I am hoping to get my own post up about the things that I witnessed as I interacted with Team Levi as well, but it will not be until the middle of the week at the earliest.
I will say this however, by my estimation Team Levi, through incompetence or possibly other more nefarious reasons, screwed up deals that would have easily brought Levi a minimum of several million dollars over the last year, and quite possibly substantially more than that.
The reason that I have not written about Levi's "mismanagement team" before is because I believed that Levi was an innocent victim of their naivete and incompetence, and I did not want to say anything about them that might have reflected poorly on him. However now that Levi has essentially sold his soul to the devil, there is nothing that I could say which would damage his credibility any further.
I am not surprised by this....Levi needed a shark who was used to dealing with other sharks and instead, he selected a guppy.
ReplyDeleteI felt bad when Andrew Sullivan was begging Levi to write a book. Sullivan didn't realize that for Levi to write a book, he needed a team around him that had the contacts in place to make that happen.
Levi's limited life experience did not prepare him to have the savvy needed to negotiate the media ecosystem.
Even
Mama Grizzly's interactions with the media world are limited, even though she has the power of the Cryptkeeper Rupert Murdoch behind her.
It's funny that Alvin Greene has talked to Keith Olbermann but a former GOP VP candidate is TERRIFIED to do so.
Back to Levi, he never had a chance because he just wasn't equipped.
And yes, if he went to college or lived outside of Alaska for an extended period of time, he might have had more of a clue.
Can't link to the article, either through this article or directly.
ReplyDeleteWonder what's up?
Yeah it looks like Sadie is suffering from a little TOO MUCH love. With so many sites linking to her the blog is being overwhelmed.
ReplyDeleteIt will pop back up eventually.
I have been able to get on several times this morning.
I can't read it either. Since The Daily Dish linked to it, too, the traffic must be way up.
ReplyDeleteFor such a young woman, I am so impressed with Mercede. I am also enormously disappointed with the menfolk around Mercede and Sherry....none of them stepped up. I do not understand how state social services allowed Mercede to flounder since she did have a parent (father) that could have taken care of her....as she was a juvenile.
ReplyDeleteIt is just sickening...Mercede was NOT protected while Sherry was imprisoned. This should be investigated.
Gryphen, I am so glad this story is seeing the light of day and I know it is due to your persistence.
Please let us know what else needs to be done as many want to help.
I realize that not all Alaskan men are as rough and tough as Levi, his father, nor Todd but that is a fantasy.
Gryphen, when you found out about Rex and Tank and their mishandling of Levi, and decided not to go public with the info, did you at least brief Mercede and her mom?
ReplyDeleteMercede is an amazing young lady. I don't have the best impression of lawyers in general and unfortunately this doesn't seem that unusual. I'd thought Sherry was the one to sign on with Rex Butler and he was her lawyer. Later on he was helping Levi but was to move on after the custody case started.
ReplyDeleteDid Keith Johnston know how his daughter was treated? If not, why not? A decent father would have been there for her. She is lucky to have a big family if the father is a flake. These things happen with lawyers. I hope her family isn't afraid to help out. Will the people up there ever be free from the terror that Palin has over the territory? There is not much anyone can do about the choices Levi makes except to cry, have opinions and fuss.
The Johnston ladies are strong and resilient and will overcome. I wish there was something more that people could do. I get the feeling we are going to get the announcement that Bristol is married soon enough. Is there any chance Levi will work it out for Sherry to be there?
Have the Palins been successful in shutting up Ben Barber after his slips?
Just ponder the possiblity Palin planted Levi's law team....how did this whole bust come to pass anyway?...too many coincidentals to ignore...drug bust, jail time, limited outreach, Sade fending for herself, FOR WHAT???? So the end of times queen is able to get close enough to the doomsday briefcase and push the red button? To hate that wench is wasting good energy on bad Karma driven evil.
ReplyDelete"Sullivan didn't realize that for Levi to write a book, he needed a team around him that had the contacts in place to make that happen. "
ReplyDeleteSullivan also didn't realize that for Levi to write a book, Levi would have needed some balls.
And what's up with her dead-beat dad? He wouldn't step up and make sure his own daughter had the basic necessities? Is he related to the Palins? LOL
ReplyDeleteDidn't Team Levi work for free on Levi's behalf? When nobody else would touch the boy?
ReplyDeleteIt is just sickening...Mercede was NOT protected while Sherry was imprisoned. This should be investigated.
ReplyDeleteIT IS SICKENING! What are the chances that an investigation is possible in Wasilla? Doesn't Sherry have family that works in the correctional system, they would know how it works. I can't figure out why this was not worked out before she went to Hiland. That is how it is done in some places. Lawyers are rotten where ever you go but not all states allow minors to be left unsupervised.
To investigate this would mean the state might have to make changes in their system. I don't see that happening in Alaska. When you live in a place like that your family is more important than ever. They may not be able to influence the state but they could help Sherry understand how it works up there and the family would certainly care to do something.
@ 7:32 AM
ReplyDeleteIn general Sadie was in school and left alone while her mother was at Hiland. There were problems with paying the bills and Rex could not be counted on. I don't know where Levi was but he left it all up to Rex or Sadie.
If Sadie was under 18 it is child abuse or neglect. In Alaska that happens all the time and no one thinks much about it. Where I live people are usually given time to make arrangements for children they are responsible for and home situations that need tending before incarceration. The local government system is not without blame in this either.
I keep hearing that the Wasilla area is big on God and guns. It is a religious place with Christians in power. Why is it no church or any of the so-called Christians would act like Christians toward this family at a time of need?
My personal take would not include expecting any lawyer to be "family." I would look to the rest of my family or with all the Christians around I would seek counsel with a church.
Keith Johnston is the lowest scumbag of these unmanly men. Why didn't he help his daughter? All the more reason if bad lawyers were involved. How does he get out of being responsible? Can anyone explain that? Has he abandoned Tripp and Levi, also, too?
ReplyDeleteI am so disgusted with all the bad parenting that comes out of that hell hole of a place. Isn't there anything that good Christians can do?
"Just ponder the possiblity Palin planted Levi's law team...."
ReplyDeleteYou know, that thought crossed my mind also, too! If true, what a horrible, nasty piece of **** that idiot woman is.
Looks like "Team Levi" is nothing but a crumbling house of cards. Good riddance.
From the moment that Sarah pulled Levi away from his hunting trip, bought him a nice suit and fondled his chin at the convention, he was a goner. I have no doubt that his mother was set up as one control over Levi. Squeezing him for child support and denying his visitation was another control. I know that you say that Levi is Tripp's father, but given all of the drama, he should have insisted on a court ordered and supervised DNA test. Ditto for the next kid, too.
ReplyDeleteIt is clear that Sarah put the pressure on Levi and treated us to a refudiation of his previous comments. It is too bad that Sarah hasn't refudiated her insults, calling her soon-to-be son-in-law Ricky Hollywood and a porn star.
Levi needed good adult advice, and he clearly didn't get it from Rex or Tank. He was cute with Kathy Griffin, but I think that she really used him for the attention and ratings, too, also. Still, she could have been a good friend if he knew how to take advice.
What is sad is that the Johnston family is another family torn apart by a mean, polarizing relative. I speak from experience. I have a relative who turned my sibling's family against us just because of her own insecurities.
My most sincere hope is that someone will blow the lid off of the Sarah Palin Express. She won't have the power to hurt anyone if she is cut down. If the people who do have the goods on Sarah think about how serious this is, they would realize that what she has done to her family is what she is also doing to her country. For the sake of all Americans, the real ones, the ones in small towns, the ones with family values and all the rest of us, it really is time to talk to one of the writers who has a book coming out. Sell your information to National Enquirer or anyone who will give you anonymity and money. Be a patriot; do it for yourself and your country. If you defang Sarah, she can't poison you.
Yes Maria of course I told Sherry and Mercede what my experiences with Rex and Tank were like. I also explained to them all of the misses opportunities that took place in the last year. And they told me of their experiences which were equally horrifying.
ReplyDeleteIt was actually THOSE conversations that brought us together in the first place. I had hoped that they could tell Levi about all of the work he was missing because of his management team, but he refused to listen to anybody except Tank and Rex.
They (team Levi) were bought out by Granny Grifter...
ReplyDeleteGryphen would report any form of child abuse or neglect as soon as he would be aware of it. CPS and agencies never tell you when they are investigating or what happens. I'm sure the state in this case didn't do anything about complaints. It may not have been b/c of Sarah Palin it may have just been the corruption that has taken over in Alaska. Gryph was trying to protect Levi here. He would not protect Levi and forget to protect Mercede. That makes no sense at all. Mercede didn't need protection from being naive, she needed food and basics plus not being in harms way.
ReplyDeleteAll that can be done now is to wake people up about the various child neglect and abuse problems and try to improve. Think of all the children and suffering they go through in these situations. Most never are heard. Mercede has a voice and she can do things to help others as she grows more aware and strong. Can't change the past but you can scream out about the injustices here and strive to protect all the children of Alaska.
With more and more parents being incarcerated that leaves a big problem with the children left behind. There are groups and people that do their best to raise awareness of the plight of these abandoned children. IT IS A HUGE PROBLEM. I'm not saying it is racist, but it is not white people that this happens to as much. White people are most ignorant that it even exists and education on the subject is vital.
ReplyDeleteSarah Palin is running for an office on a platform where her parenting skills and children mean everything. Will she even make an effort to address those forsaken children and acknowledge that they exist and need attention?
Please help bring something good out of this major disgrace in our system. If Palin is half the mother she claims she will show some heart for the innocent and do something about this. The peoples job is to see she knows we want answers and we want something done. If she wants to ignore all the helpless children because she is mad at Levi or his sister that is sickening.
Good for you, Gryphen. I'm pleased that you were able to exchange info with Sherry and Mercede, and support Mercede in her blogging venture. She is an amazing young woman... I'm blown away by her maturity, resilience, sheer pluck and warm heart. Sherry did a darn good job in raising her and I'm sure Levi will eventually come to realise that his family are, and always will be, THE Team Levi.
ReplyDeleteEveryone conveniently FORGETS that Levi was referred to Butler and Jones because Butler handled Sherry Johnston's multiple felony charges.
ReplyDeleteWho paid the bills for that?
A lawyer can only advise they cannot force a client to do the right thing. Levi has made a lot of bad choices in the past couple of years the worst being his most recent one.
ReplyDeleteBut ultimately if Levi had given a rats ass about Sadie or his mom he would have made sure they were provided for and there would have been nothing Tank and Rex would have or could have done about it.
It's easy to blame others because we don't want to blame the real culprit. Levi was making money and as her brother should have ensured Sadie had the necessities like food and utilities. Regardless of having the attorney manage his money it was still HIS money.
And where was their worthless father during all of this? He has a responsibility as well.
Anon @ 9:16
ReplyDeleteIt is childish and absurd to expect Levi, Mercede or Sherry to be the "whistleblowers" re: the Palins with a book or anything else. They are just regular people trying to survive a very "irregular" situation that has developed due to their earlier connections to the Palins. Yes, I do wonder exactly how these families were connected ....
It is very easy to taunt someone anonymously here, it's another thing to walk a mile in their shoes.
I won't get involved in the current drama being discussed here. If you blink your eye, something will change... and then who's side will you be on??
Really folks, this is a waste of your time.
Weird thing...I was watching Inside Edition and it was announced that tomorrow Levi's ex-girlfriend will be dishing Sarah Palin secrets Levi told her.............
ReplyDeleteAt least the rags are digging also.
Good for the rags! I've got some curious things to send and not sure which one would be the best. Levi's ex-girlfriend, I hope they didn't mean Kathy Griffith. I agree the Johnston family as "whistlblowers" is not right, not a good thing. It is great that Sadie blogs and expresses herself but no pressure about other things. She could take on issues like the sex problems and babies born to unemployed young teens without futures and how it got out of control in the Valley if she is interested in the problem. She could help with what is transpiring around the severity of drugs. The people of the Valley are quivering in their Uggs and won't speak or help Mercede, I was hoping there would be one Christian that will stand up with her. She has had enough abandonment. I hope her father is called out for the rat he made of himself. He has #1 responsibility to care for his child.
ReplyDeleteI never met a lawyer that would over see that my bills were paid or that I had food. I do think leaving a minor on their own is a red flag and it must be investigated. Butler would be required to answer what happened from his perspective if people actually do care enough to make a stand on that. Otherwise everyone is just blowing smoke for no reason.
Do something or you become part of the problem.
I'm keeping my opinions of these folks pretty much out of this. I don't know the details, interactions, any of the particulars.
ReplyDeleteI'm not going to condemn any of these very ordinary people because of what they did or didn't do.
Maybe "Team Levi" was all that Levi deserved; otherwise, he should have hired a professional agent (who would have demanded some kind of talent).
What 19 yr old kid with nothing to offer except his body and no track record of much of anything gets such nice paychecks?
Inside Edition said "Ex-Boyfriend Speaks Out." There is a picture of Ben Barber in a yellow T shirt that says "STOP PINING FOR ME." Bristol Palin's Ex-Boyfriend Speaks Out
ReplyDeleteIt is the Shushannah Walshe article plus Mercede talks about a Levi ex-girl friend and the heart aches.
"Even after all the tears that I've shed and as much as I've spoken out, it isn't going to change. Levi's the one who's going to have to put his foot down and say 'My mother deserves the right to be in Tripp's life just as much as Sarah,' " Sherry said.
To Anonymous at 1:58 p.m.
ReplyDelete"What 19 yr old kid with nothing to offer except his body and no track record of much of anything gets such nice paychecks?"
Uh, how about Bristol Palin? Bet she has made at least $500,000 (probably much more) since the birth of her "mistake." Am I missing something? Is Bristol a high achiever? Has she accomplished anything other than popping out a child or two by age 19?
I'm not afraid to admit that soon after reading this entry I began sobbing uncontrollably. And the reason for my tears COULD very well be my abject sorrow at the prospect that Levi Johnston has somehow missed out on making millions from his connection to - and membership in - the Wasilla Hillbillies Political Opportunism Collective. But this big pile of chopped onions I just cut is a much more likely - and ultimately healthier - explanation. I wish young Levi no ill will, but no great fortune, either.
ReplyDeleteSemi O/T:
ReplyDeleteBristol Palin & Levi Johnston eyeing reality show
"Bristol Palin and Levi Johnston are hoping to launch a reality show about their upcoming wedding and life as newlyweds with son, Tripp, 2. But network honchos aren't enthusiastic. "Don't think we should do it. Neither of them have personalities," said one cable honcho.
But Levi will bring in his sister and other relatives to make it work."
I wonder if his sister knows about this. Of if it's even true.
That's what is so wierd about this. He was hanging out with Kathy Griffin and I remember an interview with Donald Trump and other well connected people. You would think that if he wanted to write a book or do other gigs like modeling that he could have utilized people they knew. Why would he trust a family practice lawyer from far away AK?
ReplyDeleteDoesn't make sense.....
You know, Levi is a dupe, albeit a cute dupe. His real claim to fame is knocking up a teenage girl at least once and possibly several times. For that, he does not deserve millions of dollars. So, let him lie in the bed he has made for himself.
ReplyDelete