Levi Johnston: Lot of Divorce Talk in Palin Home

Johnston says Palin neglected parenting and governorship duties in favor of money

Sarah Palin, holding son Trig, greets Levi Johnston

He almost became a member of the Palin family, but Levi Johnston — who fathered former Gov. Sarah Palin’s grandchild with her daughter Bristol — isn’t holding back when it comes to spilling the Alaska clan’s secrets.

“There was a lot of talk of divorce in that house … times when Sarah and Todd would mention it and sound pretty serious,” says Johnston, who turns 19 this year. (Last month, the couple denied Internet rumors of a pending divorce.)

But that wasn’t all. In a wide-ranging interview with Vanity Fair in its October issue, out nationally Sept. 8, the teen says that the onetime vice-presidential nominee’s frequent self-description as a “hockey mom” who put family above career was far from the truth.

“Even before she was nominated, there wasn’t much parenting in that house,” he says. “Sarah doesn’t cook, Todd doesn’t cook — the kids would do it all themselves: cook, clean, do the laundry, and get ready for school. Most of the time Bristol would help her youngest sister with her homework, and I’d barbecue chicken or steak on the grill.”

But it was the people of Alaska who might’ve suffered worse, according to Johnston. Palin often complained that her job as governor was “too hard,” and after spending a couple weeks of being gloomy about losing the vice presidency, she focused on making money instead of the needs of Alaskans, he said.

Open Letter to Sarah Palin

Sarah Palin

It has now been a little over a week since your resignation as governor of Alaska, and thankfully you haven’t made many recent headlines. It seems America has been too busy discussing race relations, health care, and the economy to notice you. How refreshing!

As a 17-year-old American who has to live in this country for probably the next 80-90 years, I formally request that you pack your bags and swim across to Russia. After all, it must be close enough if you can see it from your house. I have never seen, nor have I ever heard of, a politician less qualified and less engaged than you are, and I want you to leave politics for good before you start giving the impression to other politicians that somehow these deficiencies are acceptable.

It’s not so much that you and I see two different Americas, or that we just have different perceptions of the same core American ideals. It’s that you fundamentally misunderstand America’s ideals. Every time you talk about freedom, or the future, or “the wisdom of the people,” I only have one question: what the hell are you trying to say?

Sarah Palin Grabs the Grievance Grab Bag From Hillary Clinton

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on NBC's "Meet the Press" this past Sunday.

The woman who was prematurely counted in is out. And the woman who was prematurely counted out is in.

Goodbye, Sarah. Hello, Hillary.

In their vivid twin performances Sunday — Hillary on “Meet the Press” in Washington and Sarah at her farewell picnic in Fairbanks — two of the most celebrated and polarizing women in American political history offered a fascinating contrast.

Hillary, who so often in the past came across as aggrieved, paranoid and press-loathing, was confident and comfortable in her role as top diplomat, discussing the world with mastery and shrugging off suggestions that she has been disappeared by her former rival, the president.

Sarah Palin

Sarah, who was once a blazingly confident media darling, came across as aggrieved, paranoid and press-loathing in her new role as bizarre babe-at-large, a Nixon with hair extensions ranting about “American apologetics,” which sounds like a cross between apologists and Dianetics.

Sarah once criticized Hillary for being a whiny presidential contender, arguing that women who want “to progress this country” should not complain about being under a “sharper microscope,” but instead should just work harder to prove themselves capable. Now Sarah is a whiny presidential contender, complaining about the sharper microscope that women wanting to progress this country are under and rejecting advice to work harder to prove herself capable.

The Alaskan who shot to stardom a year ago as the tough embodiment of Diana the Huntress has now stepped down as governor and morphed into what the Republicans always caricatured Hillary as — preachy, screachy and angry.

Palin To Hit The Radio Airwaves?

Sarah Palin in Auburn, New York.

Inside Radio reported that Sarah Palin’s camp is exploring the syndication potential of the ex-Governor of Alaska. While it is difficult to imagine Palin succeeding across airwaves given that her speaking style–some call it incoherence–draws much criticism, a national radio show could serve as a potent platform for spreading her views and realizing her resignation-speech mission of effecting “positive change outside government.”

The article notes that it will be “an ironic twist” if Palin takes to the mic because of her negative opinion of media. But this “irony” is typical Palin operation. Indeed, the same woman who fought a public battle with Letterman and told the media to “quit makin’ things up” in her farewell speech once said in a 2008 interview that Hillary Clinton should avoid anything that could be a “perceived whine” when discussing her media coverage.

Of course, Palin does have a history of enjoying social media. Her Twitter account as governor, which shut down on Sunday, boasts 514 tweets.

But that is media she controlled. Which is why if radio becomes a reality for Palin, it seems likely that any calls she takes from listeners will be screened heavily.

Kerry Golds
The Atlantic Monthly

Two from Sarah Palin’s ‘Inner Circle’ Resign from Gov. Parnell Administration

Frank Bailey resigned as the director of Boards and Commissions.

Editor’s note: This story incorrectly stated that Kris Perry announced her resignation Tuesday. That announcement was in fact made prior to Gov. Sarah Palin’s resignation.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Two major players in former Gov. Sarah Palin’s administration won’t continue on with Gov. Sean Parnell’s administration.

Frank Bailey, director of Boards and Commissions, said he was stepping down Tuesday.

Kris Perry, former governor Sarah Palin's closest confidant, has resigned ahead of Palin's departure from office.

Kris Perry, who managed Palin’s Anchorage office, turned in her resignation sometime before Palin herself resigned Sunday, governor’s office spokesperson Sharon Leighow said.

Both Perry and Bailey were considered as being in Palin’s “inner circle,” and Perry was regarded as Palin’s closest confidant.

Bailey came under fire during the so-called “Troopergate” scandal after a recording revealed Bailey was attempting to pressure the Alaska State Troopers into firing Palin’s former brother in-law, Mike Wooten.

Conservative Fred Barnes: Palin Has A “Whiny Edge” (VIDEO)

In the wake of Sarah Palin’s resignation, even conservative magazine editors are getting tired of her relentless anti-media shtick. Charles Krauthammer said Monday on Fox News that her complaints have a “whining quality.” Fred Barnes of the “Weekly Standard” agreed:

“There is a way to deal with the press. Look at the way Ronald Reagan did. He didn’t attack the press. He teased them. He made fun of them. He jokes about them, embarrassed them. It was great. People loved it and it didn’t have that edge, that whiny edge that you always want to avoid.”

Watch:

Rachel Weiner
The Huffington Post

Palin’s Siren Song

In denouncing Hollywood and Washington insiders in her farewell speech, she shows that the culture wars are still alive, at least for some.

Sarah Palin and her husband, Todd, congratulate incoming Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell.

Sarah Palin’s valedictory address as governor of Alaska will (we hope) be little noted nor long remembered. But its denunciation of Hollywood and Washington insiders reflects a perennial obsession by some conservatives that mainstream politicians are too eager to indulge. As Republicans regroup after the disaster of 2008, they would be wise to resist this shrill siren song.

Sarah Palin Insults Our Intelligence One Last Time

Sarah Palin at the RGA Conference on November 13, 2008.

Sarah Palin isn’t stupid. She just thinks we are stupid.

She thinks we will sit there and quietly nod while she yammers like a pageant runner-up answering the final question, and speaks against divisive partisan politics after months of indulging in divisive partisan politics.

She thinks we will believe that she is quitting the Governor’s office so she can serve a “higher calling” and “be able to fight even harder for you, for what is right, and for truth.” She plans fight for the truth — just not right this second.

Because the truth is, she is quitting because she has one of the thinnest skins and smallest minds ever to hold office. Her over the top reactions to David Letterman’s jokes about her daughter tell you all you need to know. She insults our intelligence by making nonsensical speeches and dredging up hoary political clichés thinking we won’t notice (“We fight them over there so we won’t have to over here,” etc.), and then gets mad when we notice.

Todd Palin Gets Left Behind After Sarah’s Farewell Speech

Todd Palin and Fox correspondent Greta Van Susteren attened the White House Correspondents Dinner together in Washington, D.C. on May 9, 2009.

NBC’s Norah O’Donnell reports that Sarah Palin not only left her perch in the governor’s office; she also left behind her husband Todd after yesterday’s ceremony in Fairbanks.

After swearing in the new governor, Palin made a quick exit with daughter Piper and son Trigg in tow. She jumped in a Chevy Silverado twin cab driven by her security detail.

Todd Palin followed just seconds behind, and was left struggling to avoid a phalanx of cameras. The problem: His family had already left.

After MSNBC reviewed their camera tape, someone could be heard asking, “No car for Todd?” Then Todd, the former First Dude, laughs and says, “They left me.”

Mark Murray
MSNBC

Sarah Palin Steps Down As Alaska Governor (VIDEO)

FAIRBANKS, Alaska — Sarah Palin stepped down Sunday as Alaska governor to write a book and build a right-of-center coalition, but she left her long-term political plans unclear and refused to address speculation she would seek a 2012 presidential bid.

Her first order of business as a private citizen is to speak Aug. 8 at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California. She also wants to campaign for political candidates from coast to coast, and continue to speak her mind on the social networking site Twitter.

Free speech was a theme of her farewell speech at a crowded picnic in Fairbanks, as the outgoing governor scolded “some seemingly hell bent on tearing down our nation” and warned Americans to “be wary of accepting government largess. It doesn’t come free.”

She also took aim at the media, saying her replacement, Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell, “has a very nice family too, so leave his kids alone!”

And she told television cameras: “How about, in honor of the American soldier, you quit makin’ things up?”

She also took aim at the media, saying her replacement, Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell, “has a very nice family too, so leave his kids alone!”

And she told television cameras: “How about, in honor of the American soldier, you quit makin’ things up?”

She didn’t elaborate, but Palin said when she announced her resignation July 3 that she was tired of the media focus on her family and felt she had been unfairly treated by reporters.

Friend and foe alike have speculated that Palin may host a radio or TV show, launch a lucrative speaking career or seek higher office in Washington.

Palin hasn’t ruled out any of those options, and her political action committee, SarahPAC, has raised more than $1 million, said Meghan Stapleton, a spokeswoman for the committee and the Palin family.