Will Sarah Palin Have Dinner With Keith Olbermann for $200,000?
25 09 2009[cross-posted at The Huffington Post]
Once again, you may have thought the charity ”Dinner with Sarah Palin” eBay auction had passed into the mist of time. The winner, Republican woman, defense contractor from Alabama and huge Palin fan Ms. Cathy Maples won the bid at $63,500. (low whistle) But then, one of the non-winning bidders upped the ante. Ken Morris offered Palin a cool $100,000 for veterans’ charities to dine with the ex-gov. Only this time she actually have to …. talk to people from the other side of the political aisle! Oh, the horror. No word yet from the Palin camp. They’re trying to ignore it.
But suddenly, it’s become even harder to ignore. This statement came today from Mr. Morris. Buckle your seatbelts.
********************
What the flippin’ flapjacks is going on here? The pounding in my head is like a bongo on steroids and unless I gain some understanding of what looks like an ocean of crazy stew, I’m liable to take up residence in a rubber room.
Here’s what’s got my head Linda Blairing: Sarah Palin—who must’ve said our President was “pallin’ around with terrorists” a thousand times–gave a speech in a communist nation known for human rights abuses, forced late term abortions, child sweatshops (thereby making products so cheaply that U.S. manufacturing cannot compete), and poisoned dog food. She then criticized the president in this foreign land for implementing trade restrictions. Does anyone remember the Dixie Chicks?
Days ago, when I lost out on the eBay auction to have dinner with Ms. Palin, I rationalized that with the restrictions, I’d not have been approved anyway. So, as I wrote shortly thereafter, “In the great American tradition of never say die,” I proposed a more substantial offer for an on the record discussion.
I will donate $100,000 to veterans’ charities for a second dinner with Sarah Palin and four guests, this one on-the-record and taped so as to minimize misrepresentations. In the name of fair play, my list of invitees will include a subset of Rachel Maddow, Keith Olbermann, Thom Hartmann, Oprah Winfrey, James Carville, Randi Rhodes, Arianna Huffington, Frank Rich, Mudflats’ Jeanne Devon, Jane Hamsher and Shannyn Moore. On her side, Sarah Palin may invite guests as well (how about Bill Kristol and Glenn Beck?). The only additional conditions are that the dinner/event last the entire four hours and questions asked are answered and discussed civilly. No filibustering, no third party prompts, just face-to-face honesty. Hostility by any invitee will be cause for removal. No discussion of children, Vogue, Katie Couric, The Enquirer, or Levi Johnston permitted.
My reasons for such an offer are honorable and important. With the Supreme Court positioned to overturn campaign finance laws in the Citizens United vs. Federal Elections Commission case now before it, corporate contributions to federal elections will be unfettered. In other words, Sarah Palin with the help of an unlimited dose of corporate funds might one day be president. Already she has what appears to be a heady stable of influential supporters: Fox News, Rupert Murdoch, Bill Kristol, Lawrence Kudlow, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. In other words, I take her prospects seriously. And, as she has chosen to be a spokesperson for, as she says, ” American Main Street ,” it is vital that she come out from behind her handlers and speak on the record in unscripted fashion. We deserve to be enlightened by honest insights not merely prepared comments and pre-screened questions.
Many readers didn’t expect Ms. Palin to accept my offer and, so far, I’ve not heard a peep from her handlers (though I did get a few candid comments from some of her supporters and to them, yes, I do know who my parents are. Thanks for asking).
How to generate interest from Camp Palin? To that end, if it’s a question of numbers, I’m prepared to up the ante. I originally wanted to post a challenge to the hundreds of readers who have expressed a willingness to contribute to veteran charities if this meeting of the minds came about. My thought was to match public contributions up to an additional $100,000. However, there are many logistical problems beyond my ability to address, so I’ll simply double the offer to $200,000and suggest to Ms. Palin that there are many people who will add to the total. The $200,000 minimum might well be something substantially larger.
The only change I’d like to make in the original proposal is to add one additional name to the list of potential attendees. As Ms. Palin claimed in her speech that de-regulation and lower taxes would end the financial crisis, it would be useful to invite Paul Krugman. From a recent interview with Rachel Maddow, I gather he isn’t in full support of that economic analysis.
While I’ve not quite matched the reported $300,000 China fee, with public help we might yet reach that level and Ms. Palin won’t have to travel across the world to attend. Best of all for her, the visibility and good will should be priceless. As I said before a win-win and tres cool.
Ken Morris
http://www.financialthrillers.com
Author: Man in the Middle (Best Mystery of 2003)
Author: The Deadly Trade (”Too good to miss!” Minneapolis Star Tribune)
September 25th, 2009 at 8:30 AM
I agree she’ll never do this, but it would be great to keep this in the news cycle for awhile just to keep her and/or her handlers busy trying to ignore, spin, come up with excuses, etc. Hats off to Mr. Morris!
September 25th, 2009 at 8:31 AM
@GreatGrandma2B
Facebook has a handful of anti-Palin groups, one of which I belong to, but none of them are organized by anyone that is actually trying to refute her lies or expose her record in AK.
It’s a good idea though and I think anyone could start one, it would just be a matter of not representing yourself as Palin. It would attract alot of nasty attention I imagine and it would be a stomach churning task to moderate it.
September 25th, 2009 at 8:46 AM
Every time I see the caption of this thread I keep hearing a voice say I’ll take “People I’d rather not dine with” for $200,000 Alex. And then hearing the Jeopardy music in the background waiting for Sarah’s answer.
September 25th, 2009 at 8:54 AM
I agree that she would never accept this offer. But she might be tempted if the money was for her. So this would be a great way to put her in a bind. Wait till she’s said no, then offer to pay her for the dinner. She couldn’t say yes even if she wanted to without showing herself to be the $arah we know her to be.
September 25th, 2009 at 9:10 AM
Palin is not going to run for Pres – she’s lazy and has too many skeletons in her closet. If she thinks the digging was bad when she ran for VP – well watch out Snotty Sarah – it will be a whole lot worse!
Can’t wait to see the outcome of this – good for them!
September 25th, 2009 at 9:22 AM
As much as I would like to see her accept – don’t believe she would put her in that position. She’d rather be the cheerleader /spokesperson spouting talking points than to have an honest discussion relaying her OWN thoughts and opinions.
Not sure if XGino actually HAS a personal viewpoint because that would mean she had an interest in something – did a little research to learn about it – both pro & con – and weighed the sides. I don’t see this in her character, she’d rather hide behind someone else’s words without being accountable.
Maybe Hollywood could write this as a reality show -
“Ask the politician” or “political hot seat”
– not just 10 second sound bites
If XGino received her Governors salary while campaigning — did the RNC also pay her? Other than clothes, hotels, food, etc.
September 25th, 2009 at 9:28 AM
The new Republican mantra is to close all speeches to the media. Total control of all info. Whether it’s pure lies, or just the usual sound bites, total control. So there is no way Sarah would do dinner for any amount, or charity, if she and her handlers didn’t have total control.
This is a party-deep tactic the Conservatives have embraced and we have to make them pay for it. We have to turn this against them, and make them look like buffoons for doing it. Pull a page from their book and use it against them.
September 25th, 2009 at 9:31 AM
There is one problem.
Giving her too much free publicity.
Like Paris Hilton,
No such thing as bad publicity for a publicity hog with lipstick.
As Cicero said, Politicians are exceted not born.
Self promotion with no shame.
September 25th, 2009 at 9:48 AM
Thanks for the input on Facebook. I agree, it would take a great deal of fortitude to put up with responses – I can barely stand to read the odds and ends on other blogs that are from her fans. It would be ideal if one could simply post but not take any responses – then there wouldn’t be the nasties to contend with.
Sooner or later, she’ll do herself in. I hope something positive comes out of the APOC hearings. I also saw the article yesterday on the Permanent Fund and its 18% decrease. There were quite a few negative comments regarding her involvement in it and passing out the extra checks.
September 25th, 2009 at 9:54 AM
Palin has already said Keith Olbermann is evil. To her and her base of fellow irrational fanatics, all liberals are evil, and no other justification is needed for her to shun any and all conversations with liberals. Evil is to be defeated, and to compromise with Evil is to become Evil. By not falling for Morris’ evil trick to lure her into such a conversation, she will reinforce the bond with her irrational base. You don’t talk to Evil.
To those in the political sub-culture where Katie Couric’s simple, conversational question, “What do you read?” is accepted as proof of liberal media bias against their Precious Sarah (Martyr Barbie?), any further media demonstration of her ineptitude, well-rounded ignorance, and inability to rationally support her own positions would only serve to galvanize their loyalty to her and their opposition to the evil liberals who again subjected The Anointed One to bias and ridicule. It would also reinforce, in the minds of the rational, Palin’s ineptitude, well-rounded ignorance, and inability to rationally support her own positions with anything more substantive than the discredited ideology of Ronald Reagan. The good will of benefiting a charity helping Veterans is not enough to offset the lost book sales and speaking invitations that depend on her appearing politically viable for 2012.
Morris’ offer is one to which Princess Caribou actually must say, “Thanks, but no thanks.” The illusion that Palin 2.0 is magically something more than a repackaged Miss Wasilla is worth a lot of $, and while the $ are rolling in, she will neither be seen nor heard from except through the filters of a carefully managed illusion machine. You don’t, after all, drive the The Kandy-Kolored Tangerine-Flake Streamline Baby to work. It’s just for show.
September 25th, 2009 at 10:34 AM
With all due respect to all of the women who read and post on this site, and with no insults intended, I am of the opinion that Sarah Palin lacks the balls to do the difficult things in life. She has no courage. She likes to throw up on people but then she tucks and runs instead of facing the music.
As with many other parts of her life, in the world of big time politics, Sarah Palin is a loser and a failure.
September 25th, 2009 at 10:37 AM
56 jammer5 Says: September 25th, 2009 at 9:28 AM
The new Republican mantra is to close all speeches to the media. Total control of all info. Whether it’s pure lies, or just the usual sound bites, total control. So there is no way Sarah would do dinner for any amount, or charity, if she and her handlers didn’t have total control.
__________
You are absolutely correct.
The control which the current Republican leadership (pardon me while I throw up here) attempts to cast upon all things is reminiscent of the acts of the USSR Politiburo. Perhaps that is why some now call the Republican Party the Grumpy Old Politiburo.
It’s un-American, I tell ya. Un-American.
September 25th, 2009 at 10:39 AM
Despite all of the bravado about Sarah’s supreme self-confidence, I am betting that is one very insecure little girl inside, still replaying the Beauty Pageant among other events in her life. She is proud to represent Alaska and Main Street, the way that each contestant represents her home state. And the prize is the title of Miss American (or whatever). She used to hold an office; she was not titled.
Sarah has been sheltered from being asked any questions at all when it was clear how badly she handled the Gibson and Couric interviews. She didn’t prepare, and she couldn’t bluff, not at that national level. People who seek an important position in government do make the rounds of the Sunday talk shows, not just the friendly folks at Fox.
The fact that there was supposed to be no press at the Hong Kong, and that her handlers kept her sequestered in the Hyatt instead of sightseeing shows that Sarah still cannot handle an interview or unscripted conversation. We have that dreadful tape of her and Todd leaving Hong Kong after three fun filled days. She sounds as if she is in Panic Mode when talking to the reporter– no complete sentences, thinks in disjointed phrases, couldn’t wait to get away from that nosy reporter.
I am willing to bet that one of the paragraphs in Sarah’s contract with the Washington Speakers Bureau stipulates “No Press” and “any questions asked of Mrs. Palin must be submitted in writing 24 hours before any speech.” (Just my guess at the wording). I think she might have canceled some of those other events when she discovered that there would be media access or that someone might actually talk to her. She does not call for a press conference; she hides behind a ghost-written face book post. We can be sure that when Murdoch launches the Palin book tour, it will be show on Fox and written up in his papers.
In conclusion, the odds of Sarah having to sit through an unscripted dinner with inquiring minds, not matter how much money is on the table, is pretty much not going to happen. She will eat with her new BFF, a woman who appeared almost as tongue-tied as Sarah in the little video we saw of her. And the thought of having to answer direct questions may just throw Sarah into a panic. Go ahead, raise the ante, we will all offer matching funds, but she will not go anyplace where she does not have 100% control, because deep down inside, she is really scared. You can only fool all of the people some of the time, and her time is almost up.
September 25th, 2009 at 10:58 AM
Shadow’s Heart – hysterical! Now how do I get the Jeopardy theme song to stop?
Who would take top spot as the least likely dinner partner….Katie Couric, one of the Alaskan bloggers or the evil KO?
September 25th, 2009 at 10:59 AM
@sauerkrat, no insult taken and I fully agree.
I think at this stage..and I am probably wrong, just hoping that I am right, her speech in Hong Kong was basically very boring. The only reason that people are going to ask her to speak is because they get media attention. It’s a form of advertising. She is the loon that everyone wants to have on their show.
But if she keeps up speeches like this, people will get very tired of her. There is nothing new there and she doesn’t even have a sense of humour.
September 25th, 2009 at 11:01 AM
#62 Good post Mae, you’re probably right on the money. It almost makes me feel a little sorry for her, but nah. She’s spewed too much hate for me to give her any sympathy. All I have to do is remember the hate fests at her rallies & her little smirk when she had people so whipped up that Barack Obama might have been torn limb from limb if he would have been there. I will never forget that. I have enough confidence in my country that I firmly believe she will never hold a national office. Of course GWB was elected twice (sort of). If the unthinkable should happen I’m very serious in that I would leave the country of my birth and probably live out the rest of my days on foreign soil.
September 25th, 2009 at 11:05 AM
Mae Lewis, well said.
Also too,
Does this offer include a new wardrobe for Palin? First of all, she needs it and a stylist.* Secondly, she won’t do it unless there is money (or goods) on the table for her own consumption.
*What the heck was that rats nest of a hairdo at the airport? Geez, spare us the nasty back of the head shots. Comb much?
September 25th, 2009 at 11:23 AM
I would encourage everyone to respond to the Huff Post article. I joined today, it wasn’t too hard.
September 25th, 2009 at 11:32 AM
Scarah reminds me of Wiley E. Coyote…always up to something, but getting smashed in the end…never wins.
September 25th, 2009 at 12:02 PM
AKM’s HuffPo article has been linked to NYC Craigs List —
way to go AKM !!
September 25th, 2009 at 12:10 PM
Well said, Desert Mudpup @ 59. Very true, I believe.
September 25th, 2009 at 12:21 PM
KO’s Scarah piece was great. He is now trying his hand (voice) at Scarah impersonations, though I don’t see a bbbbbbbbbumpit in his future.
The #3 video was excellent as well and KO ripped into Bleck’s interpretation of the constitution. Priceless!
September 25th, 2009 at 12:32 PM
#62 mae
Love your comments especially the Emily Post issues regarding “Dinner with $arah”….quite funny.
September 25th, 2009 at 1:15 PM
I think you’ll have to give her a few months to think about the offer. Right now her head is so huge from all that fancy pageant walkin’ and talkin’ that her head won’t get through any doorways.
September 25th, 2009 at 1:45 PM
Am I the only one that thinks MSNBC needs to replace Pat Buchannan?
September 25th, 2009 at 1:54 PM
@Phoebe, no, you’re not alone. I have written to MSNBC complaining about Pat Buchanan several times–most recently when he advised Todd to drown Levi Johnston. Pat Buchanan has been a racist for years and years.
September 25th, 2009 at 1:56 PM
Even if Sarah weren’t POTUS, if the RepoTaliban win the WH she could become Secretary or Education, or EPA, Surgeon General would be a fun position for her, she’s a expert in that field.
Good on Mr. Morris for hanging in there, this should be happening to all the Republicans who spout nonsense and lies.
September 25th, 2009 at 2:03 PM
phoebe Says:
September 25th, 2009 at 1:45 PM
Am I the only one that thinks MSNBC needs to replace Pat Buchannan?
——————————–
OMG — YES !!!!!!!!
I quit watching Morning Joe because I thought I was watching the Fox News channel !
Scarborough and Buchanan have got to go !
September 25th, 2009 at 2:05 PM
OK, she made $300,000 for this “speech” (reportedly) – anyone think it will show up on her tax returns for 2009 ??
Or, since she earned it “out of the country” – in her book, it’s probably non-taxable income.
Think her church will see 10 % of it, also ?
September 25th, 2009 at 2:16 PM
I wonder if H & R Block of Wasilla will prepare her return again this year?
September 25th, 2009 at 2:16 PM
NY Dem #78 She won’t report her fee as income for 2009, because the check came in the mail and she doesn’t plan to open the envelope until next year- like her “gifts”.
September 25th, 2009 at 2:38 PM
I turn the volume down when Pat Buchanan spews his bias, racist rant. Chris Matthews has him on waaaaaaaaaaaay too much!! Yuck!
September 25th, 2009 at 3:38 PM
#29 Lynrockets LOL and they could waterboard palin right along with him since she seems to go along with what he says.
Palin in no way represents main street America no way no how.Main street does not want an AmericanTaliban taking over our government and that is Palin and her friends Idea.JMO
September 25th, 2009 at 3:56 PM
Would have to make it that she has to show up or it is null and void ,that way she can’t get out of it. The dinner I mean
September 25th, 2009 at 4:16 PM
Maybe I didn’t hear Sarah correctly, with that nasal voice it is hard to tell. Did she say that she represents Main Street or Mean Streets?
September 25th, 2009 at 4:47 PM
RE: Pat Buchanan – He is just awful, isn’t he? Unfortunately, he has a contract with MSNBC as a political analyst and they are required to give him a certain number of appearances on the shows. I also turn the television down when he is on.
He wrote a book a few years back (can’t remember the title), but he basically blamed Churchill for Hitler’s actions, saying Hitler didn’t want war but Churchill pushed for.
Buchanan is a racist, anti-Semitic, loves Palin, and is a typical old white southern dixiecrat. His sister Bay is also awful! She converted from Catholicism to Mormonism, is a big fan of Beck and others on Fox. She has some sort of organization with Tom Tancredo and they are always down on Obama, democrats, and especially Hispanics and other immigrants.
September 26th, 2009 at 12:01 PM
Personally I just wish all mention of the Palin name ceased and she could just fade to the background and entertain herself some other way. Like get a job flipping burgers or something.
September 26th, 2009 at 1:30 PM
I agree with other readers and viewers of this blog. I am sick of hearing
about Palin. She is a has been since the election. We are a sick bunch
of citizens of this great country when we waste any mental thoughts
on a cheap prostitute like Sarah Palin. Let’s stand behind our elected
President Obama and do good things for our great nation…The United
States of America.
Forget the Hillbillies from Wasila, Alaska!!
September 27th, 2009 at 9:21 AM
Dear Mr. Morris:
As a fellow Cal alumna, I trust you are sufficiently contrarian to entertain an alternate notion, should Ms. P continue to ice you out on your recent generous offer to a) raise a gut load of dough for a deserving charity; and b) further your personal political agenda of forcing recalcitrant dogmatic Americans to gather around the same table to listen to each other for a change, instead of acting like barking junk yard dogs.
A position which, as you well know, I heartily admire and endorse.
So here it goes: Palin don’t pay you no mind?
Cart your sack load of pennies right to the top and make the same sort of challenge to Obama. (Whom I voted for, and therefore carry the responsibility to hold his feet to the fire as well.) $200,000 for a dinner wherein he sits down (without preconditions) with a star studded array of Conservative commentators and takes the time to discuss Health Care Reform, eye to eye, cheek to cheek.
Instead of hiding out in such Liberal safe-houses as the Letterman Show.
I voted for this man, in large part, because of his communication skills. He promised to sit down with The Enemy and deal with them without preconditions. So. . .he does this with foreign leaders but doesn’t have the moxie to take on domestic Conservatives in the same manner?
He should have at least gone on Cavuto to explain and persuade.
I just know you can make him see the light. Challenge him to a White House Beergarten with the Conservatives, much like he did with the Gates affair.
Go Bears!
PS — I’ll bring the bongos!