The Hannity-Limbaugh crowd reaction to Gibson's interview shows how conditioned that audience is.

[Faygo Kid]

They simply cannot believe that good ol' Charlie actually asked tough, credible questions of Palin. They expected more of the Faux News, Hannity, Beck, Limbaugh echo chamber (to be fair, so did many of us at DU). The difference is that while we were pleasantly surprised, we know that such things can actually happen. They have listened to one another for so long, and are so used to intimidating the media, that this caught them completely by surprise. They are not prepared to cope with what occurred.

It doesn't trigger their trained synapses. Hence their extraordinary reactions, from panic to defensiveness to attack. But their reactions are not consistent, they are not in lockstep in this one.

They have been thrown a curve, after a steady diet of fastballs.

Some of the best curveballers - and fastballers - have come from the left, now that I think about it.

[glowing]

1. You know, the whole Bush Doctrine thing really threw Charlie for a loop.

You could tell he was visibly shocked. I think that it will be harder and harder for these journalists who have travelled the world and who have interviewed world leaders to actually try to carry the water for the McCain campaign. Charlie didn't mean for that to be a shocking revelation. He expected her to say, yes, we beleive we have the right to pre-emptive strike against those who wish to do us harm.. It was actually a softball question that should have been really easy for her to answer. The fact that she didn't even know what the Bush Doctrine is and how McCain felt about it, actually makes her look even worse.... THAT's the thing.. THAT question was a softball question. THAT question was a give-me. AND she didn't know what it was.

[Raven]

3. Boy, I absolutely agree with you! When I watched that part I thought

Charlie was shocked that she was so clueless.

[glowing]

8. It was like Charlie was stunned into an Awakening... U can see his mind

thinking.. I gave you an easy question and u don't know and u could be the president...

[Andy823]

4. That's why they don't want her

Out on her own doing interviews on the talks shows! In a clip showing Mccain on the view, he said he wanted Obama to be on stage with him, on the view, to talk about things. Someone said that should be the same with Biden and Palin, and even though I don't think he meant it, he agreed! Now that's what I want to see, Biden and Palin together on meet the press, the view and all the other talk shows. We need to promote that!

[rufus dog]

7. and Barbara smacked him at the end

something along the lines of "you deliver Palin and we will work on Obama/Biden"

[knixphan]

10. you read my mind.

At some point, even guys like CG have to say...'Whoa. Maybe this isn't good for us...'

[dbonds]

2. Well, to be truthful the questions weren't that hardball

and he could have devastated her with proper followups.

[SDJay]

5. Exactly

When she stammered through the, "of course, there have been blunders along the way," I knew it'd be too much to hope for Charlie to simply ask her to name a couple of blunders. If he had, she may have literally thrown up all over herself right then and there.

[Lancer]

6. I think Charlie Gibson was so flummoxed

by the woman's idiocy he forgot how to throw out a sensible follow-up. I thought he was throwing her lifeline after lifeline to save herself from her ignorance (Bush Doctrine question).

[Faygo Kid]

9. I agree, too, but they actually exceeded my very low expectations.

It was way better than I expected from Charlie Gibson, and I have to be honest and give him props for it.

The hatred he now engenders on the right shows that he touched a nerve. One that they didn't even know existed, in their echo chamber. That was actually a softball interview, but she couldn't even handle that.

Anyway, don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good, especially with the Palin worship we have seen so far. That was good. Let's hope for even better.

[Motown_Johnny]

11. I thought the "Bush Doctrine" question was a soft ball.. it was an open ended question

where she was simply asked if she agreed. If only she had know what the fuck he was talking about she could have thrown some serious red meat to the far reich


What was hard about that question? If I was walking down the street and some reporter stuck a mic in my face and asked.. Do you agree with the Bush Doctrine? I would have said Fuck No, the Bush Doctrine is diametrically opposed to everything this nation stands for.


But Nooooooooo.... she didn't know what it was so suddenly it is a curve ball, or a hardball. I am calling Bull Shit on this... it was a softball on a tee and she missed it.

[stevietheman]

12. I have a feeling Gibson is going to be a little easier on Obama for the rest of the campaign. n/t

n/t