Money certainly talks. Our sources estimate Us Weekly paid $100,000 to Bristol Palin and Levi Johnston for the story on their engagement. The cash not only bought an exclusive interview with the couple, but also screwed competitor People. The single mom gave interviews to both magazines, but didn't tell People about the engagement or that they'd hidden their reconciliation from Sarah Palin.
Bristol lied to People: "We're not totally back together, but I'm not ruling it out . . . I don't want to get into what's in store for our future because, who knows?" But Us Weekly knew. Bristol hid her left hand in the People photo shoot, though proudly revealed her ring to Us Weekly. An Us Weekly rep said, "We were approached by Bristol and Levi to break the news, and we didn't pay $100,000."
$100,000 BUCKS! Jesus that is a lot of money! No wonder Bristol brought Levi back into her little "bed of faux abstinence!" I mean can you imagine US Weekly paying that kind of money for the announcement of the Bristol Palin/Ben Barber engagement? Hell no! Barber is not a marquee name! He does not inspire tongues to wag and billfolds to open.
Once the bun in Bristol's oven began to rise it simply HAD to be Levi!
So Levi and Bristol get to split $100,000. Not bad. Of course if we know Sarah Palin's little girl, Levi will probably not get a chance to even smell that money before Bristol puts it into a bank account, the number of which he will be told not to worry his handsome little head about.
Of course Levi should be used to having somebody else control his money since he was also put on an allowance by Rex Butler, who only allowed Levi enough money to pay his rent and go hunting once in awhile. Of course at that same time Rex and former bouncer Tank Jones were opening an ostentatious watering hole simply called "The Office" in mid-town, which features two huge leather thrones to cushion their grifter asses . Gee I wonder how they managed to scrape together enough money to do that?
By the way for those who are still accepting the story that "mommy fearest" was not aware of this engagement, you need to be aware that in order to broker a payday this large Bristol would have had to have her attorney work out the details. That attorney is Thomas Van Flein who, by no coincidence whatsoever, is also the attorney that Sarah has on a $10,000 a month retainer. You can bet your ass that Van Flein would NEVER dare to cross Mama Grizzly by helping Bristol and Levi go behind her back to make this announcement. He knows full well who the real golden goose in the family is, and also what a vindictive bitch that goose can be.
Now the only question remaining is how to work Bristol's swelling extremities and bulging baby belly into the storyline of their new reality show? Perhaps they can say that while Levi was posing for Playgirl he was bitten by a radioactive porn star and now his sperm have super potency powers. Meaning that in six weeks after they are married and can "finally" re-consummate their relationship, his special Levi Johnston baby batter will hunt down Bristol's defenseless egg and fertilize it so aggressively that it will fast forward Bristol's pregnancy four months in a single weekend!
What? Is that really any dumber than a the story of Sarah's last "pregnancy"?
I sincerely doubt Sarah or another Palin knew about this. Rex couldn't helped with the legal proceedings with usweekly. Levi is quite possibly the stupidest person on earth, if the bank account story is true. I hope Bristol gets a prenup or dumps his ass before its too late. She doesnt need to deal with his neurotic, lying sister or him when she doesn't have to.
ReplyDeleteI also doubt there's a reality show and that Sarah approved that as well. DIdnt the usweekly article say he's almost out of the limelight and never wants to do that again?
We all know Bristol never loved Levi, That their relationship began some time in 2007, that they were both seeing other people the whole time, that Levi and Johnny had issues May 08 as evidenced by Mercedes myspace, that Bristol seemed pretty happy traveling with her mother during the PA zoo trip, and apparently they each enjoyed the RNC.
I believe Bristol really kicked Levi out post Tripps birth and her parents started to support her as a single mom, by alienating Levi. There were no REAL harsh words said about him. Sarah was rightly disappointed at his playgirl spread and other decisions. I believe both Sarah and Todd would fight tooth and nail for their daughters wellbeing and happiness - even back in 2007 in she was moved to anchorage. They didn't want her to be unhappy in Juneau so she lives with her Aunt - NOT a weird circumstance. several other Govs kids are in boarding school away.
BRistol obviously has Sarahs strong will and defiance so she was going to have her way no matter what. Willow seems to have a decent relationship with each parent. Piper and Track too. I think we're too quick to judge Sarah as a bad mother because of the general defiance of teenagers. You've said it yourself Gryph, teens do stupid shit.
Have you seen the people video of the photoshoot? Bristol references Sarah in saying grandma to Tripp. She sounds happy and like they get along.
http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20401679,00.html
Too bad the powerful,mad genius force$ behind Sideshow Sarah and her dysfunctional family can't be harnessed for the common good...
ReplyDeleteThe whole thing sounds like a shotgun wedding to me.
ReplyDeleteSomeone must be a vampire, with their 40 day pregnancies.
ReplyDeleteEX ACT TEE LY what I'm thinking !And Palin benefits from the whole thing on several levels. Palin's lack of humanity is blatant but she is lucky & politically shrewd in a more insidious manner. No wonder I'm an agnostic. I'm just waiting for her undeserved luck to run out. As for them, Bristol & Levi are 2 almost predictable cardboard soap opera characters but when involved in the Palin drama, their characters aren't so amiable. Now I'm just waiting for someone to pound those nails of truth in her coffin. Not so patiently either. Thanks Gryphen for what you do.
ReplyDeleteWhere is "Ruffles"? What happened to him? How does he play a role in all of this? What is Levi and Bristol hiding? What brings them together? I think it's much more to this story than we know. It's not only about the money imo. I think whatever it is could be criminal. What is Levi scared of? What happened to "Ruffles"? Sarah faked a pregnancy for a baby that no longer existed but had to adopt one to replace him? Could this have happened? Is this why Tripp just mean so much to the Johnstons? The loss of one child can make the desire for the next one to be more intense. So much to hide from both the Johnstons and the Palins IMO.
ReplyDeleteThe multiple personality modes of the Palins keeps us all piqued with curiousity about what they will do next. And isn't this what they want? The more the public eats them up, the richer they get, the more media exposure for Sarah.
ReplyDeleteOn another note, at the Kernell trial, didn't Bristol under oath tell the court she endured disruption in her life and was shocked to see a photo of her baby on-line? (Or something of that nature). How can her testimony hold water when she now behaves in contradictory manner and pursue magazine exposure of her and her baby, with her life spilled out for all to see.
The hypocrisy knows no bounds with the Palins. And, here this young man sits waiting for his sentence in September while the people who he supposed disrupted are doing way more in revealing their private lives than his actions ever could.
Will justice prevail?
Anon 3:02: Peddle that nonsense somewhere else!
ReplyDeleteBristol gets around. How many of Levi friends has she actually been with? But then again, I hear that Levi has been with a couple of her friends as well. Still think that both the Palins and the Johnstons are hiding a huge secret. Where is "Baby Ruffles"? Why was he replaced by Trig?
ReplyDeleteSadie, what happened to the baby that you called "Triggybear"? Oh how you loved him so!
I always enjoy the Levi soap opera posts, but I'm curious about a major shift in Gryphen's attitude: you used to be very pro-Tank and Rex, treating them like white knights. Now they're "former" pimps and thieves? What changed?
ReplyDeleteFrom Anon. 5:07 - I believe I meant the Bristol testimony mentioned her disruption and her shock of seeing a photo of her "baby brother" instead of her "baby".
ReplyDeleteDon't know the exact words of her statement, but obviously she must have been talking about her brother, as she wouldn't have had her baby until December.
Still, anyone who complains and feels their privacy is disrupted because of a few photos, yet turns around and makes oodles of money from photos of themselves and their baby, is not on the up and up.
The unfair salary distribution because of "celebrity" is one of the most unfair and disgusting things in our society. Celebrities selling photos of their young for million dollars (the Pitt/Jolie family). Our "moral fibre" on what is right and wrong needs to be addressed by moral upstanding Sarah Palin. Why doesn't she address this discrepancy? Because she has her sticky fingers right in the middle of it and is exploiting this unfair practice for money, and teaching her kids to go for it.
Yes, Gryph, what changed for you with Rex and Tank?
ReplyDeleteThe US rep is quoted that US did not pay 100,000.
ReplyDeleteI do not care what they got. It seems to have upset people and caused relationship damage to have learned from a magazine the couple's intentions.
I hope the relatives verbalized to Bristol and Levi their feelings i.e. went to the source.
I do suspect that Mercedes blog while not inflammatory nor any hit piece certainly had potential to detract from the sensational bomb Bristol and Levi intended and get paid for. Hence the rage and threats Sadie had to take it down or never see Tripp again.
Bristol did know 2 weeks ago they got engaged..and they chose to get paid for their announcement.
lol...people who posess commonsense would seize an opportunity, financial gain or pay off while maintaining integrity, trust and respect from others, honor and positive regard for family members also..win win win..not we got the bucks..fuck the rest of you.
Re: People interview, Bristol has a track record of lying by ommission for dollars. Some people only seek $$, not personal success, integrity, virtues, morals and financial success.
Pulling one over for self serving monetary gain may pay off in $$ but it always comes at the harm to destruction of others. No one can "buy" another mother, sister...nor buy a reputaion or character. they only care about the money and are so self absorbed and dysfunctional to have it all.
Let's focus on Chelsea Clinton and the guests who respect her and her fiance and the privacy the Clintons have maintained for their daughter.
Media whore! Just like mama.
ReplyDeleteI wonder how receptive people mag will be next time a palin wants 100k for something.
To: 3:02, nice to see a bot on board or at least the closest facsimile. I'd sure like to know what evidence you have that Mercede is lying. She's not attacked the Palins or Levi.
ReplyDeleteWhich lies of Levi's are you referring to - the ones where he exposed Sarah or the ones where he takes those statements back?
Glad you can see into someone's heart by stating "Bristol never loved Levi." That may be true because she hasn't acted as if she did, but none of us can really know. I would simply say that Bristol treated Levi badly in public. He never spoke badly about her.
If you truly believe that Todd and Sarah are good parents, I'd hate to see those you think are bad ones. Sarah quit being a loving, involved mother a long time ago. Perhaps she is and always has been just a breeder. There is a significant difference.
Good mothers don't use their kids as props. Good mothers don't set up their daughters to be ridiculed because they are unwed mothers. Good mothers don't keep their kids out of school or keep their disabled children away from the assistance they need. Sarah Palin a good mother? Give us all a break.
Most parents may have one teen who acts out in public ways, but to have three? Sorry, something is rotten at home.
Anon @ 5:07. What baby? The hacking took place in Aug 08. But according to the Palin's, Bristol's 1st child wasn't born until Dec 08, and there were no pictures of him until ~Feb 09.
ReplyDeleteAnon @5:34. re baby or baby brother. The trial transcripts are not available yet. However, Palingates quoted a Fox news report at the time that quoted Bristol as testifying that she was distressed to find pictures of her newborn son in the public eye after her mother's email was hacked. The pics were of Trig.
ReplyDeleteWho made the "mistake" Fox or Bristol?
Gryphen, I missed something: When did your opinion of Levi and his legal team sour? What happened?
ReplyDelete"The US rep is quoted that US did not pay 100,000."
ReplyDeleteThey paid $200K...$100K each.
Hey Gryph!
ReplyDeleteCould this be a possible Ruffles sighting? Enlarge the last pic.
http://wonkette.com/416712/a-childrens-treasury-of-team-sarah-poetry-and-trig-pics
Carrie
Sorry. I meant the third pic.
ReplyDeleteCarrie
The saga of Bristol and Levi - as told by kittens!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.buzzfeed.com/fuckyeahcutepets/kittens-tell-the-bristol-palin-lifetime-special-1mde
(Warning: politically incorrect and risque material within the kitten photo spread, but very cute kittens and funny, too!)
"Good mothers don't use their kids as props. Good mothers don't set up their daughters to be ridiculed because they are unwed mothers. Good mothers don't keep their kids out of school or keep their disabled children away from the assistance they need. Sarah Palin a good mother? Give us all a break."
ReplyDeleteWhat would the general public have said if Bristol was hidden back in Aug 08? If no one ever saw any of the Palin kids once throughout the election? My moneys says people wouldve said shes ashamed given all the egregious attacks. Allowing your pregnant teen daughter outside the home does nothing butshow you love and accept her. It's not like she dragged her on stage. Palin was a new public figure and her family was simply being presented to the country, as many have been in the past.
You have no proof that Piper isn't receiving education. You have less proof that Trig doesn't receive therapy, love or special care. Gryphen has no proof if he hasn't been inside the compound nor spoken with a member of the immediate of extended family. Hearsay is a powerful drug, much more powerful than oxycontin or meth, because it destroys the soul. We have no idea why B and L originally broke up nor is it our business. Bristol has gone on the record through Candies speeches and said "I am not trying to push abstinence on anyone." Her psas tell us to pause, which is pretty ingenius because too many people, old and young, don't.
The world is full of heartless, mentally inept people. Some sit next to us, some may be our spouses in hiding, some are locked away. It is a human being's job to abstain from judgment until one has walked in someone else's shoes. Unless you were Sarah or Bristol or Todd's siamese twin during 2007-2010, you have no cause to wrongly judge. THAT would be having no moral compass, as it sounds like none of you have.
If they don't get married, does she have to pay the $100,000 back ?
ReplyDeleteAnd since Candies was paying her big bucks for the abstinence thingy, now that she's pregnant (out of wedlock) again, might they sue for return of some of that money also ?
I smell a couple of big lawsuits in Bristol Palin's future. Get the popcorn ready.
I don't see that Sarah was ever a hands on Mom. She has always delegated to extended family, staff or church members and Todd. I can see Van Flein and Butler doing what they do behind the scenes. Lawyers that rep two very diverse positions work together all the time. Van Flein could have been nixed from the Us Weekly deal and that could royally piss Sarah. If Bristol, Levi and Rex got $100,000 for the Us Weekly there are probably more deals down the line. Something that would not make People happy, but they can pick up the pieces and work it out. Sarah is an actress and she will do what she must for her Mama Grizzly image. Controversy is good to drive a story. A happy ending for Bristol's wedding would help Sarah. Good Grizzly is close to cub.
ReplyDeleteBristol and Ben were dating by December 2009. Van Flein set up the condo around February 2010? Track and the rest of the inner circle must have known she was not re-virgining. How close is Track to Todd? He would leave Todd in the dark about the lovers? I think they all knew. It is possible Sarah is kept in the dark about these things? The condo was all about Bristol being INDEPENDENT for the custody case. They were working on a plan to get Levi completely out of the picture at the time.
Bristol and Levi are being pushed in the entertainment industry to have a niche of their own. It's hard to say how much is faux feud. I'm not behind the Sarah orchestrates everything. She tries with all her might. There is a rogue Bristol now and it must be a struggle to try and control her again. They also need to pretend to be serious about the run for President and save face in regard to the family matters. Weddings are public fodder when you announce them on a magazine cover. Even if they now sneak off it is celebrity and public. The mother and father of the bride are a big part of a wedding, they usually pay the bills. Check out the Chelsea Clinton wedding to see how political families handle weddings. If Sarah is not there for her daughter now someone else is filling in the mother role. That doesn't mean that Sarah won't pose for pictures and whatnots.
Don't forget how other celebrity weddings have been bombarded with press helicopters and the like. Only Bristol and Levi can live quietly in a hideaway condo in Anchorage. Any other celebrity and the paps would already be all over them. Checking out the flower arrangements, caterers, Bridesmaid gifts and on and on. There are minor local press on this and the paps are staying away?
What is so strange about Rex having a "bank account"? That happens all the time. Levi may whine that he only has a small allowance because he doesn't want to put out more money. If people are asking him for money he is protected if it is in Rex's "bank account" and he can blame Rex. Levi does not look like he is going without. How much did that dirt bike cost? Since there is no mention of Keith Johnston I take that to mean he is in on what is going on. The shadow father of the groom.
Why would anyone ever consider abortion when they can pull this kind of loot from their vagina?
ReplyDeleteWhen there is $100,000. involved, there must have been a contract. Bristol and Levi would be fools to sign a contract without having a lawyer look it over first. Of course there was a lawyer.
ReplyDeleteI doubt that Bristol and Levi are smart enough to contact US Weekly, offering the exclusive engagement announcement. Someone usually brokers that on their behalf, like an agent or a lawyer.
You betcha that Sarah knew about it ahead of time. She may have said that she didn't like the idea, and they announced it publicly to piss her off. Let's see, where have we heard that story before?
Despite Levi's apology and "I take back the things I said" meme, he did tell us that when he and Bristol discovered that they were expecting a baby, Sarah kept badgering them to let her adopt it. Sarah said that she would pretend to be pregnant, and the baby would be hers. Levi insisted that they kept refusing Sarah.
So what did Sarah do? She put Bristol in hiding, and when McCain was chosen as the GOP candidate, with or without their wishes, Sarah announced that she was having a baby (Trig, not Tripp). Once it was public, Bristol was furious. For all we know, Trig may have even been born by the beginning of March, 2008, but needed to stay in the hospital until he could breath on his own. Surprise, Bristol, I had the baby, not you!
Bristol must have been furious. She (and Levi?) threw caution to the winds, and they got their own baby after all, very quickly. As for baby number three, in return for the easy life, Levi may have had to agree to no DNA testing, or he just believes the kid will be his. (Hey, Levi, you don't have to work. We'll get this reality TV thing. I've already been on TV, so I know how this works. And, every time the baby poops, I'll call a magazine and we'll get another $100,000. Come on, it will be fun).
No one ever mentions drugs except to smear Sherry Johnston. Therefore we are to believe Sarah is not medicated and Levi and Bristol never had a drug problem and they are now pure as snow. Drugs and addiction are no part of the secrets they hide, believe that and never bring up drugs.
ReplyDeleteBased on the two July 14 online People stories, it looks like the NY Post (Murdoch) was being a bit tabloidy with the 'lie' accusation. People asked her if they were going to marry and she said, "Yeah. I mean...".
ReplyDeleteThere's a video at the first link -- Bristol doesN'T look pregnant but she does look like she loves being a 'celebrity' and having a 'celebrity baby'.
"Bristol Palin and Levi Johnston have patched things up, and may hear wedding bells chiming. But it's going to take a whole lot more for Bristol's mother, Sarah Palin, to forgive her daughter's boyfriend."
http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20401679,00.html
"Amid reports that the two are planning to tie the knot – a move they reputedly have yet to run by her parents – Bristol, who did not wear an engagement ring during her conversation with PEOPLE, replied to the question of if they would marry: "Yeah. I mean, I don't really want to get into detail about what's in store for our future, because who knows? But all I'd like to say about it is, hopefully we will be a family.""
Money quote:
"Looking back, Bristol believes that if fame, money and her mom Sarah Palin's vice presidential campaign had not become part of her and Levi's lives, the ex-couple would already be happy living a simple life."
http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20401622,00.html
Wake up you fixed income and middle class patriots! Get your priorities straight. Sarah needs money, she needs it now. Send donations ASAP!! "Stand with Palin." What matters more than the Todd and Sarah Palin Legal Defense Fund?
ReplyDeletec4p
"If you donated to the Alaska Fund Trust in the past, please "recycle" your donation into the Sarah Palin Legal Defense Fund. And for good measure, poke the ankle biters in the eye and donate even more than you did the first time around."
Innocent Mama Grizzly attacked by liberals and lame-stream media, just ask Tammy Bruce! Eat cat food and send money first. Save a saint! You'll be rewarded in heaven.
Okay to the question of when I soured on Rex and Tank, that would have been right before Christmas of 2009.
ReplyDeleteThere were a lot of red flags before but then they made a huge mistake. I resisted exposing Team Levi in the past to protect Levi, however there is nothing that I know which will damage him more than he did by claiming that he made things up about Sarah Palin in his past interviews.
He screwed himself royally with that statement (just like Sarah wanted), so now I am free to post the behind the scenes manipulations, missed opportunities, and dishonesty which really defined Team Levi in the very near future.
And by the way, I am not the only one who will be holding forth.
Anon 3:02 - take a hike back to c4p;
ReplyDeletePalin idol worship doesn't fly here.
Think I'll reserve judgement re Rex &
Tank - babysitting flexible-willed
Levi can't be easy. Neither Sarah nor Bristol made any effort to stem the tide of 'nasty' the Palin bots let loose about Levi, but rather encouraged it by snarks of their own. Besides being in Levi's best interest wouldn't it be in Rex's best interest to remind Levi of these facts? I think Rex & Tank probably did but Levi (being Levi!)ignored their warnings, dissed Tank, dissed his own family & re-connected to Bristol. And
isn't it intertesting that Bristol contacted Us with this latest tidbit
about herself & Levi after sending Mercede that hateful email accusing
her of violating her (Bristol's) privacy. Levi will rue the day he stepped back into that viper's nest.
Sharon TN
Personally, I did not care if Sarah Palin was a good mother or not UNTIL she started using it as a political platform. The Palin/McCain team could have handled Bristols pregnancy so much better, and by that I do not mean "hidden" her away. How about, yes, she is pregnant, and just leave it at that? Why fly Levi to the RNC unveiling and trot him and Bristol across the stage? Why not just have the family appear briefly (with Bristol in a tasteful maternity outfit), then send her back to Wasilla so she could finish school and have her baby out of the public eye? I am sure people would not view that as the Palin's being ashamed of her. Instead they would see it as parents who were protecting their daughter during a sensitive time. None of the Palin children had any bearing on the election. They should have remained back in Alaska, going to school, and maintaining as normal an existence as possible. There was never any need to include them on the campaign trail. If Sarah wants to include them, then she alone needs to takes responsibility for the media's eye on her children. No one would have cared beyond the 15 minutes they would have had.
ReplyDeleteThanks Gryphen! I hope the Butler expose is not too far off.
ReplyDeleteI know attorneys can be total butt holes but when you need them you will go back for more.
So far Butler doesn't sound any different from any other attorney.
A publicist from the Candie's Foundation says that Bristol is NOT PAID for her role as spokesperson but is compensated for travel and other expenses.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.newsweek.com/2010/01/25/bristol-palin-s-abstinence-about-face.html
Scarah said the same thing before, but I can't find it.
@ 7:57 AM Gryphen ~ When you "protect Levi" and Bristol you lose any credibility. You might get somewhere with exposing the truth if you can stop protecting any of the players. I don't mean you need to expose your sources. I doubt Bristol is a source and you didn't need to protect her after she became an abstinence-only spokesperson and owner of her own public relations firm. Your sources may be trying to protect someone and unwittingly manipulate you with emotion.
ReplyDeleteYou may make more sense once you get out what you haven't said.
Hey Gryphen, you got a mention on Andrew Sullivan's weekly roundup.
ReplyDeletehttp://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2010/07/guestblogging-wrap.html
Maybe bristol got preggers by Ben, and Sara offered Bristol and tripp to Levi in a deal to fix it. He gets Bristol and tripp back. Just needs to keep his mouth shut Oh, and paylin also required the apology in as part if the deal
ReplyDeleteHas anyone heard the rumor floating around Wasilla that Sarah has directed Van Flein to pay Levi and Bristol name the new baby "Jesus," so Bristol can claim it was an immaculate conception?
ReplyDeletePs The Enquirer apparently trying to get Ben Barber to officially put to rest Bristol's lies about "abstinence."
gryphen I lol'd at your thoughts of those who didn't do what was in the best interest of their client, levi. that was funny. just say what you think, okay? even if they are behind this stunt it still is not in the best interest of levi or his kid(s). clearly any deal that is made that leaves tripp in the care of a psychotic family is not in the best interests of that kid or his father.
ReplyDeleteI don't think people mag will be asking for anything else from the grifters. I think they might have burned that bridge by lying to them "we're not totally back together." no, we're just ENGAGED. jeezus.
allowing your 19 year-old client who has no source of income to get saddled with $1750 a month in child support payments for ONE kid he isn't even allowed to see is gross negligence.
ReplyDeletesurely there are some better lawyers in alaska.
and I am truely LMAO at the person on here who is trying to say that sarah is a good mother. good f-ing god, open your eyes. I sure hope you're not a breeder if you think that's good parenting.
From Levi's ghostwritten apology -- "Unfortunately, against my better judgment, I publicly said things about the Palins that were not completely true..."
ReplyDeleteA lie can be one of 2 types: omission or falsification.
Personally, I think Levi confessed to lies of omission.
He did get specific on 2 'lies' in a recent interview:
1) He said he never slept with Bristol in the governor's mansion.
When did Levi ever say anything about the governor's mansion? It always sounded to me like he was talking about the Wasilla home.
2) He said he didn't teach Sarah to shoot a gun.
He wrote that Sarah asked him to show her how to shoot a gun(the one in a box under the bed) but he never said he taught her anything.
It seems that Levi recanted on things he never said in the first place.
He may not have falsified anything about the Palin family but he was willing to give that impression. And my biggest problem with him is that he seems to have backed down from the claim that the Palin's kept Tripp from him.
The Johnston ladies have a compelling story and I hope they will be able to continue to clear the air and be forthright. I can't help but think they are victims of severe domestic abuse. It may only be emotional, mental and financial but it is abuse. Abuse that doesn't leave physical scars is far more insidious and hard to grasp. A victim will blame them self, perps are good at helping victims stay stuck with self blame. If Keith Johnston was carrying on a sexual/mental/emotional affair with a mistress for 15 years that is devastating to his married wife and all their children. I am not surprised when a son grows up to be like a father who also abused his family.
ReplyDeleteMercede is at a crossroad and I wish her well and to stay strong. No one person can do all that is on her shoulders and I hope she has at least one friend that can stand up with her.
Prescription addictions are now a bigger problem than street drugs. Whatever the family relationship with any drugs it is part of the whole picture. They need to deal with it and it will show when they are dealing with the issues. It is nothing to be ashamed of. Shame is what keeps the secrets so toxic and deadly.
Anon@6:50 said:
ReplyDelete¨Palin was a new public figure and her family was simply being presented to the country, as many have been in the past.¨
True, that, but then the freak show began. If she had ¨simply presented¨ her family like Obama, Biden, and McCain, you would have a point.
Sarah shoved her children down our throats.
Can you recognize by face and know the names of all of McCainś children or Biden´s?
See the difference?
If Johnny Chandler is not wasted and living in a gutter why won't he talk? He is both friends with Bristol, Levi and Sadie. What are his true loyalties? He may have none. He does have pieces of a puzzle that could be significant. He could earn a nice amount of cash. How is it he gets by with hiding? Now that pattern will be the same with Ben Barber. If Chandler needs to be protected, don't post this here.
ReplyDeleteAlso curious about his assault charge and his time in jail. It must have cleared his head if Sarah's guards didn't sneak in some booze. Since his PR agent posted all the photos of Lake House party drunks, some even had little babies in carry seats and kids younger than Willow that Chandler parties with and that is all we know about him. That and his internet with Bristol and the times Sarah let him talk to the press. Other than that he is a drunk that can party with very young kids and get by with it. His family, Chandler or Underwood, will not even lift a finger to help his internet image. They seem to be as out of touch with reality as the other Wasilla dysfunctional families.
Bristol's words in the Kernell trial were she was upset to "...see her newborn son's photo..." on the Internet. "Baby Brother" is what we would have expected to hear not newborn son - which is why the statement has lingered as a glaring slip-up. Bristol slipped up but isn't that always the case? Doesn't the truth have a way of slipping out?
ReplyDeleteI just visited The Daily Dish and they've got a full-size pic of the US Weekly mag cover.
ReplyDeleteIt really shows the creepy factor in Tripp's gaze. His pupils are constricted like pinpoints. I've never seen anything like it.
Unfortunately, these "kids" will live a long time facing the consequences of their actions. Be it unprotected sex, nude pics, selling out their private lives to the media for money, etc.
ReplyDeleteKnowing what they've done, begs to ask the question... is this real or is this a reality tv stunt? As this gets "shopped" for public, it looks like a business merger rather than a marriage.
There's no way Sarah orchestrated the US mag article. She is not all-knowing or all-powerful and the Bristol/Levi train is one that has definitely gone off the tracks:
ReplyDelete1. Why would she need Levi in the family in order to control him? By stupid moves, he'd already discredited himself, not to mention the planted stories in the media about him being a bad father and Bristol as a sympathetic young girl who was learning from her mistakes.
2. As paranoid as Sarah is, why would she want a loose cannon with damaging info close enough to get more--think secret audio and video, not to mention pillow talk.
3. The article makes her look bad, as evidenced by the meltdown of her fans after reading it. If Sarah had been involved, it would have read like those sugary sweet "Bristol getting her degree" or "Palin family gathers to celebrate a birthday" stories. Sarah would have been part of the article and she would have given some sort of BS fake Christian spin that made her sound like a saint. She's gone to extreme lengths to hide her family's dysfunction, but Bristol and Levi back together highlights the crazy.
4. Bristol has shown independence in reaching out to media and getting off message before. Remember the Greta interview where she said abstinence was unrealistic? Greta said Bristol contacted her herself. Bristol knows that Sarah has to pretend to play nice with the media watching.
5. If there was a legal contract, Rex could have negotiated it. Besides it's not like Bristol hadn't dealt with them before, they may have already had an agreement in place that just needed modifying. It's the initial contract that's tricky to negotiate. Once that's done, they're simple to amend.
6. All of this drama makes Sarah look less presidential and cuts away at her "Mama grizzlies know when something's wrong" brand. Especially because in the article Bristol explicitly said Sarah didn't know about it. If those two stay in the spotlight, if there's another out of wedlock pregnancy, if that Ben guy accepts the money likely being thrown at him to say they had sex, it's going to be even worse.
By the way, if Bristol is pregnant again, my money says mama Palin doesn't know that either.
Who are the bridesmaids and maid of honor? Best man? I can't believe no one is saying and no one is asking. What kind of wedding is this? Who is doing the cake? What about a reception and the honeymoon? Even if they play cat and mouse it is the medias job to get some information.
ReplyDeleteGryphen, Rex and Tank may not have been the right handlers for Levi. You know more about that than I do. And many lawyers are the scum of the earth.
ReplyDeleteBut keeping Levi's money in trust and putting him on an expense account sounds like a pretty good way to protect Levi. And unless Alaska is really far behind the other states in protecting legal clients, Rex would not have been able to use Levi's money for his new business. He'd have to have it in a protected escrow fund.
More likely that Rex had money to invest because he had more legal business from having high profile clients like Sherry and Levi, who even got him national exposure. He could have brought in investors who believed his bar would do well because he was by then famous.
Regarding Cariie's post about the possible Ruffles pictures:
ReplyDeleteWho is the man in picture# 5? Creepy dude and a very unhappy baby.
The baby in picture #5 could be the same as baby #6, but in general it looks to me like a broad selection of small children that may all have Downs.
If the happy couple displays the names of vendors, the wedding will be free. If the wedding is covered by a tabloid magazine, such as US, the wedding will be free.
ReplyDeleteMy guess? The wedding will be free.
I cannot believe that Madam Palin did not know about the engagement announcement. Can't believe that Van Flein didn't have a hand in it arranging the US Weekly as well as People deals. It's all too smooth: Levi's apology, then Levi's threats to Mercede, "shut the blog down or else", then the announcements, then the tweets from SP mentioning Bristol's capacity for forgiveness. That wasn't Sarah talking, I'm guessing it was written by Van Flein.
ReplyDeleteI'm not buying it. We all saw what kind of person Bristol was in her public message to Mercede..."you don't even have a title". WTF?? She wrote that when she knew that she was engaged to Mercede's brother. Bristol is a jealous, nasty little witch. Just like her mother. Now Sherry & Mercede may not be invited to the wedding unless Mercede drops the blog. Sarah's signature is all over this deal.
I think what happened is there are the rumors that Bristol is pregnant, the rumors that she had a new boyfriend, then the photo spread of Levi's truck and rumors that he was spending 24/7 at the condo, maybe there's a pregnancy, there was Mercede's blog that may be worrying them about what she is telling. All of that together and they come up with a remedy to shut all the talk down: Engagement! Neat & tidy and they can make some money off the whole thing. Making lemonade from...lack of abstinence. That too has Sarah's signature all over it.
My heart goes out to Mercede and Sherry. Terrible situation for them to be in.
Any day now and several prominent Wasilla and Anchorage families will be suiting up and sneaking off to this wedding showdown event at an undisclosed field. Reception following at an undisclosed bunker up the pass and to the left, make that right.
ReplyDeleteSeriously, I hear that Capi and the Coons will be getting an invite to the outdoor wedding.
They have certainly learned how to Palin speak and they swear that Track is innocent of the 2005 vandalism.
When good Republican kids speak, LISTEN! Deryck Harris, David Coon June 28th, 2010 They say that Track Palin is innocent. That means he is not an Oxycontin addict people!
According to Capi L Coon, aka C. Coon (Age 59), “Track Palin was not involved.”
Troopers said Friday that charges have not yet been filed, but on Wednesday they reported that the students - two from Burchell and two from Wasilla High School - were inspired by a popular MTV show, "High School Stories." The program seeks out high school pranks and then re-enacts those pranks for television broadcast.
Old Capi must be tickled pink with the possibilities for Bristol's television show.
Everyone involved in the 2005 vandal are now adults and they paid their debts to society. Deryck Harris and David Coon are willing to rehash this again in 2010 to clear Track.
It is a no brainer that the unnamed vandals can now come forward and clear Track's name as well. It is simple, name all those that were involved and let them all clear Track. Anyone involved can prove it was them and not Track. It is suspect as long as it is only the two Republican flacks. There is no reason that all the names are not known especially when they can come forward to help clear Track's name. They can do that much or it looks like the Coons are lying. In any event check out their participation in the wedding.
** It really shows the creepy factor in Tripp's gaze. His pupils are constricted like pinpoints. I've never seen anything like it. **
ReplyDeleteI have, but not in one so young. That is sad. I don't think it would be heroin, but something perscribed and similar does the same. I thought Levi was a bad parent when he couldn't call Bristol out when the baby was near comatose in the interview with Matt Laurer. Todd was there. That video should be replayed if anyone cares about these children and what is happening to them. No surprise that other church ladies baby sit with the aid of "medication."
I think there was a picture of Piper with constricted pinpoints.
@Taylor: Everything you asked about will be disclosed in future $100,000. articles. A sneak peak at brides maid dresses, Willow: maid of honor should be throwing sis a shower. Piper will be the flower girl. She can wear the little crown she worn to when she pouted in a photo. Trig will be the ring bearer. Tripp should be the best man because he and Trig did not ask to be used as props. They just want to be kids. Track and Todd do not get any votes for being good men.
ReplyDeleteThe whole idea for the wedding came up after the fashion shoot for Harpers. Bristol (well, really it was Sarah the cheapskate) who asked the prop guy what they were going to do with all of those beautiful cakes. He would have just thrown them out, but he joked that they ought to have a wedding or something, because they already had the cake. Fortunately, thrifty Sarah stashed them in the freezer next to Chuck's Moose chili.
As for all of the rest of the details, this wedding, like everything else in the Palin's operation will be sold to the highest bidder. Reality series? Oh, please, our privacy. How much? Well, in that case... If they can make money off of the honeymoon, they will go where ever the highest bidder will send them. This wedding is going to be one big media publicity stunt and the trick is going to be how Sarah can turn all of the spotlights on her instead of Bristol, Levi and Tripp.
To the Urine People who are begging for money to cover Sarah's legal bills, I have a couple of words of advice: That's what got her into this fine mess in the first place.
ReplyDeleteThe state would have represented the governor in any ethics complaint hearings. Sarah did not want the record to be made public, so it was her choice to hire a private lawyer. She was being accused of using her office of governor to raise money for personal gain (to pay her lawyer). That is exactly what she did, and she was told to pay it back.
Let me say this as loudly as I can. Sarah has to pay it back, not the loyal followers of the pee pee urine place. If Sarah had been sentenced to 10 days in jail for drunken driving, you cannot do her time for her. She has to do the time, or in this case, return the money. You cannot slip her a couple of dollars to help out. She has millions more than you do. If you give her money for her personal debt, that you are just making her guilty of something else. You people have to stop enabling her. Let her take responsibility for something for the first time in her life.
If you need a comparison, it would be Lindsay Lohan. Lindsay has ignored ruling after ruling from the judge, and she doesn't want to be punished for it. She wants to make up her own punishment. She cannot choose the posh rehab place she want to go to instead of jail. And, she cannot send anyone else in her place. She has not accepted responsibility for her actions, and she still doesn't think that she did anything wrong. She drove drunk, she had an accident, she had drugs, she violated probation and she didn't show up in court. It is her fault.
The same is true with Sarah. She used her office as governor to raise money to defend herself in a matter where the state would have represented her. The ruling has been made. Pay back the money. No one else can pay it back for her. It has to be returned from the frozen Alaska Fund Trust, and if it isn't there, then Sarah deserves another slap on the wrist. She has millions; she can write the check tomorrow. Stop making excuses for her and teach her to grow up.
A ghost writer writes an apology for Levi.
ReplyDeleteTo date Sarah Palin has not accepted the ghost written apology. The apology is nil and void if he can't be specific and she can't accept it.
When does the time run out for accepting half ass apology? Whoever wrote that should be fired.
We need to see some cheek pinching and apology accepting if they want us to believe this is more than publicity stunt.
Anon. 6:50 - am sorry anon. but many people know what a moral compass it. It is a guide of moral actions that loving parents exercise and act like as examples to their children.
ReplyDeleteWithout a doubt now, SP has become a brand name and many will speculate on what kind of mother she is, because SHE prefers chose to have it that way. Despite the delicate situation in her children's lives, her priority remained herself. And, she has asked her voters to prove her and so it is, that she will be scrutinized.
And most of us feel she hasn't passed the "mother" test. But maybe neither have we. But, if we make mistakes, most don't preach or use their kids as a character reference. If she wants people to stop speculating, she would have shown a good example after her resignation and returned to her needy family. Put her career on hold until they are old enough to bear the lifestyle of a public figure.
There is no honor in criticizing, hurting, through facebook and twitter like she constantly does. There is no love in the way she speaks of those who do not agree with her. There is nothing that comes out of the woman's mouth that doesn't hurt, confuse, distort, contradict, snark, or find fault.
Kids pick up on their parents' stress levels, and it eventually spreads into their lives as well.
Solution: if her husband can work and provide, she should have stayed home with a small special needs child, and a new grandson on the way, and a daughter with a broken relationship with the father of her child.
Does anyone have a copy of the guest list? I hear it is going to be a small wedding with close friends and family. They said six weeks and could have meant six days. For what it is worth poor Sally Heath is involved. Be sure to find Ivy Frye, she loves the Heaths and is like a mother to the Palin brood. Has Mercede heard if any of the Johnstons are invited? It looks like Diana Palin is in.
ReplyDeleteWe don't know how they will camouflage all the guests taking off about the same time, but it will get interesting. It is a plus they are in the last frontier and not where the paparazzi have access to telephoto lens and helicopters.
It wasn't easy but I put on my hiking boots and climbed to the top of Sweettooth where I just happened to see a wedding rehearsal in a field below. I hopped on down and sure enough it was Team Bristol/Levi waiting for the bride and groom. I just happened to have my old Brownie packed and was able to get this snapshot.
ReplyDeleteI don't see how they can out STAR Star Jones when it comes to a money maker wedding.
ReplyDeleteUnless there is also a tummy tuck documentary filmed of Bristol at her place of employment going under the knife while she cleans the office coffee pot. The girl can multi-task.
Lindsay Lohan is on very heavy drugs. What is the excuse for Sarah?
ReplyDelete*even warmer smile* THANKS for changing the placement of the quotation marks in this post and the other one!!!
ReplyDeleteIs Pastor Muthee going to perform the wedding ceremony? If ever there was a couple who is in need of protection from witches, it has to be Levi and Bristol - well at least Levi needs protection.
ReplyDelete'Lindsay Lohan is on very heavy drugs. What is the excuse for Sarah?
ReplyDeletesame thing - meth, coke, oxy and a little weed to mellow out.
"To date Sarah Palin has not accepted the ghost written apology. The apology is nil and void if he can't be specific and she can't accept it."
ReplyDeletewhat apology? That's just spin - he said he didn't tell the entire truth and I believe him. He could tell lots and lots more. Since the grisly one is refusing to go to the wedding, he should go ahead with the book. It will pay well. I'd buy it.
Gryphen,
ReplyDeleteI love your new persona: Palin attack dog. I am not being a smart ass with that comment, either. You have been way too nice for way too long to Bristol and Levi and I am so glad you are writing the truth about both of them, all of them. They're just the same as grifter mommy. There is a new edge to your writing and I LOVE it. Team Levi was a total joke. We've all been had! This little lesson will just make all of us very suspicious of ANYTHING these people do!!! Now if we can just let Karma do a job on ALL of them. We just need to be patient. Nothing good will come of any of this crap. You can take that to the bank!