Get your news from a source that’s not owned and controlled by oligarchs. Sign up for the free Mother Jones Daily.

From Sarah Palin, talking to Oprah about Levi Johnston:

By the way, I don’t know if we call him Levi — I hear he goes by the name Ricky Hollywood now, so, if that’s the case, we don’t want to mess up this gig he’s got going.

Ricky Hollywood? And this from a “former McCain campaign aide,” on Palin’s book:

It is unrecognizable at every instance. There is not one truthful account as it relates to any conversation I ever had with her.

So why is Sarah Palin so endlessly fascinating? The sex appeal that practically oozes out of every pore?  Her perpetual family soap opera? A sense of besiegement and resentment so powerful it practically knocks you over every time she speaks? The fact that she actually seems to take pride in her complete lack of policy expertise? Her seemingly total lack of real self-awareness?  The fact that she lies so casually it seems like she actually believes everything she makes up?

Yeah, I guess that’s it.  By the way, Sullivan has been watching her Oprah interview and says “She’s clearly hoping to run for president in 2012.”  Wouldn’t that be great?  And not just for the entertainment value, but to answer some truly nagging questions.  Is it possible to win the Republican nomination while giving interviews to no one except Fox News personalities?  Her fellow Republicans mostly treat her with cautious respect right now, but what will they say about her once they’re all on stage together during the primary debates?  Will she develop any actual policy positions?  And who would she choose to be her running mate?  Inquiring minds want to know.

Take the next step: Help us fight for the truth.

Investigative journalism, like the story you just read, takes time to do. Months of research. Weeks of writing, editing, and fact checking—and putting together the photography, art, video, and audio that tell the stories in a new way, illuminating new perspectives and voices.

We can afford to take that time because we don’t report to an oligarch or corporation with a special agenda. We report to you, and for you. That’s why we unabashedly pursue the truth and relentlessly shine a light into the darkness.

In this month’s Summer Membership Drive, we’ve got to raise $200,000 to support more crucial investigations. This is a pivotal moment in our nation, with democracy on the line, and we can only do this work because readers like you step up. Every donation, of any amount, makes a difference here. We cannot do this work without you.

So, we’re asking: Will you support independent journalism that demands those in power answer for their actions?

Take the next step: Help us fight for the truth.

Investigative journalism, like the story you just read, takes time to do. Months of research. Weeks of writing, editing, and fact checking—and putting together the photography, art, video, and audio that tell the stories in a new way, illuminating new perspectives and voices

We can afford to take that time because we don’t report to an oligarch or corporation with a special agenda. We report to you, and for you. That’s why we unabashedly pursue the truth and relentlessly shine a light into the darkness.

In this month’s Summer Membership Drive, we’ve got to raise $200,000 to support more crucial investigations. This is a pivotal moment in our nation, with democracy on the line, and we can only do this work because readers like you step up. Every donation, of any amount, makes a difference here. We cannot do this work without you.

So, we’re asking: Will you support independent journalism that demands those in power answer for their actions?

We Recommend

Latest

Sign up for our free newsletter

Subscribe to the Mother Jones Daily to have our top stories delivered directly to your inbox.

Get our award-winning magazine

Save big on a full year of investigations, ideas, and insights.

Subscribe

INDEPENDENT. BECAUSE OF YOU.

Mother Jones has no billionaires calling the shots—just readers like you making fearless reporting possible

Donate