Image of Sarah Palin from Flickr.

Though Sarah Palin’s book, “Going Rogue: An American Life,” officially comes out tomorrow, copies of the book already are making the rounds. Many people have pre-ordered the book from Amazon, and ABC News reports John McCain has already received a signed copy.

An interview with Sarah Palin will air on “Oprah” today. Next week’s Newsweek cover, which will come out Nov. 23, features Sarah Palin. The “Oprah” show and the Newsweek cover might sound like the ultimate publicity machine — and they might be. I have no doubt that lots of copies of “Going Rogue” will sell. Though Palin and her fans hope “Going Rogue” will serve as a form of credit repair,

If  no news is good news…

However, I think many people won’t be buying “Going Rogue” for the reasons Palin would want them to. New York Daily News reports that “Going Rogue” already is more popular than Sarah Palin herself. And the Sarah Palin Newsweek cover certainly doesn’t paint her in a favorable light.

Whoever said “there’s no such thing as bad publicity” probably never saw his or her own picture on the cover of Newsweek with the words “How do you solve a problem like Sarah?” next to it and a subhead that says “She’s bad news for the GOP — and for everybody else, too.” Check out a photo of Sarah Palin on the Newsweek cover from NewsBusters.

Sarah Palin plus Newsweek plus Oprah

One thing is for sure, most Americans will know by the end of the day today that Sarah Palin’s “Going Rogue” officially comes out tomorrow. For those who don’t watch “Oprah” or have televisions, they’ll find out when Sarah Palin is on the Newsweek cover, if not before.

“Going Rogue” will likely sell a lot of copies and thus help Sarah Palin financially, but it’s debatable whether it will help her political career. In fact, it might hurt her. Already, before the book has even been released to the public, aides who worked for the McCain-Palin campaign are disputing parts of the book, saying they’re not true. ABC reports that many aides were not exactly Sarah Palin fans. Already people who worked for her have set out to prove wrong some of the stories she shares in “Going Rogue.”

Sarah Palin popularity

I was pretty surprised to read in the Daily News that 43 percent of Americans who participated in a poll view Palin favorably. That seems pretty nigh to me, but I guess that’s just a reflection of my own circle of acquaintances.

Until people have a chance to read it themselves, it’s impossible to say whether “Going Rouge” will improve Sarah Palin’s popularity. I am sure the Newsweek cover of Sarah Palin will turn some heads and maybe turn a few more people against her. Of course, it could also catalyze her fan base to defend her and push even harder for her to get a job in the White House. Maybe 2012 will be the Year of the Maverick! (Palin, if you steal that for your campaign slogan, I want royalties.)

Sarah Palin, image from Wikimedia.

It is confirmed, by the Chicago Sun-Times and the New York Times, Sarah Palin will appear on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” next month, the very day before her book “Going Rogue” hits the shelves.

Needless to say, people have some pretty strong opinions about this turn of events. Oprah is arguably the most powerful force in the media when it comes to giving publicity to products and businesses. Oprah also campaigned heavily for Barack Obama, but now she will interview a woman on the opposing presidential ticket the day before her books hits the shelves.

Selling power

Needless to say, anything mentioned on Oprah gets huge publicity. The only thing that can cause more hype than Oprah’s show is controversy. Here we have both. And this is no installment loans versus instant payday loans sort of controversy. This is pitting two very vocal groups with very different opinions against each other.

Understandably, many of Oprah’s viewers are angry that she would use her amazing powers of publicity to promote a book by someone they view as and enemy of sorts. Some of Sarah Palin’s fans believe that Palin is “lowering herself” by being on Oprah’s show. Clearly, any Palin fans who are opposed to her being on Oprah’s show don’t understand how much publicity this will give Palin’s book, “Going Rogue.”

Details, details

Oprah will interview Sarah Palin on the episode of “The Oprah Winfrey Show” that airs Monday, Nov. 16. Sarah Palin’s book “Going Rogue” is scheduled to hit shelves Nov. 17, and right now you can pre-order it from Amazon for $9.

I predict “Going Rogue” will sell out after Sarah Palin goes on Oprah’s show. I also predict that “Oprah” will have an unusually high number of viewers on Nov. 16. When you meld the fans of these two you get a pretty broad cross-section of America, plus I think a lot of people will tune in just to see what happens.

Before you jump to conclusions, allow me to set two things straight. I have nothing against Levites or Levi Johnston becoming a good father for his son, Tripp. But as to whether Levi deserves more than his allotted 15 minutes, let there be no doubt that I am skeptically unimpressed.

It’s the five minutes you took with Bristol that matter, Levi

And just so you know, I’m zinger-proof on that last one. I prefer to take the scenic route, not the expressway.

Bristol Palin has said that she wants him in her son’s life. Should that include photos of Levi Johnston (see http://men.style.com/gq/features/full?id=content_9497&pageNum=1) in GQ, some of them shirtless? If the sentiment is real, I think it’s touching to see him hold his infant son, and to change his diaper. I’m a father, and bonding time with my children is what I cherish most in life.

Cynicism… cannot… help… myself!

Because the Palin umbrella is a tool of many colors, day-glo neon despite the veneer of homespun outdoorsy matriarch Sarah throws around her runner’s shoulders like an American flag. It seems that Sarah Palin craves attention, yet it is that exact impulse that has been politically damaging. Levi Johnston is a satellite in that universe, but remember – satellites eventually return to Earth. Will Levi crash and burn, or will he return intact and ready to be a good father? Will he need a payday loan or payday loans for what’s ahead of him, after GQ stops calling?

Shirtless and mealy mouthed

Andy Barr reports for Politico that Levi Johnston has his own well-researched theory on why Sarah Palin decided to resign the governorship of Alaska: “For the money,” he opines. He claims he heard Sarah Palin say “how nice it would be to take some of this money people have been offering us and just run with it… Forget everything else.”

What money? That would be book, talk show and whatever contributions Sarah could get her hands on, Levi says.

She works hard for the money

“I’ve seen how stressful this job was for her, and she came home late at night and things like that,” he said. “I think the big deal was the book. That was millions of dollars.”

So Sarah Palin is running for the tell-all book money? Is that what it is, Levi? Meg Stapleton, who is a Palin spokeswoman, has this to say about your allegations: “It is interesting to learn Levi is working on a piece of fiction while honing his acting skills.”

Meanwhile, Levi Johnston is planning his own book

Talk shows, modeling, movies, books and shirtless Levi Johnston in GQ are in Levi’s immediate future. At least that’s his plan, and he can refer to himself in the third person if he wants (and so long as it serves my keyword usage scheme… huh-HAAA!). Some women will be happy to see him stick around, as responses to piece like the one he did recently in New York Magazine indicate.

“There’s too many people. I can’t wait to get home.”

(photo: socialitelife.celebuzz.com)

Sarah Palin’s press conference quote, or Levi Johnston on New York? It works either way, doesn’t it? Actually, that’s what Levi had to say about the city that never sleeps. When the hockey-playin’, Bristol-impregnatin’ Levi was dragged along to the Republican National Convention, he was told that if McCain-Palin won the ticket, he’d be coming with them to Washington, D.C. Levi’s response was “That was ridiculous… I ain’t never moving.”

Speaking of working, Levi was reticent after seeing himself sans shirt in GQ. He believes that he needs to start working out again. Then he went on to say exactly what’s going on here: “I can put on a show.”

Political scandal – catch the crease

Cliff’s Notes of Levi’s life, lately:

1. His dad left home
2. His mom was arrested and faces jail
3. Tripp was born
4. He dropped out of high school to become an electrician
5. He lost fiancée, son and job (for political reasons). He needs a job to be eligible for a payday loan (or payday loans)
6. He’s a pariah, he’s man-meat – and this hunter is lost in the woods.

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(Photo Image Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Did you see the Sarah Palin Runner’s World interview? It may give us some idea of what she’s running for, but is the real question that we should be asking “What’s she running from?”

Where’s Sarah Palin headed these days?

That’s a question that has the Republican party stumped. Is she going to run for president in 2012? Are the financial scandals in Alaska too hot for her to handle? Is she leaving politics behind to care for her family? Who knows. Some would argue that even Sarah Palin doesn’t know the answers to these questions.

What are her issues?

Yet legal bills are definitely an issue for the Palin family these days, so how they’re doing financially could be an issue. Do the Palins need unsecured loans or some other form of pay day loans? Do they even need money at all to deal with their current issues?

Whatever the case, Palin’s running

Pam Platt writes in the Louisville Courier-Journal that Sarah Palin was featured in two  “splashy magazine pieces,” one in Vanity Fair and the other in Runner’s World. Both stories predated Palin’s shocking public announcement, and both were damaging.

In Vanity Fair, Palin is portrayed as a “diva-licious, self-serving loose cannon,” says Platt. Sarah Palin in Runner’s World didn’t receive the same amount of attention, but her commentary is telling of her state of mind.

The runner cries

“You don’t complain when something’s hurting because no one wants to hear it. You get bummed and burned out sometimes in running and in politics, but if you’re in for the long haul and you’re in it because you know that it is a good thing, then you get out there and you do it anyway.”

That sounds like a devoted runner who takes care of things, doesn’t it? If that’s so, who is the “victim” Sarah Palin we heard at the press conference? After the David Letterman media gaffe? She cries victimization, which is quite different than the image of a long-distance runner who faces the flames. Did John McCain do his research before he chose her for the ticket?

Love of the outdoors

Palin actually told Runner’s World, “Alaska would be hard to give up because it is such a part of who I am. So much of my life revolves around the great outdoors that that would be kind of tough.”

Is that why you’re quitting, Sarah? Because being a governor or president takes you away from the outdoors for too long? Perhaps Ahmadinejad would agree to meet you at the duck blind? Wouldn’t that just be peachy?

Oh wait, she changes her mind. Is she a flip-flopper?

“On the other hand, I think of being in D.C. and in a position to promote physical fitness and the benefits of making good decisions health-wise and being an example for others, and I know that could do some good for our country.”

OK, so she wants to be health czar?

Palin should know about czars, because they’re from Russia. And she can see Russia from… you know the rest. What I found most disturbing about Palin’s televised press conference is that it was as scatter-shot as her views in these two magazine articles. This woman is the governor of one of our 50 United States? This woman has delusions of presidential grandeur. Being a “maverick” has lost all of its currency thanks to you, Mrs. Palin. Why couldn’t you tell Katie Couric what magazines you read? In all honestly, where is the “Department of Law” located in the White House and who works there? Madlock?

Sweat is her sanity?

It’s healthy to sweat, so I think I’m on to something with the health czar idea. “Sweat is my sanity,” she told Runner’s World. Yet she sounded almost the opposite in her press conference. As Platt puts it, “Palin has a hot mess… As birds quacked in the background, she gulped for air and clutched at several competing metaphors to describe her own fabulousness as she tried again to burnish her rep as a maverick who sticks even as she showed herself to be a lame duck who wouldn’t.”

She could have been a heartbeat away

Remember that. Palin supporters see her as a breath of fresh air, but the more she speaks, the more breathless she appears when it comes to dealing with the intense scrutiny that is part and parcel of being a high-ranking politician. If she knows that she can’t handle that anymore and wants to do what’s best for her family, she should strap on her running shoes and try to be what Arnold Schwarzenegger used to be for the presidency, long ago: a health adviser. Palin should run away from the political spotlight and settle into a lower-stress job. She needs to sweat to remain sane. And try unsecured loans and pay day loans if she needs them.

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Lil' George and his posse

Human beings admire those with dignity and grace. No matter how far the public taste strays into an ocean of trash, social graces are a braided rope thrown from the shores of home.

Do as George did

In saying this, I don’t mean that we should all go to finishing school to prepare for our high society coming-out parties before Lindsay Lohan pulls us beneath the waves like the Creature from the Black Lagoon. No, I’m talking about how we conduct ourselves. If we want to be treated with respect, it wouldn’t hurt to do as George Washington did. He studied “Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior in Company and Conversation.” He transcribed these 110 rules to live by when he was a boy.

And you’re… how old? Get with the program and live better. Use payday loans and unsecured loans responsibly, too. It’s all part of being dignified.

He was the Father of Our Country

David Brooks writes in the New York Times op-ed piece “In Search of Dignity” that Washington’s rules of civility were difficult to follow, but he worked hard to cultivate them throughout his life. Historian Gordon Wood recognizes the efforts of America’s first president when he writes that “Washington became a great man and was acclaimed as a classical hero because of the way he conducted himself during times of temptation. It was his moral character that set him off from other men.”

About human beings

This code Washington strove to follow was based on the same underlying idea that informs the United States Constitution: that human beings are flawed and must work to govern their passions. The belief is that artificial systems of government must be in place to help regulate unchecked desires or chaos will reign. Do not give in to personal interests over those of the greater good, do not carry on in public and treat rashness with healthy skepticism. Rely on yourself first. Be polite to others. It’s all part of the code.

America lacks manners

So what’s the point that Brooks is trying to make here, aside from the fact that too many people like to play with Lindsay in the muck? The “Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior in Company and Conversation” and any dignity code they spawned are all but gone. Brooks blames shameless self-promotion; flinging our feelings around like Jackson Pollock’s paint; confessing everything to everyone (no matter how inane); and “radical egalitarianism,” with its negative view of high manners.

Violators of the code

We see violators of the code every day. Arrests, scandals, embarrassing drunks in bars and co-workers who must tell you about their random and sundry rashes. But the ones that stumble into the media spotlight make for an interesting study. Mark Sanford offers no apology to his wife or South Carolina constituency during his press conference. He rambles on and hopes the gloss of a book – a book – will blind others to his titanic failing and complete lack of personal dignity. Michael Jackson lives in perpetual childhood and pain unto death, then the world feeds on the carcass. Then Sarah Palin comes forward to resign from the Alaska governorship. She expects us to be inspired by her authority and trust, but she actively works to stir attention in the tabloids. Learn how to behave with dignity and you will be treated with dignity. Homespun charm isn’t enough.

Governing your passions

Do you fly through your life in pursuit of one passion after the next, without any real steering mechanism? Try some of the “Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior in Company and Conversation” on for size. The roots of dignity and ethics are there, but you have to plant them in order to make them work in your own life. How you do that is up to you. One financial piece of advice I’d offer is that instead of running up a credit card bill you pay off over time (hence paying a lot more money than you needed in the first place), try payday loans and unsecured loans instead. One-time fee of $15 to $30 per $100 loaned is typical and inexpensive.

Then there is Barack

Brooks likes to point out that not all celebrities lack dignity. Whatever disagreements you may have over some of his policies, President Obama “exemplifies reticence, dispassion and the other traits associated with dignity,” writes Brooks. Will Barack Obama bring dignity back to a country that badly needs it?

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I don’t suppose this is surprising, ultimately. Most people figured that the Republicans would want that Sarah Palin moxie on the presidential ticket again (if nothing else), and her move today to resign from the governorship of Alaska may just be the sign that she’s going through with it.

Now, does the fact that Sarah Palin resigns mean that she’ll be in the running for president, or is something else going on here? Has she chosen family over politics, have scandals caught up to her, or what? If she needs money, are there not secured loans and instant payday loans?

Love will build a bridge to nowhere

Philip Rucker and Eli Saslow report for the Washington Post that Palin will resign effective July 26 and return to private life. This is in the middle of her term first term as Alaska’s governor. Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell will succeed Palin.

“We know we can effect positive change outside government at this moment in time on another scale and actually make a difference for our priorities,” said Palin during a news conference in her hometown of Wasilla, Alaska. “I know when it’s time to pass the ball for victory.”

The kids told her it was time.

Palin, 45, has made a decision that has allegedly shocked Republican strategists. Her term as governor of Alaska would have ended in 2010, so why didn’t she serve the rest of her term? Sure, she asked her kids if she should do it and they said yes, but is that surprising? They want a mother, not a political figure that plays their mother on occasion.

John McCain confidant John Weaver had this to say: “We’ve seen a lot of nutty behavior from governors and Republican leaders in the last three months, but this one is at the top of that.”

Let’s explain the bizarre photo you see here, Palinites

That’s no normal photo of Sarah Palin holding her son Trig there. Clearly, there’s some Photoshop in play. But it requires some setup…

During her news conference today, Palin uttered these exact words about her little boy, who happens to have Down Syndrome:

“I know he needs me, but I need him even more.”

The non-cynic in me wants to believe that what she meant is that he helps ground her. Perhaps so, but considering how popular an opinion it has been lately that Sarah Palin is using her children to stay in the news – remember the David Letterman stuff? – it strikes me as opportunistic for her to say this. What, he’s the one child who hasn’t been in the spotlight lately, so she figures he’s fair game?

From the perspective of a parent, which I am, her statement rings false. Children need their parents, and it is a parent’s job to be in that position. There should be no co-dependency involved, lest the child be emotionally scarred. Admittedly, life for Trig Palin will be different than an average child (even his sisters), considering his Down Syndrome, but please… Sarah Palin… for the love of Pete, get out of politics. Be an activist if you want to help people. But put your family first. If you run for the presidency, you will inflict wounds that will not heal, considering the road you’ve taken so far.

Whose is  the face superimposed on Trig?

OK, here’s something else that’s ugly, but it isn’t Sarah Palin’s fault (mostly). According to an article in the Canada Free Press, the Gateway Pundit posted the doctored picture. The Free Press author took umbrage at the fact that pro-choice Democrats, angry at Palin’s pro-life stance (”Pro-life” is a misnomer, folks, but I’ll let you argue about that until I weigh in another day), have foisted such a photo, depicting the face of pro-life radio talk show host Eddie Burke on baby Trig’s body. What’s truly disgusting is a comment made by “Tom W.” about the photo on the Gateway Pundit blog:

He (Eddie Burke) once called pro-choice women “baby killing maggots,” so his face was put on Trig’s body because – as a leftist told me – it’s the face of one person who should’ve been aborted put on the body of another person who should’ve been aborted.

OK, I see that I can’t avoid the abortion argument entirely here. First, it’s completely out of bounds to involve Trig in a political discussion. If Palin responds to it the way she did to David Letterman, she’ll only be feeding the fire. Perhaps I can see now why she’s resigning… I wouldn’t wish this kind of treatment on my own children. I would lay down my life for them, and if Sarah Palin feels the same, she’ll stay away from this brand of garbage.

Abortion, abortion, abortion

In a nutshell, here’s my stance. Nobody should have the right to enforce whether Eddie Burke, Trig Palin or anyone else should be aborted. I do believe in choice; I do not believe that religion is a moral authority. I also believe that Tom W. is a sorry excuse for a human being, because there’s no humanity in his statement.

Here’s my disclaimer: these opinions are my own, and not those of any company or other entity.

So to sum up, Sarah Palin resigns because her kids say so. That’s all we know at this writing for sure. Trig Palin and the rest of the Palin children should have a chance at a happy life, and anyone who equates religious doctrine with the laws of the United States of America should never be president here. They should be allowed to take out secured loans and instant payday loans, however.

Now, I understand there’s an opening in Honduras…

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Since I’m so interested in fair and balanced coverage, I’m going to clue you in to a ridiculous spotlight grab. But before I do, I need to make something clear. I am a father with a young daughter and an even younger son, so I do not support the exploitation of children in any way, shape or form. And what David Letterman and Sarah Palin are doing is exploiting children during this controversy over his off-color jokes.

FireDavidLetterman.com is attempting to militarize conservatives who support Palin (are you sure about that, conservatives?). It’s asking for sponsor boycotts, blog posts, social media ramblings and other showings of righteous indignation. Without it, beloved Sarah will fade back to Alaska as her level of political competence suggests she should. With her blow-hard cause, Sarah hopes she’ll stay on the radar screen and crawl through the mud toward 2012. Along the way, she’ll probably mouth off about some kind of anti-fast cash loan legislation so only those who don’t need money can borrow money. Because that’s the kind of thing banks and politicians do.

Hateful accusations

But fire David Letterman? Hardly a productive response, as America now looks to its comedians for news and inspiration. They have become a class unto themselves, where “the joke” hovers in a realm of its own, staring down at the politically correct hogs wallowing in the mud. Everyone crawls on their bellies there. If the time ever comes when the religious-military industrial complex is allowed to prosecute comedians for their jokes – for free thought, regardless of whether it’s cheap or not – we will be giving up the reins of a free, enlightened society.

David Letterman admitted the jokes he made about Bristol Palin were “in bad taste” and that he was going for “cheap laughs.” Jokes about children that address them on sexual grounds should always be considered off limits. The two-pronged crux of Letterman’s defense – that he wasn’t talking about Palin’s 14-year-old daughter Willow and that it was a joke – explains things a bit, but ultimately it is weak. However, we must not allow political facades like Sarah Palin to take America in the direction of “1984.”At that point, we sacrifice our children and our very lives to that which is cold, hard and inhuman. That which is un-American.

Don’t believe me? Some in the media have compared Letterman’s jokes to Jeremiah Wright’s anti-Semitic hate speech? Get a grip, preferably of something solid. Like a straitjacket. I can see Sarah Palin’s whirlwind from my house, and it spells nothing good for America. Yet she’ll attempt to ride it to 2012 and the next presidential election, regardless of what a sadistic joke it makes of her own children’s lives.

America, here are your comedians!

“The Comedian” Eddie Blake in Alan Moore’s “The Watchmen” claims that only he can understand the world’s sadistic joke. What is the sadistic joke that both David Letterman and Sarah Palin fail to understand? Letterman’s jokes (which he likely didn’t write but did have the chance to review) went too far. That it’s only comedy is not enough of an excuse. A more formal apology would show some class, perhaps with Palin as a guest on his program.

But FireDavidLetterman.com is not a measured, appropriate response. Instead of handling the matter privately like an adult, Sarah Palin has chosen to continue to make a media circus out of her family. The level of narcissism at work here is staggering, and if she had more to back up the popularity rankings in Alaska (where the general populace is either apathetic, uninformed or in cahoots with her “Bridge to Nowhere” and “Troopergate” offenses), she’d be dangerous. As it is, she can’t even bloody Letterman’s nose (figuratively speaking, of course).

Ratings boost for Late Night?

Sure, why not. You know it will happen, as Entertainment and Show Biz suggests. But Ken Tucker of Entertainment Weekly sees a way that this can be handled without giving the Alaskan publicity machine grease for the gears. “Clam up,” Tucker says…

Don’t give Gov. Palin any more material to react to. From her Today Show interview alone, it was obvious that no matter how much Matt Lauer tried to raise serious questions about various overreactions to your jokes, she’s glowingly happy to be in the national spotlight again and doesn’t want to give it up any time soon.

The Live Feed agrees. points to Palin’s “icky” overreaction as “an increasingly dramatic media spectacle centered around her underage daughter’s sexual well being… an opportunistic overreaction that would seem more damaging to her teen’s self-esteem than the original joke.” I couldn’t agree more. So you say David Letterman is like a sex offender? Really? Is that something you can see from your house when you’re warning America about those deconstructing economists?

Feed makes a fine comparison: “It would be like Jay Leno making an inappropriate hypothetical joke about a terrorist plot to blow up the White House, and Barack Obama reacting by accusing Leno of being a national security threat.”

Criticize the pit bull, the pit bull wins

Guess that means I’m helping her win as well, huh? As of now, I will officially stop.

If you want America to give birth to more Eddie Blakes who kill because “it’s the only thing that makes sense” in a world gone mad, give this woman media play. I do not support violence, but that’s exactly what you’re going to get if you allow people like her to continue to simplify politics into a ludicrous “with us or against us” scenario. The shred of influence Republicans now hold – particularly those who cry out to fire David Letterman – is tenuous at best. If Sarah Palin is the best they can do, they should be embarrassed. Live Feed says it plain:

Don’t buy into the strategy of playing the victim while throwing divisive, low-blow punches – are offensive in a way that ought to transcend ideology or gender. Her biggest impact always seems to be convincing Americans to start fighting with each other, a pied piper of online message board anger.

We can do better, no joke needed. I’ll borrow money with a fast cash loan if it will keep sexual jokes about children and pointless political hacks off the radar screen. We need to focus on more important things.

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The Republican Party needs money. I get that, but it also needs a lot of other things. Perhaps Sean Hannity’s head can serve as a rudder for their ship, as it isn’t doing him much good otherwise. Plus, it will be closest he’ll ever come to waterboarding (unless it becomes part of the Ruth’s Chris experience). That place has great food, but I hear it’s torture on your budget. See if you can unearth that memo, Mr. Cheney. If you need money to run the Halliburton copy machine, I’ll take out a fast loan and an online loan to help.

In the meantime, there’s the matter of the annual Senate-House fundraising dinner the elephants held last night. It was hosted by Jon Voight, who  clearly wasn’t enough to crack open the conservative wallets. What more does the man have to do to inspire you, constituency?

1. He called for “False Prophet” Obama to be taken down from his place of power.
2. He shills for Israel while spewing racial hatred toward Palestine.
3. He starred in the movie “Anaconda.”

I’m swayed. I’ll vote Democrat.

Ben Evans reports for the Associated Press that Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich has urged GOP loyalists to “stand up for GOP principles but to be inclusive as the party tries to retake the majority.” He claims he is “happy” that Colin Powell is a Republican, but then he damaged his already threadbare credibility among non-office holding members of the party by expressing elation that Dick Cheney is a Republican. Even if he tries rolling in a wheelchair for sympathy like he did during Obama’s inauguration, he’ll never be able to dry the waterboarding moisture from his hands. Makes his trigger finger slippy, I understand.

But here’s the deal. Little Newtie was playing peacemaker. Cheney and Powell have been feuding over the direction of the GOP. But Gingrich explains this away with the delusional notion that “a majority Republican party will have lots of debates within the party. That is the nature of majority parties.” It’s delusional because the GOP is far from a majority party.

They should have nailed it

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin was originally slated to host this party, but lack of confidence in her ability to lead the party and hence inspire investors prompted the GOP to audible and punt her over the Bridge to Nowhere. Perhaps the start of “Nailin’ Palin” would have been a better choice, because the ranting of Jon Voight still wasn’t enough. Evans writes that “the event took in a relatively small fundraising haul of $14.5 million, the lowest total in at least five years. Last year, it raised $21.5 million, compared with $15.4 million in 2007 and $27 million in 2006.” For now, the anaconda still has the GOP in its coils.

Palin wasn’t even informed until hours before the event that she would be given no speaking role at the function. After committees issued a press release in which they advertised Palin as a headliner at the event, Palin said she “never confirmed that she would speak and wanted to make sure the event didn’t interfere with state business.” And this is your most likely candidate to challenge Obama in 2012, Republicans?

Palin attended with husband Todd and was introduced to the crowd, but she did not speak.

A questionable host

Actor Jon Voight hosted the dinner. Brangelina was nowhere to be found, which wasn’t surprising. Daddy’s harsh rebukes of Obama were expected. He claimed he is “embarrassed” by the country’s current leadership and that Obama would cause the “downfall” of America.

“We are becoming a weak nation,” he said, then he dove into murky waters with an anaconda when he called Obama a “false prophet” and his administration the “Obama oppression.” As you’ll see in the video below, he also blasts Palestine for attempting to claim land to which they may have at least equal rights.

In a lapse of judgment similar to the Sonia Sotomayor opposition, some Republicans praised Jon Voight for his ill-advised hate speech. “You’re great. Come back any time,” said Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. Keynote speaker Gingrich called Voight’s comments “a rallying cry.” I hear Custer had a rallying cry, too.

Your lawyer can see your future from his house

(It’s buried under a snow drift)

Palin and Gingrich are both under consideration as Republican presidential candidates for 2012. Some still hold out hope that Rush Limbaugh will bounce into the ring (Keith Olbermann tagged him with the “Mr. Bouncy Bouncy” moniker). But the former duo appear to be in the lead currently. However, don’t expect to see one play the VP candidate to the other, as Palin is alleged to have stolen Ronald Reagan material from a Gingrich essay. Palin’s attorney claims she gave proper credit, but when an attorney is involved, you know one of two things is has happened (or both):

1. The client cannot competently express herself.
2. The client is guilty.

Whatever the case, the Republican party has definitely been guilty of a barrage of bad decisions lately. There may be merit to the statement they make that some of Obama’s policies are like Clinton all over again, but wasn’t the country economically prosperous during his tenure? Obama’s brand of socialism scares some people, because how many examples of successful socialism can you name? Maybe we’re witnessing an entirely new paradigm shift with Obama. It’s still too early to say. So long as he keeps his hands of my freedom to choose a fast loan or an online loan when I’m in a financial pickle, I’d be willing to share a sandwich with the man.

Related Video:

Earmark spending is often called pork-barrel spending.

You can tell a lot about lawmakers’ personal interests by checking out the earmarks they sponsor. Earmarks are well-documented and categorized at LegiStorm.

You can view earmarks by sponsor’s name, state, organization or which bill they were attached to. There is even a separate category for presidential earmarks.

Earmarks 101

Earmarks are usually federal expenditures geared toward special projects that are tacked on to larger bills. Earmarks have gotten a lot of attention in the media lately as they have grown bigger and more expensive. Funding for earmarks in fiscal 2008 was $18.3 billion.

Earmarks are controversial because of their increasing expense and because people argue that they don’t have to go through the same rigorous scrutiny other legislation is subject to.

Earmarks in the presidential campaign

Earmarks were hotly debated in the presidential contest between Barack Obama and John McCain. McCain touted his record of never supporting earmarks to get his state cash advances. State legislators who are in favor of earmarks argue that they are often the fastest way to get their states what they need.

McCain’s running mate Sarah Palin got into some hot water after she claimed to have refused earmark funding when she had initially accepted it. Obama was criticized for allowing many earmarks in the massive economic stimulus package after he had promised to decrease earmarks during his campaign.

Earmarks on LegiStorm

The eight most expensive earmarks in fiscal year 2008 were for defense spending. The top three earmarks, in order of highest expense, were for submarine procurement and two military construction projects. They were all sponsored by the president, George W. Bush at the time. The site doesn’t yet have this  year’s earmarks posted.

Big ticket items

The single organization that received the most earmark funding in fiscal 2008 was the National Drug Intelligence Center. Coming in second was military contractor Northrup Grumman. Another big-time receiver was University of Southern Alabama, which got $30 million for its Engineering and Science Center.

Jonathan Stein of Mother Jones reports that Sarah Palin may need to kiss the blarney stone to have any hope of challenging for the presidency in 2012. And it’s all thanks to earmarks.

Remember when Palin was the candidate opposed to wasteful government spending and earmarks? Apparently the upcoming economic stimulus pork bill will set aside $140 million in cash advance earmarks for Alaska, as requested by Governor Palin. For those of you doing the math at home, this will make Alaska number one in earmark spending per capita.

Oink goes the pig with luscious lips

According to Stein, just hours after they first published a story about Palin’s earmark Watusi, her office issued a press release headlined, “Governor Palin Continues Earmark Reform.” The main point, per Stein:

Since she took office in 2006, Palin has each year requested fewer earmarks and has recently only put in requests for a handful of projects. In other words, it’s okay to make some earmark requests, just not a lot.

Jake Tapper of ABC News noted during the presidential campaign that Palin went on with Charlie Gibson and said that “The abuse of earmarks (is) un-American, undemocratic, and (is) not going to be accepted in a McCain-Palin administration. Earmark abuse will stop.” Palin even added that John McCain was “a crusader against earmark abuse, and that’s what I joined him in fighting.” McCain, for the record, is supposedly anti-earmark.

Palin remains trapped between her campaign rhetoric and her governing reality. She denounced earmarks as a candidate; she continues to request and accept them as a governor.

I have to birdwalk a bit here. When I was a college student, I once took a creative writing class. One of my classmates, whom I’ll call Ron T., wrote a poem about the blarney stone. Ron always looked like he’d had a few. His poem was called “When You Wish Upon the Barley Stone.”

Bartender, pour me some of what Sarah and Ron are having…

Related Videos:

Gov. Sarah Palin is a new Grandma!

Sarah Palin’s daughter Bristol Palin gave birth to a baby boy on Sunday, and while Bristol has the financial support of her family, many women are not financially prepared for an unplanned pregnancy; payday loans can be a valuable resource when bringing a little one into the world. Having a child is a huge responsibility, especially when it comes to money. Affording to take care of your own needs is hard enough as it is, but affording to take care of another life is even tougher.

Unusual Name

Bristol Palin, who is just 18, gave birth to a healthy seven pound, four ounce baby boy in Palmer, Alaska. The newborn’s unusual name is Tripp Easton Mitchell Johnston. The baby’s father is former high school hockey player Levi Johnston, who is also 18. Johnston and Bristol Palin have been together for three years, and both dropped out of high school after learning of the pregnancy. Bristol plans to complete her high school education and get her diploma by taking correspondence courses. In the fall, Johnston decided to join the work force by becoming an apprentice electrician. The couple will marry sometime in 2009.

Sarah Palin is Governor and Grandma

Not only is Sarah Palin the Governor of Alaska, she is now a grandmother for the first time. Sarah’s teen daughter Bristol was a huge point of contention in the 2008 presidential race—at least for some voters. Shortly after Presidential candidate John McCain announced Sarah Palin as his running mate, the news of Bristol’s pregnancy also surfaced. Sarah Palin’s stance on abstinence education was already under intense scrutiny, and Bristol’s unplanned pregnancy only fueled the fire. Other issues like teen pregnancy, teen marriage, and the privacy of political families were also questioned as a result of Bristol’s unexpected pregnancy.

Family Support for Bristol and Tripp

Bristol will have to face many challenges as a teen mother. She was already forced to drop out of high school, and the media attention during the campaign could not have been easy. She is taking a step in the right direction by taking classes to get her diploma, but something like this would not be possible without support from her family. Bristol is lucky to have a family that supports the pregnancy and is able to assist Bristol with financial matters, as well, so that she can avoid taking out payday loans.

Challenges of Being a Teen Mom

Some young mothers are not as fortunate as Bristol. Along with unfavorable stereotypes and what seems like public humiliation, young moms have to find a way to pay for their baby. Many teen mothers do not have the support of their families or the means to care for a newborn baby. In fact, unexpected pregnancies in general can cause financial crises for mothers and families of any age. Affording the essentials like baby clothes, food, and diapers is close to impossible when a mother hasn’t been saving money for an addition to the family.

Resources for Young Mothers

A surprise pregnancy is a great reminder of why saving for unexpected expenses is so important. People should always have some money in savings for whatever comes their way. Many low income moms have government resources available to them to help provide food, diapers, health care, and other necessities. However, sometimes government help, a steady job, and a little bit of savings still won’t be enough when caring for a newborn baby.

Bristol Palin and her son Tripp are lucky because their family can afford to help them, but for most other people unexpected expenses, including providing for young children, call for payday loans. Payday loans are a great resource for young moms or anyone else facing short-term financial difficulties.

You should get interest free payday loans if you can keep up.  Vice president nominee Sarah Palin’s daughter’s unborn son’s father’s mother was arrested by Alaskan Authorities today. Did you catch that?

One More Time…

Bristol Palin, Sarah Palin’s daughter, who is currently expecting a child, is engaged to be married to the baby’s 18 year old father who is Levi Johnston.

Levi Johnston’s mother, 42-year-old Sherry Johnston, was arrested at her home in Wasilla, Alaska, and is facing charges for six counts of misconduct involving a controlled substance.

Sherry will need more than payday loans to post bail, which was set at $5,000 dollars. All charges are felonies in the state of Alaska.

The arrest came during an undercover narcotic’s investigation which is still underway.

A Stroke of Bad Luck

It’s quite a stroke of bad luck for Sherry Johnston, whose misdeeds have received national attention because of her son’s promiscuity with Bristol Palin, daughter of Sarah Palin, the Governor of Alaska.

Talk about having the cards stacked against you. It brings new meaning to the word “abstinence.”

Love And Marriage

Bristol Palin and Levi plan to get married after the birth of the baby this weekend. (Not right after, of course, but as soon as she recovers, I’m sure).

As for the soon-to-be newborn’s renegade grandmother, well, she will probably have to wait awhile to read bedtime stories to her grandchild.

That is if Sherry’s son Levi’s future mother-in-law (Sarah Palin) doesn’t pull any strings on her behalf. Would Sarah Palin do such a thing?

A Growing Household About To Get Bigger

It’s likely that Sarah’s household is going to get bigger, as she will likely take her grandbaby’s father into her household. For a woman that can run the state of Alaska, this shouldn’t prove to be anything big. A little extra cash shouldn’t hurt her pocketbook too much.

Worst case scenario, she can pawn off pieces of her wardrobe.

Good Sportsmanship is What It’s All About

For as much fun as the media has sporting with Sarah Palin, you have to give this girl some credit. She is as unrattled as they come and is even willing to laugh at herself from time to time.

Before the election, Sarah Palin made an appearance on Saturday Night Live, as the butt end of a skit imitating her.

Sarah, you played along beautifully and showed the nation that you can sport with the best of them.

A Palin Church Burning

The church that governor Sarah Palin attends was purposely set ablaze last week by those who are believed to be opponents of Palin’s policies,as she’s coming fresh off the campaign trail.

The Church suffered more than 1 million dollars in damage, and Sarah Palin apologized if the attack was connected to her and her actions in any way.

Sarah was quoted to have said

“Whatever the motives of the arsonist, the governor has faith in the scriptural passage that what was intended for evil will in some way be used for good.”

Posted Courtesy of your Payday Loans Source,

A New Clothing Line.
Sarah Palin drew such attention with the clothes and the shoes she wore. It was reported that Sarah spent over $150,000 on her clothes and shoes in just the first month on the campaign trail. Well, I have to admit, it worked. Everyone was talking about her clothes. Her position on the war, the economy or any issue took a backstage to what she was wearing today. Many of us found ourselves, even though we felt it to be almost wrong, waiting for Sarah to step away from the podium to see what she was wearing today. She stole the campaign style spotlight. Why not put her natural ability to use and start the “Sarah Palin Clothes Line?”

A New Eyeglass Line.

Then there were the eyeglasses. Just because she wore them, people ran out in droves, even getting payday loans, to buy the Kawasaki 704 eyeglass frames. She could start a new eyeglass line. She could call her new company the “Governor’s Glasses.”

Sarah’s Shooting Shop.
How about a hunting shop? She could sell rifles and all the gear that goes along with hunting. She could adorn the walls with photos of her standing next to the caribou or moose that she killed and could even put their heads on the walls. What about a line of Caribou Barbies to sell behind the counter?

A Talk Show Host.
There is no doubt that Sarah Palin can talk. She has charisma and she grabs our attention. Just look at the double-digit ratings gains after her appearances on “Saturday Night Live” and the “CBS Evening News.” When it came to politics, people seemed to love her or hate her — there didn’t seem to be much middle ground. Yet everyone watched her. What more do you need if you are a talk show host? The question is: does she do an Oprah-style syndicated talk show or more of a Glen Beck-like cable news show. Maybe one topic she’ll cover could ge our right to continue to have payday loans.

A Reality Television Show.
The Alaska setting as a backdrop. A pregnant teenager. Sarah Palin-the grandma, sitting on her porch with a rifle in her lap, protecting Alaska from the Russians just across the border. It has the makings for a perfect Reality TV show. Kind of the “Osbornes” meet “The Brady Bunch.” She could call it, “The Palin Bunch.”

A Book Deal.
Somewhere, someone will want to write about her life. They could call it, “I Almost was the Vice President of the United States,” or “Tina Fey Impersonated Me.”

So Many Choices.
Oh wait, Sarah Palin does have a day job, for at least the next two years. She is, after all, the Governor of Alaska. I understand there is a bridge to nowhere that needs finishing. At least in Alaska, she can continue to work to be sure Alaskan’s have the financial freedom to obtain payday loans. No matter what she chooses, I don’t believe Sarah Palin will just drift off into the sunset. As a famous actor once said, “She’ll be back.”

And  doesn’t want to see Sarah Palin slip into the seat of power if John McCain flatlines. In fact, she even goes so far as to call Alaska’s governor “a disgrace to women.”

Bardot, silver screen siren of the 1960s and ardent animal activist, considers John McCain’s running mate to be “disconcertingly stupid.” Regarding Palin’s ubiquitous self-assessment – being a “pitbull with lipstick” – the animal lover makes her feelings clear:

“I know dogs well and I can assure you that no pitbull, no dog, nor any other animal is as dangerous as you are.”

For film fans of the late 1950s and 1960s, Bardot was THE sex symbol who defined freedom and the desires of youth. Now 74, she is notorious in France for her outspoken views on immigration, the environment and animal rights. She has been fined and convicted multiple times in Paris for anti-gay and racist remarks.

But clearly, Bardot doesn’t care what people think about her. To drive home how she feels about America’s next potential president (Alas, poor John. We hardly knew ye) :

“By denying the responsibility of man in global warming, by advocating gun rights and making statements that are disconcertingly stupid, you are a disgrace to women and you alone represent a terrible threat, a true environmental catastrophe.”

Does Bardot hunt publicity like Palin hunts elk and wolf? Perhaps.

Are Palin’s views on environmental policy short-sighted or even delusional? I give that one a big, fat check. Is Bardot worthy of the attention she’s received in her twilight years? Well, it’s clear the world is listening. She thinks big, which is what Americans need to do before they cast their vote in the November 4 election.

Consider the environment and what hunting means to it. Look for whether the freedoms you possess in America will remain protected if your choice takes office. For instance, if you use payday loans on occasion to help you through short-term financial hardship, you’ll want to know about your favorite candidate’s position on consumer lending.

Don’t go for flash, look for substance. Think big.

Reports from The New Yorker’s weekly podcast “The Campaign Trail” indicate that the Paulson Plan for economic rescue may have the right idea for recovery; the people are scared and no fax payday loans aren’t life rafts. Tectonic shift – the Fed utilizing umbrella authority to buy up securities and bank stocks – takes time.

The Campaign Trail: A Weekly Podcast About the Presidential Race (courtesy of The New Yorker)

One of the commentators compare the United States’ recovery plan with those of countries like Sweden, Japan and England. The British plan, for my money, makes a lot of sense.

Bugger those bank failures, I'm buying in!

What are the Brits doing to restore consumer faith in the banking system?

To recapitalize banks, English government buys at least a 10 percent stake via preference shares. Preference shares don’t normally grant an investor a vote with the board of directors, but they do have the advantage of being repaid before normal shareholders’ are repaid. Unlike typical preference shareholders, however, British government has conditions a bank must agree to before they will invest in them:

1. Dividends paid to investors must be decreased
2. Banks cannot shut off lending to firms and consumers
3. Pay restrictions for the bank’s CEO must be enacted
4. The government WILL be granted seats on the bank’s board

That’s a big step in the direction of a government restoring consumer faith in a banking system.

What else does the podcast say?

Other highlights from the podcast center around the presidential race. Here are some soundbites:

• From a member of the GOP: “Sarah Palin is a fatal cancer to the Republican Party”
• AP/Yahoo/Stanford U. poll: 40% of white Americans have negative attitudes about blacks
• One-quarter of Democrats doubt Obama can bring the change they want, and hence they won’t vote for him

But a bad economy seems to trump the ideas some Caucasian Americans hold about African-Americans. As one of the podcasters says, “Racism is a luxury that can only be afforded in good times.”

Can’t say I agree in total with that, but it may just be an accurate sociological statement about society.

Personal responsibility is the key.

In a bad economy, we’re all going to take our lumps. Having financial choices makes sense. Short-term installment loans like no fax payday loans are there in good times and bad. The borrower’s own sense of personal responsibility is the ultimate system of checks and balances that will keep them flying right.

Do Cinderella, Dorothy and Sarah Palin have something in common? Have they all used payday loans?

Cinderella's glass slippers

Cinderella was a sweet-innocent young woman who was unjustly treated by her wicked step-mother and step-sisters. Cinderella was forced to do all the cooking, cleaning and laundry. She was never allowed to go anywhere fun. One day, the Prince invited all the maidens in the land to a ball so he could choose a wife. Although Cinderella was invited, her step-mother and step-sisters refused to allow her to go. But, with the help of her Fairy Godmother, Cinderella got the chance to go to the ball in a beautiful gown, and she danced the night away with the Prince. But, the spell on her gown was only good until midnight, so when the clock struck midnight, she had to run back home, or risk being discovered as the poorly dressed girl that she was. As she ran down the stairs, one of her glass slippers slipped off of her foot and was left behind. Luckily for her, the prince found the glass slipper and ultimately found her, because of it. No payday loans needed.

Dorothy and the Ruby Slippers

Dorothy's ruby slippers

Dorothy lived on a farm in Kansas with her Aunty Em and Uncle Henry, but dreamed of a better place, somewhere over the rainbow. After being swept away by a tornado, Dorothy and her dog Toto were transported to the magical Land of Oz. After spending some time in Oz, Dorothy realized how much home really meant to her, and tried, with the help of a scarecrow, tin man and cowardly lion to find her way back home. Finally, she discovered, with the help of Glinda, the Good Witch of the North, that she had always had the power to return home. All she had to do was click her ruby slippers together and repeat, “There’s no place like home” and she, indeed, arrived home, without the help of payday loans.

Sarah Palin’s Shoes

Sarah Palin

Sarah Palin is the Governor of Alaska as well as the Republican Party’s Vice Presidential nominee. Palin was a member of the Wasilla, Alaska city council from 1992 to 1996 and was Mayor of Wasilla from 1996 to 2002. She chaired the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission from 2003 to 2004. She was elected governor of Alaska in November 2006. She is the youngest person to have been elected to the position, and is Alaska’s first female governor. She is the mother of 5, including a child with Down’s syndrome. In spite of all of her life experience, the American people seem to be more interested in the shoes Palin is wearing today rather than what her stance is on the issues. Almost one million people have written articles about Palin’s shoes, according to Google. What Sarah Palin’s stance is on the economy, government spending, or payday loans, we may never know, but what we will know for sure is what color shoes Sarah was wearing at today’s press conference.

So, back to the original question; what do Cinderella, Dorothy and Sarah Palin have in common? Have they all taken out payday loans?  No.   They all discovered that a good pair of shoes can change your life.

What do no fax payday loans have to do with Hillary’s orange pantsuit? I’ll explain.

It seems to me that women in politics these days must have a very large budget for clothing. At the Democratic National Convention last week, Hillary Clinton wore an orange pantsuit. There are many reasons she may have decided to wear an orange pantsuit. Whatever the reason, it did grab attention. When I did a search on Google for “Hillary’s orange pantsuit,” I got 67,200 hits. A lot of people are talking about her choice in clothing. So how much does that orange pantsuit cost? According to careerfashion.wordpress.com, Hillary gets her pantsuits at Yves Saint Laurent. When I went to the Yves Saint Laurent website, I could only find one black suit jacket (sorry, no orange) for $2440.00 (more than the amount I could receive with no fax payday loans).

Maybe Hillary shops at Saks Fifth Avenue, an upscale American department store headquartered in New York City (where she serves as Senator). When I went online to Saks, I again only found the jackets to the pantsuits and they ranged in price from $365 all the way up to $2670.00.

Not to be outdone, at the Republican National convention, Sarah Palin wore red shoes. This grabbed even more attention than Hillary’s pantsuit, at 156,000 hits when I put “Sarah Palin’s red shoes” into Google. According to the palm tree pundit, Sarah bought these shoes at Zappos (http://zeta.zappos.com/product/7357893/color/585) for $134.10.

Is this something most women can afford? If you can afford them, and you would love an orange pantsuit, I say, “Go for it.” Notice the word, “love.” Would a regular woman like you and me, put this pantsuit or these shoes on a credit card or take out no fax payday loans? This may not be the responsible use of our money. Before buying clothing like the candidates wear, I would first determine if I really “love” the red shoes (they are really cute, aren’t they?) or the orange pantsuit. Next, do I really “need” either of them? Maybe I really do love and need the red shoes to go with an outfit I have. Then, can I save up enough money for the purchase before buying the red shoes, and then should I buy them somewhere more affordable than Saks Fifth Avenue, Yves Saint Laurent or even Zappos?

I suppose if I need to get a lot of attention, maybe if I’m running for some sort of office, the purchase of this kind of clothing may be a necessity as will no fax payday loans. I guess you’ll have to decide.  As a side note, think about this: have you even heard one thing about what Barack Obama or John McCain were wearing at those same conventions?