Sarah Palin may have been unclear as to why she decided to quit early as governor, but her lawyer, Thomas Van Flein, is insisting that it is not because of an investigation of wrongdoing involving her house on Lake Lucille or the Wasilla Sports complex. The link was published in pieces by Alaska blogger Shannyn Moore, Huffpo, Washington Post, the NY Times and MSNBC.
While Palin’s rationale for leaving the job early is questionable, if not laughable, she has reason to be miffed about the suggestion that she is leaving with investigators on her heels. Special Agent Eric Gonzalez stated that “[t]here is absolutely no truth to those rumors, that we’re investigating her or getting ready to indict her. It’s just not true.”
Does this make it defamation? Probably not. Palin is both a public figure and public official. As such, she fails under the New York Times v. Sullivan standard and must show actual malice — defined as knowing falsity or a reckless disregard that the story was untrue. It is a standard that was designed to be difficult to satisfy. The purpose of a letter from counsel is to put the news organizations on notice that the story is false and defamatory. Any later stories are then easier to prove as defamation with such notice.
The Los Angeles Times quickly published an article debunking the link, here, despite the fact that the theory continues to multiply over the Internet.
Jill, that was hilarious. Thanks for the post.
Mike A.,
You will love this (as will many others). From the boys at Red State Update:
Why single out Shannyn Moore who specifically said rumors?
Does this mean all the reporting/rumoring on Trig’s birth story (allegedly Scarah is his Grandmother) covered by the MSM and many blogs including some(palindeceptions) devoted solely to that topic are true? Why hasn’t she threatened defamation against The National Enquirer which repeatedly published reports with photos of her alleged “affair” with Todd’s former business partner?
I tend to agree with those who believe that Sarah Palin does not have a bright political future. Her political career proves the limitations of physical beauty. If we are honest with ourselves, we must admit that if Gov. Palin more closely resembled someone like, oh, Eleanor Roosevelt in appearance, her lack of intellectual curiosity, her logical non-sequiturs and her general inability to be articulate and thought-provoking would have been instantly evident and most likely would have prevented her from pursuing her ambitions beyond the Wasilla mayor’s chambers. I’m not suggesting that it is fair or honorable, but the fact is that we demand less of the physically attractive. The office of governor exceeded Ms. Palin’s abilities and failed to hold her interest. The internet and ubiquitous video technology exposed her obvious shortcomings as John McCain’s running mate. I believe that she will have little or no influence by the 2012 presidential campaign.
I’m sorry, but the republic formerly known as the United States died on December 9th, 2000 at appoximately 2:45pm with a snickering concurrence by one Antonin Scalia.
Article IV, VI and 12th Amendment issues notwithstanding…
Bugliosi:
“In yet another piece of incriminating circumstantial evidence, Scalia, in granting Bush’s application for the stay, wrote that “the issuance of the stay suggests that a majority of the Court, while not deciding the issues presented, believe that the petitioner [Bush] has a substantial probability of success.” But Antonin, why would you believe this when neither side had submitted written briefs yet (they were due the following day, Sunday, by 4 pm), nor had there even been oral arguments (set for 11 am on Monday)? It wouldn’t be because you had already made up your mind on what you were determined to do, come hell or high water, would it? Antonin, take it from an experienced prosecutor–you’re as guilty as sin. In my prosecutorial days, I’ve had some worthy opponents. You wouldn’t be one of them. Your guilt is so obvious that if I thought more of you I’d feel constrained to blush for you.”
Buddha writes:
Ronnie was created in a day when such a thing a “The Studio Machine” was possible. Nothing you said about him is untrue, but it all required something more difficult to do today than his: nearly total control of information and public persona. He’d not have fared so well in the age of the Internet. Neither will Sarah.
me: you make a valuable point. the internet and the speed with which information both good and bad travels would have make reagan unelectable. he was old and slow and that benign grand-dad thing he had going on would have just looked stupid. even “morning in america” would have seemed lame.
reagan was uncool.
Mike,
Sorry, I have to disagree. Ronnie was created in a day when such a thing a “The Studio Machine” was possible. Nothing you said about him is untrue, but it all required something more difficult to do today than his: nearly total control of information and public persona. He’d not have fared so well in the age of the Internet. Neither will Sarah. In Re The Scotsman: I’ll stipulate he’s been behaving fairly well since the shredder. I don’t intend to escalate absent cause, but by the same token I’m not going to let deliberate misrepresentations just slide. Mathematically, Palin’s done in public office. With her kind of popularity, she can carve out a nice job playing to the fringe in news-u-tainment, maybe make some money on the speech circuit helping raise money – Hell, she might want to consider getting an agent if she doesn’t already have one. That doesn’t that even if all the GOP voted for her she’d never get the popular vote and her chance of getting the electoral is slim given the tectonic shifts in previously red states and her raging unpopularity with both Independents and moderate GOPer’s (the few left anyway). There’s nothing savvy about this move of hers UNLESS she’s plaining on a talking head job. Ronnie had to overcome an image of, quite frankly, stupidity. She has to overcome an image of a self-serving quitter whose reach far exceeds her ability to perform. Even today, Ronnie’s job would have been easier.
I may be a little light posting today. I’m battling network gremlins.
Like I said eating thier own:
Is this how it looks and sounds like when political partys start to eat their own?
“Sen. Cornyn booed at Capitol “tea party”
By Andrea Lorenz | Saturday, July 4, 2009, 03:19 PM
U.S. Sen. John Cornyn drew boos from a crowd outside the Texas Capitol this afternoon as he spoke at a “tea party” rally organized by the Texas office of Americans for Prosperity.
Cornyn was booed at the start and close of his remarks, which assailed actions in Washington; there were no boos while he awarded a Purple Heart to a Copperas Cove resident injured in Iraq in 2006.”
Sorry, wrong Palin thread, seriously though, the transcript is formatted like an e-mail by teenager explaining why they’re quitting the band.
Mike S
there is nothing to be afraid of. Palin will not suddenly become intellectually curious, develop a decent vocabulary, learn to read… and as long as Tina Fey is willing to put on the red suit and glasses, and just repeat the stuff Palin actually says there is no 2012 for Palin, just more embarrassment for the RNC. the speculation that there is another shoe that will drop may or may not be true, its more likely that someone in her family sat down and did the math and figured out that she could make more money having a ghost written book, maybe in really large print with lots of pictures, and have a radio show and speak at mega churches for love offerings and then she doesn’t have to lower herself to being an actual politician. being a celebrity is way more fun anyway. that elizabeth hasselbeck person cranks out a kid every year and Palin is perfect to fill in for her on The View.
Hopefully Mike knows how much I respect him and his view.
We disagree here, but only on the edges.
I don’t know if anyone has read the transcript of her farewell speech, but this is DIRECTLY (the ellipses are mine) from the official state of Alaska’s transcript:
“…*((Gotta put First Things First))*…”
I’m rendered speechless.
Mike. S and BuelahMan:
That was a GREAT!!,Back and forth.
Van Flein stated his 4-page letter that AK Blogger Shannyn Moore was posting the rumors as “fact” – when in fact Shannyn never did that – Shannyn always stated that these are rumors (and the federal investigation rumor was one of many that have been swirling around Palin since she was mayor of Wasilla). Van Flein and Palin are treating these rumors as if they were facts. This is nothing more than a threat of a SLAPP suit – but as Shannyn has stated there is a line of lawyers out her email door who would jump at the chance to depose Sarah and Todd Palin. Palin has a history of jumping ship – either because she’s being criticized & can’t stand the heat, or because the job is no longer fun. I don’t know if she quit because of a potential scandal; I just know the woman is more egocentric than Dick Cheney and twice as loony.
Mike,
Well, it is apparent that I do NOT have God’s ear.
I believe that what we once knew as Republicans is no longer.
The hard right wing tainted it so bad that i doubt that the GOP will never be Grand again.
What I expect is a new party, even farther right-wing to come from this. But it won;t help them.
In reality, they are all the same anyway. Obama is as far right as Bush/McCain/Palin ever was. He is just a tad bit smarter about how he expresses it. He is the Friendly Fascist, whereas the other folks are just plain Jane Fascist dumbasses.
Its like the Good Cop/Bad Cop scenes in Hollywood.
No matter what, they all work for the same people. They are all fascists, its just that some have a warm smile.
“Running “for” POTUS and actually “becoming” POTUS are radically different things since the neocons tainted the Republican theme.
Who is the Jackson fellow, anyway?”
BuelahMan,
From your mouth to god’s ears regarding Palin, I lack your faith, but hope you’re right and I’m wrong.
As to this Jackson guy he could be the “greatest entertainer ever” in the minds of some deluded people.
Running “for” POTUS and actually “becoming” POTUS are radically different things since the neocons tainted the Republican theme.
Who is the Jackson fellow, anyway?
To expand a tad on Gyges, think about the coverage of a probable drug death, by a washed up entertainer, drug addict and probable pedophile has led to around the clock news coverage and a funeral that will have wall to wall media coverage all day tomorrow. How quickly the media forgets that Jackson spent the last few years as the paid court jester for the Sultan of Dubai, because his records didn’t sell and he was hundreds of millions in debt. Three of his albums now top the charts and he is remembered as “the greatest entertainer in history,” His death has created a financial bonanza. Then too we see the crowds of people gather at his parent’s home, around his “star” on the sidewalk of a sleezy LA boulevard, around a hospital where he was already pronounced dead and no doubt around the Staples Center tomorrow for a funeral they can’t attend. While I wouldn’t be for it, there is a thought in my head that any person who has joined one of these crowds should never be allowed to vote.
I wonder if the funeral is too hasty and whether his casket should have been shipped by train to DC, where he could lie in state for a week in the Capitol Rotunda and waive the rules and have him buried at Arlington, for his service to our country. Anyone who thinks it is impossible for Palin to run for, much less become President is forgetting the power of money and the powerful in this country to make all kinds of bizarre things happen.
As horrifying as I find this to contemplate I don’t think that Jim is wrong in thinking she does have a chance at the nomination. By the way Buddha, I know I was the first to attack him, but in truth he has done as he says and I’m finding him an interesting read lately, with some really thoughtful stuff thrown in.
Having a chance at the nomination isn’t really the point, is it? The Republican brand is a stinking, putrid, sickening mess that isn’t attractive to the majority of Americans.
Not that the alternative is any, if at all, better.
Funny how one can read that drivel and consider it “thoughtful”, whereas I read it and see it as total desperation for a dead entity that needs to go away forever in the bowels of neocon asswipe history.
Let me tell you, Palin stands no chance whatsoever in becoming our next POTUS. There aren’t enough idiotic reTHUGlicans left to get her elected (yeah, she could win the Primary by the minority of freaks who consider her a “leader”). But that is a very small minority.
The truth is that Americans would rather have the smiling, lying bastards they tend to elect, much like Barack Obama, than the smiling, lying MILF’s.