Briefly guest-posted by Mrs. Tarquin Biscuitbarrel
For lo, the Palingaters are still rejoicing, as Christmas came a couple of days early when Palingates won the 2010 Bloggers' Choice Award for Best Political Blog!Pragmatic Kathleen points out, "Start voting now for 2011!"
Sarah Palin's Alaska - Episode 6 - A reader's reviewAnother great review of Sarah Palin's Alaska, the internet people thank Leadfoot and Bella. Sarah and family went camping in a huge RV, rode ATVs, did some rafting, then Sarah decided to have some "quality" time with Piper, so they went for a spot of waitressing and to play with some puppies. Bella noticed that the Palins don't believe in seatbelts. There was the usual dig at someone, this time directed at Michelle Obama and her anti-obesity campaign. One interesting gem from this episode was Sarah's remark regarding her children's mistakes. She said she "feels sorry for some of her kids because their mistakes are played out on the front page of the National Enquirer which really SUCKS for them." Very revealing...
Sarah Palin Breaks the Law, and Has No Common SenseGuest Post by JoeChristmas [M.D.]
JoeChristmas, who's an emergency-room physician, expanded a comment in a previous thread into a powerful guest post..
"Rule #1 of emergency medicine--Human beings do not make good projectiles," says Joe. The TLC series "Sarah Palin's Alaska" captures on film ANOTHER form of Palin family hypocrisy: Piper and Trig are riding in a recreational vehicle and in a car, without wearing a seat belt (Piper) or restrained in a car seat (Trig). maelewis researched and posted the Alaska state laws on the use of child safety belts and seats in recreational vehicles, making it crystal-clear that the Palins put their children in danger and broke the law by allowing them to wander unrestrained in an RV. In fact, the very law the Palins broke, S. B. 72, is one that Sarah Palin signed into law as governor before she quit. At the suggestion of BlueberryTart, a screen shot shows Piper riding in the back seat of a car, clearly unbelted.
Joe reminds us of another woman--arguably the most famous woman in the world at the time of her death--who might have survived a fatal crash had she been wearing a seat belt. Her name was Princess Diana.
That tragedy took place in 1997. More than a decade later, why does Sarah Palin not observe the law she passed? "As far as I am concerned she has been caught red handed," noted Dr. Joe. "But it's not the first time. Fellow reader, mxm, pulled this little excerpt from the Washington Post (September 7, 2008):
"'WASILLA, Alaska -- One Friday in June, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin joined the chief of the state prison system on a tour of the Point MacKenzie Correctional Farm, a 90-minute drive north of Anchorage. It was a routine visit but for the presence of the governor's infant son, Trig.
'Palin held her baby in her arms as the warden drove a short distance around the facility, said corrections director Joe Schmidt, who sat next to Palin. A few days later, the governor got a warning from her public safety commissioner that someone had complained that she did not strap Trig into a car seat for the ride.
'Palin dismissed the complaint as petty, and the commissioner, whom she appointed, took no formal action. But the incident shows the degree to which family and politics are bound together in Palin's career.'"
"So that will be her excuse: it's petty. Well…it's NOT petty, or trivial, or draconian, or unreasonable. This is a subject that I know something about.
"I have worked as an emergency medicine physician for almost 25 years now -- mostly at Level 1 trauma centers. I have watched the seat belt issue progress, yes progress, over the span of my career. When I started out as an intern in a busy trauma center in Pittsburgh, there was no seat belt law in Pennsylvania. Roughly, 30% of drivers wore their seat belts at that time. Nightly, grimly, we would see devastating head and neck injuries as the result of motor vehicle accidents. Now, as the result of seat belt laws, and the remarkable, transformative acceptance of this simple habit, I rarely see head or neck injuries as the results of car accidents. Where I live in Virginia, upwards of 96% of drivers are restrained. Now, I take care of people, several times a day, who will be stiff and sore for a few days, but, importantly and humanely, they walk out of the ER. SEAT BELTS SAVE HEADS, NECKS AND LIVES."
Well, I can't add anything to that.
White Christmas in Germany--Very White"Kathleen and I are spending Christmas with my parents at their home in North Germany," writes Patrick, "and somebody has obviously been dreaming about a white Christmas, because Germany is covered under a huge blanket of snow, and it's especially 'bad' in North Germany right now. Well, it's a huge joy for the children, that's for sure. It feels a bit like being in Alaska, just without the mountains and the wildlife. Speaking about Alaska: We don't plan to publish posts during Christmas about our usual "object of desire", which means: Palin-free time for the next days! :-)
"I am sure that the queen of mean will find some cunning ways to push herself into the headlines again very soon, so we will certainly not run out of material after Christmas until New Years Eve. After all, she doesn't cope very well with not being the center of attention."
Patrick knows $P pretty well, don't you think? After signing off with some gorgeous photographs of the traditional architecture banked with snow, and even a soundtrack of German carols, we Palingaters elsewhere on this funny blue marble we call home heeded the admonishments. The comments were full of good wishes, sharing memories, menus, visiting relatives, gift-opening rituals, and family traditions.
However, another Palin managed to edge into the headlines over the holidays. First off, the National Enquirer published an article about Bristol Palin's new boyfriend AND her wish "to have a baby in 2011." (CR46 deadpanned, "Perhaps in February or March 2011?") And then there's Bristol's new house, a five-bedroom, two-bath home in Maricopa, Arizona, purchased for $172,000 in cash from someone who purchased it after foreclosure as an "investment." The location is a bit of a head-scratcher, as the much-foreclosed-upon community is not convenient to upscale Arizona living, but IS convenient, to a garbage dump, a casino, and a prison. (BanditBasheert)
Will Bristol still be eligible for Native Health Services living away from her family of origin? CR46 thinks not: " Native health services are very hard to get away from your tribe of origin. The system when placed was meant to keep us 'on the reservation.' Brisket will be out of luck as far as native healthcare services. No other tribe has to allow a member of a different tribe access and most 'off reservation' service providers will not accept Native Healthcare services as the payee. This ended up way off from where it was supposed to. But as an example I would have to travel from Texas to Minnesota to exercise my rights to Tribal healthcare. Most tribal services ( especially in SW and SE USA) are not very good to start with. Beyond basic shots I would never take a child to any Native Healthcare services or depend on them for care for my family. I didn't when our kiddos were little and I wouldn't now."
Rumors have been circulating about whether Bristol would attend Arizona State University, about which commenter salad girl said, "I am a college counselor and have worked with hundreds of students with SAT prep, essays, college selection, etc. ASU is a college that anyone can get into. It is not selective. When I have a student with a low GPA and low SAT scores and no spark....ASU is the one college I know the student will get into (and the students I work with are out of state, from New Jersey). That is not to say that there aren't intelligent good students at ASU, particularly in their honors program; however, it is a college known as a safety. Dull Bristol will be admitted as long as she can pay the tuition." But for which state can Bristol claim residency?
Merry Christmas, Everyone! A Very Special Christmas Collection, and UPDATE from FrancePatrick provided even more soundtrack for a Very Palingates Christmas, with tunes by Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Charles, John Lennon, Tom Waits, Dean Martin, Nat King Cole, and Louis Armstrong, while Regina's photographs from France were complemented by the traditional song, "Mon Beau Sapin."
Assorted comments and links
A ribbon-garlanded Palingates THANK YOU to poster Katanalori of www.democraticunderground.com, for an extensive write-up on Palingates and its win for Best Political Blog in the 2010 Blogger's Choice Awards.
TruGal:
My first reaction, while watching last night's show, was that if someone had never heard of Sarah Palin before, had never heard some of the ugly, divisive things she's said, or had never seen her "cutesy" winks and smirks when putting down anyone with a progressive mind , she'd seem like some sort of wonder woman. This is revisionist "reality" programming at its finest. And yet, even to a Palin-virgin, anyone who hasn't really paid attention to her over the last couple of years, I think her desperation comes through. She's trying too hard to imprint the image of "Frontier Gal", HER impression of what a feminist is, apparently. She goes out of her way to show how she tries everything, which is fine, except I think she believes she's the ONLY woman in the world who tries everything, which is very insulting to the millions who do. I think she's spent her life coming in second place, and has had to play up her "talents". She's a "jack of all trades, but master of none". All of this would be insignificant except for one thing...she's got the "Speaker's Corner at Hyde Park" tied up, and she won't step down voluntarily. As Fox news made her, it's now going to be up to Fox to break her.
FormerRepublican:
Sarah just sent out her Christmas card
Bristol sent hers yesterday (repeated here in case you missed it)
And also too I sent out mine
A Fan From Chicago:
I think there is a lot of over-thinking going on about the AZ home purchase. Something is definitely odd about the choice of neighborhoods, the buyer, the method of payment, etc. And I don't think we know what it is.
What I can't imagine it is that it is a set up for Mrs. Palin to run for Kyl's seat, be appointed by crazy Gov. Brewer to an unexpired McCain seat, Bristol with a political career, etc. Sarah Palin has no interest in being anything but "The One." No way she wants to be one of 435 members of Congress. No way she wants to one of 100 Senators. Especially with no seniority.
Mrs. Palin is not a doer. She's a wanna be. All evidence is that she doesn't have the chops to do the hard work to make a difference and move up. I think any lines of inquiry/theory/speculation that whatever the hell is going on with the house purchase is laying the groundwork for a political career in Arizona is totally misguided.
It must have something to do with something (tax issues, hiding a pregnant kid, proximity to LA, stupid real estate ideas, some kind of a head fake, desire to move the hillybillies to an equally squalid part of a warm state) is just speculation.
Don't fall for it. Keep focus on the things that are known.
aview999:
Shut Up Barbie: The New Feminism of the Far Left
Jason Easley says: This is a powerful, profound, and excellent post.
maelewis:
For a family that places a high value on their security and secrecy, this Bristol Buys a House story, complete with address, price, and desire for college education is too much information. It's a very well organized publicity campaign. But, what's the point? One possibility is to distract us.
What were we talking about before we took off a couple of Palin-free days? Sarah failed to use a seat belt for Piper when Piper appeared in SPA, and Joe Christmas gave us a very serious account of what happens to unbuckled passengers. It was a violation of Alaska state law. Furthermore, the reality show showed us Trig dancing in the RV when he should have been secured in a car seat, another violation. Maximum fine of $50. isn't much punishment. However, the former governor showcasing her state should be setting a good example. She bases her political qualifications on her family values, even bragging that she is a mama grizzly protecting her children. But, she didn't protect her children in a moving vehicle.
Sarah may have also violated child labor laws. While Alaska has very generous tax write offs for film companies working and filming in the state, they do have a very serious list of industries in which minor children, 17 years and under, cannot work because of safety issues. Willow is 17 or younger, and when she appears on TV tonight, she is working, whether Sarah calls it a family outing or not. According to the Alaska Film Board, she is appearing in a film (video), and she is working. Minors, 17 years and younger are prohibited from working in the logging industry, and that's exactly where they are going tonight.
Alaska also require forms to be filed for children working in the entertainment industry in Alaska, and their pay has to be set aside in a special account reserved for them, according to the Jackie Cougan Law. (He was the child star whose parents spent all of his earnings). I think that by the time we get to the Alaska records, VF will have filed the necessary papers (retroactively, if necessary). But it is worth a visit to the Alaska Department of Labor to see the industries in which prohibit minor children working, including commercial fishing. Sarah will have eight episodes which deserve to be rerun on TV, with a good lawyer keeping notes.
There isn't going to be a very big fine, but the price that Sarah will pay is embarrassment and more bad publicity. The house in Maricopa is a publicity stunt, maybe meant to save face for Bristol who originally said that she wanted to have a baby in 2011, not a house in Arizona. Bristol is not capable of orchestrating this kind of publicity, but Sarah is, and she wants to appear to be deciding if she is running for president or not. She needs to divert attention from something, violations made during the filming of SPA? another gate?
Redwood Palinizer:
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all of my fellow Palingaters! I am sitting here in Redwood country waiting for my children to get up and rip into their presents and I am taking a little time for some quiet reflection. I just wanted to say that I am so grateful for this wonderful blog and for all of the folks who come here daily and write about their lives. I visit here every day and I have learned so much about every aspect of life from all of you. Believe it or not, I consider all of you my friends and I know it sounds silly but I do believe that I could come here anytime and my thoughts and ideas would be embraced and also, too, I would receive help if I needed it.
Two years ago this past June my most beloved father passed away and I lost my most treasured friend and confidant. I wasn't sure I could navigate life without his love, support and wisdom. I struggled so terribly for the first few months, especially when in August of that same year I had to take my son away to his first year of college and leave him. It was so painful to lose Dad and then have my son away just a few months later.
To make a long story short, Palin was tapped to run with Mccain, I was outraged and I discovered Patrick and Regina through other blogs and then followed them here and the rest is history! Palingates has become my place of comfort and the place where I feel free to rant and let my feelings out and I am so, so happy to have you all!
I think my Dad would've liked it here, too!
Linda1961:
This is my favorite passage from the Bible, even though it's not part of the Christmas story, it's about love, which is what Christmas is all about:
Corinthians 13 (New International Version, ©2010)
1 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.
3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.
9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part,
10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears.
11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.
12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
Heidi3:
To my friends at Palingates, I wish you the most magical and loving Christmas ever! Patrick, your photos are wonderful, and the music divine. Warmest holiday wishes to you, Kathleen, Regina, Peter, and families!
For some reason, I miss my mother very much this year, even though she's been gone for 23 years. It occured to me the most cherished childhood memories I have of Christmas were because of her, and I'd like to share my thanks....
Mama, thank you for buying me that yellow metal Tonka Toy dumptruck, even though I was a girl. Yes, I was a tomboy, and went on to learn to fly planes and do other "guy things", long before we were 'supposed to'.
Thank you for letting me take a 50-cent chance every Friday night, as we walked past the mom-and-pop toy store, to try my luck with the "golden key" that just might open the giant treasure chest inside the store.
Remember that Christmas Eve when I was 7 years old? Yeah, I snuck out of my bedroom and spied you wrapping gifts from Santa. Hmm... you made eye contact with me for a brief 1/2 second. I ran back to my room, and you never, ever mentioned it.
Funny - every Christmas Eve as we were headed out to church, you suddenly remembered that you left your purse in the house. So, I waited in the car for what seemed like a half-hour. Finally we drove off, leaving Grandma & Grandpa at home to "finish setting the table". But oddly, Santa had always been for his visit while we were gone! There were piles of presents under our aluminum Christmas tree - the one that changed colors thanks to the rotating color wheel.
Thank you for the huge Raggedy Andy doll. He seemed three feet tall! I loved him, but wondered why his red yarn hair looked different than normal. You explained that all the good cotton that year was going to make uniforms for our brave soldiers in Vietnam.
I loved going to the giant Lutheran church every year to listen to Handel's "Messiah"! You always made sure to bring along an extra pocket pack of Kleenex, because both of us were guaranteed to cry during the "Hallelujah" chorus.
Lastly, thank you for teaching me the Christmas message about how Jesus loved all of his little children, no matter their color or position in life. It gave me an aware mind for a lifetime of viewing the world with open eyes. Because of that, I was led to this wonderful home of Palingates, where like-minded people have gathered.
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, and to all, a good night.
Wesinoregon:
Hal Turner, Sean Insannity's friend, gets 33 months in prison.
ProChoiceGrandma in reply to Wesinoregon
Good to hear that news! I hope the Palinbots will start to recognize that there are consequences to threats like Turner committed, but looking at the comments on that article, it appears they are all the more incensed. sigh Sometimes I wonder if the entire Republican Party has joined a militia. At least we know Teabaggers like Joe Miller are connected to militias.
lilylake:
IN HONOR OF MICHELLE OBAMA, we've been cooking healthy things for our luncheon tomorrow - (well, except the tamales) - my husband cooked baked apples, stuffed with mincemeat and poached in apple cider. We're having squash casserole, homemade cranberry sauce, fresh pineapple/kiwi/strawberry salad, sliced ham with sourdough bread and fresh peach crisp from peaches I froze last summer.
LOVE YA, MICHELLE, Sp is a kook.
Everyone drive safely and WEAR THAT SEATBELT! And in honor of sP's Alaska, my daughter and I are spending Sun. nite at a spa and getting pedicures and facials!!!
Headset:
Palingates has been my favorite site/blog since near its inception, yet this is my first post.
The timeliness and quality of content at Palingates from all who participate is extraordinary; there is some very real wisdom here. Congratulations and thanks to Patrick, Regina, Kathleen, Leadfoot_LA & Bella and too all who regularly contribute. My morning, afternoon and evening would not be complete without a visit.
Cheers to all.
curiouser11:
[In response to] Sondra [Tompkins]: Looks like you found another possible update. Piper is 9 years old NOW -- birthday in March.. She is seen riding in the front seat of the car, with a seatbelt, in the second video of episode 6.
Protect kids from air-bag injury by following these rules:
* Booster seats should be placed in the back seat. If you have no choice and must place it in the front (that is, if your car is a two-seater), push the passenger seat as far back as it will go.
* A law passed in 1995 allows car manufacturers to install a manual cut-off switch that temporarily disables a passenger-side air bag. As recommended by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, if you must place a child in a booster seat in the front seat and your car has this cut-off switch, disable the air bag for the duration of the ride. Be sure to switch the air bag back on when you remove the booster seat.
* All kids 12 years old and younger should always ride in the back seat, and in the middle of the back seat whenever possible. All passengers must have their seatbelts buckled.
HelenNPN:
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all Palingaters!I was especially pleased that Santa gave the Palin Watchdog Team the honor of "Best Political Blog", as the last winner had held that title for three years in a row. Quite an accomplishment. And I was also quite pleased to see that Santa left a coal in the sock of that "Misrepresentative agit-prop website that makes a cynical business out of spewing Palin's twisted view of the American political landscape out into the blogoverse, under the guise of "valid journalism and news."
Jaye52:
...I'm doing a rib roast tomorrow with horseradish sauce and au jus on the side. Potatoes and spinach will also be served with the roast. Some crusty french bread and a good red wine will go with the dinner. We have cookies and candy, plus pumpkin and french silk pies. Already being naughty - we both had a slice of pie for breakfast - heaven!
Lilly-lilly:
...A toast to all here, wishing them the best wishes for this holiday season, whatever their beliefs system. I'm into the winter solstice, greenery tradition. Though I go to a xmas service at different churches every year. Sometimes St. Patricks in NYC, or other churches. This year an evening candlelight service at the Lutheran Reformed Church a few blocks from my home. My mother was a devout Greek Orthodox Catholic, who went to Roman Catholic churches. I go, in her memory, and because I find the service beautiful. I wish all of you my warmest regards.
texasgal2009:
Maricopa is in Pinal County. If you shuffle the letters around P i n a l also spells Palin. Maybe they think it's destiny? You probably remember the sheriff of Pinal County, Paul Babeu. He appeared in the "build the dang fence" ad with McCain. The telegenic Sheriff Babeu is thought to have ambitions for higher office himself. Pinal is not a border county, but the sheriff injected himself into the border/SB1070 debate after one of his deputies was shot...
Older_Wiser:
Dropping in again, after I finished cleaning and made banana pudding. : ) I am just so southern, you all, but it's for my granddaughter, actually.
Seems to me this isn't about Bristle at all--it's about you know who--as usual. She's prepping for running for Prez. Much easier to do in AZ than from AK. We still don't know for sure whether or not she's bought a residence there yet--but it has to be near enough to BP; I suppose Ivy will be the live-in nanny for Tripp, and to keep an eye on BP. Remember, Van Flea Bag is in AZ, too, and he's her best bud right now. She doesn't pay him that retainer for nothing. Besides, Alaskans are probably just as sick and tired of her as we are, and there's really nothing for her there, after she scored more cash with TLC. People know that she was just using AK for her own gain.
What does Twitler have to lose in running? Probably nothing. She would probably lose the nomination, but gain traction with her reactionary base and the teabaggers, increase her speaking fee, and go all out on another fund-raising drive for herself. I'm beginning to think we'll never get rid of her.
P.S. She can't run for anything in AK anymore, and after her Prez run, she'll do the tour thing again, building up support for perhaps running for something in AZ, national, of course. Or she could fake it, like she fakes everything else.
aview999:
Oh my .... you guys gotta see this!!
Hilarious Video from Media Matters as SP wins the "glenn beck excellence in misinformation" award.
NOT TOO SHABBY FOR A QUITTER!!
Hahhahahh!! This needs to go VIRAL!!
juicyfruityy:
Real Alaskans Can’t Relate To Sarah Palin’s Super-Expensive Adventures on Her Show! Insider Reveals! Exclusive!
— Chloe Melas
Sarah spends thousands to go on her TLC adventures, but a local who’s known Sarah for years says that’s NOT typical Alaskan behavior!
Sarah Palin sets the bar high on her reality show — too high, actually. Mama Grizzly shows fans a beautiful and exciting side of her native Alaska each week on Sarah Palin’s Alaska, but it turns out her weekly adventures are anything but typical! HollywoodLife.com spoke to a lieutenant at an Alaskan police department, who insists that no one in Alaska actually does the things America sees Sarah, Todd, Bristol and the family do every week!
“We all think the show is great and love watching it each week,” our source admits. “But these things she’s doing cost a lot of money. You don’t see people going up mountains, taking long fishing trips, and shooting caribou each week.”
In case you forgot, HollywoodLife.com researched the cost of the Palin’s hunting trip, which resulted in one bagged caribou, and the grand total came out to $42,400! But it doesn’t stop there: Early on in the season, Sarah went on a two-day fishing trip , and then enjoyed a climbing expedition on Mt. McKinley which ran her a whopping $12,250! Almost all her weekly adventures have involved using bush planes to travel, which Sarah has said – ALL Alaskans do!
So while Sarah may boast regularly about the “real” Alaska, the Palin’s lifestyle as portrayed on her “reality” show is entertaining to her fellow Alaskans, but hardly relatable!
...and the Last Word(s)
* Today Mrsgunka and the Unsinkable Mrgunka are celebrating their fifty-first wedding anniversary! May there be many more!
* After her recent knee surgery, Cheeriogirl is back a-posting ("Palingates posters posting, eleventy Palins pouting, and a wedding ring thrown into Lake Lu-cilllle!"). We wish you a speedy recovery!
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