Is Charlie Gibson going to pamper Palin?

I just have to wonder about that. Ooh, keep the ratings up, let the right wing of the Evangelicals know they can watch something beside Fox. Gibson will be in the unenviable position of burning either the left or right wing in the interview, because the one will expect him to serve up fat pitches and the other will expect him to put her face in the dirt with a high tight fastball. Gibson is a compromise figure, let's face it. Dems would prefer a tough interviewer who would give no quarter, Republicans would prefer that the nice lady be excused from any need to interview. For God's sake, don't pick on her, she has a new baby!

Solution? Focus on the record. Palin has been in politics for a few years, she has a record. Talk about it. Don't ask her what it's like to shoot a moose. Don't talk about her pregnant daughter or her new baby, that will just outrage her fans. But don't talk about ice hockey either, it's not relevant to serving as VP, you get maybe one snow a winter in Washington. Please explain your convictions about public library censorship, Ms. Palin. Did you ask about removing books from the Wasilla library because you had some titles in mind, or was it just a loyalty test for the librarian similar to ones that Gonzalez set up in the Bush Justice Department?

Don't forget to also ask about things that Palin has not had to understand, but will. What do you know about economics, Palin? Can you explain it to your new boss who has said he does not understand it? Tell us about Georgia and the Russians, and how we are going to straighten out the Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae mess? What is your understanding of climate science? Would you prefer to discount the expressed consensus of scientists as Bush has done, and as you have done up to now? Explain your feelings on the role of lobbyists in Washington, in light of the fact that you made such a big thing of not building the bridge to nowhere, but then kept the money and built the access road up to the missing bridge? Why did you seek and obtain 27 million in federal funds for the tiny town of Wasilla, then claim to be a crusader against the good old boys network, the very network that helped you get the 27 million which opened up your political future?

From the CBS website: (What to expect from the Palin Interview- Steve Benen)

"Gibson will travel to Alaska for the interview.
So, what should viewers expect? From Palin, I suspect she'll be fine. A couple of weeks of intensive prepping for a capable politician, coupled with an ability to dodge and filibuster, all on her home "turf," should be more than enough to get through the interview without any trouble at all. Those expecting Palin to make embarrassing mistakes will likely be disappointed.

From Gibson, after watching him with McCain last week, my expectations are considerably lower. I suspect part of him realizes he earned this special opportunity because the McCain campaign expects him to ask softball and/or predictable questions, and there may be some inkling to prove them wrong, but I doubt it. Gibson no doubt knows the McCain campaign punishes networks that ask forceful and substantive questions, and he probably doesn't want to lose his shot at the first exclusive sit-down with Todd Palin.

Given this, Josh Marshall predicted that the Gibson interview "will be unwatchable." I'm afraid he's probably right."

Well that is depressing but probably true.