Todd Palin quits Iron Dog. Seems to be a pattern here.

It took me awhile but I finally found the information on the Iron Dog website which confirmed that Todd definitely scratched again this year.

To his credit he seems to have been the last team to scratch thus far, and he did it only two checkpoints before the finish line.

However when you are married to a woman famous for quitting, it is never a good time to quit the only other thing for which you are known,

You know I realize that this whole Iron Dog thing is part of Todd Palin's tough guy persona, but I have to think that entering the contest and then failing to complete it so often does not exactly do much to support that image.

Iron Dog. One of the rare times that the Palin family comes out of the shadows in Alaska.

Courtesy of Palin's Facebook page

I swear if it were not for Palin pimping this race, I would never even know it was taking place.

I have heard virtually nothing about it on local TV stations up here.

You know I was thinking about Todd Palin's life a little this morning.

Here is a guy who is virtually off the radar for most of the year, aside from a few brief appearances as his wife's arm candy and purse carrier, and then every February, like Punxsutawney Phil, he pops his head out of his hole and competes in a snowmachine race that he is destined to lose, as if he is caught in his own  deeply troubling version of Bill Murray's "Groundhog Day."

I guess it's not a bad gig if you can get it. And have no self respect or sense of shame that might get in the way.

By the way it's nice to see Bristol and Sarah in the same picture again. It's been awhile.

However I notice that Willow and Track could not be bribed into showing up. Maybe next time.

Assuming of course that neither one of them is awaiting trial for physical abuse that is.

P.S. You can track the racers here.

Todd Palin finishes the Iron Dog in the middle of the pack.

"I don't care if you think it 's gross, people are watching."

Courtesy of the Iron Dog Groupie's Facebook page:  

Congratulations to all the teams in this year's brutal Iron Dog! It's the world's longest and toughest snowmachine race – 2200 miles across Alaska – and Todd's been competing in it for 22 years. I made it home in time to join family and friends at the finish line in Fairbanks after having been at the CPAC convention in D.C. the day before where I had the honor of highlighting the United States Military and our veterans. 

The Iron Dog trail was rugged; it sure tested the mettle of these athletes and the metal of their equipment in bone crunching conditions. Todd's Team #11 raced in honor of our vets who endure far worse in the name of securing our freedom. Again this year their cowlings proudly displayed the logo that reminds us of America's loyalty to Chris Kyle and the Chris Kyle Frog Foundation, knowing this can raise awareness and funds for this worthy cause to help wounded warriors.

You know it figures that the family of a woman famous for lying, would use this opportunity to pimp for an organization named after another well known liar. Don'tcha think?

Wow good thing Willow went to hair school. Hey, where's Bristol? Oh yeah, I forgot.

 By the way, not that I want to give Tod Palin too much credit, but more than half of the Iron Dog teams scratched this year and were unable to finish, so the mere fact that he managed to reach the finish line is no small feat.

Of course considering the conditions, it would have seemed smarter to me that they simply cancel the race this year. But hey, what do I know?

Somewhat interesting interview with Sarah Palin in Fairbanks.

Local reporter Kyle Hopkins catches Palin in Fairbanks and asks her about the Iron Dog race, global warming (Which she denies it.), and the possibility of her running for a political office locally (She gives her usual non-answer answer).

However the video does allow us to play one of our favorite games here at IM.

What's Palin on today?

Here is the write up over at AK pipeline.

Apparently somebody took notice that we called out Sarah Palin for using old photos of the family during past Iron Dog races. Bristol's blog offers new ones.

We'll assume that the guy with the camera on his head is Todd.

Looks like a skating rink more than a snowmachine friendly starting gate.

Brancy also links to a Breitbart article entitled:

NO GIRLY MEN ALLOWED: TODD PALIN RACES IRON DOG, HONORS CHRIS KYLE

Because calling people "girly men" is a thing now. 

You know if Palin and Breitbart had done a little fact checking they might have realized that team four in the pro class is made up of two women, Rachel Kidwell and Ashley Wood.

Are these two "girly men" or "manly girls?" Because I think they would take either as an insult.

Okay you all need to stop manipulating the Palins quite so much.

I mean you criticized Sarah for wearing Bristol's dress to the SNL 40th anniversary show, and they felt the need to fight back. And just today some of you pointed out that they used old photos on the SarahPAC graphic..

...and now look what happened.

Look I know it's fun to play with the simple people, but if you're not careful you might accidentally get one of them to jump off a cliff or drink anti-freeze or something.

Then wouldn't you feel bad!

I mean wouldn't you?

Guys?

So I guess the ceremonial start of the Iron Dog took place in Anchorage yesterday. Ho hum.

The Iron Doggystyle expert posted this on her Facebook page yesterday:

 In downtown Anchorage today for the ceremonial kick-off of the world's longest, toughest snowmachine race – the Iron Dog! Tomorrow is the official start where tough teams comprised of two racers on individual sleds that they've spent months wrenching on speed across Alaska through unbelievable conditions, upwards of 100 mph wide open to the elements! Racers brave blizzards in pitch blackness atop frozen rivers to do their barehanded repairs of shocks, tracks, engines or anything else that gets thrashed during this crazy-tough endurance competition; they skip open Arctic waters between Native villages; they dodge wild animals throughout the 2030-mile extreme adventure that ends next Sunday in Fairbanks. These athletes live life vibrantly – and girly men don't race the Iron Dog. We're pulling for Team 11 (this is Todd's 22nd Iron Dog!) but wishing every team a safe, unforgettable, rewarding week.

"Girly men don't race Iron Dog."

That I guess that is supposed to be an insult to women. However Snowdrift Snooki seems to forget that Susan Butcher won the Iditarod, a race infinitely more difficult than the Iron Dog, four times.

And as the Alaska Dispatch noted the crowd for this race was only a fraction of the size that shows up to cheer on the dogsleds at the start of the Iditarod.  (Otherwise known as The Last Great Race.)

Interestingly enough this is turning out to be one of the worst years for the Iron Dog on record.

This from the Iron Dog website:

The Iron Dog trail between Rohn and Nikolai will be challenging for pro class racers as they hit the trail Sunday, according to trail class riders who arrived in McGrath Saturday evening. “It’s 90 miles of just tussocks and zero snow,” said Charles Preston of trail class Team 80. “So you can go about a half a mile before you overheat, and stop, wait for a half-hour. It’s miserable,” he said.

Yeah that sounds exciting.

By the way none of the local news outlets that even bothered to cover the start of this race mentioned a word about Todd Palin.

Apparently the only place he is still considered a legend is over at the Sea O'Pee, SarahPAC, and in his own mind.

The Iron Dog is coming to Anchorage.

Courtesy of Alaska Dispatch:  

The Iron Dog is roaring into Anchorage. 

After months of speculation about a move to the big city, the Anchorage Assembly on Tuesday night approved a resolution in support of establishing a ceremonial start in downtown Anchorage beginning with this winter's race. After the Feb. 20 ceremonial start, the 2,031-mile snowmachine race will start for real the next day on Big Lake. 

In a press release issued Tuesday, Iron Dog executive director Kevin Kastner said the plan to bring the race to Anchorage has been in the works since 2010. 

“With the addition of Anchorage, I believe we are making a great contribution to a refreshed legacy of winter tourism and starting a new chapter for motorsports and snowmachining advocacy,” Kastner said.

Of course much like the Iditarod, which has its ceremonial start in Anchorage and then starts for real in Willow, this Iron Dog race start is just for the cameras. 

And you know what cameras mean.

Which I will assume means that police will be on high alert in case one of the Palins wants to start another drunken brawl, like they did during their last family trip to my hometown.

And of course having it here means I will have no good excuse not to drive downtown to see the start of the race so that I can report back to all of you concerning any drama that might take place.

I highly doubt I will have any Sarah Palin sightings however, as it is well known how she usually views the start of the race.

Buck up or stay in the truck, that's my motto.

For those who are wondering I really do not expect to see Levi entering this race this time around.

I have not heard anything officially, but when Levi first discussed the possibility back in March, he undoubtedly believed that his custody case would be over with by now. However such is not the case, and with attorney fees piling up Levi really does not have the kind of  money he needs to participate.

That's too bad really, because if both the Palins AND the Johnstons were to show up at the same race I would DEFINITELY make it a priority to be there.

When scandals collide. A little vindication for Shailey Tripp.

I have been covering Shailey Tripp's story since early 2011. I even conducted the first on the record interview.

I followed numerous leads provided by Shailey, and even introduced her to Joe McGinniss, but could only get so far before I would hit a brick wall. The same has happened with others who have pursued the story of Shailey and Todd Palin.

That is not to say that what Shailey has claimed is not true, and in fact much of what she has said has been supported by facts. Just that there were numerous obstacles placed in the way of anybody who tried to dig too far into the story.

So after many of the leads grew cold I moved onto other topics and other sources, while Malia Litman and other bloggers took the lead on Shailey's story.

However just recently new information that lends new credibility to Shailey's amazing story has emerged.

You might remember this from that Anchorage Press article:  

A former pornography company owner and co-founder of an “end times” fundamentalist group who joined the Alaska National Guard in 2003 is now the guard’s Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Training, despite military investigators finding him directly responsible for empowering Alaska guard recruiters to sexually assault and harass female soldiers, recruits and civilians. 

Lt. Col. Joseph R. Lawendowski, 46, was recommended for “other than honorable” discharge in a confidential report that military investigators submitted to high-ranking Alaska National Guard officers on March 3 of this year. The findings of this “AR 15-6” report were not released to the public. (AR 15-6 refers to Army Regulation 15-6, covering the investigation of misconduct by officers.) 

The March 3 report finds that Lawendowski failed to act on multiple complaints of serious misconduct, including sexual assault, against four senior noncommissioned officers under his command. The report covers the period from November 2007 to May 2012 when Lawendowski was commander of the Alaska Army National Guard Recruiting and Retention Battalion (RRB). 

What is interesting is that Lawendowski's name popped up over a year ago in an online archive of  information about Shailey Tripp's case.  Specifically right here:

Joseph Lawendowski 

- several men under his command saw Shailey Tripp for sexual services
 - knows Todd Palin through the Iron Dog.

That last part is confirmed a little further down in the Anchorage Press article:

The investigators also found that Lawendowski had condoned and furthered illegal steroid use by RRB personnel, and had violated National Guard codes of conduct on multiple occasions. These included using government vehicles for outings to strip clubs, and Lawendowski being publicly intoxicated at the 2012 Iron Dog Race after-party. (Lawendowski arranged for the Alaska National Guard to become the presenting sponsor of the Iron Dog snowmobile race beginning in 2010. According to the AR 15-6 report, he improperly exchanged more than 10,000 text messages with a female Iron Dog employee during sponsorship negotiations in April and May 2010.)

A connection to Shailey Tripp AND to the Iron Dog?

Look I am not one who does not think that coincidences are possible, but THIS one?

How could Shailey possibly know the name of a Lieutenant Colonel in the Alaska National Guard, who coincidentally once owned a porno company, was directly responsible for some of the sexual assault happening under his command, frequented strip clubs, AND had a connection to the Iron Dog race, if not through Todd Palin?

If any of you have a better answer I am certainly interested in hearing it.

All the dirt that's fit to dish Wasilla style. Update!

I know that a lot of you want to know what happened in the whole Johnston/Palin mediation thing the other day, but I am afraid that I have no damn idea.

I thought I had a reliable source, but now I got nothing.

Nada.

Zip.

If something changes I will run to my keyboard to give you the latest and the greatest.

However, while you are waiting, perhaps this will tide you over.

On the Jodie Ernst post from Monday some of you might have read this:

Speaking of hens coming to roost, someone might find some interesting seeds to peck at out in the Valley. It seems like the oldest female chick of your favorite old clucker got a little out of control at a big hoedown out thar this weekend. Seems fists flew, but this birdie heard that mama clucker managed to keep the little clucker out of cuffs. Alcohol and chix don't mix. Isn't the little clucker supposed to be bright-eyed and bushy tailed for a closed-door court hearing today?

Sounds intriguing right?

So I cast my net wide, and holy crap it is even better than you could imagine.

Apparently there was some big honking Iron Dog party in the Silla this weekend, and shit got real.

According to a growing number of sources, there was an altercation of some sort, verbal at first and then physical, which seems to have involved almost the entire Palin clan.

I don't know for sure who started it, but I do know that the Palins done ended it.

According to the grapevine Track had some altercation with a person who may or may not have once dated one of the Palin girls. That led to some pushing and shoving, which escalated somehow to the family being asked to leave the premises.

However before that could happen a certain former abstinence spokesperson unleashed a flurry of blows at some as of yet identified individual before being pulled off by by another partygoer, after which Todd apparently puffed up his chest and made some threatening remarks. (The "C' word may have been uttered at one point.)

In the end the cops were called, order was restored, and the Mama Grizzly made sure the whole thing got swept under the rug.

Just another day in Sarah Palin's hometown my friends.

Such classy folks those Palins, don't you agree?

P.S. So far I have heard from about four people concerning this incident, but I would really like to learn more. So if any of you Wasilla visitors  have more to add please feel free to leave a comment, or send me an e-mail.

Update: Since I robo-posted this last night I have not received any new e-mails or text messages, but this comment did show up in the last Sarah Palin post of the day:  

Maybe filing against the stalker is a way to deflect the stories that are continuing to bubble to the surface now about the Palin's wild weekend at a Wasilla soiree: Bristol punching people, the Todd with a bloody lip, Track trying to pick up a chick for a quickie and Sarah herself screeching profanity at the offenders. It didn't make the police blotter, but people are talking. Did someone get video? I betcha there's even money for someone just willing to go on the record about this Valley Trash melee. This screams TMZ.

Now once again from what I understand there were quite a number of people at this get together, so there must be a number of witnesses.

All I ask is that you send a comment containing further details to this post or send an e-mail so that I can flesh this story out a little more.

Because THIS is what I think has the Palin clan in lock down mode right now, and it may be why we are not hearing anything about Tripp's custody case as well.

Update 2: It looks like Amanda Coyne heard a version of the same story that I did:   

The night before, Saturday, was a doozy. The details are a little sketchy, but there’s enough of them, from enough different sources, that a story emerges, a story that according to the gossip Gods, looks kind of like this: There’s some sort of Iron Dog/snowmachine party in Anchorage. A nice, mellow party, until the Palin’s show up. There’s beer, of course, and maybe other things. Which is all fine, but just about the time when some people might have had one too many, a Track Palin stumbles out of a stretch Hummer, and immediately spots an ex-boyfriend of Willow’s. Track isn’t happy with this guy, the story goes. There’s words, and more. The owner of the house gets involved, and he probably wished he hadn’t. At this point, he’s up against nearly the whole Palin tribe: Palin women screaming. Palin men thumping their chests. Word is that Bristol has a particularly strong right hook, which she employed repeatedly, and it’s something to hear when Sarah screams, “Don’t you know who I am!” And it was particularly wonderful when someone in the crowd screamed back, “This isn’t some damned Hillbilly reality show!” No, it’s what happens when the former First Family of Alaska comes knocking. As people were leaving in a cab, Track was seen on the street, shirtless, flipping people off, with Sarah right behind him, and Todd somewhere in the foreground, tending to his bloody nose.

Okay that bloody nose is a new detail, but the rest of this is pretty damn close to exactly what I have been told by various sources. 

Holy crap, Iron Dog party goers the National Enquirer has several thousand dollars just waiting for the eyewitness who comes forward and spills their guts. What's the hold up?

Update 3: I have also heard from at least one source that Tripp was at the party as well.

Well that is some real responsible parenting right there.

Update 4: The APD has confirmed on the phone that this did indeed happen, and that there were 20 people involved in the brawl.

They made no arrests they say because nobody pressed charges, and there were conflicting reports as to who started it and why.

I am still chasing this story so hopefully there will be more updates to follow.

Okay you can cancel that APB on Track Palin. Somebody dusted him off and had him pose for a picture.

As you all know recently on IM there has been some discussion of the fact that nobody had seen Sarah's oldest unplanned child lately.

There was even some talk that old warrior body had been dealing with some substance abuse problems. (You know actually I might have mentioned that, come to think of it.)

Well now all of a sudden, and surely simply due to coincidence that has NOTHING to do with things said on this blog, Track has emerged from the shadows. 

Okay this is close enough now just take the damn picture!

And here is what Palin had her ghostwriter post about this photo, and few others that accompanied it:  
Here's a peek into our spectacular day yesterday with Sportsman Channel as we enjoyed "Gettin' a Little Mud on the Tires!" The honorable Dakota Meyer joined us in Alaska to get our Red, Wild & Blue on! Dakota is our Medal of Honor Recipient who has never stopped serving our amazing America. It's a pleasure to highlight him in an upcoming “Amazing America” episode. He's one tough and talented hardcore outdoorsman, and you'll be inspired as you get to know this Marine even better, watching him behind the wheel on rugged ATV treks, swapping hunting stories with my dad, working with my son Track to put floats on Todd's plane (the lake ice went out early!) and getting his fill of snowmachine wrenching in the shop with Track and Todd – we're trying to talk him into becoming an Iron Dogger!  (Iron Dogger? I don't really think that's a word.) Another great sport joining us was Mario Lopez from Extra! Adorable, athletic, such a good sport bogging through some wilderness on ATVs; he’s patriotic and the most energetic reporter we've had the pleasure to work with! Really, it was a great spring day with exemplary Americans who love to get outside and live life vibrantly. Thank you, Dakota; thank you, Mario; and always a big thank you to Sportsman Channel for giving us uplifting family fun on that great network! “Amazing America” airs on Thursday nights at 8pm E/P on Sportsman Channel.

 - Sarah Palin

As you can see Todd and Track look totally comfortable in each others presence, as if they spend hours a day together simply discussing how blessed they are to be married/related to the effervescent Sarah Palin.

From everything I hear Track refuses to allow Palin to use him or his image, unless he gets compensated in some way. So I think it is a safe bet to assume that there was an exchange of money that took place before that picture was snapped.

Palin also posted this to prove that she still has it and that her "milkshake brings all the boys to the yard."

You know that and the opportunity to attract ratings.

I don't know, old sour milkshakes just don't do it for me. I'm guessing my gag reflex would kick in.

Somebody decides to interview Todd Palin about the table scrap his wife threw his way, narrating the Sportsman Channel's Iditarod coverage.

Look this is the job I got for you, so stop bitching and just do it!

This is from Breitbart so don't feel obligated to click the link if you don't want to.

I will provide all of Todd's girly voiced quotes here:

Palin is usually a behind-the-scenes guy. The supportive spouse. But he felt compelled to get the word out about the Iditarod. "I'll do whatever I can to promote this great race," Palin told Breitbart Sports. "I know some of the mushers and I know how much work it is to take part in it." (There are mushers living in Wasilla, and it is conceivable that Todd knows some of them, but I seriously doubt he knows muhc about the work that goes into their races.)

While not a camera hog by any stretch of the imagination, Palin enjoyed filming the special programming. "I don't like to watch myself on TV," said Palin. (We don't either.) "But this was a lot of fun." 

The Palin family is no stranger to the iconic Iditarod. "They used to have the restart in Wasilla before they moved it to Willow for the more consistent snow," Palin said. "We watched for many years with the kids on snowmachines. It's a big event for all Alaskans." 

While Palin is not a musher, he is a champion Iron Dog racer. His success in Alaska's other big race gives him a special appreciation for those who take part in the Iditarod. "Both are the ultimate," Palin said. "In certain stretches, you can actually go faster than a snowmachine when mushing with a dog team. They're so powerful, sometimes you're just hanging on."  (Yes except for most consider the Iron Dog the race run by those without the cojones to run the much more challenging Iditarod.)

"The people involved in this are just like the Iron Dog family," Palin said. "A tight knit group that will help anyone, anyway they can." 

Todd and Sarah Palin attended the Iditarod Mushers Banquet in Anchorage this year to show their support for the big race and all those who participate in it. (And by "Show their support" they mean receive a paycheck for making an appearance and talking about a sport that they know nothing about.)

"I'm just thankful that Sportsman Channel was excited to show the Iditarod and to come up here to share these ultimate races with the rest of the nation," said Palin.

The Iditarod is now over, and most people who wanted to watch the race, were able to do so either on news programs here in Alaska, where it was heavily covered. (Unlike the Iron Dog.) Or by purchasing Insider subscriptions which provided unfiltered access to the race. (And no high pitched voice clumsily describing things to them either.)

I have not yet heard how the Iditarod folks feel about a Palin being connected to their race, but I cannot imagine they are very happy about it.

After all virtually NOBODY wants to associate with the Palins anymore.

I think it is pretty clear that this gig is part of Palin's negotiation with the Sportsman Channel to employ her layabout family in some way along with her.

I imagine that Willow has been put in charge of her wig, and when Sarah flies down to Arizona to film her segments, Bristol will be standing by with her newly minted "skin school" diploma and a shovel full of spackling paste to fill in her craters.

After all the family that grifts together begrudgingly stays together. 

In attempt to demonstrate how close he and Sarah Palin still remain, instead John McCain shows that he is completely out of touch. Update!

So McCain does not even realize that Palin is now a semi-permanent resident of HIS state?

Oh yeah they are SO close!

And for the record Senator the Iditarod is truly the toughest race in North America, and the Iron Dog is for those who don't have the balls for that yet still want to look tough. (Sorry Levi, but it's true.)

I really hated watching Letterman bring up that whole apology thing again. I said way back then, right before the flying monkeys came after me, that he was setting a dangerous precedent and that NOBODY should ever apologize to that bitch.

And look what has happened to everybody who dared to criticize her since.

Update: Speaking of the Iditarod it looks like this year's champion is Dallas Seavey.

Levi Johnston responds to TMZ article.

Courtesy of Levi's Facebook page:

Well this article is exactly what I didn't want to happen. I plan to run the Iron dog 2015. It has always been a dream of mine to run. Same with my partner. I'm still working on getting sponsors and making sure I have everything I will need to run. I'm running this race for my two beautiful children, my wife and all my family. This has nothing to do with Todd. I heard he was retired from it this year so idk how anyone would say that. But I'm not going to let this stop me. I'm really excited about this and I hope and pray everything works out. Thank you everyone who has already helped me get this far!!

You know I didn't think that sounded like Levi in that post yesterday. 

In fact it sort of sounded like something the Palin's might leak in order to smear him.

Just saying.

Well anyhow my point about Todd being stuck between a rock and a crazy place is still valid. I don't think he will be allowed to simply retire despite what he might have been saying before Levi entered.

And though I am sympathetic to Levi's desire not to make this about him and Todd, I do not think that is going to be possible at this point.

Right now my television is deluged with commercials about the Iditarod, yet during the Iron Dog there was barely a whisper.

In fact I had to do Google searches in order to find information on the race to report here. (And of course you guys sent me links as well. Thanks for that by the way.)

So my point is with Levi in the same race that many people in the lower 48 ONLY know about because of the Palins, it is likely that if it gets any coverage from outside news sources at all it will be solely because of the drama, real or imagined, of having Sarah Palin's husband racing against the man who knocked up his daughter and then told the world what a phony she was.

I imagine that Levi's main concern is how this kind of publicity might hurt his child custody case. But to be honest I don't think it makes any difference at all to a judge trying to determine how much time Tripp should spend with his father.

After all having friction between the parents of the woman who is fighting over custody, and the father of the child, is by no means an unusual circumstance.

TMZ reports on Levi Johnston's Iron Dog challenge to Todd Palin. Update!

Courtesy of Facebook

Courtesy of TMZ:  

Call it the Thrilla in Wasilla -- Levi Johnston's new plot is to hit Sarah Palin where it really hurts ... by crushing her husband on Alaska's legendary Iron Dog snowmobile race course. 

Johnston tells TMZ he's decided to enter the next running of the world's longest and toughest snowmobile competition ... with the sole intent of burying his ex father-in-law, Todd Palin. 

FYI .. Todd's won the thing 4 times, so Levi's odds are slim to frozen. 

Levi says it's been a lifelong dream of his to compete in the race, which sounds like a ton of fun: pairs of riders tag team their way over a 36-hour, 2000 mile race through the Alaskan wilderness. 

Palin had to drop out this year after just 100 miles due to mechanical problems ... so maybe Levi sees an opening next year.

As I mentioned before there is nothing but positives for Levi, and negatives for Todd, with him participating in this race.

Nobody expects a first timer to win this thing, so all Levi has to do to make news is to beat Todd.

Now that may not happen, but no big deal as, like I said, this is Levi's first race.

However if Todd wins the race it will appear that he did not give it his all in the last few outings, and only became super competitive when the opportunity to humiliate the father of his grandson presented itself.

The words "Palin" and "petty" are almost synonymous as it is.

However if Todd only does slightly better than Levi, all of the attention will still go to Levi and he gets to continue the feud by promising to "get him next year."

Not only that but Levi will also have the opportunity to discuss how the Palins have worked to keep him from seeing his son, discuss the lies about his child support payments, and tell the world that all he wants is to be allowed to be a father to his boy.

And if the Palins use Tripp as leverage to force Levi from participating in this race, well I am sure that TMZ, the National Enquirer, Star Magazine, and I would love to hear and write about it. (And believe me, I WILL both hear and write about it.)

TMZ ends their article by suggesting that Levi is not serious about the race, and that it will be as successful as Tank's idea for him to run for Mayor of Wasilla.

I beg to disagree, and to that point stay tuned for the unveiling of Levi's upcoming Iron Dog website.

Update: After reading your comments I have to say that I have no idea if TMZ quoted Levi accurately about his desire to "crush" Todd or "bury" him, but I will say that with that kind of talk out there it means that there is NO way Todd will not compete next year. 

The Grizzled Mama would never let Levi talk smack about a member of her family and get away with it.

And yes Levi needs to take extra special safety precautions.

Guess who is going to race the Iron Dog next year?

Oh you are going to love this.

So a couple of weeks ago I heard this rumor that Levi was thinking about taking a run at the Iron Dog. (This was before this last race took place.)

I thought at the time, well THAT would be a real kick in the ass, and it would certainly aggravate the crap out of a certain Wasilla/Scottsdale family that we all know.

However one rumor does not a story make, so I did not bother to post anything about it just in case it was BS.

Well now I know that it is absolutely NOT BS. Levi has been talking to a number of people in Wasilla about the plan and even has some potential sponsors and investors lined up.

Now here is where it gets really entertaining.

Apparently after this last disastrous Iron Dog run (They were the first team to scratch and did so only hours into the race.) Todd has been telling just about anyone who will listen that he is retiring and leaving the race to the younger guys.

THAT was until he got wind of Levi's plans. Apparently once he heard that, he had a change of heart and now is telling people that he has at least one more good race in him.

Yeah, okay.

I have to wonder if it is Todd's idea to stay in the race to defend the family honor against their arch nemesis, or if it he is simply doing what the lady who pays the bills tells him to do.

In my opinion there is no real win for Todd in this.

I doubt he has what it takes to win this race anymore, so if he does manage to come in before Levi, who would be novice, then a three time champion managed to beat a rookie, and you just know somebody is going to want to ask him questions about Levi.

However if Levi beats Todd, and trust me there will be MUCH more scrutiny by the press if he competes, then he gets to talk about what the Palins have done to his family and essentially becomes a media darling. Actually that is a conversation he gets to have regardless of where he places.

Essentially the soon to be 24 year old would be David to the Palin family Goliath.

I like it.

I am pretty sure that the Wasilla kitchen appliances are safe for now, but I am willing to bet that right now in Arizona there is a poor dented refrigerator cowering in fear.

Sarah Palin congratulates winning Iron Dog team, and makes excuses for her fake husband's fake attempt to participate in the race.

Courtesy of the Tundra turdslinger's Facebook page:  

Congratulations Iron Dog champs Team #16 Minnick/Olstad! It was great seeing racers cross the finish line on the frozen Chena River in Fairbanks yesterday. 

Team #11 Palin/Huntington had to leave the hunt early due to a rarely seen crank shaft bearing failure (yes, these racers are mechanics speaking their own language), so they jumped in support mode for others in the extended family of hardcore endurance racers.

They jumped into "support mode?"

Didn't they simply run right back to Wasilla?

How exactly was that supportive to the other teams?

Okay I have a silly question. How is it that there was a crank shaft bearing failure so quickly along the trail with this group of guys supposedly working to make the snowmachine race ready?

 Here is how Palin described this photo right before the race:

The guys doing last minute wrenching before the start of the 2000-mile long Iron Dog race tomorrow! And taking a break to "fuel up" on (the usual) moose chili and blueberry pie.

So that "last minute wrenching" did not include checking the crank shaft bearings? How odd.

Well on the plus side I understand that the Sportsman Channel got all the footage they needed for the first episode of Amazing America.

And really once you have that what's the point in actually finishing the race?

Especially when you know there is no way to win?

Trig Palin speaks his first sentence. Kind of.

Courtesy of Facebook

As reported yesterday Todd pulled out early yesterday from the Iron Dog. (Please insert sex joke here.)

Later Palin posted this video on Facebook, with this description: 

When the girls told Trig that daddy had to leave the race, he still said, "Go, daddy!" And it's sort of his first "sentence" that's kind of clear! We're proud of our boy!

Children with Down syndrome develop at a much slower rate than normal, but I was struck by Trig's difficulty with speech at almost six years old. It once again makes me think he did not get the kind of early inventions and supports that he required to help him develop.

Not only that but his crossed eyes are very obvious in this video and yet he is once again not wearing any corrective lenses.

You know to me this kind of speaks to the pro-life movement writ large.

They are all about forcing women to give birth, but the responsibilities afterward of providing adequate care, or ensuring that the child's life is as comfortable as possible seems not to matter nearly as much.

Trig seems like an enjoyable little boy, but now that he is no longer a political prop he needs to be cared for as a human being with special needs.

By the way speaking of Todd here is what is filtering in so far as to why he quit: 

It didn't take long for the Iron Dog to turn into a nightmare for the dream team of Tyler Huntington and Todd Palin. 

The two former Iron Dog champs ran into trouble less than 100 miles into the 2,000-mile snowmachine race from Big Lake to Nome to Fairbanks on Sunday and officially pulled out of the race late Monday afternoon. 

Huntington, a two-time Iron Dog champ from Fairbanks, and Palin, a four-time winner from Wasilla, evidently had some kind of mechanical problem shortly after leaving the starting line in Big Lake. 

Race officials didn't have any details as to what happened, only that Huntington and Palin had scratched from the race because of a problem with one of their Ski-Doos. 

"All I know is they had some kind of mechanical issue," executive race director Kevin Kastner said. "I don't know if it was from a crash or just a mechanical failure."

You know this had me remembering the last time that Todd quit the race unexpectedly and for reasons that were never made clear. 

Uh oh, no Iron Dog trophy for Team Palin this year.

Photo courtesy of Facebook

Courtesy of Alaska Dispatch:  

Palin team tows back to Big Lake: After close to 24 hours of everyone wondering what had happened to the highest profile competitor in Alaska's Iron Dog snowmachine race, race officials Monday morning posted on their Facebook page that Todd Palin is broken down but undeterred. "Our race marshals just informed us that Todd and Tyler (Huntington, his teammate) are planning to leave soon from Skwentna. They will tow back to Big Lake for repairs, and intend to continue just as soon as they can!" The duo obviously suffered major damage to at least one of their sleds only 80 miles into the 2,000 mile race from Big Lake to Nome to Fairbanks. The leaders of that race were resting Monday morning in the tiny community of McGrath on the north side of the Alaska Range and are expected to be on the Yukon River heading for the Bering Sea coast by the time Palin and Huntington reach Big Lake. Their hopes for winning this year's race are over whether they actually decide to continue or not after making repairs.

Has been politician, has been Fox personality, has been reality show star, has been book author,  and now has been Iron Dog champion.

The Palin family tradition remains intact.

Ah, time to pimp the pimp.

Photo courtesy of Facebook

Before this Palin posted some behind the scenes pictures of Todd and his crew preparing for the race.

One even included Trig.

Of course right now you won't see any pictures of Bristol and Tripp, because you know hair school and fuck Levi.

I am told by those in the know that Sarah is once again doing the bare minimum, staying away from any nosy people, and only showing up to do the occasional photo op with Todd for advertising purposes and of course Facebook posts.

Even sent one to Bristol so that she could do her part to publicize her daddy's hobby. (You know the ones that does NOT involve turning out young woman.)

I saw a little of the coverage today and most of the attention seems to be focused on the newer, younger guys, and nobody seems to care much about a certain former champion and current purse carrier.

Sarah Palin pimps her "in name only" husband's upcoming Iron Dog race, and claims they are raising money to fight breast cancer. Wait, what?

Courtesy of Palin's Facebook page:  

It's almost IRON DOG time! This is one of the busiest times of the year for us with lots of guys wrenching in the shop and training on the trails and frozen rivers. Todd and his partner are full speed ahead gearing up for the world’s longest and toughest snowmachine race traversing over 2,000 miles of frozen Alaska. 

This year we’re very excited that Todd’s SkiDoo team and three other teams riding SkiDoo are racing for a very worthy cause! They’re launching the “Bring Home the Pink” campaign to raise money and awareness in the fight against breast cancer. All the money goes directly to help women in need. In fact, they’re working with Breast Cancer Focus, an Alaska-based organization run entirely by volunteers, in order to ensure that the donations go to fund efforts that will directly help women.

Yeah, did that stop you short when you read that too?

I hate to be completely cynical but when I think of Sarah and Todd "What's in it for us?" Palin I do NOT think of charity.

However the charity seems to be a real thing, and as far as I know legitimate. (Though it should be noted that it appears to be brand new.)

As far as I know.

Of course the idea of Todd Palin, one time pimp, raising money to give to help women rather than forcing them to work and make HIM money is more than a little hard to swallow.

Perhaps the Palins have turned over a new leaf and are now willing to finally give back to their communities. I mean anything's possible, right?

Right?

Hey, do you know who would REALLY like to see Todd race snowmachines?

Tripp. But sadly he is with his mother in Arizona for the next three months.

Because, you know, fuck Levi.