Rumor time: Chief Justice John Roberts Considering Stepping Down

By GottaLaff

UPDATE: Gee what a surprise (h/t: Tim Wood):

Update: RadarOnline.com has obtained new information that Justice Roberts will NOT resign. The justice will be staying on the bench.

Dear gullible sheeple:

Kidding! Thanks for all the hits on our site, though!

Love, RadarOnline

This is floating around, and nobody really seems to know how reliable RadarOnline is, but here you go:

John Roberts, Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court, is seriously considering stepping down from the nation’s highest court for personal reasons, RadarOnline.com has learned exclusively. [...]

RadarOnline.com has been told that Roberts, 55, could announce his decision at any time.

Major news with major consequences, if true.

Stupid, frustrating rumor, if not.

Top Palin aide Meg Stapleton resigns

By GottaLaff

Introducing Meg the Quitter. I guess it's contagious.

If you want to know anything about Meg Stapleton, visit Shannyn Moore's site and The Mudflats. They're the experts.

But even to non-Alaskans, this is significant news to anyone who's been following the endless Palin saga:

Sarah Palin's spokeswoman Meg Stapleton, a close adviser to the former Alaska governor who developed a rocky relationship with other Republicans and members of the media, has resigned, two sources close to Palin confirmed Wednesday to CNN.

I bet she doesn't dare go for the "I want to spend more time with my family" line. Not her:

Stapleton, a spokesperson for the former governor since 2006, cited the need to spend more time with her husband and young daughter.

Oops.

I wonder why she's really quitting. It's not like she hasn't been a major part of Dufus McDinkBrain's professional life, offering her advice, speaking on her behalf, you name it. She's obviously very able:

[...] Palin insiders, members of Sen. John McCain's presidential campaign and other Republicans sympathetic to the former governor have grumbled privately about Stapleton's ability to handle the increasingly monumental task of advising Palin [...]

Eeps.

Well at least she was a good communicator:

Members of the political press corps have also long been frustrated with Stapleton, who was the primary conduit between Palin and members of the media since the end of the 2008 presidential race, but rarely responded to phone calls or e-mails. When Stapleton did, they were often terse or combative.

Orps.

Sarah Palin's dad: She left Hawaii because Asians made her uncomfortable

By GottaLaff

I guess Barbie McLipSchmutz is, as she says, "one of us", if by "us" she means "not them".

During an interview with reporters (who wrote "Sarah From Alaska"), Sam Tanenhaus (who reviewed Barbie's ghostwriter's book) noticed that Papa Palin contradicted his own Daughter the Quitter's reasons for leaving college in Hawaii.

Which means, she has now achieved merging quitting with lying in one fell swoop.

Presenting the ol' Quit/Lie Combo served up all nice and crispy with a side of Word Cole Slaw and a heaping ladleful of "brown people make me colicky":

Palin, though notoriously ill-traveled outside the United States, did journey far to the first of the four colleges she attended, in Hawaii. She and a friend who went with her lasted only one semester. "Hawaii was a little too perfect," Palin writes. "Perpetual sunshine isn't necessarily conducive to serious academics for eighteen-year-old Alaska girls." Perhaps not. But Palin's father, Chuck Heath, gave a different account to Conroy and Walshe. According to him, the presence of so many Asians and Pacific Islanders made her uncomfortable: "They were a minority type thing and it wasn't glamorous, so she came home." In any case, Palin reports that she much preferred her last stop, the University of Idaho, "because it was much like Alaska yet still 'Outside.' "

Asians and Pacific Islanders just weren't glamorous enough for her. Damn. If only they were into high heels, lipstick, and hip-waders.

And we all know how "minority type things" can make a girl feel all squirmy and outta the Hawaiian loop. Who can blame her for needing to escape from all that island clique-itude?

Heywaitjustadurnminute... Did she just reject President Obama's birthplace... again? Boy howdy, I think she did.

H/t: TexBetsy

A Texas House Democrat leaves the party, citing Obama

By GottaLaff

When in doubt, and when you can't win a Democratic election, blame Obama:

Rep. Chuck Hopson, D-Jacksonville, will seek reelection, but as a Republican — a move that might save his neck while wrecking the party's chances at winning a majority in the House. [...]

"President Obama and the Democrats in Congress just don't reflect the values of this district," he said.

Lobbyists Quit in Record Numbers

By GottaLaff

Why does it seem like just the opposite is happening?

A record number of lobbyists have quit the business this year, according to a study released today.

About 1,400 lobbyists, or 8% of the industry, left in the three-month period ending June 30, according to a joint study of lobbying records by the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics and OMB Watch. [...]

[T]he study’s authors blame Obama’s new antilobbying rules.

First there was Sarah the Quitter, now there's Lobbyist the Quitter. I see a trend...

According to the article, it could just be that Democratic lobbyists have backed off because they'd like to eventually snag a White House job.

Or there just aren't as many lobbyists these days because nobody is hiring. That blasted Bush economy! It's ruining all their fun.

H/t: David Corn

Palin auction rejectee/critic issues a $100,000 challenge

By GottaLaff

Remember that lovely Dinner with Sarah Palin auction? You know the one, where she refused to dine with anyone who veered (politically) so much as one hair's width to the left of her (that leaves, what, 90% of Americans)?

One of those rejectees, a very bright, unusually talented one whose pinky has more intellectual heft and curiosity than Palin has in her entire Wasillian dining room table of a brain, is an author named Ken Morris. If you follow the link above, you can read the comment he left on my post.

Mr. Morris posted something wonderful over at The Mudflats. I'll give you a taste, but for the entire meal (he won't reject you), toddle off to this always-fascinating Alaskan blog version of a cozy inn. It's well worth a read and then some:

Dinner Part Two?

[...]

However, I remain concerned over issues I raised when earlier explaining my participation:

There exists an emotional divide in this country that I’ve not experienced since I attended the University of California near the end of the Vietnam War. [...]

Today’s rancor, however, troubles me more profoundly. [...] This period has more the odor of the Civil Rights debate that ripped apart the South during the administrations of Presidents Kennedy and Johnson; a rift that has never been bridged.

How, I’ll ask Ms. Palin, can we work together (“we” meaning not just her and me, but all people on both sides of the political fence) to begin to fix this? I’ll ask her a few questions that might seem harsh, but aren’t intended to offend—after all, we must be honest, no? Do you regret saying several hundred times that our president “palled around with terrorists?” Do you really believe that providing health insurance to all Americans is socialism or fascism or Naziism, or that there are truly ‘death panels’ in these proposals? I’ll likely feel compelled to suggest that she doesn’t, in her heart of hearts, actually believe any of these things (if she does, then this will give her a chance to educate and win me over).

[...]

In the great American spirit of never say die, here’s my challenge: I will donate $100,000 to veterans’ charities for a second dinner with Sarah Palin and four guests, this one on-the-record and taped so as to minimize misrepresentations. In the name of fair play, my list of invitees will include a subset of Rachel Maddow, Keith Olbermann, Thom Hartmann, Oprah Winfrey, James Carville, Randi Rhodes, Arianna Huffington, Frank Rich, Mudflats’ Jeanne Devon, Jane Hamsher and Shannyn Moore. On her side, Sarah Palin may invite guests as well (how about Bill Kristol and Glenn Beck?). The only additional conditions are that the dinner/event last the entire four hours and questions asked are answered and discussed civilly. [...]

This could become a win/win for everyone [...]

~Ken Morris*

What, no invite for me? Kidding, I'm kidding! And kudos for such a creative solution-- with such vast potential-- after having been discarded by someone whose idea of a good time is quitting.

Please read the entire thing here, at Mudflats.

*Ken Morris, a former Wall Street Executive turned novelist (financial thrillers Man in the Middle and The Deadly Trade), founded Morgan Stanley’s International Equity Department in the mid-1980’s. As a senior capital markets executive, he traveled the world and managed operations in New York, Toronto, London, Amsterdam, Hong Kong, Singapore, Tokyo, and Sydney. His third novel, Evil Shall Break, is currently being shopped to New York publishers. Ken’s offer goes out to Ms. Palin sincerely and in the hopesdialogue might begin to replace rancor and name-calling.

Dear GOP: I quit you due to embarrassment over Wilson’s "You lie!"

By GottaLaff

(Click on image to enlarge. Letter via)

I should switch to the Rushpublic party just so I can blame Joe the Mouther for leaving it before becoming a Democrat again:

Ivan Marte, the ex-chairman of the Rhode Island Republican Hispanic Assembly, has announced that he’s quitting the Republican Party because he was embarrassed by Rep. Joe Wilson’s “you lie” outburst at President Obama [...]

Marte wrote, “I do hope that my resignation served as a sign, that the Republican Party in this Nation need to reevaluate their position” on reaching out to minority groups.

Click on the letter to read it. It's a thing of beauty... if you're not a Rushpublic, that is.

Video- Sarah Palin's Wasilla goodbye picnic draws a crowd

Toodloo honey. Jonathan has some good analysis of the situation as Palin leave.

VIDEO: "Quitters"-- DSCC ad links Palin, Crist, Ayotte

By GottaLaff

The DSCC has a new ad:

Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, Florida Governor Charlie Crist, and New Hampshire Attorney General Kelly Ayotte all have something in common: they all promised to serve the people of their state, and they've all reneged on that promise to advance their careers.

Sarah the Quitter: The gift that keeps on giving.

Sarah the Quitter Palin to appear in Simi Valley

By GottaLaff

(via)

Simi Valley is right around the corner from me. In fact, I work there. It's a good thing I got this Simi Toxicity Alert: On August 8th, the air quality will be severely affected.

Via TBogg:

Republican Women Federated of Simi Valley said in a statement that Palin is scheduled to appear at the group's 50th anniversary gala at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library on Aug. 8.

Gee, I hope she doesn't pull out of that commitment, too. Simians (Simi-ites?) would be so very saddened. Then again, on the bright side, maybe that would spur another ethics complaint.

Group spokeswoman Pat Saraceno said the invitation-only event is closed to the media.

[...]

Saraceno said she respected Palin's right to change her plans at any time. She said in an e-mail that correspondence with the governor's office has been "positive but cautious," but she added, "we know she will come."

So now Rushpublic fingers are crossing all across the Big Valley: Pleeeeeeease let Sarah honor her commitment! If only Sarah the Quitter would pinky swear, that would solve everything.

If you build it... she will come. If you televise it... she will actually show up.

Here's the kicker:

The master of ceremonies for the event will be conservative radio talk-show host and filmmaker John Ziegler.

As you all know, I've become a sort of Ziegler aficianado, as can be verified here: Link. Link link link link. After he appeared on Mr. Laffy's show, I couldn't resist nailing Ziegler to the wall every chance I got.

Here's to Miss Personality Disorder running in 2012.

Sarah Palin's not just a quitter -- she's a professional quitter. And taxpayers get the tab

By GottaLaff

From our pals over at Crooks and Liars (where there is video of major dufus punditiot John Ziegler--[See previous posts: Link. Link link link link.] -- with our least favorite anything, Bile O'Lielly):

Palin's resignation is likely going to wind up costing in the vicinity of $200,000 or more, because a special session is going to be required to name a successor to the lieutenant governor's post.

I posted about her reportedly false reasons for quitting here.

All this for the sake of someone who already has a history of quitting on the state when she hit rough sledding -- but using the splash she made from doing so as a stepping-stone to higher office.

John Ziegler, Palin's Biggest Fan, dropped that point in passing the other night on The O'Reilly Factor -- as though it were an admirable thing to do, of course. [See video at C and L]

Crisitunity at Swing State Project explored this in a bit further detail:

...[S]he was chair of Frank Murkowski's Oil and Gas Commission. How long was she on this Commission? Less than a year... until she quit in January 2004 with a big public huff (leaving the Commission in the lurch with only one member), saying "the experience was taking the 'oomph' out of her passion for government service and she decided to quit rather than becoming bitter." She publicly cited her frustration with being unable to be all straight-talky and mavericky about the corruption and backbiting on the Commission, but the resignation also came at a very convenient time for switching over to lay the groundwork for her successful 2006 gubernatorial run.

[...] The best part is that the taxpayers pick up the tab for it, too. Apparently, "what's right for the people of Alaska" is to give them the shaft -- now that she's "too big" for them, especially.

There you go. A very costly serial quitter. That should look great on her resume.

H/t: Cody

Video- Sarah Palin says she is not a quitter

You can say it til you're blue in the face lady...

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (CNN) — Sarah Palin's not a quitter, she wants the public to know.

"I am not a quitter. I am a fighter," Palin told CNN on Monday while on a family fishing trip, on the heels of her Friday bombshell announcement that she was resigning as Alaska's governor.

Palin did her interview standing on the shores of Dillingham, Alaska, wearing hip waders. She granted 10-minute interviews to CNN and three other news networks Monday.

She resigned because of the tremendous pressure, time and financial burden of a litany of ethics complaints in the past several months, she said. The complaints were without merit and took away from the job she wanted to do for Alaskans, Palin said.

The decision to resign a year and a half before her term ends, and her rambling, often-disjointed resignation speech Friday, fueled days of debate among political analysts.

"Miss Personality... Disorder's" Big Announcement

By GottaLaff

Paddy called me with the news of Sarah Louise Palin's Big Announcement. Boy howdy, I go away for a few days and all hell breaks loose.

A few thoughts: Her-- for lack of a better word-- speech was the most incoherent, meandering string of words I've heard since her last one Boy Georgie left office. It left me wondering if there is a Sanfordian shoe about to drop, or, more likely, if she simply confirmed her bat-loony cuh-raziness.

And what's even crazier is CNN's lack of coverage. My hotel Tee Vee Machine doesn't carry MSNBC, but by the time I made it upstairs to watch, CNN was back to devoting most of their coverage to Michael Jackson (surprise!). Priorities, priorities...

I actually turned to ::shudder:: Faux Noise, and they're giving the Big Resignation the attention I expected. Not much analysis, just a lot of interviews and recapping.

Think about it: She's a quitter. She quit. She left. She abandoned her office outta the blue, leaving her state's citizens with their collective jaws hanging down to the floor.

The Rushpublics are scrambling to come up with some kind of logical commentary, but none can. None that I've heard have done anything but scratch what's left of their throbbing, empty Rushpublic heads and/or point to the big question marks hovering over them.

Well, what can we say? Nothing instills confidence like abrupt, blockbuster news followed by nonsensical babble. In other words, typical Rushpublic behavior.

I, for one, cannot wait for Keith and Rachel to provide in-depth snarkage and analysis.

Happy Fourth.

UPDATE (Key words: Rambling, strange)

CQ Politics: "In a rambling press conference, Palin alluded to a future in national politics even if she abdicated the one office she has held that is above mayor of Wasilla, Alaska."

The timing -- coming in the late afternoon on the first day of a holiday weekend -- couldn't be stranger It will lead to much speculation as to why she seems to be dropping out of politics just as many expected her to ramp up a White House bid.