With 4,000 Chicago area fans cheering her on, former Republican Vice-Presidential candidate Sarah Palin trained her sights Wednesday night on Highland Park High School, which conservative talk radio has targeted for canceling the girls basketball team's trip to a tournament in Arizona.
"Them are fightin' words when you say a girl can't play in the basketball tournament ... for political reasons ... so we're going to see about that," Palin said.
Quoting her book "Going Rogue," Palin said: "Everything I ever needed to know, I learned on the Basketball Court: self-discipline, setting goals, teamwork, responsibility." She later added: "faith."
Palin said the school is still sponsoring a trip to China.
"You know how they treat girls in China?" Palin said. "It makes no sense. Even if they have to do this on our own. ... If the kids have to 'Go Rogue' girls."
Sarah Palin is essentially encouraging these young women to defy their coaches, and school officials, to attend a tournament in a state that is institutionalizing racism as a state policy.
And yet she claims that she learned "teamwork" and "responsibility" on the basketball court? Well those lessons certainly did not take, now did they?
And not only is Palin encouraging these teenagers to disrespect their school and flaunt its decision to demonstrate their unease with the discriminatory laws passed in Arizona, she is even trying to raise money to help them do it!
Sneed has learned Palin, the former Republican vice presidential nominee, who is outraged the Highland Park girls basketball team trip to Arizona has been canceled "for political reasons," wants to raise money and/or find a way to get them there.
Palin has asked WIND radio talk show host Amy Jacobson, a fellow high school basketball player who shares Palin's anger over the trip's cancellation because of Arizona's immigration policy, to help her do it.
WTF? So Sarah Palin, the woman who could not even complete her first term as governor, is going to raise money to help these children defy their school? I guess Sarah believes if you can get the money you can do anything that you want to.
Of course it does not seem to dawn on Palin that not every one of these girls parents might share her politics or her views on the boycott. What happens to this "plan" if half of the parents refuse to let their children go to Arizona? Does the other half go to sit on the sidelines and other teams play? (Oooh what fun!) And if NONE of the girls want to go if ALL of them can't go, then what happens to the money that Sarah is raising on their behalf? Does that just get absorbed into SarahPAC along with all of the other money Palin milks out of people who support her poorly thought out schemes? (Raise your hand if that would surprise anyone.)
And if any of these girls parents are reading this let me just tell you that taking advice from Sarah Palin on how to teach your children "responsibility" and "teamwork" is possibly one of the dumbest ideas imaginable.
She has a horrible track record with her own children, from the oldest boy who had to be shipped off to avoid jail time, to the oldest daughter who purposefully got pregnant to defy her mother, to the second daughter who has been implicated in vandalizing a house, not to mention the youngest daughter who probably does not remember what the inside of a classroom looks like, which then brings us to the youngest child (origins unknown) whose disability is used to gain attention and milk the faithful.
Sarah Palin is the Inspector Clouseau of motherhood. Only evil.
So parents whatever you do, keep Sarah Palin as far from your children as possible. Because if what we have seen recently with Bristol is any indication, the bad stuff that lives inside of her may be contagious.
Every time that Sarah speaks, she puts her ignorance on display. The Chinese practice human rights abuse against their own citizens. In order for a visitor to get into trouble, they would have to openly criticize the Chinese government (as surefire formula to get arrested). If they are of Chinese heritage, it would be even worse.
ReplyDeleteThe Highland Park HS serves a community that includes a Hispanic population. The question is not whether there are undocumented players on the team. The problem is that any player or accompanying adult of minority background would be subject to be stopped and asked to produce papers in Arizona, just for looking different.
When the wingnuts have no issue, they readily seize any cause and twist it to their advantage.
Two days ago this was a local Chicago story that no one would have ever heard about. Thanks to SP it is now a national story. I suspect the girls will go to the tournament and should. They had already start raising money and now the school is trying to explain their political actions to national media. I think a search on google news yesterday showed 300 articles on this story. That is the power of Sarah!
ReplyDelete"Them are fightin' words"
ReplyDeletegood lord! is this woman ever going to learn how to SPEAK?!
She is NOT going to use that money to help these girls do anything. She's gonna keep it to line her own pockets. Just like she always does.
ReplyDeleteEvery time I see that pic, I have to do a double-take because it looks like she's feeling herself up...
ReplyDeleteI heard that Keith Olbermann called Sarah an idiot on TV last night. Go Keith!
A customer called our paper yesterday wanting to place an ad boycotting any businesses, cities or states that boycott Arizona (It's running today). His reasoning is he heard an interview with one of the team members and they were very upset they couldn't go since they had worked so hard to get as far as they did.
I do find myself agreeing somewhat with Palin on the fact if they're boycotting Arizona, then they should not be planning a trip to China, either.
Should kids be dragged in to this, though? That's where I'm having some conflicting feelings. Definitely boycott Arizona from a business standpoint, baseball, move meetings out, hit them financially, and hopefully politically, but should schools be doing this?
Maybe the line "Never Mind"....you know from the
ReplyDeletecharacter on SNL, Emily Litella, now comes into play.
If sarah wants this so bad, why doesn't she pony up to pay for the trip? She certainly can afford it.
ReplyDelete$arah needs to mind her own business regarding the basketball team. It is a parent and school issue.
ReplyDeleteIt's also pretty effing idiotic for Palin of all people to advocate womens rights. She is ANTI choice. She made RAPE VICTIMS pay for their rape kits. Yes, great advocate for womens rights. She sets all women back to the stone age with her example.
ReplyDeleteShe struts around using her sexuality to ingratiate herself to men of power. That's called prostituting oneself. Palin has no substance whatsoever, she refuses to learn or study or educate herself and instead, peddles her feminine charms to get ahead and impress people. That is NOT empowering to women.
She accepts big money from organisations who can barely afford it just to spew her ignorant views. She doesn't even bother to research the topic of her speech or the organisation for which she is advocating! She lies to the people who support her and milk their hard earned money to line her own pockets.
She lies about her down to earth persona when in reality, she hob nobs with celebs and won't fly on anything but a Lear Jet. Either that or first class - none of this coach nonsense. She must stay at high end hotels, or else, no deal. She is not true to herself at all. If you are a snobby bitch, fine, own it. More power to you. But don't trundle around the country telling people you are "one of them" and that you care about them when it is plain as day you couldn't give a dime for anyone but yourself.
THIS is the kind of woman we are supposed to emulate?!
Thanks, but no thanks.
Anon @ 7.12AM
ReplyDeleteYou are right, Sarah does have power. The media dutifully reports her every idiotic word.
Keep supporting her, then. You will see how she uses that power. Hope you have a savings account - you will need it, she will milk you for every last cent you have. Count on that.
Good luck!
Sarah Palin, you are an idiot.
ReplyDeleteYes, Family Values Sarah is promoting teenagers to REBEL against their authorities. Funny thing too, she doesn't want big government interfering in people's lives, yet she goes to Michigan and interferes in this?
ReplyDeleteIt's not OK for government to help uninsured and SICK people, but it's OK for her to interfere with a State decision and raise money for a BASKETBALL team?
Her immaturity and impulsivity know no bounds.
I think that if there is any player or parent that might get asked "Papers please" then, as a team, these girls should realize that there's a big, ugly world out there. What does being on a team teach you...you're all in this together. By not going and sticking by any such person who might have to show "Papers please" they are learning the bigger message.
ReplyDeleteAfter Sarah resigned, the first speech she gave was in China. Her boss, Rupert Murdoch, is married to a Chinese woman, Wendi Deng. Now she's sticking her nose into this issue and criticizing a planned trip to China. All about attention and money for Sarah!
ReplyDeleteIf I had a child scheduled for a trip to Arizona, I wouldn't want the child to go anywhere near AZ. I think the school made the right decision. Of course the kids are disappointed but that's Arizona's fault, not the school district's fault. It's not about money, Sarah, it's about principles and apparently the Highland Park school has principles. Stick to messing up your own kids' lives Sarah. Keith Olbermann is right, Sarah's an idiot.
"Sarah Palin is essenially encouraging these young women to defy."
ReplyDeleteSarah Palin is essentially encouraging CHILDREN to defy...
And oh, to the parents and teachers of Highland Park HS in my beautiful city of Chicago - Sarah Palin just told the girls basketball team that it's ok to defy your decisions because SHE says so. What a great precedent and example to teach our children, when you are trying to protect them from an unconstitutional immigration law in AZ.
ReplyDeleteShe characterised your decision as "fighting words". That is - your decision to protect your children is now characterised as fighting with your children. Again, GREAT example.
So don't be surprised if her example results in acting out by your child. She's quite persuasive when she panders to the WORST instinct in us all. Good luck.
If you'd like to know how much Sarah believes in "teamwork" just think back to how she acted during the election.
ReplyDeleteAnd suppose these girls do get to Arizona? Will Palin whine and moan when they are punished? If you flaunt the rules, you get punished. It's quite simple, really.
As I understand it, the issue is the safety of the athletes--not political grandstanding. Some of the athletes are subject to police stops, questioning or even arrest if they go to Arizona and the school district is trying to protect its students. That is a good thing--looking after the well-being of the students.
ReplyDeleteSarah doesn't understand what it's like to be a brown-skinned person. She doesn't know all the considerations the school district must evaluate in this situation. She is reacting solely on a political level. The fact that some of the athletes might be stopped, intimidated or harassed NEVER crossed her mind.
Sarah's insular background prevents her from seeing all sides of the issue.
My sentiments exactly, anonymous 7:27. Sarah ought to put her money where her big,fat mouth is.
ReplyDeleteBut it stirs up more controversy, hate, and teabaggers to raise the money from donations.
While I think the AZ law is ridiculous, I don't think boycotts are the answer (and yes my city has also called for a boycott).
ReplyDeleteThat said, seems to me that Sarah doesn't think things (anything) thru. She tried to do her "I'm just like you cause I played basketball" deal, and then gets caught up in the adulation of the crowd and then she says crazy things. She'll say ANYTINHG to hear the crowd roar. I say, keep feeding her ego peeps because I guarantee that will be her downfall. Ego and Greed!
So now you folks are defending China in an effort to attack Palin?
ReplyDeleteRemarkable.
Wonder if there are any black or hispanic students on that team or exchange students (probably not). Or students born in Hawaii. What if some of the girls get into trouble with the immigration law? they had better to have their birth certificates with them... Does Arizona accept Illinois issued birth certificates or are they not valid like Hawaiian ones?
ReplyDeleteThe trip may have been cancelled for safety concerns. As a parent, I would not want my child going to AZ in this climate of protests and gun-toting crazy teabaggers.
ReplyDeleteWho is Sarah to risk other people's children's lives for her own publicity stunt?
China has a history of atrocities, but they own America so we shouldn't be insulting THEM with boycotted trips at this time.
ReplyDeleteHowever, Aryanzona is supposed to be part of the US. The treatment of 'brown people' is disgusting. You don't have to be committing a crime to be pulled over, you just have to look guilty of something. If a cop is having a bad day, and you don't have your birth certificate or a passport to prove you are a citizen, you could be put into a holding cell for hours trying to straighten things out.
Of course, the people that are targeted are not white, blond and blue eyed. The non-educated whiter than white, platinum blond, blue eyed governor that backs this law is as stupid as SP.
Have you seen the pictures of the first string of this girl's basketball team? This is an upper class school where the median income is $118K and the students are 80% white. However, the team sports a few brown faces and others that are non-white. The school made a good call in eliminating this tourney. They are looking for another tournament for the team to play in. If not, then the parents will get back the $1,500 that they forked over for each student to attend. Although the girls had bake sales and sold cookies, they made less than $1,000 in profit which didn't even cover the cost of one student to travel on the bus.
They can save the money and plan for future games in non-discriminating venues.
Will the former half term gov & failed VP candidate assume the legal responsibility & liability if those players go to AZ? What happens if one of those students is NOT a legal citizen? Who will those parents go after? Not Queen of Quit, it will be the school & school district.
ReplyDeleteSo if everyone were UNWILLING to sacrifice ANYTHING for the good of America and her people during World War II -- we would al be speaking fluent Deutsch (German)! Why is NO ONE willing to give up anything for the greater good?
ReplyDeletePalin's ego hugely outweighs her intellect and her ability to think things through to their logical conclusion. She has absolutely no business sticking her nose in this affair, as has been the case in others. Encouraging dependent minors to defy their elders is a total contradiction of the "family values" she only professes to have. Someone who has done such a poor job of raising her own family, with 2 of her kids having had brushes with the law, needs to go somewhere and sit down. The "lamestream" media has made her what she is, as they report each and every dumb thing she says and does. Some people who were former fans are wising up to her, but the fact that such an immature, ignorant, intellectually lacking woman still has fans at all is troubling. Furthermore, Governor Brewer and all the others who support this new law are getting what their hands called for in the form of boycotts. Why, the 2012 Republican Convention will be held in Tampa, Florida, instead of anywhere in Arizona. There was a city in Arizona on the short list, but it didn't make the cut. I wonder why.
ReplyDeleteSarah Palin is ugly. All the cosmetic surgery in the world will never cover up her kind of ugly.
ReplyDeleteThat's right Sarah standup for a girls basketball team. Never mind the starving Native Alaskans under r your watch. Dem cookies you brought them lined their starving bellies, it did the trick . You sure got your priorities straight.
ReplyDeletePalin needs to stay out of the other states' business.
ReplyDeleteI have a idea, since Alaska would never press charges against Sarah, why not try Seattle? In her book she states she has had 2 miscarriges and yet flew from Texas to Seattle and then to AK. She was in Seattle WA and admits to leaking amniotic fluids, is this not child endangerment. I can just see her on the stand:
ReplyDeleteMiss palin are you pro life, yes.
Doesn't pro life mean that you consider the fetus a child when it is conceived?
them Drs statements professional witnesses and so on and so forth.
It is a win win situation she would be under oath finally.
This might be our only chance to take down the
Wasilla Snow Queen!
Petition Washington attorney general and CPS!
Gratitude - that's what I feel each and every day as I realize anew how lucky we are that Sarah Palin is not our Vice President or President.
ReplyDeleteGratitude - that Sarah Palin is not your Senator and no longer your Governor.
That said, I regret waking up each morning knowing that Sarah Palin is still around at all, trying her hardest to destroy what remains of this country.
Every time I see that woman, I hear the soundtrack of ELO's Evil Woman playing in my head. A woman who leaves misery in her wake, only too eager to part fools from their money, who lost all the virtues that the lord gave her, etc.
But this part of the lyric still hasn't quite come true: how she's feeling the pain from the wine she herself made, how she's being told to get on the next train, how she "ain't got no place left to go."
Next time you see her strut her stuff, hum a little of Evil Woman. You might agree with me, it should be her theme song. Maybe then all the lyrics will fit.
I know I shouldn't wish anything bad for anyone. I don't think I am in Sarah's case. I am only waiting for the inevitable to happen. You cannot be that calculating negative for this long and not have it bore right into your soul and manifest itself against you. I wonder how long it is going to take.
Her snake oil tours are going to backfire on her. It is just heartbreaking, though, how much damage she's causing in the interim.
The school district is saying "When our students travel, the school district is responsible, both legally and ethically, for their safety, security and liberty. We cannot commit at this time to playing at a venue where some of our students’ safety or liberty might be placed at risk because of state immigration law." This is political opportunism by a Super and Board. Alarmism isn't pretty even when you agree with the underlying sentiment.
ReplyDeleteI was just in AZ and amazingly, I didn't see protests and gun-toting teabaggers. It wasn't safety or fear that prompted the cancellation, it was a political protest by the Board.
This smacks of political opportunism by everyone. The school board in Illinois, $P, and the media. The real shame is that everyone, on both sides is using this as a political football and the kids probably just want a trip to a Scottsdale invite tournament where they might get noticed by a college scout.
I hate saying this, but she has a point on the China trip. China is a place where they might actually be in real danger. How does China's policies on abortion, free speach, infanticide, elections, and any of about a thousand other things fit with Mr. Fornero's personal ethics?
Sarah loves China! Remember her paid appearance in Hong Kong? And, well Wendy Murdoch is Chinese - Sarah can't be upsetting her employer, can she?
ReplyDeleteI see Sarah had to problems going to China to earn her first big speaking engagement fee.
ReplyDeleteOh, yeah, I forget.
It's okay according to Sarah to do anything for money, but you can't do something to learn something.
Thanks Sarah for the lesson.
I think Chicago is more dangerous than China or Arizona.
ReplyDeleteAnon 8.13am
ReplyDeletePay attention please and keep up. We are NOT defending China's human rights record. We are pointing out that:
1) Sarah is WRONG to assert this is a political issue for the school, it is not. It is about the safety of the students.
2) Sarah is a HYPOCRITE to criticise a trip to China since one of her first gigs was to GO TO CHINA for a paid speech to investment bankers. Apparently, principles are easily set aside for a pay check.
and
3) Sarah is WRONG to incite the children to defy their parents and teachers.
Here is a cut and paste from the the school district superintendent. The team has not even qualified for any tournement anywhere. The AZ request was submitted and denied for the reasons noted below. This is available on the school Web site.
ReplyDeleteTHAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE TEAM WILL NOT GO TO ANY TOURNEMENTS. THEY HAVE NOT QUALIFIED FOR ANY YET. THIS IS FOR NEXT YEAR.
Palin has just sprouted off using this for her own personal agenda as usual. Never really thinking about the students. So Sara, STFU and leave these kids alone. Stop interferring in their lives!
Dear District 113 Parents, Students and Staff:
As you are aware, there has been significant media attention to Township High School District 113’s decision to not send the Highland Park High School varsity girls’ basketball team to a tournament in Scottsdale, Arizona scheduled for December, 2010. This decision is not a political statement regarding the State of Arizona’s recently enacted legislation regarding immigration.
Under long standing constitutional law, all school districts are required to provide an education to all children within the District’s borders regardless of immigration status. District 113 boasts a diverse student population and, as a school district, we believe in equal opportunity for each of our students. The selection of a girls’ varsity basketball team for the 2010-2011 winter athletic season will take place in November, 2010. The team has yet to be selected. When our students travel, the school district is responsible, both legally and ethically, for their safety, security and liberty. We cannot commit at this time to playing at a venue where some of our students’ safety or liberty might be placed at risk because of state immigration law. Our athletes will play in a competitive basketball tournament during their winter break.
Another important clarification relates to the misreporting that is present in some media outlets. The basketball team has not qualified for a national championship tournament. Rather, they were striving to find a venue for next season that would stretch them and serve to unify the group as a team. The protocol to take a trip within the US is to request approval from the Executive Council team. The Arizona travel request was submitted to Executive Council just two weeks ago. The request was denied for the reasons previously stated.
I believe it is important that our community members understand the facts of the situation. While I am sure that with a complex issue such as this, reasonable people can disagree on a decision, it is essential that the community understand that our primary motivation is to show care and concern for all of our students. Ensuring equality for all is a fundamental value for District 113.
Sincerely,
This is certainly an excellent point Gryphen that there MAY be parents who do not want their children to attend a basketball game or anything else in the state of Arizona, especially if they are Latino or African American. I know I certainly would not want a child or any family member who may be stopped with the possibility of "your papers please".
ReplyDeleteIf the team was headed for China every child and accompanying adult has a shiny little passport. So pack the passports and dump the kiddies in Arizona, so they can learn how "brown" gets treated.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous 7:12 and 8:13 - Your faulty logic gave me the biggest chuckle! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteIt seems your purpose is to leave moose droppings in case any of Sarah's fans stop by...give them something to nibble on while they're away from home.
The basketball story has been taken up by the Right Wing talk shows. One of the players is a gal named Amy Jacobson, who works for the radio station that helped sponsored Sarah's speech in suburban Chicago. The radio station favors the right wing philosophy.
ReplyDeleteAmy Jacobson made the news a few years ago. In the greater Chicago area, there are two identical stories, women who wanted to get out of an abusive marriage who suddenly "disappeared." In the more sensational case, Drew Peterson is now of trial for the murder of his third wife. The fourth wife is still missing.
Amy was involved in the case of Lisa Stebic, who has been missing since April 2007. At the time, Amy worked for a local TV news channel. Somehow, she gained access to the Stebic house, hoping to score an interview with the husband, who hadn't talked to any one. This was going to be one hot interview, since no reporter had been successful in getting near the guy.
The problem arose when a rival TV news station, camped out at a house across the street spotted Amy in the Stebic house. She was photographed in a bikini, and pictures of her appeared in the media. Her TV station found Amy's conduct inappropriate, and she was fired. But, Amy has not gone quietly, and she is a master at attracting attention. The problem is that instead of reporting the news, Amy is busy being a part of the story and orchestrating it.
I am sure she is clueless that there are Hispanics in Hyde Park! I am sure she thinks they are white girls.
ReplyDeleteidiot
Get ready, Highland Park, you are about to be descended upon by every right wing pundit and yahoo out there. The girls will have to endure undeserved attention, stress, and conflict. The superintendent as well as any student (including team members), parent, and people of the community who agree with the superintendent's decision will be the target of nasty e-mails and phone calls, even death threats.
ReplyDeleteThe power of Sarah is to fuck up everything she touches.
Here comes her " basketball experience ' LIE again. She puts on like she was the STAR Player and it taught her everything she knows. Didn't someone do the calculations and find out she averaged about 4 points a game... and mostly rode the bench. Especially in the Championship Games... She BRAGS about. Just another Joke in her resume.
ReplyDeleteHowever...her statement about " Don't you know how they TREAT women in China ". Well... tell us Grifter..? You had NO PROBLEM with making it a Priority to go there for your first speech. I don't think they were treating those Chinese women ( You are so faux worried about )any differently before you went... or changed their mind and their ways AFTER you went. And if there was a PROBLEM there....it would seem while you were up on that BIG stage speaking THERE.... that's the perfect time you should have ' scolded them ' with that shrilly, screetchy voice you have. I'll bet by the time you got home.... the bank would have canceled the check for the ' services you performed '. But at least you could say you were standing up for your 'principles '. Ohh... that's Right... You don't have any. my bad.
Palin is so undisciplined. Her erratic and impulsive behavior should give everyone pause. I say, go with this Sarah. Let's see just how quickly you play the victim, "poor me", when the whole damn thing backfires on your mean girl face.
ReplyDeleteI have a great idea!! Let's rent a bus to take the team to Arizona. We'll call it the Basketball Freedom Tour.
ReplyDeleteThen, we'll fly the girls on a private jet into the state. They'll board the bus just moments before their triumphant entrance into town.
People will wave flags, fire guns, thank God and the troops and pledge allegiance to the United Palins of America!
I'm feelin faint....
OT
ReplyDeleteGryphen, can we get your take on the "mama grizzlies" crapola she's slinging now?
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/05/14/palin-hits-campaign-trail-for-anti-abortion-group/
Anon 9:17am - It sounds like the radio wingnut was trying to make a political story where one didn't exist. And Sarah jumped right on board. Now, they both can look dumb.
ReplyDelete10cats - Thanks for the perspective!
If any one is trying to score political points, it is Palin and her winger pals. It certainly is not the school board who has a huge load of responsibility for those students.
ReplyDeleteOne can always dream can't one. Wouldn't it be sweet if the White House made up a team including the children of politicians and went to this school and played a game with them - and Oh all of a sudden President Obama pops in and drops one in the basket. Free pictures with our Presdent for all the players - Voila problem solved.
ReplyDeleteHey Sunshine:
ReplyDeleteThis is my favorite picture of dear Sarah too.
Only for a different reason. I think it displays the deep dark sneering soul of Sarah,the one that holds everyone else in contempt.
Sunshine 1970 said: Should kids be dragged in to this, though? That's where I'm having some conflicting feelings.
ReplyDelete---> What if their "non white" players get harassed, asked for papers, handcuffed, jailed, etc?
___________________
Annon said:
I have a great idea!! Let's rent a bus to take the team to Arizona. We'll call it the Basketball Freedom Tour.
Then, we'll fly the girls on a private jet into the state. They'll board the bus just moments before their triumphant entrance into town.
People will wave flags, fire guns, thank God and the troops and pledge allegiance to the United Palins of America!
I'm feelin faint....
-------> Then they can take all the brown kids on a FREE trip south of the border!
Here's a modest (and insincere) proposal with regards to SP's fund raising. It won't cost her detractors a lot of money and it won't realistically enrich her coffers in a meaningful way, yet it could have a cathartic comic effect once revealed.
ReplyDeleteTwo words: ass pennies. (google it)
I don't think the school's student AZ and China trips are comparable, without knowing more about the China trip. The trip to AZ was to play in a sports event that, it seems, is not the only thing they could choose to go to. They were not going there for educational purposes such as to learn about how AZ government works, to do research on the effects of the new immigration law, or something like that. In simple terms, it does not for any particular reason have to be Arizona that they travel to.
ReplyDeleteI admit I do not know the details of the China trip, but my guess is it was educational in purpose. Is SP wrong about how girls and women are treated there? Perhaps not, but let them go and see and learn first hand something about the culture and the history and some of the 'why' those things are so.
A trip to a place with a culture so very different from ours is a valuable experience. It fosters understanding and one's ability to see things from another perspective. This helps us learn to get along and forge workable compromises. To exclude China from the list of places we'll let our children go due to their current governmental policies would be a "political reason".
I thought Sarah Palin was against that?
This is a purely local issue. The school serves both Highland Park and Highwood, Illinois. Highwood has a large Latino population. There may have been girls on the team who would be harassed simply because they are Latino, and the superintendent was concerned for their safety. It is not as if the girls are being denied the opportunity to play in an elite, winter tournament. The school already entered the team in an other tournament in Florida.
ReplyDeleteI suspect that Sarah Palin doesn't know who she is dealing with in Highland Park and Highwood -- communities that voted overwhelmingly for Obama in 2008, voted for Dan Seals over Mark Kirk in the 10th district, and are represented at the state level by Democrats. Highland Park is populated by highly educated, high income people who are not Sarah Palin's audience.
Sarah Palin is not liked in Illinois (less than 30% approval rating), she is not liked in the affluent lake shore communities. I thought she was trying to "progress Alaska" when she quit. She cannot "progress" Illinois, and should keep her nose out of the decisions made on a local level. If Mark Kirk were smart he would tell her to shut up and sit down and stop ruining his Republican chances at Senate (but he won't which is a good thing).
What a filthy whore. She should have learned responsibility, self-discipline, and teamwork from being in high school band...instead of bragging about having Chuckles tape up her fingers to get out of playing in pep band. Disgusting! Clearly this skank can't learn anything.
ReplyDeleteanyone catching this NRA speech? might be the pinnacle of Sarah's insanity.
ReplyDeleteBest, most succinct idea I read at Huffpost today regarding Dippy Sarah:
ReplyDeleteLet's boycott stupid people from Alaska.
Oh dear. Mrs. Palin didn't have her props with her this time, so she had to borrow 'OPC' (Other People's Children)for publicity and marketing.
ReplyDelete1. The school is not "cancelling" tournament play.
2. This team plays its competition schedule in Illinois and the midwest area. Not Arizona. The play date next December is extra, not part of their season, not a championship.
3. This school has politicized nothing. Mrs. Palin has politicized this issue. It's about her and their resident wierdo, Amy Johnson.
Pervert! Using children again...
you can rent a bus and take the team to AZ, but for what? They did not qualify to play in any tournaments according to their school's website.
ReplyDeleteOn that note, just rent a bus and bring the team to Wasilla to play SP, the non-basketball star. That would be funny as hell. A game of keep away.
American visitors in China are in danger? What are the crime statistics in the various zones? Can the 'students in danger in China' people backup why they believe that? Any examples? Are there travel alerts as happens when traveling to other countries that are a threat?
ReplyDeleteArizona is advertising that the drug lords have taken over, that would be a thousand times worse for anyone visiting Arizona. Sarah Palin is too casual about alcohol and drugs. She likes the places that run a muck with the Meth scene and she is curiously silent about the results. Parents do keep Sarah Palin as far from your children as possible. What about Bristol who is the one who will attract a younger crowd of followers?
Gryphen, I do respect that Sherry and Sadie Johnston wish not to get involved. I don't include Keith or Levi Johnston. IMO the "He just does not want to get involved” comment did sound ludicrous but Sadie did say more, “Levi is a very closed off individual. Really hard to crack. He only opens up to me if it is something really major. He probably knows a lot. He could probably shut her down if he told people what he knows. He just does not want to get involved.” She left the door open that he does know and could shut her down. I'm not sure why he would not be talking to authorities, if he is that is unknown.
Whether Sarah Palin is parading her 9 year old as a role model for her style of homeschool, encouraging a girls basketball team to defy a school boycott and put students in more danger, or setting Bristol up to carry on her legacy, she is setting a low bar and bad example for all our youth. Dr. Drew and MTV are promoting her family lies and not telling students the whole reality. Why is no one telling this story or asking questions? Gryphen, you are a beacon of light in the madness and please continue your work to expose them ASAP.
When I lived in Highland Park in the late 70's, the only Hispanic families were those who lived in a separate part of what was then a wealthy suburb . They were essentially service providers for the upper middle class folks who lived in the big houses. I wonder if it is still that way.
ReplyDelete"AP: THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE"
ReplyDeleteIsn't she certifiable yet? Like certifiably insane.
I did not understand that any of the parents and students were interested in going to Arizona on their own without the support of the school district, but that Palin decided they should go. Why does she think she has a say? And even if money was raised, no one can force every student on the team to go, right? Besides, I think a team that decides to go to a tournament without the approval of their school district technically would not be representing their school. They probably would not be able to legitimately play in the tournament if the district had officially withdrawn them. What Palin is really trying to do is muscle/bully the school district into backing down and allowing the trip. Who does she think she is?
ReplyDeleteMaybe you could do a little piece on Chicago's own Amy Jacobson also, too. Here is a little snippet:
ReplyDelete"After more than 10 years as a reporter for NBC-owned WMAQ-Channel 5, Jacobson made front-page headlines in July 2007 when CBS-owned WBBM-Channel 2 aired videotape of her wearing a bikini and towel at the southwest suburban Plainfield home of Craig Stebic. At the time, she was covering the disappearance of Stebic’s estranged wife, Lisa. In the ensuing uproar, Channel 5 fired Jacobson."
Honest to God, Ms. Amy was "socializing" with Lisa Stebic's husband- the main suspect in her case. This was a HUGE story in the Chicago area (just before the Drew/Stacey Peterson case).
Just Google "Amy Jacobson". There are better stories- I just don't have time now to find them. Unbelievable that she could get a job cleaning toilets here much less another news job.
On the Amy Jacobson thing...forgot to mention that not only did she bring her little bikini to this guy Stebic's house, she also brought along her kids. Backyard activities were taped by another TV station's crew and everyone appeared to be very, very comfortable.
ReplyDeleteShe is a megalomaniac. She is, in her own mind, more than all of us. She struts and strides and preens, yet she "knows" nothing except that she is "special." She is a mental deformity.
ReplyDeleteDear High School Basketball Girls: Please rise above the Middle School Mean Girl mentality.
ReplyDeletePlease defy Sarah's divisive mentality.
Please stand by your teammates; stand together proudly for loyalty and unity and peace.
Stand Strong, girls, and make YOUR voices heard.
Who the hell is she to interfere in this school district's decision. She hasn't anything to do with the state of Illinois. She is nobody here. She is nobody anywhere. Someone-get-rid-of-her.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.pioneerlocal.com/evanston/news/2271710,pioneer-press-palin-051310-s1.article
ReplyDeleteSusan Weber of Elgin was impresssed with Palin after reading her book, Going Rogue: An American Life.
"I think she's an amazing woman," Weber said. "Everything she put up with. People who wouldn't follow her leadership when she became mayor. She didn't quit. I think she's a very strong, amazing woman."
Joyce Lindstrom was carrying Palin's book in her bag.
"My son said you better take it with you just in case," she said.
Lindstrom was among a group who'd ridden on a chartered bus from Rockford. She backs Palin's push to drill for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
"The caribou are doing very well up there. They're multiplying faster than they ever did before. They like the warm pipeline," Lindstrom said. "I don't understand these people who are against drilling in ANWR. They will not ruin this land by drilling. Stupidity."
I'm alll for the boycott...personally, I want Pujols or some baseball player to grow some balls and refuse to play the d-backs at home...that said, I'm shocked this school district is doing this. Highland Park is not Chicago...It's an upscale suburb, very Republican. Though I looked it up on Wiki and apparently 20 percent of its population is latino...
ReplyDeleteI'm going to stop myself before I say something mean about these girls...
One of my daughters in AZ is married and now has a Hispanic surname. She lives south of Phoenix and is never harassed in her home county. But when she drives up to Phoenix/Maricopa County to visit her sisters, she is occasionally stopped by some of Sheriff Joe's finest. It's always some pretext, since the vehicle is registered under her husband's name. The curious thing is as soon as the deputy sees she's not exactly "brown," she's immediately sent on her merry way, sans ticket. No racial profiling there....
ReplyDeleteSP's hierarchy of needs are not breathing food, sleep and shelter, healthy well-being, because she's one of the blessed ones. She falls into that comfy "I have need of nothing" category that looks down on needy people.
ReplyDeleteHer present needs are guns, sports, freedom from higher taxes, roguishness, rights to speak for outlandish fees, entitlement to accept donations from struggling donors for luxuries. She and her trusted group of loyal followers have chosen her as leader of this entitled minority, who demand more for less. She doesn't want to represent the needy group.
So, it's fitting that supermommabear Sarah rose up on her hind legs and growled at the bad school administrators.
I'm sure everyone remembers the wingnut outrage over POTUS' talking to the school children of America where he encouraged them to stay in school, work hard, etc. What (normal) parent would disagree with that advice?
ReplyDeleteRemember also, too, when Sarah came out of an airport accompanied by Tawdry and one of her assistants, where the waiting paparazzi ask her if she had a message for HER children? Her reply was one word "Obey". That message was for HER children.
Now she butts into an issue that's none of her business and tells other people's children to "go rogue". Whether I like it or not, that woman is all over the news several times a week where lots of kids probably or possibly hear her babblings and she tells kids to "go rogue". I can only hope that Teabaggers' children who hear Palin will take her advice and "go rogue" on their stupid parents' beliefs.
(I had to work on that silver lining!)
In light of budget concerns, they should have cancelled the trip anyway. Too far, too expensive.
ReplyDeleteOn a personal note, the first time my husband or children (hispanic and black) gets stopped and detained because they don'thave their 'papers' on them, I have a federal lawsuit ready to file.
This isn't just about politics.
ReplyDeleteIt's also about safety.
Our school district passed a similar mandate. We won't contract for services from companies in Arizona and no school official will attend conferences or be reimbursed for any travel to Arizona. But also we want to make sure our students are safe. We have a large population that isn't white. We want to ensure that our students are safe. And so we want to warn them about the new Arizona law and how it may effect them. Plenty of them qualify for the "you look like you need to show me some ID" AZ law.
And Palin is a moron. Who listens to the white noise anymore?
I've always been puzzled as to why Americans give charlatans like Palin so much attention and credence. In any other country she would be considered an nonentity, just another failed & washed-up politician, yet in the United States she commands and gets ridiculous amounts of money to spout hate-filled rhetoric and have her every move documented and discussed, ad nauseum. I wonder if you have any idea how badly this reflects on y'all.
ReplyDeleteWhen is Sarah going to be charged with sedition?
ReplyDeleteSharon TN
I thought this was political hyperbole when i first read the actual words that the Superintendent wrote "all school districts are required to provide an education to all children within the District’s borders regardless of immigration status ... When our students travel, the school district is responsible, both legally and ethically, for their safety, security and liberty. We cannot commit at this time to playing at a venue where some of our students’ safety or liberty might be placed at risk because of state immigration law."
ReplyDeleteI now think he is saying that they have undocumented aliens on their team and they don't want to risk taking them to AZ or exclude them from the trip. If that's the case, this may be more than a short-lived little political poostorm.
10catsinMD @9:05 AM points out that not only has this girls' basketball team NOT been invited to any tournament, this "invite" involves NEXT YEAR'S team, which will be selected in November, 2010.
ReplyDeleteSo, Private Citizen Palin is not only making a big deal about an invitation that does not exist, her protests are about a team that doesn't exist.
This sounds like an episode of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart's "You're Not Helping."
Bill Abendroth
Samsara Samizdat
Sarah Palin is so dumb, she is dangerous. Very dangerous!
ReplyDeleteAnon 8:53:
ReplyDeleteInteresting idea about the WA state child endangerment. However, the WA Attorney General is a Repub with Governor dreams so he has joined the health reform repeal lawsuit & such bologna so he'd never ever pursue this....overall has not been a bad AG but clearly the GOP BS is coming out as he eyes his next job.
I live in the Chicago burbs. Many, many of my friends live in Highland Park. Yes, they have a 20% Hispanic population. They also have a huge Jewish population. I think this might be a little bit of solidarity between another group of people who have been unfairly persecuted. "Show me your papers" sounds a little too much like Nazi Germany for some. Gryph, if you need some leg work or help putting together a post about Amy Jacobson (who was fired for basically prostituting herself and kids)or Highland Park parents let me know. You have boots on the ground in Chicago.
ReplyDeleteCarrie
Sarah Palin is a stupid ignorant skank. She is the white trash mean girl that everyone hated in high school. She is the most mentally ill person ever in the poltical arena. It isn't funny and it isn't entertaining . The woman is sick and she's harmful to our country. We really need to find a way to stop her because she is so full of herself, she's dangerous.
ReplyDeleteMany Republicans and conservatives can't stand her either. Surely someone as a way to bring her down once and for all. Because she's a sociopath. A friggin piece of skanky trash. The people who suppor her are blind and stupid.
Anon @ 2:10 you said...
ReplyDelete"I now think he is saying that they have undocumented aliens on their team and they don't want to risk taking them to AZ or exclude them from the trip. If that's the case, this may be more than a short-lived little political poostorm."
That's not what he's saying! He's saying that the Highland Park HS has team members who may be harrassed because of racial profiling. There may be teachers, sponsors and family members as well who might suffer because of the racist AZ laws. IMO, all of the team members, whether white, brown or black would suffer if they were in that atmosphere.
With all that said, what if he does have undocumented aliens on the team? So what?
O/T but she looks like dick cheney in drag in this picture.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous said...
ReplyDelete"I've always been puzzled as to why Americans give charlatans like Palin so much attention and credence."
we have very limited sources of media and one is Sarah's boss, Rupert Murdoch (FOX and Discovery).
We would love it if the media would ignore her but they insist on putting her speech trail and her book of lies tour in our faces every day. It used to be funny....now...not so much.
I have come to the conclusion that SP's goal is to incite violence and create unrest across America. Maybe she is Taliban.
"The Highland Park High School Basketball situation is RESOLVED they are going to FLORIDA
ReplyDelete. .and Sarah Palin can STFU!"
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8337985
After Sarah resigned, the first speech she gave was in China. Her boss, Rupert Murdoch, is married to a Chinese woman, Wendi Deng. Now she's sticking her nose into this issue and criticizing a planned trip to China.
ReplyDelete=====================================
And there's more. She has ordered Chinese food from the Peking Restaurant. When she was a kid, she played Chinese Checkers. When she has company over, they eat off china. And where was her boombox made? That's right, China.
So let me get this straight......never mind. I'll be back after a few more Black and Tans. American B&T's. NOT FOREIGN ones like BP makes in our Gulf.
ReplyDeleteanon@2:10 Yes, that's the important fact. It sounds like they have, or possibly have, illegal immigrants in the school, on the team, so they are basing their decision on that consideration. How smart and responsible. How stupid of that Amy and Sarah, et al.
ReplyDeleteHow to BOYCOTT CHINA, by $arah paylin....First, send $arah paylin to Hong Kong to make some money from them. The End.
ReplyDeleteSo, Gryphen - the evil Inspector Clouseau of motherhood image haunted me on and off all day. I'm glad IM is also on the case!
ReplyDeleteMay the family dysfunctions be made known and understood among the same circle as the myth and may all her children receive the caring, balanced help they need!
story at local newspaper, Highland Park News:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.pioneerlocal.com/highlandpark/news/2274826,hp-team-plans-new-trip-051410-s1.article
Victoria Paige said...
ReplyDeleteAnon 8.13am
To add to your thoughts, I don't think you can equate the boycott of AZ with still going to China. Despite human rights violoation and their less than steller attitude toward women in China, our free American girls, (I feel like i'm sounding like Palin here) are able to help show how a country can treat its females with dignity and respect and not second class citizens. Boycotting AZ shows that we will NOT accept that in OUR country.
I say BRAVO to the boycott. Stand strong girls. You are doing the right thing. To tell Palin to F off.
Palin is as stupid, ignorant, and backward as the day is long. She travels from state to state, sticking her beak in affairs that are absolutely none of her concern. It is heartening that there are conservative Republicans who see through her and are not buying what she is selling. It's an irony that some Republican politicians of Illinois are avoiding her like the plague. But Palin is too dense and obtuse to appreciate irony when it's staring her pointblank in the face.
ReplyDeleteI love how she likes to go on and on about how she "chose life" in giving "birth" to Trig. This is something that seems to resonate with the anti-abortion crowd. Yet, the irony that she doesn't seem to have much time for her brood but time for other things seems to be totally lost on them. And that is one of the problems with some pro-lifers. The perception of them is too often that they consider life in the womb sacred, but not so much after a child is born. People like her do a disservice to people who are consistently pro-life in every way.
Aside from the fact that this school issue is none of her business, someone who shows her stupidity and hypocrisy about family values on a daily basis is in no position to say anything, anyway. It's long past time for someone to tell her to her face in no uncertain terms to shut the hell up and go away. She had no problem going to China to spout her usual nonsense and get an undeserved fee for it.
Yet, she has trouble with people who decide to boycott a state with a racist law out of concern for the kids' safety. So what if the school wants to fund a trip to China one day?
Again, that is none of her business.
I wonder if Granny Grifter would have given the same advice to members of the 1980 US Olympic team? "Who cares about the boycott against the Communist countries?!"
ReplyDelete