Peter Mucha reports:
Right from his initial crack, David Letterman invoked the Pennsylvania primary. Before the welcoming applause had died, he said, “That was good but not the landslide I was hoping for.” Clearly a reference to Hillary Clinton's political predicament today.
What followed was more Letterman whimsy than satirical insight. Every line drew laughter, if not applause.
“Are you folks still excited about the presidential race? Oh my god, it’s crazy! Do you love it? And the good thing is the election is still three years away!"
“Today, Hillary Clinton got the support of the wives of the polygamy sect cult."
"Hillary is trying to appeal to the working class, so today she was campaigning in her blue-collar pantsuit."
"Do you like John McCain? John McCain looks like the kind of guy who doesn’t pick the phone up till the twelfth ring, you know what I mean? He looks like the kind of guy who’s got a cupboard full of canned peaches. John McCain is the kind of guy who thinks the cleaning woman will love any crap he’s tossing out.”
(Huh? Don't mean to be dense, but are those "McCain sure is old" jokes? If you can explain, post a comment below.)
Not one Obama joke, but after discussing Pope (Letterman said the Yankees decided to retire the Roman numeral XVI), President Bush was the subject of a dig. Letterman said President Bush was on Deal or No Deal, because "Apparently, he didn't feel he was ready for Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?
If she had guts she would seek better solutions than Rocky and Comedy Central. If she had guts she would of ran in 2004.— Tanksleyd
Letterman has been doing that "looks like a guy who" bit this entire election season. He did it to Mitt romney too. It's not a John McCain only thing. http://gawker.com/353939/rip-david-lettermans-mitt-romney-looks-like-jokes— Wolfgang- Our primary is not a joke and we need a Democrat in the White House. Please vote for Hillary...she can beat McCain on his strongest points....defense of this country. We have to be strong but sensible and compassionate. Obama is just not strong, he doesn't look strong, he doesn't talk strong, and he isn't strong. A strong man couldn't have bowled a 37...that would be impossible. Can you imagine "The Boss" bowling a 37? Vote for Hillary today. Ensure we have a Democrat in the WH in 2009!— lezah2
- Why Letterman bring up "Polygemist", "Deadbeat" father issue? Obama had nothing to do who his father was. Although he made money trying to portray his father as a great man.... and actually he succeeded... :-) But I don't think he is a con artist :-)— Seed
- Leterman has been doing the McCain "looks like the kind of guy"-old jokes constantly and McCain is a long-time regular guest/friend. Maybe Obama's VP can be a good bowler?— Jim C.
- hilary has to make time for the fraud trial she has coming up..— kmmposts
- I have to say I don't entirely understand the McCain jokes either...— cgwink
- That was pretty funny, but all-in-all this is "Front Page" worthy because....— s1apnutz
- Lezah2, If you are basing your vote on a man's bowling score you shouldn't even be allowed to vote. Moron.— Wolfgang
- I doubt if Abe Lincoln, who had a similar background to Obama, would have done much better than Barack on a bowling alley. Barack did have the sense to realize, as many of us did, that the justification for invading Iraq was a fraud. Let's cast our vote for appropriate reasons. Strong? We don't need a weight lifter or 220 average bowler for president.— rolf
- "Please vote for Hillary...she can beat McCain on his strongest points....defense of this country." We heard this line before, and fell for it in 2004 with Kerry. That turned out great. You know the old saying: fool me twice, shame.. don't get fooled again.— Politburo
- Lezah2 Bowling is for fat lazy athletically challenged people. And thinking like that is what got us stuck with Bush for 8 years. Just vote Democrat they both will stomp McCain!!!!— cusoraider
- Forget Hillary. Letterman should go back to his, and my, hometown of Indianapolis. He bagged groceries in high school and was the local weatherman for a while as well. Monologue was good especially the part about those poor women down in Texas.— Disgusted
The Inauguration: Jan. 20 blog brings you coverage of President-elect Barack Obama's transition into office.
It's written by political journalists from the Philadelphia Inquirer. Send us your comments -- and news tips -- at this address.
Thomas Fitzgerald joined The Philadelphia Inquirer in 2000, and has covered Harrisburg as well as city, state and national politics for the newspaper. He was a “boy on the bus” in the 2004 presidential campaign and during primary contests in 2000 and 1996.
Nathan Gorenstein has covered politics and government in the city, state and nation for the Inquirer. He's worked in the city hall bureau, had a stint on the business desk, and once covered the suburbs. After serving as assistant regional editor, he was named editor of the "Politics" web site.
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