *libs.* That stuff won't fly around here. If you want to make an impression on someone, you've got to lose the Rush lingo.

Now, as for smarts and liberalism, of course you can be smart and a liberal. Do you think American's college professors who are mostly liberal are not smart? My favorite law school professor had a picture of Karl Marx in her office, for crying out loud, and she was not only brilliantly intellectual, she was one of the most generous, kindly, mentoring people I have known. She's probably to the left of Ayres. Yet, I love her dearly.

There is a case for conservatism, or the "profit system" as FDR called it, and I make it regularly. There is also a case to be made for fetal rights, if abortion disputes are your passion. But you can't quote Steve Martin to make your case, or just attack people (though you may be attacked in response, but hey - this is a progressive web site after all, and you've got to show some respect as a guest).

So, do what Martin Luther advised when young students came to him with vexing, complex theological questions. Have a stiff drink and clear your head out. Then enjoy, and proceed with debate.

Hey, antineocon. First I love your name. I live in a midwestern town and gave two speeches at local Toastmasters clubs in support of the Iraq war. Who knew Paul Bremmer and the neo-con crowd were going to "volunteer" 4,000+ of our finest working class heroes to die for their democratization project? Alas, I digress.

As for Letterman, wow, I did not think he let McCain off the hook at all. By citing G. Gordon Liddy, it was clear to me Letterman had instructed his staff to give him the tools he needed to bust McCain's balls, as much as possible. And bust he did.

You know, as far as Liddy is concerned, of course the man engaged in contemptible conduct. But it was Carter after all who pardoned him. As a kid, I recall there being a made-for-TV movie about Liddy, and my mom (an ardent Democrat) saying well, this is a guy who had a lot of guts. That seemed to be the tenor of McCain's response tonight. I don't think it hurt him, politically.

But back to Sarah Palin - my favorite subject. :). I just fired off a protest to CBS/Letterman saying I thought this was completely inappropriate. Someone posted earlier saying I have some sort of lurid interest in her. Actually, quite the contrary. (Unlike, say, Mark Steyn of National Review on-line, who cannot keep his snake his pants whenever he writes about her). I respect her. I love her. She reminds me of some very virtuous, very beautiful, and very noble women I grew up with. She is slightly older than me, but not by much, and I have great confidence in the ability of my generation to lead. I am a happily married man. My wife, a Democrat, likes her too.

Letterman was not entirely off his rocker tonight; his questions were fair. But not without prejudice. That is why, even though he is a fellow Hoosier and I love him too, I must cut him loose. He has clearly spent too much time in New York City.