[Mad Dawg]

I know what it's like when you're expected to produce a particular kind of humor. Jokes have structure. I think the "theory " of this joke was to make two jokes, one about political correctness and the other about whatever it is that leads many of us to think of Edwards as the Breck Girl. So she went with the "if it weren't for political correctness I could say such-and-such about Edwards" but didn't polish it enough. It's a joke that needs work, that's all.

And I get the impression that Ann is quite reasonable about what she does. She aims most of her rounds at the "received" wisdom about us and makes a point of scandalizing the PC wussies. So I think this particular round was, like, in the 7-ring, not the 10-ring, but I'd guess she's not going to let that faze her. And I'm sure not going to let it faze me. It's hard to do what she does as well as she does without a stable of gag-writers backing you up. Even Leno fans out some of the time.

[joesbucks]

You're probably correct. But the sad point is, she went with the joke before it was "tempered" enough to prevent a backdraft. She's the one who now may have multiple degree burns.