Levi Johnston sired a child with the white-trash daughter of Sarah Palin. Even though Sarah Palin is taking care of the daughter, and even though Sarah Palin is rich, the 20-year-old man-child has been ordered to pay nearly $2,000 a month in child support.
This $2,000 is not tax deductible. Moreover, it's not taxable income to the baby's mama. Although Johnston is paying child support, he is not even allowed to claim the child-tax credit on his tax return. He pays for everything, and receives nothing.
What was this massive child support payment based on? Child support payments are based on a combination of truth and judicial magic-making.
Child support is calculated as a percentage of Johnson's six-figure income. How is that fair? It might make sense if a child had become accumsted to a certain lifestyle that Johnston had provided. But the baby never lived with Johnston. If Johnston only earned $10,000 a year, the child support obligations would be much less. How is taking a straight percentage of Johnston's income fair to him?
And what justifies this windfall to Johnston's baby's mama? Sarah Palin's daughter has a nearly $40,000 a year annuity (the income to her, while a net ascension to wealth, is non-taxable) for allowing a high earn to impregnate her. Talk about jackpot justice!
It gets much more interesting. The child support obligation was based on Johnston's 2009 windfall earnings. In 2009, Johnston earned a substantial amount of money posing for Playgirl. What if he doesn't earn as much money in 2010?
In the past when I have written about Levi Johnston and his child support payments I have received a substantial amount of blowback. The issue is rife with emotional volatility and can make even reasonable people become overly defensive and argumentative.
However if you read the article above and follow the link provided I think you will see the truth behind the points made by the author.
Personally I would like to take this issue in an entirely different direction. And that is the direction away from the financial obligations of the father and toward the parental responsibilities of the father.
I don't often talk about what I do, and used to do, for a living, but suffice it to say that I have worked with troubled kids off and on for over twenty years. I have seen goods kids who come from bad homes, damaged children who comes from damaged homes, challenging children who come from supportive homes, and wonderful kids who come from extremely difficult environments. In short I have seen it all.
Not once have I encountered a child whose problems stemmed from a lack of child support from one parent or the other. However I HAVE seen plenty of kids who suffered tremendously from lack of contact with an estranged father or absent mother, or both.
The thing about child support that always angers me is that it focuses on FINANCIAL support rather than emotional, or parental support. Children need nice things sure, but they also absolutely REQUIRE involved parents.
From EVERYTHING that I have learned, Levi is a guy who really wants, more than anything, to parent his son. However the focus of the courts is that he provide the absolute maximum financial support that he is capable of providing and very little focus seems to be left over for what Tripp really needs. His dad.
Look I have seen this issue from every angle imaginable. My mother raised me all on her own with not a penny of support form my dad. Nor did he provide what I really wanted from him, his attention.
On the other hand I have been the obligor who had to pay child support and I did so gladly, though I made damn sure I had a reasonable custody situation worked out first. Today my daughter probably can not name to many of the things that were purchased with that child support money I provided, but she will never forget the times we spent together laughing, and hiking, and watching movies together.
The most important investment I made in my daughter was time. Sometimes I had precious little, but when I had it, by God I shared it with her.
The most important thing that Levi has to offer Tripp does not come in check form. It comes in the form of kisses on his nose, afternoons spent playing in the woods, and even discipline that comes from a loving father to help him know right from wrong.
That kind of support should not be dictated by a histrionic teenage mother, and her vindictive mother, it should have been determined by the courts. Why it was not done I am not at all sure, but until there is something written down that guarantees little Tripp significant, and consistent time with his dad the sate of Alaska is doing him a terrible disservice.
And that is my two cents on the subject.
I believe he is incorrect about it not being deductible. I'm pretty sure it is. Or at least up to the standard deduction.
ReplyDeleteIs there any guarantee that Levi is even the father? It doesn't seem like it was too difficult for Wasilla boys to persuade Bristol to shed her pants. Has paternity been legally established? Just curious.
ReplyDeleteMighty valuable 2 cents!
ReplyDeleteLevi will stop paying child support once he has 50% custody, if I understand correctly. Meanwhile, if his income goes down, he needs to get to court and have the support amount adjusted. I is baffling that the court didn't allow for regular review of the interim child support given Levi's variable income.
As I recall, having been a single mom, child care is not deductible, but alimony/spousal support is. In other words, if Levi were paying alimony, he could deduct that, but not child care.
ReplyDeleteCry me a river.
ReplyDeleteBristol has Levi's nuts in a vise and good for her. She was cleaning up baby shit while "Ricky Hollywood" was making a fool of himself on national tv and the internet.
Some dad
Tripp looks just like Levi, I do believe that particular baby is Levi's. The rest of 'em, don't think so.
ReplyDeleteI feel sorry for Levi. IMHO he could use better legal representation, some strong adult friends/relatives in his corner, and a real job. He probably needs a GED to get a real job.
ReplyDeleteGryphen, this is a wonderful time for you to befriend Levi and be a mentor. Maybe you can get him on a better road to someplace. The object should not be extracting information about the Palins. This kid needs an adult friend.
That was some expensive c00chie.
ReplyDeletegrammar & spelling alert: DO... payments, not does...payments. And conStitute... missing S.
ReplyDeleteAs a mother who also received no child support of significance ($100/mo I had to fight for tooth & nail because I couldn't afford the lawyer and plane fare to go to court in CA) neither did my 2 sons receive any attention from their father, who went on to raise another family when they were toddlers. He had a good enough income that his second wife was able to stay home and have more kids for him; I had to work and balance everything by myself.
ReplyDeleteI cannot tell anyone how emotionally rent it left my sons, even now in their middle age. The love and care I lavished on them did nothing to dispel the notion that their own father cared so little for them he never even sent them a birthday card or xmas present, never even called them, never even acknowledged they existed for over 25 yrs, at which time he showed up, in a fit of guilt, to inform me (they refused to see him) that he had suffered a heart attack at age 39 and he wanted them to know some of HIS medical history.
Mothers cannot make up for what the father either neglects to do or is denied the opportunity of doing in the upbringing of their children.
This writer is correct. Throwing money at a child (or actually at the mother) without being involved, or being denied the opportunity to be involved, is worse for the child than not even receiving child support.
Andrew, I do not think anyone of the main characters care to verify paternity. The state does not do well with record keeping. There was a bill to make sure when an embryo dies that the parents can have a death certificate, it is probably private and not on public record. In Alaska they do not always list birth or death records for infants. I think this is how they stay private about how many young teens give birth and how many infants die. If there were adequate records the adults would have to look at the birth and death rate and that would lead them to examine the drug and alcohol use. Why all the teen parents and dead infants?
ReplyDeleteLevi is part of a pecular culture. He was looking attached to one baby and now he is attached to the one called Tripp. Both he and Bristol are young and immature. They are both moving in the direction of celebrity and reality TV. I do not believe actual reality has set in. There are major problems with this whole custody matter. I think what is best for Sarah is what it is all about.
The career of un-wed teen mother can be exceedingly PROFITABLE if you have a pyschotic mother, a sympathetic judge, and an unwary baby daddy.
ReplyDeleteThe only way to shut-down Bristol, INC. is to get really expensive legal power. Levi can either lose all his money to lawyers or to Bristol. The choice is Levi's.
Life stinks.
Bristol is getting $2000 a month from Levi? That comes to about $66 a night with Bristol. Why is she practicing abstinence when she is actually sitting on a gold mine?
ReplyDeleteAnonymous 4:52. What an ass! Levi went on t.v. to try to get the Palins to work out visitation rights. He worked in Hollywood to make money to help his family. As far as I can tell, the Palins (Bristol included) want nothing more than to use Tripp to make themselves money. I don't see Levi cashing in on photos of his son's B-day. The same cannot be said of Bristol. Also, Bristol is the one making a complete ass of herself. Abstinence only?! Really Bristol. You are a laughing stock here in Hollywood. I am a mother of two boys. My sons love spending time with their father. They are fortunate because they have a father who loves them and who is involved. Tripp does too if Bristol can pull herself from the money, fame and that batshit crazy mother of hers. If there is one thing I wished Levi would realize, it is that he has a lot of support out there. And one thing he should remember is that bullies are always cowards. Stand up to the Palins, don't just half stand but really stand up to them, and they will back down.
ReplyDeleteNO interim visitation and\or child support is a very smart move on Bristol's part. They can plead for Tripp that he does not know Levi as a father. Tripp bonded with so and so, and going with Levi now is disturbing and confusing to Tripp, yadda yadda.......... They will say that Levi went off to be famous. If Levi keeps kissing butt he will have a little visitation after this is done. Levi knows what they have on him and it does not amount to anything. The Palins would need to manufacture something real bad or find a friend of Levi that will turn on him, a last minute surprise.
ReplyDeleteIt appears the Johnstons want their fair share of ALL the money that has been swirling around. What will be sad, is when this entire baby swap is exposed, the Johnstons will still be poor and possibly prosecuted as the Palins are for committing insurance fraud. I hope you think twice that money is more important than integrity, money does not by happiness or respect.
ReplyDeleteI agree 100% with you Jesse. Levi (my brother) doesn't deserve this. He has no problem paying his fair share but that's an enormous amount for a 19 almost 20 year old. The best gift a father could give their child in my opinion and from my personal experience is their attention, love, effection, and time. Not money. I miss my nephew so bad and so does the rest of my family. It has been almost two months sense I've got the chance to see my baby Tripp. The least Bristol could do is allow my brother in Tripps life, fore he is a GREAT father. We love Tripp more than any of you could possibly imagine.
ReplyDelete-Mercede Johnston
I think Levi has been getting very bad advice for a long time. He really does need new legal counsel because the celebrity route chosen gave him short-term profits but long-term credibility problems.
ReplyDeleteBecause of his youth and small-town upbringing, I think he was ripe for the taking so his legal and protection team could skim off profits. I would be interested in seeing what percentage of his earnings they took for their own.
I agree with others here that Levi needs fatherly advice from a male who has "been there, done that and learned, really learned from experience" because I don't think Levi will listen to any one else.
He needs to listen to that counsel, become the man he needs to be to make his son proud and he needs to fight for his right to be in his son's life.
If he'd had adequate legal counsel, the Palins never could have made the "Levi's family sucks" routine stick. It is the Palin family - including Todd's sister - who needs watching in its influence on Tripp.
How the court failed to set periodic financial reviews up when Levi has no regular income is beyond me? How the court could fail to include the financial support and room/board provided to Bristol and Tripp is also a mystery.
Bristol must be one vindictive bitch or calculating vixen to go after such a brutal child support scenario. She needs to think about how this will play to her son once he can read and question why his Dad hasn't been around. When that boy reaches his teens years, his rebellion may surprise her. It will have plenty of fuel on which to flare. Bristol herself needs an older female who has been through the single mother fires to set her straight on why it is important for her to think more about her son's emotional and developmental welfare than her vengeful hate of Levi.
Both kids are being badly advised - but then, if they come from the stink hole that is Wasilla what can else can you expect?
Both of them have a lot of growing up to do. Neither seem to be thinking of how their current actions and decisions are going to impact their son. Babies raising babies - always a sad situation.
1. In this particular case I do not think that Levi's child support will make much material difference to his son. But that is not always the case, and money for food, shelter and perhaps even music lessons can really be important to a child. I don't think the significance of child support should be slighted. I have seen kids, hurt by lack of child support.
ReplyDelete2. I respectfully disagree wtih you, Grphy, about focus on support. I don't believe the courts focus on support over time with the child. At least, not in my jurisdiction. If there is something different about Alaska, I'm all ears. Around here, they are simply two separate proceedings, and time is addressed in a custody/visitation proceeding, and support is addressed in a support proceeding.
For decades, the courts largely ignored or minimized the issue of child support. And you know what happened. Women were getting $50/mo from fathers with middle-class jobs who were living a nice life while the mom lived on the edge. Sometimes the dad bought the kids with Disneyland Dad routines while the mother couldn't muster enough money to do something special for the kids. You can't show the scars on the children from living on the edge, or having one parent buy all the fun stuff for the children, but they are there.
Of the two, time is certainly more important. But that doesn't mean support proceedings are irrelevant.
3. If the focus of the court is on Levi's finances, it's because he's chosen to let that be the case. He could file a petition for more time whenever he wanted. He could allege denial of access. He could submit his financial affidavits to the court (last I heard, he hadn't done that). Perhaps there are things we don't know that make this difficult. Perhaps there are lousy choices. But that doesn't mean the court's focus is on the finances. If Levi really wants more time, why doesn't Levi petition for more time with Tripp. Time and support are two separate proceedings on parallel tracks (for the most part, usually, and at least at the beginning.)
I wouldn't even complain if Levi argued he shouldn't have to pay support if he is being denied access to his son. In my state there is precedent for this. But Levi isn't doing this, and that isn't the court's fault.
I know what you guys are thinking, but yes that really is Sadie in the comments above.
ReplyDeleteWe are Facebook friends and I sent her the link to this post so she could see how many people are rooting for her family, her brother, and little Tripp.
I will have more information about the Johnston's hopefully later this week. I am just waiting for my friend to finish editing.
PRIOR POST:
ReplyDeleteHow the court failed to set periodic financial reviews up when Levi has no regular income is beyond me? How the court could fail to include the financial support and room/board provided to Bristol and Tripp is also a mystery.
RESPONSE: I don't think we know that the court failed to set up periodic financial reviews. That woldn't be uncommon in my jurisdiction.
Further, Levi can go back and ask for a downward modification based on reduction in earning (that isn't due to his intentional choices).
The court didn't fail to include Bristol's contribution. The formula used includes the income from both parents. But children of rich custodial parents are entitled to be supported by both parents, and just marrying rich should absolve you of responsibility.
Perhaps I am missing some information, but as best I can tell,
-Levi isn't complaining (about support)
-Levi can ask for downward modification if he doesn't land some new lucrative gig this year.
-Levi can ask for more time, and has chosen not to - or perhaps he has asked and we just don't know about it.
I've heard lots of complaining about the results, but nothing that indicates that the courts acted improperly.
POST: Child support is calculated as a percentage of Johnson's six-figure income. How is that fair? It might make sense if a child had become accumsted to a certain lifestyle that Johnston had provided. But the baby never lived with Johnston. If Johnston only earned $10,000 a year, the child support obligations would be much less. How is taking a straight percentage of Johnston's income fair to him?
ReplyDeleteRESPONSE:
The Judge in most child support proceedings isn't called upon to exercise judgment as to proper child support. It's largely based on a formula which was developed with the hopes (with some success) of providing some fairness to the system AND predictability, which is real important.
Taking a percentage of income is built into the statute. It's not at the judge's discretion. I could also argue that why shouldn't a kid who grew up under modest means get the benefit of his father winning the lottery.
Let me be clear. I think SP is orchestrating a lot, and it isn't based on what is good for the kids (one AND two generations following her). I think Levi is probably getting a raw deal in many ways.
I just think arguing that the support isn't fair, when the process seems to have been followed, and particularly if Levi didn't submit his financial affidavits, is just weakening the authority and credibility of those who wish to support Levi.
NOw if the process wasn't properly followed, I'll take back what I said.
Mercede ~
ReplyDeleteYour courage is an inspiration. Thank you for speaking. I hope you can keep your voice. What is happening to Tripp by not having steady contact now with his family is intentional cruelty as far as I am concerned. Tripp, Levi, your mother, you and all concerned do not deserve that. It is devastating to hear it has been almost two months since you saw him. I wish I knew what to do to help effect a positive change. The laws and regards toward children are different in Alaska. I can't imagine a place where a child would not have the interim visitation and support.
Mercede
ReplyDeleteWe are behind you and your family. It is sad to see the struggle and abuse of the system by the Palins. Prayers to you and your family and hope that justice prevails for you in the end.
Mercedes Johnston-
ReplyDeleteHoney you and Levi have my sympathy. My brother went through an ugly divorce and had to pay child support to two of his brats (yes they were brats, their mother spoiled them rotten) and they would not have anything to do with him, yet he had custody of his son but the whore of a mother did not have to pay a dime. Then when they youngest brat turned 18, the mother tried to get the child support extended to 21, claiming she was going to college, which was not true at all.
The Palins are a piece of work. Levi should write that book now. God Bless him and your family.
Mercede and Levi,
ReplyDeleteYou seem like wonderful people, who really love Tripp. So many people are wishing you the best. It must be tough to be up against a system that allows control to those with power and money rather than the best intentions of the child. I have always believed that both of you had Tripp's best interests at heart.
Blessings!!
Deb
Excellent column! The family values candidate seems to be more about resentment. Emotionally mature parents and grandparents focus on what is best the children.
ReplyDeleteThe court system is a money pit for the attorneys. In Ohio, the parents have to go back to court to change the support amount when there is a significant change in income. One hour of attorney time eats up a whole week of unemployment compensation.
Gryphen, I read the comments above a while ago, and have been considering some of the advice for befriending Levi even more than you've done thus far.
ReplyDeleteI would counsel against that because then you cannot be as objective as you need to be or will be dismissed as being too close to Levi when you have to critique Sarah, Todd or Bristol (or any of the Heath-Palin clans).
I think we would rather have you serve as a fact gatherer, an investigative force, and as someone who might be able to encourage those closest to the parties involved to come forward with information, knowing and believing that you are not too close to any one party in all this.
You have more credibility as a caring outsider than a pal to Levi. However, you are probably in the position to recommend to Levi someone who could provide mature, objective counsel without a profit motive.
The poor kid has probably been easily led along other people's paths without realizing it. He's probably built up a comfort zone with his current team,but he desperately needs someone who can speak gentle truths to him without expecting anything in return.
If Levi can grasp how important that is, can trust someone other than his current team, he might just have a shot at gaining a life for him and his son.
However, I don't think you are the appropriate person because you have a vested interest in helping unmask Sarah Palin. If you endanger that, then you do long-term damage to both Levi and your own goal of ending the career of political terror that is Sarah Palin.
If Levi has not had DNA testing to prove that the kid is his, deserves to be gouged by the grifter Bristol.
ReplyDeleteBoth families have used up their 15 minutes of fame. Enough! there are IMPORTANT things to care about such as homeless children or unwed mother's living on the streets because they don't have rich boyfriends to pay them $2000 a month child support.
LOL. Go to this website and read Sarah's speech given in Hamilton, Ontario. Word salad doesn't even begin to describe her speech. I had to read a few of the excerpts two or three times since I couldn't read the way she talked. The two didn't connect. After I'd read an excerpt, I would just shake my head and say no one can possibly talk that incoherently.
ReplyDeletehttp://archivist.leapserve.com/featured-post/a-few-hilariously-stupid-highlights-sarahs-speech-in-hamilton-ontario/
Thank you Gryphen for keeping a light on for Levi.
ReplyDeleteI keep reading on other sites comments that, since you changed the format, it is difficult to access your site. Is there something you can do? someone mention for you to debug your system, check to see if the site is being attacked, etc.
The news of Mercede being here startled me...Man give a hint....What is going on?...the high child support has been discuss before.....Is Levi ok?...ready to defend his parental rights? something is missing.
Best wishes to Mercede and Sherry.
Am not familiar with the laws, but I always thought child support payments were for married couples who had divorced. I didn't know a sexual relationship resulting in a pregnancy required the biological father to pay the child's mother child support for 18 years?
ReplyDeleteWhat if the child's mother is not responsible and spends the money on needless things? Who is keeping account? It just doesn't seem fair at all.
Bristol Palin's exemplory effort to tell girls to say "no" just won't have any effect on them. In fact, it could incentivize them to go get pregnant by a rich boy, so they can rake him dry.
There is a two tier system of justice in Alaska. Most people don't know about it because they have not come in contact with it. Certain people get charged with crimes and certain others don't. Certain people get harsh sentences and certain others don't. In certain court rooms in certain parts of this state certain people will always prevail while certain others get screwed. That is a reality that I doubt considering the political atmosphere in Alaska will change much in the near future and it is very frightening.
ReplyDeleteI agree the attention of Parents are of the utmost importance!My parents were divorced in the Forties (I'm an old bird)But to this day the lack of real caring from my Father follows me.In the forties there was a stigma to divorce!My father got a transfer to another city and no one knew his history and in a flash I became his Nephew to keep his secret,needless to say it split us apart. From the age of 12 I saw him four time's the fourth was his Funeral.Without detail's it put me on a bad path if not for the U.S.M.C. Who knows where I might have wound up.
ReplyDeleteIts pretty obvious most of you have no idea what you're talking about when it comes to child support.
ReplyDeleteQuestion: Do Levi's child support payments constitute an injustice to the young father?
Short Answer: No.
Long Answer: Hell no.
I know when kids are young, they have no clue of the mess they can make of their lives. Kids, this is a wake up call about getting involved(sleeping) with other kids that you don't want to be connected to or pay for the rest of your life,because as you can see, Levi , gets none of the benefits of being a Daddy, except for writing a check 12 times a year, while Bristol has nannies , new Cadillac, movie career.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the earlier poster about wanting that child to have ac lose bond and relationship with his father is sometimes more important that punishment with money. The Palins have 12 million dollars and should be able to handle the expense of the grandchild. I would think that $1100-1200 would have been a much appropriate child support. Since Sarah Palin humiliated these kids by parading them on TV, they did not have the choice , Sarah made it for them.
Frankly, I think Tripp looks like his grandmother, Sherry Johnson. He ha her smile.
ReplyDeleteBet that ticks the Palin's off, knowing that the kid is cute because of the Johnson genes.
PRIOR POST: What if the child's mother is not responsible and spends the money on needless things? Who is keeping account? It just doesn't seem fair at all.
ReplyDeleteIs it fair for some young man to sweet talk a vulnerable girl, she gets pregnant and he gets to walk? I realize this isn't the Bristol/Levi case, but I don't think we have laws for kids born from lust and kids born from love.
Do you really want all women to have to keep account of how she spends child support money. Used to be that widows had to account to the government for their money - not widowers, just widows.
Does child support money get misspent. Yes. Is the solution to make all recipients of child support account to the government? I don't think so, but perhaps you disagree. Is the solution to put the burden on the parent who is doing the parenting to justify the support? I don't think so, but I'm open to other reasoned thoughts.
Tripp looks like Chuck. Trig looks like Levi.
ReplyDeleteand track looks like the namesake of the Curtis Menard sports center
I find it hard to believe that the people of Alaska have no backbone when it comes to the Palins. I always thought that I would like to visit your state but, not now. I'm kind of glad that McCain did pick Palin as his running mate. It certainly has shed a different light on Alaskans. Not a good light either.
ReplyDeleteThis is Levi and Bristol's situation. Levi is going to take counsel from whom he wants. If the law and courts of Alaska sux, that is what he is stuck with. Sad but true. I am sure Mercede will do all she can for her nephew and brother. Sarah and Bristol are a set back for all women, children, human beings and they have the rich media friends and a studio in their house! Just say pause is what we get.
ReplyDeleteThe Johnstons are a lovely family and I do want for them the best.
Lilybart.
ReplyDeleteWhich Trig looks like Levi? The first one does not look like Levi to me.
I think it's great that he's being hit so hard with child support. The outcome will be that he will be forced to write that tell-all book about the Palin's just to cover his obligations. The irony of the Palin family greedily colluding in their own take down is just too good for words. Poor kids--Bristol, Levi and Tripp. They are simply expendable collateral damage for a narcissist like Palin.
ReplyDeleteI see the e-mail trial in Tn is to begin. Funny that the McCain team said "shocking invasion of the governor's privacy and a violation of law" when that happened. I remember Sherry Johnston mentioning what happened to their computers. No one could talk soon after that. There is a double standard. Sarah Palin will make a grand display in Tn. What an opportunity to martyr and collect funds. I hear they are reaching out through e-mail now.
ReplyDeleteMercede,
ReplyDeletePlease know that there are a lot of people out in the world who want what's best for you, your brother, Tripp, and your mom - and we're very sad for you at all the CRAP you've had to put up with! It's unbelievable. (And I'm sure we strangers don't even know the half of what you've really been through.) We wish you all the best and are sending you hugs through the airwaves!
Tripp can have all the money he needs, but to know that Bristol, et. al., are benefiting in any way is disappointing. How is her exploitation of Tripp (and to continually label him a consequence for her lucrative but confusing campaign) is more acceptable than allowing him time with his paternal family?
ReplyDeleteMercede, you and your family are suffering a very public airing of a private family affair and for that I am sorry. But considering it is against a very powerful (dumbfounding) family, the playing field is not level. Find a better family law attorney.
Stay in school, go to college, arm yourself with all the tools that Sarah, Bristol and Todd don't have to win in the court of public opinion. Live and inspire by example. I know that is a heavy burden and a lot to ask of you, but you have shown that spark and determination to give us hope.
Good luck.
as harsh as the payments are, perhaps it's just karma for levi for not being truthful. every kid in the palin asylum is being forced to live lies all because of granny's image. and sad to say, but it appears that levi is going along with it.
ReplyDeleteevery single person who enables this family fraud will have their own payment come due at some point. it's just the way it works.
anon on another thread sez:
ReplyDelete"You don't leave children with criminals like the Palins unless you are part of some schemes or protecting someone who is."
just had to repeat it here.
Ya know what? I'm calling bullshit on the whole Levi/Mercedes thing. They must be getting hush money or something from the Palins to let this whole Hatfield/McCoy ruse go on. It seems CLEARLY LOGICAL that Levi should get a paternity test, spill the beans on the whole ruffled baby multiple Trig deal of which they must know about. He has the power to end Sarah's bullshit hoax ruse money grubbing ride, and HE DOESN'T. WHY?????? I have lost all respect and am starting to also too lose my compassion for the Jonstons and their situation. They have the power to end Palin If they want to. If what we are all purporting on these blogs is true, they should have nothing nothing to fear by taking Sarah down. Go public with everything. They have power, WHY do they not use it?
ReplyDeleteSorry for the frustration and meaness of this post, but really, shit or get off the pot. If they don't spill, then they have to be gaining in some way by not. Call the Feds Levi.
Do some of you really believe:
ReplyDelete1. Women ought to account to the government for their child support payments?
2. That if a woman receives a lot of money from her parents that the father should be off the hook for support?
3. That if one parent is economically comfortable, the child doesn't need to know the other parent supports them.
4. That emotional support is so much more important than financial support that financial support isn't necessary, and in fact may be burdensome.
5. That is it unfair for Levi to pay the statutory percentage of his income?
IN response to the blog, if Levi doesn't earn as much money in 2010, he can go to court and request a downward modification.
6. Do you think a better system is to assume he can't earn that much money again and make the child go back to ask for more support. If so, how would you determine what was reasonable imputed income for the year?
For those complaining about Levi's child support, I would like to see you write a decision as to how much money you think he should pay for his son, and how you arrive at the answer.
I'm not positive Levi's support payments are what I would order. There is a lot of information I don't have. What I do know is I'm not seeing a lot of argument about how unfair it is to Levi that shows much understanding of the law, or the broader issues of child support in America and why the laws ended up as they are.
Anon @ 8:02, I agree.
ReplyDeleteIs the sense of not being part of the Lower 48 so strong in Alaska that those of you who have the information to bring Sarah Palin down are unaware of the ramifications of her words and actions outside of Alaska? When every opportunity she has to bash our President and our leaders brings us a step closer to a national tragedy?
Sure it's fun to laugh at Sarah Palin because she is not very intelligent, well-spoken, etc. ...but she is NOT funny, and the anger that she is encouraging in the rest of the county will get harder and harder to stop. I understand being afraid of retaliation, of being ostracized by your community, if you came forward with the information that would put a stop to Palin once and for all. But the time has come to put concerns for yourself aside and be the change you want to see in the world. A world where you have exposed Palin for what she is, and she is no longer relevant or dangerous. Yes, many of her fans would not care if she was exposed as a kitten-stomping cannibal, but for the majority of people, exposing her as a fraud and/or a criminal is doing a national service to our country and probably saving lives in the process.
Please, see the bigger picture. It's more than Wasilla or Alaska at stake now. People take chances every day to expose what they know is wrong. They put themselves and even their loved ones and way of life on the line to do what they know is the right thing.
Ask yourself: if something tragic DOES happen, and it links back to Sarah Palin, can you live with yourself knowing you stood by and did nothing??
to those that don't think Levi is Tripps father and needs a DNA test - the kid is the spitting image of Levi at that age. There is no doubt in my mind that he is the father.
ReplyDeleteAs for Trig....he looks like a Heath...just don't know which one of Sarah's sisters or Bristol is the mother. I suspect Bristol could not be the mother of the latest Trigs (Trig2 and Trig3, round ear and elf ear) as she most likely gave birth to Ruffles (Trig1) (ragged ear).
I hope that Levi gets 50% custody of Tripp - the baby deserves to spend some time with his father, who clearly loves him and the rest of the Johnston family.
That Bristol is suing for 100% custody is wrong. There is no basis for it, other than she is a bitch. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
Message to Mercede and your family: obviously you have been thrust into a situation that is beyond your control. All you can do is to control your own actions and to do what is honorable and best for your family. We all have a lot of hopes that you will spill the beans on Sarah -- my God, that would be worth some serious money! But we also know that Levi has to avoid any actions that will put him afoul of the judge in the custody case. (That doesn't necessarily bind you...;-)) As you've seen from the other comments above, there is recourse for the monthly custody payments if Levi's income is reduced. Obviously the legal fees and other costs are a huge factor. Most importantly, I hope he has filed for shared custody and for an interim order about that.
ReplyDeleteMercede, we also know that you are a bright young woman. This experience is totally unfair, but it is the hand you have been dealt and how you deal with it will forge your character. You can be a victim because life is unfair (it is!), or you can buckle and do drugs and booze to block it all out, or you can be made stronger. I hope you will build a life that you and your loved ones will always be proud of. That would be the best justice of all.
I know it's a horrible ordeal now, but I believe that your whole family will come through this stronger and wiser than any Palin will ever have a hope of being. Best wishes from the east coast.
hahaha.. well i guess atleast you.. the blog author will get to see it :) lol i just wish some people could see the truth... good thing they got articles like this to fill there head full of shit bahaha
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