Levi Johnston - This is Levi

Levi Johnston talks about Palin's resignation

2009-07-10T04:26:00.001-08:00

By MARY PEMBERTON, Associated Press Writer Mary Pemberton, Associated Press Writer –

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – The former fiance of Gov. Sarah Palin's 18-year-old daughter says he thinks he knows why the Alaska governor is resigning — concerns over money.

Levi Johnston, 19, whose wedding to Bristol Palin was called off earlier this year, says he believes the governor is resigning over personal finances.

Johnston says he lived with the Palin family from early December to the second week in January. He claims he heard the governor several times say how nice it would be to take advantage of the lucrative deals that were being offered, including a reality show and a book.

"I think the big deal was the book. That was millions of dollars," said Johnston, who has had a strained relationship with the family but now says things have improved.

Palin has a book deal, but compensation details haven't been disclosed. The governor has said she is facing more than $500,000 in legal fees.

"It is interesting to learn Levi is working on a piece of fiction while honing his acting skills," Palin family spokeswoman Meghan Stapleton said in an e-mail to The Associated Press.

Johnston made his comments at a news conference Thursday at the office of his attorney, Rex Butler.

Johnston came forward, Butler said, because Alaskans want to know why Palin has decided to resign. She made the announcement last Friday.

Johnston also is pursuing his own book deal. He is working as a carpenter while also pursuing a movie deal.

Source

Levi Johnston poses shirtless with baby for GQ magazine

2009-06-13T07:45:00.003-08:00

The 19-year-old Johnston, opens up about Bristol and the Palin Family in the July issue of GQ Magazine.

Levi Johnston says his relations are improving with Bristol Palin, daughter of former Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin.

The 19-year-old Johnston tells GQ magazine that the Palins aren't "lying when they say that things are better."

Johnston fathered a child with Bristol, the 18-year-old daughter of Alaska governor. But since the couple broke off their engagement, he has complained in national interviews that the Palins were limiting his access to his son Tripp, born Dec. 27.

Johnston also claims in the GQ article that Sarah Palin's husband, Todd Palin, offered to buy Bristol a new car if she broke off the relationship.

By John Jeremiah Sullivan
GQ.com correspondent

Levi Johnston calls Sarah Palin 'snobby,' says his family is not 'white trash' on CBS' 'Early Show'

2009-04-08T07:56:00.000-08:00

The father of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's first grandchild slammed the vanquished vice presidential candidate for snobby behavior, declaring the biggest misconception about him is "my family's white trash."

In an exclusive interview on CBS' "The Early Show," hunky baby daddy Levi Johnston said Wednesday that he's heart-broken over the end of his engagement with Palin's daughter, Bristol. He also accused the governor and her family of lying.

"We're not cashing in on their name," Johnston, 18, insisted. "I'm just trying to get my side of the story out there and letting people know who I am."

Asked to identify the biggest misconception about him, Johnston replied, "Probably that my family's white trash."

Johnston and his sister, Mercede, portrayed the Palin family as stuck-up.

Johnston said he's under the impression the Palins think he's not good enough for their daughter. His sister called the Palin family's conduct "snobby."

"Look what they're doing. They're lying, trying to save theirselves. And they're the one that asked for it," Levi's sister said. "They brought him to the campaign. They should have known what was coming. They can't, you know, turn around and try to take it back now."

The Johnston siblings accuse Palin of lying about Levi staying in her home. According to Levi Johnston, he began sharing a room with Bristol in the Palin household a few weeks before the birth of their son, Tripp, and stayed there until the couple recently split.

"They said I didn't live there," Levi Johnston said. "I stayed there. I was like, OK, well, whatever you want to call it. I had my stuff there."

Asked directly if the Palins were lying, Johnston replied "Yes."

Johnston said his son means "everything" to him.

"He's my little boy. I don't know what I'd do without him," he said. "When I hold him, it's an amazing feeling. I just shake."

While the pregnancy was unplanned, Johnston said he doesn't view it as a mistake.

"I wouldn't call any baby a mistake," he said. "I mean, I love him more than anything. I wouldn't trade him for the world.

At one time, Johnston said he had an excellent relationship with the governor.

"She was great. I mean, she treated me like a mom," he said. "I think she'd do anything for me at the time. And now I don't know."

But the relationship began to sour, he said, after she lost her bid to become the nation's first female vice president.

"When she lost is when it started happening," he said. "When she had got back, I think it's when it went downhill."

"I can go over there whenever I want and see my baby, but nine times out of ten, I'm not allowed to take him," he explained. "It's not as comfortable -- they don't think of me the same way anymore."

The Palin-Johnston family feud exploded last week when news broke that the Johnston family gave an exclusive interview to the "The Tyra Banks Show."

On the show, Johnston said he believed the governor knew he was having sex with Bristol prior to her becoming pregnant at age 17.

Caught off guard by Johnston's public remarks, the Palin family released a blistering statement last weekend.

"Bristol did not even know Levi was going on the show. We're disappointed that Levi and his family, in a quest for fame, attention, and fortune, are engaging in flat-out lies, gross exaggeration, and even distortion of their relationship," the statement said.

"It is unfortunate that Levi finds it more appealing to exploit his previous relationship with Bristol than to contribute to the well being of the child," the statement said. "Bristol realizes now that she made a mistake in her relationship and is the one taking responsibility for their actions."

Johnston said he's working odd jobs and hopes to be an electrician. Or perhaps the publicity surrounding his relationship with Bristol will lead to an acting or modeling gig, he said.

The Johnston family hopes there won't be a custody battle for Tripp because they fear any judge in Alaska would side with the governor and her family.

Johnston said he's heartbroken.

"But I got an amazing little boy out of it," he said.

Source

Bristol Palin Gives Birth

2008-12-29T18:14:00.003-09:00

Here it is, check out the story.

Bristol Palin Gives Birth To Son Named Tripp

2008-12-29T16:54:00.002-09:00

The Daughter of former Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin gave birth to a beautiful baby boy yesterday!

People magazine reported that the 18-year-old Bristol gave birth to Tripp Easton Mitchell Johnston on Sunday. He was a health 7 pounds and 4 ounces. A member of the family has told the media that the baby boy is doing just well.

The Alaskan Governor's office would not release any details about the birth because they consider these to be family matters.

As you all remember, Levi Johnston, is the former hocker player from Alaska's Wasilla High School.

Levi told The Associated Press that month that he and Bristol loved each other and wanted to get married. Johnston, who dropped out of high school to take a job on the North Slope oil fields as an apprentice electrician, said he was a little shocked to learn that Bristol was pregnant but quickly warmed to the idea of being a father.

He said the two had planned to get married even before Bristol became pregnant.

Johnston, an avid hunter, hinted at the time that they were expecting a boy. He said he was already looking forward to taking the boy hunting and fishing.

Johnston's mother was arrested on felony drug charges this month after state troopers served a search warrant at her Wasilla home. According to authorities, she sent text messages to two police informants in which she discusses making drug transactions involving OxyContin, a strong prescription painkiller.

Sarah Palin and her husband, Todd, have five children ranging in age from Trig, 7 months, to Track, 19. In between are Willow, 14; Piper, 7; and Bristol.

A Few of My Favorite, Latest Palin Rumors…

2008-09-08T16:59:00.001-08:00

…In reverse order of truthiness.

1. Track Palin joined the Army to avoid jail time for drugs.

The skinny: Wasilla is the “meth capital of Alaska.” There are rumors Track was one of three unnamed teenagers charged with vandalizing 44 school buses while drunk. The neat dirt here is that the prom queen made her son’s military service a key part of her acceptance speech. Add this to her knocked up teenage daughter and you’ve got a conservative base that will have to kick it into Super-Heavy-Denail-Rationalization-Gear to keep up the family values bullshit.

2.Levi Johnston will not marry Bristol Palin.

This one is a slam-dunk (in the you know, non-Bush Iraq War kinda way.) There is no chance on earth that this kid’s parents will forcce him to get married at age 18 and move off to Washington DC with some teenage alcholic slut and her derranged parents. What, you think his parents are that shitty? That’d make ‘em shitty like, uh, Sarah Palin or something. This one is in the bank. After Nov 4 there is ZERO chance of this wedding happening. It’s just more GOP bullshit.

3.Sarah Palin is a rude, bitch. Or As McCain liks to call his wife, “a cunt.”

This isn’t even really a rumor is it? This is just a fucking fact. No real need to type up any snappy patter on this one. She’s speaks for herself— when McCain let’s her.

LET THE BRISTOL PALIN BABY DADDY PATERNITY SCANDAL BEGIN

2008-09-08T16:12:00.000-08:00

Check it out. Kevin here, who is black by the way, but totally doesn’t want to play the race card, says he is the father of wee Bristol Palin’s bun in the oven.

Could this be true?

Also, just on a side note, Kev here has a burgeoning rap career. You can read all about it on his MySpace page.

Hmmmm….

Book Gate. Palin Wanted to Ban Books.

2008-09-06T17:44:00.002-08:00

Book banning. This is just getting downright medieval. It’s out now that Sarah Palin, while mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, tried to fire City Librarian Dorothy Emmons for not agreeing to remove “objectionable books” from the Wasilla Public Library. Dorothy Emmons, to her credit, and the credit of librarians everywhere, refused. Something about….which amendment was that?….oh, that’s right….the FIRST ONE.

Here’s what happened after Palin asked the librarian if she’d be “alright” with removing books that Palin found unacceptable.

According to news coverage at the time, the librarian said she would definitely not be all right with it. A few months later, the librarian, Mary Ellen Emmons, got a letter from Palin telling her she was going to be fired. The censorship issue was not mentioned as a reason for the firing. The letter just said the new mayor felt Emmons didn’t fully support her and had to go.

Emmons had been city librarian for seven years and was well liked. After a wave of public support for her, Palin relented and let Emmons keep her job.

The question everyone wants to know is, “What books was she trying to ban?” Unfortunately, no concrete information exists on this…yet. Emmons has not been reached for comment, but may be able to shed some light, especially since she now lives in another part of the state and is no longer in Wasilla, where perceived “Sarah bashing” can be risky.

But until then, I present for your literary amusement, a random selection of “the most harmful books of the 19th and 20th century” as compiled by Newt Gingrich’s conservative online cabal known as “Human Events”. Presumably, knowing what we do about Palin’s ideology, it doesn’t seem unreasonable to assume any or all of these would be on the hit list. (No link provided to Human Events because, trust me, …you don’t want to go there)

Das Kapital, The Feminine Mystique, The Communist Manifesto, The Course of Positive Philosophy, Beyond Good and Evil, Mein Kampf, On Liberty, Introduction to Psychoanalysis, Silent Spring, Coming of Age in Samoa and….wait for it…The Origin of Species by Charles Darwin. And I’ll go ahead and do some wild speculation that the name Harry Potter may come up. It wouldn’t surprise me.

Ironically, the first time I remember Sarah Palin being portrayed in the national media was in a piece on the Daily Show where she was salaciously compared to a “naughty librarian.” I’d like to claim my very own Lloyd Bentsen moment right now and say to Sarah Palin, “I know librarians. Librarians are friends of mine. Governor, you’re no librarian.”

Palin Vetting Documents from 2006. For Hard Core Palin Addicts Only.

2008-09-06T17:42:00.001-08:00

In 2006, when Sarah Palin ran for Governor of Alaska, the Democrats (unlike the Republicans of 2008) vetted her. The documentation is extensive, and was published online.

Recently, the link from various websites including Politico to the documents went dead. Then it came back. Then it went dead. Then it came back. You get the idea. Considering the tendency for things to vanish these days, and thanks to a reader of Mudflats, you may now peruse the document in its entirety below.

It’s 63 pages, so be warned. I suggest using the table of contents on page two to guide you on this “more than you ever wanted to know about Palin tour.” I wonder how long McCain’s document was?

Palin 2006 Vetting

Legislature Steps Up Palin Ethics Investigation

2008-09-06T17:39:00.003-08:00

If you’re marking your calendar with upcoming Alaska political scandal “Dates to Remember”, it’s time to get out your eraser. The release date of the Palin ethics investigation has moved…but not in the direction you may think.

ABC News has exclusively learned that Alaska Senator Hollis French will announce today that he is moving up the release date of his investigation into whether Gov. Sarah Palin abused her office to get the Alaska public safety commissioner, Walt Monegan, fired. The results of the investigation were originally scheduled for release Oct. 31 but will now come almost three weeks earlier, according to sources.

Friday is obviously a big news day up here in Alaska. And now, the latest on the jousting match between teams French/Branchflower and Palin/Van Flein. The Palin/Van Flein strategy has been to stall, stonewall, dig in their heels, grit their teeth, throw grenades, light fires, and jump in the bunker. It seems to be meeting with limited success.

Despite Palin filing an ethics complaint against herself to force an investigation by a friendly self-appointed board, the Legislature, under the leadership of Democrat Hollis French, chair of the judiciary committee, marches on. It remains to be seen how they will pull this off, but subpoenas must be just around the corner, because both Frank Bailey (the Palin staffer whose phone call to Troopers was recorded), and Sarah Palin who originally said she’d be completely cooperative, have refused to testify.

Also, Republican Rep. John Coghill is now asking for Hollis French to step down from his leadership role stating that because he’s used the word ‘impeachment’ more than once, and has stated he feels the whole thing will be ‘damaging’ for her, he is no longer impartial.

It’s hopeless. Just when you think you’ll get a few minutes to eat, or work, or have a life, more cars on the train wreck that is the McCain-Palin tic

2008-09-06T17:35:00.002-08:00

It’s hopeless. Just when you think you’ll get a few minutes to eat, or work, or have a life, more cars on the train wreck that is the McCain-Palin ticket derail.

The latest story the National Enquirer is working on is that Palin had an affair with Todd’s ex-business partner in an Anchorage Car Wash venture. This was an interesting twist because it was also rumored that Todd Palin had an “Edwards problem”. Maybe he has an Elizabeth Edwards problem. I generally try to resist getting too caught up in the smarminess, unless it becomes impossible. It just did.

On September 3rd, Todd’s ex-business partner filed an emergency motion to have his divorce papers sealed. Yesterday the motion was DENIED.

Buckle up. I’ll post updates and links…unless the entire intertube network collapses first.

Thanks Supporters!! Go Sarah Palin and John McCain!!

2008-09-04T03:30:00.007-08:00

I just wanted to take a moment to clarify some of the rumors out there surrounding my fiancee, myself, the Governor and the rest of the family. Feel free to look through the postings that here find out the truth about our close American family!

McCain/Palin Ticket for the White House!!

Wanna know the real story?? I am a Fuckin Redneck!!

2008-09-03T07:28:00.002-08:00

This is RIDICULOUS!!

Is this what bringing a new baby into the world is supposed to be like?

First off, my personal life is none of your damn business!

Ive created this blog to help clarify the rumors and cheap shots taken by numberous media outlets, blogs, and even close friends.

As I'm sure you are already aware that for the last 48 hours, my life has been hell raised by all of the media attention surrounding Governor Palin.

There should have never been an issue that involved Bristol and I; however, because of the attention that Mrs. Palin is receiving, the two of us (and our unborn child) have been sucked into this horrible mess that is weighing heavily on the both of us.

Thanks to the popularity of Myspace, our pages have been made private to protect our privacy and personal lives. We won't be accepting anymore friend requests simply because people are using the info that they find on our pages for all of the wrong reasons. Thanks to all of you who have supported us, those who have made it clear that this whole ordeal has gotten out of hand, and thanks even to the haters out there who think this is going to spoil the opportunities for my (soon to be) mother-in-law.

For all of you who support Bristol and I during her pregnancy, we appreciate the support! For anyone else, leave us alone.

L Johnston

The Real Levi Johnston!

2008-09-03T05:57:00.002-08:00

Levi and Mercedes

This is the real Levi Johnston.

Our Next Vice President - Sarah Palin

2008-09-03T05:15:00.003-08:00

I found this under the bed - Governor Sarah Palins has gone wild!! A little less clothing and Sarah Palin would be naked. This is going to be our next vice president???

Sorry Sarah, you've been exposed.

Frank Bailey's paid vacation: The cover up

2008-09-02T23:59:00.007-08:00

Less than a week after Frank Bailey was outed after making a recorded phone call where he tried to get the governor's ex-brother in law fired, disclosed confidential health information and portrayed that the call was at the behest of the governor, Bailey received the harshest punishment Governor Sarah Palin could apparently dish out; a paid vacation.

Late Tuesday, the governor's office sent out an email that said "Frank Bailey has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the Branchflower investigation." According to Kyle Hopkins at the Anchorage Daily News, Bailey is on paid leave and is eligible to continue collecting his $78,528 salary.

This is a joke. After all, has anyone stopped to recognize just how much exposure Bailey's 24 minute phone call to State Trooper Lt. Rodney Dial has created for the state, not to mention Governor Palin.

First, Bailey's request to Dial to act as a mole in forwarding communications sent to PSEA members seriously encroaches on fair labor practices rules. The PSEA union is already reviewing their legal options.

Second, Bailey's discussion of Palin's ex brother in laws medical files are a serious violation of an employees privacy rights and HIPAA laws which are strictly enforced to protect the privacy of employees.

Third, Bailey's attempts to get Palin's brother in law, fired even though the complaints he mentioned had already been ajudicated, violated Wooten's employee rights.

All three of these instances has not only provided serious legal exposure for the state and Frank Bailey, but has ironically given Palin's ex brother in law grounds to sue the state for violating his rights.

How's that for turn about. After spending a year and a half dogging Palin's ex brother in law, not only could the Palin administration not get the guy fired, but they've handed him a solid case to turn around and sue the state.

But yet after all of this mess he created, Frank Bailey gets a paid vacation.

And what about the governor's assertion that she didn't know any of this was going on?

On July 18, when former Commissioner Walt Monegan broke his silence about the pressure he felt to fire Palin's ex brother in-law, the Anchorage Daily News reported this:

In February, the governor brought up Wooten's name to Monegan, according to Monegan. They were walking together to wish Sen. Lyman Hoffman a happy birthday. "I told her I needed to keep her at arm's distance and she shouldn't be involved," he said. "She said, 'OK, that's a good idea.' "

Bailey was the latest to contact him about Wooten. He called a trooper commander, and several others, before the calls ended up in Monegan's lap. Monegan called him back.

" 'We can't do this. This is not what we are supposed to do,' " Monegan said he told Bailey.

Now, step back and look at the time line that has been established as each little bit of information has been released out of sequence.

Senator Lyman Hoffman's birthday was on Februrary 13, when Monegan said he was walking with Palin and told her she shouldn't be involved after she mentioned Wooten's name.

On the afternon of Februrary 28, Todd Palin makes three calls to Ivy Frye.

On the evening of February 28, Frye begins a flurry of emails to Annette Krietzer, Todd Palin, Sarah Palin, Frank Bailey and Kris Perry regarding PSEA.

On the morning of Februrary 29, Frank Bailey calls Trooper Lt. Rodney Dial and spends 24 minutes with him on the phone attempting to convince him that Wooten needs to be fired.

Directly after the phone call on the morning of February 29, Bailey emails Frye and writes that Dial is just a Lt. and will pass the information on up the chain of command.

This is where Monegan's comments come into play.

In the July 18 ADN story, Monegan stated that Bailey was the last person he spoke to about the Wooten issue. He said he ended up speaking to him after Bailey's calls to a Trooper Commander and several others about Wooten ended up in Monegan's lap. Obviously one of those calls was the one recorded with Lt. Rodney Dial.

" 'We can't do this. This is not what we are supposed to do,' " Monegan said he told Bailey. But yet Frank Bailey maintains he never spoke to Walt Monegan about Palin's ex brother in law.

Meawhile, after saying she was unaware of Bailey's recorded phone and that it gave the false impression he was calling on behalf of her and her husband, Governor Sarah Palin called Bailey's actions out of bounds and just plain wrong.

And as punishment, the governor gave Frank Bailey a two month paid vacation.

Is Sarah lying about Baileys phone call??

2008-09-02T23:39:00.007-08:00

Palin lying about Bailey's phone call??

In a taped interview with Anchorage Daily News Reporter Kyle Hopkins, Governor Sarah Palin stated unequivocably that Frank Bailey acted completely on his own.

"No one ever directed him to make any calls, he never disclosed he made any calls," Palin said.

This is a lie.

On February 29, an email was sent from Frank Bailey to Ivy Frye just after Bailey's recorded phone call to Alaska State Trooper Rodney Dial.

"Leaving pretty quick for the airport...call me though I need to give you a heads up. Spoke to Rodney and he doesn't get that kind of stuff since he's a Lieutenant, but he'd definitely pass it on."

Not only that, but Palin also told Hopkins that "Todd never told Frank Bailey or suggest he take on this mission to call a trooper."

However according to phone logs, Todd Palin called Ivy Frye three times between 1:45pm and 3:50pm on the afternoon of February 28, the day before Bailey's call to Dial.

But there is more. The Palin administration has refused to release over 1100 additional emails citing "Executive privilege" and "Deliberative Process".

According to the privilege log of those emails that weren't released, there are eleven different emails between 7pm on February 28 and 11:41am on February 29 with the subject line "re: PSEA" sent between Ivy Frye, Annette Kreitzer, Sarah Palin, Frank Bailey, Todd Palin and Kris Perry.

Given the fact that Bailey's recorded phone call that was placed around 9:30am on Feb 29 and was prefaced about the PSEA (Public Safety Employees Association); who wants to bet the reason Palin doesn't want to release these emails is because they have to do with Wooten?

I have attached both the email and the phone log (click attachment)which were released as part of an unrelated information request.

To hear Governor's Palin's interview with Kyle Hopkins:
http://levi-johnston.blogspot.com/2008/09/sarah-palin-audio-interview.html
To see the privilage log of emails that haven't been released:
http://levi-johnston.blogspot.com/2008/09/confidential-email-log-what-you-cant.html

Sarah Palin Audio Interview

2008-09-02T23:35:00.003-08:00

From Kyle Hopkins in Anchorage --

I talked to Gov. Sarah Palin on the phone yesterday for the story in today's paper. (We were going to talk about another topic, but spent a lot of the call on the Monegan firing.)
Anyway, here's the interview:

Click here to download the audio clip - http://media.adn.com/smedia/2008/08/15/13/palin-hopkins-interview-08-15-08.source.prod_affiliate.7.mp3

Palin was on the Bob & Mark Show on KWHL yesterday too, and I asked for recordings of the show but ran out of time to listen to them. I hear Bob & Mark were critical of today's story, saying it was based on their interview with Palin without giving credit, so I just wanted to say I appreciate them sending the clips but our story completely relied on our own interview.

The Confidential Email Log: What you can't see

2008-09-02T23:15:00.004-08:00

The last few days we have been referencing a confidential email log that was sent out by the Palin administration in response to a freedom of information act that was filed by a group of Alaskans. We have now posted the document on our site.

The 78 page document, lists hundreds of emails that are off limits to the publics eyes due to the claim of executive or deliberative privilege.

This week in a legal opinion we received on this list, we were told:

An important rule regarding privilege and privilege logs: The description of the contents has to be descriptive enough so that it is readily apparent why the privilege is invoked. The person seeking the documents has to be able to make an argument, based on the description, whether the documents should be disclosed. In this case, it is clear that all they have done is taken the re line from the email. Not good enough by
any means.

As you will see going through the privilege log, the Palin administration has clearly violated this rule and the confidentiality of these emails
should be appealed.

To see the entire 78 page email privilege log:

Foia.pdf (5.7 mb)

6 Good Reasons Why America Does Not Need Sarah Palin as Vice President

2008-09-01T18:39:00.000-08:00

Sarah Palin has been selected by John McBushCain to be, quite possibly, the second most powerful person in the world.

Now everyone across the nation is saying to themselves: “Who is Sarah Palin?”

Perhaps the second question running around is “Why is she fit to be the next Vice President of the United States of America?”

Well folks, it doesn’t really seem that she is. At least not in the opinion of this blogger.

Here are 6 Good Reasons Why America Does Not Need Sarah Palin as Vice President:

6. No experience with how to rebuild a nation after war.

I would like my Presidential candidates to have some idea of what it is to be in combat, but I would like even more for my candidates to have experience or education in rebuilding a country after a war; whether it be ours or theirs. She has a bachelor’s degree in journalism with a minor in politics. No combat experience. No education on the subject. The closest she comes to having experience with war is having her son enlisted. Her son, according to some, is scheduled to be deployed in September 2008. Now isn’t that just handy for the campaign of a war President?

Oh wait, she poses for pictures with injured soldiers. I forgot she’s got experience with posing for pictures:

Which brings me to my next point…

5. Winning second place in the beauty contest means you get to collect 10 dollars.

I don’t really think that it’s important that the Vice President of our United States won a beauty contest, whether it be Miss Alaska or Miss Teen USA. In fact, I think it detracts from how other countries view us. We go from having an idiot in the White House as President to an old war monger and a beauty pageant loser? Really? I think it’s possible that people could lose even more respect for those positions.

4. She’s all about oil.
Sure, it’s oil in Alaska. But the last thing that this country needs is another leader that has big oil signing their paychecks. Don’t believe me? Here’s her own words:

““We want it to happen,” she said, “Alaskans want to open up the lands for that development, for the contributions that are potential here for the rest of the US.” Palin went on to note that “it’s really a pathetic situation

“And I have to ask lawmakers in Washington, DC, who have prohibited this drilling in ANWR if they’re doing all they can to secure the United States. When you consider, too, the geology that we’re talking about here, and the physical space that’s even needed to drill now, about a 2,000 acre plot, because of directional drilling and new technology, allowing such a small footprint to even be placed upon the tundra up north, it’s about 2,000 acres, which is smaller than the size of LAX and other big-city airports, that we would need to drill…”"

Don’t get me wrong, I’m all about removing our reliance on foreign oil, but again: we do not need another President with ties to big oil companies. I, for one, am sick of doubting the true intentions of my President (or Vice President) with every step they take.

Besides, after she gets 3 square miles of land to drill for oil, how big is the next chunk of land she asks for going to be?

But she doesn’t just want to drill for oil in Alaska:

“Gov. Palin has also worked with the legislature to encourage these three big oil companies [BP, ExxonMobil, and ConocoPhillips] — and others who are not already so heavily invested in Alaska — to compete in developing a natural gas pipeline that will bring cheaper and more reliable energy to Alaska’s own consumers and eventually permit cheap export of natural gas to the Lower 48 states.” (source)

Natural gas? Cool! I’m all for it! But assisting gas companies with anything is not something we should be focusing on right now. I know, I know. Those oil companies are really going through some tough times right now aren’t they?

3. She seems to have her hands full enough already.

Sarah Palin has 5 kids. They are 7, 13, 17, 18 and oh yea, one around 4 months. She had a baby in April that has Down syndrome. I don’t think that anyone, man or woman, young or old, has the capacity to raise a newly born child with Down syndrome, and other kids going through school (or Iraq) AND competently help run the United States of America as it is coming out of one of the most destructive Presidencies in its history. Not her, or anyone else. Please don’t take this as me saying that those with families can’t raise their kids and be extraordinarily successful, because I don’t think that’s true. I’m just saying that Vice President of the United States of America, at this point in history, is a position that requires the utmost dedication, focus, patiences and time; 4 qualities not usually found in excess for a new mother or father, let alone a new mother or father with 4 other kids already there.

I looked around to try and find some good quotes about her being a parent and I was a bit shocked. Just when you thought we couldn’t get more “quotable” candidates in the office (for saying stupid things unfortunately) for the USA, check out this gem:

“The Palins named their first child, a boy, Track, after the track and field season in which he was born. Sarah’s father jokingly asked what they would have named their son if he had been born during the basketball season. Without hesitating Sarah answered “Hoop.”"

Or how about this one when it comes to her being a mother:

“It’s said the only difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull is lipstick,” she wrote. “So, with lipstick on, the gloves come off in answering administration accusations.”

2. She posed for Vogue magazine.
No, I’m not referring to the Photoshopped image that is floating around the internet. I mean she posed for Vogue magazine. Here’s what she said about the shoot:

“”At first they had me in a bunch of furs,” she said. “Yeah, I have furs on my wall, but I don’t wear furs. I had to show them my bunny boots and my North Face clothing.”"

She just had to show them her bunny boots.

How can we expect countries like North Korea, China, Japan, India, Afghanistan, Iran, etc. to show us any respect on the global front if they are seeing the one of the leaders of our country plastered on a beauty magazine?

1. Just 5 months ago, she could not even get her arms around or contemplate being selected for Vice President.
From her own words in March of this year (just 5 months ago) on being selected for the Vice Presidential position:

“I’ll tell you, I think that the possibility of this ever happening is so far out there, that it’s tough to get my arms around and even contemplate.”

Now suddenly she is accepting the position for nomination? How about someone who was striving for the position for, I don’t know, sometime within the past year? Could they really not find a single person who wanted to be Vice President bad enough to push to be on the ticket?

Nope. Instead they found a 44 year old beauty pageant loser with 5 kids, one of them being in the military (of course), with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a minor in politics who used to be a television reporter, that now has a few years experience in politics for the state of Alaska, for the next Vice President of the United States of America.

Not only that, but she has already disregarded the Vice Presidential position in government. She was caught asking a reporter to tell her:

“…what is it exactly that the VP does every day? I’m used to being very productive and working real hard in an administration.”

Apparently she is of the opinion that the Vice President does not work real hard in administration.

When the reporter challenges her and says that the Vice Presidential position is a tough one she responds: “Well this is a pretty cool job here too though as governor of Alaska.” Check it out for yourself:

Do you really want a Vice President, who was not ready for the position 5 months ago, to take on the position and think that it is a “pretty cool job?”

At this point: it doesn’t surprise me that the Republican party could make such a stupid decision.

Those are just 6 reasons. But they are reasons enough for me. Please do not vote for John McCain for President in 2008. If McCain wasn’t bad enough, his pick for VP certainly isn’t even close to an ideal candidate either.