Palin And Gibson: "High Noon" In Alaska

MarketWatch's Jon Friedman Wonders Who's The Good Guy In The Face-Off Between ABC's Veteran Anchor And The GOP's Rising Star

(MarketWatch)  This column was written by MarketWatch's Jon Friedman.

---

Hollywood doesn't have to do a sequel of "High Noon," one of the all-time great movies. Charles Gibson and Sarah Palin are doing their best to recreate the dramatic showdown when the hero confronts the villain in Alaska.

But who exactly do you think are the hero and the villain as you watch ABC's broadcast this week of The Interview Heard 'Round the World?

To much of America, journalist Gibson is clearly wearing the black hat. The ABC News anchor's probing questions threaten to expose the inexperience of John McCain's running mate. Palin has become a full-blown pop-culture phenomenon, as America seems to be fascinated with everything from her Alaska roots to her distinctive eyeglasses.

Gibson simply can't win. He is the sophisticated, big-city television anchor. She is the small-town mayor who rose to become a governor and is just doing her best to raise her kids. As Gibson ventures to Alaska to interview Palin on her home tundra -- in her first unscripted appearance since she received the vice-president position on McCain's ticket -- he runs the risk of disappointing every faction in the Western Hemisphere.

If he doesn't reduce her to a quivering mass of jelly, Democrats will attack him for being too soft on a wily politician. On the other hand, if Gibson does indeed drive Palin into a corner, Republicans will shriek that he is a sexist who bullied America's new favorite hockey mom.

If Gibson plays it down the middle, critics like me will dismiss him as a hopeless wimp.

What can he accomplish?

I'd be pleased if Gibson could help me understand what Palin is thinking. How has her life changed since McCain surprised the world and placed her in the spotlight? What does she stand for? What exactly would she tell Russian President Vladimir Putin in a sit-down? And has she ever really wrestled a caribou to the ground with her bare hands?

To many Americans, Palin is the real-life version of Kevin Kline's character in the movie "Dave," an ordinary Joe who has been thrust into the white-hot White House environment. Or, perhaps, she reminds others of "Chance," the accidental political hero of "Being There."

Who will emerge as the more credible TV star? Will it be the scholarly face of "ABC World News with Charles Gibson," who graduated from Princeton University and earns millions of dollars a year, or the former mayor of tiny Wasilla, Alaska, who used to go moose hunting with her father and was nicknamed "Sarah Barracuda" because of her ferocious play on the basketball court?

Go easy on Charlie, Sarah. He's just doing his best.

[demsts]

Noticed how quickly her eye blinked when he asked her if she understood ''hubris''. All ready for the mission and the war--George W Bush''s third term.

[joseph8221]

Mr. Gibson interview with Sarah was all to demolich her and cater to the foreign policy elite class and to himself to appear tough and as an inquisitor of a hockey Mom, for Sarah to appear so ordinary and unfit to become the VP, and that she is only good in the bedroom and/or or his Matron in the Castle of ABC Networks:
Here''s why:Review the first frame that appeared in the tv screens; the camera was tilted towards Gibson as the focal point with his head tildting downward and the rim of his eyeglasses on his nose'' bridge! That opening act alone is more than enough to conclude that he is all out there to put Sarah on the defensive! He acted as a rogue DA district attorney interviewing thugs and ****** in the streets!

2. The lighting was very poor; making SArap appear tired and without the glamour she had projected in the campaign; the cameras was not on the eye level, but elevated so Sarah, by instict, looked at the camera upward, making her appear as a a woman begging for more, inside the bedroom!

For these alone, it makes me sick! Vomit! Enough is enough of sexism!

WOMEN OF AMERICA, WHITE AND BLACK, UNITE AND DEFEND YOUR WOMANHOOD!

call abc, msnbc, cnn, ne fair, and we will
remember you come rating period!

[joseph8221]

What is foreign policy? Simply put, it is the reflection of our domestic interests in our dealings with the foreign countries; its protection to serve our interests as a people. it reflects our democratic values so well written in the Preamble ofour Constitution by the founding fathers, our inalineable rights to life, freedom, and liberty!

Among us hockey mom, it valls for security of our basic rights, for a secured job, health, education, healthy environment.

It is sad that Sarah is being accused as inexperienced for she does not belong to the foreign policy expert class of Washington?

[grammawhamma]

I thought Palin did a good job at the interview even though Gibson came down hard on her.

My question is when is Obama going to get a hard interview? I''ve been waiting for how many months now?

[realpatriot1]

Palin''s lack of knowledge and lack of diplomacy was frightwning.

Everyone knows that if we allow Georgia & Ukraine into NATO and Russia then attacks that we are obligated to respond, but given the sensitive nature of that fact leaders with a sense of diplomacy would''ve refused to answer that hypothetical question.

Memo to Palin: Don''t speculate publically about invading a country with 2,500 nuclear weapons.

She demonstrated her ignorance by showing that she didn''t understand what the Bush Doctrine is. Frightening to think she could be cast into leadership without McCain''s handlers to hide her from the world.

[whitemale08]

LMAO!!! Palin can''t even pass a softball interview with Gibson on ABC and yet Republicans are whining and making excuses for her abyssmal failure to answer basic questions.

Obama flies through Fox Noise O''Reily interview and he''s supposed to be their toughest guy.

Come on Republicans, admit it, she got a big fat ''F''; she flunked it, no doubt about it.

[whitemale08]

Republicans are such CRY BABIES!!!

This DORK is not ready to be President!!!

[thisandthat1]

"At times visibly nervous, at others appearing to hew so closely to prepared answers that she used the exact same phrases repeatedly, Ms. Palin most visibly stumbled when she was asked by Mr. Gibson if she agreed with the Bush doctrine." ..... The NY Times

[hungryman9]

Whitemale
You are high this morning aren''t you. Did you smoke too much weed or something. Your gay Obama is not going to win this race. The people are wise to him and do not trust him. McCain and Palin will win big and you can maybe spend your time with Obama smoking pot and maybe invite Larry Sinclair on board.

[patriciaohio]

Palin gave clear distinct answers to the questions - what a refreshing change from the liar lawyers.

[sleepyric]

I watched the interview, and frankly, I am JesusH.Christ scared to death that this amatuer politician is a beat away from the presidency. Even I know what the "Bush Doctrine" is, and hopefully after 20 Jan 09, we can use the word "WAS". If the people of the country elect this crazy woman they will all get what they deserve. No way she should win.

[armydog2]

Ms Palin does not have the knowledge needed to hold the second highest office in our Country. She is downright scary.

[hungryman9]

I watched the interview, and frankly, I am JesusH.Christ scared to death that this amatuer politician is a beat away from the presidency. Even I know what the "Bush Doctrine" is, and hopefully after 20 Jan 09, we can use the word "WAS". If the people of the country elect this crazy woman they will all get what they deserve. No way she should win.
Posted by sleepyric
***********
Well she is going to win and win big. Frankly I feel this is what we need in this country. We need guts in the President''s office and haven''t seen that since Reagan. I think she and McCain both are gutsy and will win with a landslide. You libs are sick and two weeks ago you thought you had this race won and it has turned around on you. This woman has become the most loved woman in the country and that bothers libs

[mydiatribe]

This political campaign reminds me of a time when minding my own business in a lunch line this bully comes up and punches me (totally unprovoked).

When teachers separated us we were both lumped as troublemakers and both received the same punishment.
I knew what the truth was but had to endure my tormentor''s taunting smirks, carefully orchestrated out of the teacher''s view.

The LEFTIST MEDIA behaves exactly as that bully.
If Sarah Palin fights back she is gummed up with the sinister intents of a LEFTIST media.

No longer deniable, the three TV networks are UNABLE TO TELL THE TRUTH! CHARLIE GIBSON IS A COWARD!
ABC''s intention is to benefit the Barack campaign.
Gibson sold his integrity. Hubris Indeed??? Insinuating what? LEFTIE CHARLIE wouldn''t dare ask Vladimir Putin that question.

Yes, Charlie the hubris is there and its yours. Never a hard news guy, I didn''t realized what a total STOOGE Gibson could be. Charlie Gibson your God was watching this charade!

[mydiatribe]

Fox News: 39% Republican viewers, 22% Democrat viewers, 36% Independent viewers. The MOST BALANCE audience of all reports an independent poll.

Fox the ypongest and smallest news organization and the only one not in the tank!

BTW: CNN 51% Democratic viewers!

[idnnsg]

"What does she stand for?"

The END OF THE WORLD: unimaginable suffering and death, followed by eternal hell for everyone except a few christians who will fly off into the sky, carrying their rotting corpses with them!

She is an END-TIMER nut-job. She WANTS to create a massive thermonuclear holocost, killing most of the people of the world, in the foolish hope that doing so will "bring back Jesus"!

A vote for Palin/McCain is a vote for the death of your own mother, father, brothers, sisters, children, aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews, and the WHOLE WOLRD along with them!

[mydiatribe]

Gibson sold his integrity. Hubris Indeed??? Insinuating what? LEFTIE CHARLIE wouldn''''t dare ask Vladimir Putin that question.

Yes, Charlie the hubris is there.It''s yours. What a total in-the-tank STOOGE Charlie Gibson is! Charlie Gibson your God was watching this charade!

[idnnsg]

"This political campaign reminds me of a time when minding my own business in a lunch line this bully comes up and punches me (totally unprovoked). [etc.]..." - mydiatribe

Thank you for that peek into the dark, tormented personal history which led to the creation of yet another little authoritarian nazi repugnant Bush lover!

[mydiatribe]

IDNNSG Dear Buah hating numbskull!
You haven''t witnessed more airplanes flying into sky scrapers in the past seven years have you?
What is that LUCK!
Not likely, it''s your own hubris, insane bias, and bad memory that forgets how bad it was seven yesr ago today.
Bet you didn''t come out from under your bed for weeks on September 01!
I''m sick of leftie UNGRATEFUL CONSPIRACY NUTJOBS!

[hungryman9]

And Charles Gibson was being nice. Just wait til Biden starts asking questions at the VP debates....
Posted by onemoretim
***************************
What I''ve seen of Biden, he will not get anything on this woman. Yesterday I received email that led me to a place where she debated the former governor of AK and she made a fool of him. Yes governors do have debates in their elections. This woman is too smart for him and Obama and that is why the democrats are in such disarray now.

[mycomment1]

And Charles Gibson was being nice. Just wait til Biden starts asking questions at the VP debates....
Posted by onemoretim at 07:21 AM : Sep 12, 2008

You know what is really sad about this is that no male vice presidential candidate has EVER been subjected to this type of interview. Why don''t we have a totally unscripted interview with Biden from a very biased press member and see how he performs. See how many non-committal practiced, scripted replies he gives. He''s an expert at that. He is so wired to be politically correct that he most likely doesn''t have ANY real opionion left. Career politicians know perfectly well how to dupe the public and give awasy just enough information to leave them totally confused. Well if that''s the kind of interview you like....then Biden is your man.

[mydiatribe]

"Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it."
Peace only works if both parties earnestly seek it.

Manical Muslim Extremists want you DEAD! But I''m sure if you send the likes of Charlie Gibson and Barry Obama to chat with them the will change their mind.

[ademeyer]

Sarah Palin is not my favorite hockey mom. She isn''t my idea of a potential President either. I think she''s a boy toy. The Republicans like to have her around because she''s attractive and happy to attack Obama. If she ever seriously disagreed with McCain he wouldn''t listen, he''d just ignore her.

[mydiatribe]

"Stand up, Chalie!" "Let them see you! Ohhh? What amI thinking?" == Joe Biden

I''m sure Sarah Palin will handle whatever The Testy Joe Biden can throw at her.
Hockey Mom vs. Foot-in-Mouth! LOL!

[larrymi1]

Another reason to go to the internet for news. Could Charlie Gibson hold a more biased partisan attack interview than we saw last night? I thought that Diane Sawyer was a partisn lefty however Charlie left her in the dust as he rushed to the Democratic left to do their work.
Sarah did a great job sticking to the message and gracefully repeating answers that Charlie couldn''t seem to comprehed or chose to ignore.

[whitemale08]

I thought Palin was performing another one of her comedy acts. LMAO!!!!

Talk about hilarious!

Even my little nephew said: "How come she doesn''t know the answer?" LMAO!!!

haaaahaa.

[hungryman9]

"What does she stand for?"

The END OF THE WORLD: unimaginable suffering and death, followed by eternal hell for everyone except a few christians who will fly off into the sky, carrying their rotting corpses with them!

She is an END-TIMER nut-job. She WANTS to create a massive thermonuclear holocost, killing most of the people of the world, in the foolish hope that doing so will "bring back Jesus"!

A vote for Palin/McCain is a vote for the death of your own mother, father, brothers, sisters, children, aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews, and the WHOLE WOLRD along with them!
Posted by IDNNSG
******************************
You joke about it now, but the day will probably come when you regret making this statement. Now go ahead and criticize me, but I believe in Jesus and stand up for him and I think Sarah does too. The Bible tells us about these times and people, so we know we have to expect it. I feel sorry for you. Wish you had the joy and happiness on your face that Sarah Palin has.

[rwassel]

Sorry, but Palin''s views on creationism in public schools, her shaky history on foreign policy, and her shady past concerning earmarks are enough to make this moderate think twice about voting for her.

Nice lady, but c''mon? Do we want a women who thinks assault rifles are necessary in society and who think creationism should be taught as our next VP...yikes!

[vsg4]

Sarah Palin is not innocent here to be attacked by a journalist. She knows what is it going to be. Charlie is not lefty. It is owned by Disney who CEO is a known republican. The fact of the matter is she does not know many things like "Bush doctrine" and when she said we will retaliate Russia if it attacks the same way after it Georgia joins NATO. Putin sure knows that US army is so over spent and over stretched that it cannot come for Georgia''s rescue to save oil pipe line that supplies crude oil to Europe that is owned by BP. I think every body knows who own oil pipe line that runs through Alaska.

[rwassel]

hungrymama - Does the Bible have passages in there about assault rifles being legal? What about cutting money for social services to the poor and underpivileged in favor of earmarks? Sorry, but the whole Bible argument doesn''t really work in politics any more, for either party.

[hungryman9]

Sarah Palin is not innocent here to be attacked by a journalist. She knows what is it going to be. Charlie is not lefty. It is owned by Disney who CEO is a known republican. The fact of the matter is she does not know many things like "Bush doctrine" and when she said we will retaliate Russia if it attacks the same way after it Georgia joins NATO. Putin sure knows that US army is so over spent and over stretched that it cannot come for Georgia''''s rescue to save oil pipe line that supplies crude oil to Europe that is owned by BP. I think every body knows who own oil pipe line that runs through Alaska.
Posted by vsg4
**************************
We are in better shaape than when Reagan took over from Carter. Those times were the worse we have had

[whatithink1]

hungrymama,

Reagan has hidden a lot of problems that will come to light around 2015. Greenspan helped him. The problem with the U.S. started when Nixon got off the gold standard.

[hungryman9]

hungrymama - Does the Bible have passages in there about assault rifles being legal? What about cutting money for social services to the poor and underpivileged in favor of earmarks? Sorry, but the whole Bible argument doesn''''t really work in politics any more, for either party.
Posted by rwassel
*****************************
Sorry I can''t change your thoughts, but I know I have seen a lot of what the Bible says will happen and I think the world will see the rest. When I don''t know.
But I believe in God and Jesus, so does Sarah and the Bible says ever knee shall bow and we will answer for every idle word and man I have made a lot of idle word from my mouth, but I do believe the Bible.

[tachoma-2009]

an intelligent black guy + an experience white guy = a senile white guy a bubble head white woman

this the part i couldn''t understand in school.

Out of all the members of the republican party governers, senators, congressmen,etc this is the best that they could come up with.

[mycomment1]

Even my little nephew said: "How come she doesn''''t know the answer?" LMAO!!!
haaaahaa.
Posted by whitemale08 at 08:05 AM : Sep 12, 2008

Sure he did....

[whatithink1]

hungrymama,

The bible also says beware of false prophets. Nothing is worse than someone pretending to be on a mission from God. I think that''s the reason why our founding fathers wanted religion out of the government. People are too easily duped when someone starts sprout off their religion.

[hungryman9]

hungrymama,

Reagan has hidden a lot of problems that will come to light around 2015. Greenspan helped him. The problem with the U.S. started when Nixon got off the gold standard.
Posted by whatithink1
*******************************
Sorry, I can''t agree with you on everything but I can''t. My wife is ready to go shopping and I bet you agree that I better get off my fanny and go. She has been fixing her hair for the last hour and I thinkk she is about ready Bye

[thinkharder-]

The Bible tells us about these times and people,
Posted by hungrymama at 08:09 AM : Sep 12, 2008

I just love how you folks are so easily lead by passages in a book written by superstitious bronze age sheep herders, but give no weight to the collective works of minds such as Einstein and Darwin.

[ioweign]

You know what is really sad about this is that no male vice presidential candidate has EVER been subjected to this type of interview. Why don''''t we have a totally unscripted interview with Biden from a very biased press member and see how he performs. See how many non-committal practiced, scripted replies he gives. He''''s an expert at that. He is so wired to be politically correct that he most likely doesn''''t have ANY real opionion left. Career politicians know perfectly well how to dupe the public and give awasy just enough information to leave them totally confused. Well if that''''s the kind of interview you like....then Biden is your man.

Posted by Mycomment1 at 07:49 AM : Sep 12, 2008

When was the last time a VP candidate male or female was hidden from the press for two weeks after getting picked for the position. You can run and HIDE - right...

[thinkharder-]

but I know I have seen a lot of what the Bible says will happen and I think the world will see the rest.

Posted by hungrymama at 08:19 AM : Sep 12, 2008

What have you seen happen that was foretold by the bible? I am endlessly interested in YOUR interpretation of the correctness of biblical prophesy.

[balz2dwall]

If Palin were anywhere close to VP material, she could have done this interview the day of her being announced as McCain''s running mate . . . But, no. The GOP had to rush her into hiding to download and install GOP 2.0; they reinstalled the newest company lines, one liners, and talking points. Pitiful . . .

[vsg4]

"Actually, with record debt, record trade deficite, record forclosures, record oil prices, record service men and women suicide, etc, etc... we are in worse ''shaape'' than America ever has been.

Posted by onemoretim at 08:20 AM : Sep 12, 2008"

That is what happens if one goes to war by giving 135 billions tax cut. Increasing the internal debt from 5.7 trillions to 10.16 trillions an all time high( China owns 1.6 trillions in the form of US treasury notes). After Freddie mac and Fannie may''s rescue the budget deficit reaches 500 billions a record high. I need not mentions high prices of gold, gas, medical insurance & stagnant pays in past 8 years ( in real time after adjusting to inflation), yes we are in better shape than 8 years ago.

[thisandthat1]

Someone actually just wrote that they thought that Joe Biden "most likely doesn''t have ANY real opinions left". lol .... ok, NOW I''ve heard it all!

[thinkharder-]

You know what is really sad about this is that no male vice presidential candidate has EVER been subjected to this type of interview.
Posted by IOWEIGN at 08:26 AM : Sep 12, 2008

Are you out of your mind? Biden has been hitting the trail hard, talking with the press...and the people without bounds or conditions. We know nothing about this woman. based on what I know of her and what little history she has for us to look back on, I wouldn''t trust her to walk my dogs much less sit in the #2 spot for leading the free world.

[mycomment1]

When was the last time a VP candidate male or female was hidden from the press for two weeks after getting picked for the position. You can run and HIDE - right...
Posted by IOWEIGN at 08:26 AM : Sep 12, 2008

Two weeks? Big deal. It''s people like you just looking for a kill who are the reason she felt she needed time to think about and clarify her own opinions. You''re just jealous because nobody gives a rat''s behind what Biden has to say. He''s a pompous azz and his speeches are so rehearsed nobody has any interest in hearing his worn out spiel.

[mycomment1]

Someone actually just wrote that they thought that Joe Biden "most likely doesn''''t have ANY real opinions left". lol .... ok, NOW I''''ve heard it all!
Posted by thisandthat1 at 08:32 AM : Sep 12, 2008

See the key word here was ''real'' not the politically expedient ones he spouts all the time. The ultimate Washington insider...isn''t that what you supposedly are against? Did you forget that NOBODY wanted him for president?

[imarltool2u]

Charlie to Sarah: What is the Bush Doctrine?

Sarah: Well, I think it''s (talk nonsense for 2 minutes).
Charlie to Sarah: What is the Bush Doctrine?

Sarah: Well, I think then maybe it''s (talk more nonsense for 2 minutes).

Charlie to Sarah: The Bush Doctrine is the doctrine of preemption where the USA has the right to initiate it''s defense without warning.

Sarah to Charlie: Oh! It is?

[imarltool2u]

Sarah honey, it''s ok, as that great scholar Forest Gump once said, stupid is what stupid does. You just happen to be stupid. At least you have the moose as friends.

[imarltool2u]

Correction Sarah honey, at least you still have the deer in the headlights as your friends.

[mycomment1]

Sarah honey, it''''s ok, as that great scholar Forest Gump once said, stupid is what stupid does. You just happen to be stupid. At least you have the moose as friends.
Posted by imarltool2u at 08:44 AM : Sep 12, 2008

Well if Palin, the governor of Alaska, is ''stupid'' what does that make you? Please enlighen us with all you accomplisments.