Republican good news ...........Biden still aboard

(CBS News) In the wake of controversy surrounding recent comments by Vice President Joe Biden, a couple of prominent Republicans have offered the Obama campaign some unsolicited advice:

"The strategists there in the Obama campaign have got to look at a diplomatic way of replacing Joe Biden on the ticket with Hillary," said Sarah Palin, the 2008 vice presidential candidate, in a Wednesday interview with Fox News. "Joe Biden really drags down that ticket."

John McCain, who was at the top of the ticket with Palin, agreed that Clinton would be a good addition to the ticket - though he acknowledged there was little chance the Obama team would go for the idea.

"I think it might be wise to" replace Biden with Clinton on the ticket, he said on Fox, before adding that "it's not going to happen obviously, for a whole variety of reasons."

Asked in the daily press briefing if Biden is still President Obama's running mate, White House press secretary Jay Carney on Thursday confirmed McCain's suspicions, telling reporters that Biden remains on the presidential ticket - and taking a swipe at the Arizona senator in the process.

"Yes. And that was settled a long, long time ago," said Carney, when asked if the 2012 ticket was still Obama-Biden.

Where is the Conservative support...

Bill Clinton came to Ohio a couple of times to show support for the Governor. Barack Obama came to Ohio, I think, 14 times to boost the Democratic Governor who was up for re-election. Joe Biden came to Ohio, Michelle Obama came to Ohio, all to show support and glean votes for Governor Strickland. I think Jimmy Carter made an appearance. Did you remember that his name actually is James Earl Carter, Jr., but he insisted that name not be used because of the similarity to James Earl Ray, who shot Dr. King. I think there was even some controversy in some states, they wanted James Earl Carter on the ballot and he wanted Jimmy Carter. He also used the color green on all his printed material, that had never been done before and was advised not to, but he wanted green, and he won.

Each time there was a visit by a political "dignitary" the polls got closer. Two months ago it was a landslide for Kasich, now it is an even heat.

Strickland is running against the Republican, John Kasich. What big name Republicans came to Ohio to support John, no one that I know of. I wonder why that was? Are the only big name Conservatives all radio talk show hosts. Where were Newt and Sarah and John? If they did come to Ohio to support anyone, I don't recall it.

George Bush did his share, he and his Dad went to the World Series down in Texas, George W, threw out the first pitch. I wonder why McCain and Bush have contributed so little to support candidates, maybe that is just a Republican trait. I don't think I can recall any that stayed supportive after they left office.

I wonder it that lack of support will show up tomorrow, Election Day.

A sneak preview of next season's Dancing with the Stars

As you probably know, Dancing With The Stars keeps the next participants a very close secret. I have a friend in New York who works in TV and is often in on the ground floor of things.

He sent me this photograph, taken a few days ago, of a practice session of a couple who will appear on the show, next season.

A very unlikely pair, but somehow have resolved any differences they might have.

DDDDAAAAHHHHHHHHH

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is more popular than House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, according to a new bipartisan poll released Wednesday.

Kinda like saying:

People prefer hamburgers over goatburgers
People prefer the Pope over Osama bin Laden
A poll from the 40's revealed that Americans preferred Roosevelt over Hitler
Bikers prefer a Harley Davidson over a Cushman motor scooter
Most children prefer ice cream over asparagus
Most people prefer a sunny day to a rainy day
A recent poll showed that people prefer swimming over drowning
Most people prefer McDonalds to Bills Bargain Burgers
A recent poll revealed that people prefer watching TV with the sound on, rather than off.

The Battleground Poll conducted for George Washington University found 42 percent of likely voters have a favorable opinion of Palin, the 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee who stepped down last week as governor of Alaska. The survey found 47 percent had an unfavorable opinion of Palin.

One apology just isn't enough.

David Letterman directly apologized to Gov. Sarah Palin and her daughters on his program Monday night according to released transcripts, with the CBS late show comic taking the blame for a "flawed" joke that offended the former vice presidential candidate.

"I told a bad joke," he said. "I told a joke that was beyond flawed, and my intent is completely meaningless compared to the perception."

Letterman is in hot water after a barb last week about the governor's daughter, prompting an argument over the airwaves that has lasted several days.

Letterman was riffing on Palin's recent visit to New York when he said, "One awkward moment for Sarah Palin at the Yankee game, during the seventh inning, her daughter was knocked up by Alex Rodriguez."

In the joke, Letterman seemingly confused Willow, who is 14 and attended the game with Palin, with Bristol, who is 18 and an unwed mother.

Insisting that Letterman was talking about her 14-year-old daughter, Palin told Matt Lauer on the "TODAY" show she'd never let Willow near the "perverted" Letterman.

During Monday's show, Letterman again said he would never make a joke about a young girl and said he was confused about the daughters. “I was told at the time she was there with Rudy Guiliani,” he said. “I should have made the joke about Rudy.”

He said that he fully realized the impact of what he said after watching PBS.

"This commentator, the columnist Mark Shields, was talking about how I had made this indefensible joke about the 14-year-old girl, and I thought, 'Oh, boy, now I'm beginning to understand what the problem is here," Letterman told his audience. "It's the perception rather than the intent.' It doesn't make any difference what my intent was, it's the perception. And, as they say about jokes, if you have to explain the joke, it's not a very good joke."

New York Post columnist Andrea Peyser is among the critics who have said the joke was about much more than teenage pregnancy. Words like "statutory rape" found their way into her column Monday about Letterman, describing him as "a bitter guy who never saw a woman or a Republican he could stand."

Others who probably wouldn't let their young daughters near Letterman might include those who recently launched the Web site firedavidletterman.com.

New York State Assemblyman Brian Kolb and Los Angeles-based attorney and radio host John Ziegler are among those who have not only helped build the site, but they've also started a Facebook group for which more than 1,600 members have already signed up.

"I'm glad he's acknowledged we're right," Ziegler said.

Letterman vs IMUS

Is there a double standard, or is it just my imagination?

Letterman gets by with a "tongue in cheek" apology, and Imus gets kicked off the air. To me, what Letterman did was much, much more severe. Why INSULT the child of a politician in the name of humor.

Today, there would be no comedians if it were not for politicians. There are no more comedy writers, just political analysts. A so called comedy writer today, needs do nothing more but sit and watch television.

I wonder what Letterman would have said if it had been one of Pelosi's daughters, or any prominent democrat, for that matter.

I no longer watch the Indiana boy, he has forgotten his "roots" and the Indiana background in which he was raised. He no longer "tears" up, when he hears the strains of "Back Home Again In Indiana," he is not a Hoosier anymore, in my book. He is just another one of those Carson, WANNABEES, and that will never happen.

Imus, and I heard him when he made that comment, and I was shocked, and knew he had overstepped his boundaries. He, like Letterman, think they have risen to a point of invulnerability, where they can do no wrong, but some things just can't go ignored.

I don't think the Palin family deserved those comments. I am also glad that Sarah chose not to go on his show ...... to see how great he really is.... or was.

Lettterman is on my list of NOT TO WATCH shows, not too many left to watch! My list is almost down to POKER and the WEATHER CHANNEL. I am thankful for Channel 73, I spend as much time there as anywhere. THE BIG TEN NETWORK.

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