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News & ArtsTuesday, December 29, 2009
Politics / News The Palins Are Suing Levi Johnston for Sole Custody
Posted by Dan Savage on Tue, Dec 29, 2009 at 8:30 AM
Sarah Palin is the unelected head of the political party that wants to micromanage your private life and believes that the state should dictate the form your family takes. And her own family is a complete mess:
On Nov. 4, Palin filed for sole custody of Tripp Johnston-Palin, the former couple's son, who celebrates his first birthday today. Kristiansen initially issued temporary orders limiting access to the case file and allowing the parties to file under pseudonyms. Johnston wasn't playing along, however. In an opposition to Palin's motion for a gag order, Johnston's attorney, Rex Butler, said: "Simply put, this matter is public in nature, the courts are not refuges for the scions of the elite to obtain private dispensation of their legal matters because the public at large has an interest in the proceedings."There's another factor in the mix, of course: Palin's mother, former governor Sarah Palin, with whom Johnston has repeatedly locked horns in the press, and from whom he claims to fear retaliation.
"I do not feel protected against Sarah Palin in a closed proceeding," Johnston said in an affidavit accompanying Butler's filings.
Before Republicans are allowed to impose their values on our families their political leaders—Sarah Palin, Mark Sanford, John Ensign, et al—should be required to successfully impose their own damn values on their own damn families for for five fucking minutes. In a row.
3
What?! A "family" with no daddy? And you say Sarah's not only okay with this, but thinks it's a fine idea?
4
Oh man -- imagine the howling about "the evil Nanny State" if they end up Tripp away from the Palins...
7
Remember that Todd and Sarah went after that Alaska State trooper over what... a custody battle with Palin's sister.
8
@6 Well, Kevin Federline did end up being the stable parent. YOU don't know. You also don't know how much his parents are willing to invest in making sure he learns to do things right. Which is, actually, very much a consideration in many custody proceedings when the parents are particularly young.
And frankly, unless the Palins have videotape of Levi putting his beer on the baby's back or using it to buff his snowboard or something similar, they ought to lose custody altogether for even suggesting that he loses his parental rights. Its a horrible fucking card that a lot of young mothers play once they realize that squirting out a podling did not magically turn their boyfriends into doting, mindless slaves.
And frankly, unless the Palins have videotape of Levi putting his beer on the baby's back or using it to buff his snowboard or something similar, they ought to lose custody altogether for even suggesting that he loses his parental rights. Its a horrible fucking card that a lot of young mothers play once they realize that squirting out a podling did not magically turn their boyfriends into doting, mindless slaves.
10
6, I don't think anyone's arguing that since there isn't remotely enough public information about that, and what of it there is doesn't look good.
However, the point stands. Palin raised a kid who got knocked up underage by a complete loser and still thinks she should be able to legislate other people's sexual and family choices. I don't think her and her family's mistakes are the end of the world, but it certainly shows that she has her own messes to clean up and isn't terribly qualified to tell others what to do with theirs.
However, the point stands. Palin raised a kid who got knocked up underage by a complete loser and still thinks she should be able to legislate other people's sexual and family choices. I don't think her and her family's mistakes are the end of the world, but it certainly shows that she has her own messes to clean up and isn't terribly qualified to tell others what to do with theirs.
11
Also, whatever anyone may think of Levi, he's absolutely right to keep this as public as possible. This is a woman who was officially found to have abused her political position to execute personal family vendettas in the very recent past. I feel bad for Bristol and the baby, but I think there's very little chance of a fair hearing without public scrutiny. Yet another sad situation caused by Palin's questionable family management choices.
12
All I have to say is the Palins should hang their fucking heads in shame for making an innocent child a playing card in this struggle between themselves and Johnston. When my stepdad and his wife were divorced, their two kids were put right in the middle of everything and fought over like steaks in a pen of starving dogs. You should see how screwed up those two are now.
14
@9 I've found that the people who are living up to their own standards are most often not the ones demanding that everyone else live up to their standards. For people like the Palins, it's easier to condemn the failures of others than confront their own. Merry belated Christmas, by the way.
15
Yes and Karl Rove got divorced last week so he can ride Guckerts dick as often as he can sneak him into his house now, oh and afford to pay him for the pleasure.
16
The other day I caught a moth and threw it out the front door, pretty much unharmed. I care more about that moth than any of the Palins ... or ex-Palins.
18
The Palins are grotesque "family"--utterly gothic. Levi Johnston is the only sane one in the group, the only one with enough courage to expose the Dragon Lady Palin as to her motives--she left her position in Alaska in order to be able to make millions by writing her vengeful book.
Pirate55
Pirate55
19
Let's look a bit deeper. Does anybody think Bristol, having sole custody of Tripp will look better standing behind mom on the campain trail? I can see it now - The Palin Women show strength, or some such bullshit. It seems like we always have to look at the bottom line when dealing with this family.
20
this story is about bristol...not sarah. aanyone else notice that little detail? a whining levi johnston is scared of sarah so now it's about sarah forcing her values on people? what? that doesn't make sense.
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