Palin's "Going Rogue" - Progress Pond

No, not Sarah Palin the person, but Sarah Palin “the Book” (a memoir — allegedly) will be released on November 17th, just in time for Christmas! Better place those Amazon.com orders now while supplies last. You betcha!

Sarah Palin, the former Alaska governor and vice presidential candidate, has finished her memoir just four months after the book deal was announced, and the release date has been moved up from the spring to Nov. 17, her publisher said.

“Governor Palin has been unbelievably conscientious and hands-on at every stage, investing herself deeply and passionately in this project,” said Jonathan Burnham, publisher of Harper. “It’s her words, her life, and it’s all there in full and fascinating detail.”

God, I hope it’s not all her own words. Four hundred pages of Sarah Palin’s mind numbing drivel would be unreadable. Don’t believe me? Go revisit her farewell address:

Still think she wrote a 400 page book in four months all by her lonesome? No, Palin’s ghostwriter or ghostwriters worked superfast to get this out in time for the Christmas shopping season. How involved Sarah “Barracuda” Palin was in the “writing” of her own book is doubtful. I’m sure she did speak to the people who wrote the book for her once or twice, or her publisher wouldn’t be claiming “It’s her words” but if she actually wrote more than 10% of this book I’ll be shocked. In fact, the less of “her own words” are in it the more likely someone will be able to read the whole thing. Of course, poorly written or not it’s bound to be a best seller just like Ann Coulter’s books always seem to make the bestseller list. These books get bought so that right wingers can showcase them on their coffee tables (or they get bought in bulk so they can be given away to right wingers to place on their coffee tables). And let’s not forget the demographic that will be hoping for a lengthy “pictorial section” in the book, the “Rich Lowry Fan Boy” segment.

In any event I hope none of you get this in your stocking on Christmas Day. I’d rather receive a lump of coal, thank you very much.

12 Comments

Frank Schnittger on September 29, 2009 at 8:27 am

What’s so “rogue” about cashing in on her fame/notoriety? Isn’t this what real Americans do?

ericy on September 29, 2009 at 8:52 am

If she had written it herself, it would read like a Facebook page, be in double-spaced 24-point type (the old increase the type size to better fill the page trick). Yet I am sure the nutjobs will all line up for the thing.

I think Rich Lowry is still hoping for the “National Review swimsuit edition”.

If you were to look at the thing purely in terms of the number of BTU that you would get if you burned it for fuel, I don’t know whether the coal or the book would be a better deal.

Snarki child of Loki on September 29, 2009 at 9:44 am

There’s a lot of pages for not so many words, when they’re scrawled in purple crayon. You betcha.
- BooMan on September 29, 2009 at 9:57 am
  
  she’s not a writer. she didn’t write the book. book writing is one of the hardest things in the world to do. it’s harder than writing sitcoms.
  - Sawgrass on September 29, 2009 at 10:15 am
    
    …or the jacket notes. Something like,
    
    I have read this book…well, most of it, until I quit about halfway through…and, well, you know, I’m not a quitter and I didn’t really quit this book. Since it’s my book, I’d be a lame duck to finish it and I didn’t want to be a lame duck. That’s not how I am wired. I am not wired to operate under the same old “authorship as usual.”
    
    The book’s accomplishments speak for itself. There is so much success in this book – and with this success I am proud to take credit…for hiring the right people to write it!
    
    But don’t just take my word for it. I polled the most important people in my life – my children – and asked if they thought it was a great book. It was four “yes’s” and one “hell yeah!”
    
    I could write more but I have something else I need to do. Check my Facebook page and maybe I’ll write more later.
    
    I’ll leave you with a final thought of great wisdom. As a great person once said, ‘Only dead fish go with the flow’.

robertdsc on September 29, 2009 at 10:16 am

I almost want to buy it.

/hangs head in shame

BooMan on September 29, 2009 at 10:25 am

you could use it to decorate the guest john.

Sawgrass on September 29, 2009 at 10:43 am

Palin spent weeks in San Diego shortly after leaving office and worked on the manuscript with collaborator Lynn Vincent…

She…then spent several days in New York working around the clock with editors at Harper…

Lacking any other reason for her unexpected resignation, this tidbit may suggest the most likely explanation so far for the timing of her sudden resignation.

By “working around the clock” (seemingly, working harder than she ever did as governor), the book was ready for 2009 Christmas sales. If she had waited until 2010, her stardom would have faded and sales would be off.

The picture I see is Palin focusing on maximizing profit from her sudden fame, realizing that her fame could quickly fade in the same manner as Joe the Plumber. Especially if Obama’s administration has a track record of success and positive polls with each ensuing year.

I don’t think Palin would have that self-awareness–I betcha she got some good media advice from someone. One thing I am confident of: For Palin, her decisions have always been about doing what’s best for herself.

Indianadem on September 29, 2009 at 6:04 pm

Joe the who?

/snark

Robert in WV on September 29, 2009 at 1:34 pm

more than likely has more BTUs in it than the book. Might come in handy this winter.

clif on September 29, 2009 at 1:49 pm

Rogue

Main Entry: 1rogue
Pronunciation: ˈrōg
Function: noun
Etymology: origin unknown
Date: 1561

1 : vagrant, tramp
2 : a dishonest or worthless person : scoundrel
3 : a mischievous person : scamp
4 : a horse inclined to shirk or misbehave
5 : an individual exhibiting a chance and usually inferior biological variation

…… her definition of herself sounds about right.

dada on September 29, 2009 at 4:18 pm

holy ghostwriter might be more apropos:

In Palin’s case, help came in the form of Lynn Vincent, a senior writer for the conservative Christian publication World Magazine.

And to judge by Vincent’s record, Palin’s choice was a sound one. Vincent has proven commercial success: “Same Different as Me,” a book which described the friendship between an art dealer and a homeless person, sold 560,000 copies, and logged 75 weeks on the best-seller list. That’s no small achievement at a time at a time when the publishing industry is shrinking faster than an Alaskan summer.

Vincent’s politics also seem to align pretty well with Palin’s. In 2006, Vincent helped write a book called “Donkey Cons: Sex, Crime, and Corruption in the Democratic Party.” (“Donkey Cons” was co-written with Robert Stacy McCain.) The book’s tagline advertised a chronicle of “shameless bribery, illicit sex, [and] sweeping corruption.” Meanwhile, promotional copy posted to World Magazine’s Amazon page promised to reveal the following:

-How Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Truman, and John F. Kennedy were elected with the help of the Mob.

-What two eyewitnesses said about JFK’s obsession with hookers.

-Why Democrats ignore crime victims and take the side of rapists, robbers, and cop-killers-then stump for the right of felons to vote!

A review of Vincent’s most recent stories in World reveals a strong focus on abortion, religion, and gay marriage.

csmonitor

ugh

Frank Schnittger on September 29, 2009 at 8:27 am

What’s so “rogue” about cashing in on her fame/notoriety? Isn’t this what real Americans do?
ericy on September 29, 2009 at 8:52 am

If she had written it herself, it would read like a Facebook page, be in double-spaced 24-point type (the old increase the type size to better fill the page trick). Yet I am sure the nutjobs will all line up for the thing.

I think Rich Lowry is still hoping for the “National Review swimsuit edition”.

If you were to look at the thing purely in terms of the number of BTU that you would get if you burned it for fuel, I don’t know whether the coal or the book would be a better deal.
- Snarki child of Loki on September 29, 2009 at 9:44 am
  
  There’s a lot of pages for not so many words, when they’re scrawled in purple crayon. You betcha.
  - BooMan on September 29, 2009 at 9:57 am
    
    she’s not a writer. she didn’t write the book. book writing is one of the hardest things in the world to do. it’s harder than writing sitcoms.
    - Sawgrass on September 29, 2009 at 10:15 am
      
      …or the jacket notes. Something like,
      
      I have read this book…well, most of it, until I quit about halfway through…and, well, you know, I’m not a quitter and I didn’t really quit this book. Since it’s my book, I’d be a lame duck to finish it and I didn’t want to be a lame duck. That’s not how I am wired. I am not wired to operate under the same old “authorship as usual.”
      
      The book’s accomplishments speak for itself. There is so much success in this book – and with this success I am proud to take credit…for hiring the right people to write it!
      
      But don’t just take my word for it. I polled the most important people in my life – my children – and asked if they thought it was a great book. It was four “yes’s” and one “hell yeah!”
      
      I could write more but I have something else I need to do. Check my Facebook page and maybe I’ll write more later.
      
      I’ll leave you with a final thought of great wisdom. As a great person once said, ‘Only dead fish go with the flow’.
robertdsc on September 29, 2009 at 10:16 am

I almost want to buy it.

/hangs head in shame
- BooMan on September 29, 2009 at 10:25 am
  
  you could use it to decorate the guest john.
Sawgrass on September 29, 2009 at 10:43 am

Palin spent weeks in San Diego shortly after leaving office and worked on the manuscript with collaborator Lynn Vincent…

She…then spent several days in New York working around the clock with editors at Harper…

Lacking any other reason for her unexpected resignation, this tidbit may suggest the most likely explanation so far for the timing of her sudden resignation.

By “working around the clock” (seemingly, working harder than she ever did as governor), the book was ready for 2009 Christmas sales. If she had waited until 2010, her stardom would have faded and sales would be off.

The picture I see is Palin focusing on maximizing profit from her sudden fame, realizing that her fame could quickly fade in the same manner as Joe the Plumber. Especially if Obama’s administration has a track record of success and positive polls with each ensuing year.

I don’t think Palin would have that self-awareness–I betcha she got some good media advice from someone. One thing I am confident of: For Palin, her decisions have always been about doing what’s best for herself.
- Indianadem on September 29, 2009 at 6:04 pm
  
  Joe the who?
  
  /snark
Robert in WV on September 29, 2009 at 1:34 pm

more than likely has more BTUs in it than the book. Might come in handy this winter.
clif on September 29, 2009 at 1:49 pm

Rogue

Main Entry: 1rogue
Pronunciation: ˈrōg
Function: noun
Etymology: origin unknown
Date: 1561

1 : vagrant, tramp
2 : a dishonest or worthless person : scoundrel
3 : a mischievous person : scamp
4 : a horse inclined to shirk or misbehave
5 : an individual exhibiting a chance and usually inferior biological variation

…… her definition of herself sounds about right.
dada on September 29, 2009 at 4:18 pm

holy ghostwriter might be more apropos:

In Palin’s case, help came in the form of Lynn Vincent, a senior writer for the conservative Christian publication World Magazine.

And to judge by Vincent’s record, Palin’s choice was a sound one. Vincent has proven commercial success: “Same Different as Me,” a book which described the friendship between an art dealer and a homeless person, sold 560,000 copies, and logged 75 weeks on the best-seller list. That’s no small achievement at a time at a time when the publishing industry is shrinking faster than an Alaskan summer.

Vincent’s politics also seem to align pretty well with Palin’s. In 2006, Vincent helped write a book called “Donkey Cons: Sex, Crime, and Corruption in the Democratic Party.” (“Donkey Cons” was co-written with Robert Stacy McCain.) The book’s tagline advertised a chronicle of “shameless bribery, illicit sex, [and] sweeping corruption.” Meanwhile, promotional copy posted to World Magazine’s Amazon page promised to reveal the following:

-How Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Truman, and John F. Kennedy were elected with the help of the Mob.

-What two eyewitnesses said about JFK’s obsession with hookers.

-Why Democrats ignore crime victims and take the side of rapists, robbers, and cop-killers-then stump for the right of felons to vote!

A review of Vincent’s most recent stories in World reveals a strong focus on abortion, religion, and gay marriage.

csmonitor

ugh

Palin’s “Going Rogue”

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