"She may take some questions from local news entities in Alaska, but until she's ready -- and until she's comfortable -- which might not be for a long while -- the media will have to wait." The strategist forgot the rest of his statement, which was ..."so fuck off and kiss our asses."

Seriously, I am thoroughly confused how the right wants to tout her readiness and pitbullyness, and then say the media is too mean and harsh for her. Really? I can't imagine this is going to be anything but a problem for the McCain camp. It's already becoming a big news story. Even Palin's former brother in-law who by his own admission engaged in some detestable behavior has been interviewed.

I think as dumb as the public is, the number of people who feel comfortable voting for someone, who is being so protected from our terribly soft press, will be incredibly small. Only the righteously stupid and comfortably idiotic will think it's a good thing to not have a fair unscripted interview of our possible new comander in chief.

commander in chief- which may I add will hopefully never happen.

"As for Palin not taking interviews - I'm betting that her every spare minute is being spent in briefings so that she doesn't make a food of herself"

Oh, I'm sure despite the briefings, she's still going to come out making a food of herself. Most likely some type of nut.

Sorry, I know that was a typo, and have made plenty myself including in this thread, but I couldn't pass up that softball.

Tom, most of the time your letters on Havrilesky's column are more entertaining than the column itself? I do wonder though, do you prefer it when you don't like her writing, or do you enjoy it when you read a column that inspires you to write a positive critique? Which brings out the best for you in your writing?

For every day Palin continues to shun the media, the republican talking heads have to go on television and look like idiots trying to defend her. I've already seen it. Also, Jon Stewart will have a field day tearing her apart, and that's always fun to watch.

Thanks for responding. I notice your letters here are of a very personal tone, and knowing that you don't like Rex Reed goes a long way toward expressing why you are often negative about her work. Reed was a little before my time in terms of his influence, but I read his biography, and was familiar with him growing up in the 70's. He seemed like the Mr. Blackwell of film criticism to me. A guy who enjoyed crafting bitchy putdowns.

I personally don't see Heather's columns as a continuation of Reed's style. Reed seemed to love being nasty. I don't think Heather's style is mean spirited. Being close to her age, I see a lot more influence of Steve Martin, Bill Murray, and George Carlin in their 70's incarnations. Their humor in the 70's had more of a mixture of cynicism and detached irony, though I would argue it was not mean spirited. It was the type of humor where the kids who weren't so cool went to deal with the fucked up world they were growing up in. It's where I went as a kid, and being familiar with Heather's writing style from other online sites, it seems that's where she went too.

Tom, I never compared Carlin and Havrilesky. I said that I thought Havrilesky was influenced by Carlin among others. Big difference. Stylistically, I think she takes more after observational comics than someone like Rex Reed, who was enamored wih the deadly zinger.

"One of Rush Limbaugh’s constant themes." What a shock you're a listener of his show. What a further shock you would use hm as a catalyst to give your argments what...integrity?

"One of Rush Limbaugh’s constant themes."

"No, I'm not a limbaugh listener."

That's some good tasting hypocrisy there shooter. Let me get this straight. You're not a Rush Limbaugh listener, but you know what his constant themes are. How does that work exactly? I could understand someone unfamiliar with his show making a generic statement about the content, but not about constant themes of his show. That would require listening to it enough to know what those themes are.

I'll give you this troll, I like your style, and by style I mean your lies. They're funny and I'm starting to think you are in fact a clever parody of a troll. Keep up the good work.

"if you're going to hold Hussein Obama."

hootowl=troll

"The GOP's strategy of painting Dems as flag-burning,unpatriotic losers & hypocrites has worked for 30years."

Really? Who controls both houses of congress now bitch? Who is poised to control the white house? I'll answer that- The Democrats. Also was Bill Clinton in the white house over thirty years ago? No, so again, you're factually incorrect. Look dude, take your lies and hyperbole and utter bullshit and go back to the troll cave where you can concoct another outrageous falsehood that will convince everyone only of how big a schmuck you are.

Submit this one for me:

Governor Palin, your son who is going off to Iraq tells you he is gay, and wants to get married to his long time lover before he gets on that long plane to Iraq to defend the nation. What would you tell him?

Governorn Palin-your sister was raped by a wolf who believes global warming was largely man made. What would you tell your sister?

Governor Palin, community organizers are scum, total low life trash who deserve to beaten badly on a daily basis. We can all agree on that. My question is this: What blunt instrument would you administer the beatings with?

You are seriously the worst political journalist Salon has ever had. You're just awful man.

More great reporting Alex. What would we do withhout your valuable contributions to this election season.