The National Enquirer gets more scoops than any other gossip magazine and I have little doubt that their journalistic standards are above the other weekly tabloids they’re often grouped with. They broke the John Edwards cheating and lovechild scandal, and if they weren’t on that story I doubt it ever would have reached the public. This week’s edition of the Enquirer has plenty of bombshells to accompany their cover story on Vice Presidential Republican candidate Sarah Palin. Whether the allegations about Palin are true or not remains to be seen. They don’t say that they’ve independently verified these claims, but quote a source. It’s possible the source has motivations to lie about Palin.
There’s the “Troopergate” scandal for which Palin is currently under an ethics investigation, which involves her firing the Public Safety Commissioner for the State of Alaska for allegedly refusing to fire her ex brother in law, an Alaska State Trooper, over a ongoing feud in Palin’s family. That’s received plenty of press, but there are also new allegations in the Enquirer’s story which may raise some eyebrows. Here are the highlights.
Sarah Palin cheated on her husband with one of his business associates
Another incredible allegation emerging from the family war is that Palin, a mother of five, had an affair with a former business associate of her fisherman husband, Todd.
“Todd discovered the affair and quickly dissolved his friendship and his business associations with the guy,” charges an enemy. “Many people in Alaska are talking about the rumor and say Todd swept it under the rug.”
[From The National Enquirer, print edition, September 15, 2008]
It’s entirely possible that The Enquirer‘s source is making up crap about Palin for other reasons as we mentioned, and that she didn’t really cheat or tell her pregnant daughter to get married right away, as they go on to allege. There’s no date for the supposed affair and the details are vague. Palin seems to have a lot of enemies who could be spreading lies about her. Here’s how the source claims she tried to handle Bristol’s pregnancy at first – by hiding it and trying to make her get married before the news came out.
Palin tried to cover up 17 year-old Bristol’s pregnancy, demanded she marry before news came out
Palin dropped a huge bombshell when she announced recently that her teen daughter Bristol is pregnant. But sources close to the family say that the governor had desperately tried to cover up her daughter’s pregnancy, a potentially embarrassment for the ultra-conservative governor.
Palin confirmed her daughter’s pregnancy only after it was clear that the media already knew about it and that the news was about to break, according to the sources.
While Palin has publicly expressed support for Bristol and said that she would be marrying the baby’s father, the source says Sarah had been working frantically to get the two married before the pregnancy news came out.
An insider close to the baby’s father says Palin went as far as starting to make arrangements for a small wedding ceremony for the teens in Palmer, Alaska. “She wanted the wedding date to be scheduled before McCain announced her as his vice president – but Bristol refused,” said the insider.
[From The National Enquirer, print edition, September 15, 2008]
The source goes on to say that Sarah Palin planned for a small wedding a few days after the Republican National Convention, and that she then wanted to announce that Bristol was pregnant by her new husband. “But Bristol refused to go along with the lies,” the source says, and had a huge fight with her mom over it.
We all know how everything turned out for that family, and it’s still unknown how it will affect Sarah’s bid for the Vice Presidency – whether it will make her more appealing to voters like she has problems like everyone else, or whether they’ll be turned off by the sheer drama of it all.
Democratic Presidential Candidate Barack Obama has urged people not to focus on pregnant 17 year-old Bristol, repeating his earlier claim that families are off limits. His wife Michelle mirrored his comments on Ellen yesterday, saying “I know that they care about their kids, and we should let them deal with this issue. This shouldn’t be an issue for political discussion.”
Wow…someone wasted their time posting this. I’m sure someone will respond next asking “how can she run the country when she can’t run her household.” Come on – someone say it. 🙄
The Obama’s stated …“I know that they care about their kids, and we should let them deal with this issue. This shouldn’t be an issue for political discussion.”
I agree. Move on.
I dont know… I want a female in the white house, I was on team Hilary forever and saddened when she backed out. This woman does seem to be surrounded in drama drama drama… like bad reality TV. The worst rumor Hilary had to put up with was Bills frisky weiner.
More politics, Less about what you or your family does on their spare time. Her kids have little impact I feel on the way she would act in the white house. Yes, shes a mother, but this country isnt a child to be raised, its an entire country to be governed.
haha Adam. I hate to disappoint but i’m not going to to be the one to say it. That national enquirer indeed broke the story of Edwards’ affair but the baby was not his. This could be another false story. I dont see the media picking Joe Biden or Barrack Obama apart. Is it because Palin is new and its her turn?
Sorry, still don’t see what this, if true, has to do with Palin and her suitability for VP. Pregnant daughter, now an alleged affair – just another distraction, the spotlight on everything except her abilities. The only thing of any relevance here is Troopergate.
The camera loves this woman. Unfortunately, that’s part of the problem…she makes me miss (m)Ann Coulter. I want my raving right-wingers ugly, dammit!
Seriously though, especially in our celebrity-focused culture, the more camera appeal and charisma a politician has, the more important I think it becomes to listen to their message and where they stand on issues. The same equally applies to Obama because he’s got a truckload of “it” appeal. Any election, not just this one, is too important to be distracted by style over substance.
I’m dropping in early today! I’m trying to get motivated to do some chores. Just one more coffee…
Have a good one!
Watching the media pounce on this woman and her family is breathtakingly ugly.
They are terrified that her ideas about government and its limitations will be debated. So they want to take her down before a fair debate can take place.
There are thousands of reasons to not vote for McCain-Palin – so many, in fact, that Palin’s personal life should be the least of her worries come Election Day.
Kolby, we have had political debates on other articles this week (see Susan Sarandon bashes Clinton). I dont want to get into who to vote for, it is a matter of opinion. I personally see thousands of reasons not to vote for JObama. But lets not get into to partisan preferences again. Yesterday on Ellen Michelle Obama was commenting that Palin was airing her dirty laundry, i dont see it that way. I see the media digging for dirt on her. Why didnt they do the same for the Obama family? There have to be some skeletons in their closet why hasnt anyone found them. I feel that the media is being extremely biased this election. does anyone agree?
if she were a DEMOCRAT this would not be an issue!
Is it National Enquirer kiss ass day at CB? I’ll come back tomorrow.
CC – if John McCain chose not to properly vet his VP selection, then it IS up to the news media to inform the people of this nation. Whose fault is it if some of the information that has been revealed is tabloid-worthy? Are you saying we don’t have a right to know? And truthfully, her actual record is far worse than anything a tabloid could dig up.
And, as far as the Obamas are concerned, they’ve been involved in this election for 19 months – pretty much everything that there is to be dug up has been dug up, examined, and laid aside – like the Reverend Wright fiasco (media concentrated on that for three full weeks). Palin’s been around for a week – ONE WEEK – and all this crap has come out. I’m actually concerned that the media is not asking tougher questions of her and the McCain-Palin campaign – like asking them to clarify the blatant lies that were told in the RNC speeches over the past two days.
Yes, I am a liberal, but I do not belong to any one party. I choose instead to research the candidates and vote for the person who best represents my beliefs and positions on the issues. I support Obama because he is that person, at least this year.
Kristin – are you kidding me? Can you imagine a 17 year old pregnant Chelsea Clinton bringing her boyfriend from Arkansas to the Democratic Convention years ago. They would have rioted in the streets – you know all those “family values”.
This clip from John Stewart says it all – that is the Republican machine says it, no one needs to add a thing.
http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=184086&title=sarah-palin-gender-card
Isn’t there any celebrity gossip to post on this site? I don’t buy or read the National Enquirer and now I have to see their crap stories quoted here………
‘I feel that the media is being extremely biased this election. does anyone agree?’
Are they trying to make up for the bias of the last election?
This is a smear job plain and simple. Obama was never vetted as Hillary herself stated and he’s gotten a free pass on his association with a known terrorist.
As far as Hillary’s rumors. I guess they forget the allegations that she was behind the death of Vince Foster or the stories that were told of her and Bill by the Arkansas state troopers.
The media is clearly biased. Those who deny are part of the problem and have selective tunnel vision.
They say Rome is burning but they are the ones carrying torches.
The media is very biased. There was a book written by CBS news correspondent Bernard Goldberg(Democrat)called – Bias: A CBS Insider Exposes How the Media Distort the News.
A poll taken among journalists revealed that 89% of them voted democratic.
who controls the media? obama-NATI LOL…that’s why there’s no dirt on him…you can’t tell me Biden doesn’t have some filth hidden somewhere, just look at the guy, he screams GREASE.
Although, to be fair, it does seem that the NE, usually turns out stories that come to be true, but as the author of this post noted, Palin does have a lot of enemies and we all know how our enemies would behave at such a time.
I just don’t buy tht McCain, after all the Bushee’s and co have done to him and his family, I just do not buy that he’s going to continue their bidding. I think he’s very resentful, as he should be and has been playing nice.
And when all those women say, how can she run a country because she has five kids..I say “shut the F up” – it just goes to show how many people are such phonies. You can’t pick and choose, either all women should be home raising the kids, (if they have a hubby), or women CAN become President or VP of our glorious nation. My god, poll these same naysayers over , ” should you give up your career when you have a baby?” – my bet, they’d all say..no, (how else are they going to afford label clothes, shoes, purses and cars??)…and people tell me they’re worried about people like ME voting????
I want to point out, that CC and I are two different people.
I like to think I am someone liberal who chooses her candidate based on my family’s needs and the needs of the country. Being a military family plays some part in it, but I am undecided until I feel comfortable with either person running. I don’t care if her daughter is pregnant, I think it shows why we should teach responsibility in school, not abstinence.
Fox News was founded by Rupert Murdoch. Although it is supposed to have more of a conservative slant, but Murdoch was a Hilary Supporter.
“Conservative media mogul Rupert Murdoch will host a fundraiser for liberal New York Sen. Hillary Clinton, the Financial Times reports.
The mating ritual of the unlikely allies has been under way for months. Clinton set political tongues to wagging last month by attending a Washington party celebrating the 10th anniversary of Fox News, the cable news channel owned by Murdoch.”
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/05/09/politics/main1600694.shtml
OK…
She’s being torn apart in the media because she’s new to national-level politics, and McCain’s team didn’t vet her. The others – McCain, Obama and Biden – have been on the national stage for years, so their dirty laundry was aired years ago.
If we all were finding out NOW that, for example, Obama tried cocaine as a teenager, or that McCain dumped his disabled wife and children for a beauty queen/heiress, it would be all over the front page. But Obama was honest years ago about his teenage drug use and McCain has talked about his self-described “greatest moral failing” publicly. So we accept it and move on.
I think the Palin family business is getting more attention than it otherwise would because the only real platform she has, the only real opinions she’s given on issues relevant to most of us, are around her extremely right-wing social views that would likely be imposed on the rest of us if she were elected.
Personally I could care less what sexual or other habits a politician has, but I care A LOT if said politician wants to force THEIR personal views on ME through a constitutional amendment!
If Sarah Palin wants the medial to quit focusing so much on her family, she should talk about the following (HER words, not by delivering a speech that was largely written by Bush’s speechwriter before she was even chosen for the job):
-Why do you want the job of VP, or President.
-What are your views on war, peace, the economy, health care, human rights for Guantanamo detainees, equal pay for equal work? (We already know you want to drill and you think Polar Bears should not be protected)
-What are your views on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the economic boom in China, Iran, Iraq, Sudan, Georgia/South Ossetia/Russia issue and North Korea?
And so on. Give us something real to work with and perhaps people won’t be grabbing at anything they can dig up.
I’m with Kolby on this one.
Kelo thanks for the link, LOVE that Daily Show and Jon Stewart is the best.
Has anyone seen the ad with John McCain’s old naval academy classmate and fellow POW yet? It went up on utube yesterday and will air nationally this weekend
.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KjsEs46C70
Thousands of reasons?
Common, dozens is reasonable, but thousands is a childish exaggeration.
If you think otherwise, please post thousands of reasons, literally.
Im not saying I support the McCain/Palin ticket, Im saying bring it back to reality please.
Its disgusting to me that no one would see the relevance in these situations. She claims to be a Christian woman, but she’s a hypocrite. A woman who doesn’t have it together and is an obvious liar even in the face of that so called faith that drives her opinions and decisions…how could any of us trust that?
Further more, they need to just stop with the “Its private” BS.
If its so private, then why trot not only your preggo daughter but also her BABY DADDY out to the RNC? Private? Hardly! They dragged them out for all to see and judge. If its private, then why were they not left at home? Not to mention, she has no qualms being on the cover of People talking about her Downs Syndrome baby. And no problem reminding everyone again and again and again that her son is about to be deployed to Iraq.
OOOooh I get it now. We can only talk about her kids when its good stuff. But we can’t criticize. Puh-lease. Her lifestyle is a reflection of her integrity or lack thereof. If that doesn’t concern you then I have some doubts as to your intelligence.
Watching the media pounce on this woman and her family is breathtakingly ugly.
But not as ugly as the obvious ploy she represents to grab angry Clinton supporter votes.
Hey all, C|B’s resident news anchor over here. Yes, I am a card-carrying member of the liberal media. I’m a big-time gay rights supporter, and a big-time supporter of abortion rights. I guess that makes me pretty liberal, doesn’t it? But I consider myself a journalist first and a voter second… and therefore I HATE all politicians equally. There’s really no difference between the two parties, policies aside. And even THAT line is pretty blury these days.
Soooooo, is the media biased? Yes. Very much so. Part of the problem is that we use the Associated Press wires as opposed to writing the stories ourselves. Practically all stations use AP. And the AP definately has a liberal bias (although I hear they’re working on that lately). And so, when we only have biased stories to choose from, that’s what makes it on the air.
CC- doesnt take much digging the dirt on this woman. nothing was known about her outside of alaska and now things are being made known. also, its pretty hard to hide the swelling belly of a daughter who is 5 months pregnant and about whom rumors were swirling even before palin was tapped for VP. just because we are getting it late doesnt mean the media is ‘digging.’ and besides, I consider digging to be the medias job and wish they would do more, much more digging. if they had done their digging job before we invaded Iraq, we might not be trapped in an endless war there. ignorance may be bliss for you, but don’t try and prescribe it for everyone else.
Not that I think any of them have any integrity, by the way. I truly believe that if everyone did all the research, they would become so disgusted with just about every politician in America that they’d only want to vote for Ralph Nader. They ALL suck. Joe Biden, from what I understand, practically drafted the Patriotic Act. SCARY STUFF!
and dante, no conservatives cried for obama when the media could not get over the rev. wright thing and kept rehashing stories and clips over and over.
also ugly? watching this woman pounce all over other women and their family planning choices.
Even if she had killed someone in a drunk driving incident– no wait, that was Laura Bush– or shot a friend in the face– sorry, that was Cheney– she STILL gets my vote. Obama has nothing but glitter to offer, and her actual career as opposed to his 3 1/2 year dalliance in politics prior to getting the nom makes me feel safer on her watch.
I am a lifelong Dem, but McCain/Palin in 2008!!!
I love how people say they “question my intelligence” because I support McCain and Palin. I dont question how intelligent you are for supporting Obama. Like I said previously it is a matter of opinion. I dont think that Palin’s integrity is the reason her kid is knocked up Holly. I do however think that her abstinence only sex education teachings might have something to do with it, but that has no impact on her integrity. I dont agree with her or McCain on everything 100% (see sex ed reference). But they do fit my morals and values more than ODrama!
Sorry. I’m back. I wasn’t done yet…
Anyway, part of the problem is that, for example, while I (as a broadcast journalism major) make a concious decision to be impartial and balanced, my producer (a political science major) is the one making editorial decisions. And she is a big-time Obama supporter. So not only would our content be pro-bama anyway, she has all of these AP stories at her fingertips to support her point.
FOX News Channel is of course, the exception to the liberal media bias. But I don’t have a problem with their blatant bias, because everyone already KNOWS they’re biased. Their audience is people who know what they’re getting when they tune in. That audience includes both conservatives (so FNC is basically preaching to the choir) and liberals who enjoy getting debate fodder. I also think FNC is needed as an anecdote to the rest of the liberal media.
Now, MSNBC is becoming more like FOX in the other direction. I’m fine with that, too. As long as they’re honest and don’t try to hide it, a la’ FNC. It’s when news outlets try to hide their bias that it’s dangerous.
I’d like to point all of your attention to the Yahoo! home page over the course of the RNC. Again, young college graduates making the content decisions. Both the Palin and McCain stories featured on the home page at one point had links to “fact checks” of the speeches they made at the RNC. There was never a fact check link up for Obama.
just read an article on the nytimes that said B.O.’s campaign is scrambling right now after palin’s speech the other night.
thanks for the info. elisha
This woman is new to the national scene. She has no media history. Everyone wants to know about her RIGHT NOW. So of course, everyone and their mother is looking for stories about her. The scoop. Her past, who she associates with etc etc. She’s coming onto the national stage with a “shock value” that the McCain campaign needed. No one was giving him the time of day really. He is old, and old news. She can go on and on thinking about the reasons he picked her. The reason was to focus the media on him. She had to know this. If she didn’t, she’s an idiot. She also had to know that even if she farted in church, the entire country was going to know about it, how embarassing it was, and that it smelled like moose.
I have always loved Obama anyway. This just makes me laugh because my husband is a Retardican and he was excited when McCain appointed her. I mean, sure, she’s kind of milf-y but please. What an idiot. There’s already nude photos of her circulating around the internet. And, to those of you who agree that it’s nobody’s business, and it’s her personal life… did that stop anyone from criticizing the hell out of Bill Clinton? Nope.
Vdantev:
She’s not on the ticket to appeal to women voters.
Her appeal is aimed at anyone, male or female, who doubts that more power for elite Washington pols and bigger government is the best future for America. Look at socialist states around the world.
Obama talks pretty but what has he ever accomplished other than positioning himself for the next, better government position.
Government is not an answer, it’s a trap.
“She also had to know that even if she farted in church, the entire country was going to know about it, how embarassing it was, and that it smelled like moose.”
Hilarious!!
lol, this keeps getting better and better. americans are going to have to pick between obama-biden and mccain-palin come november 2. i can’t say i envy you lot, nope, i do wish you luck for the next four years, as no matter which ticket wins things are going to heck in a handbasket fast. 😕
It’s really disgusting how she’s attacked on her appearance, her family life, her fidelity, and her religion rather than any real issues (although I will give some people that the religion could be an important issue). She’s a strong woman, intelligent woman who also happens to be conservative, and I think that’s what the problem is with the MSM.
She released the news about Bristol *because* of the things people were reporting, that Trig wasn’t actually her son, or even that Trig was her husband’s incestuous love-child (no joke!). Her daughter deciding to have sex has absolutely nothing to do with her qualifications, other than abstinence only education pushes.
Obama has two young daughters. No one has ever questioned his family, his dedication to his wife, or that “maybe he shouldn’t be in the white house with young children to take care of”.
And one last side comment. Congress has a Democrat majority right now. Any hyper religious or wacky stuff that she might try to pass through (which I don’t think she will. As governor, she vetoed a bill that would removed employer benefits from same-sex couples, even though she’s personally against same-sex marriage). I tend to think that the government works best when the president is the opposite of the party in power in Congress — then you get more moderate decisions. Both parties are batshit insane and ridiculous.
No one has done anything like this with Biden. They haven’t even attacked him on the issues! It’s all about Sarah Palin, and her face, her children, etc.
I like her. And I say this as a pro-choice, not-particularly religious, gay rights supporting, cursing, geeky woman. But then I tend to be libertarian/independent anyway. And as a woman, I’m offended for her, the things they ask her and say about her. It has nothing to do with her run as VP, or even her politics at all. Troopergate is relevant. None of the rest of it is.
To everyone griping at CB about running the Enquirer stories, she showed us some front pages just a day or so ago and asked if we’d be interested in any of them. Several people were interested in various stories from the Enquirer. She’s just trying to give us what we want. If you don’t like them, you don’t have to read them.
Does anyone remember when Biden that Obama does not have the experience to be President.
“… the presidency is not something that lends itself to on the job training.”
“I stand by that statement,” Biden said.
In the same video Biden states “I would be honored to run with or against John McCain because I believe the country would be better off”.
Not sure why Obama ended up picking Biden in light of these comments.
Check out the video at
http://scaredmonkeys.com/2008/08/23/new-mccain-ad-joe-biden-voices-concern-of-obamas-inexperience-to-be-president/
Again – I am not partisan but rather appreciate a good political discussion.
How about this for only looking at policy:
In 2006 candidate Palin said she would fund abstinence-only education programs in schools. “The explicit sex-ed programs,” she added, “will not find my support.” The stance, which reflected the priorities of the GOP, nevertheless led to an incredulous editorial in the Juneau Empire.
“Abstinence may be a laudable goal, but failing to educate teenagers about how to protect themselves from disease or unintended pregnancy is tragically misguided. According to the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, abstinence-only programs do not reduce sexual activity, teen pregnancy or sexually transmitted disease. Every day 10,000 U.S. teens contract a sexually transmitted disease, 2,400 get pregnant and 55 contract HIV. Unintended pregnancies happen to Republicans, Democrats and people of all faiths.”
Now today we learn her 17 year old daughter is pregnant.
Irony here wouldn’t you say?
Once, aboard the Straight Talk Express, McCain was asked if he supported the use of contraception or President Bush’s abstinence-only education program to stem the spreading of AIDS.
“After a long pause, he said, ‘I think I support the president’s policy.’ Does he believe that contraceptives help stop the spread of HIV? After another long pause, he replied, “You’ve stumped me.”
Quite a pair Republicans
from thecitizen.com
Welcome to the world of politics Sarah Palin. Although I’m sure that this strong intelligent woman knew what she was getting into BEFORE she decided to step into the National/World Political arena. For anyone to whine about the attacks on her…isn’t that what she did in her first National political speech???
I miss Hillary 😥 Chelsea never got knocked-up in the white house!!
It’s an issue because all she talks about is her damn family! How about her freaky ultra right wing stance? If she did talk about her idiology and what she would do in office a lot of young republicans wouldn’t vote for her. This is why it’s an issue and I’m glad Celebitchy writes about it.
@Dogrunner go on utube and look up Biden on McCain. You’ll find the clip you mentioned which is taken from a longer interview with Jon Stewart and you’ll also find some other very interesting comments on John McCains changing positions on various issues, military experience as a prerequisite to holding high office, the religious right etc.
Of great interest to me was McCain voting against the GI Bill version which included college tuition for returning service people, and Bidens take on McCains response to Obama as co sponsor of that version of the bill.
Only if you’re really interested in a good discussion.
Oh, dear. This is quite a charged post! I’ll add my two cents, forgive me if this stuff is old news…it’s funny to see people write that she’s picked on because she’s a woman and that her personal life has no impact on her politics. Um, Monica Lewinsky anyone? John Edwards? He was politically fairly irrelevant when those reports came out, but the “liberal media” sure spent a lot of time covering the story. Didn’t we collectively decide that he was unfit to be a leader of this country if his character was so weak? Character seems to be a big word for conservatives when talking about anyone but other conservatives.
Sarah Palin has had an American passport for less than one year. A single visit to troops in Kuwait is the ONLY TIME SHE HAS EVER BEEN OUT OF THE COUNTRY. Aren’t we trying to repair our global relationships and reputation? Imagine her across the table from Putin for God’s sake. I’ve never been anywhere either, but I’m not claiming to be qualified to be the second-most powerful human on the planet.
Take 46 seconds and watch an interview (not commentary or satire) with her from a few months ago. Be sure to listen to the interviewer’s response. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4gkPXSDtGQ
Elisha, are you in college? Because it sounds like you’re getting screwed with only one wire service (although its nice to have your school pay for any wire at all) and a producer who is “playing at” being a journalist.
As a professional journalist whose job description had included working the wires, I don’t feel the AP is particularly slanted (although you could argue the generalization that since journalists are liberal then of course I feel that way).
However, there are many options to running AP stories as they are. Using another of the myriad wire services would be one (Reuters, NYT, WSJ, Bloomsberg, etc, just to name a couple). You could also edit out parts of stories you feel are editorialized. Those stories are meant to be cut and localized. Or you could flesh out the story with research of your own, rather than using a story you know is crap.
In any event, it seems your school’s TV station has an impartiality issue and I would suggest waiting until you graduate and work at a professional news outlet before making the sweeping generalization that the “media” is liberally biased. (Case in point: My last paper endorsed Bush last time around).
I think you’ll find that most journalists got into the job to report news, not push a political agenda. After all, news, real news, is just facts, which by definition, have no opinion. I think what really happens is that since the pay sucks and the job is thankless, reporters just stop caring and don’t do their legwork.
You sound like a person who wants to be a true journalist and report true, factual stories, regardless of who gets pissed off. I say kudos to you. Keep fighting the good fight, and consider a career in print rather than broadcast journalism, which allows for more in-depth reporting and analysis.
Good luck to you!
Well you know she does have foreign policy experience because Alaska is right up there next to Russia!
( this was actually stated by some moron on Fox news!)
sarah palin’s family is in the spotlight because she put them there. how many times is she going to use the term “special needs child”? how many close-ups are we going to get of that baby? she wants to milk that for all it’s worth, but nobody should mention her pregnant,unwed teenage daughter? bitch can’t play it both ways.
Anne said: “It’s an issue because all she talks about is her damn family!”
Nice point. “Raising five children” has been heavily emphasized as one of her (only) achievements. She is continually praised for her son’s achievements as he heads to Iraq. But she is somehow not responsible for her daughter’s “achievements”. Why was her family and personal life highly relevant until it no longer served her purpose? You can’t have your cake and eat it too.
I think the top leaders of our country should be smarter than I am. Trust me, it’s not a high standard. The bar is pretty low. But I have a feeling Palin couldn’t even come close to clearing it. Lucky for her, our country does seem to have a knack for electing the most incoherently stupid people we can dig up to be our leaders (or to borrow our president’s term, our “deciders”.)
Edited to add: kate, your post wasn’t up yet or I would have just typed “ditto”.
“I think the top leaders of our country should be smarter than I am.”
Hear, hear.
Get your heads out of the sand for once and call it as you see it. The woman just got on national TV and endorsed shooting wildlife, drilling nature to death, melting the polar ice cap in front of an all white convention of bigots. People, call it what it is.
Sure Breederina. I will take a look at that interview with Jon Stewart. Always interested in learning something new.
@Whitey Fisk. I just watched that Palin u-tube clip. I think I might be speechless. This is what people need to be watching and talking about, not her family or her affair. How can there be such a dearth of talent and quality in the Republican pool that she passes for best?
Christ on a Cracker. All of these Republicans. Tsk, tsk.
And you Liberals and Dems on the thread? Why has it taken all of you this long to go for the most obvious joke?
Palin is a Republican who had a heterosexual affair with her husband’s friend. Nothing gay, no hookers? Are we sure she’s a Republican? 😆
Sex and politics have always been long-term bedmates.
The fact is, if she were a Democrat female candidate or a male candidate of any party with a teenage pregnant daughter NOBODY would say sh*t. But she’s a pro-life conservative and that’s why all the fuss is happening.
@Ginny – “And I say this as a pro-choice, not-particularly religious, gay rights supporting, cursing, geeky woman. But then I tend to be libertarian/independent anyway.”
I think we might be twins. 🙂
Right on Jon Stewart! LMAO
snackysnaxx, that’s cute, but I am a real live news anchor!!! Woowww-wee! I only brought up the majors bit to make a point about how my producer didn’t intend to end up in our field. And I’ve never actually heard of a college paying for a wire service. I think we all actually have to word HARDER in college than in real jobs because of that.
You’re clearly a PRINT journalist, and our world over here in TV is sooo different. You probably have already been “burned” a couple of time by TV reporters “stealing” your stories and regurgitating them into PKGs. So you already know all we do in TV is regurgitate the newspapers and wire services. And now that papers are dying out, we’re relying on the wires now more than ever. We suffering the same setbacks papers are and have little resources to enterprise our own stories, especially since more stations are one-man banding it.
When I write my own content, I always put my own creative spin on the wire story, but my producer grabs it pretty much word for word. And since I’m the anchor, it’s my job to read what she’s written (while still being able to make some changes). And we’re not the only ones who use the wires verbatim. Many times I’ve had the competitors tuned in on the TV at my desk, only to hear them say the exact same story — word for word. Or I’ll tune into a radio station and hear the same story.
We don’t use the other wire services because that’s all my station forks over money for (aside from one local wire service). And all the other stations I’ve ever worked for use AP. (With the exception when I wrote for a radio wire service, AP were our competitors). And when the competitors are running the same stories as us with the same wording, I know they’re using the AP and the other local service too.
I think since you’re a print journalist, you probably aren’t aware that the software many TV stations use to write our scripts and build our rundowns is called “AP NewsCenter”. Yes, the Associated Press makes our teleprompter software. I think you can use your own journalistic skills to figure out what that means.
We also use CNN to get video, but that’s obviously a little different.
snacky, I know it’s hard to believe people when they come on here and pretend to be journalists, but that’s just not the case with me!! I’m happy to “prove” it to you simply because I’m always down to expand my network of contacts, so feel free to email me at “trufflesauce at yahoo” if you’d like!
Palin is a liar and a hypocrite. And yeah I’ll say it. If she can’t run her own damn house…how is she gonna run the white house? Especially with a 4 month old down syndrome baby and a preggers 17 year old. You bet if the shoe were on the other foot Obama would be history. And the Rethugs would be all over it like white on rice.
And trust…they have dug up every bone they can find on Obama and with the exception of the media dragging him through the mud with stupid ass Jeremiah Wright he and Michelle have been nothing short of extraordinary.
SMH.
I’
Now McCain wants to ride Obama’s coattails chant of change. Meanwhile the Rethugs are the reasons why our country is in the shit-hole that it’s in today. The real culprit is McCain for not properly vetting. He is totally using Palin as a fresh face pageant queen; but she can’t fool me. Palin will set back women 200 years! I’m still trying to figure out why my reproductive rights threaten people?
Palin is an idiot.
Elisha … that’s awesome. It did sound like from the mention of your majors that you were in college, in which case it would totally suck to be you, trying to report with a dingus producer who sounds more interested in beefing up a college resume. Or does it suck even MORE being a professional with a dingus producer? Having had my share of dingus editors, both collegiate and professional, I guess I can say they both suck in their own ways.
Still, it’s lame you only get one wire source. I actually liked sitting on the wires and reading different versions of the same stories for the best one.
Thanks for the contact info!
Breederina – that wasn’t a guy from Fox who said the line about “She’s got foreign experience, Alaska is close to Russia” – it Cindy McCain!!!!!!!!!!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/greg-mitchell/cindy-mccain-on-abc-today_b_122759.html
Seriously, who could make this stuff up! Just let the Republicans keep talking!
Jesus H. Christ, Suzy, take a chill pill.
@ Suzy Sunshine….Ireland, is that you? I’m just kidding, but to say Palin would put “women back 2000 years” is just silly. Can’t we can still get abortions now, even after 8 years of Bushee, the leader of the right wing born agains?
I love it when smug women state, “It’s a private family matter. Move on”.
Like I am going to listen to you.
It’s NOT a private family matter. It is in the global news network.
You keep telling others “not to discuss it” while you keep talking.
Stay away from the media posting if you want to be respectful-
Me? No public figure gets privacy.
I’ll keep talking about it.
Get over yourself.
@DLR in Canada maybe “going to heck in a handbasket” isn’t such a bad thing…sometimes you HAVE to hit rock-bottom to change, and we certainly haven’t. I’m sure it’ll happen,(actually HOPE it will happen) and all the other industrial nations will take note. And then our glorious country will rise from it’s imploded ashes to be the Leaders of the New Free World. Hey, a girl can dream can’t she?
I’m so tired of hearing people say things like “Obama has nothing but glitter to offer.” Here are just a handful of the resolutions and bills that Obama has driven through the Senate. You can see the full list of 129 by choosing his his name from the drop-down list of senators on this page: http://thomas.loc.gov/.
“S.J.RES.23 : A joint resolution clarifying that the use of force against Iran is not authorized by the Authorization for the Use of Military Force Against Iraq, any resolution previously adopted, or any other provision of law.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack [IL] (introduced 11/1/2007)
S.117 : A bill to amend titles 10 and 38, United States Code, to improve benefits and services for members of the Armed Forces, veterans of the Global War on Terrorism, and other veterans, to require reports on the effects of the Global War on Terrorism, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack [IL] (introduced 1/4/2007) Cosponsors (15)
16. S.133 : A bill to promote the national security and stability of the economy of the United States by reducing the dependence of the United States on oil through the use of alternative fuels and new technology, and for other purposes.
S.CON.RES.25 : A concurrent resolution condemning the recent violent actions of the Government of Zimbabwe against peaceful opposition party activists and members of civil society.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack [IL] (introduced 3/29/2007)
12. S.114 : A bill to authorize resources for a grant program for local educational agencies to create innovation districts.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack [IL] (introduced 1/4/2007) Cosponsors (None)
S.115 : A bill to suspend royalty relief, to repeal certain provisions of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, and to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal certain tax incentives for the oil and gas industry.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack [IL] (introduced 1/4/2007) Cosponsors (None)
S.116 : A bill to authorize resources to provide students with opportunities for summer learning through summer learning grants.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack [IL] (introduced 1/4/2007) Cosponsors (3)
@ cara – The reason we still have reproductive rights is there’s still a 5-4 pro-choice majority on the Supreme Court. One more right-wing judge will tip the balance.
At least 2 Supreme Court justices are expected to retire in the next 4 years. The next president will determine the balance of the Supreme Court for, quite possibly, decades.
To me, this is the #1 reason why it is so critical that Obama win this election.
McCain has promised to stack the court with more social conservatives in the vein of Alito. As soon as that happens, you can kiss your reproductive rights goodbye.
If she was a Democrat than the right wing conservatives would be all over her. She is one of them, so they are trying to make it a non-issue. Your home life and family is a relevant issue if you are supposed to stand for strong, conservative family values. It is hypocritical of the Republicans to say this is a non-issue, when “strong family values” have always been one of their major platforms.
Too bad Palin didn’t continue to lobby for that money for “The Bridge to Nowhere” cause she sure could use a get away route. Oh wait, that’s right, she was against the “Bridge to Nowhere” right after she was for it when it was exposed for the insane waste of tax dollars to build it…….Dang, that sure isn’t the luck of the Irish now is it
Actually… she lobbied for it, GOT it, said she didn’t want it, but never gave the money back… yep, another one of those things people should REALLY be looking into.
Well kelo, that’s what 20 vicodin a day over several years can do to a gals brain.
“…the money still went to Alaska, leaving it up to the administration of then-Gov. Frank Murkowski to decide whether to go ahead with the bridges or spend the money on something else.”
“Alaska eventually received about half the money. Murkowski and the Legislature redirected all of the money but $60 million in 2006, and Palin has left the remainder untouched to eventually be used to improve access to the island, Palin spokeswoman Sharon Leighow said.”
elizabeth, what would you say is the correct religion to have to be able to deal with terrorism? fundamentalist christianity?
why do you think that someone whose father was a muslim wouldn’t be able to understand and better deal with angry muslims?
Campbell Browne a CNN anchor did an interview with McCain’s campaign manager asking how Sarah Palin had any foreign policy experience. The campaign manager skirted around his answers and Campbell Browne pressed him. The original interview was shown last night. Campbell Browne stated that John McCain turned down doing “Larry King Live” because of it.
Tess, you are badly underinformed and about 60 years too late with those talking points. At least catch up to the conservative spiel for this century, ok?
Hey Liz—since you’re so well informed, why don’t you educate me about “current” conservative talking points?
I’m curious because because what you write reflects your own ignorance of conservative philosophy.
The appeal of conservatism is that its basic tenets reflect an understanding of human nature, for better or worse. And since human nature isn’t subject to change neither is conservatism, unlike the liberal penchant for embracing trends, whims, fads, and romantic utopian notions.
All of which is fine, even appealing in an individual, but a disasterous way to govern a nation.
Not surprised…YES WE CAN!
———————————-
Todd discovered the affair and quickly dissolved his friendship and his business associations with the guy,” charges an enemy. “Many people in Alaska are talking about the rumor and say Todd swept it under the rug.”
———————————-
Don’t you think the “charges an ENEMY” and “people are talking about the RUMOR” should be enough to know its more than likely not true???
I love how people keep saying this psycho-chick has the ability to run the country, or that we should look past all of her discrepancies – it’s all on how well she’s handled her role…
Uhhhh, WHAT!?
Clinton was IMPEACHED because of his cheating on his wife. PEOPLE WANTED HIM OUT, REGARDLESS of how well he did in office!
BUT, what’s more interesting is how people think she’s a good Governor for Alaska.
WHAT?! What the hell are you reading? Her PR guys stories?
Go do REAL research. Alaska is a beautiful state and she wants to DESTROY IT with her completely INSANE thoughts…
“God wants a pipeline built through Alaska”!?!?
“I will pay $150 for every left leg of a dead wolf you bring to me”!?!?
“The polar bear should not be on the endangered species list”!?!?
“I beg to differ with those who say we can’t drill our way out of everything””!?!?
You Palin lovers sicken me. Not one of you understand that this lady is WORSE than Bush EVER was!
…and now you want her in office because she’s FEMALE??????!?
Crazy. Just shows how stupid Americans really are.
Just to think that the PUMA movement was waiting for this moment….only to have their dream go up in smoke for Carbou Barbie and old azz G.I. Joe….I wish them to go away….There is something that is just not right about these combination!
A lot of people are say if she were a democrat..it would just be overlooked. Hello…. Bill Clinton, Rev Wright. Palin has young children and one child with special needs. Obama does not have any special needs children. As a mother of 3, it is hard to raise those 3 and work a 40 + hour week, never mind run a country. Now her daughter is suddenly engaged after being pregnant for five months. That was pure political.
Oh, Matthew, if only you weren’t ABSOLUTELY RIGHT!
I totally agree with Matthew.
That said, my questions to you all are why have the media been attacked? The Republican Party has effectively shut up the media again. The media remembers when BUSH and CHENEY were running and media people lost careers and jobs for telling the public what we now know was the truth. They are afraid of the BUSH and ROVE tactics.
The info that we obtain prior to the RNC was researched on the internet by the public. Most websites and blogs pertaining to the Palins and their family and friends and her pastor have been changed to private or removed. Why? Why have Palin been kept from interviews? Is the RP giving her a crash study in world politics? We all know how long that type of brain washed knowledge is retained.
Next…what happen to family values? Do family values no longer matter to Americans? The cute, enchanting videos we are now seeing of the Palin family around the kitchen table is nothing like several pictures we have seen on the internet of a boozed-up under age teenage daughter, who we now know is pregnant, with her now fresh looking (the RP certainly cleaned him up, almost as much as they cleaned up McCain) boyfriend. Whose home was used as a bar for under aged drinking on more than one occasion (notice different clothes)? Palin’s? Many parents have paid fines, done community service and even spent time in jail for such neglectfulness. But, republicans want to award Palin with the VP of the US. And the people seems to agree with their selection because it’s a female that governs a small state that she and her hubby want to separate from the US; knows how to use a gun to kill and a knife to skin; shoot a basketball; lose a beauty pageant; a mother of four and or one Down’s syndrome baby; have poor parenting skills; can deliver a well written speech and attack the media.
McCain asked that we not discuss her children. He was not so kind to C. Clinton when she was a child. He made sexual remarks about her and J. Reno. What a nice old boy.
Here we go again…pity the small helpless country that we next invade and the jobs we sell. Yes “we” not “them.” Because we are the government.
The world is looking and laughing at the foolish Americans, especially their silly women that vote with their emotions instead of their brains. (I like her glasses, what a well tailored suit, her heels are the correct height, she is wearing a skirt, her hair is down,etc.)
Brilliant.
Regarding believing and electing McCain and Palin Obama said “American’s aren’t that stupid.”
I say, Americans elected Bush and Cheney for two terms (8 years)…is that stupid or not?
First of all John McCain would have never picked her if it were not for the Obama/ Clinton primaries and Obama not picking Clinton as his running mate issue. He is playing on the emotional intellegence of the American people. He picked Palin not because she is the best person for the vice presidency but because he needed an ordinary individual with similar issues as the American people. I know that putting the kids in the public spotlight may seem wrong but it is no different than anyone else in the celebrity bracket. They go as far as hopping over fences, peeking in windows and down right stalking celebrities so why is it so different for them to pry into the Palin Family’s personal life. I know that it should be a family matter but the reality is that when you step into the public spotlight so does your family.
People are saying that the news media should not unveil Sarah Palin’s character. They prefer that people buy pork in a barrel uncovered. The truth have to out. She used her office to attempt to have a ex-brother in law fired for her sister sake. She belongs to a church that preaches that America is doomed. She hid her pregnancy from family and friends for 7 months. She charged the state of Alaska for meals she ate at home. She lied about ear marks since she was for the bridge to no where at first. 2 years ago, her experience was as a mayor of a town of about 8,000 people, she won the election with about 643 votes. It was the biggest election turnout in Wasilla’s history. She is for abstinence but could not persuade her daughter to abstain. The fruit do not fall far from the tree. And the list goes on.
Ebony, read a little…..
http://www.newsweek.com/id/157986 😉
The reason why Joe biden is not subjected to the same scrutiny is because he is not shoving his ultra conservative,pro life,so called family values down our throats-I mean the Republicans are such hypocrites!!
Palin,McCain and the religious right are nut cases who want a Taliban like society here in the US -they will be the down fall of this country!!
OBAMA/BIDEN 08
Clinton cheated on his wife while in office.
If this is true, it’s not the first time.
And if it’s not… well lets just say I remember a headline on the cover of The National Enquirer that said “10,000 year old pregnant mummy found – janitor says he’s the father!”
After the success with her policy of abstinence with here daughter she now wants to promote it all over the USA.
By the time of the election voters will know a lot more about here and most of it wont be good.
Any Hillary Clinton Voter who will now vote for MCCain because of Palin, should think about this:
YOU ARE VOTING AGAINST YOUR OWN INTERESTS! WHY? Is it because Obama is Black? Do you lack the ability to vote on issues? Vote for people who represent your issues – please don’t be foolish and vote for faces – vote on issues and support those who support your issues!
Dirt on McCain
Dumb- He graduated on the bottom 5 of his class, in a class of about 850 students, he was #845 – He is a dunce like Bush and is likely to repeat the same Bush mistakes. Frankly, he is dumber than the average American, hence is reason for being quick to anger – he lacks the ability to reason and this can impact America’s perception by the rest of the world. We can’t have a series of fools as president.
Stupid – He crashed 5 planes during the Vietnam war – why? He was too dumb and arrogant to know how to fly them
Treason – He helped make propaganda videos for the Vietkongs, which is a violation of all military rules – the POW rules are if you are captured, the only information you release is your name, rank, and country – period. A GREAT swift boat ad should be compiled with all the videos he made against the war – since he calls himself so patriotic!
Adulterer – He handed his first wife divorce papers while she was sick and cripled – to marry Cindy, who he was cheating on his wife on — where are the family values he’s talking about.
Hypocrite – He’s a blasted hypocrite – he’s used the words “pig with lipstick” several times to refer to Hillary’s economic plan, now he complains when Oama uses it to refer to a different concept.
Charlatan – He is linked to crimminal lobbyists!
Dirt on Cindy
Dumb -She is an airhead; hence her reasons for repeating the same script of lies over and over – she’s been given a script to read by the Bush Administration to read, and the fool read it without even evaluating the veracity of what she says. Any ad by Move on should portray her as a highschool cheerleader for McCain – she repeats the same words, have a high pitched voice and a funny accent, she doesn’t really know or believe in what she says, and she gets fanatics all stirred up for nothing!
Stupid – It took her 6 years to finish her Bachelor’s degree, and her grades weren’t too high; she couldn’t make it at the university in Hawaii, so she had to transfer to a school in South Dakota!
Adulterer – She cheated on her husband with one of his colleagues
Big Spender – She bankrupt the town of 9000 that she was mayor of in Alaska, and left the position with the town in deep debt of over $32 million dollars – imagine this – she calls herself fiscal conservative – that’s almost $33,000 per person if you were to divide the debt among the townspeople. If that’s what her qualifications are, then how does she have more experience than Obama? And besides, how dare she compare herself to Obama? Call him what you want, he was a Harvard Law professor!
Thief – She charges the state of Alaska $60.00 per day to stay in her OWN house – that’s stealing!
Thief – She racked up over $40,000 in fees to the state just for transportation for her daughter to her office – that’s more than some Alaskans make in two years.
Charlatan- She is not running for president, she’s running for vice president – so don’t be fooled by McCain’s party tricks to distract you
Mccain is worth 100 million dollars but
he thinks $7.15 is too much for
min wage workers.
voting against increases 17 times!
He is a selfish ass!!
PALIN IS A SELFISH ASS!!
PALIN WOULD PUT HER SELFISH AMBITION AHEAD OF HER SICK INFANT!!
WOMEN FOR OBAMA!!
PALIN IS A SLUT!!!
GO BACK TO ALASKA!!!
GO OBAMA!!!!
An adulterer running on conservative values? mmmm. She won’t be the next vice-president that is for sure
Man this election is getting dirtier and dirtier by the minute. November better hurry up and get here or we’ll be finding out way too much personal info about these candidates. Next the media will be telling us that Joe Biden has a pony girl fetish, Obama enjoys online porn, and that John McCain drinks Red Bull, gin and Viagra cocktails. Let’s all write in Sponge Bob for Prez!
As Mayor of Wasilla, Palin forced rape victims to pay for their own rape kits, which could cost up to $1300. Palin fired police chief Irl Stambaugh and replaced him with Charlie Fannon, who with Palin’s knowledge, slashed the budget for the exams and began charging the city’s victims of sexual assault. The city budget documents demonstrate Palin read and signed off on the new budget. A year later, alarmed Alaska lawmakers passed legislation outlawing the practice. The documents are now available to the public on the Wasilla website: http://www.cityofwasilla.com/index.aspx?page=136
I don’t blame her for cheating!! Cheating by most women is as a result of neglect by their husbands. I can see Todd doing that to her. He carries himself like Adonis. He was probably out fishing while his wife was getting banged by another dude.
What scares me though is that if McCain/Palin ticket is elected in Nov. and McCain kicks the bucket shortly after, the real person that will be running this country will be Todd. A high school droput will be incharge guys. That is some scary shit!!!
I left my husband when I found out he was cheating… That was extremely painful period in my life, but absolutely worth it. I read great book which helped me a lot to deal with anger and frustration and to begin a new life…. Take a look if you are interested (it is in pdf format):
http://www.searchforbalance.org/Site/Survive%20cheating%20and%20infidelity%20in%20bad%20relationship%20ebook_files/Survive_cheating_and_infidelity_in_bad_relationship_ebook_SAMPLE.pdf