Monday, July 13, 2009

Levi Johnston's Today Show interview.

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Nothing new is learned here except that Levi mentions Sarah's book deal being between 7 to 9 million where as my source put the figure at ten million.

It looks to me like Levi needs a shave and some lessons in projecting his voice. Nobody will hire an actor that needs subtitles when he is speaking their native tongue.

40 comments:

  1. Anonymous5:10 AM

    This may be Levi's last appearance if he does not open up and give more detailed information... or have bomb shell news to provide the viewers.

    Will MSM media continue to pay him for saying vitually nothing.

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  2. I'll have to listen again, but my first impression is Levi was essentially a member of the Palin family for quite a while.

    He says "we" a lot, referring to himself and the rest of the Palin kids and family. He repeats, matter-of-factly, that he was living with the Palins before Sarah got picked for VP. He talks about how Sarah normally acted when she came home at night, and how that changed after the failed election campaign.

    I think it is very telling for Levi to reveal this. Why was he staying with the Palins during the summer of '08?

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  3. Anonymous5:41 AM

    The jury is still out on Levi, is he still a shill for the Palins "pretending" to have this "feud" to keep them all in the media spotlight or would he really tell all in a book??? I am getting weary of the game they are all playing.
    What kind of an American is Levi to continue to allow this woman to have any exposure or influence. Our country is going through very difficult times and for Levi to drag this out shows me he is in it for himself and doesn't give a rats ass about this country. If you've got something Levi, bury this abomination once and for all so we can get back to the business of getting our country back on track with intelligent people who truly have our future in mind.

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  4. Anonymous5:46 AM

    I don't know-- he comes across as utterly honest. He seems to really like Sarah still, which is beyond me. when he says that she wasn't completely upfront about things and he wouldn't vote for her because she can't handle the stress of gov, it makes sense.

    Those aren't the reasons I wouldn't vote for her.

    I thought the most insighful thing he said was the bit about the fame going to her head and how quiet she was after she lost.

    I think that says everything. She's a power hungry, attention starved loser.

    And she won't get out of our faces until she gets what she wants - a country who sees her as right and worships her, asks no questions, and defers to Queen Sarah on every level.

    The good news is that she seems to lose every time she shoots for the big one. let's hope that trend keeps up.

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  5. Bless his heart, Levi needs to learn diction. Just in case he thinks he already has diction because he’s a daddy, here is the definition for his benefit:
    dic•tion
    n.
    1. Choice and use of words in speech or writing.
    2. Degree of clarity and distinctness of pronunciation in speech or singing; enunciation.

    Someone please give him some lessons! His mumbling drives me crazy!

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  6. Anonymous6:18 AM

    I think Levi is holding up remarkably well under media scrutiny. Did the kid even graduate from high school?

    He makes more sense than Sarah Palin does, and she has a degree in journalism, supposedly.

    And now he says he wouldn't vote for her again. That's a change; in January, he said he WOULD vote for her, right?

    He shows he can "grow" still. Palin does not show any signs of learning.

    That makes Levi more mentally healthy than Palin.

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  7. I have to say.... I think he's just a nice guy. He has a son to provide for so if he can make some money modeling or whatever, that is what he should do. Too bad he'll have this family in his life forever.

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  8. Anonymous7:01 AM

    The press had to wear hip waders at Sarah's last chat with them.

    At least Levi is honest enough that hip waders were not required in this morning's interview.

    Levi ... write the book to end Sarah's charade.

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  9. Ennealogic!

    I just posted basically the same thing on PalinsDeceptions--the use of "we" by Levi suggesting he felt like part of the family; maybe really WAS/IS part of the family.

    Oh, and, he says his relationship with Bristol is coming along (or words to that effect) and I'm not sure he meant just as co-parents. Could it be that the relationship that Gryph is talking about is an "on-again" of Levi and Bristol? Maybe this could have been a cause of the rumored big fight btw Sarah and Bristol? Also, too, the cause for Bristol not wanting to appear hypocritical and therefore refusing to do anymore Candies abstinence stuff? Juiciest of all would be if Bristol was pregnant again. That would just about beat all--and could explain GINO's resignation as well!!

    Time will tell. I hope Gryphen's sources can talk publically soon!

    PS GINO saying she would campaign for Dem's "if they had the right stance" on issues is pathetically hilarious. Go away, lady...you're seriously not wanted.

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  10. oh, I correct myself---re GINO's quote: it's not "have the right stance on issues"....the quote is "believe the right things".

    I think that's scarier!!

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  11. Anonymous8:24 AM

    I'll be very surprised if the book advance is anywhere near $7-10 million. Advances of that size are usually tooted because large advances create their own buzz and help sell a book. It's possible the true size of the advance is being kept quiet to increase her ability to sing her poor me song and rake in contributions, but I doubt it. Even an advance of $3.5 (the figure given me by a trusted NY source) is WAY over what industry experts were saying was realistic ($1-1.5 million). People outside the industry tend to seriously overestimate how much authors make, and Harper Collins is hurting right now--editors had to accept a pay freeze and recent hires were let go. Midnight

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  12. Thanks for that tidbit about the Harper-Collins book deal, Anon @ 8:24 AM.

    That inflated book deal is just one more lie promulgated by either $arah or her pandering Palinites -- you know the ones, they're trying to whip up a mythologic "Quitter as Hero" $arah in the same pantheon as Cincinnatus/Caesar/Anne Boleyn/Wicked Witch of the West.

    They're becoming as inconsequential in their fantasy productions as $arah Palin is in her political career -- because, ultimately, she's going to appeal to a very small cultish segment of American society, the same way Brittany Spears or Lindsay Lohan does.

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  13. Anonymous9:45 AM

    I am sure that the thinking is $ell $arah while she is $izzling hot. But her book is going to face some problems. It will likely be out early next year. By then, we may have already learned the real reason(s) that she left office, so whatever excuses she offers up won't work.

    I think that the chapter "My Term as Governor" has a very weak ending right now, because the ending really is "I was weak, I crumbled under pressure, I couldn't take the insults, I really wanted the money, not the responsibility of being governor." That's not a good chapter. A better ending would be to list all of her accomplishments in her full term of office. Yeah, all four years.

    By next year, we may also learn more details about Trig, Tripp or any other children which may or may not be on their way. That will be a problem.

    $arah may be $uper good publicity now. Remember how Britney was in the tabloids almost every day. Well, we got tired of Britney, and now, thank goodness, we don't hear as much about her. Ditto for Paris. The publishers are making a big gamble that $arah can keep up the attention for the rest of the year. She is trying hard to keep her name in the media, namely offering to campaign for Democrats. Really! Next week she will be insulted by another Letterman joke, another Levi interview, her farewell speech, and then what. $arah is going to wear thin very soon. Sorry Rupert, I don't think that she can keep it up. She is losing weight and hair; what happened to $arah's amazing endurance? In it for the long haul? Are you kidding?

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  14. Anonymous10:04 AM

    The Today Show has lost its polish in the last year but when they put Levi on this morning, it fell into the 'cheesy' category. Anything for ratings, right?

    Well, you lost one loyal viewer quite some time ago, not that you care. One can turn into many, however. Let's see what happens.

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  15. The two times Levi says he lived with the Palins kind of correspond to the births of Trig and Tripp, don't they? Many thought Trig was born a few months earlier than April so this all makes perfect sense.....I have no doubt that Bristol is the mother of both babies. SUE ME!

    A new article out there:

    Palin's Final Insult -talks about how much Palins QUITTING is costing the state of AK. She hardly has saved the state money by leaving!!
    http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-07-12/palins-final-insult/?cid=bsa:mostpopular2

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  16. Anonymous11:18 AM

    I continue to think that the advance for SP's book was not the usual sort of business decision but instead was a deep-pockets bible publisher and someone like Rupert Murdoch -- maybe not him, but someone else, like him, with deep pockets and the same religious fervor as SP -- who made a deal of some kind with SP. Maybe it was just a "we love ya, honey; here's some cash" kind of deal with payback not stated (yet), or maybe it was something more specific or complicated. Doesn't matter to me. This is the deal of some old rich guys funding their pet rabble-rouser, thinking they might make their money back, but no problem if they don't, we can all use a nice tax deduction, no? Or they can buy back the books and give them away to religious groups, again a tax deduction for a donation to church business.

    Zondervan the bible publisher. At the very top level, do you think HarperCollins cares about the layoffs? They are worried about how their profits will look on paper. A book by SP, had she been VP or pres would be good for business. And, if not, maybe a huge tax write-off goes well with a bad business climate and layoffs. Or can be made to go well via a lile creative accounting.

    I just urge those of you who think the book deal was a business decision done for the usual reasons ("is she worth more than Bill Clinton?") to forget that. It was a cash transfer, all legal. You could do it too if you owned Zondervan and/or whomsoever owns HarperCollins. If you wanted to.

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  17. A new Poll says 65% of Americans do not trust Palin to be president! Great news for us all!

    http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/07/13/politics/politicalhotsheet/entry5154259.shtml?tag=exclsv

    Of course the Palinbots are out in force making comments so maybe we should add our own.

    Only 22% say she is capable. Frankly, the fact there are this many ignorant people is frightening. 13% are undecided.

    The poll also looked at media bias. 46% of those polled say the media has been harder on her than other candidates. I think what they are leaving out is how many times Sarah put herself and her family front and center into the media and tabloids. Other candidates have NOT done that.

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  18. Disappointment with Levi is starting to set in. I don't see how he is handling this with his son as his priority.

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  19. Look, I agree with those who stated that Levi is just a kid. He didn't graduate from high school, he supposedly is the father of Bristol's baby, he was shopped as a photo/op by $arah during the campaign.
    Give the guy a break. He isn't the only one who is trying to make some money, since he claims to have a son to support, no education and needs a job.
    He is the only person so far in that crazy nutjob "family" (think Jim Jones) that even sounds relatively SANE.
    I think we're judging him very harshly for a kid that got caught up in a set of circumstances out of his control because he couldn't keep his hormones in check.
    I feel really bad for Levi - just having to KNOW Saint Sarah must be a real burden.

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  20. Anonymous11:53 AM

    Only $733,000 for SarahPAC for the first six months according to the FEC filings. That doesn't sound like a national candidate to me...

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  21. That whole side show of Palin is what happens when you have people of low caliber.

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  22. Oh you sad little group of people.

    What will you do now that you've been beaten.

    You have nothing left to attack with(although you pretend that you do) Don't believe them folks, just look at how many times you have been screwed over by the bloggers lies in the past. Has anything come of it...NO! Will it ever...NO!

    No more governor to pick on. On to bigger and brighter things, leaving you in the dust to wonder what happened to your donation button meal ticket.

    Will you continue to stalk your ex-governor or will you actually have to limit yourselves to Alaskan issues.

    More money, more fame, more press, more respect, more freedom... You must be thanked actually, without you it would not be possible.

    So Thanks

    Very Truly Yours
    SP;)

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  23. How much in legal fees does Don Young have?
    Or Ted Stevens?
    Neither resigned due to this. Interesting that the republicans would take care of them but not poor Sarah? Was it something she said or did?

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  24. AnoninAlaska2:15 PM

    Man,
    If I was Sarah Palin I would be saying

    Nananananananananananana
    Can't catch me!!!!! lolololol

    But I'm not so...

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  25. Martha Unalaska Yard Sign2:45 PM

    I LIKE Levi! You go, Levi! Love that you grabbed the 15 minutes of fame, Rex Butler, and Tank in response to snarky Sarah. You are one smart young man - you put her right where she can't do her usual annihilation tactics.

    I have always felt he's genuine - he's a rural Alaskan kid through and through. Mumbling and all. Go Levi!

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  26. Geez, I mean, Levi is a 19 year old from Wasilla sans high school diploma or GED. What do we really expect from him regarding grammar, elocution and diction?

    BTW, I live in Wasilla...while there are few bright and shining stars of intellectual dynamism that are birthed from our educational system, the Bristols and the Levis are more the norm. Not that there is anything wrong with that, hey, Levi had himself a great job as an electrical apprentice on the Slope until Sarah ruined that for him. Bristol, well, she gives great, like teenaged, like TV interviews, like telling us, like NOT to have sex w/our partners. Like, thanks Bristol. Now, go breastfeed or something or, like work on your "3.7" GPA (how'd her mother swing that?)

    Levi had a career path and really, in a trade, a diploma or GED really don't matter as you apprentice with someone that knows the trade. He (Levi) had his life planned out until Sarah derailed it. Now he will probably make much more money from public appearances and movies, books, etc (with assistance, of course).

    He seems more with it and a bit more well spoken and confident than he did in his first interviews. He still has a ways to go, but hey, it's national TV and he somehow manages to just get through an interview now without being a total mumbler. He has improved and I hope that he continues to grow himself and enjoy his new opportunities.

    And Holy Crap, he might just be becoming a bit more tolerant and liberal thanks to his newfound world view experience. Wouldn't that be nice.

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  27. Anonymous2:52 PM

    Some interesting comments being made on palingates open thread...

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  28. Anonymous2:53 PM

    The report is out today that saracpac crought in $730,000 in the first 6 months. I do not think that is a great number. What do others think? I thought it would be a few millions.

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  29. It may be because I have low expectations from reading the post first and then watching the interview, but I thought he did great. He does an excellent job of actually skewering Palin but with such a soft touch he doesn't come across as mean - he basically said: he wouldn't vote for her, underlined that if she can't handle the stress of governor she can't handle higher office; the fame went to her head; for Palin being gov was no good after the limelight of VP; she threw out a reality show for the kids consideration which THEY rejected; he upped the book deal figure; said Palin was not forthcoming with the truth about resigning (and in general); said she had "abandoned Alaska"; and yet he still has a relationship with his child and Bristol and sees the boy as he pleases now.

    Now you tell me, how many people close to Palin have gotten away with saying even 1/10th of that unscathed? Levi is going to be her nemesis. He was on the scene, knows everything that happened, is now getting legal and business advice and is smart enough to pussy foot around the truth while simultaneously revealing it.

    I think everyone should give Levi a nod of respect. How many 19 year olds could handle crossing Palin at all?

    I don't think he needs to be more animated - he is what he is. He says film and other offers are an option. I think he comes off as very genuine and will be a genuine thorn in Palin's side if she ever turns on him again.

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  30. Anonymous3:10 PM

    Anonymous @5:41 Agree.

    FWIW, Levi accused Sarah Palin for doing exactly what he was doing, i.e., not being upfront. Levi's sister, Mercede, put pictures of herself and Trig along with Bristol on the internet which would indicate that she has a personal relationship with that baby. Then, when rumors erupted that Sarah Palin was not the mother of Trig, Levi was brought onto the national stage when Palin outed her daughter to cover the rumor. Further, Levi's family released a picture with Levi, Mercede and Trig during a TV interview. So what did Levi think about being outed for that rumor? What was the purpose or reason behind the release of those pictures and the timing? What relationship does the Johnston family have to that baby, Trig? Why has that subject become so tabboo?

    About the only additional information Levi mentioned was that Sarah was under a lot of stress, went into depression after the campaign from his description. (Awwww, ya'll better leave that poor woman alone, you dang liberal media and darn pj bloggers. LOL Sorry for the snark, Barracuda, but you're just not wired that way.) Levi then said Palin could not handle the stress of the governor's seat (those nasty complaints). The book deal was mentioned months back. Wasn't that complaint dismissed? So really, what did he really say? He continues to hold Sarah Palin in high esteem. Wonder if the Johnstons are members of Palins' church?

    I was appalled to hear Pat Buchanan say that the Dude needed to take Levi down to the creek and hold his head under water until the thrashing stops. What is wrong with folks??

    Thanks, Gryphen, for letting me rant.

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  31. Anonymous3:36 PM

    Time to stage a national boycott of Pat Buchanan! Let's make racist Pat apologize about his comment re: Levi!

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  32. I like Levi just like he is... no need to change at all.

    I live in Wasilla. The price some have had to pay for Sarah's "aspirations" is astonishing.

    When outsiders ask where the Palin house is or if I know her, I give them the directions and the address to the Wasilla Sports Center. I'm not the only one who does this, in fact, the idea came from a lady at the drive up coffee booth... LOL

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  33. SP
    I know that you aren’t the real Quitter because your sentences almost make sense.

    Must be hard for you to type with one hand toting a gun and the other dragging a cross.

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  34. Anonymous5:20 PM

    Gryphen,
    Check out some of the most recent revelations on the Mudflats Open thread around # 200 as it relates to the just released $arahPAC dollar figures. People wondered why Meg was not paid that much... BUT she is linked to the Issylene Consulting Firm under Megs name. An additional $40K to Meg, under the Firm and an additional $20 K to her and her husband. Not bad money when you go out begging for $5 and $10 dollars with a Beg-a-Thon. It takes a HUGE tin Cup to hold $40K.

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  35. Anonymous6:12 PM

    Helen -- I agree with you 100%. I liked, respected the Levi interview. I heard everything he said. He does not need to do the perky/animated thing that those fake newsreaders do. Don't go slick and shiny on us. Stay who you are. Bravo Levi. You are doing just fine. Be sure to get the money sewed up, tell the honest whole truth, and live happily with your family. You are doing an important job for the country and for ethical people.

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  36. Looking at the video of when the family all walked out together during the campaign, and the moment when Sarah takes hold of his face, all I can say is that Levi, not thinking of the camera and not feeling like he is alone in the spotlight, has about the sweetest and handsomest smile ever. I'd say he has potential.

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  37. I'm also with ya, Helen - Levi's the only one in the whole bunch who comes across as sincere...glad he's got good advisors and he's not backing down.
    Mae - great giggle re directing folks to the sports complex....
    Anonymous at 5:41....geez, he's a kid, not Superman. The fate of America does not rest on his shoulders, and his first obligation is to his family. Seems like so far he's doing ok - he hasn't been sued and he gets to spend time with his son.

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  38. Thanks SP @1:50pm!

    Without the support of people like you; people blinded by the right, that is, we would never have had the opportunity to enjoy the "gift that just keeps on giving".

    Thanks for propping her up and putting her on her pedestal and telling her that she is worthy of so many greater things than the job of Governor of Alaska (which she never should have achieved anyway).

    Thank you for being supporters and feeding her ego and telling her she is destined for greatness.

    Now we Alaskans can wash our hands of her and she can become someone else's problem.

    Take her, love her, feed her (please), adore her and be nourished by the endless word salad that issues forth from her mouth. But, be aware that she requires much care and attention and having her as your pet is not something to be taken lightly. She's only 45 years old and could live many more years, so be prepared to "care" for her for many years to come or she may just leave you for a "better family".

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  39. Anonymous10:58 PM

    Ennealogic @ 5:29am and Molly @ 7:44am

    Yes, I thought the same things!

    Here’s a partial transcript of Levi’s reply to Ann Curry this morning as to why he wasn’t surprised that SP resigned. Keep in mind that Curry prefaced her question by saying Levi had been around when SP was governor, then VP candidate, and back to Alaska.

    Levi @ 2:41 (my emphasis):
    Well, you know, living there, ah, there’s been a few times, you know, after—even before—you know, she was talking about, you know, this stressful, this very stressful job…and I can understand that. And, and then after the, ah, campaign and things, I mean we had tons of offers coming in from, from everybody out there, and just, all kinds of ridiculous things…and, you know, there’s been talk about it’d be nice to just take the money and run…

    So, yes, Levi does say he was living with the Palins before the VP run, and he does use “we” to refer to their situation post-campaign. Hmmmm….

    This “Today” interview is consistent with his interview from 7/9/2009 in Rex Butler’s office, when Levi said:
    You know, when I was living there, even before Mr. McCain had picked her to run…

    And, of course, remember what SP said after the Johnstons’ interviews with Tyra Banks and CBS’s Maggie Rodriguez back in April?

    Sarah Palin, April 2009:
    …I know the truth about my family. I know details about whether Levi Johnston was allowed to live with my teenage daughter or not. By the way, it would be over my dead body that a kid would live with my teenage daughter.

    Ha! Who do you believe? Think SP will sue Levi and risk deposition? :-D

    And why was Levi living with the Palins even before the VP run anyway? Hmmm....

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  40. Anoymous 10:58 - thanks for the transcript!

    Not enough is being said about the EVEN BEFORE. Levi did Sarah a huge favor by pointing out the truth that she can't handle stress and can't govern. She is a fool if she doesn't listen...and eventually doomed.

    He did the public a favor as well. Unfortunately, the MSM stressed Levi's disclosure about the money and not the most important EVEN BEFORE.

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