It's a despicable but utterly predictable move. The press is the enemy. The more the GOP can set Palin up as a hounded victim of the elitist media the more they win with the base. Jay Rosen's analysis from last week got into this:

http://journalism.nyu.edu/pubzone/weblogs/pressthink/2008/09/03/mccain_strategy.html

The critical question is: do the independents, the undecideds, the middle-of-the-road midwest voters look at this drama and see: "Maverick Candidate Pisses Off Blowhard Reporters By Resisting Their Demands"? Or do they see: "Unprepared GOP VP Nominee Hides from Reporters with Legitimate Questions"? It will, sadly, be all in this framing, and I don't think we'll ever even get to the basics of, y'know, "Governor Palin, here are six questions for you."

I've sometimes disagreed with you, Ms. Walsh, but on this point, everyone should be in agreement: In this most important of elections, the candidates should not be allowed to dodge the press.

Thank you!

I keep thinking this woman, for all her outwardly strong woman hobbies of hunting, fishing, etc, is about to set us back about 100 years. She's a 'pit bull' who is too fragile to be questioned. I say someone in the press accuse her of being a secret Muslim who hates our country, & then go after her husband, who must really hate our country given his alliance with a secessionist party..

Give her something to whine about.

In fairness, I can fully believe she might be itching to fight back, may hate this 'hide behind the old white guys' strategy, and it's all about the Rovian strategy over which she has no control. But even that shows an inner weakness despite the 'armed to the teeth' exterior.

She isn't ready to be on Meet the Press but on January 20 she'd suddenly be ready to be a heartbeat away from the Presidency? Give me a break.

I agree that Palin should face the media, but why did you compare it to the "pimping out" incident on MSNBC? Please ask your daughter whether that term is meant to be sexist. I'm sure she has used it herself.

Joan, if you really want to play a pivotal role in this election, please ask Hillary to take on Palin directly. Used the old-line, "I know Hillary Clinton, Hillary Clinton is a friend of mine, and Sarah Palin is no Hillary Clinton!"

Have Hillary point out that Barack Obama EARNED the Democratic nomination by competing in 50 primaries and caucuses against the likes of Joe Biden, Bill Richardson, Chris Dodd, and Hillary Clinton and the American people decided that after 18 months of tough campaining Obama represented the best combination of experience, judgement, and change....while Palin was simply chosen out of a hat and placed on the ticket.

Hillary appears to be playing this whole thing a bit too cute!

Joan, if Obama loses this election, the Democratic Party will be destroyed. Although sexism and "working class white women" are enjoying their time in the sun right now, be very careful. African-Americans are sitting quietly on the sidelines watching this spectacle very closely....if a permanent divide occurs pitting white women vs. African-Americans, the Democratic Party will not survive!!

"What would also be kinda cool if someone with of the daily news shows, say like Keith Olberman, or maybe Anderson Cooper (doubt he'd do it, though), would have an empty seat on their set, saying that is reserved for Governor liar, and will remain open and available for her if she ever deems to show any kind of respect for the American people and grant interviews like every other politician is required to. To drive the point home, mention every single night the significance of the empty seat along with all various questions about her and her record that are out there that she refuses to answer to anyone. Or maybe go into detail on one of the issues, and state specifically what the question is that we all would like answered."

The Republican Party is very good at SELECTING minorities and women (See Colin Powell, Clarence Thomas, and Condelezza Rice)but terrible at casting votes for them.

Sarah Palin is another shining example of one who has been selected, but never could have been elected if she had run in the Republican primary.

....but she's getting "ink" via the biography that has just appeared for sale on both Barnes & Noble and Amazon's websites. Sarah: How a Hockey Mom Turned Alaska's Political Establishment Upside Down by someone named Kaylene Johnson, is already getting published reader reviews. One "reviewer" said that even though the book was written prior to Palin's selection as GOP vice presidential nominee, it's a good source for learning about her background.

Interestingly, both sites show publication dates of September, 2008--one specifies September 1st. The small, regional publisher named Epicenter (which deals with all things Alaskan) appears to have a magnificently efficient marketing department, don't you think? Not only is the book being sold so fast that it's reached "best seller" status, but it's been reviewed by 10 people the last I checked (4 on one site and 6 on the other--only one negative--and one "reviewer" gushed on about the wonderful chapter describing "partial birth" abortion and how Barack Obama supports killing babies)

Wasn't it only 3 days ago that Sarah Barracuda was mocking Barack Obama for publishing two memoirs? Isn't it interesting that someone had this book featuring her biography all ready to roll out, complete with reviews and a book tour already scheduled for its author?

Karl Rove and his minions in the McCain campaign have plans for Sarah's introduction to the masses, as do the religious right nuts who have been filling the blogs with anti-choice rhetoric these past few days, but it doesn't include any face-to-face interviews, that's for sure.

"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.