Sunday, March 22, 2009

I read trashy gossip magazines so that YOU don't have to!

"She treats him so badly!"

This is how Mercedes Johnston begins her interview with Star magazine. And of course this was right after Bristol and Sarah Palin claimed that Levi was a "hands on dad", and that they were looking forward to getting married and raising their little bundle(s) of joy together.

But as we have seen time and time again, NOTHING that Sarah Palin and her crew say can ever be accepted at face value.

"Bristol's just crazy. That's the nicest way I can put it!" Says the sister of perhaps the most famous teenage father in the world. "She and Levi actually broke up a while ago!"

Now this little nugget is in exact opposition to the big happy family picture that Bristol and Grizzly Gramma Sarah tried to serve us with the help of FOX News Palin-bot Greta Van Susteren. As is this:

"Levi tries to visit Tripp every single day, but Bristol makes it nearly impossible for him. She tells him he can't take the baby to our house because she does not want him near 'white trash'. She treats him so badly!"

Now compare that to what Bristol said to Greta:

VAN SUSTEREN: What about Levi? How is taking all this?
BRISTOL: Well, he's a really hands-on dad. He's just in love with him as much as I am.
VAN SUSTEREN: Does he -- how often does he see his son?
BRISTOL: He sees him every day.


Mercedes continues. "At first Levi was hanging out with the Palins because he wanted to see his son as much as possible. But he couldn't take her being such a b***h."

"She's cruel and unfair. Levi isn't even allowed to take the baby for a few hours on his own unless Bristol wants to go shopping or hang out with her friends. Those are the only times Levi gets to see Tripp (Trigg?)--when Bristol is busy. One time, Bristol came to pick Tripp up and didn't even get out of her car. She just screamed, 'Bring my damn baby out to the car!'"

Mercedes also claims that the Palins lied about attending school.

"Bristol isn't working, and she is not in school. She was taking the certified nursing assistant classes for beginning nursing, but she dropped out because she did not like one of the girls in her class. As far as I know she hasn't gotten her GED or high school diploma either."

Wait! How can this be? Didn't Governor Sarah herself say that Levi and Bristol DID NOT DROP OUT OF SCHOOL! Yep I believe she did.

"Things are not how Bristol described them, with 'everyone pitching in'. Sarah is away from home way too much for that to happen. From what I know of that family, I don't see anyone helping at all. Not even Sarah."

According to Mercedes the Greta Van Susteren interview was supposed to be a joint interview with both Bristol and Levi.

"They had been planning it, and it was all set. Then, the day of the interview, Bristol sent a text message to Levi saying, 'I hate you, and when I found out I was pregnant I wished the baby wasn't yours.'" Ouch!

Asked if that meant that Bristol may have been cheating on Levi when she got pregnant, Mercedes replied, "It sure seems like that."

Alright now I know some of you are thrilled that I read this article and posted it for you to read. But others are probably saying "Geez Gryphen, we understand you reading the Trailblazer book, but this thing is total trash."

I could not agree more. But I will point out that the book and the magazine are really not that much different, with the exception that I believe this magazine reveals much more of the REAL truth then the book did. Let's face it the book was a love letter to Sarah Palin.

So here is why I felt the need to make this post.

First, the allegation has been made that Mercedes did not actually allow herself to be interviewed and that this was overheard on a plane ride. That is completely ridiculous because of the amount of material in this article, the fact that Mercedes has not publicly retracted it, and the fact that NOBODY involved is talking about suing Star magazine.

Second, because a number of bloggers had located the address of one of Mercedes friend's MySpace pages and were sitting on the story that Bristol was not allowing Levi to see the baby. They did not move forward with it because we had no independent confirmation and did not want to expose this teenage girl to the Palin wrath. In my opinion Mercedes just confirmed it.

Third, I have confirmation that Todd Palin and Levi Johnston had a HUGE argument in Wasilla after Bristol snuck out of the house to see Levi after being told not to. This directly contradicts everything the Palins said about Bristol and Levi's relationship, but supports Mercedes version of events.

And then there is this persistent rumor, and let me go on record saying it is still just a rumor, that Levi may have placed yet another bun in the oven in Wasilla, and THAT may explain Bristol's anger toward him. If that were the case I think we could all understand just why she is so upset.

So taking ALL of that into account, your choice dear reader is to decide who to believe. Sarah Palin, Bristol, and the carefully crafted public relations red herring they have manufactured for our enjoyment? Or the rantings of a hormonal teenage girl who is angrily defending her brother?

I report, you decide.

Update: There have been a number of questions about this picture so I scanned it. I am struck by how young Levi looks in it however.

39 comments:

  1. gryphen, just to put a different rumor to bed, did you see the pic of keith johnston, levi, and tripp in the magazine? if so, does levi look like his dad?

    just curious, i forgot to look at star last time i was in the store.

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  2. Anonymous4:22 PM

    Honestly, who cares? This is a standard teen pregnancy scenario coupled with a power hungry mom and dad who believe themselves descended from the line of Jesus.

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  3. Wonderful, Gryphen! I have been wondering when someone would analyze the whole Star story for us. The local Wal-mart doesn't seem to carry The Star and I have not been able to find the print version. I did not pay any attention to the tabloids until recently, but once The Enquirer managed to truthfully break the story on one of my heroes, John Edwards, I had to change my tune a bit. The problem with the MSM now is that, as stated in The Blues Brothers, we have both kinds, Republican and conservative! Without Ted at the helm, CNN may as well be called Me-Too Fox News.

    http://www.e-tabitha.com/2009/03/2010-timeline-for-psychotic-nation.html

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  4. Anonymous4:26 PM

    Hey, Anonymous 4:22, is that true? I hadn't heard that Sarah and Todd stepped right out of THE DAVINCI CODE. Where did you hear that one?

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  5. I don't think this Star Magazine interview is trash. Here's why:

    1. Star would never make up those quotes and attribute them to Mercedes - they would be sued within an inch of their life by both Mercedes and Sarah Palin backed by the deep pockets of lawyer John P. Coale AND the religious right - and they know it. It is NOT good business to have to settle multi-million dollar lawsuits and pay legal fees to sell a weeks worth of magazines in a recession.

    2. This story has not been retracted or denied in any way.

    3. The last GretaVS "interview" was clearly a bunch of staged bunk. Everyone can smell the stink coming off that goobery Valentine. "Oh, I'm SO SURPRISED that you are here!" Do Sarah and Greta think they are actresses? And do they think anyone believes Bristol told HER mom the day before that she was giving an impromptu national interview?

    4. Sarah Palin lives in parallel universes - the one that really happens, and the one she wants to "make believe" in. Now throw in a dose of her new friends' Scientology "ethics", knead lightly with Apostolic End Times Fever and top with a twist of Narcissistic Entitlement Syndrome, and you've got a doozie of a disconnect with the average person. Some day, one of those kids is going to pop or breakdown, and come out with the truth, and I think it is going to be more of a shocker than Mommie Dearest.

    Clearly, a stringer at Star has an in with Mercedes and has reported her view of how things happened. Mercedes' account is 2nd hand, but she is there on the scene and she is close and protective of her brother.

    Can you explain or deconstruct that Trigg/Tripp mixup in the interview? what does THAT possibly indicate?

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  6. Yeah luna Levi looks JUST like his dad.

    That whole Todd fathering Levi was silly from the outset.

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  7. Helen I added the Tripp (Trigg?) part.

    That was just me having fun, sorry for the confusion.

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  8. Anonymous6:11 PM

    I'm still trying to understand how the far right conservatives are attracted to Sarah when she has turned her daughter into a public ad for......what? Sex education? Safe sex? Unmarried teen pregnancies are on the rise-- is this something that the far right approves of? (Oh, yeah, no abortion, but also no marriage).If the story was attached to a Democrat, they would be screaming "Family Values!" Where are their family values now??
    (As an aside, my word verification is really "bearmat." Do you guys up there in Alaska have real mats made from bears? Awesome!)

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  9. Anonymous7:57 PM

    Do you think there is any truth to the other "fathering" rumor about Levi that he fathered a child at 13? Remember folks I am asking about a rumor. A while back I would periodically see it pop up on various blogs comment sections.

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  10. Anonymous8:47 PM

    Gryphen,

    Was the picture of Levi, "Tripp" and Levi's father, Keith, taken in the Palin's living room?

    If so, what the hell were they doin' let "White Trash" in their House?


    Ginger

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  11. Gryphen,

    This is off topic a bit, but does anyone know if Levi worked with the Special Olympics kids (People Mag.) before Trig was born?
    Coincidence?

    I've never forgotten the picture taken during the campaign where Levi is tenderly kissing Trip with Bristol looking on. Looked so much like loving parents. I've never seen either GINO or Dud looking at Trig that way.

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  12. gryphen thanks for the additional pic :)

    kat, yeah the "kissing trig" is unforgettable. what boy of that age shows that kind of tenderness for his girlfriend's baby brother? their aren't any pics of him acting so loving towards piper or other palin kids, just triggy-bear....

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  13. Duh, I meant to say kissing Trig tenderly. Thanks for the catch! Trig/Trip Arghhhhhhhhhh! :)

    Couldn't agree with you more about his feelings for baby "brother." That's what struck me so strongly.

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  14. Anonymous2:41 AM

    Levi does look young in the pictures.....but maybe that's because he's finally had a shower and a shave. (Resulting in a cleaner, more presentable f-in' redneck.)

    Interesting that he's wearing a McCain-Palin tshirt in the pic.

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  15. Anonymous4:05 AM

    I have the Star Mag also, too, and it does state numerous times SPECIFICALLY that Mercede was "interviewed" by Star Magazine, told star magagine, and "says Mercede". Alot of these trashy magagazines will put things like "an insider", or a "source close to" or attribute quotes to anonymous sources if they don't have direct access. But this article does not say ANY of that. All quotes are attributed directly to Mercede, as told by HER to Star.

    Check out the pic...I believe that is the wall unit in the Plain living room with a picture of Track in uniform in the background. Sarah has been interviewed so many times, I am sure that is their home.

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  16. Anonymous5:29 AM

    Gryphen, have you noticed that only ten people have left Amazon reviews for "Trailblazer" to date? You made it clear what a hard book it is to slog through...

    Mrs. Tarquin Biscuitbarrel

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  17. Anonymous6:21 AM

    Thank you, Gryphen, for being down and dirty enough to quote the Star for us. Everything Mercede says has a ring of truth: a rare thing for this mess. And you're right. It is confirmed by what she wrote to the Facebook woman. I love Audrey's blog, but sometimes their highmindedness over there gets annoying. I'm from the South, and anybody from the South knows that where there's smoke, there's fire. I've never in my 57 years known of a rumor that didn't have legs to begin with. If Sarah P. is ever going to be brought down, it will be because media sources (MSM or not) are not afraid to wade the muck she makes. And that's just plain ol' dirty work. A mysterious poster on Palin's Deceptions once wrote (and then vanished) that the key to the whole shebang is the relationship between the Palins and the Johnstons. (Whatever that means.) Thanks for your work-- and damn, I sure wish your blog didn't load so slow for me.

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  18. Anonymous7:08 AM

    That is a strange picture since Levi looks so young. What is the reverse writing across the top? Why the shaded stripes vertically on the picture? Are we sure this wasn't photoshopped? It just doesn't look genuine?

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  19. No I don't think the picture was photoshopped.

    The words and lines you see in the background are from a Paula Abdul story on the other side of the page.

    I am sorry but scanning magazine pictures is not my forte'.

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  20. Anonymous8:14 AM

    I'm no fan of the Palin's, but it is disturbing to read that Levi's dad is pushing him to file for 50/50 custody of a newborn. This child is going to have lots of family dysfunction, do we really have to encourage a situation where he is shuttled back & forth at a very young age between 2 ill-equipped parents? Grandpa, stay out of it. Also, I wouldn't want my newborn going unsupervised to house with a drug dealer grandma. I think Bristol is justified in that request. Lets not get so focused on the Palin-hatred that the needs of this baby get trampled.

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  21. Anonymous8:15 AM

    Thanks Gryphen for posting this...I was hoping someone would, I sent my BF to get the Star the day it came out and he got the wrong one :(
    I have thought from the gate this was true as it was so similar to what Sadie said to her BF Mom on myspace.
    Levi DOES look very young in this pic?

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  22. Anonymous8:25 AM

    Re: Levi looking young...

    Let's face it: Levi is YOUNG. Bristol is YOUNG. They are too YOUNG to be in this situation. Tripp is even YOUNGER. Some ADULTS should have been more "involved" in their lives before this....

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  23. levi looks young...in the photo-true- but he is young....

    the Tshirt is from the campaign- so it is after August- has McCain- Palin on it....

    but interesting is that he looks happy....and proud....clear eyed.....I feel sorry for him..I really bet the Palins have put him through hell..

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  24. Anonymous9:47 AM

    While Sherry Johnston has been arrested in a "sting" operation, what we know that is true and what we suspect about the Palins is scarier. Mercede may be a more capable governor than Sarah. She is attractive looking and appears to have more integrity and common sense and Sarah. Until proven otherwise, Levi certainly should pursue joint custody.

    Sarah is a "Chance the Gardener" aka: Chauncy Gardiner, politician, following in Reagan & George W. Bush's footsteps. - source:
    "Being There" by Jerzy Kosinski

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  25. Anonymous10:48 AM

    @Alex, 6:21 a.m., re: PD.

    For my own wellbeing, and so I don't lose anymore precious IQ points, I have had to stop reading PD due to the undue bandwidth constantly given to someone who just argues in circles against the validity of photographic evidence (a TransCanada employee, perhaps? His spelling is not American). In logic, that is a logical fallacy called "begging the question." This is the same person who ratted PD out to the ADN and Pat Doherty, BTW. It's clear to most people that he is obstructionist, and it ruins the comments section for me. Perhaps that is his hope, so that smart people will stop reading and thinking about the issue?

    I hope someone here will comment when Audrey has a new post, as I always enjoy her excellent insights! Or I can just watch the blogroll that Gryphen has posted to the left....

    On a more depressing front, I saw my first "Sarah!" bumper sticker today....

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  26. Anonymous11:35 AM

    Gryphen! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

    Word Verification! abless

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  27. Anonymous11:38 AM

    Hi Anon at 10:48

    I have the same problem at PD, and I finally decided I just would skip every post by "that person" because they just keep trying to put people off the real scent (IMHO).

    And GRYPHEN....why oh why do I have such problems with this site? I see others comment too--takes forever to load (and I have broadband) and often freezes up my 'puter, and for awhile, it was giving me "error running scripts" type messages. But still I soldier on, 'cause your blogsite is worth it.

    :)

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  28. Anonymous11:43 AM

    What I have wondered about is how did Star Magazine get the personal family shots with Levi and his dad without them cooperating to do the story. Those photos had to have been taken by them or given to them because they have not been released to the public before. So why are they now denying they did the interview? I would bet he is being pressured from Sarah and being told if they release any more statements to the public and he really won't ever see his kids.

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  29. Anonymous12:12 PM

    What if the picture was taken at one of the Johnston's residences? What if Keith, Levi, and Track are all related?
    Or at least good friends. (Assuming that it is a picture of Track in the background which makes people assume that it was taken at the Palin "ice queen's" palace.

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  30. Anonymous12:13 PM

    @Molly,
    I had the same problem as you with the computer...I switched from Explorer to Firefox, and all my problems with Gryphen's site are gone.

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  31. To follow up on what Anon @ 11:43 AM has asked:

    If those photos were taken in the Palin's living room, and both Keith Johnston and Levi Johnston are standing there holding a baby with smiles on their faces for a photographer who's apparently representing STAR magazine -- how does this jibe -- or not -- with all the stories of discord between the Palins and the Johnstons?

    There doesn't seem to be any stress on either Johnston's face, so there isn't a Todd or Bristol or Sarah yelling in the background telling them to get out, apparently.

    It'd be nice to have a date for those photos. Anyone see any Christmas decorations in the background?

    (my word verif is "corking" as in "corking the bat" -- i.e., cheating)

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  32. Anonymous1:20 PM

    I'm more interested in Mercede's quote.
    "My dad is determined to get fifty-fifty custody of Tripp for Levi," says Mercede. "He's going to fight for it. Levi deserves it."
    Oh yeah? How is that to transpire?
    The Palins don't have any problems with Keith, do they? Isn't he part of some hockey deal they share? May be he's been able to see the baby all along. The baby looks new.

    The Johnston men photo location? If it matters, I guess it is more like a bed room or love nest. Palin living room? It is a nice family portrait. For Levi's sake, I hope they get crackin' on Keith's custody promise. Until the Palin's will tool him.

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  33. I just re-watched the Matt Lauer interview in the Palin home and I'm 90% certain that this is the same entertainment center as in the background of the Levi and Dad photo.

    In the Lauer interview there is a good shot around the 4 min to 4:10 minute mark. It looks very similar but is too fuzzy to actually make out little more than a shadowy ornamental dog sled on top of the shelf.

    I believe they were there at the Palin home for this photo op. I'm sure that Levi would have been given a copy of this photo via email or flickr, but how did star mag get it?

    Perhaps right after the birth Bristol and Levi were still trying to work things out and the families came together and photos were taken.

    Still, someone had to give this to the magazine, so I believe that the interview did have some truth to it

    Here is the link to the Lauer interview if you want to "sleuth it" yourselves.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eC3IcUdmjs8&feature=related

    Me personally, I think that I'm going to let all of the "babygates" go now and focus on the real problems facing AK now due to Sarah ignoring the real needs of our state. I just hope that baby Tripp finds solace w/either one or both of his parents and that he grows up feeling loved and is given every opportunity to achieve at levels beyond what his parents have. The 170 mill. in education funding that Sarah is turning down could go a long ways towards helping baby Tripp become an educated and successful person.

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  34. Anonymous3:17 PM

    AKPETMOM was doing the same thing I was and I also came to the conclusion the picture was taken in the Palin's living room.

    In the video at 3:57, there is a clear picture of a tall object and you can see the tip of that at the very top of Levi's head.

    The Palin living room is white, however, it looks light blue in the Star mag picture. Also, if you have the mag, it more clearly shows the object (jar) to the left of Levi just above the ear. You can also see this in the video at the far left of the wall unit.

    In the video at 4:10, you can see the wooden structure AKPetmom called a dog sled. To me, it looked like a ship or something but I couldn't tell.

    The picture was taken up close as opposed to the video which was far away.

    I don't think Star mag flew to Alaska to take any pictures. It looks like Mercede gave Star the pictures along with the interview.
    And, I'm sure, with everyone's approval.

    Well, this article and Greta's interview with Bristol should quell any rumors that "Tripp" doesn't exist.

    Sorry, I don't buy it!


    Ginger

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  35. Anonymous5:25 PM

    Keith is going to get 50/50 custody for Levi?

    Oh, yeah. Good luck with that.

    Did you learn nothing from Troopergate?

    Run, Levi. Run far away. Pray that Tripp isn't yours and consider it a narrow escape.

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  36. Why is Levi's father wearing a short sleeved t-shirt in this picture with baby Tripp? Wouldn't he be cold since the baby was born in December? *confused*

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  37. Anonymous9:21 AM

    Here is confirmation that the photo was taken in Sarah's house.

    This is a photo taken 1-9-2009 for the Ziegler interview. You can see the heart shaped item and the ship.

    It doesn't confirm when the picture with Levi was taken but we know for sure it was in Sarah's house.

    I still haven't seen any photos taken of Tripp showing anything related to it being around Christmas when he was supposedly born.

    It's hard for me to imagine that Christmas is such an important holiday that they wouldn't have decorated their home. So what is on the shelves when this photo is taken would be indeed after Christmas. But when...Jan or Feburary?


    http://tinyurl.com/ce5nhf

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  38. Anonymous11:53 AM

    I saw the Matt Lauer YouTube and it does look like the Palin residence. What did we do before photography, video and all?

    It does look certain the Palin's had at least Levi and Keith over to see the new baby. Sometime after the McCain/Palin tee. I don't know any way the Star would have this photo except an insider gave it to them.

    There is something to what a commenter from another blog said about attention to Sarah's fashion. Fashion and style including house decor. Bristol is turning out to be like Sarah and her fashion need be noted. As well, all things Palin family.

    It seems outlandish that a family of grifters could pull the wool over so many eyes in this very public way. What happens to the gypsy family grifters that travel the country and perpetrate scams using their children? Doesn't CPS get involved? It is alright to train or set children up to lie or do things to trick people?

    Examining photos are as vital as ever.

    Formerly known as anonymous 1:20 PM

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  39. Look really hard at this picture. This is a picture of TRIG, not Tripp.
    The "McCain * Palin" logo is photoshopped in, onto a flashy resort tshirt
    that would never combine typefaces like this. Also, the logo is not centered into the neckline of the shirt. Therefore, this is TRIG--and that's why Levi looks so young, he's barely seventeen here. This picture was taken a year or so ago, and it's definitely in the Palin living room, open
    shelving, photo of Track, model of bridge.

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