NO INTERVIEWS FOR YOU.... At campaign stops with John McCain yesterday,
Sarah Palin introduced the Republican nominee, but still relied on a
teleprompter to help her get through her lines.

And if Palin still needs a script to introduce McCain, it's not at all
surprising that the campaign doesn't want her anywhere near an
inquisitive journalist.

A senior McCain campaign official advises that, despite the gaggle
of requests and pressure from the media, Gov. Sarah Palin won't submit
to a formal interview anytime soon. 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 campaign believes it can effectively deal with the
media's complaints, and their on-the-record response to all this will
be: "Sarah Palin needs to spend time with the voters."

Not out of the question are appearances on lighter, fluffier
television shows. But -- not for a while.

Good lord, she needs more "time with the voters"? That's the defense?

There's been plenty of talk over the last eight days over whether Palin
is prepared to be vice president. Perhaps the more salient question is
whether she's prepared to be a vice presidential candidate.

To be sure, Palin has spent her career in public office focusing
exclusively on local issues. Given her responsibilities, there's nothing
wrong with that in the slightest. Palin hasn't demonstrated any interest
in, or knowledge of, federal issues, in large part because she hasn't
had to. Of course she's not ready for "Meet the Press." If I worked for
McCain, I'd be panicked about the notion of reporters asking her
questions, too.

But as Kevin noted, this tells us a great deal about the McCain
campaign's state of mind: "The McCain campaign is scared to death. They
knew nothing about Palin before they announced her, they relied on a
cursory vetting process that has turned out to be shot full of holes,
they realize now that she has no settled views on any issue of national
importance and could blurt out anything at any time, and they're
terrified about what might crop up next. So they're keeping her in the
deep freeze."

This might work in the short-term, and if recent history is any guide,
the Mayberry Machiavellis running the McCain campaign are exclusively
interested in short-term success.

But it's not sustainable over the next 59 days. The campaign has to hope
desperately that Palin is a very quick study in Federal Government 101.

Washington Monthly