Palin Divorce? Ring at the Bottom of the Lake? Guns? Explosive Interviews? Pressure on the Court? Welcome to a Slow News Day…
Does anybody else smell that? (sniff sniff) I think it’s the internet actually catching fire!
In blatant defiance of the fact that Saturday is supposed to be a slow news day, reports of trouble in the Palin household are running rampant here in Alaska.
According to The Immoral Minority blog who was the first one out of the chute with this story, and The Alaska Report, known for breaking news on Palin, the Palins’ marriage is on the rocks. Both outlets stick by their sources in Anchorage and Wasilla.
According to the Immoral Minority’s bombshell post this morning, the Palin’s are calling it quits, she tossed her wedding ring in the lake, she has purchased land in Montana, Todd pulled a gun on Levi Johnston back in the summer of 2008, Levi has given an “explosive” interview to Vanity Fair Magazine, and Sherry Johnston’s court date was pushed up to allow negotiations which were not possible with Palin as governor pressuring for the maximum penalties in her drug case.
To which Meg Stapleton says via Facebook: They’re not getting a divorce and she hasn’t purchased land in Montana.
“Yet again, some so-called journalists have decided to make up a story. There is no truth to the recent “story” (and story is the correct term for this type of fiction) that the Palins are divorcing. The Palins remain married, committed to each other and their family, and have not purchased land in Montana (last week it was reported to be Long Island).
Less than one week ago, Governor Palin asked the media to “quit making things up.” We appreciate that the more professional journalists decided to question this story before repeating it.”
That brings to mind someone accusing another person of being a liar, a cheat, a thief and a drug dealer, and having the person say, “I am not a cheat!”
The Alaska Report notes:
“Todd Palin told Fox News last week that he was heading back to his job in the oil fields of Alaska, yet Sarah recently signed a book deal reportedly worth $11 million.”
and makes mention of the National Enquirer that has been discussing rumors of affairs, and the stress caused by them as being the real reason Palin resigned.
And what, in the long run, may be the most important story revealed today is this from The Immoral Minority:
As some of you may know Sherry [Johnston's} court date was moved from yesterday to August 19. The reason for this is that until just now the prosecutors REFUSED to make any kind of a deal, because of pressure they were receiving from the Governor. For some reason Palin was pushing for Sherry to receive the maximum sentence. [snip]
I cannot talk about what kind of deal Sherry may get, but the prosecution has become much more reasonable now that Sean Parnell is our Governor.
If that part of the story pans out, it is disturbing indeed. We are promised more information as it becomes available, so stay tuned.
And before anyone out there starts looking for that frogman gear, underwater flashlight and metal detector, we don’t know exactly which lake presumably became the final resting place of the ring. No folks, you can’t make this stuff up.
[Related story on Huffington Post HERE]
No comments?! Yowzaa!
if it is true, of what benefit to team Palin is it for stapleton to deny it?
I can’t take credit for this…but it is PRICELESS:
“she’s decided she can best serve the marriage from outside it:”
I believe Alaska Report and Gryphon…not Stapletonnnnnnnngue
I wonder what kind of “get out of publishing this thing” clauses the publisher put in her book contract? What could she do that would make them back out?
I hope she does that thing, whatever it is.
Now we know why she really wanted the Alaska Fund Trust!
Hmmmm, some poop is already hitting the fan. I think its just the beginning.
You can’t make this stuff up
what if gryphen and zaki were set up
Stapleton has no credibility. She just hanging on to the vault.
I just read this report in National Enquirer. Is that the reason she quit because of the impending divorce? As The Palin Goes Around, would make a lovely soap opera.
http://www.nationalenquirer.com/national_enquirer_world_exclusive_sarah_palins_secret_lover_revealed/celebrity/65481
It’s interesting that Andrew Sullivan has just posted Ms. Stapleton’s entire Facebook statement, without any comment.
Yeah, the divorce is juicy, but I think the potentially more damaging part of Gryph’s report is the felony obstruction of justice in the Johnston case. When is some DA somewhere going to grow a pair and indict this woman?
The Alaskan Report references The Immoral Minority as it’s source, I would like to see another source reporting this, right now it’s a rumor. But a good rumor. =)
Woo Hooo~ Waiting for thr rest of the iceberg to smack her!!LMBO
Would Sarah veto the divorce plans and go back to Todd just to make the bloggers and media look like they are “makin’ stuff up”?
Who is going to be drooling over a single Todd? (Greta? Meg? When is the next divorce?)
A single Sarah is bankable. That could be part of her plan, also, too. She’s got her PAC and Fund money. She’s got her book deal money. (Todd can have the house, but I can see her making him pay her for her half or buying it outright.) I wouldn’t be surprised if every single thing, including the car were in her name. And now she’s shopping herself around for a job.
Willow and Piper will go with Sarah but they’ll be gone soon. Will Trig be staying in Alaska to live with Bristol? He’ll just be a millstone to her new plans. Hmm. Willow will take care of Trig for two years, then Piper will take over. Trig won’t be so cute on the 2016 campaign trail so at some point, he’ll be going back to Alaska. Maybe if Bristol *is* his Mom, that will work out very well for Sarah.
Montana? I don’t think so. Not for long. That’s a stepping stone. Does she have her eye on a congressional district in Montana that would be easy for her to win? She’d have to be a resident for a year? Because I don’t see her launching her radio (or TV) career from there. So it’s either there’s a vulnerable office easy for her to win, or it’s a geographic stepping stone. Moving on to Texas a little later maybe?
Now…if she is running for a Montana congressional seat….that puts her in Congress for a run at the White House at a later date. Maybe 2016? Is that the plan? Serve 4-6 years in congress and then run? Unless. If she moves soon she’ll just barely be a resident for a year for the Montana 2010 elections. That puts her in line for 2012. Does she really think she has a chance against Obama in 2012? Well, I’m sure *she* does. Nope. I think she’s lining herself up for 2016. If she can keep her figure, a little plastic surgery, she’ll still look fine in 7 years. 52. That’s not too old.
CGinWI – I saw that too (Sully’s post), and so I came to here to see what was what!
RV in NZ
IF this is all true, the only part I care about is the pressure on the court system! This is more blatant abuse of power and I’m beginning to believe that Sarah Palin is destined for lock up. IF this is true, she just can’t help herself – ever – no boundaries whatsoever!
“The reason for this is that until just now the prosecutors REFUSED to make any kind of a deal, because of pressure they were receiving from the Governor.”
IF this is true, what avenues are available to make her accountable for messing around in personal politics and the court system? Again!
The intertubes will be lit up “en fuego” like the Aurora Borealis. What a fitting tribute to Alaska.
BTW, can Sarah ever do anything WITHOUT THE DRAMA???
I think the Sherry Johnston story has a more ring of truth than the Palin split story. Sarah trying to influence the prosecutors (because she has no personal or professional boundaries) really strikes a cord. Let’s face it–it’s the kind of mavericky abuse of her ex gubernatorial power that basically defines Sarah? The woman really (still) needs to take a civics course. ANY civics course. I frankly hope the divorce story is not true—I really can’t stand the thought of those poor kids going through anymore crap emanating from The Sarah Palin Circus.
Gryphen just added an update.
from a law firm in AK http://shaftellaw.com/article6.html :
ALASKA STRENGTHENS COMMUNITY PROPERTY AGREEMENTS AND TRUSTS BY CLARIFYING RIGHT TO AMEND AND REVOKE
David G. Shaftel, 2000 © All Rights Reserved.
In 1998, Alaska became the 10th community property state. In contrast to the other states, Alaska adopted an optional community property system. The default property system remains separate property. However, a couple may opt-in to a community property system. The act provides that non-residents of Alaska may use Alaska’s community property system by adopting an Alaska community property trust. The goal of the Act is to make available to both residents and non-residents of Alaska the community property benefits of sharing and equality, and a full stepped-up basis at the death of the first spouse.
The recent amendments clarify ambiguities relating to amendment and revocation of community property agreements and trusts. The following background is necessary to understand these amendments. The Alaska Community Property Act is based upon the Uniform Marital Property Act. One new feature added by UMPA is the ability of a couple to make a non-testamentary disposition under a community property agreement. Alaska enacted the same provision which is applicable both to community property agreements and community property trusts. Further, the Alaska Act provides that such instruments may not be amended or revoked unless the agreement or trust itself provides for revocation “on a particular date or on the occurrence of a particular event …”
she will fit in with the crazy bachman and the crazier foxx ladies in congress now
Stapletongue could be telling the truth. They are NOT divorcing (just separating…divorce requires filing papers). SARAH has not bought land in Montana (it was a wealthy benefactor who set up a company or partnership with an untraceable name).
If Todd leaves for the North Slope, they can be separated for ages. Then she can sneak away to Montana so that he can come back to Wasilla. They could play this game indefinitely so that the date of separation (for purposes of dividing up the assets) is before the book royalties arrive. This also keeps everything out of the courts for as long as they want and allows them to keep saying they are not divorced.
Can a mudpup stake out her church tomorrow?
Per Gryphen’s latest update, the “official divorce” will not happen yet because it could interfere with Sarah’s earning power, her brand.
we can speculate until we’re blue in the face, so I’ll start. lol Okay, if she divorces Todd now, which would be a good time, maybe he would not be able to take 1/2 of her book money. Would make sense to dump him now so she could keep all the money.
As far as Sarah not wearing her wedding ring, there could be several reasons, but it certainly isn’t because of all the hand shaking she would have been doing at the picnic, because you shake with your right hand. Unless of course Alaskan’s shake with their left hand. =)
It also seems to me that if she wanted to keep this quiet she would have been wearing her wedding ring.
I agree about the “divorce” thing – I don’t think that is the story itself. I’m interested in the interference in the judicial case of Ms. Johnston. But the BIG story to me is the Todd drawing a gun on Levi that is supposedly part of the VF article in the October issue.
All of these items will be proved or disproved. It’s wait and see time. It takes a lot for a blogger to break a story like this without having sources he believes in. He put his blog and his reputation on the line, knowing he’s going to be hit for putting it out.
Let’s see how much of this can be stuffed back into the box? There’s a ton of info in his blogpost. He’s got a lot at stake – he didn’t have to go with the story – but obviously he believes in what he’s posted.
zyggy, I thought that too about the ring.
is shannyn moore on radio tonight?
I don’t like the Palins AT ALL, but you know? There are Children and grandchildren involved here. They need to take a cold, hard look at their family, and find what is important. It’s not politics, a career or fame or fortune. Its your family. Doggonne, get a grip and make it work.
I dunno how bankable a single Sarah is, as a politician. As a talking meathead, I’d say no biggie, but as a politican we’d be into fairly uncharted waters. While it’s true that in the last fifty years or so, divorce has stopped being a career killer for (male) politicians (cf, St Ronnie, St Rudy), you’ll note that most of them have been elected while (re)married.
The database for female politicians is too small to draw many conclusions, but I’d assume that “freshly divorced” wouldn’t play any better for a woman than for a man.
I’d be surprised if Quitty ran for the House. I think she’d believe it was beneath her — she was already 2/3 of Governor, after all. Could she get elected to the Senate in a conservative, small-population state? Maybe, but I think she’d have to do it with the blessing of the state’s Republican Party. That would almost certainly mean that she’d have to run for a seat that was open, or currently held by a Dem — otherwise, why would the state party want a carpetbagger?
That would seem to limit the field to Baucus (MT, 2014); Dorgan (ND, 2010); and Johnson (SD, 2014). A long wait, if she moves to dental-floss territory.
Looselips, that’s what her supporters are basing the lack of ring wearing, because she would be shaking hands. lol Her supporters are very stoopid for even coming up with that silliness.
Time will tell about Miss Quittypants quitting her marriage.
Well, if this rumor is true, a divorce would be sad and hardest on the kids. So, this wouldn’t be good news.
On a less serious note, maybe an Alaskan fisherman would find the ring in the “supposed” lake, put it on, and turn into a Gollum with lipstick.
Hmmm. The Sherri Johnston thing seems more credible to me than the divorce, though I will admit a potential divorce would explain the resignation – but only if it’s Todd who wants one and Sarah who doesn’t. After all, she left immediately after the resignation announcement to go fishing with him.
I’ll admit that Todd is a lot more interesting to me than Sarah. But they do actually seem to belong together (but what do I know?)
As AKM suggested, Sarah is easily trapped into saying things like “I am not a cheat.” Let’s think up rumors about Sarah and see how long it takes her to tweet a denial!
Wow. This Palin divorce stuff is great gossip. But that’s all it is, gossip. AKM, you seem hardwired into Palin news. You have done a great job. And you couldn’t ignore this gossip. You had to break it on your blog. But you could have given it a soft pedal. It is only gossip at this point.
I feel sad reading snarky comments about Trig, Palin and, even Bristol. We don’t have to sink into the mud with Palin.
And, as another comment points out, if she did attempt, once again, to abuse her gubernatorial authority to engage in a personal vendetta (Sherry Johnston), I hope she is prosecuted for it.
And if Sherry Johnston’s prosecutor did allow a lame-duck governor who announced her resignation a month ago to interfere with his or her prosecutorial power, that prosecutor failed in his or her duty to the citizens of Alaska. Prosecutors don’t have to kow tow to governors like that, esp. when the governor is headed out the door. I bet the Johnston gossip is gossip. I can’t quite believe that Sarah Palin would have been so stupid as to interfere with a prosecutor’s job. If there is ANY truth to this rumor, there should be tape recordings of Palin abusing her authority, yes?
auntieruth @ 12:01 pm:
“Stapletongue could be telling the truth. They are NOT divorcing (just separating…divorce requires filing papers). SARAH has not bought land in Montana (it was a wealthy benefactor who set up a company or partnership with an untraceable name).”
this is exactly what I was thinking.
I’m no fan of Palin’s record, and I don’t think she should ever again be elected to any position in government.
However, I hope all the rumors of negative things in her personal life turn out to be untrue.
In the absence of confirmed news that is likely to impact the rest of us, I’d like to see no more reporting about the Palin clan. It’s time to let them fade into obscurity. There are so many important issues journalists need to be asking tough questions and informing the rest of us about, that they should be plenty busy without wasting any more time on Sarah Palin.
I’m sure Mrs Palin drove the campervan out of Fairbanks on Monday on vacation SANS first/last dud.
One thing that puzzled me: a few days after the “resignation” speech, Dud was asked what his wife’s plans were. His response was, “We’ll just have to wait and see”, and I thought it was kind of odd that a man didn’t know what his own wife’s plans were.
“I can’t stop loving you!”
Republicans (the Sanfords, Vitters, Craigs etc etc etc) can’t very easily get divorced, if they plan to continue in politics. Divorce is not nearly as acceptable as hypocrisy, or even a little bit of “fibbing”.
In addition to grave concern about any hint of political interference in decisions entrusted to a prosecutor in any case, I would care very much if I found out there even was a rumor that my governor’s spouse had not been charged were there probable cause to believe he/she committed a felony assault with a firearm upon a teenager, or anyone else.
Am I correctly interpreting that the mother of that hypothetical teenager herself was charged after the alleged firearm incident? And of course she instantly would have been advised by any competent lawyer that she keep her mouth firmly shut until there’s a final disposition of those charges.
ValleyIndependent, it’s obvious that Mrs Palin hasn’t destroyed the lives or reputations of any of your friends. That’s not true of all of us, and I believe we are perfectly entitled to discuss her antics – whether Angry Meg denies them or not.
And another thing. . . . caring citizens in this country have to get a grip on following a pack mentality. This nonsense, the persistent gossip that Trig is not Sarah Palin’s son but Bristol’s is not any different than the birthers loonies saying Obama is not a natural citizen.
The Trig-is-Bristol’s-baby story is preposterous. Let that one go, folks.
Even if I could get myself to believe Bristol had Trig last March, which I don’t believe, even the dumbest, most-hormone driven teenager in the world would not have more unprotected sex within a few weeks of having given birth to Trig, a special needs infant, and gone out and gotten pregnant with Tripp. . . and Tripp would have been premature.
We need a thinking electorate. We have to stop giving energy to loonie tune stories like the birthers controversy and nobody should be mentioning the Trig-not-Sarah’s-baby story anymore. Scurrilous speculation like that debases all of us.
Aussie Blue Sky . . . which, specifically, of your friends did Sarah Palin destroy?
As to you being ‘perfectly entitled’ to discuss her antics, yes, yes, indeed you are free to debase yourself and to drag public discourse into the mud discussing gossip and innuendo.
Let s/he who is without sin cast the first stone, eh?
This is gossip folks, plain and simple. Uplift yourselves out of the mud.
I think this news is very sad. It affects a lot of people. I am sorry for her family. I bet they all curse the day that John McCain called.
@meagain:
I thought that those pictures look like it’s Palin who’s hanging on Todd, and Todd who is a little distant.
The first picture that comes up is interesting. Looks like her fingernails are in his hand, he’s trying to grin and bear it, while his left hand has fingers splayed in pain. Very easy to read into things.
I, too, hope this is not the case, for the sake of the kids. But it sure would explain quitting. Again, it makes more sense if she quit to try to keep Todd. After all, if she’s ready to quit Todd than why not just let him go off and do what he’s going to do while she keeps her slightly more exciting job as governor?
And I don’t think it will be easier for her to be a single politician. As it is, she’s been able to be flirtatious in a safe way. Nobody thinks she’s coming on to anybody she winks at. If she’s single it’s entirely another story.
McCain is divorced. He ran for president. Palin can exploit that fact to cry sexism if she chooses to divorce and is penalized for it.
Assuming the Dud is a real guy, he was not going to be happy trailing the wife around and smiling at the same speech, heard over and over.
He also doesn’t strike me as man who likes to wear suits and ties a lot.
Frankly I expected the split shortly after last falls defeat. And somebody has to take care of a 9 year old, a disadvanged infant, a 14 year old and the clothing malfunctioning daughterand her kid.
Sarah doesn’t have state insurance any more so BP can now keep the kids covered. And the Dud can be Mr. Palin again.
Just curious but isn’t interfering in a police investigation and criminal case illegal?
It will be fun to watch the medium weight Repugs show Sarah the thug what the rules are in terms of using power to get even with people you don’t like.
She better learn to be humble real quick are she’s gonna get some serious bruises from the real power brokers.
@ Marnie “Assuming the Dud is a real guy, he was not going to be happy trailing the wife around and smiling at the same speech, heard over and over.”
—–
All those political wives trailing their politicial husbands never looked real to me either. They can’t be happy either. But they still do it.
Again, the nuggets that matter in this story are 2 things:
Palin’s possible interference into the Johnston sentencing and IF she was pushing for a maximum sentence (judicial interference)?
and
Did Todd pull a gun on Levi, and if so, why were there NO charges brought.
It seems to me that IF that particular “gem” about the gun does show up in the Vanity Fair article, as told by Levin, then Houston has a Problem.
The divorce is simply a divorce.
tizzielish Says:
August 1st, 2009 at 12:27 PM
As to you being ‘perfectly entitled’ to discuss her antics, yes, yes, indeed you are free to debase yourself and to drag public discourse into the mud discussing gossip and innuendo.
———————————————-
Where is your evidence that they are not separated and are a devoted loving couple with no thought of divorce?
@Tizzielish, I think everyone, in a free democracy, should be allowed to discern for ourselves what qualifies as a valuable sign of character in a politician’s life, especially when s/he have incorporated aspects of his or her life into his/her official “platforms.”
“No folks, you can’t make this stuff up.” ROFLMMFAO!
When will we get confirmation? In 24 “business hours” , starting Monday? LOL!
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364×1186820
I think it was Justice Brandeis who tried to plead privacy for his wife at the beginning of the last century and that didn’t work. When you make yourself a celebrity/public figure and then complain when people talk about you, it’s hypocritical and immature. And gossip is not exempt. The fact is that nobody has control over what others say or think about them, and when you take yourself public, as Palin did (and her entire family, also, too) all’s fair, whether it really is or not.
*stepping off soapbox*
mlaiuppa Says:
Who is going to be drooling over a single Todd? (Greta? Meg? When is the next divorce?)
I think Todd will be happy to get back to the North Slope, and his huntin and fisshin. He does seem to like his children, something I don’t think Sarah is capable of. She’s too in love with herself.
So it’s probably better for everybody if Sarah quits the charade of Hockey Mom and stays the Pit Falls with lipstick.
Be hilarious if Shatner got a hold of some of Palin’s love letters.
@TroubleHots Thank you but I only read Ms. Palin’s own words from her speech and tweets. They were not written by me just spoken by me.
about 2 hours ago from web in reply to TroubleHots
http://twitter.com/WilliamShatner
Buying land in Montana, eh? Maybe that explains why Brian Schweitzer is sounding more like a Republican with each passing day.
Those $75/martini types in the Hamptons would make mincemeat out of these blithering idiots in no time and have fun doing it.
I have no idea if any of this is true but it’s always fun picturing the collapse of The Sarah Palin House Of Cards — if only it weren’t for the kids, who’ve gotta be thinking, “What the hell did I ever do to deserve this?”
This is rich. Just think of all the “after 20 years of marriage, he’s still my guy” statements. While nobody may come out and say she’s a fraud because of this, the subtext will be there.
After reviewing our camera tape, you can hear someone ask, “No car for Todd?” Then Todd, the former First Dude, laughs and says, “They left me.”
http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2009/07/27/2011525.aspx
17 Leota2 Says:
I frankly hope the divorce story is not true—I really can’t stand the thought of those poor kids going through anymore crap emanating from The Sarah Palin Circus.
Respectfully disagree.
Those children need to heal, and that won’t begin as long as Mommy Dearest is using them for her personal stage props.
Let low key, blue collar dad take over and create a settled environment for them.
Will be interesting to see where the various children end up. I’m betting on the Dud getting them all. Even Piper.
More settled home and school, older sis’s who are used to helping and grandparents. Get to stay in same home and stay with friends.
Let the Wild Thang go, just leave the children out of her ambitions.
I believe the Prison Commissioner mullethead declining the Lt. Governorship has some significance to this rumorfest.
AKM is on HuffPo again… this story has legs AND feet! Meg shoulda kept her mouth shut again, when will that girl ever learn? Ready? Fire! Aim.
Look at the shiny object (divorce)! SEE? Not true, therefore, also, if you see or hear anything about “criminal indictments” or “criminal investigations” regarding the AK Fund Trust, the house-built by buddies, or a Governor’s interference in the Sherry Johnston case, THEN those, too, are LIES (Lies, I tell ya!) made up by the mean bloggers and the lyin’ liberal media who disrespect our troops! Very clever in a Rovian way. Beware of the shiny object say I.
This story is not going to go away – it has too many moving parts.
There is a photo that ADN ran of Piper in the front seat of that truck as it drove away without her dad. Her face says a lot as does her hand. Was she reaching for Todd?
Should link not go straight to photo Piper’s is number 12.
http://www.adn.com/sarah-palin/v-gallery/story/876536.html?/1521/gallery/876741-a876733-t3.html
Pic number 19 from above link is Palin’s detached exchange with Trig. If you look through photos you see Todd with Trig and with Tripp…you can feel the love.
@tizzielish–
Sarah Palin cast the first stone when she accused President Obama of “pallin’ around with terrorists” which was a blatant lie.
The secret service asked her to tone it down, as they had traced her angry rhetoric to a surge in attempts on the President’s life, and also the lives of his wife and children.
Sarah Palin refused to tone down her rhetoric, knowingly inciting violence against innocent children and two innocent adults.
Since liberals are not known by the FBI, the SS, the Homeland Security reports, or any other govt agency to be the source of domestic terrorists, whereas far right wing extremists have repeatedly been named and indeed, guilty of domestic violence in the last ten years, and many of those folks are a part of Sarah Palin’s base, she knowingly incited a group of fringe people who are known for their violence against the PResident and his family.
She cast the first stone. And it was much worse than spreading rumors about someone’s personal life, if indeed that is what this is.
Futhermore, I don’t recall conservatives being sensitive to the Clinton family or the Edwards family. Indeed, quite the opposite. And in light of the current epidemic of Republican extra-marital affairs, I find their past behavior extremely hypocritical and unworthy of respect on any level.
I haven’t heard one of them apologize. Palin never apologized for laughing at a cancer victim, for admonishing Clinton to not “whine”, etc.
She does not deserve any better than she gives. I, personally, will never forgive her for what she did during the campaign. She put many of us in danger by riling up her base. Was your life threatened by angry Republicans during the campaign? Mine was. I was accused of working for that “terrorist” and told I would die soon along with him.
That is something you never forget.
# 65 Husky82 Says:
August 1st, 2009 at 12:53 PM
I believe the Prison Commissioner mullethead declining the Lt. Governorship has some significance to this rumorfest.
__________
I thought so, also, too when I saw the photos of him and not Todd.
Divorce might get Palin a few more dollars which cracks me up that donors are sending in money to Palin yet Meg is the first to get paid, lawyer next, along with gobs of Palin hangeroners before a penny goes toward anything, anywhere near what contributers think they are sending cash in for.
From AKM:
“That brings to mind someone accusing another person of being a liar, a cheat, a thief and a drug dealer, and having the person say, “I am not a cheat!”
Exactly. It is not the divorce/possibility of divorce, it’s the other things. The possibly criminal things. The things that weren’t denied on Facebook.
There is a difference between a blog like this compared to gossip. A gossip column profits monetarily to get the most readers, at the expense of divulging personal details of a celebrated person. Bloggers for the most part are caring people who seek answers.
What I see here is the electorate (state and national) were presented with a candidate who touted herself as traditional family values, and accountable ethical politics reformer. Then, she quits her term as Governor, and gives questionable reasons for leaving. I think people rightfully have discussion, not because they rejoice in her personal family failings, but because they need political closure.
This is a pretty sparse statement for old Megamouth. She knows it’ll come back and bite her. WTF by the way are they using Facebook as an official public venue for statements? Lol, low rent much?
No Truth to Latest Rumors
Today at 11:50am
Yet again, some so-called journalists have decided to make up a story. There is no truth to the recent “story” (and story is the correct term for this type of fiction) that the Palins are divorcing. The Palins remain married, committed to each other and their family, and have not purchased land in Montana (last week it was reported to be Long Island).
Less than one week ago, Governor Palin asked the media to “quit making things up.” We appreciate that the more professional journalists decided to question this story before repeating it.
Meg Stapleton
I sure hope ‘ ServerGuy ‘ has a few hours to prepare because the live blogging during Shannyns show is going to generate some ‘ high volume traffic’ during the live blogging… if not even before then.
Can he throw another server online…?
@70 MeAgain – photo of Piper
—
Your link takes me to a picture of Piper taken at the Anchorage picnic. The story of Todd being left behind was at the Fairbanks picnic.
nswfm CA Says ” believe the Prison Commissioner mullethead declining the Lt. Governorship has some significance to this rumorfest.
__________
I thought so, also, too when I saw the photos of him and not Todd.”
That guy has a weird freakish vibe. Like a wifebeater vibe. If you watch the video of him and Palin at the ground breaking for the new inmate facility you see the “Familiarity” they have with one another. Palin is an absolute fool to have screwed around on Todd when he has put up with all he has & still stood by her.
___________
Well, he sure isn’t my cup of tea. I have a school girl crush on Rahm Emmanuel, and John Steward also, too.
@42
We need a thinking electorate. We have to stop giving energy to loonie tune stories like the birthers controversy and nobody should be mentioning the Trig-not-Sarah’s-baby story anymore. Scurrilous speculation like that debases all of us.
WOW, please rewind, who introduced the loony tune to the electorate ?
I’m willing to keep to myself but, comments like yours really confound me. There is nothing more debasing than the the actions displayed by Sarah Palin the politician and the person.
Ignore your aversion to trash and delve into info about her short pregnancy,
her legacy and how she shots down rumors and truths. Now that she has quit you may skip reading about her.
I think the blogs are doing a great job on this story – which is actually many stories rolled into one.
There are so many facets – the ?divorce, the “move”?, babygate?, and now two new items have been added.
Interference in a judicial proceeding and Todd drawing a gun on Levi. None of these have been addressed by the Sea People. Also, I note they are accusing Phil Munger of Progressive Alaska of running with this story. I just checked and so far, he did not have it up. They just have a list of blogs and let fly accusations don’t they?
This story is not going away. A denial by Stapletongue isn’t going to make a dent. She’s lied so much she looks like a rug.
It doesn’t matter if they separate or divorce (just my humble opinion, but there is somehow money involved) – it doesn’t matter if they are serial cheaters or not.
This is the shiny object being out there to draw away from The Judicial Interference by the Governor of a State, and if Todd drew a gun on Levi why wasn’t it reported or was it suppressed?
I’m suspecting the VF October Levi article will sell out. And if he mentions that charge – the cake will be iced.
I’ve tried to be fair, but she truly is everything that everyone says about her. I’m waiting to see the people from Wasilla who know whether any of the IM article by Gryphen is a pack of lies….so far nothing.
So now we wait and see – and don’t get deflected off of possible criminal actions by worrying whether QueenSarah and KingTAHD are splitsville. I honestly don’t care if they are or not.
But if he drew a gun on Levi and it was covered up … her as* needs to be in jail.
The hell? I go kayaking for one slow news day and come back to this messy kitchen?
Regarding Meg Stapleton. She was out of state and heard about the resignation in the news.
I don’t think Sarah has her on speed dial anymore.
Aussie Blue Sky, your assumption is incorrect. As a resident of Wasilla, I am only too well aware of the damage she has inflicted here, including to some people I know and care about very much, and I have seen very real concern on the faces of old timers who were afraid to speak out strongly against her during the campaign, for fear of retaliation on the part of her or her supporters.
I mean no offense to you or anyone else, and you are certainly free to discuss whatever rumors or gossip you wish. However, I don’t think I can join you without becoming someone I don’t want to be. There’s an old saying that you can’t sling mud without getting some on yourself. Secondly, while looking through the comments at the peenuts site the other day, I was struck by how obsessed some of her followers are. They can’t stay rational and address the issues raised by their idol’s detractors, so they often resort to personal attacks, rumors, and gossip about the person raising the issues, which only undermines their credibility. Should she ever again rear her head in the public arena, I don’t want to have squandered my credibility on speculation about her personal life, which is truly none of my business. Now, if some documented fact arises that she has actually interfered in a criminal prosecution, that’s a different matter.
Is Shannyn on tonight? What time?
Just love the “family values” crowd. Now where’d I put my barf bag?
MeAgain Says:
August 1st, 2009 at 1:05 PM
nswfm CA Says ” believe the Prison Commissioner mullethead declining the Lt. Governorship has some significance to this rumorfest.
—————————————–
AFAIK the deal with Mephisto Mullet is he claimed they were doing the nass-ty in high school – presumably before Dud came to Wasilla.
I’ve heard him mentioned in connection with today’s news also too but I personally don’t believe there’s anything going on there. I do believe it when he claimed that the being an “emergency, temporary” Lite Gov is OK, but being Lite Gov 24/7 for 18 months is not worth giving up his day job. I would feel the same way.
See what happens when you exercise and commune with nature PC? Better to develop a “blog bottom”
Meg has nothing better to do on a Saturday but keep daily, hourly watch over Alaska blogs or has she been waiting for this leak? Within a couple hours she had a reply on Facebook to the fresh item on Immoral Minority.
…SO ITS ALL BEEN A PICTURE SHOW?
But neither of them have actually “filed” for divorce, so its more of a separation. Shouldn’t we be careful about calling it a divorce just yet. If SP is truly hateful, wonder if she thought of this so she won’t have to split her cash from the book deal with him?
Basheert Says:
August 1st, 2009 at 1:17 PM
This story is not going away. A denial by Stapletongue isn’t going to make a dent. She’s lied so much she looks like a rug.
————————————————
Like Jim said, it isn’t true until it’s been denied. If there were no truth in it, why the rush to deny it?
Remember when Angry called Levi a liar before he had even opened his mouth?
Remember when Angry called Walt Monegan a “rogue” cop?
Remember the many, many “dates” that SP never made it to? Angry has zero credibility.
The funny thing is now that the cat is out of the bag, if Dud can’t return to the North Slope they are stuck living in each others’ pockets now that they’ve denied it all.
And some people think we should feel sorry for them? Not me.
Yup Yup Todd got thrown under the bus two seconds after Palin did not need him anymore. He should have stayed home the 2nd & 3rd picnic like he did the 1st.
Gryphen is getting blasted.
Now I see why Palin hasn’t thrown up a new Twit account. Also too why she canceled the California deal.
Does anyone else thing Joe Schmidt ( ex- high school boyfriend, ex prison commissioner) bears an uncanny resemblance to Todd?
Did she marry Todd because he looks like Joe?
As a transplant from NJ to CA, I want to commend you Mudpuppies for an enormously rollickin’ good time! Hope I speak for all the lower 48. Should this all come to pass, you guys still get an award for due diligence and hilarity. Thx to all and keep up the good work.
AussieBlueSky: Exactly – however it was what she did NOT say that was telling.
Stapletongue’s statement did not mention either TAHD drawing a gun on Levi before the VP nomination – and it did not mention the Johnston Judicial interference allegation.
MegaMouth is out of the loop obviously – she’s just trying to keep collecting the $8K per month she gets for posting on Facebook because $arah is too stupid to do it herself.
The divorce/separation is not the story …. don’t be distracted people. It’s a non-story and it’s between her and TAHD and everyone else in their marriage.
Not that Sarah #71 – I’ right there with you. I got a hateful email from an administrator on the internet just for saying “Sarah did it to herself by not answering simple questions from Katie Couric”. His/Her response was so vile, filled with 4 letter words, calling me a “scumbag”. They attack like a rabid dog.
tizzielish Says:
August 1st, 2009 at 12:27 PM
Aussie Blue Sky . . . which, specifically, of your friends did Sarah Palin destroy?
As to you being ‘perfectly entitled’ to discuss her antics, yes, yes, indeed you are free to debase yourself and to drag public discourse into the mud discussing gossip and innuendo.
Let s/he who is without sin cast the first stone, eh?
This is gossip folks, plain and simple. Uplift yourselves out of the mud.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
I’m always suspicious when other ‘bloggers’ start telling others What they Should and Shouldn’t comment on.
I notice you right in this discussing instead of STFU??
Its AKM’s blog and only she has the right to tell people what they can and can’t talk about.
She does not want “Babygate” talk here and We respect that and go elsewhere to discuss. Why are you bringing it up here?
Its also not up to you to snidely ask another blogger “what has Sarah palin done to you?”
Sarah Palin is a Fraud, Grifter, Liar, not christian,unethical, and was pushed upon the American people by John mccain as a VP candidate, isn’t that enough damage????
Watching from New Jersey: It isn’t worth it, trying to post “over there”. They are rabid and obviously have been inbreeding for years.
Gryphen has been very careful of his posts. He checks his sources and confirms from more than one source for reliability. While this is a rumor, it is a very solid one. I’ll bet the Alaska Report had their own sources, not just Gryphen. And they have a very good track record.
Gryphen will play the waiting game. And when it finally comes out, there’ll be a silent “told you so”.
Just because you’re a blogger and not a professional journalist doesn’t make you less accurate or honorable than those on retainer. In fact, I think some bloggers maintain better ethics and integrity.
The reason i dont believe the divorce is because of the big money.
With eleven million dollar advance, (or what ever it is) people could easily live seperate lives for the bucks.
IMO these people love the money more than they hate each other, so why would they actually divorce? ( I do believe they are on the outs)
She can go off and do her thing, tawd can get back to semi-work, the relatives can look after the kids (like always), and their relationship can be like ships passing in the night.
It doesnt make sense to throw away the money just over the death of a relationship.
tweetii
tizzielish: it always surprises me when people get onto a blog and tell others what they should and should not say.
If you don’t LIKE the blog, then don’t post on the blog. But please do not come here and slam those of us who disagree with you. Just go your own way if you don’t like what we think or say.
This is not a biblical blog – we are not “casting stones”. We are discussing a topic. Most of us here do not like $arah – for a huge number of varied and inclusive reasons. We also believe that $arah is lying pretty much all the time, and is only after money.
Again you are welcome to disagree – but if we aren’t your cup of tea, then why bother to come by?
tweetii–you are correct, if you are speaking about someone with emotional control. She’s certainly cold enough to live a charage for money but she can’t tolerate anything she interprets as rejection. I am betting that this was an emotional explosion which will continue.
maliuppa: Well said. Gryphen would not have posted this if he did not believe in his sources.
Basheert–I agree with you. Divorce/ separation/ tiff is not the story. Evangelicals constantly forgive the moral shortcomings of their minions.
Criminal behavior, however, is different. The “undue pressure” to hit Levi’s mother with everything $P could, and the “armed threat” to Levi himself are serious charges, if true, and much more damaging than marital discord.
tweetii: With $arah, it is always about the money.
She may have the millions, but she’ll still go after a penny down a sewer.
Excellent point, Tweetii!! I also have a feeling that they are and have been on the outs, but a divorce at this time would only hurt her reputation. Nice place you all have here BTW.
CassieJeepPikePalin: Agreed.
Divorce/Separation is a diversion and irrelevant to most of us (also not a surprise). She must be a real PITA to live with.
The real story – the potential for criminal charges … we cannot get deflected off of these items. As Gryphen says, supposed to hit the local MSM this week.
Crystalwolf- Good to hear you!! I second.
Basheert… the penny down the sewer is a new one for me. I am writing that down! Good one!
Regarding the ring, don’t worry. Gollum will find it.
Gryphen has a link to Bill Maher’s show last night (I think). In it Bill discussed the fact that Democrats in general attempt to rise above the mud by not defending themselves against scurrilous rumors. He used the Swift Boat attacks on John Kerry as one example. John Kerry didn’t jump in immediately to denounce the ads, and as a consequence, the lies they spread gained unwarranted traction. Because Kerry didn’t immediately denounce those attacks, people thought they were true. It seems that you are damned if you do and damned if you don’t. My point is that Meg’s rushing to decry the divorce rumor doesn’t automatically mean it is more likely to be true. She always acts like this. As AKM has said, it is not what she did deny that is interesting; it is that she did not deny the other rumors of Todd/gun/Levi and SP’s ham-handed interference in the Johnston case.
The money wouldn’t stop the divorce.
Sarah could have had Todd sign all sorts of paper quitting any claim to it.
And that community property law. Wouldn’t Sarah and Todd have to have opted in to it? Maybe they didn’t.
I’m sure if there are any delays, it’s because Sarah is just putting the finishing touches on keeping as much as she can grab. Todd won’t have much choice. He’ll sign what he’s told and he’ll take what he’s offered. He might just think it’s worth it just to be free and rid of her.
When all of the agreements have been reached and the papers been signed, then the divorce will be announced and it will be filed and finished with minimum mess and fuss. She’ll keep it as low key as possible.
But I also don’t think she’ll wait too long. Sarah seems the sort that once she makes a decision, she races on through. If she’s decided to divorce Todd, she isn’t going to be separated for long, she’s going to want to be divorced and free to move on. Especially if she’s had some proxy buy her a new place. She’s going to want to move soonest. (And she may have a deadline for residency purposes.)
@Meagain: I think Piper looks like she wants to reach out and scratch people following them. She looks like I imagine her Mom feeling. The thing that is not fun in all this is that children deserve more than it looks like they’re getting.
MeAgain…HuffPo has posted this from AKM.
ValleyIndependent: I appreciate your coming here and saying this. There’s no question that it’s easier to take potshots at SP from afar, and that I do that without regard to the person she is, or the people she relates to, loves, hurts, et al. What is a parlor game for some of us is all too real for others of us.
I hope that things settle down in the valley now and that fear disappears. The white witch can’t bring winter anymore.
I can imagine she gives great headache.
Aussie Blue Sky: I suppose you could be right, but the story just doesn’t fly for me as we’ve heard the details. I’m also willing to assume that along with all the negative things we know about her there are also redeeming qualities, and that people are attracted to her for some positive reasons as well.
Gryphen said that the news about Todd pulling a gun on Levi should hit the local media in Alaska next week. It will be interesting to see what that was about, how it came about, and why it was never reported or anything done about it if true.
The fact is that Alaska while a very Large state has a population where people tend to know each other and have conversations with their elected officials. That isn’t necessarily true of other states. It’s more like a state with a small town attitude. You take care of each other, but you also know and talk about each other. It’s both easy (you will be protected) to keep secrets and hard to keep secrets (everyone knows what the secrets are).
It isn’t surprising that Gryphen or anyone else would know someone in Wasilla who knows the Palins, or however it came about that he gets his information. I’m not going to speculate on who or how that is. For those who think SP walks on water, those who live there and know her, know otherwise. She’s just a person, who they know, some like her and others do not.
Before we assume that Zaki has a real story here, consider that he wrote in his report “The Palins were noticeably not speaking to each other at last Sunday’s resignation speech in Fairbanks.” Here is a picture from that day.
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YK4rstd2nCA/SnSlIQApHII/AAAAAAAAAL4/egIe5ZTwFsY/s1600-h/palins+in+fairbanks.png
It’s certainly possible for someone to get some basic facts wrong and others right, but if you are going to be that definitely wrong about something I think it does put the rest of what you right in doubt as well.
meagain: Alaska Report is also carrying the story.
I think what I meant to imply about Gryphen is that this particular story could easily break him if he hasn’t sourced it completely. He must know this. I didn’t see anything in his article that would be considered a Minor News Story. Except that pesky divorce/separation – which right now is non-news. I still view it as a distraction/diversion from what could turn out to be criminal
The revelations about the gun/levi and also the Johnston case – if there is meat on the bones, it will be picked off.
The Alaska Fund Trust has a “spendthrift” clause near the end, stipulating:
14. Spendthrift Provision. No interest in the principal or income of this Trust shall, voluntarily or involuntarily, be transferable, assignable, or subject to being in any manner whatsoever anticipated, charged or encumbered by any person beneficially interested in such separate trust, or subject to interference or control by any creditors of such person, or ubject to any claim for alimony or for the support of a spouse pursuant to a decree of separate maintenance or separation agreement, or to being taken or reached by any legal or equitable process in satisfaction of any debt, liability or obligation of said person prior to its receipt by such person; provided, that the provisions of this Section shall not prevent the exercise of, or transfer pursuant to the exercise of, any power of appointment granted hereunder. It is Grantor’s intent that the restrictions contained in this Paragraph 14 is a restriction on the transfer of trust interests pursuant to AS 34.40.110.
If I remember rightly, Ted Stevens’ trust, which is much more specific to legal debt, has no clause like this.
At the time I read it I wondered if it was aimed at Todd.
Who has link to Huffington AKM?
Well, I clearly take too much time to think through my comments. By the time I get them posted, I am old news.
I don’t know Gryphen, but he seems to have an incredibly generous heart and soul. I am afraid that some might take advantage of that.
For the sake of argument, let’s put divorce ( or lack of) into the “moral” column.
The Sherry Johnson interference and the threat (armed) to Levi, I’d place in the “criminal” column.
That said, I find it a bizarre coincidence that exerting undue pressure based on one’s position ( Gov. or First Dude) is the SAME ISSUE that was hanging over EXGINO’s head at the beginning of her VP run…coincidence or irony?
I’m going to look at archives to refresh the time line for Sherry’s arrest, Tripps birth, Bristol/Levi breakup to try to make some sense of $P’s latest excursion in overreacting and resorting to the use of her power to ruin other people’s lives.
Again, no value judgments from me on Trooper Wooten or Sherry Johnson–people make mistakes and they should pay for them. But finding that a stalker with some leverage is keeping you from going on with your life in order to be plainly vindictive, is not a good thing…and I hope it is illegal.
a bunch ??
In all fairness, if Ms. Palin has lost a lot of weight as it appears she has, her ring may not fit anymore and she’s afraid to lose it.
Aussie: It’s unnecessary to rise to the bait. Those of us who have been here for eleven months (or more) are okay with the odd bit of gossip, since so much of it has turned out to be true, or a near miss. Also, too, Gryphen appears to be awfully certain about his source.
That said, I have to disagree that quick denial automatically equals verification. I think most Democrats now wish that the Kerry campaign had jumped on the Swiftboaters a lot sooner than they did. Actually, I think most public figures took a lesson from that — BS won’t necessarily go away if you ignore it.
Events will eventuate. If I were betting, my money would be on Gryphen, not Miss Communication, but that’s just me.
Today on Huffington, The 12 Steps: An Antidote For Celebrities And Other Narcissistic Addicts
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/darren-littlejohn/the-12-steps-an-antidote_b_248895.html
@MeAgain, I share your concerns.
For some that asked… here is the Huffpo link. Add some comments/facts… boost it up.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/akmuckraker/palins-to-divorce_b_249319.html
Forever Anonymous Says:
August 1st, 2009 at 1:48 PM
Crystalwolf- Good to hear you!! I second.
~~~~~~~~
Hi there! Hope to see you and everyone in chat when Shannyn show is on!
Van Flea just released a statement….
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/08/01/politics/main5204228.shtml
I guess they have been reading how much we take megamouth on her word, so he has to chime in, but he’s a Liar too!
Can wait to hear what Buttercup will say….
I trust Gryphen and Dennis. They would not post such a “rumor” unless there was fact in it. Hey we all noticed how Dude wasn’t at the picnics and Fairbanks she left him in the dust.
If she is denying it…it is simple to get money, pure and simple. The echo chamber is claiming Soro’s, Obama, etc. behind these “smears” Oh those conservative freakin’ wingnuts love the drama…!
@144 Cassie: Yup, pressurizing the DA would definitely fit in the “criminal” column, if someone with direct involvement proves willing to testify about it. I’m afraid that this will not happen. I suspect that, even if the story is true, all those concerned will just go “Whew, she’s gone. We can go back to our normal business”, and that will be the end of it.
And, I also suspect that the Todd-drawing-down-on-Levi story will just evaporate as “he-said he-said”.
As for the divorce, que sera sera.
here you go MeAgain:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/akmuckraker/palins-to-divorce_b_249319.html
strangelet Says:
August 1st, 2009 at 2:15 PM
Aussie: It’s unnecessary to rise to the bait.
——————————–
You’ve lost me. I’ve moved on without you, Strangelet. What are you referencing? Please remember I’m a vegetarian also too.
Thanks Pacos!
They bought land a couple of weeks ago, but it’s on Lake Lucille, right next door to their house:
Document Year: 2009 Number: 015544 Suf: 0 District: 311 – PALMER
Date Recorded: 07/14/2009
Index: D – DEEDS
Desc: STAT WARRANTY DEED
Grantor – NEVADA MAK JUM
Grantee – PALIN TODD M
Grantee – PALIN SARAH H
Grantor – JUM NEVADA MAK
Location: Lot: 4 Block: 1 Plat: W-1
Cassie Jeep Pike Palin:
I have always been impressed at what I’ve seen from Levi, in spite of the Palin’s setting him up as a stage prop to hold Bristol’s hand. He very much says he wants to be father to his son. When you want something that badly, you are forced sometimes to “play the game”. He appears to want to be involved in his son’s life – and the last I heard, he and Bristol were in communication supposedly.
IF TAWD drew a gun on MY son, someone would know about it. I’ve never been able to figure TAWD out – aside from his rather wooden appearance, he gives the impression that he is very involved with the kids. But if he DID draw a gun on Levi, that story needs to be told and re-told. Levi is still a kid – and my impression is that Mom and Pop are pushing both Bristol and Levi around all the time.
The fact that Palin LIED about Levi living at the house, and the fact that he had sex with her daughter while she was home, indicates that she is obviously comfortable with lying.
I kept hoping Bristol would grow a set and tell her mom to get out of her face – but evidently she isn’t there yet.
But the gun – and if there was interference in the judicial case for Ms. Johnston – now we are into more than innuendo.
I’m willing to wait and see.
The divorce is nothing and not important – to me.
SP may be setting up rumors to discredit bloggers. ?? At any rate, whats done is done, so see what comes of it. I think “divorce” word shouldn’t have been used, unless papers were actually filed. Anyone can have marriage fiascos, and manage to work things out. Even if it is name only.
When I told my father about pulling a gun on Levi, he laughed and said the sarcastic “But guns don’t kill people, people kill people.” He was disgusted by that because when he went hunting with his father, my grandfather told him, you eat what you kill, so don’t kill for sport. My dad did one time, had to eat a verrrry old bird, and that was the end of hunting and guns for my dad. He was about 12 when that happened.
Divorce is a personal family thing?
@156 Aussie: “Never mind.”
Actually, things have moved right along, haven’t they. All I meant was: you posted a comment, someone criticized you for “gossip”, and you responded to the criticism. You didn’t need to respond, although it is certainly your right to do so, because we all know you.
“Another Palin attorney, Robert Barnett, also told CBS News that the divorce rumors were “totally untrue.”
Good God that is Meg and two attorney’s in one day commenting on a rumor?
Palin lovers better start sending in their monthly donations now.
These three working on a weekend are billing overtime dontcha know. Heck first day of the month with rumors left unquestioned, better jack your retirement funds and send Palin a little extrie. it is going to be a long month.
Levi needs to spill it all to National Enquirer and THEN let Katie Couric interview him exclusivley!
I’m confused about Piper’s hairdo changes in the following set of pictures. It almost seems like it’s two different kids.
Piper at the Fairbanks swearing in
http://www.adn.com/photos/story/877571.html?/1521/gallery/877572-a877581-t3.html
This looks like piper at the anchorage picnic.
http://www.adn.com/sarah-palin/v-gallery/story/876536.html?/1521/gallery/876741-a876719-t3.html
This is a kid with black and purple hair standing beside Palin at the Anchorage picnic. Is it Piper?
http://www.adn.com/sarah-palin/v-gallery/story/876536.html?/1521/gallery/876741-a876713-t3.html
Kid with black and purple hair in truck at the Anchorage picnic
http://www.adn.com/sarah-palin/v-gallery/story/876536.html?/1521/gallery/876741-a876733-t3.html
MeAgain.
You want to compare Gryphen’s accuracy to, say, Fox News?
The same Fox News that reported that Mark Foley, Mark Sanford and Hurricane Katrina were Democrats?
At least Gryphen apologizes when he gets it wrong.
Polly: I doubt seriously if Palin has the brains, talent, smarts or thought process capable of setting up the bloggers.
Especially since this appears to have been many many months in coming to print.
Whatever happens, it’s out there now and it will be discussed both pro and con. It cannot be put back into the bag. Bloggers take huge risks going with these types of stories. Gryphen clearly states he has sources. At some point, those sources must be revealed or he loses his credibility and his reputation, something he does not take lightly.
The divorce is small … no story …. and I don’t think aside from the Fundies that anyone really cares. I cannot even imagine what it would be like to be married to a woman like her. I’m surprised he didn’t run screaming into the night years ago.
The other things – i’m willing to wait and hear:
The Rest of the Story (thanks Paul Harvey)
stop makin stuff up! This report is very funny:
“She served 4000 hot dogs?”
REALLY? Lets say she served 1 dog every 10 seconds. OR 6 per minute. No time for chit chat with sister Piper. 6 per minute x 60 minutes= 360 per hour. After 10 hours of doin’ NOTHIN’ but servin’ 6 dogs a minute she’d be at 3600 dogs. 4000? That 11 hours of solid hot dog servin’, you betcha..Nice try!
gryph said “Iceberg”…then she quit…I dunno how much “righter” he could have been!
I rise my hand in support of Gryphen. The Immoral Minority is still open for critique or support.
Aussie: A “bunch” generally refers to bananas, which may appropriate for some of us down here in the slime, but not you.
“may be appropriate”
The Dog Days of August, right?
It’s like watching the wicked witch melt when she gets wet. Or a vampire dies because it’s exposed to the sun.
Both traits with Ms. Palin exhibits very well.
Wow TWO lawyers AND Stapletongue? Someone hit a nerve???
Gryphen has got himself covered. A divorce anytime in the next 30 years or so will make his story true.
From his updated story:
“Sarah and Todd will not be making their break up official for some time. “
Forever Anonymous Says:
August 1st, 2009 at 2:37 PM
I rise my hand in support of Gryphen. The Immoral Minority is still open for critique or support.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Yes! Second that!
Sarah Palin shaking hands (recent picnic) with RIGHT hand
http://www.adn.com/sarah-palin/v-gallery/story/875910.html?/1521/gallery/875989-a876002-t3.html (3rd photo in adn gallery)
(she says she takes off da ring cause her hand hurts from all that shakin’! .. mmhmmm)
@171 Basheert says: “… At some point, those sources must be revealed or he loses his credibility and his reputation, something he does not take lightly.
…”
Watergate’s Deep Throat took some decades to be revealed. So I don’t think Gryphen will feel any pressure to out anyone.
antiAnti: So what?
The divorce is NOT the story – or the whole complete entire story. If you read the blog, it clearly states more than 1 issue is involved.
I support Gryphen and want to give him a chance – he will eventually be proven wrong or right.
But you are allowing the divorce/separation to distract you.
Why would 2 lawyers and Meg StapleTongue all disavow this BLOG article?
…waiting for lawsuit …
…waiting for Van Flea to file lawsuit ….
…waiting….waiting….waiting
crystalwolf aka caligrl Says:
August 1st, 2009 at 2:40 PM
Forever Anonymous Says:
August 1st, 2009 at 2:37 PM
I rise my hand in support of Gryphen. The Immoral Minority is still open for critique or support.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Yes! Second that!
================
Gryphen could do what THEY do, and delete whatever he pleases – but he chooses to just leave the idiots out there. More power to him.
Most people might not have noticed, but they didn’t start attacking Gryphen on his blog until after Angry Meg piped up …..
wayney, she multi tasks of course!
ring on left finger. right hand is for shaking….whoops!
what DIDNT staplegun refute? that says more than the divorce denials…
MeAgain: Gryphen has gone way out on a limb with this story. He states he has sources, believable sources. At some point the stories will stand or fall – and so will he.
That is a big risk to take. I do not believe he took it lightly.
I guess what I’m saying is, why aren’t you willing to wait and see what happens? If as he says, the Levi/gun/draw down story hits within a week, then he has traction.
Sorry, I’m giving him a chance. I think he’s onto something -
Meagain #155:
The one thing I do respect about Palin is she never forced Todd to throw away a whole bunch of money on a stupid lump of hard carbon shiny thing (diamond ring) to prove that she has a husband that will drop a load of money on a silly shiny thing!
My partner’s mother once put pressure on him to purchase a ring for me, an $8,000 ring, to be exact. That’s nearly 5 months of house payments for us, so I quickly nixed that idea!
All of my friends that have lovely shiny expensive rings have left their relationships with nothing more than, well, a lovely shiny thing.
Meg had the denial written and released (NATIONALLY, on Facebook) within hours of an Alaskan blogger’s report (Grypen’s). Two of Palins attorneys respond within hours, on a weekend. THINK. Looks like it could be a set-up, and if no divorce happens, an easy way to discredit legitimate reports (criminal investigations/prosecutions) – as in, “see, they MAKE STUFF UP! Do not believe ANYTHING the media says about St. Sarah!”
@184 Basheert says: “…But you are allowing the divorce/separation to distract you. …”
__NO__ one distracts me. I think for myself.
sjk: of course no mention of the Tawd gun on Levi story. Also no mention of the governor alleged interference in the Johnston criminal case.
Methinks we have trolls?
Sorry, I just realized i was OFF TOPIC @174. The veracity of Gryphen’s blogs isn’t the topic of AKM’s blog.
Is Todd getting off the money train? …or has he really come to his senses? He’s a secessionist after all…don’t they separate themselves?
Got mail from Newt Gringrich today. First EVER. Form letter, God, God, God. I’m on vacation this next week and I will use their envelope to do a handwrittwen rebuttal of how “their” God is not mine, and I will bring buttercup up, and do it intellegently. I SHALL bring in racism, also, too, because I can and I WILL.
Lori in Los Angeles:
Again, the divorce is only part of the article. We all know how long a divorce/separation can take and drag out, especially with children (4 or 5) involved.
Gryphen put his reputation out there.
If he is wrong, it will take him down and his credibility will be gone.
We don’t lose, he does.
AKPetMom Says:
August 1st, 2009 at 2:48 PM
Meagain #155:
The one thing I do respect about Palin is she never forced Todd to throw away a whole bunch of money on a stupid lump of hard carbon shiny thing (diamond ring) to prove that she has a husband that will drop a load of money on a silly shiny thing!
—————————————–
AKPetMom, it’s not like Todd had the luxury of saving up for an engagement ring and proposing, etc.
Or, even organizing a wedding for that matter.
CougInPortland Says:
August 1st, 2009 at 2:51 PM
Got mail from Newt Gringrich today. First EVER. Form letter, God, God, God. I’m on vacation this next week and I will use their envelope to do a handwrittwen rebuttal of how “their” God is not mine, and I will bring buttercup up, and do it intellegently. I SHALL bring in racism, also, too, because I can and I WILL.
————————————————–
Will you ask him lots of awkward Catholic catechism questions, now that he is parading himself as a Catholic?
I’m with Basheert on the divorce thing. It sort of gets the headlines and shows her ‘ hypocrisy ‘ … again, but we don’t really need any more evidence in that regard. Wayyyyy to many instances to prove THAT point.
The focus needs to be her attempt to personally go after with a vendetta like attitude toward Sherry Johnston. We’ve seen THIS before as well-Troopergate.
You could brush it aside if it was a one time thing. She did it over and over while in office. Beverley Wooley… another one. She makes it personal.
Now that Sherry’s case has been delayed maybe a Federal Investigator needs to put this Prosecutor ‘ under oath ‘. Would he dare Lie. Not if he is smart. It’s his butt on the line and $arah can be of no help whatsoever. Fess up and he gets a slap on the wrist maybe. $arah…. different story. This should be criminal…..and highly unethical.
Maybe some emails need to go to CREW asking for ‘ the feds ‘ to look into it.
Divorce…just hypocrisy is all.
…and about divorce please? As in, how do you ask your wife for a divorce when she is lying in a hospital bed dying?
I’m not sure I want to see the busy news day if this is the slow one. sheeezz I really planned on reading my book more today. (sending glares towards Alaska) Instead I take a break from the first sunny day by the pool, come in, stop by the computer…*sigh* oh well, I’ll go read in just a little bit.
Maybe we should institute samper’s rule. No one say anything funny or interesting while I’m away! It really doesn’t count that it’s a pee rule does it???????
Nebraska Native Says:
August 1st, 2009 at 2:50 PM
Methinks we have trolls?
—————————————————————-
You noticed?
Hey Cassie!
Hey now.
I really like my stupid lump of hard carbon shiny thing – and I was impressed when he dropped a load of money on such a silly shiny thing.
and I was knocked up before the wedding too =-)
To be totally fair, a long lasting and healthy slope marriage is pretty rare. Just sayin.
me again, true, but gryph stuck by the story and sources…and low and behold, she quit. NO ONE SAW THAT COMING…his blog is a bit more rumor oriented than AKM or Diva or Shannyn, but so far I’ll stick with him vs. the MSM.
overthemoon – the story is based on much more than the Palin’s not wearing their rings. I caught that question while scanning (o:
Mudpups – Group hug? Seems we’ve always been able to agree to disagree. Hope we never let Sarah Palin’s garbage ruin our community here. Tension is high with this news!
Posted on Huffpo a while ago – Going to check the comments there.
As of 1500 Alaska time, all the reporting blogs I can find are basing the divorce story solely on the original Immoral Minority post. Including several updates, the Immoral Minority is still basing his story solely on one, unnamed source. At a time when we’re criticizing the right wing crazies for their obsession with President Obama’s place or birth, I think it would be best to treat this only as a tantalizing rumor and nothing more. Following the abdication of the Anchorage Daily News as a credible news source, the Alaska progressive bloggers have emerged as the leading reporters of Alaska politics. As the saying goes, with power comes responsibility.
“some marriages last because of the distance”
true that.
i think the small ring was a phony attempt to demonstrate “down home” sensibilities.
i live in Wasilla and most (including me) aren’t shy to show off a little bling. it is a properous community (in large part due to Ted Stevens long Senatorial career).
it just doesn’t jive with me that with all those married years and Todd never gifted an upgrade – it totally contradicts Wasilla/Anchorage culture. just sayin. most women her age (around here) are sporting an anniversary ring on the other hand.
i just think she’s a phony. people should just be who they are – if she quit for money, she should say so. if she quit because her family is falling apart why would she be ashamed of it? the phoniness is what eats at me. not a single one of us is without pride or vice and i’m sick to death of people (and political parties) claiming to be something no human is.
michigander Says:
——————————————————–
((((((((( H U G S )))))))))))
I thought “Pistol” was gonna be the name of the next offspring, not something Todd would wield offensively…
meagain, HUH? yer losin’ me. All I’m sayin’ is of the major AK blogs he held onto the ‘berg, and then she just happened to quit. Thats all…
If I had contributed money to Sarah, I would now be wondering if it was used to pay for land somewhere or if it would be used to pay for divorce expenses. I would certainly not contribute again.
@MeAgain – I agree. Gryphen’s blog is more of a tabloid than a source of news. He has a habit of claiming to know juicy details but then says he has to wait to share them. It’s annoying.
@211 SimpleMind—I agree! Alaskan bloggers need to stay clean so that they can continue to be heard by the MSM.
While this has been a fascinating read, I have to wonder:
Why does it take 2 attorneys and one idiot to speak for Palin when she can OBVIOUSLY do so for herself, now that she doesn’t have that pesky 24/7 Guv Gig going on?
Why doesn’t SHE say something?
So that when it turns out to be TRUE, she can honestly (ha ha) say “I never denied it”.
OR… are her attorneys very FIRMLY telling her to keep her big mouth SHUT because there are serious legal consequences coming around the bend?
WHY? Why won’t she speak for HERSELF? I find this odd.
Also, too… what do you MEAN, “Slow News Day”?
Haven’t you guys heard about all the parades, parties and fanfare circling around the anniversary of my birth today? The WH is having a fireworks extravanza, the Northern Lights have promised to be in full form tonight, and there are hot dogs being served from sea to sea on this occasion.
Can’t believe THIS news is trumping all THAT news!
Sheesh!
It also too appears that the Mudstockers in NYC are not aware.
I wonder if they have a laptop on hand to live blog during the show, or are they just going to call the show without knowing what’s being discussed?
Wow… wait til they get a hold of THIS!
I will say one thing about this story…. ” fasten your seatbelts “…
It is going to be one ‘ wild ride ‘ when Shannyn goes on the air today.
Get that popcorn ready…. and buckle up!!
201 Basheert Says:
August 1st, 2009 at 2:59 PM
…and about divorce please? As in, how do you ask your wife for a divorce when she is lying in a hospital bed dying?
**************************************************************************
Same way you boink an intern cheating on your second wife , after you divorce the first one laying in said bed.
@MeAgain@208:
$arah rarely misses a chance to point out that SHE paid $30 for that wedding ring (NOT Todd).
I paid for my wedding ring because me late first husband was left in incredible debt by his first wife (and I raised the children…almost sounds like a country song…)
I *never* pointed out that I paid for my wedding band…first husband bought me an emerald engagement ring…he got it for a very “reasonable’ price because of a flaw in the emerald (and I love the flaw), which is probably why he couldn’t afford the wedding band.
I don’t have the wedding band anymore…it was on his pinkie when he was cremated…I still have the flawed emerald, and my second husband doesn’t mind it in the least.
and, FWIW, I rarely wore my rings (or any jewelry) except for special occasions.
Not sure how much sense this makes to the conversation, but the ring thing is something that I can identify with.
I just noticed something: Grypen does NOT mention the word DIVORCE on his post (unless he changed the title?). The “D” word is used by Meg and lawyers to discredit Gryphen, who uses the word “splitsville.” WHO said divorce????
Shannyn has posted on her site and will not entertain any of these latest stories except perhaps the one regarding Sherry Johnston.
I don’t think anyone will get past Rishi if they want to discuss this latest splitsville news.
That’s how I’m seeing it.
It seems in October of 2008 Mrs. Palin was also without a wedding ring and there was online speculation about the reasons as to why that would be. Perhaps this is her camp’s way (then and now) of pulling a sleight of ‘hand’ and we are totally ignoring what they would prefer we don’t notice.
OOh, good catch Lori in LA
Lori, good catch! The subleties matter!
lori you are right – gryphen never used that word. they did.
sorry, I see my response to Me Again is not @208, it’s now @201
ok, it’s not @201 now…I’m off to chat where I can stay in one reality!
Did I just hear Garrison Keillor do a veiled spoof of todays rumors?
I didn’t hear the beginning of his whole story, but he was making one of his “phone calls”. He talked to a Mrs. Brower, whose home was in a flood and unmoored, kept afloat by a whole bunch of bibles. She said she could see Canada from her house. To Garrison’s “surprise”, she was not with her husband, but with the local pastor. He asked her she was, you know, OK….if perhaps the present flood had maybe “loosened” something (mental condition). Toward the end she excitedly told him she was going upstairs to get out her Evita dress. ????
I know today’s show was a “compilation show” and don’t know if some of it was live or not. Just wondering if anyone else heard that story on today’s show.
(It’s Tome Time with Terpsichore! Is everyone sitting comfortably? Then we’ll begin…)
I’d like to completely dismiss the divorce talk as mere rumor.
But I know in my heart that it’s impossible, with all the family has gone through in the last 18 months – still adjusting to her new job, new, DS baby, Troopergate investigation, finding out about Bristol being pregnant, and the severe stress of the VP campaign and the aftermath – that there has not been enormous stress on Sarah and Todd, and on their relationship with each other and with their children.
If people’s values and goals are in alignment, they can weather the storms. I’m going to go out on a limb and suggest that while Sarah may have paid lip service to motherhood and Hockey-Momming, she’s always had other, loftier goals. Todd, on the hand, is probably living more or less the life he always envisioned for humself.
I would never suggest Sarah does not, in some sense, ‘love’ Todd, but she may harbor deep-seated and possibly unacknowledged resentment towards him for ‘getting her pregnant’ and ‘having’ to get married and put her own ambitions (even if unsaid or unformed) on hold. Todd, for his part, may indeed ‘love’ her, but probably has not been completely honest with her about how he really feels about all the adjustments he’s had to make to accomodate her ambitions, once expressed.
I can certainly imagine that now both of them are discontented in the life they have allowed themselves to forge. Maybe they are seeing how their own decisions lead to it. Maybe they are, one or both of them, still blaming others or other factors, but it doesn’t change the problem, and for the sake of the children, it does need to be dealt with.
The best thing you can be to your children is a good example. While I don’t endorse divorce at the drop of a hat, it is disastrous for children to see their parents unhappy, dissatisfied, and/or feeling ‘trapped’ in a marriage. In contrast, happy, successful, well-adjusted divorced parents, who involve themselves in their children’s lives, are a great role-model for both boys and girls.
If my little theory is true or near the truth, it certainly puts a lot of Todd’s and Sarah’s reactions and behaviors surrounding Bristol’s pregnancy in a new focus.
Perhaps they didn’t really want Levi to marry her because of how ‘trapped’ they both became by having a baby so young in their lives.
Bristol’s pregnancy may also have been an unwannted reminder to them that they themselves had ‘made a mistake’, when they had sex and conceived their first child out of wedlock. It was a tangible confrontation to the fact that they had not ‘saved’ their daughter, whom I’m sure they love, from the same thing they themselves did (and therefore should have seen it coming IMO), and forced them to have to face the fact that as parents, they had failed their daughter.
I hope I have not come off as judgemental in all this (that’s part of what the single quotes are for), because I do not mean to be. I just see this as being very … human. And after all, we are all human and prone to these feelings. It’s how we choose to deal with them, and the decisions we make, and the way we admit/confront/handle our mistakes that shapes our character and how other people view us.
I do wish the more ardent Sarah supporters would just admit she is, and let her be (like all the rest of us mere mortals) an imperfect human being.
wonkette weighs in……
OH GOD, DO WE AGREE WITH MEG STAPLETON? Man, a lot of you people are taking this thing quite seriously! Who knows if any of it is true, because my oh my, that’s some sketchy sourcing — it doesn’t even exist, in fact! And even if they were going to get a divorce, but wanted to keep it to themselves for now … that’s understandable. So everyone go PLAY OUTSIDE. The world is literally your oyster. [Alaska Report, Mediaite]
Meg said it is not true, she said it via facebook, Palin has asked the media to SMTU.
Meg is doing the job the director of the Mcain/Palin refused to do about bogus, untrue, malicious, godless rumors of Todd being a member of AIP; get in front of the truth.
Why don’t u just believe Meg? I beg you, laid off Gryphen.
Hugs on the thread. Michigander, casey hugs to you now.
Vidomnia has weighed in with his opinion, posting on Shannyn’s blog comments.
If the then Ex-Governor and her Private Attorney saying they will ‘ Sue her ‘ did not deter Shannyn from speaking out….vidomnia words or opinions seem like stale air. Like dust in the wind……..
The National Enquirer has been posting this “Palin Trouble in Paradise” story for about a year now. No one has sued them.
Okay, sorry. The National Enquirer has had a similar story for 11 months or so (not a full year).
Vidomnia isn’t worth reading. He’s hoping to catch her if the marriage is over.
Terpsichore: Nice post. However I did notice you didn’t mention anything about the “alleged” incident with Todd pulling a gun on Levi, or the Johnston judicial interference by the GINO (again alleged)?
From my perspective, the state of the marriage isn’t important – that’s their business. The other, if true, could be a criminal matter I believe.
@208 karen in or, I was listening to him too, what a hoot, blackened trout
Terpsichore –
Thank you for the time and thought you put into your post.
A lot of people , me included , have watched sarah lie , manipulate , spew hate , and generally wreak havoc and run amok , and want her to pay HARD. We are ready to see every crushing blow delivered yesterday. I’m sure the Palin family and household is suffering mightily because of her greed and selfish actions. I have been thru a bad divorce. It’s not fun. The other issues , the gun and possible tampering in Sherry’s case are not acceptable. If Todd and sarah are “splitsville” , so be it. Quite a few posters have cautioned against watching the “shiny object”. Lets not do that , and let the misery of the family remain theirs.
The Ventura County Star reports that Palin is canceling her commitment to speak at the 50th anniversary celebratory dinner of the Simi Valley Republican Women, Federated at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum.
AKPetMom.
I’m sure carbon neutral fiscal conservatism was a concern when the Palin’s were young newlyweds. But at this point in their lives, they’re established and not hurting for money. I’m also sure Palin wouldn’t mind having a nice rock on her hand. I’ll bet she was eyeing Cindy McCain’s, Michelle Obama’s and Jill Biden’s hands and feeling inferior.
Palin doesn’t like to feel inferior.
I’m also sure that if she had a really nice rock, that that would NOT have gone in the drink when she tossed the band.
If she decides to dispell the rumors and stay with Todd, if for a little while, I’ll bet the replacement band will be a lot flashier than the last plain band. Wouldn’t be surprised if there were a diamond to go with it, just to show people how much Todd loves her and how secure their marriage is. After all….who would spend that kind of money if they were getting a divorce?
Well, damn. AKM you made a mockery of my plans this afternoon. Gryphen had something to do with too, also
Has anyone here questioned the timing of the Simi Valley Republican women’s soiree next week, and the latest batch of alleged info here? If the various issues listed with AKM, Gryphen and others is true, then MAYBE the Republican women WITHDREW their invitation for Palin to be their speaker. Whatcha think?
zyggy,,,,
I came into Garrison’s story about mid-way (I guess) from a nod-off. I think she (Mrs. “Brower”) also mentioned having to shoot someone in the knee in earlier part of the story. Was I right?
Guess I’ll have to wait to hear the repeat of Home Companion tomorrow. Too funny (if SLY) if he was truly alluding to the rumors.
a bunch of mudpups are in chat waiting for liveblogging Shannyn.
Come on in! the water is fine!
Sarah Palin shoots down blog claim 8/1/09 7:55 PM EDT
“By having her spokeswoman repeat the charges to rebut them in a public form, Palin effectively guaranteed coverage from the mainstream media that otherwise would not report claims attributed to unnamed sources on an anonymous blog.”
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0809/25689.html
>>>>SCREECHY WHISTLE!< <<<
OK all, as is the case with “family” posts, let’s try to keep it clean please. I’m going through comments right now, so please bear in mind a couple things.
No ad hominem attacks on other bloggers.
As per Mudflats tradition, let’s not discuss baby theories. There are plenty of places on the web dedicated to that topic.
And let’s try not to talk about any of the kids, unless it’s to recognize that this is difficult for them, no doubt.
Live blogging The Shannyn Moore Show will be up soon!
Thanks, AKM…we’ll play nice now!
the whole “I cant wait to be a private itzen so I can tweet without being PC” and then the “delay” in the new twitter account is odd at best. How long does it take? 5-15 minutes? We’re gonna tweet tweet tweet without the restraints of being Gov. And now…..__________________________The sound of silence…
It dont make no sense. I demand an investigation! Where is the quitbull?
On one of the beginning pages of this open thread, a poster commented: “Palin is an absolute fool to have screwed around on Todd when he has put up with all he has & still stood by her.”
Ya know, it’s comments like that that spawn -and perpetuate- rumors.
Next thing we know, it’ll be spread as ‘G_d’s honest gospel’ that SP had an affair (and/or that it’s been ongoing for umpteen years) with Prison Man. And why not – why shouldn’t it be spread? It’s posted *as FACT* on the intertubes!
And then we’ll feel sobby-sorry for First Dude because SP certainly did wrong by him [in having the affair with Prison Man] – First Dude had/has “stood by her” for so long, and all. And why not – why shouldn’t everyone rally to poor cuckolded First Dude ? That he has “put up with so much” [stong implication: it's all been terribly negative/horrible] is posted *as FACT* on the intertubes, too… sympathy for him is solicited.
I think we ALL need to be *very careful* that we don’t state *as FACT* rumors, our personal opinions, and/or wishful thinking. [Remember Shannyn and her reporting rumors? She *specifically* stated they were rumors, yet some folks (not to name any names, but SP, Meg, Van What's-His-Name, et.al) accused her of stating *as FACT* those rumors. Had she *not* preceeded her statement(s) about those rumors *as _being rumors_*, she would have been 'guilty as charged.']
*Unless* we take care to differentiate between *fact* (i.e. credibly verifiable stuff) and non-fact (i.e. rumor, gossip, innuendo, personal opinion, ‘I hope’, etc.) we’re going to end up doing (and being) the very thing(s) that drive thinking people bonkers about the [extreme] right-wingers – to whit: Be(come) mindless ideologues who can’t (or won’t) stop repeating non-fact *as fact*…and who embellish that non-fact when they do repeat it *as fact*.
Let’s be careful – let’s not abhore and denounce *their* lies by creating our own –in either proof or refute– of their duplicity and dishonesty. beth.
[Istep down off the soapbox, now...]
akm, yes indeeed! As they say on the Jim ROme sports talk show, “thanks for the vine”.!
Sarah Palin shoots down blog claim 8/01/09
“By having her spokeswoman repeat the charges to rebut them in a public form, Palin effectively guaranteed coverage from the mainstream media that otherwise would not report claims attributed to unnamed sources on an anonymous blog.”
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0809/25689.html
Happy birthday, Samper, and in the spirit of today’s news, may your spouse/SO be like the Marines, “samper fi.”
As for Gryphen’s report, I believe it, partly because I don’t believe he is either a liar or reckless, and partly because I am not at all surprised.
There are a few things that I would like to point out:
_______________________________________________
1.- Sarah is a divider-she divides people and have them destroy each other.
2.- There are trolls on this site to destroy the credibility of the Bloggers that
– they feel brought Sarah down. Sarah brought herself down to the lowest
–denominator. She told the lies and she did the crime.
3.*Michigander (sp) is right. The mudpups have always agree to disagree but
–have been respectful to each other. I felt alot of undue tension just reading
–the responeses. Don’t allow Sarah and the trolls to come between you.
4.-Do you really care whether Sarah divorces or not? The important issues in
–this discussion to me are- whether or not a crime was committed. A gun -
–was allegedly pulled and there was possibly abuse of power in a felony case.
–this is not about Gryphen.
Sarah Palin beats press to blog claim
“By having her spokeswoman repeat the charges to rebut them in a public form, Palin effectively guaranteed coverage from the mainstream media that otherwise would not report claims attributed to unnamed sources on an anonymous blog.”
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0809/25689.html
Eye on the ball Pups…IF and I SAY IF the quitbull tried to influence the legal proceedings vs. SJ, that is OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE. Not an ethics issue. its a FELONY.
Terpsichore -
One clarification. You mention the last 18 months of stress and the havoc it can play on a marriage. Very true. However, the Palin’s spin machine will attempt to pass the buck to the “media” and “bloggers” for their downfall (if true) when there are also a lot of rumors about the state of their marriage when Sarah was picked by McCain.
So, I don’t believe it’s only the last 18 months that are to be blamed—if they are having “issues”. If Sarah were a big person, she would admit that. But, she seems to be a small, petty person who would not rise to the occasion.
She will not take responsibility for her own life, her own choices, and her own actions. She will blame.
For that reason, I hesitate to say, “the stress of the last 18 months” is the possible reason the could possibly be having issue.
Something made her quit. I dont believe we know all of causes, YET.
I do know NO ONE EXPECTED IT.
“its been the works for months.” …”we have no plans yet.”
HUH?
toad flew back on short notice.
HUH?
Simi valley?
HUH?
it dont make no sense, YET!
I’m sure she is in damage control mode, perhaps panic has set in.
The freepers even say her modus operandi is poor handling.
She has lots of rope. Let it tangle and slowly wrap itself around her lies.
Politcal “death” (figurative, please!!) will ensue, and that is what we all really want.
212 Basheert Says:
August 1st, 2009 at 3:59 PM
Terpsichore: Nice post. However I did notice you didn’t mention anything about the “alleged” incident with Todd pulling a gun on Levi, or the Johnston judicial interference by the GINO (again alleged)?
* ** * ** * ** * ** * ** *
Thanks! I’m blushing!
I did think about the Levi/Todd gun incident, but the post was already so long. But I agree, it’s important. My thought was that Todd’s anger at himself for ‘screwing up’ earlier in his life could have manifested itself in his anger towards Levi, so I can totally believe it could have happened.
As for the Sherry Johnston Alleged Obstruction (or whatever it would be called) by Sarah, I agree it is absolutely vital not to lose site of its importance, but I didn’t see a reasonable way to work it into the theme of my already lengthy tome.
But I’d better go back to working on the taxes now. I’m a hopeless HEF – Habitual Extension Filer. Reading Mudflats makes a great break from it though!
Thanks for the comment – wasn’t being critical but I agree that there may be 2 possible criminal issues here, and neither of them is whether or not the happy couple is splitsville.
Felony interference – has a nice ring to it doesn’t it? If SP did interfere with the prosecutors, she does need an attorney.
And if I’m wrong I will apologize but isn’t pulling a gun on someone technically felony threat with a deadly weapon? And could someone clarify whether Levi was underage when the supposed gun threat occurred????
The issues here are much bigger than a marriage, divorce, separation, or anything personal. If SP has aided or committed a felony, she needs to be held accountable – isn’t that what Republicans say all the time?
Heads up Pups – AlaskaReports says he’s gotten a letter from the Flea.
pulling a gun in AK is apparently kinda like the finger down here in the lower 48. But here is the law:
http://crime.about.com/od/gunlawsbystate/p/gunlaws_ak.htm
does toad have a PERMIT?
Gryphen has changed the title on his blog by deleting the word “divorce” and adding “splitsville.”
The Alaska Report still has the word “divorce” in its heading. However, it has an update about a letter received from “Van Flein”…Palin’s attorney.
Sigh…
Not knowing the laws in Alaska, is it actually legal to point a weapon at someone – obviously as a threat or effort to intimidate?
CCH: Yes I’ve been watching the Alaska Report site waiting for an update.
You made my day, AKMuckraker!
<3
–GottaLaff
Basheert: answer is it depends….if someone “pulls a weapon” on someone without actually firing, it’s ordinarily considered an assault with a deadly weapon. It can constitute a number of other crimes, again depending on the circumstances and words spoken (e.g., use of a deadly weapon in the commission or attempted commission of another felony, like attempted extortion–seeking to have another do an act against his/her will under threat of bodily harm, or an express threat to do bodily harm if the victim does not perform an act against his/her will).
It can be a common misperception that an assault needs to involve contact: it doesn’t. An assault is basically a threat, express or implied by conduct, to commit a battery (which does involve actual contact, and, in the case of a discharge of a firearm, can be charged as assault with intent to kill or assault with intent to murder if the victim survives).
P.S. to Basheert: there are other distinct possible crimes depending on surrounding circumstances & facts. For example, under most states’ criminal laws, criminal threatening is charged as a felony if the threat is to kill or inflict severe bodily injury.
As well, there are all kinds of interesting permutations on charging decisions in a domestic situation, and in many states the police are required to charge domestic assaults and/or batteries even when the victim does not want to press a complaint.
What seriously disturbs me is that we don’t seem to be able to recognize the enemy. If you want to get biblical, then here it is.
“the love of money is the root of all evil” and the only entity that fulfills that definition are corporations. And corporations own my government.
If you don’t believe that, note the ads during your favorite television programs.
Qince et al:
Thanks for the clarification.
Usually in most states, “using” a weapon/gun is considered assault with a deadly weapon. And it is not necessary to pull the trigger.
Obviously if Todd pulled a gun on Levi, he didn’t do it as a joke or to get a laugh.
So, why should Todd be allowed to possibly commit what might be a felony, when the rest of the population would be held to a legal standard? If any of you Alaskans pulled a gun on Todd, you’d be in jail at the very least.
And the story about Ms. Johnston. If SP did interfere with the prosecution, why isn’t she being held to the legal standard (I am assuming that in Alaska, interfering in a prosecution is an offense)? Especially since (making a leap here), Ms. Johnston happens to coincidentally be the mother of the boy that Todd pulled a gun on?
It’s almost too difficult to believe – but then again, this is the Wasilla Hillbilly.
It seems like Todd has anger issues – first the Troopergate thing, then the allegation he pulled a gun on Levi. Sounds like someone might need an intervention.
I’m with you 100%, Basheert: those are the two points which would would hugely concern me and have nothing to do with anyone’s personal life.
I did mean to clarify on the P.S., although you’re probably way ahead of me, that a felony charge of criminal threatening doesn’t have to involve a weapon at all. Criminal threatening can be charged on the communication of a threat alone.
Once a deadly weapon is involved, the intent of the person who wields it would not matter: the reasonable perception of a person faced with it would count (that’s also why one charges armed robbery even when the “weapon” turns out to be a finger in the pocket or a squirt gun).
I’ll just reiterate a previous observation. Vid Om may be one of the world’s dumbest people. Scary dumb.
Sherry’s arrest has virtually nothing to do with Palin. Palin is on record as saying the arrest was Federal and had nothing to do with the State. The only connection would be one of a larger scale family circus. The thing I find hilarious is Todd pulling a gun on Levi while Todd’s sister burglarizes homes. “We don’t want your kind around here. We have enough problems of our own.”
Basheert Says:
August 1st, 2009 at 6:32 PM
It seems like Todd has anger issues -
———————————————————————-
If EXGINO were my spouse for 20 years, I’s have anger issues, too!
Keith Grant: Actually we aren’t talking about her arrest. We are discussing whether SP misused her office to pressure the prosecution to file maximum charges against Ms. Johnston which could be a felony.
It says a great deal about you that you find anyone pulling a gun on an underage boy as “hilarious”. Attempting to minimize what could be construed as FELONY ASSAULT WITH A DEADLY WEAPON by saying it is funny, tells all of us just what you represent.
IF Todd pulled a weapon on Levi, he needs to be charged – let the courts figure it out.
“Vetted” is a fancy word for background check.
McCain probably picked Palin before she was adequately vetted. Especially with someone running for vice president, you’d think vetting would have been thorough. But it wasn’t. That’s amazing and scary at the same time.
As a consequence, to this day Palin is still getting vetted by the public. It may not be fair but it would have been a lot worse if this person had become vice president without adequate disclosure of her capabilities or qualifications. I can see why folks would be concerned if she appeared unstable, hot headed, immature, unethical, or irrational.
To me it is shocking someone like Palin could get nominated as VP. Now she is under intense public scrutiny because she hasn’t ruled out running for national office again. And that is the way it should be. Unfortunately this process may not be fair all the time. Thanks akmuckraker for trying to keep it fair on your turf.
Too bad a great American like McCain ruined his legacy with that reckless and dangerous nomination.
deist: I believe the choice of Sarah Palin reflected the mental acuity of Senator McCain. He obviously was sold a bill of goods by Stephen Schmidt. She was not vetted – and by the end of the campaign, he was ready to jump out of his skin just being on stage with her.
Basheert–you are so right. That was glaringly obvious.
Looselips Says:
August 1st, 2009 at 11:45 AM
what if gryphen and zaki were set up
————————————————-
I don’t think so, that would require abstract thinking…thinking about something in the future and likely causes and effects. Who in Camp Palin is capable of that?
All those stupid vetters were hoping she would have sex with them and Miss Congeniality led them on. If she looked like Ms Thatcher and was as big a dope as Iquitarod, she would have never been chosen, and there would have been a white guy on the ticket with McCain.
Donna… I do not believe Jim the VidO dud is dumb… just lacking in critical thinking abilities.
whew!
just got thru all the posts – at least the ones which are still here – and must say I sure am getting into the habit of missing all the good stuff while it’s happening! well, at least I did manage to get the pointy part of Snoskie’s boot this evening!
seriously tho… gotta get in here earlier on these “slow news” days.
There is no reason Gryphen should reveal his source… Otherwise the “sources”
aren’t safe and aren’t there anymore.
Hmmmm… Just what some people might want.
Sorry Trolls
I have to say that if there is a “splitsville” – my sympathies go out to the family. It is difficult enough to go thru a divorce without it becoming a media blitz.
Whether the cause is previous infidelities, or “not thinking or blinking” that put the entire family through a year long media meatgrinder, or some other reason that we are unaware of….it is still a very difficult process on a personal level.
Whatever the former Govs ambitions are or were -
I pray she realizes what she is trading them for.
I AM SORRY: This woman thrives on any kind of attention from the media, positive or negative. Why else would you not wear a ring, ANY ring, to a public event drawing that much national media. The Palin’s create this drama and no one else.
As for the other, more pertinent criminal behavior: I hope they are thoroughly investigated and punished appropriately for once! Alaska deserves to know she is not above the law.
I just read the gun law in Alaska.I cannot believe you do not need a permit to carry concealed or have to register any gun rifle,shotgun what ever .How in the world can you prove someone own a gun in a murder or even a shooting unless they are caught with it in hand. The court cases up their with shootings murders by guns ect must be a real picnic.I can see being allowed to carry openly but not concealed,It seems to me Alaska puts a lot of trust in people not selling to people that shouldn’t have them LOL .I always loved the movie red dawn because it could happen if all guns were registered but there has to be a way to keep the guns out of the hands of someone like the school shooters.sorry OT but carrying concealed without a check just does not make sense to me
It’s late, and this thread is probably done, and a lot of people have spent a good bit of effort on “what-if’s” based on Gryphen’s post. Skipping over “splitsville” — a tasty morsel, but ultimately a private matter — the two serious allegations are prosecutor-tampering and Todd drawing on Levi.
Basically, it’s a waste of energy to over-parse either of these items until something more specific, and attributable, emerges. I don’t doubt Gryphen’s honesty — I believe he is reporting what his sources have told him — but for the prosecution issue to go anywhere, someone directly involved (like one of the pressured prosecutors) will have to go public. The whole story may be true, but without attributable testimony it will just fizzle like many other unproven scandals.
In the case of Todd “pulling a gun” on Levi, there are two issues. The first, obviously, is who is going to testify to what. If it comes down to just Todd’s word versus Levi’s word, there’s no case. It’s just another interesting story.
If, somehow, there are enough witnesses to matter, we then have to try to figure out what actually happened. Alaska has relatively loose gun laws, but even in California (with relatively tight gun laws) there is a distinction between “assault with” and “brandishing” a weapon. I am not an expert in this area, but I think “brandishing” is roughly equivalent to “pulling a gun”, while “assault” requires you to actually threaten someone with it (point it at them, say “I’m going to blow your head off”, something like that). In Alaska, I don’t know if “brandishing” is even illegal, so until we have more details, I think it’s premature to try to guess what Todd might be guilty of.
Cheers.
That’s exactly what I was thinking, Strangelet. If everyone says, “No, it never happened” (which seems to happen an awful lot around Sarah Palin) then it makes no difference what actually happened.
I do remember when Sherry Johnston was first arrested they threw the book at her – a number of people were very surprised, given it’s a first offence . . .
At least we don’t have to worry about the Parnell family vendettas.
This is so ridicoul palin probably planted all this ti stay in the media the woman is a mental case she was not wearing hew wedding ring. And before this was reported Norah Odonnell from MSNBC DID REPORT STRANDE DISTANCE BEHAVIOR AND THAT sarah abruptly left the picni with Piper and Trigg. And. People were overheard asking is there a ride for Todd and the answer was no also when todd said they just left me
Even if she threw the ring in the lake, it was probably because it was a $25 piece of crap! Makes more sense that she said to Todd, “you better get me a million dollar ring now bitch because I am Sarah Palin.” Basically, not worth even trying to find the ring…oh wait, her crazy fans would pay anything for it so maybe it is.
PS – please move to Montana and never show your face in public again quitter!
Her story just gets funnier and funnier!
What if this divorce stuff is just a way to keep
SP from taking the heat for any wrong doing
for taking “gifts” from house builders? If that
turns out to have any truth to it. Dud could take the
hit, no big deal for him, but could be huge for SP.
It appears to me that if Sarah Palin has legal bills that would threaten her family with bankruptcy, then getting divorce would seem a sensible option.
In the divorce settlement, Todd Palin would get to keep all the assets. Mrs. Palin could then file for bankruptcy and her creditors wouldn’t be able to touch a thing.
Thanks for the explanation Strangelet – someone mentioned the O.J. case in Vegas where he brandished a weapon – and look where it got him. But that was on video.
Unless Levi comes forward or someone else saw it – I cannot honestly believe if the story came from Levi that it is a lie.
RE: The Johnston prosecutorial interference charge. That may have legs – depending upon how vocal she was and who she was pressuring.
Again, as for the split – why should we care? It’s their business.
Just a thought…”Quitter” – “Diva” – “Ex” Palin is vacationing at the
Betty Ford Clinic in California. Why she had to decline the Reagan
Republican Womens speaking engagement. In rehab, likely no
twitter, facebook, cell phone chatter. Maybe why Sarah has gone
dark.
IF it were true at some point in the past weeks that Sarah and Todd were contemplating separate households, it seems to me that this latest information-bomb will have some effect on their immediate futures. As the denial of a divorce is now public via spokesmouth Meg S., then it occurs to me that Sarah and Todd will be forced, due to media scrutiny, to maintain the fiction of living in the family home, together. Todd will decamp under the ruse of “work”, but manage to get mega-overtime and not come home for months on end – but the statements will always refer to “work-demands” on the oil fields.
My hope is that Sarah will not be asked to share her opinions with the world. I know I’m extremely tired of her.
Was this story planted by Palin to keep her name in the news ?
I wouldn’t doubt it.
On the C4P site, someone stated that the reason Palin is not wearing her wedding ring is because it hurts when she shakes hands. I don’t know about you, but I wear my wedding ring on my left hand. I searched some pictures (not knowing if she is right or left handed) but in everyone of the pictures she is shaking with her RIGHT HAND!
Alaskareport has a copy of a letter from Van Flein to IM. What is interesting about the letter is one line in the letter. “The Palin’s are not “about” to get a divorce. For me the word “about” is telling me that the Palin’s aren’t getting a divorce now, but certainly gives leeway to a divorce in the near future.
Here is the letter, http://tinyurl.com/l7zu6r
Vanfleabite’s last line makes stupid lawers feel powerful. To be effective, you would have had to actually file against somebody. If you search you can find his threats going back months with no action. I find the best way to respond is to tell him “you have no money for a lawyer and to contact your high school student nephew/spokesperson, he is taking a civics class and can easily refute your allegations”.
My comment for the IM blog (which Gryphen will not approve):
Van Flein’s cease and desist letter is meaningless unless sent via USPS or in hand. As I read the rules for civil procedure, sending a notice via email does not constitute actual service of notice. His pdf threat is also the act of a bully.
But that still does not absolve you of the absolute need to support your allegation that The BitterTwitterQuitter intends to divorce The Dud, that The Dud brandished a firearm on Levi Johnston or that Palin manipulated the criminal process underway against Sherry Johnston. As someone pointed out on a prior post, you are not a member of the media – which means you do not possess the same protections available to actual journalists.
To prove you wrong, all the Palins need do is not divorce. And then what?
But you go on… keep daring them to sue you. You can only call them out so often before you end up looking like a total jackass in open court. And with your credibility goes the credibility of everyone else who has ever tried to get the MSM to see the real Sarah Palin.
You can refuse to allow this comment to post the same as you usually do not allow any of my comments to post.
Signed me,
Sauerkraut.
Just more soap opera for those who devour this stuff. I don’t see them divorcing. Todd has always planned to go back to work on the North Slope. After all he has been through, peace, quiet and hard work may seem like a vacation. She has gone thru phases where she wear it or doesn’t wear it. Clearly she can afford another one at $30 a piece. Who know hhow many tiems she has tossed that thing into the lake!!! Leaving Todd behind at Fairbanks, seems odd but I presume other officials were there and perhaps (just perhaps) she thought Todd had another ride. Were Willow and Bristol at Fairbanks?
Other stuff: Sherry Johnston. I don’t see SP getting involved in a run of the mill drug case that pleads out as many of them do, reduced or combined charges. Any prosecutor worth his/her salt would make it clear that punishment was not for governor to concern herself worth but for a judge overseeing the case. Technically, she is not out of bounds writing a letter to a judge in support of Sherry J or against her since the case is in a public forum. I don’t see her wanting to sink Sherry J. JMO. Wouldn’t amount to obstruction, that is when one hides, destroys evidence, solicits perjury, threatens witnesses – this case has been pending for a while.
Todd pointing a gun at Levi? Perhaps demonstrating the meaning behind a “shotgun” wedding. Story remains to be told.
The one thing I will admit is weird is Todd’s father having a pulse on the state of their marriage but had no pulse on the state of SP’s resignation in the pre-resig. days.
Off-T and On-T: WashPo Article on McC’s selection of SP. A good read.