Free Republic

On Tuesday’s American Morning, CNN showed a contrast (especially on screen) during the 7 am hour between their enthusiasm for Barack Obama’s shirtless photos and Sarah Palin’s discussion of her campaign weeks in review. For Obama, it was "Paparazzi Chase Obama." For Palin, it was "Palin's Campaign Misstep." CNN anchor Carol Costello clearly liked the Obama photo: "In the fishbowl that is the White House, Barack Obama can expect to lose a lot of his privacy. But this? Take a look. Seriously. A photographer catching the future commander in chief shirtless on the beach in Hawaii and clearly keeping up...

By Paul Shockley pshockley@gjfreepress.com Grand Junction, CO, Colorado While alive and featured prominently on the Internet, an incident involving former vice president candidate Sarah Palin’s motorcade in Grand Junction has run its course in the local legal system. Five people charged among a group of nine who briefly blocked Palin’s motorcade on Oct. 20 accepted plea agreements Monday. Mallory Rice, 20, Jacob Richards, 27, Jay Sandstedt, 22, Donald Flynn, 20, and Margret Aneloski, 19, one by one pleaded guilty Monday morning to charges of obstructing government operations, a class 3 misdemeanor. The District Attorney’s office dismissed misdemeanor charges of obstructing...

WASILLA — Jessica Newton said she was more nervous Monday about meeting Gov. Sarah Palin than joining the Alaska Air National Guard. Palin, who moments earlier had cut the ribbon to open the new Air National Guard recruiting center in Wasilla, swore in Newton, 17, and her 25-year-old brother Justin Lawson. The pair were among the first recruits to be welcomed into the National Guard from the Wasilla office. With their right hands raised, Palin read the oath to Newton and Lawson as their family and a slew of military officials looked on. Located on Financial Drive near the intersection...

When Sarah Palin was mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, her vice-mayor was a woman named Judy Patrick. Judy is a photographer, it turns out, and she is offering a stunning Sarah Palin calendar for only $13.56 (marked down from $15.95). The calendar features more than 50 pictures of the Palin family, including the rifle-packin'-mama pic shown here. To order, go here. http://www.atlasbooks.com/marktplc/02503.htm

Gov. Sarah Palin's next act on the national stage could come as early as February, at a major conservative convention in Washington, D.C. The annual event is called the Conservative Political Action Conference, and Palin was supposed to be the keynote speaker last February, long before she became a household name as the Republican choice for vice president. When Palin couldn't make it, Vice President Dick Cheney took her place. The convention isn't affiliated with the Republican Party, but big-name Republicans make a point of stopping by. It's where presidential candidate Mitt Romney conceded to John McCain this year, and...

Bristol Palin is expecting her first child, a son, on Dec. 20 – and her grandfather says their family has been receiving support and gifts from all over the world. "In Sarah's mailroom, there's 87 boxes – big boxes of mail that haven't even been opened," Sarah Palin's father, Chuck Heath, 70, tells the Web site Grandparents.com. "I've been answering letters all day, all week. We figure there's over a hundred thousand pieces here." After rocketing into the public consciousness after Palin's vice-presidential bid, Heath says his family is still dealing with their newfound celebrity – and all the scrutiny...

Why Do They Hate Sarah So? By Frank Diamond, For The Bulletin 12/10/2008 This might be a good time for a calm, objective assessment of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. Mrs. Palin visited Philadelphia last week for a discussion about the economy sponsored by the National Governors Association. President-elect Barack Obama spoke at the event that couldn't avoid conjuring the ghosts of campaign 2008, which were dispelled, we thought for good, more than a month ago. Foolish us for underestimating the pull of celebrity on American life. The election, after all, produced two genuine political stars and I am not referring...

Augusta, GA—Former Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin stopped in Augusta, Monday morning, stumping for Senator Saxby Chambliss in Tuesday’s runoff with Democrat Jim Martin. She made the appearance with Senator Saxby Chambliss, at the James Brown Arena, one of her stops throughout Georgia. http://www.wjbf.com/jbf/news/state_regional/state_govtpolitics/article/live_streaming_sarah_palin_visits_augusta_to_rally_for_chambliss/9092/