SARAH PALIN TO GO ON OPRAH

Well, well, well...Sarah Palin is going to be interviewed by Oprah Winfrey on Nov. 16th, according to AP.

On the one hand, I'm disappointed that she is going to contribute to Winfrey's ratings, which are sure to skyrocket on that day. Winfrey refused to have anything to do with Palin during the campaign, saying she didn't want to be political (yeah, because going on the campaign trail with Obama was as apolitical as it gets). But on the other hand, I would just love it if that interview contributed to Palin's book setting sales records. Of course, considering it hit #1 on a number of bestseller lists 7 weeks before it is even released is pretty impressive and speaks well for actual sales without Oprah's help.

Honestly, considering the pre-sales numbers, I'm not sure why Palin decided to go on Winfrey's show. She certainly doesn't need the exposure, and sales for the book will be quite brisk without Winfrey's help.

Perhaps she is looking to change the minds of Winfrey's core followers. It is a good idea to try to win over the critics, but I just don't think Oprah's audience can be swayed. Those who were upset by Winfrey refusing to interview Palin during the campaign, feeling that Winfrey, an outspoken supporter of women's rights, should have given Palin the fair shake other left-wing 'reporters' like Katie Couric denied her, have already left her audience.

Winfrey has a chance to win back those viewers if she gives Palin a fair interview. It's an interesting choice - give Palin a fair interview and win back disaffected viewers, or attack her and try to discredit her to score points for her political cronies.

I would like to think she will give a fair interview, but the ties to the White House run deep, and Palin is seen as a major threat to the denizens of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Not to mention the NeoPravda Media apparatchik would probably nominate Winfrey for a prize if she manages to damage Palin in the interview. Honestly, considering the current climate, I'm surprised the White House is allowing Winfrey to give Palin a forum at all.

So the question is, will Winfrey stick to her winning formula of friendly but probing interviews that will give people a fuller, more honest view of Sarah, or will she follow Couric and Gibson's lead and patronize and try to stump her to score political points?

Whatever the outcome, watching two of the most famous women in America go head to head should be fascinating.