What Should Katie Couric Ask Sarah Palin?

KC:
How silly, distracted, and protracted do you think American politics has become and to that end what have you contributed?

SP:
Duh, well first of all let me say I wouldn't bat an eyelash when it comes to bombing Russia, we'll do whatever it takes. Can you repeat the rest of the question Katie...

Sent by george gekas | 12:13 PM | 9-17-2008

"So ... would you force Rosemary to keep her baby?"

Sent by daniel | 1:52 PM | 9-17-2008

http://www.blackbottom.com/watch.php?v=WdBJd9b9i8A

I hope this true, because if Palin is lying...she needs to be exposed as a hyprocrite!

Sent by Eric Boyd | 3:11 PM | 9-17-2008

Does governoring Alaska, population 670,000 with 1/3 of the population less than 18 years old, confirm your 20 months as being "experienced" enough to lead a Nation of 300 million?

Sent by Lyle K. Deere | 3:49 PM | 9-17-2008

Why aren't you talking to the press?

Why did you cut funding for an agency that provides shelter for homeless pregnant teens? And how exactly was that a pro-life position? http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/09/02/palin_slashed_funding_to_help.html

Why did you appoint Police Chief Fannon in Wasilla when he wanted to (or did) cut funding for the medical exams for rape victims? And why didn't you step in to remedy this?
http://www.frontiersman.com/articles/2000/05/23/news.txt

Why is it okay for you to bill the state for time spent at home?
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/10/us/politics/10billing.html

Why did you fire Wasilla librarian Emmons after asking her "rhetorical" questions about banning books? Why did you feel that the city librarian - a non-political position - needed a "loyalty test"?
http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/sliming_palin.html

http://www.adn.com/sarah-palin/story/510219.html

It is sexist to NOT be asking her these questions!

Sent by Alaina Pipas | 7:21 PM | 9-17-2008

Ms Couric should ask Ms Palin how she could possibly expect voters to trust her to run the country, when she has less than two years running Alaska, a state with less population that most of the other 49 states. How can she possibly compare herself to Senator Biden? She has no experience with foreign policy. A trip to an Iraqi border station does not qualify as experience leading troops. Palin cannot expect someone to think she can command troops when the only she has commanded (in name only) is the Alaska Guard. McCain shot women in the foot when he picked this inexperienced politican.

Sent by Thomas Alley | 10:03 PM | 9-17-2008

does she plan to push her personal views on private maters ,will she harass those that do not hold the same views as she appears to have in the past

Sent by Nancy Farrar | 11:00 PM | 9-17-2008

THE loaded question on the United States
weak competitiveness in far greater advancement in mathematics, science, space and atomic mass will be ignored by
Katie Couric.Sarah Palin should have an
answer for this issue, but gut-less Couric will avoid such tough question.

Sent by jerry a. Myers | 3:40 AM | 9-18-2008

Ms Couric should "challenge" the Gov.:

Why not go back to Alaska and testify before the "Troopegate" hearings using it as a well documented venue of how you deal with the "ol boy network" in real time. Moreover, why not get it all out in the open and behind you as was your stance before the VP nomination.

Sent by John Schaffer | 5:38 AM | 9-18-2008

Ms Couric should ask:

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac haved been bailed out by the Treasury, but with no apparent term limit or ceiling cap.

What term limit would you recommend?
What ceiling limit would recommend?
...and a Why to both of those?

What other measures would you take during that time to "protect" the taxpayers?

*and yes, it IS a trick question to really ask if she would want regulatory oversight.

Sent by John Schaffer | 5:46 AM | 9-18-2008

Ms Couric should ask:

What orders have you given as "commander-in-chief" to the Alaska national guard...?

or

Did you visit the Alsaka National Guard in Iraq? *yes, this is a trick question to see if she remembers she did not enter the country but remained at the border with Jordan.

Sent by John Schaffer | 6:02 AM | 9-18-2008

How can we possibly be expected to trust her when she has essentially shut herself off from most communications? Her interviews are tightly controlled, she is now refusing to testify in "troopergate." How does she think we have enough information to judge her fairly? And why does she think this is an appropriate way to campaign for national political office?

Sent by Karen J | 8:33 AM | 9-18-2008

And: How does she reconcile her faith with the negative (and dishonest) campaign against Obama that she's participating in?

Sent by Karen J | 8:35 AM | 9-18-2008

How about Democrat/media hypocrisy on working moms when they happen to be conservative, & also the actual facts on the pro-life position as opposed to the media spin?

Sent by Faith | 8:44 AM | 9-18-2008

Perhaps CBS should CANCEL the interview with Gov Palin and surprise her, the candidates and the public.

It might put CBS on a different footing, more or less saying, "Candidates, please request time with the MEDIA. We'll be avaialable to interview you to speak to the issues as candidates, not media celebrities. Please have your topics ready and your proposed responses so that we can FACTCHECK.org them and conduct a MUCH MORE CRITICAL exchange that will be of GREATER BENEFIT to the public and voters."

That might be an interesting Point-Counterpoint - in memory of James J Kilpatrick and Sheena Alexander.

*Finally, too bad Tim Russert can only interview them from above. Miss that candid insight, staying on the issue and getting to the heart of an issue.

Hope Ms Ifill will be able to reproduce that result while moderating the VP debates.

Sent by John Schaffer | 2:37 PM | 9-18-2008

What is the socio-economic status of native Alaskans? How do they fare in health, income, education, and access to jobs and government services compared to non-native Alaskans?

Sent by Lisa | 1:05 AM | 9-19-2008

Is your husband a member of the Alaska Independence Party? You addressed their convention this year. What do they stand for? The church you currently attend holds seminars to "pray away the gay". Do you think you can pray away homosexuality? What foreign policy experience do you have?
What are your ideas to unify the warring factions in Iraq? What do you know about the history of this region? What do you think about the current state of the economy? Did you require that women pay for their own "rape kits" while mayor of Wasilla? Why did you leave the small town over $20 million in debt after your tenure? You have spent over 300 nights at home in your 18 months as Governor of Alaska-absent so often that some state employees had "Where's Sarah?" buttons made. Is this the proper way to govern? How are you a reformer and a "maverick" if you aren't even in your office? Why do you believe that a woman should be forced to carry a baby to term even in cases of rape and incest? Why do you think it is allowed under the First Amendment of the Constitution to teach creationism in schools? What did you do to combat the methamphetamine problem in your Alaskan hometown while mayor? Do you think that someone who hasn't traveled the world or met with ANY world leaders is ready to help lead the free world? Why won't you cooperate with the Troopergate investigation? Why haven't you taken improptu questions from reporters on the campaign? I have many, many more. How can we get these to KATIE!!!! Tell us about your education. Why did you attend five different colleges in six years? What did you learn during your collegiate, um, "education" that prepared you for the VP position?

Sent by Megan | 3:48 AM | 9-19-2008

If I were a prayin' person, I'd be prayin' that people are able to see through this McCain/Palin ticket. The Bible-beating, gun-carrying, trigger happy pro-life politics are downright scarey! How can one be "pro-life" and shoot animals from the air? Beats me! I don't see very much humility in this Republican ticket, rather, I see a self-convinced cockiness and, folks, that is a dangerous attitude for our President/V.President to have. Humility does not equate to weakness. We'd better hope that this country gets a thoughtful president, not one that 'shoots from the hip and asks questions later'.

Sent by MVParnell@gmail.com | 9:30 AM | 9-19-2008

Katie Couris should ask her what the duties of a VP are not if she's ready. She should also ask about her pro-life stance, the trooper-gate investigation she said she would cooperate with, and is she going to put her country first or her children first.

Sent by Tachea | 10:26 AM | 9-19-2008

Hey Katie:
First,I think she should thank her for appearing on her lowly ranked and microscopic audience. Her ratings should skyrocket for two days anyway.
Ask her how does it feel to be the earth mama symbol for the country?
Illini Mike

Sent by Mike Martin | 11:15 PM | 9-19-2008

Gov. Palin has not addressed one important aspect of the whole "Bridge to Nowhere" matter. If she is so opposed to earmarks, WHY did she keep that money after she "killed" the bridge?

Ms. Couric should ask Gov. Palin why she never mentions that fact.

Sent by Martha S. | 12:55 PM | 9-22-2008

The costs of medical care are not disclosed at the point of care. Patients routinely do not know the cost of a medication until they attempt to pay for them at the pharmacy and don't know how much the "non-covered" portion of their medical treatment is until they receive a bill in the mail.

Question: Would you support a bill that required physicians to disclose their fees and the cost of the treatments they prescribe at the point-of-care; this would be a bill similar to the Truth-in-Lending laws that require lenders to disclose the costs of their loans BEFORE the consumer obtains one.

Sent by Ryan Turk | 2:46 PM | 9-22-2008

first I'd make her take this quiz:
http://witlist.blogspot.com/2008/09/are-you-qualified-to-be-vice-president.html

then I'd ask her to find Darfur on a map (one without labels for each country).

then I'd ask her to name the five permanent members of the UN security council.

in short, I'd give her a civics quiz. I'm betting she fails.

dt

Sent by dan tynan | 4:23 PM | 9-23-2008

Ask Sarah Palin the same questions you would ask Joe Biden. Katie, please don't stoop to trash journalism like the rest of the MSM by asking stupid, degrading questions of this woman. Be the one journalist to show some dignity and restraint. Thank you.

Sent by Charlene Mattingly | 9:02 AM | 9-24-2008

Why has she not permitted interviews? Is she ready or not. She talks big.but doesn't back it up. She wantd to br V/P.

Sent by geri lykes | 6:23 PM | 9-24-2008

Please ask intelligent political questions. Treat her with non-bias respect - like a reliable trust worthy reporter. You might be surprised.

Sent by Eileen Maus | 6:43 PM | 9-24-2008

Couric: " why shouldn't your staffers be jailed for ignoring their federal subpoenas?"

Couric: " as a woman how could you charge women for their own rape test kits?"

Couric: " as a woman do you believe that if a woman has a child as the result of a rape she should have it because you believe it's God's will?"

Couric: " Will you admit that you did originally support funding for the bridge to nowhere?"

Couric: " do you still believe that when bush and cheney manipulated data to build a case for going to war in Iraq that the war is still 'God's will'?"

Couric: " why are you suing to get polar bears removed from the endangered species list?"

Couric: " when we have a first ammendment gaurantee of seperation of church and state how do you gaunrantee that laws you pass will not be influenced according to your interpretation of the bible?"

couric: " what gives you the right to stop a federal investigation into whether you abused your authority as governor in the middle of an election campaign?"

if if if if.....sigh.

Sent by Uncleduke316 | 5:32 PM | 9-28-2008