Palin Mail

The State of Alaska dumped 13,000 emails - about 24,000 pages - generated during the brief period of Sarah Palin's gubernatorial career. Judging from the media scrum to get their hands on them, you might have thought Julian Assange himself had been put in charge of the release.

The emails were released as the result of a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request shortly after Palin had been selected as the running mate of Sen. John McCain. It took the Great State of Alaska about three years to get around to it.

The Washington Post, among other news organizations, were so eager to get to the bottom of what was hidden in this pile of - this potential treasure trove - that they put out a call, last Wednesday, for volunteers to come to the office and work cheek-by-jowl with actual reporters to tease out nuggets of gold from the boxes of lead.

I don't know if Post readers rolled their eyes and wondered aloud if the Post's newsroom had suffered an all-hands news judgment black-out, but the next day the Post revised its clarion call for volunteers, as Ryan Kellerman wrote in this update:

"We have had a strong response to our crowdsourcing call-out on the Palin e-mails. We've reconsidered our approach and now would like to invite comments and annotations from any interested readers.

"We'll be posting them here, and are inviting you to comment on the most interesting or most noteworthy sections. Please include page numbers and, where possible, a direct excerpt."

No telling how many people thought sitting in the newsroom, cafeteria, or where ever, going through someone else's emails was going to be fun. I'm willing to bet that the Post's lawyers decided that, inasmuch as the Post Company actually pays people to decide what is news and then write about it, having a gaggle of civilians roaming around the office making those kinds of decisions was, in fact, evidence of an all-hands news judgment black-out.

That, by the way, was the way the New York Times had decided to reach out to volunteer readers in the first place so the Post should have been doubly embarrassed.

I am not, as regular readers know, a Sarah Palin fan. But this level of excitement over her official emails struck me as very, very creepy.

Never mind that Syrian president Bashar Assad is killing about the same number of people than Moammar Gaddhafi. The Hindu newspaper estimates 1,000 have been killed in Syria, the same number CNN International believes have been killed in Libya.

Never mind that recent economic data, according to a Morgan Stanley report, "suggest that the recovery in the US economy has paused."

Let's focus on the important things: -- Newt Gingrich's selection of jewelry stores and cruise lines; -- Anthony Weiner's selection of Twitter recipients; and -- The Alaskan government's selection of which of Sarah Palin's emails to release.

I am so ambivalent about these emails that I did something I can't remember having done before: I turned down an opportunity to be on TV to talk about them. For someone with an ego the size of Jupiter, that is no small thing.

I did, however, chat with a Post reporter on Saturday morning which resulted in this quote from me in yesterday's paper:

"I will be shocked when we get through the 24,000 pages if there is any nugget that adds anything other than proof to what people already know about her, which is that she's petty and vindictive against people she dislikes and charming to people she does like."

When I asked whether the reporter was embarrassed by the resources being devoted to this effort, she said that Palin might be a candidate for President and so this was important.

I asked whether there had been FOIA requests for the three other former Governors in the race: Romney (Massachusetts), Pawlenty (Minnesota), or Huntsman (Utah); or if there was one for a certain former State Senator, Barack Obama (Illinois)?

Have you seen the most damning e-mail they found? Her letter to family and friends before Trig’s birth.

P.S. Get tissues

SARAH PALIN’S COMPLETE LETTER TO HER FAMILY ABOUT TRIG

To the Sisters, Brother, Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, and Friends of Trig Paxson Van Palin (or whatever you end up naming him!):

I am blessing you with this surprise baby because I only want the best for you. I’ve heard your prayers that this baby will be happy and healthy, and I’ve answered them because Ionly want the best for you!

I heard your heart when you hinted that another boy would fit best in the Palin family, to round it out and complete that starting five line-up. Though another girl would be so nice, you didn’t think you could ask for what you REALLY wanted, but I knew, so I gave you a boy because I only want the best for you!

Then, I put the idea in your hearts that his name should be “Trig”, because it’s so fitting, with two Norse meanings: “True” and “Brave Victory”. You also have a Bristol Bay relative with that name, so I knew it would be best for you!

Then, I let Trig’s mom have an exceptionally comfortable pregnancy so she could enjoy every minute of it, and I even seemed to rush it along so she could wait until near the end to surprise you with the news - that way Piper wouldn’t have so long to wait and count down so many days - just like Christmastime when you have to wait, impatiently, for that special day to finally open your gift? (Or the way the Palins look forward to birthday celebrations that go on for three, four days... you all really like cake .) I know you, I knew you’d be better off with just a short time to wait!

Then, finally, I let Trig’s mom and dad find out before he was born that this little boy will truly be a GIFT. They were told in early tests that Trig may provide more challenges, and more joy, than what they ever may have imagined or ever asked for. At first the news seemed unreal and sad and confusing . But I gave Trig’ s mom and dad lots of time to think about it because they needed lots of time to understand that everything will be OK, in fact, everything will be great, because I only want the best for you!

I’ve given Trig’s mom and dad peace and joy as they wait to meet their new son. I gave them a happy anticipation because they asked me for that. I’ll give all of you the same happy anticipation and strength to deal with Trig’s challenges, but I won’t impose on you...

I just need to know you want to receive my offer to be with all of you and help you everyday to make Trig’s life a great one.

This new person in your life can help everyone put things in perspective and bind us together and get everyone focused on what really matters . The baby will expand your world and let you see and feel things you haven’t experienced yet. He’ll show you what “true, brave victory” really means as those who love him will think less about self and focus less on what the world tells you is “normal” or “perfect”. You will grow and be blessed with greater understanding that will be born along with Trig.

Trig will be his dad’s little buddy and he’ll wear Carhartts while he learns to tinker in the garage. He’ll love to be read to, he’ll want to play goalie, and he’ll steal his mom’s heart just like Track, Bristol, Willow and Piper did. And Trig will be the cuddly, innocent, mischievous, dependent little brother that his siblings have been waiting for in fact Trig will - in some diagnostic ways - always be a mischievous, dependent little brother, because I created him a bit different than a lot of babies born into this world today.

Every child is created special, with awesome purpose and amazing potential. Children are the most precious and promising ingredient in this mixed up world you live in down there on earth. Trig is no different, except he has one extra chromosome. Doctors call it “Down’s Syndrome”, and Downs kids have challenges, but can bring you much delight and more love than you can ever imagine! Just wait and see, let me prove this, because I only want the best for you!

Some of the rest of the world may not want him, but take comfort in that because the world will not compete for him. Take care of him and he will always be yours!

Trig’s mom and dad don’t want people to focus on the baby’s extra chromosome. They’re human, so they haven’t known how to explain this to people who are so caring and are interested in this new little Alaskan. Sarah and Todd want people to share in the joy of this gift I’m giving to the Palin family, and the greater Alaska family. Many people won’t understand... and I understand that. Some will think Trig should not be allowed to be born because they fear a Downs child won’t be considered “perfect” in your world. (But tell me, what do you earthlings consider “perfect” or even “normal” anyway? Have you peeked down any grocery store isle, or school hallway, or into your office lunchroom lately? Or considered the odd celebrities you celebrate as “perfect” on t.v.? Have you noticed I make `em all shapes and sizes? Believe me ,, there is no “perfect”!)

Many people will express sympathy, but you don’t want or need that, because Trig will be a joy. You will have to trust me on this.

I know it will take time to grasp this and come to accept that I only want the best for you, and I only give my best. Remember though: “My ways are not your ways, my thoughts are not your thoughts... for as the heavens are higher than the earth, my ways are higher than yours!”

I wrote that all down for you in the Good Book ! Look it up! You claim that you believe me - now it’s time to live out that belief!

Please look to me as this new challenge and chapter of life unfolds in front of you. I promise to equip you. I won’t give you anything you can’t handle. I am answering your prayers. Trig can’t wait to meet you. I’m giving you ONLY THE BEST!

Love,

Trig’s Creator , Your Heavenly Father

Fantasy Presidential debate;

Palin/zero

Debate controller;
"Ms Palin, you have 3 minutes to make your final statement

Our Girl;

Thank you _______ , It has been a privelege and an honor to come before the American people and state my case and explain my positions on some extremely important and vital issues facing our country.

I think one of the more important points is, you know who I am.

You know my every breath and word since I was in high school.

You know every word and sentiment from every e-mail I have ever received and sent in the last 15 years.

You know my family, their complete bio's with all of their bumps and wrinkles.

You know my wedding to my First Dude Todd and what I've done with my life since me and my Dad first hunted moose together.

America ... you really, REALLY know me.

I don't know President Obama except for the 3 1/2 years he's been in office.

I know nothing of his past, his boyhood, his accomplishments and failures.

I've never seen any wedding pictures nor seen a wedding announcement in any newspaper.

I've never heard of birth announcements of his two lovely daughters and we know nothing of their lives except the few photo ops allowed in the last few years.

America ... you know me.

Who is THIS guy?

The quoted dig against Palin is all Galen!

I lost all respect for him with his lame musings on his alma mater followed by equally lame rant against Palin a week or so ago. I never read him much anyway, he isn’t a particularly good writer, his predictions are usually way off, and his advice to candidates is very iffy.

What strikes me is his vitriol and seething hatred for Sarah. It appears to be very personal and purely emotionally based. He repeatedly refers to his unsubstantiated belief about how she mistreats people.

This isn’t about policy, electability, skill, knowledge, preparedness to govern; his issue is a personal gripe of some sort. Ironically, his need to insert her name and his personal digs is what is really petty and vindictive.

He’s a pol-cat, a political hack working for a campaign. When he was ‘advising’ Fred Thompson, he never tired of starting an article with a caveat about working for Thompson (an upfront and professional gesture). My question is why he doesn’t do that any more, now that he is in full-on personal attack mode against Sarah?

...oh, and on his getting predictions right? Yeah, his quoted prediction is wrong yet again: the emails show she was caring, compassionate, professional, hard-working, willing to work with those whom she disagreed with, and let petty things like death threats roll off her back.

Rush might almost always right 99.6% of the time, Galen’s % of being right is statistically not measurable.

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