Wednesday, September 08, 2010

Author of Vanity Fair article "Sarah Palin: The Sound and the Fury" answers his critics.

Here Michael Joseph Gross puts to rest some of the challenges to his reporting.

To the issue that he was told that the child backstage with Piper Palin was NOT Trig:

Let me state this as unequivocally as possible: Loudon’s accounts have no basis in reality. I do not mean simply that the facts are wrong—I mean that the episode did not occur. I have never met Gina Loudon. I have never spoken to Gina Loudon in person or by phone. I have never exchanged e-mail or snail mail with Gina Loudon. I did not even know Gina Loudon’s name until it began cropping up in connection with the accounts quoted above. Furthermore, I could not have spoken to her in Independence, because I was not allowed backstage on the floor of the arena, where Loudon was; that was a restricted space, and, as far as I am aware, all reporters were barred from the area. (I was sitting several rows up, in a place where I was able to observe what was happening both in front of and behind the curtain.)

On anonymous sources:

A number of commentators have noted the use of anonymous sources in my article. I explained in the article why this was necessary, but let me amplify the explanation here.

After the 2008 election, Sarah Palin and her advisers decided that it was time to “go over [the] heads” of the media, as one of her former press aides told me, and, in effect, invent a new way of doing political business. Palin began using Facebook and Twitter to send messages directly to the public. At the same time, she and her staff made themselves virtually inaccessible to reporters. Palin, moreover, is the most powerful person in a sparsely populated, geographically isolated community. She has often used intimidation. Many who have been close to Palin say they are frightened of her. They claim they have seen her ruin reputations. To speak out against such a person in a small community is risky.

This reality presents reporters with a choice: either repeat the official statements and official facts that are made in Palin’s name, or find a way to report other information under the terms that sources will permit.

I made the latter choice—very cautiously. Forced to rely on anonymous sources for certain information, I made an effort to get to know those sources well, talking with them over periods of weeks or months. If I sensed that sources were motivated by the desire to attack Sarah Palin, I did not use the information they gave me. Those who told the most startling stories about Palin spoke not with glee or satisfaction but with trepidation and sadness.

As I have mentioned before, this EXACTLY matches my experience during my attempts to get people to speak on the record about Sarah Palin.  And it matches the experiences of a number of other people as well, but I will let them tell you that for themselves when their articles or books are published.

This response by the pro-Palin people to find easily manipulated "liberal" journalists, and dishonest Palin-bots, to help discredit Mr. Gross is something we are going to see happen repeatedly when the books being written by Frank, Bailey, Geoffrey Dunn, and Joe McGinniss arrive in bookstores.  You mark my words.

Click the link I provided above and just read some of the comments being left on the Vanity Fair site if you have any doubt about how aggressively the Palin people are going to go after anybody who dares reveal the truth about their queen.

49 comments:

  1. Anonymous8:28 AM

    Besides just clicking on the link and reading the comments -- I suggest that all of us leave comments in support of Mr. Gross and his courageous stand against Palin and her influence!

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  2. Anonymous8:31 AM

    It's true. The comments the palinbots leave are ruthlessly unrelated to the essence of the story. The comments are violent or nasty, insulting or sadly odd.

    If only they could make their criticisms in calm, intelligent responses, perhaps they'd come across as thoughtful people. But no, they seem to be happy acting like cultish loons.

    I honestly don't know if it is possible to converse with her followers.

    If Palin would only realize how she sets herself up for disbelief by walling herself off, perhaps she'd relax and simply do unscripted, non-pre-approved interviews. We might still not like what she says, but at least she would come across as human and vulnerable.

    As it is now, she presents herself as a Diva, better than everyone else, yet scared as hell of everyone. She seems angry, scared and controlling all at once by conducting her tours or campaigns the way she does. She has become a joke she's created herself.

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  3. Anonymous8:35 AM

    LOL, how much longer will it be before the Palinbots are also too thrown under the bus? I have no sympathy for those sick, despicable retards. The truth WILL come out about their Snowflake Queen - Say, where'd you find that Triggy prop Sarah? Other Teabaggers might want to get one too also so they can be as righteous and pure as you. Hahahaha,that's so funny, I gag every time I think of you or and your trailer park trash family.

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  4. Anonymous8:42 AM

    This explains why she stays in Alaska when all her business is in the "lower 48."

    IF she left, they would all be free to talk. If she stays, not so much.

    And she can't live where she can't control her environment.

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  5. Anonymous8:48 AM

    I can tell you that my spouse is one of the people that Palin trashed. A pristine reputation absolutely ruined and false lies now splashed all over the internet.....that will remain for eternity. Our lives are forever changed now. Are we afraid? Yes. We have spoken out many times anonymously about what she did. Our house was photographed by a man in a hooded sweatshirt. Do we think he was sent by the Palin Mafia? You be the judge.

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  6. A comment at the VF site noted that the child seen by Mr. Gross appeared to be much younger than the supposedly 5 year old child of Ms. Loudon. Maybe she's the source of the interchangeable show babies who travel with the Palins.

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  7. Anonymous8:54 AM

    The author could provide every single speakers name, address, phone #, email, photo and a copy of their birth certificate and the bots would still try to 'refudaite' anything the writer wrote. They are blind sheep. Period.

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  8. Anonymous9:44 AM

    I felt compelled to post that people read comments left too.

    The comments are confirmation that other people have spoken the truth. Birds of a feather flock together.

    Anon 8:48 You have my empathy. I was also targeted by a diabolical person who maybe could pass a lie detector test. Hard to believe there are humans like this until it happens to you.

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  9. Anonymous9:59 AM

    One of Palin's bots, in a back and forth, finally said "I don't care what she says or does. I support her.". Those words describe, to me, most of her followers.

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  10. Anonymous10:05 AM

    I think people are sadly misinformed about the reality of personality disorders. What Gross has described about Palin and those around her is classic for personality disorder and for the coping mechanisms victims of these people develop. They also attract similarly flawed individuals (Glenn Beck, anyone) into their orbit, so it is not surprising she has surrounded herself with others who have trouble telling the truth because they are living in an alternate reality.

    Here is a good rule of thumb in dealing with relationships, if you feel like you are lost, confused, communicating on different wavelengths, walking on eggshells, feel you can't keep up with the 'rules' because they are arbitrary and change daily, are often told that black is white or even if your gut just says something's not right, there's a good chance you are in a relationship with someone with a personality disorder. People who have left the Palin camp consistently express confusion over what they've just experienced. This is absolutely typical of relationships with those with PD (borderline, narcissistic, etc.) There is no doubt in my mind Palin has some form of PD and her manipulative tactics keep her full disability from getting the exposure it so desperately needs. I am glad Gross is sticking up for himself. The only way to combat her manipulation is to expose it at every opportunity.

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  11. LoveAndKnishesFromBrooklyn10:09 AM

    The Bots' comments sound random and immature, however, I wonder how many of the lengthier ones are actually paid by SP's masters to bolster her support and rile up those who can actually discern between the truth and false idol worship. And there's really not much they can argue with or debunk, so they attack to deflect. Gina Loudon sounds like she's right up there in lying her ass off to curry favor with Queenie and circle the wagons.

    IMO: Judging by the extent of the Palin fear tentacles in AK, I suspect that Quitty was being groomed for this lofty Xtain Right position long before her Wasilla gig. Perhaps that's why her college career is so spotty? Beauty pageants, sportscaster jobs--all would be key in discerning how she presented herself to the public as well as on camera. When the truth finally does come out, the puzzle pieces will all fit perfectly. And this MSM article is more than a start.

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  12. Anonymous10:10 AM

    Great article, Mr. Gross! May you be the first in a long, long line of credible writers to expose this dangerous grifter. Any journalist who treats Ms. Palin as someone INFORMED rather than a quasi-circus entertainer should be ashamed. What has she actually done to be admired and respected? I am still reeling from learning that she and The Beckster are CHARGING $75 for common folks (?) to commemorate 9/11 together in Wasilla. Do you mean to tell me that neither Palin nor Beck were willing to underwrite their own expenses? Is the venue actually charging them anything or will they both just be shoveling the loose change into their waiting pockets. Just disgusting!

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  13. MITCH WHO LIVES IN KANSAS10:23 AM

    I wish someone would make a concerted effort to investigate this womans weakest aspect that being her "pregnancy". If anyone desrves to be humilated beyond recognition it is her. She is infuriating. Why is it so hard to get multiple people to stand up at once and expose her? Do you think that McGinnes's book and Dunn's book will actually do anything to thwart her?

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  14. Anonymous10:30 AM

    Anon@10:05 Am. Good post. Standing up to bullies is also important, and the Palins are bullies. Much research and info now available on how to deal with bullies and bullying behaviors.

    ReplyDelete
  15. One of the comments on the VF site linked to a post regarding Palin's lack of tipping etiquette. Not sure if y'all have seen this one yet:
    http://redheadedwisdom.blogspot.com/2009/12/yes-we-got-no-tomatoes-but-you-can-have.html

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  16. Anonymous10:44 AM

    Well put, Anon 10:05am.

    Grounded, healthy people strive for clarity and understanding in their relationships.

    Toxic people thrive on confusion, drama, excuses or blame.

    My sister used to work for a toxic person, and after far too many conflicting orders and "you didn't understand what I meant" (said in an accusing tone) she took a tape recorder into the next sales meeting this person conducted, and asked her manager to speak clearly and explain EXACTLY what the goals were for my sister's team.

    The sales manager's face turned bright red with anger. In silence they left the room quickly.

    My sister suffered for that action, and not long afterward had to quit her job, or risk an emotional breakdown.

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  17. Anonymous10:44 AM

    Where did I just read Louden's baby is closer to 2 1/2 years old than 5 years old? Something in my gut tells me what Mr. Gross' story may uncover is a LOT bigger than the fact that Palin is a crappy tipper. Now the whole Ruffles scenario is starting to make sense.

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  18. Anonymous10:46 AM

    @9:59

    "I don't care what she says or does. I support her.".

    --------------------------
    This person is being honest. If Jesus Christ, himself, had written the VF article, the worshipers of Palin would dismiss it as sacrilege. A sad commentary on the mind set of these minions.

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  19. Anonymous11:18 AM

    Mr. Gross is my new hero (as are you Gryphen). Palin is a psycho and so are most of her followers. They are a lost cause. The people who really need to know the truth about Palin are those who think she is a dimwit and a lightweight. They don't really understand the power of the people behind her. But if Murdoch or the GOP think they can control her, think again. Hell, just ask McCain.

    Palin is a bully. She manipulates people because she nags them, intimidates them and is just plain loud. How many times have people come into your office thinking that those tactics will get them what they want. Sadly, just to get rid of them, most people just give in.

    Mr. Gross did not give in, and neither should we. If the MSM and the politicians are too afraid to rattle the Palinbots, then it is up to all of us to bring the truth about Sarah Palin out.

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  20. Scott Lindsey11:23 AM

    The associated press assigned 11 fact checkers to pour over Palin's 432-page "Going Rogue" and found six "errors".

    There have already been five errors of fact discovered in Mr.Gross' sophomoric hit piece of eight pages.

    Keep it up, lefties. You're less than two months away from seeing what happens to a party when it relies on voters who gravitate to a cyber closed wards like this.

    RE: I can tell you my spouse... .

    Oh, yeah, this has the ring of credibility.

    Time to increase the Thorazine drip.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Anonymous11:41 AM

    Gryphen,

    It's not only Dr. Louden who is casting doubt on Gross'
    bald misrepresentations; it's CNN as well as two individuals who deny his allegations that they are former employees of Palin who have been thrown under the bus--Meg Stapleton, Kristen Cole, and Ivey Frye.

    The CNN reporter who WAS allowed access to Palin behind the scenes during the 2008 campaign--Peter Hamby--claims he never saw the rabid outbursts of
    anger Gross reports.

    It's over for Gross just as it was for Jason Blair when he fraudulently penned articles for the Times.

    Oh, Gross will turn up somewhere again but it will be on some fourth-rate blog--like this or on Facebook.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Anonymous11:46 AM

    Anonymous @ 10:46:

    What an embarrassing coincidence. If Jesus Christ himself descended in a whirlwind or pillar of fire and said, "Don't believe a word of the Gross article" you and your ilk would suggest 1) It wasn't J.C.--just another Glenn Beck stunt or 2) The "Son of God" appeared because he was afraid of being the target of Palin's anger and wanted to stay on her good side.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Anonymous12:08 PM

    Scott Lindsey, you LIE.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Anonymous12:10 PM

    11:41, just because ONE person is "claiming" not to have seen anything, it does not mean it didn't happen.

    regardless, this is a pattern of behavior that has been observed throughout her whole life. the campaign was but a tiny slice of it.

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  25. Anonymous12:14 PM

    Sad, sad little 11:46, you must have missed the part where the Palinbot said that it didn't matter what Palin said or did.

    No one has said that it doesn't matter whether Gross lied or not. We happen to believe Gross because the hundreds of stories that were told to him corroborate with other stories that have surfaced.

    I know you were so pleased with yourself to have put that all together. You did everything but use logic and reality. Typical.

    ReplyDelete
  26. I am not sure if this is in the comments already, but Michael Joseph Gross just gave an interview about his Vanity Fair article, which can be accessed at http://www.onpointradio.org/2010/09/sarah-palin-gospel-thift

    I'm listening to it now.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Anonymous12:18 PM

    Loudon's kid is 3 years older than Trig. I cannot imagine MG confused a 4 month old with a 3 year old in 2008. And although they may look alike now that doesn't mean they looked alike as a baby and toddler. Loudon is merely covering for Palin.

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  28. she's a fraud, folks12:24 PM

    The real irony is that Palin's book "Going Rouge" is essentially a work of fiction. It is filled with countless falsehoods and outright lies. It wasn't even fact checked by the publisher.

    Then again, what do you expect from Palin who is a confirmed, demonstrable and proven liar. Many say that she is a sociopath.

    It's sad how how she has followers much like Jim Jones did - absolutely blind to the truth - and that didn't turn out very well.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Anonymous12:28 PM

    All you need to know:

    Governor Sarah Palin filed a formal complaint against Sarah Palin and then she later fired herself!

    Sarah Palin really is a F*cking R*tard.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Anonymous12:56 PM

    Thank you Mr. Gross for telling the truth about this fraud and liar.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Anonymous1:11 PM

    I'm really glad Americans are gullible morons and will believe anything in print, even if it were penned by a smug climber who pieced together his hit job from old articles and interviews from anonymous sources. Sarcasm done. But really, I'm glad Bristol, Willow, Track and Todd all robustly stand up to the hacks who demean their mother. That is what family's for. Americans are jealous because Sarah has the loving family and support most people never fully find.

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  32. Anonymous1:44 PM

    What's your opinion on Colleen Cottle giving 2 very different stories to Newsweek and Gross? 1. Palin got things done as mayor even though Cottle often voted against her 2. Palin essentially understood nothing.

    Obiviously I paraphrased. See, unlike Gross , I know how to make a point without being conniving

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  33. Anonymous1:44 PM

    Anon 10:05am, I totally agree. I wish all of Sarah's victims like Anon 8:48am would come out of the woods and expose how Sarah destroyed innocent lives. I admire Mercede Johnston for writing as much as she has chosen to.

    But, I realize, living here, how much Sarah can still destroy a person even though she's not using the governorship to enact her personal desires anymore. It takes guts to stand up to that bullying b...

    ReplyDelete
  34. Anonymous1:48 PM

    Frye, Cole & Stapleton weren't thrown
    under the bus - they know too much about the Palins, as do the Palins
    about those 3. They're also very well compensated for staying in the 'fold.' The only way things
    about Sarah makes sense re how smoothly she's ascended from a poor
    excuse for a mayor, to a totally inept governor, to a joke VP candidate & managed to shrug off every single scandal & ethics violation, & gotten away with truly
    rotten behavior, smiling all the way, is if the information in: 'The Anatomy of Sarah L. Palin,' at -
    intheknow7.wordpress.com is true.What
    other explaination can there be.
    The MSN know what the blogs have
    exposed. There must be a reason they
    continue to give her a pass.

    Snaron TN

    ReplyDelete
  35. Anonymous1:49 PM

    Gryphen, you live in Alaska. Does everyone in the Bitney family have a douchebag gene? They all seem to be mentally handicap and completely inept in all things politics

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  36. Anonymous2:10 PM

    Mrs. Palin and her deluded supporters are viciously going after Mr. Gross because he didn't print "the worst stuff" about her. In trying to intimidate and smear him, they will only make it easier for him to justify writing about that "worse stuff."

    Ironically, everything Mr. Gross wrote about Palin is openly demonstrated by Palin's and her fans' typical nasty behavior in response: sound and fury signifying nothing. She really attracts the idiots in our country.

    Kudos to Mr. Gross for tackling a subject for which much of the rest of the media doesn't have the stomach. Time to write about that worst stuff, Mr. Gross. I'm tired of our country's debates being held hostage by vindictive, bigoted liars such as Palin and her ilk.

    ReplyDelete
  37. Anonymous2:13 PM

    Mrs. Palin and her deluded supporters are viciously going after Mr. Gross because he didn't print "the worst stuff" about her. In trying to intimidate and smear him, they will only make it easier for him to justify writing about that "worse stuff."

    Ironically, everything Mr. Gross wrote about Palin is buttressed by Palin's and her fans' typical nasty behavior in response: sound and fury signifying nothing. She really has a knack for attracting the idiots in this country who mirror her pathology.

    Kudos to Mr. Gross for tackling a subject for which much of the rest of the media doesn't have the stomach. Time to write about that worst stuff, Mr. Gross. I'm tired of our country's debates being held hostage by vindictive liars such as Palin and her ilk.

    ReplyDelete
  38. Anonymous2:27 PM

    @11:23
    @ll:41
    @11:46
    @1:11 PM

    So when do you think Sarah will be suing Gross for penning outright lies and distortions about her? She must have a rock solid case for defamation of character, don't you think?

    ReplyDelete
  39. Anonymous2:52 PM

    Well, Gross is certainly better than Sarah on one account: he's at least capable of admitting he made a mistake. When was the last time Sarah admitted she did anything wrong? *cricket chirping*

    Yeah, thought so.

    There's entirely too much smoke for Sarah not to be on fire. Usually, it's her pants.

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  40. They're only proving what Mr. Gross wrote in his original article. Thugs.

    ReplyDelete
  41. She's so young but moves like a granny. Odd.

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  42. Anonymous4:13 PM

    Somebody needs to find out how the Palins can be so powerful.

    A failed mayor of a hamlet and a failed half term governor who is on the outs with her own party in her home state, would not, in the normal course of things amass much political clout.
    She is now pretty wealthy, but not compared to real wealth and would not be acceptable by old wealth except as a tool.

    So how does she get power?

    Yesterdays statement from Sadie may be the answer.
    If the Palins are in the drug trade then it would make sense. Returning Mrs.'s Johnson's BlackBerry and then given her phone number to a drug dealer who is working with the cops, is perfect.
    There is a perfect line from drug dealer through Palins back to the drug dealer to Mrs. Johnson back to the same drug dealer who rats her out to the cops and back to Mrs. Johnson.
    And Sarah gets revenge on Levi for knocking up her easy lay daughter. And she does it through someone who will protect that information.

    ReplyDelete
  43. Anonymous4:51 PM

    10:09 AM:

    Re: Sarah or SOMEONE paying people to write pro-Sarah comments: I thought that too. Particularly the ones that had good grammar. Most of those people can't even spell moron so when they're spelling sh*t right...and using the correct form of there/their/they're...it makes one wonder.

    True story: I'm a FB fan of Giannoulias, the Dem candidate for senate in Illinois, and for a while, everything he posted would get nasty comments from people, people who were so active on FB that they'd have time to respond to whatever was posted within minutes of being posted, and who were fans of many, many Democrats, but...HAD NO FRIENDS. Zero. I'd get fed up with their nastiness and post nasty comments back about how sad they must be, seeing as how THEY HAD ZERO FRIENDS. Obviously, this was all some kind of lame-ass attempt at creating dissent and negative opinions towards Alexi by using personas. Well, one time they got sloppy, and actually used their real name. The commenter was someone who had run for office AS A REPUBLICAN in Illinois. Why would someone like that Fan Alexi Giannoulias? Obviously, there's a concerted effort here to tear down Democrats via forums and Facebook. Not surprising, considering the maturity level. I mean, this is the party where their congressional whip thought it was okay to lie about having his office shot at, don't forget, and where young staffers think it's a-okay to post addresses of officials and staffers online. They're so mature! They should totally be allowed to run the country! It's okay, though. I figure, wasting their resources on shit like this will just make it more like they won't run the board. Oh, and also the fact that they're going to have to waste precious campaign resources on nutballs like Joe Miller.

    Also, RETARDS from SeaofPee who are posting here: I hope you're getting paid. If not...man...maybe you need to get a life. It's kind of pathetic to be obsessing about us. In other words: GET AN EFFING LIFE, LOSERS.

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  44. Anonymous7:54 PM

    I'm smiling because I called this several days ago. I just knew Louden was lying. Something about her hysterical rant on her blog told me that this woman wasn't the nicey-nicey kinda gal.

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  45. Anonymous8:01 PM

    1:44 re: Colleen Cottle

    Obviously we all know that Cottle's family wasn't happy about mom's disclosures and threatened to stop seeing her. Sadly, the poor woman had to back track to keep them happy.

    This event actually reaffirms everything Gross reported in his article. It is a living testament, if you will, to the article.

    BTW, you didn't make any point. You were just being conniving.

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  46. Anonymous8:06 PM

    1:11, what the Palins have is a disturbing, dysfunctional mess. Not many families can lay claim to one child who vandalizes school buses (putting young riders at risk), another who breaks into and trashes homes to the tune of $30K, and another who is so promiscuous that the inner circle of Wasilla can't keep up with her pregnancies. Then there's the little one, already a Diva demanding pink Sharpies. Todd and Sarah sleep in separate quarters and the kids are being raised by the aunt.

    Yes, lovely family.

    ReplyDelete
  47. Anonymous8:10 PM

    4:51, thank you...

    ReplyDelete
  48. LOL. This reminds me of parents of the class bully who deny their child's behavior by claiming the entire class is lying.

    When you hear the same thing over and over from different, independent sources you start to think that maybe they're more truthful than the object with something to hide.

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  49. Anonymous9:31 AM

    Actually Anon,1:11,it is the quitter queen herself who is jelous. She does not have a 'loving family'. she wishes she had what many of us have. Normal kids who do school and college without sleeping with the Hockey team. Kids who only contact with the law is seeing the highway patrol dude who goes to our church, and teaches sunday school. I have kids that have goals and desires, none of which include drinking binges, doped up weekend and vandalism. My husband is very straight, has a deep voice and loves his family. We carry our bags together. He never walks behind me, carrying mine, nor I carry his. Were a team. We worship together as a family. We don't have to pretend, because WE ARE! We are what Palin wants. A real family with decent kids and a really awesome marriage. That's worth it's weight in Gold. She seeks it, but can't quite graps it. Meanwhile, she teaching her kids to grift as long as possible. While I'm sending my kids to college, Palins are sending their to Dancing with the Stars.

    ReplyDelete

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