The Immoral Minority

Here is the video of Levi Johnston at Sherry's sentencing that I promised you.

2009-11-24T19:11:00.002-09:00

This was filmed by Dennis Zaki.

Damn I guess Sherry will not make it out in time for Thanksgiving after all.

Well at least Levi has somebody who honestly wants him to spend the holidays with them. Still, it has to kind of break your heart seeing him without his family like that.

Keith Olbermann discusses the inspiration behind Sarah Palin's odd statements about Israel. Here is a hint. It is not her affection for the Jews.

2009-11-24T17:49:00.006-09:00

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Those of us following Palin closely are all too aware of her belief in the Rapture, and that she beliefs wholeheartedly that Alaska is to be a "refuge state" for those who will flee the chaos of the "End Times".

There are lots of reasons to be very concerned about Sarah Palin and her influence over the "sheeple", but this is one of the most frightening.

Census worker committed suicide say Kentucky police.

2009-11-24T15:56:00.004-09:00

A Kentucky census worker found naked, bound with duct tape and hanging from a tree with “fed” scrawled on his chest killed himself but staged his death to make it look like a homicide, authorities said Tuesday.

Bill Sparkman, 51, was found Sept. 12 with a rope around his neck near a cemetery in a heavily wooded area of the Daniel Boone National Forest in southeastern Kentucky. Authorities said his wrists were loosely bound, his glasses were taped to his head and he was gagged.

Kentucky State Police Capt. Lisa Rudzinski said an analysis found that “fed” was written “from the bottom up.” He was touching the ground, and to survive “all Mr. Sparkman had to do at any time was stand up,” she said.

I have to offer a mea culpa here.

When the census worker was found dead in Kentucky with the word "FED" scrawled on his chest I was quite convinced it COULD NOT be a suicide and even suggested that his murder might be the result of the crazy talk from Michelle Bachman and Glenn Beck.

Part of my certainty was due to an interview from a guy who had visited the scene of the crime.

But I was wrong. I jumped to a conclusion based on insufficient evidence, and I was incorrect.

And even though I was joined in my incorrect assumption by the, VERY cautious and careful, Rachel Maddow I still must take responsibility for my mistake.

I am sorry. I will endeavor to always get my facts straight before making an assumption in the future.

(And NO this does NOT relate to my "Splitsville" story or my "babygate" investigation. I am quite confident in those investigations and have first hand and verifiable information to put my mind at ease. Nice try though.)

Sarah Palin in her own words with Greta Van Susteren.

2009-11-24T06:20:00.005-09:00

Though I NEVER watch Fox News, I did watch this yesterday and was amazed. As much as it may turn your stomach, if you watch this entire interview you will have seen Sarah Palin completely unguarded. She feels safe with Greta and does not hesitate to let her insanity come out to play.

Part Two: Palin gets pissed at our President.

Part Three: Sarah demonstrates jawdropping ignorance concerning foreign affairs.

Part Four: Back on the bus with Palin, where she takes the opportunity to lie about why she quit.

Unbelievable. And this is an interview with an ardent supporter. Did you notice that Sarah accidentally admitted she is running in 2012? I did.

The word salad evident in this interview is overwhelming. Sarah has absolutely no idea what she is talking about, and, as evidenced by yesterdays video of her supporters, some people are anxious to embrace it as "being real".

This is EXACTLY how George Bush got elected, and without vigilance it could happen again.

Oh my God, they have cloned her! Scariest picture you will see all day.

2009-11-24T06:04:00.004-09:00

I have always wondered if I would know when I lost my mind. I guess I got my answer.

Palin former legislative director speaks out concerning portrayal in "Going Rogue".

2009-11-24T05:36:00.003-09:00

"I'm just pilloried right and left and turned into the big bad wolf here for stuff I didn't do," said Bitney, who is now an aide to Valdez Republican Rep. John Harris. "It's like I'm this fictional character that she's decided to make me out to be this sort of incompetent slob."

John Bitney was so angry that he referred to Palin as a "sociopath" on Shannyn's show "Moore up North" on Saturday. (You can read the entire Bitney ADN interview, and Sarah's attorney's response, by clicking the title.)

The fact is that "Going Rogue" is has more fabrications per page than any work of fiction that I can remember. I believe that before all is said and done Palin may face numerous lawsuits, and embarrassing revelations about the truth, coming from insiders who know better.

As further evidenced by this guest post on Mudflats just yesterday.

I think we should start a "Save Trig Palin" campaign.

2009-11-23T19:41:00.004-09:00

Not difficult to write the book? No shit Sarah, you did not write a word of it!

Uh oh! Did you see how fast Sarah ditched her little prop as soon as he became a little fussy? Can't have the Palin-bots seeing their idol being embarrassed by her ticket to pro-life credibility, now can we?

And did you notice she is showing him a book without having his glasses on? "Here baby, look at these fuzzy pictures. We don't want you to look too silly for the cameras now do we? Oh that's right you can't hear me without your hearing aids in."

I am convinced that the child is not getting ANY of the therapy or special support he needs from this famiily. I really worry about what kind of future he will have. I also wonder if when she is done with this book tour if he gets sent back to wherever she got him from?

God her voice is like fingernails on a chalkboard! I have no idea how ANYBODY could possibly imagine her having her own television or radio show. Her only audience would be made up of house cats mewling and hissing at the screen.

RNC decides to create "loyalty oath" so super-duper conservative, that even conservative icon Ronald Reagan would fail. Whoops!

2009-11-23T18:04:00.008-09:00

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In case you missd them here are the ten "purity resolutions". (Is that anything like "purity balls"?)

(1) We support smaller government, smaller national debt, lower deficits and lower taxes by opposing bills like Obama’s “stimulus” bill; (Oh that's bright. Do they also support smaller forest fires, but demand less firefighters, a ban on water, and a rejection of any firefighting solution that has Obama's name on it?)

(2) We support market-based health care reform and oppose Obama-style government run health care; (You know when the market is setting the price, controlling the cost, reaping billions of dollars in benefits, and gouging the customers without consequence, where is their incentive to "reform"? Morons!)

(3) We support market-based energy reforms by opposing cap and trade legislation; (See snarky response above.)

(4) We support workers’ right to secret ballot by opposing card check; (This is actually called the Employee Free Choice Act and it is designed to give the workers added protection in helping them to form a union, something that pro-business conservatives simply cannot abide.)

(5) We support legal immigration and assimilation into American society by opposing amnesty for illegal immigrants; (Math 101: Less brown people means more Republican politicians. Get it?)

(6) We support victory in Iraq and Afghanistan by supporting military-recommended troop surges; (Which is completely impossible since we do not have anywhere near the number of troops it would take to ensure a military victory. Oh I forgot, that is logic and this group is allergic to logic.)

(7) We support containment of Iran and North Korea, particularly effective action to eliminate their nuclear weapons threat; (By "containment" I think they mean to cut off all diplomatic efforts to negotiate, and to ignore them until they have developed weapons for which we can attack them. Because you know what they say. You can never have too many wars!)

(8) We support retention of the Defense of Marriage Act; (Because gay marriage makes, straight marriage seem dull and lifeless. Oh wait, I think it may be too late.)

(9) We support protecting the lives of vulnerable persons by opposing health care rationing and denial of health care and government funding of abortion; (They don't give a crap about those first two parts, they are just trying to distract anybody from noticing they are demanding more restrictions on a woman's right to choose. Ooh tricky!) and

(10) We support the right to keep and bear arms by opposing government restrictions on gun ownership. (A not very subtle message that if they do not get their way they are willing to "arm a bear". Oh wait, I might have read that part wrong!)

You know the fact that Ronald Reagan would have failed this little "purity" test kind of makes me dislike him just a little bit less.

I swear that these idiots are doing everything they can to destroy their party from within. Who could have inspired these dimwits to do something so incredibly ignorant?

Oh yeah. That's right.

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Look! It is the Typhoid Mary of the Republican party!

More interviews with Sarah Palin supporters, because stupid NEVER stops being funny.

2009-11-23T11:02:00.005-09:00

From watching these interviews it seems as if the ignorant people have found their ignorant leader and decided that they should follow her. How ignorant.

Since Palin has no solutions to ANYTHING all her supporters can do is parrot her empty talking points. It is almost painful to watch. Oh and funny, did I mention funny?

At least ET gets the Sherry Johnston sentencing details right.

2009-11-23T08:46:00.003-09:00

ET confirms that Levi Johnston's mother Sherry Johnston has been sentenced to five years in jail, following her guilty plea to a drug charge stemming from her arrest last December.

Sherry's lawyer tells us she only faces two years of actual incarceration: Two of her five years were suspended, and she'll receive one year of "good time" credit as well as credit for the three months she's already served. She could possibly serve her time at home via an ankle monitor due to her lack of criminal history, her lawyer adds.

Sherry also faces three years of probation once she gets out of jail or off the ankle monitor.

Her lawyer tells ET that Levi and his sister Mercede were on hand for their mother's sentencing, and the judge called this a mitigated and unusual case. The state said they expect Sherry to do well on probation.

The difference between this article and the ADN article is that ET actually TALKED TO SHERRY'S ATTORNEY! Which is what I did, and why I also knew that Sherry was headed back home.

Army tells Sarah to "shut up and sit down" during visit to Fort Bragg.

2009-11-23T07:49:00.005-09:00

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin promises to limit her enthusiasm during her visit to North Carolina's Fort Bragg.

The former Republican vice presidential candidate planned to sign copies of her new memoir at a post store Monday. Army officials say Palin will not make a speech, pose for photos, or personalize notes in the books she signs.

The Army worried Palin's appearance would prompt political grandstanding against President Barack Obama. That fear initially led post commanders to keep news organizations from covering Palin's appearance, though the restrictions were later dropped.

Fort Bragg spokesman Tom McCollum tells WTVD-TV that sales of Palin's book at the post store have been weak so far.

Okay at first, like a lot of you, I was VERY angry that Palin was going to visit Fort Bragg and pimp her book while they are still mourning the terrible tragedy that happened three weeks ago at another army base.

But now with these new restrictions, I am loving it. FINALLY somebody puts Caribou Barbie in her place!

Thank you Fort Bragg, for standing up to this domestic terrorist.

Update: Kerryann sent me this pleasant addition to my post.

Fort Bragg spokesman Tom McCollum told WTVD that sales of Palin's book at the post store have been weak so far.

I wonder how Palin will spin THIS on her Facebook page?

Sarah Palin meets Franklin Graham in Asheville North Carolina.

2009-11-23T05:20:00.001-09:00

A you can see Sarah once again disembarks from the plane holding her favorite prop, just like she has been filmed doing in virtually every single stop along her book tour. At this point the walk down the stairs with little Trig almost appears to be a parody of itself. It is almost as if she fears she will be unrecognizable without her little Down Syndrome baby firmly attached to her hip. Well that and her omnipresent furry purple top.

When high heels finally met pavement, Sarah was greeted by Samaritan's Purse founder Franklin Graham, son of famous televangelist Billy Graham.

Alaskans will remember Franklin Graham as the man who accompanied Sarah Plain, and Anchorage homophobe Jerry Prevo, in visiting two of the villages that had been devastated by bitter cold and lack of food and heating oil at the beginning of this year.

Of course the majority of Alaskans also know that over a month before this humanitarian trip/photo op the Alaska bloggers, talk radio hosts, and true samaritans had already helped get the villages through the crisis. I am sure it was nice for the villagers to get the cookies and bibles from Sarah Palin and Samaritan's Purse, but it was much too little, much too late.

At first I was amazed that Palin was willing to take questions from people at this airport, as she had not done so on previous stops. But then I heard the questions and realized this was a carefully chosen audience of supporters and she would not be asked anything too difficult. Still her answers are just as plump with "word salad" as usual.

This stop with the Graham's is clearly another attempt to define Sarah's "Christian cred" with the faithful, and to remind them that she is one of the torchbearers who will be moving the religion forward, and helping to further insinuate its influence on American politics.

(H/T to Bree Palin for the above video)

The purple top and Trig prop again make an appearance as she stops over in Roanoke, VA.

Andrew Sullivan decides "enough is enough"!

2009-11-22T16:33:00.003-09:00

Andrew Sullivan has decided now that Sarah's book is out, and we have versions of events from her own ghostwriter's mouth, it is time to take the Trig pregnancy story mainstream. But knowing full well that the American press is too timid to touch the story he goes to the UK.

Really? The British press has more balls than the American press? I am ashamed.

Take one story that every mother will relate to: the drama of her delivery of her fifth child, Trig. She tells us that at eight months pregnant with a child she knew had Down’s syndrome and would need special care at birth, she got on a plane from Alaska to Dallas, Texas, to attend an energy conference. Most airlines won’t allow this but Alaska Airlines did. Palin then tells us that at 4am on her first night in Dallas, “a strange sensation low in my belly woke me and I sat up straight in bed”. In an interview she gave with the Anchorage Daily News just after Trig’s birth, she confirmed that she had amniotic fluid leaking at that point.

So she was a mother eight months pregnant with a special-needs child thousands of miles from home. She wakes up in the middle of the night with contractions and amniotic leakage and she tells her husband she doesn’t want to call her doctor because it would wake her up at 1am. And she is the sitting governor of a state and her doctor is a close personal friend. Not only that, but she gives the speech as planned in the afternoon, during which she makes a rather good joke. She then tells us what happens next: “Big laughs. More contractions.”

After the speech, does she then go to a local hospital to get checked out? Nah. She gets on two separate aeroplanes all the way back to Alaska, with a stopover in Seattle, because she is determined to have the child in her home town and she just knows that the contractions and amniotic leakage are not signs of imminent delivery. She has had four previous kids so she has experience. “I still had plenty of time ... It was a calm, relatively restful flight home,” she explains of the next 15 hours.

You might imagine that an airline would have some qualms about letting a woman in some sort of labour at eight months, and pregnant with a Down’s syndrome child, get on a long transcontinental flight. What if the baby were born in mid-flight? The plane would have to be diverted. What if something happened to the baby? The airline could be liable. Palin never told the flight attendants. Couldn’t they tell, one might innocently ask. In the Anchorage Daily News story about the birth, Alaska Airlines said: “The stage of her pregnancy was not apparent by observation. She did not show any signs of distress.” Palin makes Xena, the warrior princess, seem fragile. (You can read Andrew's entire article by clicking the title.)

It is ridiculous story isn't it? And yet this is the story that millions of people have been willing to accept as believable. No wonder George Bush was elected President twice (well once anyhow.)

I think Andrew is going to let this one simmer out there for a while before he introduces his alternative theory. And yes, I have e-mailed him and offered to help.

Cue the hackneyed title please . "Drill, Baby, Drill"! Good, now places everybody. Okay quiet on the set, Action!

2009-11-22T12:00:00.005-09:00

So gentle readers we return, once again, to the "riveting" hagiography of Alaska's first female governor, Queen Ester of the North, our very own Sarah Louise Heath Palin.

Now one of the things that fairly leaps out at you in this book is the fact that there are two separate realities. There is the "reality" reality that you and I live in, and then there is the "Sarah Palin" reality.

Now apparently, much like "matter" and "anti-matter", reality and "Sarah Palin" reality simply cannot occupy the same space.

So in the book "Going Rogue" you will find very little, if any, reality. For if there were too much "real" reality the book may in fact explode (not such a bad idea if you ask me).

For instance, in the real world there are people who we may think to be good citizens, honest public servants, and celebrities. But in the "Sarah Palin" reality we learn that these people are "gadflies", "Rogue's" (before it was all cool and everything), and Hollywood hypocrites.

So let us spend s little time getting to know these loathsome (in Sarah's reality) characters.

First we have Andree McLeod, or as Sarah refers to her on page 107, "Andree the Gadfly".

Andree who had once listed her occupation as "whistleblower" on a candidate survey, was a too-frequent caller to my home. My kids dreaded hearing her voice, but the only way I could get anything done during her long, one-sided conversations was to put her on the speakerphone while I'd go on cooking dinner and washing dishes. (According to Levi, a person more in touch with "real" reality, Sarah NEVER washed dishes nor cooked.)

Of course what Sarah fails to mention, and the REAL reason for her venomous words concerning Andree, is that Ms. McLoed is also the author of a number of the ethics complaints filed against her while she was the governor. Of course Sarah's book cannot have THAT much "real" reality in it, now can it?

It has often been noted that Palin has an unhealthy obsession with our current Commander-in-Chief, and she demonstrates it again on page 114.

Every part of our campaign shouted "Change!"

We were amused a couple of years later when Barack Obama--one of whose senior advisers (come to think of it) had roots in Alaska--adopted the same theme. Kris (Perry) and I joked about it: "Hey! We were change when change wasn't cool!"

So did you get that kids? In Sarah Palin's reality, Obama STOLE the change idea from HER gubernatorial campaign. And the evidence for that is that one of his advisers CAME from Alaska. Well that seems like a cut and dried case of campaign slogan stealing to me!

Of course the obvious follow up question would be, "If you had the idea first, why couldn't YOU make it 'cool'?"

On page 116, it is Andrew Halcro's turn to get thrown under the bus. But hey rather than type out the passage for you to read, how about I just let Andrew read it to you himself.

Gee I wish everybody that Sarah attacked could read their part to you like that, it would save a lot of wear and tear on my typing fingers (both of them).

Time to get all Hollywood as Sarah takes on the evil, and hypocritical Ashley Judd.

One animal rights group recruited a perky, pretty celebrity to attack our scientifically controlled, state-managed wolf-control program. It was ironic that she opposed using guns to kill predators that would cause Native people to starve, but apparently not opposed to taking movie roles in which she'd use a gun to kill predatory people. (P 134)

Yeah what a hypocrite! How dare she object to splattering the guts of REAL wolves all over the snow using REAL guns, from REAL helicopters when she herself uses PRETEND guns, in PRETEND scripted situations, to PRETEND to kill PRETEND bad guys! Can you believe the audacity of that woman?

Hey do you want to see the commercial that pissed Palin of so much? Of course you do.

Yep, I still love it!

Here is a great example of Palin pettiness for your perusal.

Once after school, Willow hid the puppy in her purse and snuck her into my office. The Senate Rules Committee chairman (John Cowdery) busted her and sent me a letter with some kind of official citation attached. Heaven forbid any lawmaker would catch Willow carrying her furry four-pound puppy into my office in violation of the NO DOGS ALLOWED sign. (Surely just a small distraction for this senator--he was later busted by the FBI and convicted on federal corruption charges.) (P 137)

And under the bus you go Senator puppy hater! You will notice that in Palin's reality it is a far worse crime to speak out against a small violation of the rules by somebody in her family then it is to be convicted on federal corruption charges.

Next up John Bitney, Sarah's high school band mate and first legislative director, and now nothing more than a tread covered speed bump.

My first legislative director was one of those (the 20 percent that Sarah would ask for a "do-over" if she could). He turned out to be a Blackberry games addict who couldn't seem to keep his lunch off of his tie. He relished the perception that he as a "player" in Juneau politics, but we were never sure which team he was on. (P 144)

Occasionally, he would wander in and out, plop down in the chair at the end of the table, nibble cookies, and absently thumb his Blackberry. Every now and then a tired staffer on a bathroom break would pass behind him, glance down, then mouth over his head, "It's Brick-Breaker." (P 150)

Slouching against the wall, he assured us that, yeah, he had everything under control, mission accomplished. The fact that his shirt was buttoned one button off and his shirttail was poking through his open fly didn't exactly inspire confidence. (P 151)

Sarah then goes on to blame Bitney for not preparing the Senate for the huge budget cuts that she was proposing. But you notice that Palin cannot simply say that Bitney did not perform his task adequately, instead she has to essentially point him out, in true mean girl fashion, to all of the "cool kid" supporters (her Palin-bots) as the dork.

No wonder that on "Moore up North" Bitney made the following statement. "The rules of engagement have changed. We are not friends anymore. I did not make that call, she did! I am tired of it, and I have had it!" Hmm methinks we may have another budding author on our hands.

I am going to stop there for now. Next up is Walt Monegan and that is going to require a little more detail to really explain the whole kerfuffle appropriately.

Before we finally take our leave of chapter three we will be visiting the mythology she creates around Track's military career (He was not running from the law! He is a patriot, darn you!), and of course the amazing and constantly changing story behind the birth of Trig Paxson Van Palin (this time with MORE contraction, but no amniotic fluids!)

Sarah Palin Twitters a threat to the Democrats who voted for cloture.

2009-11-22T06:29:00.003-09:00

Just got off flt/got word of Senate's disappointing action; USA-do u realize what's up in D.C?Senators-do u realize "change" coming in 2010?

Do you hear that "Senators"? There is "change" coming in 2010! You have been warned!

And what will Palin do, you ask?

Well she will support a teabagger candidate that will split the GOP vote and deliver an easy victory to a Democrat in a reliably conservative stronghold. THAT is what she will do!

YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED LIBERALS! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!

Gosh is it only me, or does having Sarah Palin back on Twitter ranting like an un-medicated psychopath just feel right?

If you were unable to watch Shannyn's new show "Moore up North" yesterday have no fear, you can now find it online!

2009-11-22T05:55:00.005-09:00

Just click the title and enjoy watching Shannyn and the rest of the "under the Palin bus" folks talk about their, memories, impression, and concerns about Caribou Barbie.

And don't miss the opening with Alice Welling. She does a fairly mean Sarah Palin impression. Emphasis on the "mean".

After all of the scurrilous Sarah Palin attacks, Levi decides to turn the other cheek (and have it photographed for his fans) Warning bare ass ahead!

2009-11-21T18:32:00.012-09:00

Okay folks here you go. Apparently this (at least according to my e-mail box and comments section) is what everybody has been clamoring for, pictures of Levi Johnston showing everything EXCEPT his johnson.

Okay I am a jock and have seen enough naked man ass in locker rooms to last me a lifetime. But this is not really aimed at my demographic so perhaps I should keep my comments to my self.

I will say however that I am VERY pleased that Levi resisted the pressure placed on him by the people at Playgirl, and some in the gay community, to show his "special purpose". I think that these are much classier, and certainly do not qualify (despite Sarah Palins assertions to the contrary) as porn. But hey, that is just me.

If you wish to see more of Levi, and there is MUCH more of Levi to be seen, then simply click the title and enjoy the show.

However I do have one more question.

Do Levi and his manager have to do EVERYTHING together?

Senate votes for cloture! Health Care Bill will move forward!

2009-11-21T16:07:00.003-09:00

6o Senators voted for cloture and there will be NO filibuster from the Republicans.

The debate will resume after the Thanksgiving break.

As expected Alaska Senator Mark Begich voted for cloture, and Senator Lisa Murkowsi voted against it.

Thank all of you for calling your Senators today, I have no doubt that you voices were heard.

Moore Up North starts in less than one hour.

2009-11-21T15:08:00.008-09:00

This is a "you don't dare miss it" episode.

The theme is people Sarah Palin has thrown under the bus with her book "Going Rogue" and as you can see from the picture above, the panel for today's program is made up of several people with tread marks on their bodies.

From left to right we have John Bitney, Anne Kilkenny, Andrew Halcro, and of course in the middle the lovely Shannyn Moore.

Personally I can't imagine how this program would NOT be extremely entertaining.

Just tune into channel 5, KYES at 4:00 and see for yourselves.

Afterward you can catch Shannyn's radio show on 700 KBYR at five. Click here for livestreaming.

Just for fun.

2009-11-21T13:23:00.000-09:00

PLEASE READ THIS POST!

2009-11-21T10:44:00.006-09:00

Today the Senate votes on cloture concerning the Senate Health Care Bill.

"Cloture" is defined as: The only procedure by which the Senate can vote to place a time limit on consideration of a bill or other matter, and thereby overcome a filibuster. Under the cloture rule (Rule XXII), the Senate may limit consideration of a pending matter to 30 additional hours, but only by vote of three-fifths of the full Senate, normally 60 votes.

In other words if this does not pass tonight's crucial vote it will allow the Republicans to filibuster and play "rope a dope" with this thing in an attempt to run out the clock, or wear the Democrats down. This country has been waiting almost a century for health care reform and we CANNOT allow the Republicans, whose vote is bought and paid for by the insurance companies, to sabotage this important legislation again!

Please call your Senators and let them know that you want them to vote yes on cloture tonight!

Don't let it dissuade you that your Senator is a Republican, you still have a right to have your voice be heard.

I just called Senator Begich, who I know is going to vote YES on this, at 202-224-3004. And I also called Senator Murkowski, who I know is going to vote NO on this, at 202-224-6665. I got through right away on both calls, and I don't feel either one was a waste of my time because I exercised my rights as a citizen and now BOTH of my Senators know how I feel. Isn't that MY job as an American?

It may not change a damn thing, but at least I tried. And I encourage everybody who cares about this issue to do the same thing. You know that the Republicans are calling by the thousands in response to the fear mongering and bullshit, fed to them by Fox News and Sarah Palin. Should we do any less in the name of truth and honesty?

Do your senators know YOU feel yet? No? Well what are you waiting for? You can find contact information for your senators right here. Just take a moment and to call them up and tell them that a vote of yes on cloture is a vote that YOU support.

And then if you don't mind, please leave a comment right here so that visitors can see how many Americans support Health Care Reform in this country. When the Republicans again say that the American people have spoken out against this bill, we will have evidence here, and on other liberal blogs, that they are lying once again to their constituents.

How powerful will THAT be in the next election cycle?

Thank you very much for your attention to this matter.

Namaste my friends

Gryphen

Update: It looks like the teabaggers are admitting defeat.

We have heard a lot of outrage over the past several weeks from Tea Party Patriots around the country that no matter how loud we protest, no matter how often we go to DC, no matter how large our crowds are, Congress is not listening to us. We have heard that Sen. Blanche Lincoln's office is getting phone calls 15 - 1 asking her to vote NO on cloture and against the health care bill. Despite what their constituents want, Congress appears to be doing what they want rather than representing us.
...
We understand your outrage and frustration. We are working on plans to change tactics while keeping the pressure on the Senate for Health Care, Cap and Trade, and the Central Valley Water issue. We will continue to work on those plans over the week of Thanksgiving. Stay posted as we work with local coordinators to announce additional plans and ideas.

See? Sometimes the good guys DO win. Keep up those phone calls and e-mails. Now is not the time to rest on our laurels.

Even Joe the Plumber cannot bring himself to endorse Palin for 2012.

2009-11-21T07:59:00.003-09:00

When asked about whether Palin should run for President in 2012, this was
Wurzelbacher's response:

"I hope she doesn't (run) because I think she could do a lot for America outside of office," Wurzelbacher said. "And I think she could rally Americans to get together and make some changes from the grassroots level. I think she could be an incredible rallying point, and I think that's where she could serve America best."

Translation: "Oh hell no! That woman is a menace! Have you seen how she treats that baby? Can you imagine if she treated our country with such carelessness? I would not even let her get her hands on my Plumber's snake, much less my country!"

(Disclamer: The opinions expressed on this blog may not EXACTLY represent the opinions of, fake plumber and political tool, Joe Wurzelbacher but again they just might!)

Update: Dennis just sent me this picture of Chuck Heath (Sarah's dad.)

I wonder how he feels about that shirt NOW?

You know you just can't make this stuff up.

What happens when two oversized egos, puffed up with self importance, meet? Bill O'Reilly "interviews" Sarah Palin.

2009-11-21T05:47:00.004-09:00

The reason that the McCain campaign did NOT do The Factor is because, number one, McCain is not a fan of O'Reilly, and number two, adding Sarah Palin meant that they did not need to pander to the simpletons that watch his show. The mouth breathing knuckle draggers flocked to their ticket just for the chance to look up her skirt.

I find it sort of bizarre that on the one hand Palin bitches about Katie Couric not knowing anything about her accomplishments, but on the other hand complains that she "badgered" her with questions that would have helped clarify those accomplishments. Welcome to Palin's world.

I cannot believe that Palin, with ALL of the skeletons in her closet, expects people to believe that her "D" in college was the thing that she was most worried would be revealed? How much of a Palin-bot do you have to be to buy that load of Moose shit?

And I cannot believe that O'Reilly is willing to combine Palin's pathetic 23% favorable rating with the 37% "don't know" rating to make a possible 60% favorable rating. That would make most statisticians head's explode. The idea that the more people learn about Sarah, the more likely they are to support, her has been demonstrated as false time, and time again.

Did you notice that when O'Reilly says people are calling her "Eva Peron" that she clearly has NO idea who that is?

I noticed that when O'Reilly asks Palin about Levi that she makes the accusation that he is lying about one of her children and lying about her family. Which child is he supposedly lying about? Bristol? Levi has been nothing less than a gentleman toward Bristol. Palin is once again hiding behind one of her children in an effort to shield HERSELF from truthful accusations.

By the way I did happen to ask Levi about the Oprah interview yesterday. He reiterated that he thought the invitation to come to "Aunt Katie's house" for Thanksgiving was fake, and then we discussed the laugh. I told him that I thought the laugh was one of the scariest things I had ever heard, and that they should play it in Haunted Houses during Halloween, which made he and Mercedes laugh and nod their heads.

He also expressed some regret at having been caught cussing on television when he was filmed watching the interview by The Insider. At that, everybody standing there admitted that we had reacted in just about the same manner when WE heard it. But Levi still said he felt bad that his reaction had been broadcast.

Okay at the end of this O'Reilly interview, WHAT does Sarah mean by a "guttural instinct"? And is she thinking of THIS definition of "guttural"?

Having a harsh grating quality, as certain sounds produced in the back of the mouth.

Because I have to tell you, that DOES sound a lot like Sarah to me.

Did you see Countdown today? Well then take a moment to enjoy.

2009-11-20T18:44:00.004-09:00

First up, Palin quits on her fans during her book tour.

Anybody else noticing a theme?

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

You know I wish Lawrence O'Donnell would quit calling Palin an "Alaskan Blogger". It just cheapens the brand.

This next segment is truly hysterical! "Sarah Palin jokes of the week'!

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That Conan O'Brien bit where they re-edit the Oprah interview is my favorite.

Sherry Johnston hopefully headed home for the holidays, and my afternoon with "Team Levi".

2009-11-20T14:16:00.013-09:00

Today was Sherry Johnstons's sentencing. And I decided that since no other media in town seemed interested in covering it, that I should go and report back what I witnessed.

I left my house at 9:00 A.M. to make the hour long drive to the Palmer Courthouse, in order to be there in time for the 10:30 sentencing.

I have to say that Alaska was really putting on a quite a show today, with a brilliant blue sky and frosted trees along the road that were quite breathtaking. With such scenery to keep my eyes entertained it seemed that I was at the courthouse in no time.

I drove up and took a seat inside courtroom number 7, at about 10:15 and waited for the proceedings to begin.

The room had only a few people inside. I saw my friend Dennis Zaki setting up his video camera and waved hello to him, saw a print journalist from, I think CBS, and the rest were just looky loo's who were there to get a look at Team Levi.

A few minutes later the door opened up and the massive Tank Jones stepped into the room. He was quickly followed by the rest of the team, Rex Butler, Mercede Johnston, a young man whose name I did not catch, and Levi himself.

The whole group was dressed in expensive clothes and looked like they could have stepped right off the pages of GQ magazine. (Of course with cameras on them all of the time now they have learned not to go out looking shabby, because guaranteed THAT is the one picture that will show up in a tabloid.)

As the rest of the gang sat down, Tank walked over to shake my hand, and to give me hard time about being a "pretend journalist". We bantered back and forth for a few minutes and then he went back and sat with the kids.

A little after ten thirty a door at the side of the courtroom opened up and Sherry Johnston was escorted in wearing handcuffs. I immediately noticed how thin she looked in her yellow prison outfit, and wondered if her health had taken a turn for the worse.

Sherry looked up, and seeing her children immediately caused her eyes to well up with tears. As she took her seat next to attorney Rex Butler, I noticed as she reached up to wipe a tear away and suddenly realized just how hard it must have been for her to be separated from her family for these last three months.

We all stood up for the entrance of Judge Eric Smith. Then the prosecutor read the charges that Sherry had plead guilty to, Rex Butler spoke a few words about Sherry's medical situation and some special conditions that they previously worked out, and then Judge Smith was ready to read the sentence.

The Judge seemed very sympathetic to Sherry's plight and made mention of the fact that this was a very unusual case. (Gee, ya think?) Still, he said, she had broken the law, and selling prescription medication was a serious crime in the Valley. He wanted to make sure that she understood how serious it was and that other potential drug dealers did as well. Still, he said, she had a very clean record up to this point, and had sold her Oxycontin to just ONE person, a total of only three times. And he did not anticipate her making this mistake again.

Then the judge delivered his sentence; 3 years in prison, a $2,400.00 fine, and three years of probation, (She should be able to serve her three years in her home with an ankle monitor, once the state checks and makes sure her home is compliant with the regulations). He further stated that he did not expect to see her in his courtroom ever again under similar circumstances, but hoped that someday she might return to serve on one of his juries. Rex Butler told the judge not to worry, that Sherry would NEVER be back in front of him again. And then Sherry thanked the judge for his kind words.

Sherry was then led away in handcuffs as her family stood by and waved to her as she passed. (It will take a few days to process, but there is some hope she will be home in time for Thanksgiving.)

(I had hoped to get some pictures, or video, to post with this story. But Dennis made a deal to sell what he filmed to another media outlet so I have to wait, and link to them when they post it, or borrow it and embed it here once its online. Either way, I will make sure you all get a chance to see some video.)

With the sentencing over we were asked to clear the courtroom for the next trial, so we all poured out into the hallway.

Once there Tank called me over and introduced me to Levi. I had never met young Mr. Johnston before and found him to be a very typical nineteen year old, with a good sense of humor and pleasant demeanor.

I spent about an hour talking to Levi and Mercede in the hallway as Tank and Rex made business calls. We spoke about Levi's adventures, and how happy he was to be back. I listened as Mercede engaged in some good natured teasing of Levi about his clothes, and we both gave him kind of a hard time about a laptop carrying case that looked suspiciously like a "man purse". (Later when they went outside for some photographs I suggested that Levi give the bag to somebody else to hold, just to give his detractors one less thing to give him crap about.)

I know you are all wondering if I asked about "babygate" or Levi's book, and to be honest, no I did not. We were in a fairly crowded hallway and I did not want to talk about those sensitive topics with so many ears close by. We DID talk about a number of things, but I cannot share too much with you here because, in order to put them at ease, I told them our conversation would be off the record.

I can share with you that Levi has NO idea what Sarah is building on her property however. He also shared some of his feelings about Sarah, but I will not repeat them here. He also misses his son and hopes to be with him soon. Beyond that I need to honor my promise.

I will tell you that I was again struck by how attractive and well spoken Mercede is in person, and impressed with how natural she is in front of the camera. Even though she says she wants to pursue a medical or law degree, I think she could have a future in broadcasting. I am just saying.

All in all I really enjoyed meeting Levi and was very impressed with his dedication to his family. (He interrupted his publicity tour for Playgirl and flew back into town just to support his mom) It is easy to ridicule Levi for being a fame junkie, or for chasing after attention ala Sarah Palin, but that is missing the point entirely.

Levi is doing the only thing he can to pay the bills. He has a son that he loves, a sister that is just now finishing school, and a mother who has been locked away from her family for three months! Who else is there to bring home the bacon? Levi is the only person with the means to support this family. Who do you think is going to pay that $2,400 fine? Or the house payment? Or the utilities?

I know what you are going to say, "Then why doesn't he just write the book?'

And my answer, "Who says he isn't?"