Palin on SNL: Shooting the moose

I'm still laughing out loud, hillarious.

She didn't do anything - she had like four lines. I was disappointed - I still think Tina Fey is a much better Palin than Palin is...

so funny.....

Don't care-much for her politics or ethics, but as another human being, I felt sorry for her during that skit...

Why did she bother?
Tina Fey should run she is way better!

Ditto Jenny. Fey is a way better Palin than Palin.

Tina Fey...for VP!!! She's better, than the real one.

Awesome job. SNL is soo liberal and biased. They obviously support one candidate. Tina Fay is bleeding this role.

ligtening up people its all in good fun

I was hoping Sarah Palin would play Tina Fey, which could have been enormously funny, but I suppose that's expecting too much of her. Comedic impressions are what Tina Fey does for a living, whereas Sarah Palin's expertise is more along the lines of telling lies and whipping up rednecks.

Palin was pathetic. She did absolutely nothing.

At least they didn't skewer Palin's retarded baby.

I agree with deltaman. They just blatantly mocked her throughout the whole skit.

Well, she might not be ready for the white house, but looks like she could be a great comedic actor

HILARIOUS! SHOOT THE MOOSE!

yeah i was expecting more out of Palin, i mean shes got so much to say about everything else, yet when put on the stop like that or when the GOP hasnt rehearsed exactly what shes suppose to say, she freezes. it would have been better if she just stole the show and went out on a limb, i mean the people of her state were the ones saying "let palin be palin" well if thats the real palin then wow... talk about as stiff as a board and ackward.

Does John McCain "pal around with terrorists?"

Certainly McCain's continuing "association" and relationship with the convicted Watergate burglar and domestic terrorist G. Gordon Liddy might suggest that is the case, if we are to apply the standards drawn by the McCain campaign.

In 1998, Liddy gave a fundraiser in his Scottsdale, Arizona home for McCain's senatorial re-election campaign -- the two posed for photographs together; and as recently as May, 2007, as a presidential candidate, McCain was a guest on Liddy's syndicated radio show. Inexplicably, McCain heaped praise on his host's values. During the segment, McCain said he was "proud" of Liddy, and praised Liddy's "adherence to the principles and philosophies that keep our nation great." From the program:

LIDDY: Your experience in the Hanoi Hilton is remarkable. I mean, I put in five years in a prison [for masterminding the Watergate burglary, and associated crimes], but it was here in the United States, and they didn't torture - the only torture that I had was being forced to listen to rap music from time to time.

McCAIN: Well, you know, I'm proud of you. I'm proud of your family. I'm proud to know your son, Tom, who's a great and wonderful guy. And it's always a pleasure for me to come on your program, Gordon. And congratulations on your continued success and adherence to the principles and philosophies that keep our nation great.

Which of Liddy's "principles and philosophies" was McCain referring to? Liddy's advocacy of break-ins? Firebombings? Assassinations? Kidnappings? Taking target practice with figures nicknamed Bill and Hillary?

During the same period that Bill Ayers was a member of the Weather Underground, Gordon Liddy was making plans to firebomb a Washington think tank, assassinate a prominent journalist, undertake the Watergate burglary, break into the office of Daniel Ellsberg's psychiatrist, and kidnap anti-war protesters at the 1972 Republican convention.

Re: Liddy's "continued success and adherence to the principles and philosophies that keep our nation great:" Did McCain mean to include Liddy's instructions to listeners of his radio show in 1994 (around the time Ayres and Obama were on a board together discussing education programs and other plots) on how to shoot Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms agents (aim for the head)?

If ATF agents attempt to curtail a citizen's gun ownership, Liddy counseled, "Well, if the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms comes to disarm you and they are bearing arms, resist them with arms. Go for a head shot; they're going to be wearing bulletproof vests."

More recently, Liddy explained making the Clintons objects of shooting practice: "I did relate that on the 4th of July of last year, when I and my family and some friends were out firing away at a properly-constructed rifle range and we ran out of targets, and so we - I drew some stick figure targets and I thought we ought to give them names. So I named them Bill and Hillary, thought it might improve my aim. It didn't. My aim is good anyway. Now, having said that, I accept no responsibility for somebody shooting up the White House."

The Liddy-McCain symbiosis has been mentioned in a number of posts on the Internet - mostly by bloggers and sites identified with The Left. But the documentation of their interaction (Liddy has also contributed financially to McCain's presidential campaign) is not a matter of Left or Right: It is astonishing that, given the prominence of the Ayers matter accorded by virtually every "mainstream" news outlet in America, there has been virtually nothing on the subject in the major newspapers and broadcast networks. This is a real journalistic failure and abrogation of responsibility.

Is Liddy any less a domestic terrorist than Bill Ayers? It is a zero-sum argument, for sure. I do not believe, incidentally, that John McCain shares the most abhorrent of Liddy's values, as expressed in Liddy's actions during the same period that Ayers was a Weatherman - and which Liddy continues to express, unapologetically, to this day.

But McCain has now become so unmoored from the principles he once espoused, so shameless in his courtship not only of the Republican "base" but in his eagerness to unleash a poisonous arsenal of character assassination and guilt-by-association - and plain-and-simple incitement of people's fears and prejudices - that, now, inevitably his and Sara Palin's rallies and campaign events have taken on the aura of mobs at times.

"Kill him," a man in the crowd responded last week, when Palin declared -yet again - "He's palling around with terrorists who would target their own country." In Virginia, the State Republican chairman announced a set of talking points to campaign volunteers - stressing the incendiary connection, reported Time magazine, between Barack Obama and Osama bin Laden: "Both have friends that bombed the Pentagon. That is scary," the Republican chairman said.

The most recent McCain ad on the subject shouts, "Obama worked with terrorist William Ayers when it was convenient" - perhaps suggesting, indeed, even that the candidate was there planting bombs.

The intended message of the McCain campaign is, of course, that Obama is less than patriotic - enunciated even by the candidate's wife, Cindy: "The day that Senator Obama decided to cast a vote to not fund my son when he was serving sent a cold chill through my body," she recently told a crowd of several thousand, which also heard her husband and Palin sound similar notes. (The chairman of the Lehigh, Pa., County Republican Party, William Platt, "implored the crowd to work hard to elect McCain or wake up November 5 to see 'Barack Obama, Barack Hussein Obama,' as the president," reported The Washington Post.)

Like Cindy McCain, the campaign's "Ad Facts" also trumpet - misleadingly - the only troop-funding bill that Obama voted against, in 2007 - without noting that Obama first voted for the bill, in a version that included a timetable for withdrawal. Nor did Cindy McCain mention that her husband, too, voted against the troop-funding bill - in the version that contained withdrawal language.

Thus has John McCain embarked on a scorched-earth death struggle for the presidency - cultural warfare that knows no bounds, exceeding perhaps even the mendacity and ferocity of the campaign waged against him by George Bush in 2000, and of which McCain once said there was "a special place in hell" for the Bush operatives who smeared him. (McCain also said of the Swift-boat attacks against John Kerry by Republicans in 2004: "I deplore this kind of politics. I think the ad is dishonest and dishonorable.")

The lethal weapon of the McCain campaign's dreams is the explosive allegation that, in Palin's words - Obama "pals around with terrorists." McCain, wisely, did not raise the matter himself in the last presidential debate. Why?

At the time, much of the commentariat attributed the omission to McCain's purported concerns that Obama would respond by reciting the history of McCain's "association" with the S&L swindler Charles Keating, for which McCain was cited by the Senate Ethics Committee early in his career, for exercising "poor judgment" for intervening improperly with federal regulators on behalf of Keating, as part of the infamous Keating Five scandal.

But the more likely explanation of why McCain avoided a debate confrontation about "palling around with terrorists" is McCain's very real - and recent - symbiotic association and praise for another (not Ayers) domestic terrorist emblematic of the Vietnam era: G. Gordon Liddy.

very poor showing,disappointing

The Globe has a reputation for appealing to a more liberal audience politically. And in 14 comments, I see references to Palin's "retarded baby" and that Palin is good for "whipping up rednecks."

I'm offended and the posters ought to be ashamed.

It shows no respect for the dignity of a Down Syndrome baby to call him "retarded" and to refer to those who appreciate what Palin brings to the table as "rednecks" is beneath common decency.

If a Conservative spoke with such prejudice we'd be flamed like crazy in a forum such as this.

So, my Liberal friends, where is your ire to those who make fun of Down Syndrome babies by calling them "retarded" and for those who think that anyone who believes in smaller government, less wellfare, and that working people should be rewarded, not taxed must all be "rednecks?"

Your silence is deafening.

She did not do anything. Why did she even bother? I guess thats because she is trying to compete with Hillary because when Hillary was on, now that was funny. I don't like Palin...and she should go back to her "PRO-American" city she came from. She is pathetic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The most hilarious part of this is that the Boston.com writer didn't realize that Palin declining to do the rap was totally rehearsed...did you really think a eight month pregnant just jumped up spur of the moment for the rap...get real...

I think the whole thing is ridiculous. If it were a man we wouldn't be seeing the remarks about shooting animals and making fun. It is becasue she is a woman she takes the hit. Wake up world and grow up SNL while you are at it.

Why don't men get treated this way? Why can't our country accept strong women for who they are and what they bring forth. We are heading back to the pre civil rights days on issues that surround strong women, Men can't take the competition

I am not a Republican, but I think Palin showed a bit of verve showing up on SNL. She and Mc Ancient will not get my vote, but good for her for having a sense of humor!

Shooting the moose was the best part; the rest of it was disappointingly poor production and timing. Palin and Fey could have done a mirror gag, a la Lucille Ball and Harpo Marx back in the fifties...or tried to confuse the viewers in a version of 'To tell the Truth" when we guess the real Palin.

Hilarious, I loved it!

Tina Fey is "bleeding" the role? Obviously you haven't read any of the interviews in which she talks about how much she can't wait to be done playing this woman. The Weekend Update rap was funny, but not because of anything Palin did. She basically came off looking like she wanted no part in having any fun.... I'm sure that's hard to work with if you're a writer on the show. I'm surprised she agreed to do it because she looked completely out of place and didn't do anything to poke fun at herself, she just let other people do it for her. I guess I'm not surprised though.

Martin, you had better ideas than the SNL writers. Sarah's "performance" was bland, but she didn't have the bush/rowe team writing her lines. Palin should probably stick to those lines when she returns to the "Pro-American" state she came from. You know, the one that wants to secede.

Mark Sohmer writes "So, my Liberal friends, where is your ire to those who make fun of Down Syndrome babies by calling them "retarded"", etc.

Mark, welcome to the Internet, where much posting is created by shills with an agenda. Sure, you may perceive that the Globe is "liberal" (your words), but that doesn't mean that most people commenting are liberal or being honest. Many posts are created by those that are trying to push buttons and infuriate you and to convince you of their overt OR covert cause.

In short, you just don't know who is doing the posting and what their motive is. But you shouldn't assume that any post was made by any one person any group in particular. It's all just a game.

Be more critical of what you read and hear within public forums such as this one.

@Josie -- I am a woman and am all for a strong woman. Maybe Palin is treated this way not because she is a woman, but because she's utterly out of her element and nowhere near qualified to be a VP? Do you understand that? You don't see Bush being skewered on SNL?
I'm surprised Palin would let herself be skewered like that. It was utterly hilarious, but she's not in on the joke.

Why didn't Tina Fey do the rap?

Tina Fey played Palin that the real one did. She just freezes. I know why she lost the beauty pagent.

I was disappointed SNL even let her on, but glad to see she was not treated with kid gloves. Sad thing is I don't think she realised she was being laughed AT...but that speaks to her ego and blinding ambition.
he fact that she will go on SNL but not answer questions, even mocks this on SNL, is pathetic. I did feel a bit sorry for her when she was doing that pathetic dancing behind the desk.

It was a smart political move for Palin to go out there and be roasted.

I wish she actually poked fun at herself or Fey - that would have made her appear stronger.

Either way, great move all around.

SNL Rocks!!!! Sarah Palin should have not showed up at all, did she not get the memo, SNL is about fun and good humor, she acted to serious for the show. It was just for fun, lighten up, have fun cause your not going to win the White House anyway so enjoy yourself while you can before you return to your igloo.

By day Palin uses lies to stir up hatred and bigotry not seen since the 60's, but that night she uses SNL to make her image look light and fun - a real good sport, eh? Shame on SNL for giving her the forum and allowing themselves to be used like that.

Palin was funny. No matter what you think of her as a politician, she is a role model for women - a tough woman with a sense of humor. I know some women would scream at that statement.... but I think we have come far enough that women can disagree and still respect each others accomplishments.

No matter how the election goes, I expect we'll be hearing a lot more about Ms. Palin in the years to come.

Except for Laura, #36, there are alomost no posts on here that have any reference to reality. You people are f'n STOOPID. How's your government health care system workin out for ya? I hear wait times are 100 days or more to see a PCP. Let's spread that wealth around, huh?

McCain/Palin '08 or it's too late for America.

The weekend update skit seemed kind of lame and Palin definately seemed out of her element. I was almost embarassed for her when she started gyrating to Amy Poehler's rap but I find the woman despicable in every sense of the word for her hate mongering and more.

Happily the big news of the day today isn't Palin, it's Powell!! Right on for the man who actually stood up today to put his country first!!

Sure, we'll hear from Sara Palin -- just like we hear from Dan Quayle.

I think Palin handled a near-impossible situation with dignity, class, grace, and yes, humor.

Please, everyone, take time to read Josef Davies' long comment above, about McCain's CLOSE association with the convicted terrorist G. Gordon Liddy. Then think how disgusting it is that SNL allows itself to promote the continuing smears about Obama and Ayers - for that is how it came across. Palin probably thought the silliness of the evening was worth it just to hear that. SNL should be ashamed of themselves.
Incidentally, catch up on Obama's excellent and clear description of his very limited acquaintance with Ayers, and the list of the other distinguished Chicago figures who served on the same nonprofit board. It was in the third debate.

They made her look like an idiot. So funny.

Hear more about Sarah Palin in the years to come? I certainly hope not. I've had enought of her, already! I'm with Tina Fey --- If Sarah is elected, I'm leaving Earth!

Palin was terrific , lighten up people, this takes some fortitude ,laufhing at one self in todays climate . Lets see the presumptive 1st lady try it . haaaaaa

I thought Sarah was great and a good sport! I am excited for her to bring her enthusiasm to the white house. If you really want change shes your girl. Open up your minds America, lots of other countries have women in leadership roles. Good job Sarah, I am proud of you!!

Painfully embarrassing.

Palin: painfully awkward.

The first part was the best part. Having Marky Mark come on and be pissed off for the previous week and then have Palin say that Steven Baldwin was her favorite Baldwin brother was fantastic. Really great writing SNL. The RAP was goofey and dumb.

Overall, I think Palin did a fine job with so little experience.

It is my hope that the Governor from Alaska will soon return to the obscurity she so richly deserves.

Ted Simpson, I wish I could agree with you. The Globe draws liberal loonies like roadkill draws flies. Check out the Josef Davies Liddy rant. I don't agree with the way campaigns are run, always focusing on the negative if you're behind, and I also don't think Obama is a mean-spirited guy. But don't think for a second Obama wouldn't be doing the same thing if he were trailing McCain instead of vice versa. None of the idealogues will believe that because they have their Obama goggles on, whipped up liberal rednecks enflamed by pandering, anti-journalistic rags like the Globe and the mother ship, the NYT.

Reading these posts and the pathetic, breathless, and sophomoric endorsement of Obama by the Globe's OpEd page makes it very clear why Massachusetts is a political laughingstock in this country. What Alabama is to the Left, Massachusetts is to the Right.

I was at a restaurant in VT yesterday waiting for a takeout order. The restaurant is participating in the "Fork Over Your Vote" promotion. Another in the waiting area inquired about the "voting".
After I explained it to her, this (obviously out-of-stater) person stated, "I'm surprized that Obama is ahead. I thought all you people would support McCain because Sarah Palin knows how to shoot a gun."
Talk about prejudicial, stereotypical and just plain dumb. And this person can vote?

Everyone, please read josef davies comment -- it's excellent.

SNL demonstrated that they are the unfunny home of crass urban liberal moonbats. Palin demonstrated grace under fire. She is a breath of fresh air. Obama is a more charismatic Dukakis: nothing new, just more of the same tax and spend leftist nonsense.

I'd rather be made fun of for living in MA than AL, given MA's greater opportunties in higher education, health care, diversity, sports teams, museums, art, music, science, and technology. Oh, yeah, so embarrassing. NOT. It must burn the "Right" that Colin Powell and Chris Buckley endorse Obama/Biden. Back to SNL and Palin--did she or did she not giggle when called "hotter" in person? Arrrgghh. She is so pathetic.

Palin is much hotter than Fey and she is older!

I think John McCain should have chosen Tina Fey. She has more experience.

Palin was awesome. She played it exactly as she should have. If you don't see that then you just don't get it.

What a great skit.

Left / Right - you're both morons. The so-called two-party system in this country is a joke and the dialogue here and everywhere else is like drunken sports hooligans duking it out in the stands.

Every country gets the government it deserves - and we are no different. These are the best people we could get for teh job?

On voting day, I'm writing in "No Confidence".

Sen. McCain is friendly with a known terrorist, Gordon Liddy. (Scroll down and read the 17th comment under this article).

She wasn't lame. She did what the SNL script told her to do!! Do you think SHE writes for the show??? She's a good sport for coming on the show and doing that!

Anonymous, do you think for a second that Palin and her handlers have no say in what will be on the air? She's a good sport but I think she could have done a lot better and show some backbone and come up with something better than just mostly being the butt of all the jokes. At the very least I would have proposed literally kicking Obama or Biden intellectual ass on the set or something along that line.

notarepublican - The article clearly states that it was a "set-up" (i.e. "totally rehearsed").

Agreed, Palin was a good sport. I don't agree with her politics or the fact that she's the VP candidate, but I give her props for going on the show.

Given the impression that she is a lightweight...Would it not have been better for her to be on Meet The Press...Oh that's right...That's where Colin Powell went to tell the world she's a lightweight.

The "retarded baby" comment was way, way over the line.

The "whipping up rednecks" line was simply factual. And it shouldn't be offensive -- remember, Bristol's boyfriend described himself as a bleeping redneck, so apparently this is not an insult to some people.

She also whips up hate-filled people and doesn't reprimand them for that hate. But whatever, everyone now knows that she's a disaster.

G. Berry:
No one forced Sarah Palin to appear on SNL. No one. She did so either because the campaign told her to or because she wanted to. She wasn't all that good, because she really never allowed herself to enjoy the silliness of it all. Probably the only funny line she uttered was about Stephen Baldwin. The rest was dumb. She was dignified, but a "near impossible situation"? No, because she chose to be there.

A year from now she's going to have a book out and a show on the Fox News Channel...and luckily will not be in the White House.

I do not support her or McCain but I think that she was a good sport.

GMan2, comment 37, and the rest of you Neo-Con/fascists, I refer you to comment 17 on yet another double standard of the Republican party re: "Palling around with Terrorists". Then again, you Republicans have shown time and again that you have no time to waste with the actual truth and "factual evidence", preferring instead to dismiss it all as Liberal whining. I think it is utterly dangerous that Palin is saying what she says re: the elitist liberal media and delineating a state's "pro-America"-ness based solely on how far right they are and how many of their young they are willing to sacrifice to the war effort.

G Gordon Liddy is just as much of a terrorist at Ayers, if not more, not to mention the role the Right has played in funding and arming 'actual' terrorists on a global scale throughout its recent war-mongering past. Reagan/Bush/Cheney/Rumsfled CREATED both Saddam AND bin Laden by funding and arming them in the 80s because their military-industry-centric Presidencies rely on perpetual war to not only fund their coffers but also distract the public from the fact that their deregulation of Wall Street etc and tax cuts for those who need it least allows the richest 2% to get even richer on the backs of the remaining 98%. And it is all perpetual - the Subprime Meltdown is no different from Junk Bonds in the 80s and S&L in the early 90s (of which you'll care to note McCain was a HUGE part of - one of the Keating 5....but oh right, why let facts get in the way of a good phony story about how McCain will somehow benefit Joe the Plumber).

Modern Republicanism is a sham (tell me again how 'Conservatives' have run up a near trillion dollar national deficit, not to mention exacted Executive Privelege a record number of times during investigations of ethical improprieties?!). And all you Middle Class voters who support the Right based on their slick talk, semi-religious affiliation, and faux Patriotism are all pawns and dupes. Real Patriotism is helping make THE ENTIRETY of American stronger, more self-reliant, and better off. Something we were 8 years ago - and where are we now?! Remember back when we were all so comfy and well off that all we had to worry about was our President's marital fidelity. Oh what I wouldn't give to have that HUGE problem back!

So you people are the basis of the new "intelligent politics?" I just read cheap attacks and smears.

You do know that 77% of Democrats approve of her in Alaska? Right?

I felt embarrassment for Palen - she looked like she was enjoying herself - unaware that the joke(s) were on her which were extremely demeaning to how she views herself - a serious politician... she's been used as a pawn by the Rove/GOP playbook and amazingly doesn't seem to know it.

Pathetic and not very bright...

And the point is? I find it tragically ironic the the nomination for VP would choose to appear in a satirical skit that makes fun of her and her inaccessibility instead of having the real access that we deserve.

It's a sad commentary on how we choose to address the real and pressing issues. The SNL skit was be offered up as a lame excuse. Being part of making fun with the crowd that is making fun of you is twisted circular logic.

Does McCain et al think that this will satisfy us and answer the critics? Her participation is implicit approval - what does this say about her as a person?

I don't think the Fey impersonation works - Palin is much, much more attractive than Fey could ever dream of being.

I felt bad for her. She should have participated more. I've felt bad for her for a while. I think she was forced into this whole mess by Rebulicans assuring her she was capable. But, she lost any sympathy from me with the "palling around" bit. I could never vote reublican because I can't stand the religious element of the party, and what is they truely had their way would happen to me as a gay man. I also can't stand the way Repubs never listen to anyone that doesn't agree with them. But, I really liked Palin (not enough to vote for McCain) for the most part. I also really like Madonna, Ellen Degeneres, and my mom but wouldn't vote any of them in as president (maybe governor or senator)...

NoNoNobama - you don't think the Fey impersonation works based on attractiveness? Ok, I know its tough for your sort, but you need to get past the looks. How much press has her impersonation received? All these SNL bits have been based on things Palin has done or read out loud after a writer prepared it for her to spew and it somehow gets nothing but laughs. Hmmm, weird? Not quite. It works.

"Sarah Palin is not qualified to be president. Barack Obama is not qualified to be president. Only one of them is running for president." - Michael Graham... Brilliant man.

You gotta love how the liberals project their own behavior onto conservatives (Comment 69). Republicans come up with a phony story about how McCain will help Joe the Plumber as a way of not letting fact get in the way? Really? Because the way I saw it, McCain used Joe the Plumber as an example of how Obama's tax plan will hurt several Americans like Joe who have worked hard to become wealthy, and Obama wants to punish their success. The liberal media then proceeded to dig up any dirt they could on Joe the plumber. Tell me again who comes up with phony stories?

josef davies comment is IRRELEVANT to this story!!!

The liberal slant of SNL and its writers showed throughout. Calling her a "horrible woman" because of political differences shows how shallow and unfunny they are.
SNL is so over. Does anyone at SNL have a mother who may have taught manners about how to treat a guest?
Classlessness defined!

I think Palin is a better Fey than Fey is. If she's not elected, she may have a fall back career after the governor job. Palin is a great sport and look at all the attention!

When people don't agree with you(liberals) you call them hate filled or intolerant, but after reading some of the posts I think we know who the hate filled people are and it's not the conservatives.

I'm a long time fan of SNL - began watching it at it's beginning. If we can't laugh at ourselves and see some level of humor in the mess we're all in, how do you face the day to day challenges? Canada (and anywhere else for that matter) is looking better and better to me. I'm thinking that being "Pro-American" is limiting my life's opportunities at this point as I approach my half-century birthday.

Blah Blah Blah Josef Davies - Palin was great - get over it!