Can't wait til this issue of VF shows up in my mailbox! http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0609/24392.html

That rag sheet! I dumped VF after the vitriolic article on Bill by Dee Dee Myers husband, of all people. Talk about back- stabbing.

Was that in the last year? I think I may have read it.

Bwaaah I want this stone-colored jacket...grey belt is Givenchy This afternoon at some United Health Care event

A few night's ago at a luau on the WH lawn. Is this Sasha or Malia? I get them mixed up.

That dress in the last pic does nothing for her. It's one step away from a housedress, just remove the lace. I can't keep the kids straight.

(Dorine) It's one step away from a housedress LOL! But you're right. Hideous and the lack isn't helping. As for the kids, since they're always referred to as S&M, that would mean S is the older one. They go in order. This is obviously the older one pictured. Look how tall she is.

And it gets worse...in this pic the dress has a dippy hem in the back. Look how tall she is. And she's only 12. But look at the parents.

Actually, Malia is the older girl. Just think: M comes before S and Malia came before Sasha. Nice kids, and seemingly very unaffected.

How odd? I always hear them referred to as S&M, although when I think about it, O said that M&S had earned their dog. Parents always go in order.

Anybody see the WaPo scandal today? And the funny part is a lobbyist of all people blew the whistle.

An item about this on some blog caught my eye simply because I saw the name Beaker (you know, the muppet :-)). I have no inkling of who this guy is and I didn't watch, or rather didn't listen to the video. I just played it to get a good look at his face to see if he did really look like Beaker as is said. And he does, LOL!! (Beaker is probably my favorite muppet). Also, I had to LOL at what it says he called the bloggers he's upset with. He sounds like a complete doof (to say the least). http://www.businessinsider.com/dennis-kneale-flips-out-calls-bloggers-dickweeds-2009-7

Kurtz is kind of a dweeb. HOWARD KURTZ WONDERS IF BLACK WOMEN CAN COVER MICHELLE OBAMA OBJECTIVELY. http://www.prospect.org/csnc/blogs/tapped_archive?month=07&year=2009&base_name=howard_kurtz_wonders_if_black

It sickens me that the Obama administration is pulling this crap, too. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/white-house-watch/obamas-bogus-new-excuse-for-se.html

I should start a poll on reasons why Sarah Palin is quitting her governorship. Before the real reason eventually comes out in the news. Very curious.

(Dorine) It sickens me that the Obama administration is pulling this crap, too. Sometimes it is hard to stop the cogs in a bureaucracy. Before the real reason eventually comes out in the news. You mean before she announces she is running for a senate seat or something higher? ;-)

No way. I don't believe for a sec she's quitting in the middle of a first term to run for higher office. Who in their right mind would take her seriously? Esp for Pres. No need to resign now for that. She just wouldn't need to run again in 2010. And why resign at all to run for anything? Almost no one else does. Something smells fishy and it ain't the COHO salmon.

Oh and by the way, I believe she said she was going to continue outside of government.

And to go further....if she's going to run for higher office, why not just say so now. Did anyone watch the video? Rambling. I truly thought she was using all her might not to cry at certain points, too.

No, I didn't watch the video, so I can't comment on how it looked. Fighting back tears. Hmmmm (Dorine) I don't believe for a sec she's quitting in the middle of a first term to run for higher office. Middle? Her term ends next year. She got elected in 2006. I'd say that she wants a national (DC) office, so when she does run she can say she had as much national experience as Obama. From a NYT article: Ms. Palin is one of a number of Republican governors who are considering seeking the presidential nomination in 2012 and whose terms expire in 2010. Many Republican strategists have argued that it would be very difficult for someone to run for governor in 2010 and turn around immediately, while running a state, to run for president in 2012. Gov. Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota announced last month that when his term expires in 2010 he would not seek re-election, as he considers a presidential bid. However, leaving office in the middle of a term is highly unusual. Ms. Palin�s decision set off a round of speculation among her critics and bloggers that another embarrassing scandal may be about to unfold. It also empowered critics in both parties who said that this episode would only serve to reinforce doubts among many Americans about her stability, political competence and fortitude. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/04/us/politics/04palin.html?ref=global-home

No, she wasn't quite to tears. It was more her voice and the expression. She was talking kind of fast, too. She's got 18 months left. Not the exact middle, but not just a hop, skip and a jump from end of term either. I'm telling you, I'm convinced she's not heading for higher office. Why not just say so? Why quit this job early? Also, Andrea Mitchell said her sources said she's out of politics. It was also a Friday news dump. On a holiday weekend no less. And to top it off, there are rumors in Alaska of a pending federal indictment. Could be all talk. Time will tell. She's already been shown to be highly ethically challenged in Alaskan politics. Until this, I'm certain she was looking at higher office.

The holiday weekend. That convinces me as well. Another big shoe will drop. Wonder if her husband will go on I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Whatever... ;-)

I saw some footage and her answering a question. She seemed more excited than anything. At least that's how I'd categorize her behavior.

She didn't take any questions at the press conference, so I don't know what you saw.

Wonder if Michelle will dress down a bit, so as not to appear to flashy in comparison. Or maybe she won't care. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090704/ap_on_re_eu/eu_russia_us_first_ladies

(Dorine, I think)And to top it off, there are rumors in Alaska of a pending federal indictment. Could be all talk. Time will tell. She's already been shown to be highly ethically challenged in Alaskan politics. LOL. At least you hope so;-D Why dump on her so much. Why not give her a chance before indicting her?*shaking head* I detect a little obsession here;-) I am sure FLOTUS will do us proud ; as she always does:-))))))

I detect a little obsession here;-) I consider it my duty as an American to make sure she gets nowhere near a higher office. Not in her present state anyway. And she has done virtually nothing to earn my respect. Except maybe raise a bunch of clean, healthy kids. Why not give her a chance before indicting her? No skin off my nose. I'm just repeating what's out there. There's something rotten in Denmark with her.

Saw a list of Top 10 reasons Palin was resigning. My favs were: -- After 30 months as governor, she's cracking under the stress of protecting the U.S. from Russia. -- She doesn't want her tenure as governor to overshadow her experience as mayor of Wasilla.

LOL. Tough crowd here:-) Just remember...in a week...there will be Sonia to run over the coals:-) "I consider it my duty......";-D

Of course you could add: --She found the view of Argentina from her frontyard so alluring that she had to hit the Appalachian Trail

"Just you wait, 'enry 'iggins, just you wait! You'll be sorry, but your tears'll be too late!..... " Just saw "My Fair lady" in summer theatre last week....

From her Facebook page: And though it's honorable for countless others to leave their positions for a higher calling and without finishing a term, of course we know by now, for some reason a different standard applies for the decisions I make. Implies that she too is leaving for a higher calling." Wonder what that might be. I've never thought I needed a title before one's name to forge progress in America. I am now looking ahead and how we can advance this country together with our values of less government intervention, greater energy independence, stronger national security, and much-needed fiscal restraint. I hope you will join me. Now is the time to rebuild and help our nation achieve greatness! Head of the RNC? No, that has a title. ;-)

Interesting to see how anything Sarah says or does attracts media attention. I've never seen a former candidate get such notice. John Kerry certainly didn't.

She held a press conference.

As for John Kerry, he didn't resign and is serving out his term in office.

You mean he ran again. Obama resigned after two yrs. Senator Burris was the lucky successor.

You're really off point again. Why am I not surprised? So let me make it crystal. She gets attention because she calls attention to herself. She resigned from her office. She (or someone on her staff) updated her Facebook to seek further attention.

(Evelyn) Interesting to see how anything Sarah says or does attracts media attention. Um, excuse me, she puts herself out there just as much. Matter of fact, I keep forgetting about her then she pops up with something to say again. And you know, supposedly she couldn't take the heat of the media anymore (if I heard her correctly in the middle of that word salad of a press conference)........what happened to that self-proclaimed "pitbull with lipstick" who basically told Hillary to man-up about her complaints about media sexism?? Hillary's been taking some intense media criticism since 1992 and survived and still had the balls to run for President and take more (though she did complain about the sexism). Sarah wishes she had the balls and class of Hillary's pinky finger.

From her Facebook page: And she's Twittered 3 times since Friday, supposedly. Head of the RNC......she strikes me as a female Michael Steele. Somehow not the change I think the party would be looking for. Actually, I don't think she said she couldn't take the heat of the media anymore, that was extrapolation from pundits, etc ....she didn't say why exactly she's quitting....but regardless, she did complain about the media and the rest of my statement stands. Funny Top 10 reasons, esp She found the view of Argentina from her frontyard so alluring that she had to hit the Appalachian Trail (SP) for some reason a different standard applies for the decisions I make. Um, no Sarah, we hold you to the same standards. You just don't meet them sometimes and don't like it when people tell you so.

(Dorine)Sarah wishes she had the balls and class of Hillary's pinky finger. Well, er....Hill might have monster balls,now that you mention it...(nasty rumors about that one for years)...she's a little more feminine than Hill and has *killer* legs:-D

she's a little more feminine than Hill and has *killer* legs: All qualities I look for in a (female) candidate for any office...as well as whether they seem cool to have a beer with. ;-) An amusing, mildly snarky opinion piece on Sarah... http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/04/opinion/04collins.html?_r=2&ref=opinion

(Dorine) Funny Top 10 reasons, esp She found the view of Argentina from her frontyard so alluring that she had to hit the Appalachian Trail Thank you. ;-) she didn't say why exactly she's quitting....but regardless, she did complain about the media and the rest of my statement stands. She has been complaining about the cost ($$$) to Alaska of responding to all these inquiries into ethics violations, misuse of power, etc. But resigning wouldn't necessarily end those investigations or shouldn't.

Seems to me if they can afford to give refunds of over $3K to each resident of Alaska from oil profits, they can afford some bills from investigations.

(Karen) As for John Kerry, he didn't resign and is serving out his term in office. (Evelyn) You mean he ran again. He was re-elected in 2002, ran and lost the Presidential race in 2004 (without resigning), continued to serve until re-election in 2008.

Not that it had anything to do with my point, Obama resigned *after* he'd won the presidency. He didn't resign in order to run, just as Hillary didn't or McCain or anyone else in recent memory.

I was simply clarifying. I was making nor supporting a point.

Well, I see the Monday Morning Mauling of Sarah continues...LOL MSMBC is covering Sa-rah! all day today . And from Wasilla *drum roll* that famous objective reporter: Andrea Mitchell is giving us minute by minute reporting. ROTF Morning Joe had interesting takes on all her options. Methinks Joe knows more than he's say;-) But I digress ....

And from Russia with love.... Here they come.... Love that they took those cute girls. Russians are big family people, they'll love that.

(Dorine) I was simply clarifying. I was making nor supporting a point. My additional point wasn't directed at yours. And thank you for spelling out Kerry's terms and their dates. Well, I see the Monday Morning Mauling of Sarah continues. Right, blame the media when they interviewed maulers like Karl Rove and Mike Huckabee yesterday.

(Evelyn) Morning Joe had interesting takes on all her options. Such as?

The blogs aren't talking about Joe's options?;-) Have to listen to him then. Actually, he's been on other shows this morning . Kerry ...Gore, the Bore....ye-ah;-) How about FLOTUS' dress. She's such a style-setter. Everyone is copying her belts over cardies, mini-jackets etc. Have to be slim though...and no tum-tum.

(Karen)Right, blame the media when they interviewed maulers like Karl Rove and Mike Huckabee yesterday. And throw in George Will for good measure. Most of the "mauling" came from her own party. But getting back to the *substance* of what she did, Evelyn, what do you thnk she has in mind? I thought the "lame duck" excuse was well, lame. Most everyone who holds an office is a lame duck at some point.

(Evelyn) The blogs aren't talking about Joe's options?;-) Have to listen to him then. Actually, he's been on other shows this morning . No time for blogs today. I watch very little tv anymore and esp no daytime tv.

(Mari)Most of the "mauling" came from her own party. Not as overt as Maureen Dowd and others on MSNBC.And lets not mention the blogs. Today's WSJ has an article citing the bloggers (by name!)who have ridiculed the poor Down-Syndrom baby. Now that's cruel. However, the most unforgivable is the back-stabbing from the McCain campaign thugs...trying to blame her for their own ineptness. Mari, I think she would like to position herself as a conservative voice out there , outside of politics. Rush, Hannity ...they have more sway than any pol. Hey, the night she was on SNL was the highest rating in 15 yrs for that show. IMO any network would give her a show. Probably FOX News would be her best bet. She has a huge following with right -wing conservatives (I belong to the moderate Republicans, remember???;-)including union workers and other working-class. I view her as Howard Dean was to the Dems. Most cringed at his outrageous rants.But she raises tons of money and is a voice of populism ; so is Huckabee. She has tons of debt..could go on a speaking tour and easily erase it. Books, newspaper columns, . She's a rock star and why not get paid as one instead of having to take the s*** and not get compensated. Now I gave you my views...my opinion. They aren't facts, so pl don't massacre me. LOL.(Only kidding, I know that's not your MO) But I really don't have time to go and research to websites for resource to back-up what I'm saying. It's just a composite.

Today's WSJ has an article citing the bloggers (by name!)who have ridiculed the poor Down-Syndrom baby. Now that's cruel. I've looked for it and cannot find it. I saw references in one article to the bloggers who have touched on improprieties with her job. That is all. the night she was on SNL was the highest rating in 15 yrs for that show. You're forgetting to give Tina Fey her due. But I really don't have time to go and research to websites for resource to back-up what I'm saying. It's just a composite. In other words, it is worthless.

A breakdown of the "millions" of dollars she complained about for investigations of those ethics complaints (including one she brought against herself). Her legal bills totaled around $600,000. http://www.adn.com/palin/story/850854.html?pageNum=3&&mi_pluck_action=page_nav#Comments_Container Which WSJ article were you referring to, Evelyn? There are 2 on the most read or emailed list there. Is it the top one? trying to blame her for their own ineptness. I don't know how much ineptness was on their part, but it was obvious she was not devoid of that quality herself. How do you know none of that article is true? Just because it's in VF? Are you not going to read it? Is it out already? I don't have mine yet. :-( I think my subscription is to automatically renew. She was a godsend for SNL. And I really don't like Maureen Dowd much.

(Evelyn) It's just a composite. In other words, it is worthless. In all fairness, she gave what Mari asked for, her opinion/supposition based on what anyone knows at this point, which is not much.

Am referring to broad-stroked generalizations that don't seem to mesh with fact. Bet the WSJ article is only print. *snort*

And for someone who *won't* read blogs, she'll accept what the WSJ says is in a blog but not you.

I really don't think there is anything to fear with Sarah's decision. We'll know soon enough if she has a plan. But I don't think America will vote her into office any time soon.

(Me)But I really don't have time to go and research to websites for resource to back-up what I'm saying. It's just a composite. (Karen)In other words, it is worthless. LOL. Yes. I've always said that anything I post is worthless. Esp my opinions That's the only thing you seem to concur with me:-(((( (karen)Bet the WSJ article is only print. *snort* LOL. Right ....as usual. I only get the print WSJ. The article was on pg. 3 But later when I have a time I'll cite the names. None I recognized. I agree Moon. She's not electable any time soon. She's young , but she has a voice and there's a group out there listening.

If you give the title of the article we can look for it at their site. They're probably the Alaska bloggers, one who used to post anonymously until a few months ago an Alaskan politician who was criticized by her dug up info on her and she was outed by name (and address??). Another blogger who said SP was headed for indictment was on MSNBC or something I think yesterday. I think her name was Shannon or Sherilyn or something like that.

Yeah..Shannyn Moore. The other one is Sarah "hate-blogger"Linda Lellen Bliegel "Several days ago, a photo appeared on a blog showing Gov Palin holding a baby with the super-imposed head of a conservative talk-show host. " ..."Ms Bielel said the photo was intended as a parody of the talk-show host and in no way meant to disparage Trig which 'never even crossed my mind'" Don't these people have other things to do except sling this mud around. Even if true. Sick. GRowing Criticism at Home Took Toll on Palin pg 3 WSJ.

Kellen middle name.

PS to Mari: Next time you want my opinion....email me;-)))

(Me) Another blogger who said SP was headed for indictment Correction...said there were rumors of an indictment, not that there actually was one. Hey! No fair with the emailing! :-) You know, I hadn't heard a peep about that cartoon (that I have to track down as I haven't seen it) until all the brouhaha over her resignation. Trig...the baby she used as a prop during a convention at an ungodly hour for a baby to be up, in a hypersensory environment with screaming crowds, blasting music and bright lights? I'm sure the cartoon had to be more offensive. ;-)

Ya know, you can't just take these people at their word about making fun of a special needs baby. Apparently, it was the same photo that Letterman's people used and put Dave's head on the kid and no one said 'boo.' In this case, a local conservative talk show host's head was pasted on. No one was making fun of the baby. Interesting that these "hate Sarah" bloggers are local. But they must have East Coast liberal lefty establishment ties. ;-) Here's the blog of Linda Kellen Biegel, who was raising funds to investigate Palin. Love her entry about "Gardening." LOL! http://www.divasblueoasis.com/ This Poor Me/Sarah defense is typical and I ain't buying it for a second. Nice entry at Huffington Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/akmuckraker/palin-blasts-local-blogge_b_221113.html

You know she has no support when... http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/06/fox-news-contributor-rips_n_226370.html

I like that Linda. Did you read her front page? Loved 2 things... 1. She pointed this out.. Among those Wonkette posts was a little gem under the title "win of the afternoon"...they highlighted a comment from Alaska Girl: "She didn't finish her term as mayor, stepping down to run for Lt. Governor. She didn't finish her term on the petroleum board ethics panel, she resigned in protest and then ran for Governor. She doesn't want the office, she just likes running for office. She doesn't want (can't actually) accomplish anything, she just wants to talk about it." That was absolutely correct. However, before that, Sarah Palin left the Wasilla City Council only one year into her second three-year term in order to take the Mayor's job. And, if you go all the way back, it took her five years and five colleges to get a Journalism degree. Quitting before the job is done is her modus operendi. and 2., she pointed out the same thing I did yesterday.... --In Palin's resignation speech, she continued her steady drumbeat of whining about the media, bloggers, the internet...everyone who has criticized her or made her life difficult. Yet, during the campaign, she reamed Hillary Clinton for her "whining" about the press: [Ed note - shows video of said whining] ``````````````````````````` Linda also has that fabulous fuscia pic on her front page. I have one in my kitchen window and didn't know what it was, but the blooms are the same. Mine's scrawny in comparison. She isn't the blogger that was outed. She's on Mudflats, a blog I really like and discovered after SP was announced as the VP candidate. Daily Kos pointed out the Liz Trotta piece earlier today, joking she apparently didn't get the memo not to criticize SP, but I didn't bother to watch the video they had, mainly because I don't know LT. I just did now. That guy tried desperately to deflect her criticism.

*snort* A comment from a WaPo chat today: Arlington, Va.: Given that President Obama is in Russia at the moment, I wonder if he can see Sarah Palin's house from there? And a comment on a NYT column today: Austin, TX July 6th, 2009 6:23 am Dear Mr. Douthat, I think a more reasonable view of what happened to the Governor is that she is the "victim" of the type of cut-throat politics that her party polished, pushed and perfected. If you feel she was not treated fairly (this is what I think you are hinting at in your column), then look at the predecessors, such as the "Swift Boat Veterans" smear campaign against John Kerry, or the Ken Starr Whitewater investigation that morphed into voyeurism, even the "Willie Horton" ads against Michael Dukakis. If the party of "No" looks in the mirror, or the Governor was to look in the mirror, they may see the more recent examples of baiting the traps that they may have fallen into themselves. I think of her rallies where people called out and said Obama was Muslim, was a traitor, and used racial epithets and she did nothing to stop them. I also think of the constant push on ties to "terrorists", the focus on a preacher for a church he attended for a time, and other prying tactics used incessantly during the campaign. I look at the fact that we, the people, did not force her to run, accept the nomination, or have the interviews with Katie Couric and Charles Gibson. Even more to the point, we did not force her to bring her children to the convention in St. Paul, nor did we force her to appear on "Saturday Night Live" just before the election in multiple cameo roles (opening skit, the news desk with singing and dancing, etc.) http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/06/opinion/06ross.html

How about Mr Douthat 's column? (who was on Morning Joe yesterday. He's the other conservative writer for NYT (young fella...recently hired was on CR ) along with David Brooks I never heard those racial epithets at her rallies. Perhaps the writer attended some; I only saw them on TV.

How about Mr Douthat 's column? What about it? Not sure what you're asking. BTW, no one on any blog I was at said anything about Morning Joe or his comments. So I still don't know what he was saying. I read about the behavior of participants at those rallies last year.

Linda also has that fabulous fuscia pic on her front page. I have one in my kitchen window and didn't know what it was, but the blooms are the same. Mine's scrawny in comparison. It's mainly an outdoor plant. This is the first year I haven't hung up a hanging basket of one someplace in the yard, although I use several of the autumnale variety in planters. I also like one to use the Gartanmeister, a more upright one with peachy/coral flowers and really dark leaves, in planters as well. Fuchsia is actually a bush. One of the sites says our overheated homes are too warm for them to overwinter. Maybe I should try as mine is far from that. ;-) http://www.bachmans.com/tipsheets/indoor_plants/Fuchsias_print.cfm http://www.squidoo.com/fuchsia-plant (Dorine) I read about the behavior of participants at those rallies last year. I saw it several times last year in video clips from her rallies, with interviews of individuals attending, with her encouraging the cries.

Peoople said hateful things about Romney being a Mormon too. Blogs and some far left periodicals. So not approving of Obama having been a Muslim is not a shocker. But I never heard of Palin being even peripherally involved in racial slurs...not even in mainstream media. And I am sure if she had ,it would have been trumpeted. They certainly were looking for anything to pin on her. Perhaps in blogs.

Perhaps on video.

Fact is that McCain was loco crazy to have picked Sarah as his VP mate. If he wanted a female R, there is one congresswoman from Minn. who would have been perfect (forget her name). She's been interviewed on CNN, etc. She's intelligent and has experience and is known. I don't think that Sarah has enough fans or backing to be a problem in the future. She's no longer worth discussing. Romney, I don't take Mormons seriously.

You're not referring to that nutjob Michele Bachman, are you?

OMG, not her. She is crazy. Fact is that McCain was loco crazy to have picked Sarah as his VP mate. Yet you supported and defended them both at one point IIRC so I'm guessing that was ok with you, at the time anyway. But I don't disagree with your statement. She's no longer worth discussing. If she hadn't continued saying things in the media (and the media would stop bringing up people like her not-future-son-in-law talking about her), I would have continued to have forgotten about her.

Romney looks better to me every day; I didn't support him either first time around. But at least he's a seasoned business man. The economy sucks. Market down again today. Investors have no confidence and neither does business. Where's the growth going to come from? 4% this year? In your dreams. And now they talk of Stimulous II. Ha! Had they included more jobs the first time instead of padding it with all kinds of social programs , things might be different.

Oh news pics of FF in Moscow... Hope they're in order....

Nursing College at St Dimitry Sisters of Mercy in Moscow. "What might appear to be a print is in fact thousands of embroidered french knots, representative of Jason Wu's fine craftsmanship. The bright blues of the Matryoshka doll in Mrs. O's hands, a gift from her hosts, pop against the graphic black and white of her dress"

Sorry...I pushed my luck...LOL. They are all Getty photos, BTW

(Evelyn)I think she would like to position herself as a conservative voice out there , outside of politics. Rush, Hannity ...they have more sway than any pol. . . Probably FOX News would be her best bet. Ok, I can see Fox giving her a show. But wouldn't she have to become more schooled on the issues? Just a little bit?;-) However, the most unforgivable is the back-stabbing from the McCain campaign thugs...trying to blame her for their own ineptness. There's a lot of that in the Vanity Fair article. The aides weren't solely to blame, IMO. There's a lot of the "poor me" about her, and oui saw that again in the resignation speech. She has tons of debt..could go on a speaking tour and easily erase it. Books, newspaper columns, . She's a rock star and why not get paid as one instead of having to take the s*** and not get compensated. People who voted for her have a right to expect that she would have completed her term. That's what she pledged to them. No one enters public life thinking they're going to get rich quick. This is what will hurt her the most if and when she throws her hat in the presidential ring. Being a quitter, bailing out when the going got tough, etc. I don't blame her for wanting to erase her debt and rake in some bucks, but IMO she should have waited another 18 months. BTW, I do appreciate your worthwhile opinions, Evelyn!

And now they talk of Stimulous II. Krugman said he didn't think it was big enough the first time around.

(Mari)People who voted for her have a right to expect that she would have completed her term. That's what she pledged to them. I do agree with you there. I was disappointed too. After all 18 months isn't an eternity. Ok, I can see Fox giving her a show. But wouldn't she have to become more schooled on the issues? Just a little bit?;-) . You are kind:-))) She needs a *lot* of coaching , but she's got charisma and that part isn't learned. The part of my opinions....Thanks, but I'll stick with emails on that one Esp. on next week's supreme court nom. But you already know what I think:-))))))

But you already know what I think:-)))))) About Sotomayor? I don't and guess I won't from what you say.

And to add, I have zero opinion of her. I still haven't read up on her.

Thanks for the fuscia links, Karen! Very helpful. Maybe I'll get something eventually resembling a bush some year. Transplanting to a bigger pot may help come to think of it. But then it wouldn't fit on my kitchen windowsill. Well, I can only guess a Fox gig wouldn't be too stressful for her. Since announcing that she would resign as governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin (R) has been blaming her decision on the �main stream media� and political operatives who accused her of �all sorts of frivolous ethics violations.� However, last year, Palin pointedly criticized Hillary Clinton during the presidential election for complaining about �excess criticism� and being put under �a sharper microscope�: PALIN: When I hear a statement like that coming from a woman candidate with any kind of perceived whine about that excess criticism or you know maybe a sharper microscope put on her, I think, �Man that doesn�t do us any good � women in politics, women in general wanting to progress this country.� I don�t think it bodes well for her, a statement like that. Because, again, fair or unfair, it is there, I think that�s reality, and I think it�s a given. I think people can just accept that she is going to be under the sharper microscope. So be it. I mean, work harder, prove yourself to an even greater degree that you�re capable, that you�re going to be the best candidate, and that of course is what she wants us to believe at this point. [shows video of statement] http://thinkprogress.org/

I have never understood why they publicize stuff like this. Can't they just fix it in silence and not give anyone any hope or ideas? http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090708/ap_on_go_co/us_federal_buildings_security

Lookeee they're in Rome,,with President of Italy. What's his name Moon?

Earlier I was trying to post a really nice pic of O and Silvio, but the URL didn't seem right. You can maybe catch it still here... http://news.yahoo.com/ Silvio looks like he came from Madame Tussaud's though.

Italy's President is Napolitano, a card carrying Communist. :-( Michele Bachman has always been articulate and well informed. I didn't know she was crazy? ;-) She would have been a much better choice for McCain. Love Michelle's pointed flats, I have a thing for pointed shoes. Hated the round toe fad. Also she wears her belt high and gives the outfits an empire waist look, it works well. BTW, Berlusconi commented on the Guardian article that Bethan posted on the CF topic, he said that the UK should step aside for Spain, since the UK has a lower Per Capita Income than Italy and their GNP is also lower than Italy's. I did find that Guardian criticism stupid and uninformed.

I know there are lurkers out there who didn't vote for The Guy...so this one's for you. Others skip it; you'll hate it, but it's clever & funny. http://www.youtube.com:80/watch?v=3CAX3aJCoDg Particularly poignant for me since I just saw "Little Night Music" last Friday night at Summer Theatre.

Nice to have a little fair assessment from a confirmed card-carrying liberal... Salon.com Camille Paglia Dear Camille, Just wondering. Do you still think Sarah Palin is ready for the big stage? James L. Somers Good question! And very timely after Palin's shock resignation as governor of Alaska this past Fourth of July weekend. I assume that family priorities -- personal as well as financial -- had become all-consuming. Given her success with finalizing the massive Alaska pipeline project, I think Palin should have stuck it out, but of course she is master of her own fate. What certainly was blameworthy was the chaotic and rushed statement itself. Something so politically consequential needed more careful composition and rehearsal. Why provide more fodder for the vultures and harpies of the Northeastern media? Unfortunately, it's pretty obvious that Palin still lacks that cadre of trusted pros who are the invisible elves behind every successful national politician -- the assistants who gather and vet material and who filter proposals and plan logistics. In a way, this is part of her virtues -- her complete freedom from routine micromanagement and business as usual. She does her own thing with seat-of-the-pants gusto. It's why she remains hugely popular with the Republican grass-roots base -- as I know from listening to talk radio. Callers coming fresh from her rallies are always heady with infectious enthusiasm. Of course you'd never know that from reading hit jobs like Todd Purdum's sepulchral piece on Palin in the current Vanity Fair. Scurrying around Alaska with his notepad, Purdum still managed to find comically little to indict her with. Anyone with a gripe is given the floor; fans are shut out. This exercise in faux objectivity is exposed at key points such as Purdum's failure to identify the actual instigator of Palin's extravagant clothing bills (a crazed, credit-card-abusing stylist appointed by the McCain campaign) and his prissy characterization of Palin's performance at the vice-presidential debate as merely "adequate." Hey, wake up -- Palin cleaned Biden's clock! By the end, Biden was sighing and itching to split. Whether Palin has a national future or not will depend on her willingness to hit the books at some point and absorb more information about international history and politics than she has needed to know in her role as governor. She also needs a shrewder, cooler take on the mainstream media, with its preening bullies, cackling witches, twisted cynics and pompous windbags. The Northeastern media establishment is in decline, and everyone knows it. Palin should not have gotten into a slanging match with David Letterman or anyone else who has been obsessively defaming her or her family. Let surrogates do that stuff. The vicious double standard is pretty obvious. Only the tabloids, for example, ran the photos of a piss-drunk Chelsea Clinton, panties exposed, falling into her car outside London clubs a few years ago. If Chelsea had been the scion of Republican bigwigs, those tacky scenes would have been trumpeted from pillar to post in the U.S. as signals of parental failures or turmoil in clan Clinton. As a Democrat, I detest the partisan machinations that have become standard in Northeastern news management and that are detectable in editorial decisions at major metropolitan newspapers nationwide. It's why I, like a host of others, have shifted my news gathering to the Web. http://www.salon.com/opinion/paglia/2009/07/08/reader_letters/ Her opinion, of course;-)

Interesting viewpoint. Apparently her answer to the initial question is a "no". Though she was quite diplomatic about it. Why is it only about the "Northeastern media" for her? Don't remember anything about that stuff with Chelsea I wonder what her sources for news on the web are that she prefers to use. She apparently isn't using the Evelyn-acceptable mainstream print papers from what she implies. My VF finally came in the mail today. I'll read it over the weekend. There's a number of interesting topics in it in addition to the Sarah Palin article, including one on Heath Ledger, who's on the cover.

She apparently isn't using the Evelyn-acceptable mainstream print papers from what she implies. I apologize, I forgot my winkie. :-)

you'll hate it Why do you think that?

Don't remember anything about that stuff with Chelsea I don't either...but just reinforces what she says about the US media bias. It's"hands-off" family except the Bush twins and Palin kids. Nauseating. She apparently isn't using the Evelyn-acceptable mainstream print papers from what she implies. LOL. Thanks for the winkie, but I narrow it even further....has to be WSJ, Wash Times, or Christian Science Monitor. Dvid Brooks in NYT...:-) Also CR amd PBS News Hour on air. Interesting interview with Roger Altman last night on CR. I will say I'm glad the video didn't include David Gregory & Jim Leher as the "clowns"; they are fair . But they left out Bill Moyer, Judy Woodruff and Gwen Ifill. IMO, of course;-)