“I just want to say, you know, can we all get along?”
August 20, 2011
I’ve been reminded of these horrific photos, I’m sorry to say, by comments on this site about the arrest of Craig and Shawn Christy, of McAdoo, PA–an arrest that resulted from a federal grand jury indictment in Anchorage on charges that they violated federal law by threatening the Palin family and the law firm representing the Palins with hundreds of obscene phone calls and email messages.
Incidentally, the heading of this post is what Rodney King actually said. The media tried to make it a “better” quote by changing it to, “Can’t we all just get along?” The recasting did not violate the spirit of Mr. King’s words, but given the brutality to which he was subjected, I think he deserves, at the least, to be quoted accurately.
Which brings me back to the subject of Craig and Shawn Christy.
In an earlier post I provided a link to the FBI affidavit that led to the grand jury indictment which resulted in the Christys’ arrest. They are being transported to Anchorage to face charges.
What has disturbed me about the majority of comments made in response to my previous post is the irrational hatred of the Palins and the borderline paranoid conspiracy theories that commenters have proffered here.
Folks, I’ve got to tell you: the comment section here is starting to resemble a mirror image of what we’d find on Conservatives for Palin. I’m seeing fewer and fewer thoughtful comments and ever more hate-filled remarks from people who believe that Sarah Palin invented evil.
Fact doesn’t seem to matter. If you hate Sarah enough, you can twist or ignore any set of facts that might interfere with your own irrational theories.
Frankly, I’m tired of it. There are many other blogs that would welcome any and all attacks upon the Palins, no matter how crazed.
Please, express your opinions there, not here.
THE ROGUE, with its carefully documented and factual criticisms of Sarah Palin, will be published on September 20: one month from now.
In preparation for that, I’ll be disabling comments on this site as of September 1.
I was going to have to do that anyway, given the demands on my time that will start in September.
But the comments in response to my post about the Christys’ threats against Sarah, her family, and her attorneys leave me with fewer regrets than I otherwise might have felt about having to suspend back-and-forth communication with all of you who have been kind enough to visit this blog since April.
I’ll keep posting, both before and after September 1.
After September 1, this will be the place to come for updates on the extraordinary series of TV, radio, and in person appearances I’ll be making from Sept. 19 onwards.
But for airing theories about how Todd is not Track’s father, how Sarah contaminated Curt Menard Jr.’s fuel tanks to cause his fatal plane crash ten years ago, how Sarah engineered the Exxon Valdez disaster, how there are really three Trigs, and how the Christy family has actually been victimized by the Palins: you’ll soon have to go elsewhere.
I find it bizarre that virtually on the eve of publication of THE ROGUE–the book that will finally expose Sarah’s hypocrisy, stupidity, vacuousness, venality and viciousness–I’m in the position of having to defend her against the unsubstantiated theories of people as blinded by hatred of her as her supporters are blinded by hatred of President Obama.
I just want to say, you know, between now and September 1–and then beyond–can we all get along?
Can we dial down the hate?
Can we try to be at least a little bit better than the hate-filled crazies who worship Sarah?
Can we be slightly more rational?
Slightly more open to new information, even if it contradicts what we feel we need to believe?
Can we show just an ounce of charity, or even decency?
If not, please find another forum for spewing.
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150 Responses to ““I just want to say, you know, can we all get along?””
Wow! I will have to look at the posts again. I didn’t feel mine were hate filled. If describing what you read and asking ” could there be more to this story?” is expressing hate, I’m darn confused.
I call it discussion and I’m not sure about others posts but if you find this level of thought hate filled, I wont comment again. As far as setting the record straight on Lyme disease, comments that dismiss it as a phony defense before knowing the facts can and do hurt people with this disease. Sorry if you didn’t like it.
So sad that you had to write this post. Thank you, Joe.
Though I do think Track looks an awful lot like Curtis Menard. Given her penchant for telling lies, I honestly can see why people might believe this particular conspiracy theory.
Thank you Joe for being a sane mind and good heart in a sea of piss and vinegar.
Joe, I commend you. And I’m sorry that some people have taken your position personally. I look forward to reading more from you.
I respect you even more as a writer and a human being. Thanks Joe. Looking forward to the book.
Thank you, Joe.
Thank you Joe. Though it pains me no end to, for this one instance, feel compassion for Sarah Palin and her family. I will work on this though, because I simply do not want to be lumped in with the nutty people over at C4P.
Thank you again.
Say it ain’t so Joe– I just went back and scanned the comments on the post about the Palins and the Christys.
What I read were comments that were using critical reasoning to raise questions. Similarly, when the device of fear was used on an earlier post to re-establish SP’s relevance, many of us challenged this formulation. We will not stand in fear, nor will we swallow “official information” uncritically. There was little hate, there was civility and high level discussion. If you wish to change the format of your blog, that is your right– don’t blame us for doing things we did not do to rationalize your decision.
Say it ain’t so Joe.
PS I’m sorry if I took it too personally. It’s just all confusing to me. I don’t hate Sarah, I hate her politics and the negativity.
I try to always be thoughtful and objective in my comments to all sides. Since I don’t go to c for p, I’m a bit confused about the comparison. I don’t like hate or extremism either and don’t want to be part of it.
I thank you for keeping your blog on the up and up, Joe. It’s yours, you set the rules. One can only imagine what you lived as a truth seeker writing The Rogue and I look forward to your book. Thank you SO much for what you endured for the TRUTH.
Wow, you don’t like people to disagree with you. Opposing opinions based on the experience of being harmed during the reign of Sarah Palin by actual citizens (rather than visiting to gather information) of Alaska are not the same things as hate. Your blog simply was designed to serve the purpose of promoting your book and must fit well within certain categories. I stand by my statement that Sarah Palin is a psychopath and many others agree with me. It is obvious to anyone who is very familiar with the diagnosis as I am because I spent a lot of time working with them. The coming DSM 5 makes it even easier to see. My excitement about your book has now changed dramatically as you have a very narrow view. I will not be buying it.
Lisabeth–
Nothing personal. I’ve never taken exception to your comments, and, in fact, have enjoyed them and have been educated by them.
But the general tenor: the Christys are victims of Palin sexting and entrapment, etc., made me realize that the comment section here is no longer a useful vehicle for exchange of views, but is in danger of becoming just another vehicle for accusation unsupported by fact.
In any case, I have to suspend comments as of Sept. 1. There is so much happening. Let’s be back in touch after the wave has broken: probably November. I’ll be flat out with live and taped TV appearances, radio appearances, press interviews and personal appearances until then.
Note to others who see this comment: “personal appearances” does not mean a book tour for signings. Crown and I agree that as much as I’d like to meet readers in many cities, the additional sales that might be generated do not justify the cost of their money and my time.
But there are certain events in big cities this fall at which I’ve been asked to appear and have agreed to do so.
I need to clear my mind of vitriol before all of this starts. THE ROGUE says all I want to say.
–Joe
I wish someone would ask Sarah Palin and her bots that question, “can’t we all just get along?”.
Joe, while I believe and agree with the spirit of your directive on the proper way to comment on your blog, and your request for civility in discourses about the Palins, I did not find the comments about the post in question to be so far off that you needed to remind people to be civil. And considering that your research and book is about how much a liar Sarah Palin is, and by extension most of her family, and how she and they will do and say anything if it advances their agendas, I don’t see how speculation about the truth of anything concerning her family should be considered off-limits or too much for public consumption.
Yes, many people have a pathological hatred of all things Palin, but that does not mean that all theories on the various facets of her life are wrong, even if espoused by these same people. For example, you are critical of those who have explored the Menard issue; however, it is well within the realm of possibilities given the timelines involved, and the known facts, that Todd is not Track’s father. The same with Trig. While you have not fully subscribed to the false birth scenario, it does not mean that it is not true, and no less possible because rabid Palin haters believe it to be true.
Finally, your own descriptions of Sarah Palin based on your research and personal knowledge are extremely harsh (her “hypocrisy, stupidity, vacuousness, venality and viciousness”, to cite just a few examples), which could lead the reader to believe that you condone over the top criticism of her. Don’t get me wrong, I find her to be all of the things you describe, and more. But it is hard to remain constrained to civil discourse when discussing and commenting on her idiocy, and the idiocy of her family particularly after reading what you have written about them.
And I do think I will very much enjoy reading your book.
I agree with you Joe. It gets confusing when reading comments containing theories and facts on the same blog. I like that you stick to the facts. iBut my dislike for Sarah as a person and Sarah as a fake politician causes me to jump on the theories too. Have to admit with some of the proof some of those yet unproven theories do appear to be true.
Look forward to reading your book! I know we will be getting the facts….just the facts.
My favorite Anais Nin quote:
“There are very few human beings who receive the truth, complete and staggering, by instant illumination. Most of them acquire it fragment by fragment, on a small scale, by successive developments, cellularly, like a laborious mosaic.”
Joe, you are the author. And we look forward with great anticipation to your book.
I am confident you have written “a” truth–and probably many truths–about Sarah Palin.
We are authors too. Or at least investigators. Uncovering a “distributed” truth, like distributed processing. It aggregates and separates, sifts and sorts, congeals and erodes, and it’s a messy process and very different than the painstaking process you’ve gone through. But I think the comments, both lucid and outrageous, both rational and fantastic, have value.
I wish you all the best with this book. And I shall continue on my own fragmented search for truths.
After this I refuse to dignify baseless conspiracy theories conceived via irrationality and hatred.
A. After having an indepth discussion with Shawn Christy and seeing him write that he wants money from the Palin family and witnessing erratic behavior, I feel comfortable concluding that family is under complete control of their actions.
B. Examining pictures and comparing looks does not constitute a paternity test. We all see what we wish to see and what has been engrained in us.
C. Convincing yourself of a murderous plot just to make someone more vindictive is just as vindictive, if not more so.
D. First rule of the internet (even in regards to “crazy politicos”: if the theory is completely out there, it’s probably not true.
You know a hateful comment when you read it.
Jon Stewart said it best, “Take it down a notch, America!
Some of the hatred spewed in various blogs does leave me feeling a bit dirty at times. The over the top hatred of Palin is an obsession, similar to those suffering from Palin obsession on C4P. I’ve suffered from it, too.
Your blog, your rules. I read here and will read your book because Sarah Palin fascinates me – her rise (and eventual fall) will be one for the history books.
Celia, I’ve lived a professional lifetime with people disagreeing with me.
It started in Philadelphia when I wrote a newspaper column in the mid 1960’s that suggested that black people ought to be treated the same as whites. It was long before the internet, but I got hundreds of handwritten letters from readers of the newspaper who called me “nigger lover” and expressed the hope that my daughters would be raped by a gorilla.
Hey, I’m not putting you even near that category of haters, but if you check my career since, you’ll see that everyone from Richard Nixon to Teddy Kennedy has disagreed with me, very strongly. So please don’t think disagreement throws me off stride.
Here is what bothers me about your remarks. You say, “I stand by my opinion that Sarah Palin is a psychopath and many others agree with me.”
Celia, I spent all too much time in direct contact with a psychopath–Jeffrey MacDonald, please read FATAL VISION–to take a lay diagnosis at face value. Be careful with your terminology. Read THE MASK OF SANITY by Hervey Cleckley, MD.
Or, to save yourself some time and money, just read FATAL VISION, in which I quote some of Cleckley’s relevant observations.
The psychopathic personality disorder bedevils psychiatrists and psychologists precisely because it is so difficult to diagnose, even through extended clinical observation and psychological testing.
You say, “I spent a lot of time working with them. The coming DSM 5 makes it even easier to see.”
Have you ever “worked with” Sarah Palin in a clinical setting?
The DSM 5 will present, as have all earlier DSMs, carefully compromised–via extended committee back and forth–checklists of criteria designed to be useful to practitioners.
Thus, for you, who has never treated Sarah Palin professionally, to say that a new textbook “makes it even easier to see” that she is a psychopath puts you squarely into the category of commenters I was describing: those whose hatred of Sarah overrides their rationality.
Simply from a rhetorical point of view, may I point out that to say “I stand by my statement…and many others agree with me,” is not a persuasive argument. To add that “it is obvious to anyone” compounds your rhetorical error.
You say, “I spent a lot of time working with [psychopaths.]”
Really? In what capacity did you work with them? And who diagnosed these patients as “psychopaths?”
And, by the way, just how were you “harmed during the reign of Sarah Palin?”
If my previous post causes you to not buy my book, that’s a sale I’m happy to not have.
Seriously, Celia, who’s got the “very narrow view” here? The author who wrote the book, or the non-reader who chooses not to read it because she’s miffed that the author won’t call his subject a psychopath?
–Joe
Interesting post.
What many here do not realize is there are lines you wont cross that demand you stay in “acceptable” boundaries of discussion.
MSM decides they wont even discuss the possibility that palin faked her pregnancy and you can’t bring it up out of concern of being dismissed .
You must stick to the norms that have been set or risk being labeled …something..that would affect your reputation/earnings capability.
Fine.
People here may get carried away at times because the anger they have and the harm they believe palin has caused is real.
They simply look to vent.
Perhaps your insights are so finely tuned that you can lump them in with the defenders of palin whose
actions resulted in you being given needed police protection.
I don’t see it but its your place and you don’t wish the association.
I must admit I never felt comfortable commenting here since you informed us of your lifelong friendship with roger ailes.
A despicable man who Is! Paranoid and Does! Harm other human beings.
But you have never grown tired of him….
I don’t deny your talents and hope your book does hasten the day palin will be no more.
And I think that is what the people who come here have been waiting so long for.
palin has been of interest to me because of what she says about our society and I believe it was worth trying to understanding that.
But the time has come for me to move on as I too have lines that I wont cross.
I hope my final comment was thoughtful enough for you since I like to believe my words can make a difference.
But maybe some people just can’t be reached?
I, too, believe Sarah is a psychopath/sociopath…they have no conscience, therefore, I have no sympathy for
her because they can’t be “fixed”. Therapy doesn’t work. The best way to deal with Sarah Palin is to expose her and to keep her under close scrutiny. I feel saddened that you compare us to the bots. We all have had to endure the many lies and deceits of Palin and are frustrated that the media hasn’t done it’s job. The people who are anti-Palin are sick and tired of her constant whining and hate-mongering. All of us posting on blogs are reasonable, sane people and many, myself included, have been banned from C4P blog when trying to engage in a civil discussion. I understand you and your family have been victims of hate mail and threats but I can assure you that we who “hate” Palin have never threatened her nor her family. Shawn Christy is a disturbed young man but I believe there is more to his story than we will ever know. I don’t trust anything that comes out of the Palins’ mouth and lets not forget Bristol perjured herself during the hacking trial of that young man (David) and got away with it. Many Alaskans have seen Sarah up close during the period she claimed to be pregnant and know/believe it was a hoax. I’m sorry you feel people who don’t find compassion in their hearts for Sarah Palin are “haters”.
I’ll miss your wit & commentary Joe –
but understand not wanting your
site to become a vehicle for more
discourse, between writer, readers,
the commentors and even toward
the subject. Last night I read some
of the comments and declined to
enter the ‘commentary’.
Immediate response fingertip technology
with 24 hr up to the minute news reporting
are like vinegar & oil. Sometimes it’s best
to take a deep breath, step-back and
consider the tone of the message
before hitting the send button.
Personally, I’ll often write my response –
Cut & Paste it to a document file for a
couple hours to see if I still want to
post my immediate reaction.
Right on.
Me too.
As much as I loathe the woman, I try my best to not spread lies about her. I’ve seen a few stories about her and her family that struck me as nothing more than gossip, and I don’t post anything or write anything about it until I’ve confirmed it. Speculation is a waste of time, and it’s counterproductive. I can’t stand her, but I won’t stoop to their level and propagate lies about her. She does and says plenty of stupid things on her own!
I was taught when entering someone else’s home I am their guest and as such, am temporarily acting with accordance to the rules of their house. Should I feel uncomfortable during the course of the visit by anything said or done, I am free to leave. Should I not agree with something said or done I can politely express my feelings while knowing I am in someone else’s domain and can be asked to leave.
When in someone else’s place, should that host feel a need to establish rules of conduct, again it is their space and I am free to leave. Arguing with our host’s reaction to our being in his space is rude and futile.
As our host stated, “can’t we all get along”? There ARE other blogs where venom is spewed openly and coarsely.
There are blogs whose messages at times get lost due to the vitriolic messages from readers. I tend to avoid those blogs.
As I said in reply to a post in the last few days-I appreciate having a place to read, think, write, learn……..
I will miss this blog with regular posts/thoughts/opinions from you Joe, but all of our lives move forward and I happily anticipate a near future that is without daily doses of sp. The daily doses of Joe Mcginniss may be a bit more difficult to be without………………..
peace in our lifetime.
And yet you freely quoted and un-named source calling Palin a fucking psychopath, in your article about Palin and the pipeline. I don’t recall you defending or disparaging that source
Joe, Very well said. Thank you.
Thanks. I can’t blame you. I used to have a blog several years ago and stopped because I couldn’t deal with the comments. And they were nothing like this!
I’m really tired of the negativity and I’ve limited my news watching to one hour a day. I do fault Sarah for her ongoing contribution to the disgusting tone of politics now. She just never stops EVER with her Obama bashing.
Her words and criticisms are now meaningless because of it.
I’m actually going to Alaska this week for the first time. Good luck with everything.
I will miss the discussion here but I get it.
I don’t know how you can vouch for “all of us posting on blogs” as sane or say that “we who ‘hate’ Palin have never threatened her or her family”. I hope that those statements are true but honestly, who can know? We’re all just strangers here in the blogosphere.
Thanks, Joe, for holding commenters (myself included) on this blog to a higher standard than we might otherwise have achieved.
Looking forward to The Rogue!
I’ll be providing ever more commentary in September–hopefully with some wit–but I just won’t be able to sort through all the comments, so have to suspend comments for the duration of my publicity gig.
–Joe
This blog will not end on Sept. 1. If anything, I’ll be posting more as I get closer to pub day and beyond.
It’s just that I won’t have the time to sort through comments. More than 90 percent since April–whether the commenter agreed with me or disagreed–have been worth posting, in my opinion.
But the hate against Palin seems to have grown in intensity.
So I’ll suspend comments for September and October and we can all see where we are in November.
I will, however, keep posting, so please understand, I am not announcing the end of this blog.
–Joe
I think when you have a blog that focuses on a volatile subject or personality it’s perhaps asking a lot expect totally reasoned and mild responses, though that is of course your right. I imagine many contributors to this blog have had personal experiences of Palin and the way she works that have been highly unpleasant. The need to “vent” overcomes us all at times, it’s a safety valve of sorts; and I think a deep look at Palin and her behavior to others brings on a pretty strong revulsion for who she is and how she operates. I don’t hate her, I have nothing but the deepest contempt for her and would therefore not waste pity or compassion on her as they are emotions utterly absent from her psychological makeup. You have in her a person who glories in her ignorance and despises so many of the attributes she wishes she possessed. I’m all for giving people the benefit of the doubt but in Palin’s case I don’t think there is any.
Coolio!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you for clarifying the situation Mr. McG!!! Happy to read what you have to say. Listening without needing to respond is such a great practice and we all need to hone that skill don’t we:)
(btw-L.A. is not quaint and is not always charming but it is alas where some of us reside. As you have stated previously, unfortunately you won’t be doing book signings, however I
hope to have a Joe McGinniss siting in the near future- if only to show that I don’t need you to eat
fried butter on a stick to find you interesting enough to follow around and pester with questions:)
“all you need is love”
Please, no tired slogans, such as “Say it ain’t so, Joe.”
I don’t want to bicker with you, but “critical reasoning” has not manifested itself to any great degree in posts about the Christy family.
“We will not stand in fear?”
Who is “we?” In fear of what?
I am all for “civility and high level discussion,” but I understand why Andrew Sullivan does not publish comments on his Daily Beast blog. Instead, he and his staff select the few that actually offer new insight and do not simply bleat.
I “blame” no one for nothing. The decision to suspend comments as of Sept. 1 is a function of my being only one person. I do not have a staff. I am only me. I see already what September and October will hold.
Even if I loved every single word every commenter wrote, I could not continue to have comments posted here because I simply will not have the time to read them.
This is not “rationalizing.”
So I’m going to say it IS so…
Joe
Wow, do I feel used. You set up this blog to gen up your book sales on THE Sarah Palin. You did not write your “let’s all get along” post until you were ready to close the blog. You got the info you wanted from the audience most likely to buy your book. All these hate-filled comments you decry now were just preparing you for questions you now know will be asked. Now, you lecture us. We are not civil. We are not of your objective quality. I don’t think I will buy your book. I don’t hate Sarah Palin that much.
Quyaana
Joe, I’ve been intrigued by your probing journalism since the 70s when I heard you interviewed on radio by Larry King, and later read Fatal Vision.
I’ve enjoyed reading your books, this blog, and all the comments. I just have to say this post of yours is a bit like the pot calling the kettle black.
You didn’t stoop as low as the dregs you refer to, but your posts are provocative, and you must have been aware of the responses they would generate.
Let’s all refocus shall we? The very over the top venom is being wildly expressed as an attempt to defend against accusations of over the top venom…………it’s like watching my dog chase it’s tail………it’s never going to get it and some peeps just don’t seem to get it.
Can someone though please respond to this theory? Setting aside all of sp’s personal issues, demons, beliefs, I have always thought she has been highly paid to be used for purposes of someone or several someones.
Right now the Rove/Bush republicans want to take Perry down. At the exact same time, Rove, Dick Morris and a few others are NOW stating that they believe sp will run for president. This is contrary to their ongoing previous narrative. Could it be that the new video from sarahpac and the speculation all over the blogasphere that she is announcing her candidacy on September 3 at the tea party rally all be a part of the plan to take down Perry?
sp is just being used once again as a distraction. Does this seem plausible/possible?
I have not read any other books about sp. I will be reading your book Joe. Thank you for hosting this blog.
” Beside the garden walls,
We walk in haunts of ancient peace.
At night we rest and go to sleep
In haunts of ancient peace.
The love and light we seek,
The words we do not need to speak,
Here in this wondrous way we keep
These haunts of ancient peace.
Let us go there again
When we need some relief
Oh, when I can’t find my feet
When I need rest and sleep.”
van morrison
As a member of the S.E.A. Party (Sick of the Endless Anger), I thank you with all my heart for the call for civility and rationality.
A toast to the future!
Ah, Van is the man. You’ll make me find that on my iTunes before I go to bed.
Thanks
–Joe
And thank you in return.
–Joe
Believe me, if any one of us threatened her in any shape or form you would have heard about it in the news.
Thanks. I miss doing shows with Larry, an old friend.
Provocative, yes, I can’t seem to avoid that.
But that doesn’t excuse any and every ugly unhinged response.
I may be the pot calling the kettle black, but a) my pot is, at worst, gray, and b) this is my stove.
Cheers!
–Joe
I’m in total agreement with you. It’s exactly how I feel, you just said it more eloquently.
And you’re clever enough to add money to your pot by writing about this strange woman, unlike the rest of us, who do it for free.
Thanks, Joe. I understand completely and am looking forward to your book.
Have a successful, enjoyable, adventurous couple fo months – see you on the other side!
Joe,
Thank you for this forthright, refreshing statement. Too often comments (which are in essence only “color commentary,” after all) distract from or overwhelm a post, to the extent that the blogger’s original purpose is lost in a scrum of long-winded opinions, invective, twee back-and-forth among readers, and outright hijacking. The blogger is then forced to take a stand or strictly monitor comments in order to regain control. I’ve frequently seen that happen. (Andrew Sullivan closed the comment section on his blog long ago; he accepts only emails, and he posts reader responses that contribute to the discussion. But he has assistants who perform the labor-intensive task of sorting comments.) So, It’s good to see rules for conduct on your blog. As someone noted earlier, we are guests in your domain. I look forward to reading your future posts–with or without comments–and of course, I’m eagerly awaiting publication of THE ROGUE.
Dear “Sunny Skies in Yuma”:
You “feel used?”
How come?
Did you think I’ve been blogging since April simply for your own amusement?
Of course I’m doing this in the hope of boosting sales of my book next month.
My publisher urged me to do it and I’m doing it, and enjoying it.
And I am not closing the blog.
As of Sept. 1, I am suspending comments because even if I loved
them all I wouldn’t have time this fall to read and evaluate them and to decide what to post and what
not to. I will continue to blog throughout the fall and beyond.
Believe me, this isn’t about you.
You say I got the “info” I “wanted” so now I’m saying goodbye?
I didn’t need to read comments here to figure out the questions I’ll be asked this fall.
Anybody who graduated Wasilla kindergarten could have figured those out.
“Now, you lecture us?”
Who is “us?”
What is the “lecture?”
You say, “We are not civil.”
I’ll grant you that, personally, but who else do you claim to speak for?
You say, “I don’t think I will buy your book.”
Okay. Both you and I will survive your decision.
Try not to sulk.
–Joe
Clever? I’m not so sure. I first proposed a book in which Sarah would play a part three years ago, before
McCain even picked her. Then all that happened made her the subject of the book. Nothing clever on my part. All I’ve been is tenacious.
–Joe
But then she would have to admit to monitoring not only what is said about her by the liberal pajama-clad bloggers in their parents’ basements, but also by commenters on those blogs!
Clearly the Palins have been the victims of these stalkers, based on the evidence. The Palins are unsympathetic victims, because they have maliciously accused others, including you, of threatening to molest or assault their children. Sarah Palin has not even made a token effort to reel in her unhinged supporters and in fact seems to incite them to grab their pitchforks. Sarah Palin has been such a negative influence on the political discourse and has gotten a complete pass on her bad behavior.
The irony is that the Christy family would make wonderful Palinbots. The boy was Christian homeschooled. I believe they are anti-government. They are also unhinged and passionate, like many of her supporters. The problem with Pit Bulls is that sometimes they turn on their masters.
Joe, I think this post of yours has generated a sort of “Is he talking about me?” knee jerk reaction, which I’m sure was not your intention, but is really not that surprising. There are many blogs around dealing with Palin, and a great many of them have exactly the sort of comments you refer to and I couldn’t agree more about how unpleasant they are to read and how little they add to the debate on Palin. Unfortunately the woman herself sends most peoples’ blood pressure up to the point where some of us have to reach for the Valium, so I’m not at all surprised at the heated responses she generates. Ground rules can be implemented to avoid unpleasantness. It’s not a case of pots and kettles, or being used or getting offended or disapproving of the sentiments expressed. I think that horse has long bolted from the barn. It’s a little unfair to let the dog of the leash then shoot it for chasing the rabbit.
Thanks for pointing me to a Van Morrison song…an album…I’ve never heard. Beautiful!
I am going to miss commenting on your blog Joe. But I was very happy to read that the blog is not going away and you may perhaps bring the comments back in November. I have come to know the commenters and have enjoyed reading the comments as much as making comments myself.
As to hate; it is a very powerful emotion that hurts the one who hates much more than the one who is hated (except if that hate involves a tree, a rope and an angry mob, etc…). Hate will eat a person alive and is best avoided if at all possible. Love and understanding is the better path, however difficult that may be (and sometimes it is very difficult to have love and understanding for a particular person).
I have become a fan Joe and I will be reading your blog for as long as you write one – comments or not.
Joe, Thank you for calling us to a higher consciousness. I try to be rational and objective and steer clear of conspiratorial-type accusations. Reviewing my comments, I can see that I crossed the line and contributed to a negative vibe on the post about the arrest. I’m truly sorry.
Joe…I’ve gone off at some of those other websites where I can vent my intense, shall we say, “dislike”, of Sarah Palin. I respect what you’ve written here, and you’re right. All I wish is that the Tea Party, which I believe became empowered when Sarah Palin took the stage at the Republican Convention in 2008, becomes a footnote in history after the next election. I remember the INSTANT I felt she was dangerous, and she’s done nothing since to assuage my distrust of her. Let’s just hope she brings herself down in the eyes of her “fans”, because you’d be correct if you said their intense, irrational love and defense of Palin is deaf and blind to anything either you or I could ever say.
Hi Joe,
I’ve never engaged in the type of commenting you refer to, and like you I’m no fan of them. With that said, I am also not a big fan of people who lay guilt trips on their readers.
Good luck with the book.
I’ve generally enjoyed coming here to read your posts, Joe, and to read the comments. I do not hate Sarah Palin or her family, and I hope my posts have been thoughtful, not spiteful. I do hate what I see happening in this country though, I and I do think it has gotten far worse since the arrival of Sarah on the national scene. Her first speech was full of vitriol aimed at a man she has still never met. Her lies make me angry. Her constant need for attention fills me with fear that somehow, she will run for POTUS, and with the right money behind her and ballot box tricks we have seen before, could win. It would be the end of the US as we know it.
I respect your decision, and will still come here to read. I do hope your book is all you say it is, and that the truth about Sarah will be unveiled at last.
Good to know the ground rules. You are a fair man Joe. Best of luck on the book!
Thank God – your integrity and honesty shows in this post and gives more credence to your upcoming book.
I stopped reading the comments awhile ago anyway.
While I agree with you that there is an irrational tone to much that is directed to the Palins here and at other palintracking sites, I’ll stand by my comments that this seems to be a public fight between two families of equally demented persons. All are innocent until proven guilty, but it seems the odds are stacked in favor of the Palins in Alaska. Maybe a change of venue would level the playing field.
It is not strange that some of us would not believe the Palin victim story since she is the classic “girl who cried wolf.” And Joe’s book is also about how the media did not do its job, so he knows she usually slides or that her claims are not checked.
I know you don’t want comments on YOUR blog to reflect poorly on YOU, but you must understand the level of frustration with her constant lies. Is it so strange that believing her is difficult!
The Palins are not innocent victims in any way, shape or form. I don’t support harassment or threatening behavior towards anyone for any reason and that goes for the palins as well. However, it’s really hard for me to find any sympathy for the ‘stalker” situation due to sarah palin’s encouragement of attacking those innocents that dared to question her. Like the way you were attacked Joe. And let’s not forget the carnage left in her wake – Wooten who had to be placed on desk duty because of the overwhelming hate directed at him after the Troopergate situation, the sudden increase of threats against Obama during the campaign, Senator Leland Yee was targeted after his comments regarding her speaking fees, etc at CSU and he received threats and insults by email, mail, and phone calls nonstop. And the most recent victim is the guy suing her for harassment for making a complaint about the traffic situation surrounding the governor’s office – and she made his life a misery in the process. I don’t blame palin for the Tuscon shootings but I blame her for her hatefulness and dangerous references to violence. These are only a few of the many, many victims of sarah palin. Do I think it’s ok for her to be harassed? No. I’ve said the words; “I hate palin” more times then i can count and maybe I need to think about that. The palins brought this on themselves because Karma is a bitch. You probably wont’ agree with that Joe. But I’m sick and tired of the palins behavior and the media not calling her out time after time. How about the teacher she harrassed for putting up the banner – “worst governor ever”? And the poor guy in the airport that todd harrassed for pointing his camera at them? Todd’s behavior was pretty scary and threatening in my opinon. I read Frank Bailey’s book – also read Dunn’s book. Example after example of her going after people – going to great lengths to ruin them and why? Because they dared to question her. I believe you have a strong reaction to the stalker situation because of what you were put through as a result of the palin machine. You were attacked not only locally, but on a national scale. I can’t imagine how bad it was for you but I’m looking forward to reading your book. So, I applaud you for your ability to seperate personal feelings from palin and call out the injustice of her being stalked. I’ve given it much thought and I’ve really tried to find an objective bone in my body to agree with you. I can’t. I’m not sorry for her. I know it sounds insane but i feel more empathy for the stalkers – And that’s anger within me – bordering on hate which bothers me. You’re a writer and you have a strict set of ethics and objectiveness to be successful. I understand that. However, the stories about Track’s parentage are still a part of the palin story and although it hasn’t been proven, it’s still relevant. You throttled me on a post about that and I felt you were a bit harsh – but still, it’s your blog and your rules. I respect your need to keep the discussion sane, balanced and objective. I believe we’re defined by how we treat our enemies. When we become like them, we’ve won the battle and lost the war. I already know you have amazing talent because I’ve read your books. When you started this blog I was sincerely thrilled to have that connection to you. And i knew it had to come to an end for obvious reasons. So, thank you Joe for opening up this blog and giving us a window into your world. We’re not hateful out here – probably most or all of us are good people that are just so angry and maybe a little scared over how the palins have hijacked our nation in ways that we never thought possible. And maybe hoping your book will shine a light on the TRUTH in ways the media and the politicians have not. You’ve been through hell with her and you still stand against the stalkers – that’s why your book will be taken seriously. One last thought – I do not believe she’ll run for POTUS. She will pull something though – when your book hits the shelves she will do something to try and deflect the attention – I’m really curious to see what she does. We’ll miss you though. Your book will be another best seller.
This saddens me, but I have to salute your rational solution. And I want to thank you for mentioning the Christy arrest. If you hadn’t, I would probably never have looked for the articles about it. So it’s actually the lawyer and his staff who have been threatened. The fact that the Palins and Heaths probably won’t be called to testify is all I need to know.
It’s been a fun blog. And I’m really glad you’ll keep posting updates for us.
Joe, it’s wise of you to distance yourself from the more outlandish comments that have been posted here. You are a world renowned and much admired author and it would not be in your best interest to let your blog become just another dumping ground for unproven conspiracy theories. I’m sure every line in your upcoming book about the half-term governor from Alaska has been solidly researched. We can be sure that what you have written is factual and not just some fanciful conjecture. So glad that you’ve gone on record, Joe, as it would be truly sad, indeed, if your book were to lose credibility by being linked to certain anti-Palin hyperbole and hate-filled rhetoric that may be posted on your blog.
Looking forward, with anticipation, to The Rogue’s release in a few weeks.
I guess since I was stalked by an ex-girlfriend who told anyone and everyone she was my common law wife and caused my personal life misery for almost a year before she had someone steal her car and got caught I have nothing but concern when anyone gets harassed.
I think the issue with some posters is the seeming double standard in certain parts of life. A young man guesses Palin’s email address and goes to prison. News of the World does it on a massive scale (and may still be) and gets a little bad press. Palin unleashes her haters on you and anyone else who seems to anger her and has clean hands. These guys go after Palin – or are accused of it and they get extradited to Alaska.
Well. that’s my two cents for the day, looking forward to your book
If you need to deactivate the comments because you won’t have time to deal with it, fine, but why not simply say that? Why the lecture? Why the oozing disdain for the blogging community that has been on Palin’s heels, and has raised some good questions about unsavory issues over the years? And arguably knocked her off her game? And at a minimum had the heart & balls to raise issues that the MSM (and maybe you Joe?) were unwilling to touch. I’ve enjoyed the books of yours that I’ve read, and am inclined to read The Rogue, but the undercurrent of arrogance here gives me pause.
Yes, you will survive. And so will I.
PS. I don’t remember, did this blog ever address Bailey’s assertion that you distributed his manuscript to the media in advance of publication? This gives me pause, also too.
I’ll confess I didn’t read the responses to the post in question, but then, I didn’t read the post, either, because I am so sick of Sarah painting herself as the world’s biggest victim and saw no reason to fall into line and read all about it. Her bots stalk and threaten both bloggers and journalists on a regular basis, but those incidents don’t get media coverage. Sarah hacked her colleague’s computer in Alaska and was hailed as a heroine; a young kid guesses his way into a private account she was using for government business and goes to jail. The endless double standard, always to Sarahs benefit. I would never condone what the Christys did, but let’s keep it in perspective, shall we? They are a part of a pattern, not an aberration. Sarah is a part of the problem as much as she is a victim of it.
There are a handful of vocal, anti-Palin posters who do regularly cross a line into unseemly territory, but they are few. Yes, at times speculation does run a bit wild, but then, Sarah has done some pretty crazy things. Once you accept that she did, as a sitting governor, strap on a fake belly and pretend to be pregnant; once you begin cataloguing the lie after lie that comes out of her mouth, once you become aware of a lifetime of vicious behavior, then it becomes increasingly easy to look at suspicious evidence and go, Well, maybe…
Good luck with your media round, Joe. Yet I can’t help but agree with the poster who notes that there are hundreds of dedicated people with limited resources, fueled only by their love of their country, who have worked tirelessly without financial reward to expose Palin for three long years. I find it a bit unseemly for you to be sneering at them, now.
Of the 3 books by Joe I’ve read (just starting the soccer one, #4),I’ve never ever had the feeling they were written for money. Instead I’ve felt this guy is really willing to slough in the depths to share a part of our culture we would never know about otherwise, and in knowing we are better for it.
I’m a psychologist and agree that NO professional would diagnose someone in public, let alone if they had never evaluated them in a clinical setting.
I hope Gryph is reading, cause the coarseness of the dialogue on Immoral Minority, not just the commenters but the blogger, have repulsed me to the point that all information there is suspect. And I would so like to believe that most of the information offered there is helpful to the cause of sanity. I would have so much more respect if he could adopt your standards.
Thanks for setting them.
I wondered how many crazy and hateful comments that post would receive.
I’m glad you spoke up when the crazy was printed.
Or rather, “Can we all get along?”
Joe,
Thanks for injecting a little sanity into the conversation. I too cringe when the hypotheses (not theories, guys, check out http://chemistry.about.com/od/chemistry101/a/lawtheory.htm) go way out there, not even acknowledging that these are wild speculation often based on unclear photos of poor resolution. I also stopped reading comments that focus on hair, make-up, toe nail polish. All these make us no better than the “other side” and do great harm to our credibility, in my opinion. I do think Sarah Palin is a fraud who has done the country great harm but she’s not alone in that. Maybe it’s time to turn some of our energy and attention to the others who are in even better position to be elected.
So sorry that this has happened. I don’t comment much (almost never) but sometimes I do see something that makes me do some research in the comments section. Thank you Mr. McGinniss for allowing us the time we had to comment and receive some feed back from you. I always looked back to see your response to some of the comments. I wish you much success in the future with not only The Rogue, but any future book you might write or other endeavors.
Take care of yourself and your family and I am anxiously awaiting my copy of The Rogue.
Hear hear, Joe.
A lack of a comments section isn’t a game changer for me. I enjoy reading your thoughtful posts and am glad they will continue.
I have had your book on order for months and look forward to reading it because it is all a part of the education process.
Even blogs that allow somewhat coarse language can be educational too. One just has to have mental filters in place and categorize the comments accordingly. It is easy enough to ignore those that have a pattern of hate to them and in time, they usually go away on their own. It’s called “ignoring the trolls.”
I sincerely hope your book is a major best-seller. If the content makes enough people stop and think then it will have accomplished a great deal, hopefully enough that Sarah and friends will fade away from the limelight rather quickly. Bloggers can then go on to something more productive.
Thanks too for posting the link to the FBI document; I might not have learned of it otherwise. The language used in it makes me realize just exactly how unhinged and scary the Christy’s really are. I’m glad I am not their target.
Thank you, Tom. I second your comments. I agree with him, Joe. I am not sure which side of your mouth I should listen to at this point. Your admission of friendship to Ailies has clouded my opinion of you as well, and now accusing us of something that you, yourself, have engaged in seems suspicious and very odd. Something for me does not add up and I find your latest post perplexing. To say that you were going to end the comments section because of all the hate and at the same time say you have to do it anyway because of your schedule–which excuse do you want us to go with? You seem conflicted about how you are perceived within the MSM. I wonder if you have to clean things up before your tour to be taken more seriously??? I wonder if the “Spiral of Silence” has become an issue for you? Very Interesting………..?????????
But Joe…
In an earlier post, you said “What makes this relevant to THE ROGUE is that Jeffrey MacDonald was the first pathologically narcissistic psychopath about whom I ever wrote a book.
Guess who’s the second?”
Dealing with anything that is in the Palin world of lies and distortions, is going down the rabbit hole in “Sarah in Wonderland “into an alternate universe of spin and deceit.
And so it goes.. Life is full of Catch 22s.
It is your blog..
Did I miss something, where did Mr. McGinniss say that you had to agree with him. I haven’t read the other comments that brought this about, but I don’t see where he is telling the group they have to agree. You can disagree with what Mr. McGinniss writes but can’t it be done respectfully and argued on the merit of the discussion.
The post was about being stalked and harassed in which Mr. McGinniss has first hand knowledge. How nobody should be subjected to that type of activity for any reason and how stressful it can be. I don’t believe anything that Palin or any of that family says either, but by the affidavit it was enough to make a Grand Jury issue a True Bill. When did two wrongs make a right?
See I would love to have a discussion about King and get more of a opinion from Mr. McGinniss of that incident or any other future post he might write. But now since he will be so busy with his publicity for The Rogue and the atmosphere of the comments I might not get a chance to get those or any opinions in the comment section and that does make me sad.
Perfectly written, dog, horse, barn, rabbit……….could not agree with your analogy more.
Paragraphs are your friend. When I read comments and see one like yours I won’t read it because it is too hard to read and keep your place. FYI just my opinion.
Perhaps we should delete the word hate when it comes to what’s her name. Hate expends too much energy best used in other ways. I am not without guilt and have ripped off a few choice words myself when trying to let off steam.
Have a nice weekend.
It’s a great idea. I was surprised too at how someone even thought that Craig Christy’s Facebook wall was a complete fabrication. There was a complete abdication of rationality on that last post. When I unfriended Shawn Christy, he harassed me too, for a while with comments so vile, I couldn’t post them here for fear of defiling your blog. The father then accused me of being Willow Palin. They are deranged and believe that anybody who doesn’t condone their venality is either Willow or Sarah Palin. Funnily enough, at the outset, he was begging me to reconsider friending him with the entreaty: Just because you’re a lib doesn’t mean we can’t be friends. I am a liberal. I make no apologies for it. It is a valid position. Harassing and threatening people of either one’s own political orientation or another is not valid, rational or legal.
Thanks for your blog.
It’s because they’ve never had anything like her before on the National stage.
She’s to put it bluntly, their realized wet dream. Their dream come to life. There can be no denying that.
She’s a female version of David Koresh [sorry not a “Chatty Cathy” as some in the media have labeled her as when she’s more like the Mattel “Monster High Dolls” to relate to her more realisitcally. And CC was a cutesy doll. http://shop.mattel.com/family/index.jsp?categoryId=4315974%5D
Albeit like some dolls, she can walk the sashay, she can talk the gibberish, she has their same radicial beliefs and/or belief system either politically wise and/or religious wise. Even though I haven’t seen from the announcement 3 years ago & up to today, no evidence anywhere, not from news sources in Alaska, Arizona, no bloggers, no MSM sources either, of her doing any “church” related anything. It’s her religious past information that adheres the crazies to her. It seals their self-proscribed & self-proclaimed deal with her that they’ll forever more be stuck to her like gorilla glue. Gorilla as in warfare. That’s how those people see it. And nothing about her true negative nature will convince them otherwise.
That’s why the sane people in this world have to keep pointing out all the negative she brings with her and the negative she stirs up out there in the world which is neither good for the world but especially not good for the USofA.
Because in all seriousness here with what Alaskans knew/know about her, it’s not pretty. What the rest of in the original 48 learned about her that fateful day 3 years ago, was not pretty. What Alaskans went through with her after the 08 election to her sudden resignation, wasn’t pretty. What we as a Nation have endured with her since that fateful day and worse since quit her duties for fame & fortune, just hasn’t been pretty either.
We know she’s can’t run a dog kennel let alone a country so there is no reason for sane people to have any desire to see her as the president & leader of this country. She is the true epitome of a joke.
Off my soapbox & off to start a beautiful day without Paylin.
Joe,
I have not been a regular commenter here, but I have made this a regular stop on my cyber surfing. I understand completely your feelings on this subject. You (like Andrew Sullivan) are a professional writer. You must adhere to standards that typical bloggers don’t have to and which some often deliberately violate in order to gain attention and thus hits. I think some of the criticism your post has drawn is similar to those progressives demanding President Obama push his (their) agenda through without an undersatnding of the nature of, in his case politics, and in your case journalism.
I think some of the comments here illustrate the very reason “baby-gate” has trouble gaining any traction in the MSM. Extraneous conspiracy theories throw doubt on the one issue that we should be giving our complete attention: Sarah Palin’s preganancy hoax. The death of Dar Miller and Curtis Menard, Track’s father, the existence of Sarah”s college degree, etc. etc. etc., may all be true, but are irrelevant to the birth story. If and when that story is debunked there will be a rush of people freed from their fear of the Palins and only too willing to provide “the rest of the story” (appologies to Paul Harvey). In my opinon, “baby-gate” is the silver bullet that can finally end the whole sordid mess that has been Sarah Palin
The place to advance the discussion on the “other-gates” is any of the other anti-Palin blogs. And Joe, I’d rather you adopt Sully’s policy on comments than ever think of quitting your blogging. I’ll continue reading with or without them. ~~gb
Joe,
I’m a regular reader and occasional commenter. While I might miss the opportunity to comment I completely understand the reasoning behind the suspension after this month. You have my complete support and respect for calling it as it is 🙂
Joe, it’s been awhile since I’ve visited, I’m not surprised at what’s happened, but I still support you, will continue to buy and promote your book in any way I can, and I hope to be able to catch up, and follow your blog as the book release gets closer.
I honestly think these two from Pennsylvania have crossed a line, or there wouldn’t be cause enough to bring them to Alaska for trial. This is no different than those who hacked fox news and announced the assasination of President Obama. As much as I don’t like Palin’s politics and history as a governor and former vp pick, there is a line that shouldn’t be crossed, and the laws are there to protect all of us, including the palins.
Thanks for taking the high ground, it speaks volumes of your character and integrity, not to mention, it’s the right thing to do.
I’m surprised at the magistrate judge though. He is located in Allentown, PA, and a [Eastern] Federal Circuit Court and doesn’t appear as a right-winger type of jurist.
But then again, he was following what Grand Jury from Alaska had charged so what does that say about these circumstances?
Is there or isn’t there something fishy & rotton fish smelling going on in Alaska?
Yes! And my question…Joe have you ever met or talked with Sarah Palin at length? Because if not you are criticizing Celia, for the same thing as far as her being around psyhcopaths. Also many of us know Celia and she DOES have a story to tell about her “experience” with the Palin administration….and corrupt State of Alaska. I know you have moved on from Palin to your next book, but sometime you might want to check out Celia’s blog and see what she was up against.
http://frozenjustice.blogspot.com/
Touche` Melly.
Joe, got any retort? I take your silence as concession as of now. Pretty selective outrage — kind of damages your entire point, doesn’t it?
You know, I haven’t posted here in a bit and now I doubt I will again. I agree that hate filled spewing is out of place but I also think that those who did get that worked up perhaps realize and are more in fear of the abject hatred the Palins have brought to this country than you may be. Perhaps you are in a better position to see that the danger of a Palin in the White House is impossible, maybe, I only hope. She is dangerous beyond anything I have ever seen. Sarah Palin is still doing it. Still saying comments that are, at the very least, treason. Every time I listen to her I feel sick to my stomach because of what she has wrought and continues to say. I’m also sorry that you have decided to leave her most blatant hoax out of the mix. Sad, and a tad enabling.
ann
Good luck with your book, Joe! I look forward to reading it, and hope your publisher has been able to get the word out in as many markets as possible.
This is your blog, so you set the rules. I’m sorry to say I have seen some very crude comments at Immoral Minority, but he does run a very snarky blog and people who want to blow off some steam do so. I personally do not recall any physical threats against SP or her family, and I do think Gryphen draws the line there.
As LizI upthread commented, I think it will be many years, perhaps decades before the whole story about SP is known. For example, I think her girls may reach their 40’s before they feel safe and supported enough to speak their truth.
I hope to see DNA tests and brain scans, many years from now. I do think she is “wired” differently. I do think she and her family have a substantially different conduct regarding sexual behavior than what they publicly advocate for others. These are hot button topics, and you are right to only “take on” only what you personally feel sure enough to deal with. It will be challenging enough to deal with the “religious” part of the puzzle piece.
See you on the other side of September! I’m sure you will have many more insights and stories to tell.
“PS. I don’t remember, did this blog ever address Bailey’s assertion that you distributed his manuscript to the media in advance of publication? This gives me pause, also too.”
Oh snap! took the words out of my mouth 🙂
Only a month to go!!! I’ve ordered the book and the kindle. Delivery to Europe can take a day or so and I am not prepared to wait. 🙂
I’m glad to hear that you will still be blogging and I can understand how you won’t have the time to read the comments. Busy is good. 😉
Tenacity is a rare quality, and yours came through in that Larry King interview in the mid 70s. If the Palins had read Fatal Vision, maybe they would have realized they couldn’t intimidate you.
When Greta van Susteren implied you were a stalker because you rented a house next to the Palins, I felt compelled to comment on her blog, trying to inform GW regulars about your body of work. Many of them thought you were an opportunist who came out of nowhere and was trying to cash in on Palin’s fame. Some of them cast you in an even darker role.
If people choose not to read, they can be swayed with superficial catch-phrases. There are a number of people who think Sarah Palin built a natural gas pipeline, that she sustains her family with meat from animals she personally kills and butchers, and that she is a champion of Alaska Natives. They may be barely literate, but they watch television, and I hope they catch some of your book tour interviews. You are no doubt prepared for a fresh onslaught of resentment from them.
I miss Larry King. He asked thoughtful questions and let his subjects answer without interruption. Wish he were still around to interview you, but I have no doubt you will acquit yourself well regardless. I’m looking forward to seeing you on TV almost as much as I look forward to reading The Rogue.
Sarah came to prominence about the same time as the rise of blogs and comments. I’ve learned a lot from various blogs and commentators, but sometimes a mob mentality seems to take over in the anonymity of the internet. I don’t blame you for wanting to keep the focus where you want it to stay.
Nonetheless, Sarah Palin scares me witless — and clearly scares others. It’s the first time someone of her ilk has been elevated to the national stage as a real candidate, and who’s been able to keep herself in the spotlight for so long, despite lacking all the things we know she lacks.
I’ve kept track of her activities, and eagerly will read your book, just as I’m also moving on to monitoring Perry and Bachmann’s statements. These people are a true danger to our democracy, and are being financed, not just by little people, but by rich and powerful forces who will settle for social engineering and a theocracy as long as they get for their money puppets whose strings they’ll pull so they can dominate the financial and political future of our country.
I’ve followed your blog because you’re the first national writer who’s focused on Palin as you have, and, I hope, your book and its revelations will cause the MSM and others to give up on her. It will shame them, and, perhaps, shame her into becoming a minor distraction.
That, however, will be only one down. Perry, Bachmann, and their supporters will need our full attention. They won’t be your next book, but we need to remain vigilant.
And civil.
Tewise…hmmm… thank you for your opinion on my comments. Please don’t lose any sleep over my lack of paragraphs because I’m more concerned over your difficulty reading through and “keeping your place”. Far more serious issue then lack of paragraphs. FYI…just my opinion. 🙂
I am not surprised by your post. As an Alaskan who has been reading blogs and media about Sarah Palin since Aug 29, 2008 I have learned incredible lessons. The lessons have been harsh, they are not ones I would choose to go through – yet I am a wiser person by far for having been drug through them, often kicking and screaming.
I’ve also learned that many others are completely willing to let the lessons darken their souls instead of bring understanding and depth of character. Some of these people are fighting true battles, not metaphorical ones (Celia Harrison and others not named) so I see their struggles being aired in a different category than the blanket anti-Palin nut job of which there are many. So tired of them. So disappointed that they can’t rise above “Well the other side did it, and if you can’t see that she’s destroying the country then you are a troll… blah blah blah”. Talk about dumbing down progressives and its causes. If comments themselves could be assigned an IQ, I’d give them around 10 for a score.
I have maintained a sense of humor most of the time although there have been breaks in that, understandably. I have always chosen my words very carefully, but find that others write and read with the attention span of a gnat (yes, gnat) and once again, let’s dumb down the progressive values by being lazy and snide because it’s the easiest. I have been attacked in progressive blogs repeatedly over the years, sometimes in a half-hearted way and others in a very determined way. I do not take these personally and never have – but each time a notch of stupidity and lack of decency ends up on my keyboard while I shake my head in sadness.
There are many individuals which posse up and ride down the lone dissenter, or the “new guy in town”. Let’s make progressives look like blood letters – sure, that really helps our cause. Yep, lots of idiots and the funny thing is – they all manage to identify themselves by being immediately defensive and snide all over again when called on their behavior. Just like many are doing here. I actually could write many of the comments almost verbatim since they have become so boring and predictable. There are times in life when one’s mantra needs to be seriously reviewed and questioned.
I’m glad that it didn’t take you as long to recognize and call out “whoa!” as it has many. I know that you haven’t been hanging around with this gang since 2008, and have not become immune to the distorted hatred which so many have. You haven’t been drawn all the way down in the culture of Sarah Palin haters, and yet they want to call you one of their own because of your strong criticisms. “Either you’re with me, or you’re again’ me!” George Bush and the Palin Haters, the band coming soon to your town.
Sometimes I think of it all as a movie unfolding, but my butt’s uncomfortable and I’m not sure I am going to like the ending. I wish it were subtitled so that I didn’t have to hear every single hateful, rhetorical and woe is me word in the script. I want the actors to go back to school and learn how to act and speak instead of repeating themselves over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and oh my god will they ever stop saying the exact same thing 500 times a day?
If more of these people spent a fraction of the time they spend on blogs repeating themselves repeatedly on local political causes, letters to the Editor, thoughtful blogs, or any of the other constructive activities which boost our “causes” then there would be a lot less whining and a lot more doing. Many of these have already done so, and they are fun to watch and learn from as they work on their journeys to learn participation and dialogue instead of the hating mantra. I adore Lynnrockets Blast Off, The Perils of Palins, Wickersham’s Conscience, Anonymous Bloggers, Flyinureye, and so many more. Adversity can be the parent of creativity!
I enjoyed your blog comments in the beginning because it was drawing in some new commenters and there was some great discussion going back and forth. Then the predictable happened – the ones who have nothing else to do but find every article / blog about Sarah Palin are compulsive about joining in because, well – they don’t know anything else frankly. Poof! go the great comments as one by one they get called trolls if they don’t let the collective Sarah hating conscience draw them down… I stop reading them as soon as I see this start happening.
So, back to not reading the comments and just enjoying the posts. Kick butt on your book and your promotions! This Alaskan thanks you for “Going to Extremes” which helped me understand my state a little better when it came out. It certainly gave me some chuckles (I love the “Alaskans who just haven’t moved yet” with their blue tarps and junk in the yard). I know this has been a tough go this time around – the Palin ooze is harder to clean one’s self up from than even rotten halibut slime – but it can, and will, be done!
Joe – In the mid-1980’s I took a Human Potential/StressManagement course in Los
Angeles from a wonderful man who is now my husband. As I was REALLY angry about
Reagan/Bush at the time and vented in a column I wrote called “From the Front,”
my wise, future husband said, “I can understand why you want to change things,
but your anger is a false and ineffective way to deal with your anger for your
mother.” WOW. That was a game-changer for me. You mean we have to own ALL our
feelings? Even anger? YES. Anger only hurts those who carry it around. I learned
to forgive those who “made” me angry in the past, and thus bypass anger and go
to compassion more quickly. So more Gandhi, less ‘Ayn’ Coulter. And a boatload
of meditation, which continues today . . .
And that doesn’t mean giving up activism. Since then, I’ve worked to fight
injustice wherever I can. In 2006 I flew to D.C. and marched to Donald
Rumsfeld’s house to let him know he’s a “war criminal.” But my “anger” was
replaced by righteous indignation. I admit, I’ve made a snarky comment or two
(the comedy, alone, is priceless!) about Sarah Palin, but anger isn’t in the
equation. As I’ve said for years, “we’re One Planet, One Life, and One Human
Family.” This includes Sarah and others who say really abhorrent things about
our President. As Gandhi said “Non-violence is the greatest force at the
disposal of mankind. It is mightier than the mightiest weapon of destruction
devised by the ingenuity of man.” And the Dalai Lama adds, “Love and compassion
are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive.”
Thanks for the welcome reminder! LOVE is the only real “force.” Sorry for the
long post, but please allow me one more quote from dear Van Morrison:
“And I’m looking for the silver lining, silver lining in the clouds
And I’m searching for and
I’m searching for the Philosopher’s Stone
And it’s a hard road, Its a hard road daddy-o
When my job is turning lead into gold”
Can’t wait for THE ROGUE! And I’m hoping you’ll be able to post your TV/radio
appearances as my DVR doesn’t have a search feature. All the best to you and
your beautiful family at what must be a very-exciting time for you. PEACE!
That was an outstanding post DKey – I’m a better person for having enjoyed it.
I’m interested, why would you want to write a book about Sarah 3 yrs before she was “tapped”? That would be right around when she was running for Gov?
She was already doing shady stuff then…Why would you write a book about then?
There is a fourth grade class graduation going on and they’ve been waiting for you…
I’m an infrequent poster of comments, but I read them often. It’s extremely tempting for me to think of Sarah Palin as a sociopath even though I have no credentials to make such a diagnosis. I also think my opinion of this woman has plummeted to something hovering around loathing. But my primary concern has always been about her impact on the political discourse especially if she runs for president. I believe it’s my duty to try to enlighten anyone with whom I discuss politics as to the nature of this woman. But I limit myself to facts. She might be a sociopath, but I that is not a proven fact to my knowledge. By sticking to an impersonal and unbiased argument based on facts alone, it’s pretty easy to plant some seeds of doubt regarding how she would perform in elected office. I find the strategy effective – certainly more effective than spewing hate, unless you’re talking to a devoted Fox News viewer. Those I speak with seem fact-resistant.
I’ve enjoyed your blog, Joe, and I look forward to reading your book. I’m also thinking it will make a great gift for a couple of fact-resistant people I know.
I apologize if I’ve mixed up “Going to Extremes” and “Coming Into the Country” memories – both were fascinating reads and I believe I need to go back and read them both again as it has been many years.
Pardon me for ever having written a word that wasn’t carefully chosen.
Really, the whiff of arrogance on this board is strong.
I just wanted to say that I was taken aback by some of the comments yesterday. Part of me wanted to say I agree and another part of me felt that wasn’t right. I did make a snarky comment about a trial date for the Christys being set for the 20th of September. Mea culpa.
However, as much as I loathe the Palins, the tone of the comments made me a little uncomfortable. I haven’t followed this particular saga with the Christys and I don’t intend to.
Palin brings out the worst in people.
And thank you for making me think about it.
You could’ve made your point without calling people stupid and insulting them by suggesting they lack an IQ over 10. You say they’re all spending too much time on the blogs and they repeat themselves over and over again – so that becomes boring and predictable to you….you call them palin haters and call them out for their hatefulness but yet your comments drip with sarcasm, nastiness and arrogance.
You align yourself with Joe as though you and he share a common bond – it’s you guys against the rest of the haters and oh how you’ve suffered. I have a suggestion for you – get off the blogs. And if you’re finding all of these “stupid” people commenting, the same ones over and over again and how they need to stop spending so much time on the blogs and stop whining…well, that means you’re right there with them, aren’t you?? You need to get over yourself. You’re comments are hateful and nasty.
Ooops! Thanks for the correction.
“…without calling people stupid and insulting them by suggesting they lack an IQ over 10”
actual: “If comments themselves could be assigned an IQ, I’d give them around 10 for a score.”
“You say they’re all spending too much time on the blogs…”
actual: “If more of these people spent a fraction of the time they spend on blogs… on local political causes, letters to the Editor, thoughtful blogs, or any of the other constructive activities which boost our “causes” then there would be a lot less whining and a lot more doing.”
And so on…
Sharon – please read what people actually write. Skimming and assuming brings down the level of discussion. I am not your enemy. Nor is Tewise, who gave gentle and helpful criticism above. Reading and writing to to the best of your ability in Internet conversations is more important than almost anything else if you want to be heard in the crowd. There wouldn’t be interesting discussion, solutions, creativity, brainstorming, etc if we all came from exactly the same place or mindset even if we have a common cause or interest.
Thank you for your grown up reply.
Melly, I don’t recall pointing to you specifically in my comment – however, I did use a broad statement when I really should have said:
“I have always chosen my words very carefully but find that (many) others (who I have encountered and interacted with) write and read with the attention span of a gnat…”
Subjective and experiential, and it was not meant to be anything but. We are all writing from our own feelings and head space.
I think you are making the right call. Andrew Sullivan at the Daily Dish does not allow comments on his blog. Instead, he invites people to send comments to him via e-mail and then he posts those that he feels add insight or are thought provoking.
This serves several purposes. Not only does this prevent some of the crazy from seeing the light of day and tainting the blogger, it ensures that deserving comments receive the attention they deserve and it allows him to update the blog more frequently than he might be able to otherwise if his staff were responsible for providing all the thought/insight themselves.
It’s kind of like getting some free bloggers to help you out!
Sometimes when I go to the other blogs to which you refer, I comment about how offensive and unnecessary some of the comments are (for example, one popular anti-Palin blog regularly features comments speculating on incest between Todd Palin and his daughters; the blogger does not express those views, but the comments are moderated and he allows them through. I find those and other crude, sexualized remarks about any of the Palins beyond the pale.
I have also seen other anti-Palin bloggers defend Christy, and at the time, I commented that it was very ill-advised because he was obviously mentally ill and most certainly not the victim in this scenario. It did not seem to convince them to back away from their support of him.
I am firmly not in the Palin camp, but it is because I think she is vindictive, ignorant, has poor policy positions, and has an unrivaled sense of entitlement. All the things I expect that your book will help prove.
I read exactly what you wrote and I stand by what I said. No need to respond again. Please do try to step down from your mountain and teach all of us how to be as intellectually superior as you have found yourself to be. And tewise can make his own argument. You really have a need to gather your troops, don’t you? Why don’t you stop trying to bring others into your camp and stand on your own with your comments and opinons. First you aligned your superiority with Joe and now you’ve extended an invitation to Tewise. You do not impress me so stop trying. thank you.
Paragraphs do help.
BTW, I’m not just being picky with that speculation/hypothesis/theory bit. The common use of “theory” to mean “guess” or “opinion” is why my home-schooled students feel justified in not “believing in” theories not to their liking-e.g. evolution. I’ve been known to shout “hypothesis” at the TV when I hear the word theory used to mean guess. And no one leaves my physics class without knowing exactly what a scientific theory entails.
You haven’t really stated anything about palin other then your disqust of the palin haters. However, I’ve found 90% of the comments on here and other blogs are written thoughtfully and objectively. Palin is a hateful and dangerous presence in this country. You seem to be more concerned that people hate her and your agenda here tells me you’re probably just what you stated so many others have accused you of. You’re a troll and although your comments are carefully crafted to sound objective and filled with Zen, you are not pulling it off very well. Joe’s best selling book will erase any doubt of who palin is and what she’s about and who’s behind her. My money is on Joe and he’s a brilliant writer with a reputation for not taking any bullsh_t from anyone. Palin has never faced someone like him and I can’t wait.
Just messing with you Tewise…yes, you are correct. Paragraphs should be mandatory when writing a rant.
🙂 Yes, they do Molly.
I have only posted twice on your blog so I’m sure the lecture was not for me. Early in the game you set up the rules & I felt they were too restrictive & chose not to post here. After reading today’s post & the rather stern lecture to commenters, I went back & read the other post & comments & just don’t see the comments as written by crazed angry people. Now it seems you have everyone playing good cop…bad cop on your blog & it’s ironically you who are setting the bad example. Another thing, if you don’t want certain subjects discussed on your blog…say so, but don’t insult the other bloggers by saying take it to there blogs.
I have to admit to being bewildered by this. I can’t say that I visit here 24/7 but when I do I’ve found the comments to be generally thoughtful and well presented. Obviously on any blogs some duds will fall through the cracks but I’ve never found the tone of this one disturbing or enough to make one feel uncomfortable. If I did I wouldn’t return to it.
Naturally it is of course a matter of interpretation for the individual, the danger lies in putting the emphasis on the minority and naming them the chief contributors to the debate. I really don’t think that is the case here. Any blog dealing with Palin as its main theme has a subject who is incredibly divisive, has no respect for the rule of law and couldn’t care less as to how her actions affect others. Such a subject is bound to attract comments that are robust, to say the least.
I can only repeat what I said earlier: It’s a little unfair to let the dog off the leash then shoot it for chasing the rabbit.
PALIN IS THE GUILTY ONE…not the posters here. I know from past experience…4 years to be exact.
With that said, that doesn’t mean we all have to RESORT to her f**ked up level. We ALL KNOW she’s the worst America has ever seen. (Nazi propaganda=she has FIT the mold perfectly) I’ve never seen the likes of HER in my 63 years of living. (who HAS…including YOU Joe?!?!)
So I truly believe Sept will be HER BIG DOWNFALL. Therefore it makes total sense to call for CALM.
Psalm 40:1
“I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my (OUR) cry.” (no! not religious here)
I have waiting 3-4 years with anticipation for the day this country rid’s itself of this VILE DISGUSTING WOMAN.
AND IN SEPT IT WILL HAPPEN no doubt in my mind.
PEACE…END THE WARS
And guess what?
FUKUSHIMA IS taking TAKE CARE OF US ALL. 🙁
Posted today:
RADIATION
ST. LOUIS
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJCRmaIDCQE
Thanks, Cackling Rad, you’ve expressed what I’ve been feeling while reading this post and the comments. I did read the previous post and comments but did not add to them. I thought some were over the top, but not excessively so. I’m still looking forward to Joe’s book, but respectfully request that he afford us a measure of respect also. If we dedicated bloggers had not been searching for the truth these last three years, he wouldn’t have an audience for his book at all. Yes, it will be reviewed by the MSM (good!), but the larger readership will, I believe, be garnered through word of mouth by staunch Palin doubters. In the meantime, it’s Joe’s blog and Joe’s rules. ‘Nuf said.
This is the best place for New News on Fukushima
Fukushima #Tag Tweet Page
http://tinyurl.com/64etcsc
It’s not good folks…if you weren’t aware.
Joe,
I admire your perseverance and am counting down the days until September 20, but wonder why the backtracking?
In the above comments, you went to great lengths to say that none of us is qualified to call Palin a psychopath and so you won’t call her one, yet in the earlier FATAL VISION post you did exactly that: “What makes this relevant to THE ROGUE is that Jeffrey MacDonald was the first pathologically narcissistic psychopath about whom I ever wrote a book. Guess who’s the second?”
Jen:
Yes, by writing “guess who’s the second?” I certainly implied that in my opinion Sarah was a pathologically narcissistic psychopath. Yet I did not state it as fact.
Even so, it was a flippant remark that I regret having posted. I am not qualified to determine that any individual should be classified as suffering from a severe psychological disorder.
You are quite right to call me on this. I was wrong to equate Sarah Palin with Jeffrey MacDonald, who murdered his own pregnant wife and two young daughters, and who denies his guilt to this day.
This is why books are different from blogs: a book goes through an editing process–several, in fact–and then through stringent legal review. These processes allow an author time to reflect and to reconsider.
What will be published in THE ROGUE will be what has emerged from this entire editorial process.
I have tried to be thoughtful and measured on this blog, while also trying to be provocative enough to make it worth reading. On occasion, I may have failed. I would not dispute that “Guess who’s the second?” is an example of my failure to live up to my own high standards.
Any of us can criticize Sarah Palin as harshly as we want to–I certainly have–but no one other than a mental health professional who has treated her personally should pin on her labels such as “psychopath.”
Writing “Guess who’s the second?” was a lapse in judgment on my part, for which I apologize.
–Joe
“It Takes More Than That to Kill a Bull Moose”: The Leader and The Cause
http://www.theodoreroosevelt.org/research/speech%20kill%20moose.htm
Hmmmmm…. Well, just because Sarah Palin has a stalker, doesn’t make her less of a complete asshole. Not sure of the conspiracy theories, but I’m sure of this: Even raging assholes inspire stalkers. Do I condone the stalker? No. Do I pity the asshole? No.
I appreciate the sentiment Joe expresses here. It IS often a mirror image of the nutcases on the right.
Sarah Palin is a shallow, self-involved woman who is trying to parlay her moment of fame into something that enriches herself and her family – and it doesn’t matter to her if she has a negative affect on the political landscape of the nation. But she’s not evil.
She and her family don’t deserve stalking by a deranged pair of lunatics. Neither do other people. Maybe she should think about speaking out against that kind of thing – or not provoking it.
Thanks for the link aview999…miss you on the blogs.
Thank you AView! I miss you on my blog, but I know you are informing the PEOPLE about the Radiation!
How about Iodine? where to get it?
Hey! Joe! Thanks… I am so glad you took a stand…. At first I thought Sarah was crying wolf again, till I read the affidvit… OMG… father and son, both dangerous… I don’t hate Sarah and don’t wish any harm toward her, her family, friends or lawyers…. I avoid reading comments that are full of hate, lies or far off the wall theories.
I look forward to reading your book…
Be Blessed
Joe,
I really appreciate that you chose to post my question, and gave such a thoughtful response. Even if I had never heard of you, that says all I need to know about your integrity. Thank you for writing this book.
“But for airing theories about how Todd is not Track’s father, how Sarah contaminated Curt Menard Jr.’s fuel tanks to cause his fatal plane crash ten years ago, how Sarah engineered the Exxon Valdez disaster, how there are really three Trigs, and how the Christy family has actually been victimized by the Palins: you’ll soon have to go elsewhere.”
Joe, I appreciate that some comments on the Christy thread were less than helpful but, just as you accuse some commenters of sounding like C4Pers… here YOU’RE sounding like a C4Per with this dismissive tone.
Your use of the phrase “THREE” Trigs makes it almost sound like you *could* believe there are two of them rather than just the supposed one… Menard had been Palin’s BF, she apparently had been obsessed with him, and she lived next door to him while Todd was away working for months at a time. Sarah, pregnant, forced a quickie elopement. Marrying someone (if she did marry him, since her story on that is weirder than some of her other false stories) while pregnant with another man’s child is one of the LEAST bizarre things Mrs. Palin may have done.
Once it’s established (and yes, it is amply established whether people want to admit that to themselves or not) that a woman would fake being pregnant with a DS child for money, power and fame… what WOULDN’T she do? It’s been made clear that many Alaskans have not been speaking out against her out of fear. Fear of what?
If no one ever poked their nose into whatever is “hinky” surrounding the Palin family (and yes, that includes Menard’s plane crash) then you would not have written this book.
Like economists, psychiatrists are trying to construct reproducible scientific MODELS about what we KNOW to be reality, and may be more or (oftentimes) less successful than need be. When I read that people have had VISCERAL physical reactions to Sarah Palin’s appearances on video (much less in person), I regard those as real, because I had such a feeling of “hackles raising” and “skin crawling” myself, when she first came on the scene, so smug and defiant.
Read Robert Hare on this—these are a valuable primitive reflexes that alert us to DANGER. Sarah Palin is a dangerous person and some people don’t need to wait for your authoritative book, or for a Dr.’s diagnosis to see that. Knowing what she is—whatever label you want to put on it—some of us are convinced that she is capable of almost anything.
I appreciate your care in reporting on Jeffrey MacDonald, but my point would be that for the longest time you did NOT FEEL that there was anything “off” about him. Some people just don’t have an instantly negative reaction to psychopaths… it’s probably something we have little control over, like being color-blind, or not being able to hear certain frequencies. While you may have had a blind spot, requiring diligent effort to bridge, please recognize that for many people Sarah’s story has already been written, in her facial expressions, her gestures, her word salads, the intonations of her voice, her tics and manias, her callous attitudes towards her offspring (both real and surreal), her ill-disguised rage and proven vindictiveness.
P.S. Don’t you think the Rodney King beating picture/comparison is a LEETLE bit over-the-top?? As a previous commenter noted, it seems like you are trying to have it both ways…
Moderate discourse? or histrionic hyperbole?
Did a handful of blog comments skeptical as to the degree of Sarah’s victimization REALLY remind you of a vicious physical beating by law enforcement officers? Hmm.
Here! here!
Wow. I skipped this post because it didn’t seem Palin-related. I read the next two posts instead. The tone of them were perplexing, and now I understand.
Let’s be frank here, this blog was set up to sell a book. And once that book is out, the blog becomes unnecessary. And, as we near that date, the author has conveniently lost patience with his blog audience.
Joe, the blog has served your purposes, and I don’t begrudge you that. But please don’t leave people with the impression that you’re the only sane person in the asylum, with a key to the front door. The vast majority of posters were intelligent, respectful, careful, and supportive. In fact, more so than on other blogs, because, I think many had author-awe of some sort. The truth is, your blog was not really needed, from our perspective. The reason the posters came here was to SUPPORT you. That’s all.
I think this was really bad form, but…whatever. We’re all human.
Thanks for the linc aview…-))
People are attracted by the back-and-forth in the comments to a greater degree than they are to any of the particular blog posts by now, and this goes for IM, Palingates, Politicalgates, Bree’s old blog, as well as this one. A post is just a jumping-off point to keep discussions and theories alive as no real new information has been forthcoming for some time. Some posts do little more than pick up stuff that commenters have pointed out and link to it.
Active comment threads with potentially juicy tid-bits are a drawing point and a source of material for some blogs, so —yes—commenters are being “used” in some cases.
In a thunderstorm of emotions, the points you make in the above post are a rational ray of light. Can we all just take Mark Twain’s advice – slowly count to ten, and THEN swear?
Samantha,
You comment was the absolute truth: “The truth is, your blog was not really needed, from our perspective. The reason the posters came here was to SUPPORT you. That’s all. ”
And support we did. Shame on US for being so stupid.
You have no idea how much you sound like Sarah Palin, do you? You inserted yourself into someone else’s comment to Joe, not to you – and proceeded to act out each item in the list of what the poster above is talking about (and also what I deem to be the heart of this post). Litany of complaints about Palin, calling everyone a troll who doesn’t agree with you, refusing point blank to read and reason, acting like a victim of an elitist, attacking the poster personally, twisting their words or making shit up completely, and it just goes on from there. What is really sad is the poster tried to open a dialogue, and in the spirit of the post “Can’t we just all get along?” you further attacked.
Get a life, and it’s not up to you who is on the blogs. Sure, call me a troll!
Posses aren’t known for their group intelligence. Try riding alone, or on your own merits for a change of pace.
martha UYS
why do you feel the need to attack? I guess its a personal problem?
Absolutely right. People who are upset about this post, have a little faith in yourselves. Without your input, the blog sinks like a stone. Think about that; art critics need artists far more than the reverse. 🙂
I have been busy reading a fascinating book this weekend , Dr. Mary’s Monkey by Edward Haslam and did not know of your response to my comment which I expected would be ignored until someone told me about it, so sorry this response is so late. Keep in mind I am much more interested in exchanging ideas with those who see things differently than being liked or agreed with.
My post was in reaction to those who have earned the right to be angry at Sarah Palin, including myself. I can’t support having those with differing opinions being called haters or just in general calling them conspiracy theorists as so many have done. I have lived long enough to see a few conspiracy theories become truth. Many who have come into contact with Palin or her government appointee sycophants have been traumatized. Calling those who speak out against her and her family haters, etc. only serves to silence those who are trying to find the courage to come forward. Believe me it does take courage because they could still be harmed. Sure a lot of information is BS, but trying to shut down angry people does decrease the facilitation of discussion. I feel that as a country the laypeople are not skilled at identification of psychopaths or those who have no conscience due to the actions of those in the corporate world who have done great harm to our country and economy being seen as normal. We also have many politicians who have been the opposite of examples of behavior which demonstrates empathy, compassion and responsibility towards others while the public just keeps voting for them. Then of course there is the slanted definition the APA has used to describe psychopaths which eliminates those psychopaths who have power and money. That is apparently changing with the DSM 5.
There is no such thing as “psychopathic personality disorder”, “Be careful with your terminology.” I find it entertaining that somehow you think spending some time with ONE psychopath, means you can judge whether I know what I am talking about or not.
I have not seen Hervey Cleckley’s book for many decades and there has been quite a bit more research since then. Recent books about psychopaths are: Without Conscience by Dr. Robert Hare, The Psychopath Test by Jon Ronson(not a mental health professional) or Snakes in Suits, When Psychopaths Go To Work by Paul Babiak and Robert Hare. I have been listening to a book about an obvious psychopath who murdered at least two women and managed to destroy his family in the process, Portrait of a Monster by Lisa Pulitzer and Cole Thompson.
Now come on Joe you can find a way to try to discredit me that is much better than this statement, “’Have you ever “worked with” Sarah Palin in a clinical setting?”’ Really it is quite easy to say negative things about me, I am after all the most dangerous criminal in Alaska. Just ask the people at the hospital I worked at where I was workplace bullied until I was suicidal (one of them was a psychopath) which lead to me doing something that got me arrested. If I had been in that situation in most other states not only would I have been sent to a psych unit for PTSD, but they would have done an investigation of what went on at that hospital on many levels. Too bad I wasn’t a state senator with documentation that I took a bribe, I would have never even been charged. Just ask the prosecutor who had me wrongfully imprisoned later for a separate issue that I had nothing to do with in retaliation for my complaining about him lying, etc. Just ask SP’s commissioner of corrections about why I was tortured and had medical care withheld from me while being wrongfully imprisoned. This was all engineered by the DOL with an assist from other agencies. Ask the state troopers why they refused to police crimes that were occurring where I lived, allowed my cat to be starved/tortured, my property stolen/destroyed while I was wrongfully imprisoned, refused to allow me to retrieve my property even though I had a court order to do so(threatened to arrest me for disorderly conduct when I told the trooper what he was doing was wrong) and later destroyed evidence I needed. Ask the editor of the newspaper which wrote lies about me where their information came from. Ask the attorney general at that time why they were directed to harm me and why the prosecutor charged me with so many false crimes. Ask the DOJ why I was told they would do nothing about prosecutorial malfeasance. Ask them why I was given a severe drunk for a public defender and then they ignored my complaints about her. Ask the director of the public defender agency why when I was wrongfully arrested no public defender did anything nor came to see me. Ask him also why they told me several lies to railroad me into a plea (note I do not use the word deal here). Ask them why they told me when I requested expert witnesses they told me they would call me as my own expert witness and then did not twice. Ask the former A.G., Talis Colberg why the DOL told SP’s staff not to help me with theses issues (as if they would) or even talk to me. Ask SP and staff why they ignored the 50 page letter I wrote them about all of this (with twenty pages of evidence = 70 pages) or why the state ombudsman refused to do nothing about any of this. There is more, much more to my story including a Palin appointee to the board of licensing who ignored the truth and a public defender who was made a magistrate after manipulating me to do what they wanted.
Yes, I have good reason to be concerned that SP, her team of lawyers and her flying monkeys have incited these people to react so they can use them for publicity or to harm them for retaliation purposes. There is nothing they could do that would surprise me. I don’t agree with the Christys threatening and harassing people (or even lawyers, yuck yuck), but I always strive to understand the circumstances that lead to the behavior. Harassing phone calls, especially with death threats are wrong and unlike so many other cases law enforcement did intervene. When I complained about the death threats I received I was ignored. I know how hard it is to get the FBI to investigate just about anything in Alaska, so it is interesting to me that SP was able to get a college kid convicted of something lots of kids do and now has another drama to get her into the spot light. Coincidence? Remember it was the FBI who ran a sting operation on Levi’s mom. Why would the local police not have been more appropriate for that case? I have worked with people who have threatened politicians and there was almost never anything in the media because it is a common issue generally related to mental health problems. In other words the incidents were not used for publicity purposes.
When this kind of harassment happens some kind of mental health issue needs to be checked into? It is unusual that both the father and son are involved, that made me take pause. The young man had a psych evaluation in the past and was released. This indicates he was not found to be a danger to others at that time. Since then the family became very angry. The copious swearing can be an indication of trauma. When my PTSD is triggered I swear a lot, just ask the people who caused my garden to be partially destroyed recently. Before PTSD I rarely swore.
I worked at Eastern State Hospital in what was then called the Competency and Evaluation Treatment Program in Washington State while I went to college. This involved working with psychopathic sex offenders in another program as well. It was very dangerous, yet fascinating work. Later I spent some time working in a couple prisons in Washington (where I came into contact with many of the same sexual psychopaths again in the infirmary of one and worked with a famous female sex offender at another) and also volunteered at a prison. I worked as a supervisor twice for short periods of time at Western State Hospital in adult psychiatric units when they had staff off on leave. I have worked in many nursing specialties including lung, heart, liver transplants and management, but my main area of concentration was any kind of critical care (ICU/CCU), trauma, and ER. Psych happens in all those areas.
Since I was a child I have lived in several places where there were serial killers and this has had a great deal of influence on me. I have an interest in the psychology of psychopaths and just how they got to be who they are. I have spent a lifetime researching them. No, they are not difficult to diagnose for those who are familiar with them after spending a bit of time getting to know them. The ones I worked with were diagnosed by teams of psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, and nurses working together (to answer your question). Those who use the DSM IV Antisocial Personality Disorder for an understanding of this diagnosis may have some difficulty however due to the criteria being designed to leave out a great deal of them, such as CEOs and politicians. The ICD-10 criteria for Dissocial Personality Disorder covers all of them much better. The DSM IV criteria is designed to only cover those who are arrested for crimes or who are violent which means some arrested for crimes are misdiagnosed who are not psychopaths and a large number of un-incarcerated ones go undetected. The ones in prison are often the less clever. Those who can manipulate the laws, have systems to protect themselves (political appointees) and teams of lawyers who help them fly under the radar of being charged with a crime are actually the worst ones as they are able to con society on a grand scale. When they have lots of money to throw around they have even more protection and control.
It is much easier for someone to come to Alaska and talk to people about what happened to them under the Palin regime than have to live in it. It does not affect you, you are far removed, it does not harm you or destroy your life. You would not be angry or have feelings of hate with regard to the story. That may make it hard for you to understand how those affected feel. Many have been harmed and can‘t even prove it. There is no help nor does anyone in authority listen when complaints are made. All it takes to retaliate here is a phone call to a person in a key position and the threats begin or something is done to harm someone in a way that makes it look random. For instance they blocked my PFD in 2007 even though I applied for it several times. The number of issues that have happened in my case are really way over the top as far as anyone claiming they are random events, even in dysfunctional Alaska.
If I was to feel hatred towards the people who did this be they the authoritarian psychopath or the authoritarian right wingers (such as Bailey and ilk) who follow them and do their bidding I have every right to that feeling. The truth is I am more angry, frustrated, shocked and hurt than anything. I have severe PTSD and my long standing health problems have became significantly worse after trauma upon trauma. I am on Social Security and have been homeless three times including living at Brother Francis.
When I came to Alaska I had no idea the state would allow a hospital facility to not follow required procedures or regulations that are routine throughout the country nor that they would allow staff at a facility to psychologically terrorize people into PTSD for decades. Like so many others who work in health care I dedicated my life to helping others and could not even imagine the way they think. We are easy marks.
We know from the research on workplace bullying which is a type of psychological trauma which can cause PTSD that the target can appear to be mentally ill or to have a personality disorder after being traumatized. They often will act out and some have come to the workplace and shot people(This happened not too long ago at the hospital where I live in Soldotna). There is frequent suicide and one type of suicide is murder/suicide. The situation with the Christys involves loss of a job and many other problems, it involves similar losses to workplace bullying. I am not condoning any of the threats the Christys have made, especially the death threats (I have received them myself), they were wrong to do this, but I can see some symptoms of trauma in this case. The target is bewildered, believes their life has been destroyed, and has been driven to the point of breaking. After a workplace bullying target snaps people often comment that they were crazy or that a long string of crazy people have been in the workplace and they wonder why sp many of them came to that particular workplace. The truth is they were not crazy, they were traumatized and have PTSD from what happened to them there. Traumatized people often sound crazy and paranoid when they tell their stories. I have witnessed it from others and experienced it myself as one of those people who has a crazy, but true story. Whenever I tell my story I am very aware that many will think I am nuts but, I have documentation and corroboration. I also thought those who were the main bullying targets before me were nuts for a while, until I realized something was happening to them. I know what being bullied and falsely accused does to people. The anger could fill up the whole world. Some people’s anger goes toward others and some target themselves with drinking, drugs, or suicide.
Where did I say I was “miffed that the author won’t call his subject a psychopath”? I never said this and really expected you to think just like most people she was narcissistic. NPD is a mild version of psychopathy. She has hints of other psych issues, but really this one is so obvious.