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Oops..I just posted an article on this too. I was skeptical of the report as well until I considered the Couric interview:

1. Palin couldn’t name a single magazine that she reads. She could have just said Newsweek or the Time, or referred to some obscure local paper. But she froze like a deer on an absolutely innocuous question.
2. Palin had weeks to come up with a decent answer on being close to Russia and foreign policy. But again, she froze and gave some canned nonsensical response. Weeks of ridicule then ensued on something that could have been a strong asset for her.

I’m a big Palin fan, but that interview (even though COuric was rather obnoxious) gave me doubts about her smarts.

I don't read any magazines regularly, either, except for Salvo. What do you recommend? People? Newsweek? Magazines are for the doctor's office and bathroom. I spend hours reading every day, though. There's this thing called the internets for starters... :-)

I was more concerned that she could not name supreme court decisions she disagreed with, but then again, I'm a lawyer, and tend to follow that sort of thing more closely. I also did not like her advocacy of extending NATO into Russia's living room, but that's the GOP line.

I think she was ambushed by national media and performed like a green trooper by falling back on her "training," or in her case some canned phrases. Yes, the performance did not look impressive, but under the circumstances I am not willing to judge her by the worst public moment of her life.

I got the impression she has genuine convictions and is not an ordinary pol. I would trust her to do the right thing. Facts can be learned and otherwise managed with help from staff. What you do with facts comes from character, and I think that's what people sensed in Sarah Palin.

I saw the questions and didn’t take it the same way you did. I read interviews with people that knew her in Alaska and several of the people said she read anything and everything she could get her hands on. Her sister said she read newspapers from cover to cover as a child growing up. I am like this so I related to that.

I think the reason she froze like that when asked what she read is because she knew she would be judged by so many for whatever she said. I think it was a moment where she was not sure of which reading material might be “acceptable.” I can relate because I have two favorite topics- history and pretty graphic murder mysteries. When people ask me what I read- I always consider who is asking before answering. If she had said Time or Newsweek Katie would have been satisfied- but I am sure many conservatives would wonder why she would read that trash.

Her answer on proximity to Russia and foreign policy was actually a very long answer that was edited to make her look like an idiot. Her entire answer was a good one. She probably should have given more thought to giving a shorter answer.

She was on the chopping block within literally seconds of her nomination. I have never seen anyone under such scrutiny. I think that and paranoia about it from the McCain campaign made her skitterish in interviews. If she wants to play this game again she will need to become more polished I admit- but then again if she is the candidate then I think she will interview better. She will be the main candidate and not have to worry about causing problems for someone up the ticket.

I think as a conservative running with a RINO she had to walk a fine line and if she is the candidate she can be more herself.

I could be wrong- but this is my opinion.

It’s a pretty standard politician’s response technique to avoid answering in specifics to a hostile reporter who is looking to play gotcha with whatever her reply. Sure, may have been better to list off the standards, but it clearly wasn’t because she couldn’t come up with a single publication to name. (And naming one or two wouldn’t have served.)