Comments on: Levi: Palin Quit To Cash In On Fame

Alaska Governor's Spokeswoman Says Bristol Palin's Ex "Honing His Acting Skills"

[IrishWench01]

Mortarman29,
Okay, I will concede that he shouldn't necesarily be airing dirty laundry or his personal opinions. However, that said, the response from the other camp was also not "family" like.

I still stand by my original statement. The comments attacking him in regards to his relationship, irresponsible behavior as a father and many more, have been ruthless and unfounded. I initially believed that these boards were for conversation, exchange of ideas, philosophies and even learning some new perspectives. Now they are mostly a magnate for hateful, small minded people who can vent and say whatever comes to mind in the safety of anonymity. It disgusts me.

[stevex47]

Book deals? Noooooooo.

I'm certain Playboy or Maxxum would pay much bigger sum's to Miss Cutie.

[cs4466]

The Witch of Wasilla is a little scary even for porn. Unless you're REALLY desperate. LOL

[Mortarman29]

Velma,

I dont say these things lightly. I believe every president for the last 100+ years has led to the demise of our liberties. Some caused a great drain upon them (FDR, LBJ, Bush I, Bush II, Obama) and some less so (JFK, Reagan). But all have had a hand in this erosion of our liberties and destruction of our Constitution.

You see, I hold no allegiance to party...nor any person, besides Jesus. Where my loyalties belong is to the Constitution and to liberty. All of the rest, when it gets in the way of those things...is something that should be abhored.

My fellow countrymen (most of them) dont even know what kind of government they have, or why it was designed that way. They dont understand economics. They just press for more and more from the politicians...who will always do what they are asked.

We shouldnt be asking for this stuff. We shouldnt be asking for Obama and Congress to break the Constitution and institute national health care. we shouldnt be asking Obama and Congress to illegally bailout corporations and financial firms. And so much more.

We should demand they live up to their oaths of office, which is to protect and defend the Constitution. Not bring home the bacon!!

[Mortarman29]

Velma,

You make some good points. But my issue here with Levi has nothingto do with the Palins. He should do right, no matter if the Palins are or not. You see, for him to do right is on him solely. He needs to do the right thing, if not for himself...then for his son.

My second point would be that Sarah owes me nothing. I live in Virginia...she is not my governor. I suspect you do not live in Alaska, so she owes you nothing also.

For Alaskans, she did explain why she was doing this. Her stated reason was that she realized she would no longer be effective, due to all of the controversy around her. That it is best that she move aside, so Alaska doesnt continue to be embroiled in the mess connected to her.

I can respect that.

Like any decision, you dont make it in a vacuum. Did she decide to step down and not consider what was next? Of course not!! So, if she decided to step down, and in that process, she discussed what would happen next...to include writing a book, etc...then there is no problem with that.

I personally believe she would have finished her term if there werent so many distractions. She is a politician. she knows that by stepping down, she loses the bully pulpit of her position, which would help her move forward. She also knew that whether she stayed or went, she would make money in the end.

she has been the most popular Republican for months. Poll after pool has shown her as they front runner for 2012. So, her popularity was not going to go away with the base, no matter which way she went.

So, knowing she could make money at any time...knowing her presence would continue to draw fire on Alaska, which would hurt Alaska and her ability to govern (which would hurt her future aspirations), she really had only one decision to make.

Did she consider making money in this process? Of course she did! Any person that would say they didnt is either a liar or an idiot.

But I have worked political campaigns. I know how this works and know politicians. I think she took the only viable road she had, which was best for her, for her future...and for Alaska.

[mick7744]

Sure...this Levi is no rocket scientist, but when faced with the prospect of marrying into that disfunctional, vindictive family after seeing the TROOPERGATE episode up close, was smart enough to do what Palin herself did...HE BAILED OUT!

Sarah palin may not have been blessed with any real intellegence (or any real character for that matter) but she does posess a certain low animal cunning.

No one should be surprised that her flock of neocon airheads has managed to turn even her betrayal of her oath to the people of Alaska into an act of selfless virtue.

Its what they do...

[ladypirate2]

He didn't bail out! He was kicked out because he refused to get a job and support his son! He thinks the world owes him a living! Bristol finally got tired of his laziness and saw him for what he really is and kicked him to the curb!

She also won't allow him to see the baby without supervision because for some reason unknown to us she doesn't trust him. She probably has good reason, too, but is keeping it private.

Therefore he's angry and vindictive and running off at the mouth just to get back at Bristol and the Palins!

Someone in the Palin family should tell him to shut his big mouth! If he doesn't Todd or Bristol's big brother Trac might shut it for him someday by sticking their fist in it!

[velma179]

Mortar...

If you think President Obama is destroying our country... then you don't have a great deal of confidence in America.

There are plenty of people who said Bush was destroying the country... dang... there have been people who have said any and all the presidents we have had are destroying the country.
Who are these people? The ones who didn't want that man elected, the ones who lost.

And guess what? America still stands.

The kind of hyperbole that says my opponent will surely ruin everything for his team and mine... is the kind that in sports we call "unsportsmanlike behavior"

Please consider, I hope you are a better person, a better American than that.

[velma179]

Mortar...

I have no issue with your premise that a family member should respect the the family. I would easily say I do not share your rigid adherence to the idea that respect goes to the elder without necessarily being earned and to the younger only by earning it.

I also question your statements that what he is sharing is "dirty laundry". Why? That only speaks of activity within the family that is not worthy of respect... from my viewpoint anyway.

There wouldn't be a chance of betrayal if his child's grandmother had made her reasons for resigning pretty much "out of the blue" clear and understandable.
If she had only given one straightforward reason, I doubt there would be nearly as much debate about this. Sure people who don't like her still wouldn't and people who do like her, still would -- but there would be no door open for ridicule. Truthfulness and honor just work that way. My guess is you understand that.

The kid isn't going to win any awards for "most honorable", I agree -- but neither will his grandmother if our information to date is not further explained with that very same stance... honor.

My guess is both Mr. Johnston and Mrs. Palin will be heard from again. I won't be buying a book written by either one of them.

[retiredgustav]

I thought one needed to know how to read and write before they write a book, or at least graduate from high school.

Isn't Lev) what we would legally and technically call a statutory rapist of a 17 year old (don't get me started on the "morals" mom and dad instilled in Bristol though)???

[justsane-2009]

velma--yours is the most reasoned response that i have seen to this issue. for some reason, many americans don't understand that elected office is different from other jobs. elected officials are not hired by owners, managers, or boards of directors. they are chosen by the electorate, the people. when they ask for our votes, they ask for our trust. leaving without good reason, i.e., election to a higher post, major health issues, family tragedy, etc., is a betrayal of the public trust. sarah palin has betrayed that trust.

[ronaldr5-2009]

by mswolfestock July 10, 2009 9:27 AM PDT
Great! Let's go -- I've got the lighter fluid right here.

Who said Wilsonian Liberal Fascism is dead?
It's alive and well, right here on this blog!!

[Mortarman29]

Velma,

The political reality that I have learned from running campaigns is that 1/3 of voters vote one way and 1/3rd vote the other...as lemmings and sheep. really, only about 1/3rd of the electorate is even engaged and votes due to being informed and voting for the guy or gal they believe can make things happen in the way they want.

So, you want to go with the 50 million that voted for Obama? Out of that about 20+ million voted based on reasons that had nothing to do with issues. Same goes with the McCain folks!

Look, here is a prime example. When I ran statewide campaigns, we reasoned that we needed to figure out who that middle 1/3rd were, and make sure we got the majority of that group. So, let's say you have 60,000 voters in a district. 40,000 of them are lemmings and are going to vote the way they vote. So, you dont bother with them...dont waste your time.

You go after that 20,000 that arent lemmings. And all you need is to get 10,001 of them to go your way.

So, out of 60,000 voters, I need only concentrate on 10,001 voters to get elected (a little over 1 out of 6).

It is that simple...sadly!!

Yes, he is my president. And he is destroying my country. I cannot stop it. And at this point, I may not even want him to. The American people have allowed the politicians to slowly degrade our liberties over the last 100+ years. And I can only see one way to get them back...and that is that we reach bottom.

So, better us go straight there quickly...then to continue this slow decline.

As Mayor Koch (D) of New York City said, when he was defeated for re-election..."the people of New York have spoken...and now they must be punished."

So goes the American people. At this point, the only way they will get educated and defend their liberties...is to lose them. Then they will have to fight for them again.

I wish that wasnt so...but such is the history of nations.

[Mortarman29]

Irish,

All of those questions are perfectly acceptable to ask. And everyone is free to speculate or react to her answers about her own decisions in any way they see fit. There is no problem with that.

But here is the difference. Levi is trying to cash in by talking about private family conversations (if he is telling the truth). It is neither his place nor his responsibility to reveal what those conversations entailed. It is no one outside the family's business.

It would be like Chelsey writing a book about how she found a moldy cigar on her dad's desk in the Oval Office..and how she found out what happened and she reveals in the book all of the discussions and fights between her father and mother.

That isnt appropriate for her to do. If an aide did it, that would be one thing. But they are her family.

So Sarah is Levi's family, because they are both that little boy's family. It is dishonorable to reveal things that were meant for the privacy of the family.

This boy is flat our wrong!

[Mortarman29]

Velma,

I understand the other viewpoint.

But this kid is disrespecting his own son by disrespecting his son's grandparents. That is not right.

Why does he need to speak in public about what Sarah Palin did or did not say in the family home? What purpose does that serve? does it help him get more time with his son, if he is being kept from his son?

Of course not.

Does it help him be a better father to his son by dragging his son's family's dirty laundry out in front of everyone?

Of course not!

He may not like the Palins. That is okay. But they are his son's family, which makes him a part of the family. And he should be a role model to his son and show respect to those in his son's family.

Time for him to wake up and be a man.

[IrishWench01]

"Bristol isn't out cashing in by trashing her baby's father and grandmother and talking about conversations that were said in private."

How's he cashing in? Remember, it wasn't him that made this whole thing public venue. Good ole Sarah has no qualms speaking her little mind.

Frankly, if she doesn't like all this speculation concerning her resignation, then she should have given a more forthright reason for quiting her position. Even saying personal reasons would have been more acceptable than her cryptic rambling and insinuations. A higher calling/purpose?
What? Is she becoming a nun?

[velma179]

mwc...

Did you read the article we are posting under? He speaks of conversations that occurred when he was living in their home.
He doesn't speak of motives, he merely repeats what he recalls hearing.

Whether you think he was good or bad, right or wrong to make these comments is another issue. Comment on this, your opinion is as valid as anyone else, that is -- if you care to show your credibility by commenting on something relevant.

[velma179]

zeroKnots..

The kind of anti-American speech you just posted doesn't make your proclaimed "enemy" (what you call a libiot...) look bad.

It only makes you look not only a hater of your fellow Americans, but also the very reason why your kind of thinking is sinking like a stone in the sea of change.

I'll guess you most likely hate me as well because I did vote for Barack Obama... but I'll still just work all the harder for economic, health and education reform on your behalf. No thanks required, it is the American way.

[Mortarman29]

Slow, hanging out with angry libs again, I see.

Birds of a feather....

[mwc26013]

I thought I typed cbsnews.com but I must have mistakenly typed us.com. What is this cr*p - it certainly isn't journalism. This guy is not in contact with the family - how would he have any idea what her motives are. CBS is losing credibility as a news org

[velma179]

mwc...

Did you read the article we are posting under? He speaks of conversations that occurred when he was living in their home.
He doesn't speak of motives, he merely repeats what he recalls hearing.

Whether you think he was good or bad, right or wrong to make these comments is another issue. Comment on this, your opinion is as valid as anyone else, that is -- if you care to show your credibility by commenting on something relevant.

[Mortarman29]

Well, it says a lot about the way he is if his dad hasnt been around.

And, if the Palins have not been treating him right, then he certainly is within his right to seek his rights.

What you dont do is air dirty laundry from the family. And like or not, his son's family includes Sarah, Todd and Bristol. Which means, you dont go out and talk and cash in on your relationship with them.

When you do that, you dont hurt the Palins...he hurts his own son.

They should figure this out behind closed doors, in court, wherever. Not the front page of the news...and trying to make a buck off of it.