A Sarah Palin E! True Hollywood Story coming soon?

Mediaite.com is reporting that possible 2012 GOP presidential candidate Sarah Palin will be featured on E! True Hollywood Story later this month.

The program, known for its account of celebrity scandal, murders and celebrity gossip will take their own look at the woman who has taken politics by storm.

Documentarian and political activist John Ziegler, who produced the definitive film on media bias in the 2008 presidential election, Media Malpractice: How Obama Got Elected and Palin Was Targeted, told Hot Air that E! Entertainment Channel has licensed his film for the upcoming “True Hollywood Story” look at Palin — and that Palin supporters may well be pleasantly surprised by the results.

Ziegler said, “They licensed my interview with Sarah Palin for the film in a way that indicates that they intend to use a decent chunk of it. I know for sure that they intended to use her reactions to the condescending Charlie Gibson interview. I hope they address half of the misconceptions about the 2008 campaign that I discussed in my interview with them. I know that even the technical people (which always seems to happen in such interviews) were very interested to hear that the real Palin was very different than the one they have been told about by the media.”

According to Ziegler, E! will announce soon that the program will air on April 20th.

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As published on Examiner.com

Palin weighs in on Wisconsin Supreme Court race

The nation has had its eyes set on Wisconsin as the standoff over union rights escalated and now the nation has its eyes set on the Wisconsin Supreme Court race.

Incumbent Justice David Prosser is facing Assistant Attorney General JoAnne Kloppenburg at the polls on Tuesday and Sarah Palin has weighed in with an endorsement.

On Friday, Palin tweeted:

“Wisconsin, please remember to vote for Justice Prosser on April 5. Visit his website here: http://www.justiceprosser.com/”.

The AP reports that Prosser’s campaign says it didn’t seek her endorsement, but welcomes broad support. Kloppenburg’s campaign declined to comment.

The race has received national attention since everything from the future of collective bargaining powers to control of state government could be at stake.

Prosser, a former Republican Assembly speaker, often aligns himself with the court’s 4-3 conservative majority. He was appointed by Republican Gov. Tommy Thompson in 1998 and was elected to a full term in 2001.
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Palin sets the record straight regarding Alaska’s film tax credit

Rumors are swirling that the announcement of a Sarah Palin 2012 presidential run may possibly come on the Anchorage-based Bob & Mark In the Morning Show April 1. Whether this is true we don’t know, but if Palin does hit the campaign trail, we do know that the investigative reports into any scandalous behavior will be at an all-time high. Just this week, recent investigative reports are focusing on the fact that Palin’s TLC reality show, “Sarah Palin’s Alaska,” received a $1.2 million subsidy from the state of Alaska and some are claiming this could be problematic for the potential candidate.

The Anchorage Daily News first reported the story in February, but after an analyst at the Tax Foundation posted a blurb on the group’s blog linking to the piece Tuesday, many critics have come forth spinning the situation to give the impression that Alaska’s film production tax credit legislation was somehow solely Palin’s idea hatched up to benefit the Palin’s years before she was ever involved in a documentary series on TLC/Discovery Channel.

The whole notion is ridiculous and Sarah Palin took to her Facebook page on Wednesday to set the record straight.

Palin said, “This bill was not some secret big government agenda. These Alaskan legislators just wanted Alaska to be able to compete with the many other states that offer similar incentives.”

In fact, 43 states have some sort of film industry tax credit. Film tax credits are credited with creating jobs, economic activity, and tax revenue for states, as well as bringing a little glamour to some states that aren’t accustomed to the spotlight and as Palin states, Alaska’ economy is quite unique from other states’ due to their oil and gas revenue.

Palin said, “I can’t speak for the film tax credit programs in other states, but the program in Alaska has been effective. The bipartisan legislation I signed into law in 2008 was borne out of elected lawmakers’ frustration with the fact that shows and films about Alaska were mostly filmed elsewhere. They wanted to incentivize production companies to film in Alaska instead of Canada, Washington state, or Maine. Their bill worked, and as the legislation’s supporters will testify, the state’s economy enjoys the benefits of having this production money circulating right here at home. It was so successful that state lawmakers now want to renew the film production tax credits for another ten years.”

Palin pointed out that Alaska doesn’t have a state income tax, state sales tax, or state property tax. Alaska’s state government is predominately funded by oil and gas revenue, so they’re trying to diversify their economy and create jobs beyond just resource development.

“The dramatic increase in Alaska-based television shows and films are testament to the fact that this legislation worked, and it’s exciting to see our state showcased and appreciated. There has been more film productions here than ever before, and the economic benefit of filming here exceeds the tax credit,” Palin continued.

Yes, many states are debating the effectiveness of their film tax credit, but each state is different and the bottom line is that everything Palin has done is legal. The accusation hinges on the notion that Palin signed the legislation into law knowing that it would personally benefit her.

Palin said, “That’s totally absurd. It wasn’t even my bill, and obviously I had no intention of benefiting from it when I signed it into law in 2008 because I had no idea I would be involved in a documentary series years later. If you’re going to accuse me of benefiting from legislation I signed into law, why stop there? Go ahead and accuse me of “benefiting” from the legislation my administration actually did craft – like for example, our oil and gas evaluation legislation (ACES). You could say I “benefited” from it in the sense that due to ACES the state where I live (Alaska) now enjoys a $12 billion surplus. In fact, you could say that as an Alaskan, I benefited from all of the legislation I championed or signed as governor – just as every Alaskan benefited.”

Kathy Dunn, the ATIA marketing director, told the Associated Press that any and all Alaska press benefits the state.

“Obviously, any time you put Alaska in front of people, no matter the context, it’s a good thing,” Dunn said. “Exposure is always good.”

Alaska visitor numbers increased in 2010 and are expected to continue to grow in 2011.

The first season of “Sarah Palin’s Alaska” is now available for pre-order.
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As published on Examiner.com

Palin: Are we at war?

President Obama delivered his first televised address Monday evening about the first military operation he has initiated as commander in chief. Americans had wished the president was going to answer the many questions Americans have about the operation in Libya and even the questions Congress has. How long does the administration intend to fight in Libya? What is the end goal?

However, as Obama left to a round of applause, it left many Americans still scratching their heads wondering what the end goal is. So many questions remain unanswered and former Governor of Alaska Sarah Palin addressed that issue during On the Record with Greta Van Susteren Monday night.

Palin said, “I think that was a profoundly disappointing speech because it proved that the Obama doctrine is still full of chaos and questions. It’s dodgy. It’s dubious. And it’s a good question that you asked, Greta, because we’re not hearing from our president what is the end game here. And with Qaddafi still in power, if we’re not going to oust him via killing or capturing, then there is no acceptable end state.”

I think the uncertainty of the administration was clear as Obama stumbled over the tele-prompted text, something unusual for the usually polished speaker. During times of conflict, Americans want to be inspired by their president, however many didn’t find Obama’s speech confidence-inducing. Even though Obama acknowledged in his speech that Qaddafi must go, he refuses to do what it takes to remove him. Why? I think it’s apparent that this anti-Iraq war president is floundering, simply because he does not want to mirror President Bush’s strategy in Iraq, something Obama was strongly against.

NATO is set to take command of Operation Odyssey Dawn, as the campaign is called, and the U.S. military will fall back into a supporting role, but Palin explained that U.S. interests have got to be met if we are going to intervene.

Palin said, “I have to again ask why in the world will our military might be used according to the U.N. and Arab League desires and NATO’s leadership in this skirmish or this war or whatever it is that Obama calls it or doesn’t want to call it. He did not make the case for this intervention. U.S. interests have got to be met if we are going to intervene. And U.S. interests can’t just mean validating some kind of post-American theory of intervention, wherein we wait for the Arab League and the United Nations to tell us, Thumbs up, America, you can go now, you can act, and then we get in the back of the bus and we wait for NATO. We wait for the French to lead us. That’s not inspirational.”

I thought Palin had an excellent point when she stated that if we are going to protect civilians, doesn’t that mean getting rid of the bad guy? Obama once referred to Qaddafi as a bad guy then flip-flopped. Even during the November 15th Democratic presidential debate, Obama had said, “The overall strategy[in Iraq] is failed, because we have not seen any change in behavior among Iraq’s political leaders, and that is the essence of what we should be trying to do in Iraq.” So what’s the essence of what we should be trying do in Libya? Shouldn’t we see a change in behavior among Libya’s leader, Qaddafi? Qaddafi is a bad guy period. He took control of his country through a coup. and in 42 years, there have been many atrocities conducted by Qaddafi. Palin stressed that Obama is ignoring history and engaging in inconsistency. Something our country does not need and what’s making many Americans distrust the administration and its role.

Palin continued, “U.S. interests are Qaddafi’s got to go, killing him or capturing. He’s got to go because he’s going to seek revenge on the United States of America. That will be his MO from here on out, and he will sponsor terrorism unless he’s gone.”

However, it seems President Obama thinks differently. In his speech, Obama said that while the “world will be better off with Qaddafi out of power,” broadening the U.S. mission to include regime change would be a “mistake.” He allowed that he and other world leaders would pursue regime change in Libya through “non-military means.” Van Susteren pointed out that on NATO’s website, it explains that their goal is to be impartial. But even Van Susteren stressed that it’s hard to be impartial when you’re flying over some country and shooting off missiles.

Palin said, “…another big question that has to be asked, Greta, is, Are we at war? I haven’t heard the president say that we are at war. And that’s why I, too, am not knowing, do we use the term “intervention,” do we use “war,” do we use “squirmish,” what is it?”
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TIME picks the top 140 Twitter feeds

Twitter isn’t just a $1.1 billion company. It’s become a way to interact, not just for ordinary people, but for celebs and politicians. Celebs use the forum to reveal themselves, speak directly to their fanbase, and even break up with their boyfriends. Jenny McCarthy and Jim Carrey announced their breakup on Twitter after five years. Ashton Kucher posted a picture of Demi Moore’s rear. And reporter Ann Curry used Twitter to convince the U.S. Air Force to allow a plane full of physicians to land in Haiti.

Whether it’s entertainment, politics, or global awareness, billions of tweets by presidents and pop stars have shaped the conversation and as a result, TIME is picking the top 140 Twitter feeds.

They’re asking you to take a look and vote on whether you think these top tweeters should be on their list. Currently, rounding out the top 10 are Neil Gaiman, Andy Borowitz, Lady Gaga, Neil Patrick Harris and Sarah Palin.

Sarah Palin entered the world of Twitter on April 29, 2009, and there’s been no turning back. Her first tweet stated simply, “This is my official Twitter feed – from here I’ll provide updates on issues concerning Alaskans.” But there’s no doubt, Palin’s Twitter account has catapulted into shaping the political conversation.

TIME says, “Love ’em or hate ’em, Sarah Palin’s tweets command media attention like those of few other political figures. The former governor of Alaska has used Twitter to delve into a host of issues, like cheering on daughter Bristol on the reality show Dancing with the Stars, blasting Obama’s “very wrong” tax policy, endorsing midterm candidates and most famously asking “Peaceful Muslims” to “refudiate” the proposed Islamic center near Ground Zero. That last tweet prompted Palin to compare herself to Shakespeare because of their shared fondness of coining new terms. She might have been half-kidding, but Palin’s Twitter prowess is no joke.”

Check out my list of Sarah Palin’s top ten tweets of 2010.

As published on Examiner.com

Woody Harrelson will play Schmidt in Game Change

The actors are coming in for HBO Films’ Game Change, and the latest is the announcement that Woody Harrelson will join Julianne Moore and Ed Harris. Based on the bestselling book Game Change, by John Heilemann and Mark Halperin, the film will follow McCain’s 2008 presidential campaign, from his selection of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (Moore) as his running mate to their defeat in the general election.

Harrelson will play Steve Schmidt, McCain’s senior campaign strategist and adviser. Schmidt is the highest ranking former member of McCain’s inner circle to acknowledge tensions with and openly criticize Palin. He has been critized himself for revealing his views of the behind-the scenes wrangling that went into the McCain/ Palin campaign, including leaks of what he says happened before Palin’s debate against then Senator Joe Biden.

Last year, Schmidt appeared on CBS’ 60 Minutes with the authors of Game Change. Although he praised her for her convention speech and debate performance, he also claimed there were “numerous instances” when Palin said things that were not correct.

As Politico said after the interview, “A losing campaign always brings out the knives, but they are usually wielded in the shadows. The pure spectacle of a former campaign strategist going on national television to trash the candidate whose image he once stage-managed — as Schmidt did Sunday on “60 Minutes” — is virtually unprecedented.”

Harrelson is best known for his role as bartender Woody Boyd in the television sitcom, Cheers, but he’s also starred in White Men Can’t Jump, Kingpin, Natural Born Killers and The People vs. Larry Flynt.

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Palin: Obamacare less popular than ever

President Obama and democrats celebrated yesterday as it was the one year anniversary that the new healthcare law was enacted. Even though its full implementation does not go into effect until 2014, many Republicans have stepped forward to state that Obamacare has already resulted in harmful impacts to Americans, including rising health care premiums and uncertainty for businesses.

Former Governor Sarah Palin appeared on FOX News’ On the Record with Greta Van Susteren and discussed whether or not the law is doing what Democrats promised it would.

Palin said, “No, I think a year later, no, it’s less popular than ever. And remember Pelosi saying, You got to pass it and then we’ll find out what’s in it. Well, now, a year later, we’re starting to find out what’s in it, and I think people are even more and more hesitant to embrace this job-killing, $3 trillion dollar, unaffordable overreach of a government program!”

Palin and Van Susteren discussed how many politicians during the midterms in November were elected because they campaigned on repealing Obamacare and Palin says she sees 2012 to mirror that.

“You’re going to find in 2012, people are going to get elected again on the idea of the promise of repealing “Obamacare.” They know it’s killing jobs,” Palin said. “They know that premiums are going up. They know it doesn’t fix any problem, and they know that we were not told the truth by the White House as it pertained to information, facts, numbers that have to do with “Obamacare.” We were told that it was going to reduce premiums. We were going to told — be told that, no, overall, this is going to help provide more health care coverage!”

Palin stressed that the American people have made it clear that they do not want Obamacare and that it’s the Senate’s turn to do something about this and “not just kind of be namby-pamby about “Oh, you know, fixing some of the things that” — no! Just repeal the thing!”

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Palin has Purim dinner with Netanyahu

Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin wrapped up her visit to Israel Monday by visiting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his family. Palin and her husband, Todd met Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara Netanyahu at the Prime Minister’s official residence in Jerusalem.

As reported, the meeting was personal as the couples had the Purim dinner and discussed the Book of Esther.

Purim is the most festive of Jewish holidays, a time of prizes, noisemakers, costumes and treats. The Festival of Purim commemorates a major victory over oppression and is recounted in the Megillah, the scroll of the story of Esther.

The Israel National News reports, “Palin, who is known for her uncompromising support for the State of Israel, told Netanyahu and his wife, Sara, that she was received warmly by the Israelis and also told them all about her tour of the country, which included seeing sites in Jerusalem (such as the Kotel) and the Dead Sea. In most places, Palin saw firsthand the atmosphere of the holiday of Purim, and the Netanyahu couple told the potential candidate for President of the United States all about the Book of Esther and the traditions of Purim.”

It was noted how they greeted each other warmly and enjoyed each other’s company.

Before leaving, Palin signed Netanyahu’s residence guestbook…

“Such an amazing country! G-d bless you. May our connection continue to grow and strengthen.”
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Another legal win for Sarah Palin

While Sarah Palin headed to India to deliver the keynote address at the India Today Conclave, Sarah Palin’s lawyers continued to handle the seemingly endless legal complaints against the former governor of Alaska that were issued after her vice presidential nomination in 2008.

On Friday, the former governor of Alaska chalked up yet another win as the Alaska Supreme Court issued a ruling clearing Palin and then Alaska Attorney General, Talis Colberg in a lawsuit filed by Ben Latham in November 2008.

As Alaska Dispatch reports, “Latham was found guilty in the 1980s of robbing a grocery store and then stealing a car in the getaway. He pleaded no contest but reserved right to appeal. He was sentenced to eight and a half years, with a year and a half suspended. After getting out and being placed on probation, Latham faced another charge of criminal mischief from the state and his probation was revoked on the basis that he’d violated its terms. In 1994, his probation for the first two charges was extended based on a third charge — and it was that extension that formed the crux of his alleged violation of constitutional rights.”

Ben Latham sued the governor and attorney general for failing to challenge the constitutionality of the 1995 legislation that changed the jurisdiction of the court of appeals, effectively eliminating Latham’s right to appeal his sentence, a right upon which he had relied when entering his plea in 1986.

Latham’s lawsuit was dismissed in superior court and appealed to the Supreme Court. Latham sought compensatory damages amounting to over $100 billion.

However, the Alaska Supreme Court affirmed the superior court’s order dismissing Latham’s current lawsuit on the basis that prior litigation has conclusively established that Latham was not injured by the 1995 law and any decision by Governor Palin, and her appointee Attorney General Colberg, was an act of planning. A decision not to challenge the 1995 law was a high-level policy choice. It was not the execution of “day-to-day” operations of government.

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As published on Examiner.com.

Palin’s vision for America has much to do with energy

Those in attendance at the India Today Conclave in New Delhi, India caught a glimpse of Sarah Palin’s Vision for America, something Americans might be hearing more of as we get closer to the 2012 presidential election.

After addressing the tragic events that took place in Japan, Palin tackled tough issues such as China’s military rise, free trade, bailouts and the India-U.S. partnership. But it was a topic close to Palin’s heart that the former governor of Alaska returned to in her keynote address–America’s need for energy independence.

Palin stressed that energy is key and her vision for a free and prosperous America has much to do with energy.

“By 2030, the world’s energy consumption will increase by 50% and almost half of that will come from here in India and from China. We all face similar challenges in this arena and this makes America’s quest for energy security all the more crucial as we seek to stabilize our economy, secure our homeland and cooperate with our allies who would also seek peace on earth,” Palin said.

Because some have stymied resource development like responsible domestic oil drilling, Palin explained how hundreds of thousands of well-paying jobs won’t be created in the U.S. until we change course, and how Americans will get hit with huge gas prices at the pump unless we change course. Palin also explained how it means we’re continuing to transfer hundreds of billions of U.S. dollars to foreign regimes to purchase energy from them – regimes that don’t have our best interests at heart.

Although Palin said she’s a true believer in environmental conservation, she warned about the expectation that “green jobs” will be the savior.

“…look around the world and try telling that to the thousands of English and Scottish workers who’ve lost jobs as a result of government investments in “green energy” projects,” Palin explained. “A recent UK study shows that for every “green job” created, nearly four jobs were lost elsewhere in the economy due to lack of affordable energy! Same story in Spain – investment in “green jobs” brought massive debt, skyrocketing energy costs and 20% unemployment.”

And just as she’s pushed here in the U.S., Palin explained to those in attendance that there is another option.

Palin said, “Instead of funding non-viable special interest projects, Americans can capitalize on our own viable resources that are just waiting to be tapped – they’re right on our doorstep!  Billions of barrels of oil warehoused underground in AK!”
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