Aaron Barnhart of McClatchy Newspapers has this up today.
You could read some good jokes, but I think he is on point about this:
But [Democrats & Republicans'] opinions really don’t matter here. It’s the swayable middle that matters. And Leno, in the service of a good laugh, is planting ideas in the minds of the uncommitted. He’s doing what the spin machine is trying to keep the mainstream news media from doing: namely, expressing doubts that are on people’s minds about the newest star on the national political scene. Comedy is a lot of things, but some of the most effective comedy today boils down to saying what’s on people’s minds.
Now that is the point, it's self reinforcing with independents. I watch the pundits, not to get any insight (it's rare that they do), but to see where conventional wisdom is going. And if Leno finds jokes at Palin's expense, then he's got a sense of where the country is going, at least as far as what it's laughing at. And it can't be good for the GOP.
And Barnhart rightly notes that Leno can do this:
I find it interesting that Leno can get away with doing what Brian Williams can’t do: Openly mock Republican talking points in a nonpartisan setting. You don’t see any rumors about Republican women boycotting Leno, do you? McCain lackeys aren’t wasting their breath going after NBC’s entertainment division with the lustiness of their attacks on NBC’s news division. (Because they want John and Cindy to make return visits to Jay’s couch.)
It's sheer daily viewers, multiplied by the times the jokes are retold at the water cooler. And you don't try to heckle a great comedian, or you'll have your ass handed to you. And McLame can't go toe to toe with Leno. As irritating as I find him, Middle America cracks up at his jokes.
Barnhart mentions how Johnny Carson thought that Dan Quayle was the comedic gift that kept on giving. The scary part is that Quayle was way more qualified than Palin.
It might be unfair, but Quayle of course was forever ossified in the public memory by Lloyd Bentsen and potatoe. And Palin will get the same treatment.
But I didn't hear the GOP slamming Clinton jokes. The woim (as Henny might say) has turned. Oh, and here's my choice for best joke listed in Barnhart's story:
"As you all know, President Bush was not at the Republican Convention due to a disaster. His presidency.
There are some Dem jokes too and plenty are lame. But they're out there playing to Middle America.