Showing posts with label bristol palin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bristol palin. Show all posts

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Palin too indecisive to be President

Jena McGregor, writing in The Washington Post, has this to say about Sarah Palin's feigned apparent indecision about running for President:
The bus tour has come and gone. Now, so has the movie premiere.

A flattering “documentary” (from the looks of these clips, it appears more like an infomercial) about Sarah Palin, the former Alaskan governor and one-time vice presidential nominee, had its first showing in the tiny town of Pella, Iowa on Tuesday. But despite plenty of speculation that it could “serve as a galvanizing prelude to Palin's prospective presidential campaign,” the event went off with little fanfare. Palin attended a post-premiere barbeque and had lunch at a Panera Bread restaurant with a GOP fundraiser, where politics reportedly wasn’t on the table.

Her apparent indecision whether to run or not, reports Politico, is starting to frustrate early state political players who are just ready for an answer already. (Palin told reporters Tuesday that she’s “still contemplating” the answer to “such a life-changing, relatively earth-shattering type of decision”; her daughter Bristol, meanwhile, told Fox News the same day her mother’s mind was made up.) But such perennial fence-sitting could do a lot worse than frustrate political operatives. Palin’s keep-them-guessing approach is in danger from turning what was a smart, masterful strategy for publicity into a liability of indecisiveness. ...

... Most politicians do the will-they-or-won’t-they-run dance with the press longer than they should, though Palin has turned it into a high art. This is what I don’t get—the willingness to look indecisive and, potentially, not fully committed to the job, in exchange for a little more time with your name in the news. Unless of course, getting more publicity is more of a concern to you than what voters might think of you. ...

McGregor's post is "Sarah Palin's campaign liability: From movie to bus tour to indecision?" Apparently, she reads Jonathan Capehart's columns, who has long been on to Sarah Palin's game.

Bristol Palin's statement -- On Fox! They report, we decide, right? -- that Sarah Palin has decided whether to run is newsworthy. If she had decided to run, her contract with Fox News would have already been suspended. Is she stringing Fox along? Hoping to keep that check coming a little while longer? That's not a good idea, because Fox' coverage of her candidacy could be devastating. Imagine the stories: "Sarah Palin, 2012's rodeo clown, said, '.'"

Sarah Palin is obviously not running -- of course, I may be assuming she's sane -- but if you want to keep a tiny, rapidly cooling ember of hope alive a bit longer, you may find some comfort in this post: "Sarah Palin 'will run for White House in 2012'." Peter Singleton is believed to be a volunteer, unassociated with Palin.

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

'Sarah Palin for President' DOA in Iowa, but valiant spin doctors persevere

Sarah Palin's Presidential campaign is in an ER, somewhere in Iowa, but Palin is headed to a book-signing in Minnesota. The speculation about whether Palin will run is on the decline, but is still good for a few dollars more.
"It is the first Iowa trip of the campaign season for Ms. Palin, which is sure to awaken speculation about her own political intentions." -- New York Times

"Ahead of today's premiere of "The Undefeated," reports swirled that the former Alaska governor and her aides were inviting prominent Republicans in the key Hawkeye state to meet with Palin after the screening at the Pella Opera House. Those reports, originally circulated by the blog Politico, were shot down late Monday by Republican operatives and Palin's political action committee." -- ABC News/Politics

"Although the Iowa trip is sure to ramp up speculation yet again that she will enter the 2012 race, all signs point to a flying visit to the Hawkeye State completely focused on the film’s premiere." -- The Daily Beast
It's said that "The Undefeated" is premiering today; however, it was shown recently to a larger audience in Minnesota, and its creator, Stephen Bannon, discussed the film with Tina Dupuy. Dupuy wrote in The Atlantic, in part:
... The final 10 minutes of the film are spent comparing Sarah Palin to Ronald Reagan. People said that Reagan was too extreme, too conservative,and that he'd never be president -- and they were all wrong, according to The Undefeated. "Why do you think I did that?" Bannon asks.

For the power of the association, I tell him. So people will think the two politicians have similar qualities. He says the tea party movement is like the Reagan Revolution. I tell him I disagree. Palin is much more like Barry Goldwater, if anything. Goldwater supporters stormed the San Francisco Republican convention in '64, lots of them "never having been involved in politics before." Just like we hear about the tea party. There was also the belief among Goldwater supporters that if there was ever a true conservative, the large bloc of dormant true conservatives would turn out to vote for him. Goldwater's opponent, Lyndon Johnson, won in a historic landslide in the '64 election. ...

When Bannon says he made the movie for me, he means women. He calls them "new agenda women." Women whom Bannon describes as being still mad about how Hillary Clinton was treated during the primaries. Yes, Steve Bannon is trying to capture the PUMA and feminist vote by rebranding Sarah Palin.

If Palin were more competent she'd be far less controversial to women. Women don't like how Palin is treated, but for some, it's not because she's criticized by the media or scrutinized -- it's because she's held to a lower standard than other politicians. If a man had given any of her answers to Katie Couric or in any of her interviews since, no one would think to make a movie highlighting all his accomplishments while being governor of one of the least populated states in the nation for a fraction of a term. It feels condescending to women who are actually smart and accomplished that Palin gets called smart and accomplished. ...
Dupuy's article is "Sarah Palin Movie Maker Wants You to Love Her Like He Does."

Sarah Palin will be in Iowa, today. Tomorrow, Sarah, Bristol Palin to sign books at Minn. mall.

Note: The "reports swirled" link in the ABC News/Politics quote, above, goes to a story about Nick Broomfield's film about Palin instead of a story about Politico's report of a Palin campaign organization in Iowa. Gryphen has a post about Broomfield's film, here.

Monday, June 27, 2011

Bristol Palin on 'Good Morning America'

ABC News' Robin Roberts talked with Bristol Palin:



Yes, Bristol supports Sarah Palin for President! Is that surprising?
Whether Sarah will run has been discussed at the kitchen table, but Bristol isn't telling.

ABC News' story.

Saturday, June 18, 2011

Bristol Palin's book due next week

Aren't all autobiographies self-serving?

According to US Magazine, Bristol Palin has revealed the circumstances of her child's conception:
When Bristol Palin lost her virginity, it wasn't the romantic experience she had envisioned.

In her new autobiography, Not Afraid of Life: My Journey So Far, the 20-year-old single mom reveals that, while drunk for the very first time, she lost her virginity to Levi Johnston during a camping trip.

Palin says she woke up alone in her tent, with no recollection as to what happened. Johnston, meanwhile, "talked with his friends on the other side of the canvas."

PHOTOS: When stars lost their virginities

When she confronted him about their sexual encounter, Johnston, now 21, told Palin what she wanted to hear: they wouldn't have sex again until they were married.

But, Palin writes, they became intimate again shortly after. When she learned she was pregnant in 2008, Palin was on birth control pills prescribed to treat her cramps; it took eight home pregnancy tests to convince her that she was expecting. ...

This revelation makes the book interesting. It will be worth reading to find out whether any context is provided which would motivate the inclusion of this information.

The AP article linked-to by US Magazine looked a little bogus -- The Ponca City News: Our AP Features -- but I did find what looks like a more genuine AP article, "Bristol Palin calls her ex 'the gnat' in new book."

Personally, I don't think Bristol Palin should do penance for becoming pregnant, and I don't fault her for seizing the opportunities that have come her way.

Update: The New York Post has another story, "Levi? Puke! Bristol Palin reveals the joy of teen love." That story differs from the AP story in some ways. Perhaps what the AP reported isn't a story of conception, but rather her story of the loss of her virginity. It's not something that can be clarified without reading the book.

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Shapeshifting Theory

Most of you have recently seen what you thought were pictures of Bristol Palin looking decidedly different than she used to look. Some, even a doctor, have said that Bristol had plastic surgery -- but what do all the doctors who've said nothing think? -- do they care? -- others have attributed her changed appearance to a weight change.

What is it? How should I know? I don't know who the subject of any of the pictures is, old or new, because I've never seen Bristol Palin. Nor do I know anything about the camera/lens, lighting, distance, or angle of the shots, not to mention whether they've been photoshopped.

There is another possibility! Bristol has a double. It's common among celebrities, corporate executives and politicians. One reason they employ a double is out of concern for their safety: The president of a huge corporation may have to address a shareholders meeting, but some people may hate the company, so the pres. wants to make sure he (or she) can safely travel to the meeting. Out comes the double, into a limo, then the motorcade proceeds to the convention hall. All the while the pres. gets into his own car and drives himself to the meeting. Why? If anyone is planning an attack, they'll attack the double.

Doesn't that make a lot of sense? Isn't it possible that Bristol has a double? Wouldn't that explain a lot?

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Palin Family Circus News - Wednesday, December 1, 2010 + Bill Kristol got over his infatuation with Sarah Palin!

Why not just move the show to Wasilla? E!Online is reporting that Dancing With the Stars is eager to book Todd Palin -- Mr. Sarah Palin? -- for the show's next season. E!Online's Marc Malkin has been told so, so it must be true.


Margaret Cho is concerned that she might wake up with a moose head in her bed after writing that Bristol Palin was forced by her mom to appear on DWTS. CNN's The Marquee Blog wrote about what Margaret wrote at her own blog. While some thought an epic cat fight might erupt with Margaret and Bristol appearing together on DWTS, Margaret praised Bristol for her accomplishments on the show and slammed the haters, who were obsessed with Bristol's weight.


Don't think miracles don't happen. Bill Kristol, The Weekly Standard's Editor and for a long time one of Sarah Palin's chief spinners (Quitting is good!), is for Ryan/Odierno in 2012. That tidbit, and others, can be gleaned from Jennifer Rubin's Right Turn column, titled "The myth of Palin's frontrunner status," which appeared in today's Washington Post. Ryan is congressman Paul Ryan of Wisconsin and Odierno is General Ray Odierno, U.S. commander in Iraq.

So, why is this circus news? Because palin-bots must be crying. They depended upon Bill Kristol. Now, once Matthew Continetti, an Associate Editor of The Weekly Standard, gives up his infatuation with Sarah, there won't be anyone left to spin Sarah Palin's pratfalls into oscar-winning performances for them.


And finally -- the coup de grâce? -- Ed Rollins, a former Reagan staffer, speaking to Sarah Palin, reprises an old line from the Bentsen/Quayle VP debate of 1988: "I knew Ronald Reagan, and you're no Ronald Reagan."

It's bedtime for Bonzo Sarah.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Palin Family Circus News - Tuesday, November 16, 2010

The Washington Post's TV Column, written by Lisa de Moraes, explains Bristol Palin's success on Dancing With the Stars. The show is very popular now, and about four times as many people watched DWTS than watched Sarah Palin's Alaska.

Monsters and Critics called last night's first dance a "raunchy Pasodoble," and noted that afterward Judge Carrie Ann Inabe hugged Bristol and told her she had "nailed it." Ms Inabe's explanation for Bristol's success, before last night's episode, can be viewed at People.




That's raunchy?

In a remark that may explain the outcome of the recent midterm election, The TV Column states:
What if Bristol wins? This question was just a laugh line until last week when she made it to the semi-finals. If the very thought seems an outrage, Green [DWTS' Executive Producer] offers an outlet: "It's a very simple solution: Mobilize to vote for someone else." Green said he's been astonished when he's encountered people angry about seeing so much of the Palins on this edition of the show, "and I ask who they voted for and they say, 'No one'."
Anyway, The TV Column reminds us, "Tuesday night, viewers will find out if Bristol is going to make it to next week's final round; the winner of the coveted yet hideous Mirror Ball Trophy will be announced next Tuesday."


Update: November 16, 2010: CBS News reports that Bristol is going to the finals on DWTS,


Update:
November 17, 2010: The Washington Post's Lisa de Moraes has new comments, here. Her post includes news of the man who shot his TV after learning that Bristol had made it to the finals!

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Palin Family Circus News - Saturday, November 13, 2010

Sarah Palin has "written" another book, America By Heart. The book won't be released until November 23rd, but it has already accumulated almost 5000 "reviews" on Amazon, where it is already being discounted by 50%.

Caffeinated Thoughts -- an excellent name for a pro-Palin blog -- has the rules for Sarah Palin's book signing in Des Moines, Iowa on November 27th:
  • She will be only signing America By Heart, not [sic] other memorabilia will be allowed.

  • Books must be purchased at the West Des Moines Borders and you must provide proof of purchase.

  • There will be a limited number of wristbands (he [a Borders assistant manager] didn’t say when they’ll start giving those out). Only one wristband per person, and only two books per person. During the Going Rogue tour they typically gave out anywhere between 500-1000 wristbands.

  • No cameras, phones with a camera, recording devices, video cameras, etc. will be allowed. Please leave those in your car or at the security check point.

  • A wristband will guarantee your place in line, but it will not guarantee that you will get to meet Governor Palin (circumstances may not permit everyone in line to be able to get through).
Amazon tracks its customers: 55% buy Palin's new book, 37% buy George Bush's Decision Points, 4% buy Glenn Beck's Broke, and 2% buy Palin's Going Rogue. Amazon considers "customers" to be those by whom a book was purchased after viewing its page for Palin's new book. That 37% are buying Bush's book may lend some credence to the idea that many of Palin's fans are the Bush regime's dead-enders.


Philly.com has "Sideshow: Bristol Palin: A klutz to the judges, a dancing dream to 'the people'" It begins:
Is it . . . a plot? As Jimmy Kimmel put it: "Is there a tea party conspiracy?"

Or is it a collusion of like-minded people across this land, hurling buttered monkey wrenches into the works and sitting back for a laugh?

To the last question, we answer: Of course! D'oh. How else could Bristol Palin still be on Dancing With the Stars? ...

And ends:
There's a long history of the least talented being favored on these reality-contest shows. Anyone remember Sanjaya Malakar, the ponyhawked, talently challenged random who got to 7th place in Season 6 of American Idol? The judges hated him; the people voted, and he stayed. In Season 8 of DWTS, Lil' Kim (a pro, OK?) got booted, and rodeo who? Ty Murray stayed because his unknown fan base clogged the phone lines. ...

... Have fun, that's what we at "SideShow" say. It's the massed cussedness of tens of millions of TV-addicted young folks who like to stir it up. It's like spooning sugar in your enemy's gas tank. Or calling in a fake bomb threat to your high school. It's merry destruction, having a good old time with a dumb old show.
Bristol has reached DWTS' semi-finals, and Kelly Osbourne thinks she could win!

During troubling times great leaders stand up and explain things to the people in an address to the nation. Carrie Ann Inaba, a Dancing With the Stars judge, told People Magazine, "She might be in our finals. Wow." There is video of what Inaba told People, here, and, although she delivered her remarks while seated, her explanation of Bristol's success is worth considering.

Finally, Tina Fey has won the Mark Twain Prize For American Humor. When she received the award at Kennedy Center, she thanked -- who else? -- Sarah Palin. Did you know that "John McCain has a picture of Tina in his office and had been getting ideas long before he picked the former Alaska governor as his running mate?" The ceremony was taped and may be seen on your PBS station. Sunday night? Check your listings.

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Grizzly Family Circus News - Tuesday, October 5, 2010

WILMINGTON — Before she was a Tea Party cause célèbre, liberal laughingstock and perhaps the embodiment of a can-you-top-this-for-bizarre political season, Christine O’Donnell grew up in a “Brady Bunch” household of six kids (three Democrats, three Republicans), two parents (one of each) and an appreciation for the dramatic, the eccentric and the media spotlight. From: Chrissy the Pooh's father played Bozo the Clown


"West Wing" creater Aaron Sorkin reportedly said, "Sarah Palin is an idiot. A remarkably, stunningly, jaw-droppingly incompetent, mean woman."



He did! Elliot Spitzer got a job! Jack Nicholson for President!




"Palin, Obama star in 'NBA Jam'"


"Levi Johnston in Brittani Senser's 'After Love' music video: Bristol Palin ex makes sexy video debut"...





"Dancing With the Stars Judges Bash Bristol Palin's Awkward Routine"



"Bristol Palin Is the One Who Needs Votes on DWTS"

"Bristol Palin Explains Why She Danced So Badly"


Update:
Gryphen has news about Jay Leno going to Alaska. Wouldn't it be something if he does a show with Sarah Palin, then, while she's sitting there, announces a surprise, special guest named Levi Johnston?

Monday, September 27, 2010

Palin Family Circus News - Monday, September 27, 2010 -- Updated !!!!!!!

From the AP:

LOS ANGELES — Sarah Palin may be outspoken, but she kept her opinions to herself on "Dancing With the Stars."

The former vice-presidential candidate was in the ABC ballroom Monday to cheer on her daughter, whom she called "Bristol the pistol."

Palin had only good things to say about her daughter's competitors and the show's three judges when interviewed briefly by show host Tom Bergeron.

Palin praised the "courage, joy and exuberance" of the dancers and kept mum about the judges, saying, "It's like a hockey game. You're not going to chew out the refs before your team is up." [emphasis added]


Leave it to Mama Sarah Palin to cheer on her favorite daughter Bristol, or as she likes to call her... Bristol the Pistol. Look for this on T-shirts in the very near future.. natch.


Did Sarah Palin Just Get Booed on Dancing with the Stars? ... Celebrity Cafe has a story, too.


The NY Times' Arts Beat blog provided the post's photo and has a story about Sarah Palin's "interview."


Update: From USA Today:

Highlights and scores of the night:

- Judge Carrie Ann Inaba said, "Bristol, you remind me of one of my favorite dancers - Kelly Osbourne." ...

- Jennifer Grey's energetic jive only earned a 24 from judges, despite Carrie Ann saying, "You were amazing from start to finish!" and Len declaring, "It was full-on fabulous." The audience booed when the 8, 8 and 8 score paddles went up. She deserved higher. [emphasis added]

The leaderboard:

Jennifer Grey 24
Audrina Patridge 23
Kyle Massey, Bristol Palin 22
Rick Fox, Brandy and Kurt Warner 21
Florence Henderson 19
Margaret Cho, The Situation 18
Michael Bolton 12

Think Michael Bolton's going home? On Tuesday's results show, look for Seal and Janelle Monae to perform.


Update: Washington Post's The TV Column has a story about the booing. Were they booing the judges or Sarah Palin?


Update: CBS has a story quoting one of the judges:
The judges said Bristol needed to engage the audience more in her performance. "It's not quite there," judge Len Goodman told Bristol. "It was neat and precise, it's just needs a bit more flair....You've got to take chances if you are going to win 'Dancing With the Stars.'"

Update: E! Online writes:
Bristol Palin, meanwhile, kept her nerves in check even though mama bear was in the audience and continued to represent. Her quickstep wasn't as polished as Audrina's, but she's just as enjoyable to watch—if not more so.

Update: The Daily Mail has a story with a lot of pictures, and offers some evidence that Sarah Palin can't dance:
It [Bristol's appearance] was introduced with a clip showing her visiting the family's home in Wasilla with partner Mark Ballas.

Bristol is asked how she likes Los Angeles compared to home.

'It's like a night and day, the difference,' she said. 'I like it, but I like Alaska better.'

After standing by a stunning lake, Ballas is greeted with a bear hug from Sarah as they walk into the family home's enormous living area.

With husband Todd and a baby visible in the background, the politician screams out to Ballas: 'I'm so star struck! How are you? It's nice to meet you, thanks for taking care of my girl.

'We had so much fun watching you, we were just whooping and hollering!'

To laughter from the audience, she then attempts to copy her daughter's shimmy of the arms and shoulders from last week's performance, saying: 'I thought, "how did she do that?"'

Update: LA Times' Show Tracker asks whether Sarah was booed.


Update: The NY Daily News wrote, in part:
Prior to the 19-year-old taking the stage, ABC aired footage of Bristol's highly publicized trip with her partner to Alaska last week. In the clip, the 19-year-old explained that she took Ballas home with her to thank him for being such a great teacher - and to introduce him to her mom, his biggest fan.

"I'm star struck," Sarah Palin said as she welcomed the dance pro into her home. "Thanks for taking care of our girl."

She told Ballas that her family had been "whooping and hollering" during the show's premiere as he and Bristol danced to "Momma Told Me Not to Come."

She later tried to get him to spill the beans on their dancing techniques.

"How does she do that…" the politico said as she lifted her arms up and down and made a pigeon sound.

Asked if she was embarrassed to watch her daughter strip off her clothes on camera, the 46-year-old responded that, on the contrary, she was "proud" of Bristol for being able to cut a rug in front of 20 million people.

Her daughter then hit the dance floor to perform a quickstep to Diana Ross' "Can't Hurry love." Bristol wore a more reserved costume this week - a lavender dress with silk gloves up to her elbows - as she and her partner shared numerous Eskimo kisses, no doubt a nod to the teen mom's hometown.

Her mother watched with glee, swaying to the music and clapping.

Bristol and Ballas scored a respectable 22 out of 30 (up from 18 last week) and the judges agreed that the ex-governor's daughter was disarmingly relaxed and unaffected.

After hearing her scores, Bristol told host Brooke Burke that she was "so glad" her mom could be there and Ballas added that he was "proud" of his partner before hugging and kissing her.

"Dancing with the Stars'" results night airs Tuesday at 8 p.m. on ABC.

The video:



Sometimes there's a party, and you might just as well go and have a good time.

Monday, September 20, 2010

Palin Family Circus News - Monday, September 20, 2010


Bristol can dance!



ABC News has a brief article, here.


The NY Daily News has an article, with video and pictures of Tripp, here.


CBS has a story about ABC's show! here. They say, from Access Hollywood, that Sarah Palin will be in the audience.


Update:
Bristol and her partner dancing on DWTS can be seen on YouTube. ABC will probably have better video available, later, after it's aired in the west.


Update: From Reuters:

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stripping off an office power suit, the daughter of conservative politician Sarah Palin performed a short parody of her mother in launching her bid to win television's "Dancing with the Stars" on Monday. ...

... Her sparkling grey office suit imitated the style worn by her mother, but it was soon stripped off to reveal a short, red dress with tassels.

Sarah Palin did not attend the taping on a Los Angeles soundstage. Instead, she hosted a viewing party at her home in Alaska, and declared on Twitter that she was "over-the-moon excited and happy" for her daughter. ...


Update: Better video (H/T Gryphen):

Saturday, September 4, 2010

Palin Family Circus News - Saturday, September 4, 2010

The NY Daily News' "Vanity Fair reporter, Michael Joseph Gross, on article about GOP Sarah Palin: I made a mistake," omits the truly ugly part of Sarah Palin's response to Gross' article: She called him "impotent and limp." We haven't heard male politicians calling female reporters hormonal and frigid.

Instead of refuting any of the points Gross made, Palin mounted an ugly ad hominem attack on the author. That attack confirmed one of the major points of Gross' article: Sarah Palin has a terrible temper. Was her response the sort of response we would expect from a President? No. It was the response of a mean-girl.

The author has said he made a mistake when he misidentified Trig Palin, but he has not said that he is mistaken about the substantive issues he raised. He won't do that unless Sarah Palin engages the article on the issues and can point out an error of fact associated with them.



If you missed it, here's Bristol with Jay Leno, last night:





Sarah Palin is part of the team! She is the new makeup artist for Glenn Beck's show! The article doesn't mention it, but she has also lent the use of her TeeVee studio backdrop to Joe "Constitutional Scholar" Miller.


Gail Collins has written "The reality-TV show known as Sarah Palin:"
Sarah Palin is going to Iowa to be the headliner at a Republican fundraiser. In the state that will be the first to hold a contest in the 2012 presidential campaign, even if it has to do it in 2011.

Her staff says this means nothing whatsoever, but let us acknowledge that Palin is on a roll. She's got her own TV show, not counting Fox News. And she Twitters! Or somebody does it for her. Hard to tell which. Her twit on the president's Iraq speech was: "may make u want to dig out ur old Orwell books so rewritten history can be deciphered."

On the one hand, the sentence construction does have that Sarah ring to it. On the other, how many of you think that Palin has old Orwell books hanging around the house? May I see a show of hands? ...

... A new Vanity Fair profile by Michael Joseph Gross suggests that Palin does still cut costs by being an extremely bad tipper. The piece also resurrects the charge that she does not actually hunt, and claims that Todd had to scour the neighborhood to find some moose to put in that chili when a TV crew came to call.

This is not the first time Palin's hunting creds have been questioned. I think it is time for her to take a pool of reporters out into the woods, bring down a moose and dress it on the spot. Maybe she could compete with other allegedly outdoorsy politicians, like Joe Miller. Maybe they could call it "Shooting With the Stars."



In "AP Interview: Author leaving home next to Palins," we learn that Joe McGinniss is leaving the the house he rented next-door to Sarah Palin. He has finished his research and will begin writing his book, The Lies of Sarah Palin.

Will the fence come down? McGinniss said of Sarah Palin's concern that he was there to spy on the Palins:
Anybody wanting to spy on the Palins, McGinniss said, would be better off in a boat.

"That's the funny thing," he said. "They live in a place where anybody who wants to look onto their property, all they have to do is get a boat and park 10 yards off shore and they can sit there all day and look at the Palin's yard, if that's what they want to do. But I don't know who would want to do that."




The NY Times' William Yardley has taken an interest in Joe "Constitutional Scholar" Miller, the Republican candidate for Alaska Senator. His latest article, "Alaska Winner, Lover of Privacy, Loses His Own," is here.


Finally, Robert Reich has written "How to End the Great Recession," which has some background information about what has been happening to the middle class during the last thirty years.

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Palin Family Circus News - Tuesday, August 31, 2010

In case you missed it, here is last night's big announcement:



Did Bristol take a style cue from Michelle Obama? The belt? What will the palinbots think of that?

Bristol isn't going to be wearing any skimpy outfits. No."Bristol plans to wear the 'most modest outfits' on DWTS," has:
Bristol Palin might be stepping out of her comfort zone this season on Dancing With the Stars, but she won’t be stepping into any of the show’s skimpy costumes.

“I think I will be the most dressed [contestant and have] the most modest outfits for sure because that’s who I am,” she told PEOPLE Monday night in Los Angeles at the announcement of the show’s new cast. ...

... “I have no experience in dance,” [Bristol] says. “But I come from an athletic background, so I’m thankful for that. [I played] basketball, volleyball, soccer, everything.” As for temporarily relocating from Alaska to Los Angeles for the show, Bristol is still adjusting. “I feel like I’m melting,” she says. “It’s so hot here and there’s so much traffic.” –Melody Chiu


The Wall Street Journal's Speakeasy blog has posted a video, writing:
The web site Funny or Die has made excellent comedic use of footage of Sarah Palin playing the flute to create a segment of “Betwixt the Music” that focuses on an imagined collaboration between Alaskan singer/songwriter Jewel and the state’s former governor. As told by the “Behind the Music” narrator, the pair met at a venue in Wasilla called The Crab and Coffee and were soon jamming at “The Dojo,” Palin’s storage shed/rehearsal studio decorated with posters of Bob Marley and Ronald Reagan.
Here it is:



Meghan McCain's book about the 2008 campaign is out. In "Sarah Palin caused 'stress, drama, panic' on campaign trail, says John McCain's daughter Meghan," we read:
... In her new book "Dirty Sexy Politics," Meghan McCain says Palin brought "stress, drama, complications, panic and loads of uncertainty" to the campaign.

"She was not just an overnight success or even a political Cinderella story," McCain writes in an excerpt obtained by ABC News. "She was a sudden, freakishly huge, full-fledged phenomenon. It seemed too much. And it seemed too easy."

Speaking out about the former Alaska Gov. for the first time, McCain admits she once wondered if her father's loss "was Sarah Palin's fault." ...

Meghan McCain appeared today on "Good Morning America." She has a website, McCainBlogette, and she is a columnist for The Daily Beast, here.


Breaking News: Lisa Murkowsi concedes to Joe Miller. The Anchorage Daily News has a story, too.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Palin Family Circus News - Tuesday, August 24, 2010

From "Bristol Palin to Earn $14,000 Speaker Fee; Levi Johnston Files Candidacy Form":

... The 19-year-old daughter of former Alaska governor Sarah Palin will earn $14,000 when she speaks in Louisville, Ky., Sept. 8, the Louisville Courier-Journal reports. The occasion is a fundraiser to benefit Lifehouse, a home for single mothers. Bristol knows the topic well: Her 2008 pregnancy drew the national spotlight when her mother campaigned for vice president as John McCain's running mate. She gave birth to son Tripp in December of that year and has had a highly publicized on-and-off relationship with Levi Johnston, the toddler's father. ...

... As for Johnston, he's back in the spotlight this week too: TMZ.com reports that the 20-year-old has filed a "letter of intent" with the Alaska Public Offices Commission to run for municipal office in 2011, presumably for mayor of Wasilla, a post once held by Sarah Palin. The move is apparently part of Johnston's effort to land a reality-TV show.

ABC News tells us that Levi has filed a letter of intent without specifying an office, which would permit him to run for a seat on the city council. An Associated Press article has Tank Jones, Levi's manager, stating that he is interested in running for city council or mayor.


A man videoed Todd and Sarah Palin at the Valdez airport recently. Mediaite is calling it a rorschach test:

The website Palingates has posted an amateur video, by an Alaska skateboard/espresso mogul named “Hawk,” of a bizarre encounter at Alaska’s Valdez airport. According to the site, the video shows Sara Palin husband Todd “bullying” a Valdez citizen.


In reality, the incident isn’t so one-sided, and will likely act as a sort of Palin Rorschach test, confirming whatever the viewer already feels about Palin. Taken together with this video from a few weeks ago, however, a pattern of passive-aggressive behavior toward the Palins’ fellow Alaskans emerges. ...

A local radio station has identified "Hawk:"

...
Hawk Pierce, a local small busines owner, attempted to video Sarah and Todd Palin at the Valdez Airport on August 17th but was met with opposition from the Palin's and the Fox News crew that accompanied them.
Sarah Palin visited Valdez last Tuesday with her Fox news team to shoot about the pipeline with Prince Willaim Sound as the backdrop. ...

CBS News has a story, too, where you can easily compare the Valdez video with an earlier video made in Homer.

Finally, and more seriously, NPR's Political Junkie has some information about the primaries in Alaska. Polls are still open!

Monday, August 16, 2010

Palin/Johnston agreement prohibits trash talking

ABC News has posted a summary of the agreement:

... Under the terms, Palin, 19, will have primary custody of the toddler, while Johnston, 20, will have just two days a week to visit his son. According to the agreement, his Saturday visits must be between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. and his Wednesday visits can start at noon and go no later than 6 p.m.

Johnston will pay child custody calculated from his current salary, which is estimated at about $72,000 a year, according to court documents

"If Levi were to make substantially more [money], that would call for a larger amount of child support," said Toby Kleinman, attorney at the Center for Protection of Children.

The court documents also address a particularly contentious aspect of the Palin-Johnson relationship: trash talking.

According to the custody agreement "the parties agree that the child shall receive positive reinforcement about each party and that the child has the right to be free of negative comments by one parent about the other." That includes comments in the media. That may be easier said than done for Johnston, who has leveled harsh accusations about his former girlfriend's famous mother, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. ...

Friday, August 13, 2010

Palin Family Circus News - Friday, August 13, 2010

Watch these Jimmy Kimmel videos for some insight into Sarah Palin's family life. Levi is done buying rings. Levi and Bristol are taking a break. Ma & Pa Palin found out about the engagement from a magazine, and that was Bristol's idea! Aren't they just like the rest of us?

Levi's run for Mayor of Wasilla should make a mockery of Sarah Palin's experience as mayor. People are going to say that Levi can do just as good a job, possibly a better job than Sarah.


Breaking: TMZ (Palin family news outlet) is reporting a child custody deal.

Friday, August 6, 2010

Palin Family Circus News - There really is a sucker born every minute.

Here, we see Sarah Palin, thinking, momentarily, "Darn! They're onto our tricks."

In today's column, "TV show is the price of love for Palin, Johnston," Bill Zwecker of The Chicago Sun-Times wrote:

Could Bristol Palin and Levi Johnston quietly be doing a bit of news manipulation -- in order to fatten their bank accounts?

A source very close to Johnston insists that the whole ''We're Getting Married'' story -- sold for a reported $100,000 to Us Weekly -- was all about the ex-couple negotiating a deal for a reality show that would have paid them even more big bucks.

''That emotional story about how Levi and Bristol had resolved their differences and had rediscovered the love that brought them together originally was a lot of baloney,'' said the source. ...

There is more to the story. About Bill Zwecker: "From the top stars of Hollywood to Chicago's best-known celebrities like Michael Jordan and Oprah Winfrey, Bill Zwecker is the expert when it comes to knowing the scoop on the rich and famous. The Chicago Sun-Times columnist -- who is also the entertainment reporter and film critic for WBBM-TV (CBS) in Chicago -- covers the globe finding out the latest news about celebrities for his readers and viewers."

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Palin Family Circus - Is The Wedding Off? - Video Double Feature!

Here's Us Weekly's Executive Editor, Caroline Schaefer, on this morning's "Today" talking with Natalie Morales about the engagement of Bristol & Levi. Sarah doesn't approve of the marriage! (via "Bristol: Mom 'doesn't approve' of engagement")

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Us Weekly has video of Bristol & Levi talking about it: Bristol Palin: Sarah "Doesn't Approve" of Levi Engagement

There may be some truth to the story that Sarah won't attend the wedding. Would she be invited? Will there be a wedding?

See IM's post, "As anybody with half a brain could have predicted the Levi/Bristol reunion is already beginning to crumble," too.


And, speaking of Sarah, here's Jimmy Kimmel with some insight on where mosques should be built, along with some late breaking news about the meaning of "refudiate:" (via "Kimmel: Palin's 'Like The Eskimo Don King'")





Update: Cue the lawyers. Sarah's attorney denies that she's boycotting the wedding.

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Palin Family Circus News - Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Here we see Sarah thinking, "Darn! Why didn't I learn any geography? The least my PAC could do is hire someone to fact-check me before I go shootin' off my big mouth. Again!"

Sarah, out filming an adventure, stated that Alaska's Kodiak Island is America's largest. Wrong! See "Sarah, one more time: HAWAII IS IN THE USA!"


Sarah's latest faux pas was also reported by Boston's Herald, which noticed some other facts she overlooked while endorsing a candidate in the neighboring state of New Hampshire.


NY Times' The Caucus blog noted Palin's endorsement of a "Granite Grizzly" in New Hampshire. Is she statuesque? (I do know that New Hampshire is referred to as "The Granite State.")


Levi had a girlfriend between Bristol (first edition) and Bristol (second edition) (Between Levi I and Levi II?). Will this be the news that breaks Kathy Griffin's heart?


People reports that Bristol and Levi are playing hardball in their negotiations for a reality show. They want a full season! Way to go: get the money up front; you don't need no stinkin' pilot.


Stop the presses! Sarah may not attend the wedding.


Sarah Palin's "Mama Grizzlies" might be more aptly named "Mama Polar Bears." Is anyone surprised?


Progressive Alaska has video of Cenk Uygur on Sarah's tweet about Cordoba House.


Andrew Sullivan recaps some recent mail he's received about whether it's worthwhile to investigate Trig Palin's birth.


"Planned Sign of Tolerance Bringing Division Instead" is a NY Times article of July 13 (Is Sarah a slow reader?) reporting about the controversy over Cordoba House. It stated, in part:
... With a November election approaching, politicians have latched onto the issue as a high-profile platform to attack their opponents.

On Tuesday, Rick A. Lazio, a Republican running for governor, urged the landmarks commission to protect the [existing] building [at the planned site of Cordoba House], constructed in the late 1850s in the Italian Renaissance palazzo style; this would effectively halt the plans for the Muslim center. The commission expects to vote on the issue in August.

“This is about getting questions answered,” Mr. Lazio told reporters. “This is about transparency. This about the safety of the people of New York.”

“Religion has nothing to do with this,” he added.

Representative Peter T. King, a Republican, joined Mr. Lazio in calling for an investigation into the financing of the project. But Andrew M. Cuomo, Mr. Lazio’s Democratic opponent and the state’s attorney general, has rebuffed those requests.

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg has strongly endorsed the project, arguing that it is not the role of government to meddle in religious and business affairs.

“Government should never — never — be in the business of telling people how they should pray, or where they can pray,” Mr. Bloomberg said on Monday. “We want to make sure that everybody from around the world feels comfortable coming here, living here and praying the way they want to pray.”...


Finally, there is "Why Sarah Palin Endangers American National Security (and Israel's, as well)"