Unsubstantiated gossip (political)

[marrymeflyfree]

Sooo...the rumor mill is passing around a tidbit that Republican VP candidate Palin may not have given birth to her new baby. Story is that her 16yo daughter was completely MIA for about 5 months prior to the birth, and that Palin was clearly not pregnant in a photo that was taken when she should have been ~6 months along.

Discuss.

[silvercamaro]

Discuss.

I am not surprised that someone thought this was fit to post. I am surprised it was you.

I think whoever made up this story is absolutely vile.

[jarnon]

A 44-year old woman has 1 chance in 40 of having a Down Syndrome baby. A teenager has 1 chance in 1,250. So the odds of this rumor being true are very low.

[marrymeflyfree]

Discuss.

I am not surprised that someone thought this was fit to post. I am surprised it was you.

I think whoever made up this story is absolutely vile.

Sorry to disappoint you, SC....it wasn't posted with malicious intent. I've been moving for the last week, devoid of news. (I didn't even know how dire things were looking with Gustav until just a couple of hours ago! Dreadful.) I just heard a tiny snippet of a conversation about it, and wanted to get the whole story.


Edited to add: I feel compelled to say something nice for balance....so I'll add that I'm very impressed that she's breastfeeding, given the rigors of her current job and her campaign for the next one.

[Weyoun]

Between this and the suggestion that "God favors the Dems because he's hitting New Orleans with a hurricane" that is getting passed around, the Kossacks have had a very bad weekend.

I also enjoyed the report by four scholars who proclaimed that Sarah Palin is the most unqualified nominee for vice president ever (um, John Edwards isn't even in the picture?). As it turns, all have given substantial $ to the Dems this cycle.

[DevilKitty100]

Discuss.

I am not surprised that someone thought this was fit to post. I am surprised it was you.

I think whoever made up this story is absolutely vile.

Sorry to disappoint you, SC....it wasn't posted with malicious intent. I've been moving for the last week, devoid of news. (I didn't even know how dire things were looking with Gustav until just a couple of hours ago! Dreadful.) I just heard a tiny snippet of a conversation about it, and wanted to get the whole story.


Edited to add: I feel compelled to say something nice for balance....so I'll add that I'm very impressed that she's breastfeeding, given the rigors of her current job and her campaign for the next one.

The Dems had better watch out. Any woman that is powerful enough to produce breast milk without being pregnant should not be toyed with.

Or maybe Dimzy made it happen.

[DevilKitty100]

And MMFF.......your little one is cute as a button. Exquisite little nose.

[marrymeflyfree]

The Dems had better watch out. Any woman that is powerful enough to produce breast milk without being pregnant should not be toyed with.

Hormones are wonderful things! Not saying this because I think the story is true, but apparently it's not too far-fetched to 'relactate' if you've done it before. Takes a lot of commitment to do it, though, from what I understand.

...your little one is cute as a button. Exquisite little nose.

Thanks! I love that picture! Your avatar is excellent, btw! I nearly snorted juice out of my nose when I saw it!

[Jeemie]

MMFF, I'm sure you meant no harm, and were just reporting the scuttlebutt.

However, no one should post anything that has its source in the DailyKos...ever...ever...EVER.

PS To be fair to the DailyKos, there were a lot of posters that lambasted the HELL out of the blogger who originally posted this "story" in his diary.

But the Kos shouldn't have run it in the first place.

[peacock2121]

I am ashamed of the person who started this rumor. I am certain it is a democrat, hence my shame. We don't need to play the game this way.

[Jeemie]

I am ashamed of the person who started this rumor. I am certain it is a democrat, hence my shame. We don't need to play the game this way.

Well- it was a DailyKos poster, so probably he/she was a Democrat.

But the guys who contribute to the DailyKos are the hard-core leftists...so don't be too ashamed.

[peacock2121]

I am ashamed of the person who started this rumor. I am certain it is a democrat, hence my shame. We don't need to play the game this way.

Well- it was a DailyKos poster, so probably he/she was a Democrat.

But the guys who contribute to the DailyKos are the hard-core leftists...so don't be too ashamed.

LOL - some here think that I am one of those.

[Jeemie]

I am ashamed of the person who started this rumor. I am certain it is a democrat, hence my shame. We don't need to play the game this way.

Well- it was a DailyKos poster, so probably he/she was a Democrat.

But the guys who contribute to the DailyKos are the hard-core leftists...so don't be too ashamed.

LOL - some here think that I am one of those.

Compared to those maroons, you're Ronald Reagan.

[dimmzy]

The Dems had better watch out. Any woman that is powerful enough to produce breast milk without being pregnant should not be toyed with.

Then let's make HER president.

And make McCain ... oh, I don't know, head of the VA where he can put his passion to work and clean up Walter Reed.

PS-- I STILL think Palin looks like Megan Mullaly as Karen on Will & Grace.

PPS--So how do I get a photo into my message rather than JUST an avatar?

[Jeemie]

The Dems had better watch out. Any woman that is powerful enough to produce breast milk without being pregnant should not be toyed with.

Then let's make HER president.

And make McCain ... oh, I don't know, head of the VA where he can put his passion to work and clean up Walter Reed.

PS-- I STILL think Palin looks like Megan Mullaly as Karen on Will & Grace.

PPS--So how do I get a photo into my message rather than JUST an avatar?

Use the IMG tags.

1) Pasted the website of the picture you wish to image into your text editor

2) Highlight said website in your editor

3) Click the Img button above your text editor.

4) Viola- you are done

[dimmzy]

Many thanks, Jeemie!

Note that it took me a minute to realize what IMG was ...

[marrymeflyfree]

MMFF, I'm sure you meant no harm, and were just reporting the scuttlebutt.

However, no one should post anything that has its source in the DailyKos...ever...ever...EVER.

What is DailyKos?

[silverscreenselect]

I would think that after what happened with John Edwards, and knowing that the press (real and tabloid) and the Dems would be going after her, McCain's group would have asked Palin if there were any skeletons in her closet that might prove ugly.

It also seems that the details of the birth of this last child got quite a bit of public attention in Alaska so that it would have been pretty difficult to fake. Of course, I have learned by now never to underestimate the degree of self delusion which clouds the thinking processes of politicians of either party.

The Palin nomination is playing out as I thought it would. I heard McCain talking with Brian Williams on the news yesterday and handling him brilliantly (obviously the Repubs have rehearsed this). When asked about her being a "heartbeat away," McCain gave a "now that you mention it" response that compared her experience to Obama's and her executive experience (at managing budgets) to his (zero). He finished by noting that she was serving on the local City Council when he was "doing whatever he was doing as a community organizer."

As an aside, isn't it interesting that we've never actually heard any testimonials from anyone regarding his "organizer" days. You would have thought that an idealistic young man working in an impoverished area would have had some accomplishments worth noting in two years, maybe lobbying for a senior citizens or youth center, or helping organize a voting drive or something. But nothing at all for two years of his time when he would presumably have been fired up to get something done. The only people he seems to have gotten things done for in the community were his pals William Ayers and Tony Rezko.

The curtailment of the Republical convention will play well for McCain too. Nobody really wanted to see Bush, Cheney, et al standing up this week and giving speeches as a reminder of the past eight years. McCain and Palin will give shirt sleeve acceptance speeches from the hurricane zone showing that they are willing to work to help people out, something neither Bush nor Obama seem very interested in.

[BackInTex]

What a great 'rumor'. Thanks for posting.

It shows that there is concern amongst the left about Palin. Why attack someone that is not a threat to you?

[5LD]

sorry Jeemie, but often DailyKos has the news several days before it appears elsewhere. And if you troll DailyKos enough to know this story "originated" there then you must know that the Kos folks put the kebosh on this story and edited it from the diaries as they thought it was a waste of time if true and a long shot at best.

[gsabc]

When asked about her being a "heartbeat away," McCain gave a "now that you mention it" response that compared her experience to Obama's and her executive experience (at managing budgets) to his (zero). He finished by noting that she was serving on the local City Council when he was "doing whatever he was doing as a community organizer."

I am not impressed by "executive" experience for a
"city" with a population of 9000 and a state which has no budget problems. Nor am I impressed by someone being on the city council for said "city". I am more impressed by the time management skills needed, both for her and hubby, to juggle full-time jobs and five kids.

[mellytu74]

Look, I fall to the left of center and I think the story is silly.

I think the trip to Alaska was reckless - see my separate post on that.

But, this speculation doesn't hurt Gov. Palin. It hurts her daughter.

I do think that Gov. Palin was not vetted thoroughly and it has nothing to do with this.

McCain knew he was the presumptive nominee for months. His picks should have been vetted and vetted and vetted.

She supported the Bridge to Nowhere before she was against it. A month ago, she praised Obama's energy policy a month ago. In pretty glowing terms, IIRC. She was a Pat Buchannan supporter in 2000. Might not help with some groups.

I saw an interesting video - seemed to be a student reporter - where she praised both Romney and Ron Paul. Never mentioned McCain, not even as an American hero.

None of these things in an of themselves should be a problem. But I get the feeling that McCain REALLY wanted Joe Lieberman and TPTB put the kibosh on him.

McCain says they are soulmates. Odd thing to say about someone you've met once. More eHarmony than presidential.

I still want to know where she stands on things other than the environment -- hunting bin Laden, OSHA reform, infrastructure, public transportation.

My questions about Gov. Palin revolve about where she stands on the issues and not some rumors.

[PlacentiaSoccerMom]

But, this speculation doesn't hurt Gov. Palin. It hurts her daughter.

I totally agree. Flinging mud at minors should be off limits during political campaigns.

[Spock]

I do think that Gov. Palin was not vetted thoroughly and it has nothing to do with this.

McCain knew he was the presumptive nominee for months. His picks should have been vetted and vetted and vetted.

I disagree that she was not vetted. She just did not come out of nowhere to the McCain camp last week. She was prominently mentioned (in conservative circles, anyway) as being on his short list several months ago-I submit that have been vetting her (and others) for several months-and she was as vetted as thoroughly anybody else.

The recent media speculation did not mention her-but I credit that to the McCain camp and their ability to keep it under their hat.

[ToLiveIsToFly]

Those rumors seem to have come from people wearing tin foil hats. On the other hand, Bristol IS pregnant.