reclegend22 wrote: I agree that the problem here lies in the girl's last name and hatred for her mother. It's pretty simple.

Anyone with the ability to think with even the tiniest grain of logic knows that's a two-way street.

Her name and mother are probably why there's derision for her idea of being a public speaker.

Her name and mother are why she has the potential to gain big fees for being a public speaker (as stated in other posts, $15-30K isn't near top-level for a speaker).

It's a two way street. Yeah, a lot of people will mock this because of who Sarah Palin is...but another truth is that she is one of many teen girls who get their fuck on and wind up with a kid and the only reason anyone cares enough to consider endorsing the CONCEPT of her being a motivational speaker is because of who Sarah Palin is. Who gives a fuck about this girl is she ISN'T the daughter of a well-known and polarizing person?

Maybe in a couple years, Bristol can join Paris Hilton and Nicole Ritchie (as she's following in their footsteps by gaining status due to parental fame and/or fortune) on a re-boot of The Simple Life. Or at least do a SNL re-working of that "Don't Kiss until You're Married" video posted a week or two ago here...just for the lulz.

reclegend22 wrote: I agree that the problem here lies in the girl's last name and hatred for her mother. It's pretty simple.

Or it could be that the only reason anyone gives a fuck about what this girl has to say is that they align politically with her mom.

As Heretic said, it's a two way street.

Most people haven't been having issues with her speaking at all just the insane amount being gained. Which isn't her fault, and whatever. It's just I feel bad for whatever groups decide to pony up that cash because there are surely better ways to spend that kind of money that would garnish a better result in regards to teen pregnancy.

GoPens wrote:

If this were any other young adult speaking of the problems of teenage pregnancy they wouldn't be milking it for 30K either.

You know it, and I know it.

If some idiot is willing to pay that much why is it Bristol's fault?

Fly4Fun wrote:

If anything she's a poster child for how teen abstinence isn't a great path...

She was obviously raised in an environment that exhorts those virtues... but she thought otherwise. Maybe if she was properly educated about practicing safe sex she wouldn't have a baby.

That's so much BS.

Abstinence is the absolute best way to avoid teen pregnancy and diseases, thats obviously fact.

So ignoring that option when teaching is idiotic.

And you have NO IDEA if she was taught anything about safe sex, she could have been taught it just like most other teens in high school but chose to ignore it, just like many other teens in HS.

Let me explain 1st hand that contraceptives don't always work and/or aren't 100% effective. I have 2 sons with my wife while she was religiously taking the pill. Condoms break, sometimes the pill is ineffective.

Abstinence is the only 100% effective way of avoiding teen pregnancy.

I do realize that its not the most "practical" thing to teach to most kids now a days but it should still be taught as the best way to avoid diseases and pregnancy while teaching about how to avoid pregnancy if you are going to have sex anyway.

While I respect Bristol Palin's right to speak wherever she wants and accept whatever compensation is offered to her, I firmly believe that all this will do is glorify teen pregnancy. Let's face it, Bristol isn't exactly living the life of a struggling single mom. While her words may be about abstinence all young women we'll see is someone who had a baby at a young age and still manages to live a good life.

As was mentioned it would be easy enough to find a teen mom off the street, and frankly I think she would have more impact. Let them hear from a girl who struggles every day to feed and clothe her child, not the daughter of a rich politician who likely has several people helping her care for her child.

Yes I know emotionally and psychologically being a teen mom is tough no matter what your situation, but it is certainly not as tough on Bristol.

But she's showing so much character. Such a brave young lady.

I imagine Bristol Palin will be primarily speaking in suburban school districts. IMO, she is the pefect person to speaking at these schools. The mere fact that she is from an upper middle class upbringing will resonate with some poor kid from an inner city school or from appalachia. A girl like Palin speaking about her experiences shows it can happen to someone like them who lives in a good school district and has more than others. Shaniqua or Betsy Sue will not have the same effect on your Haley's and Hannah's of the world.

i think they should have these speakers hold conferences with auditoriums full of parents instead of children. They're the ones who need to be lectured, IMO.

What is the difference of her speaking on this subject and a recovering addict talking about staying away from drugs? Or someone who killed someone when they drank and drove?

What is the difference?

Because she is part of the family that for some reason many Dems and women are afraid of for some reason. Sarah is gorgous, powerful and a great speaker. I dont know why tey are afraid and jealous..it isnt like she can win the presidency at all

No one is afraid of or jealous of Sarah Palin.

I'm not afraid of someone politically who all but quit on the people of Alaska. She is no longer a viable candidate in a national election.

All she can do is hold-on to the spotlight for as long as possible to make sure she cashes in.

The real brains behind the tea-party movement like Rand Paul and others will continue to move to the fore, and has-been figureheads like her will move to the background.

I would much rather have the Rand Paul's of the world leading the Tea Party movement than the Palin's of the world.

It is going to take more than just screaming "REAGAN REAGAN REAGAN" whenever she gets on camera for the Tea Party movement to progress as a viable, strong movement.

She has been fine for getting the movement off-the ground, but that is about it.

Sure they are afraid...and threatened...that a seemingly normal type of family woman with good looks can climb the ladder and be in a power of position.

The jabs taken at her arent acceptable from the start.

Am I the only one that find it amusing that the left talks about Palin "quitting" on Alaska but seem to skip over Obama's attempted and successful leaving of offices.

In 2000 he tried to leave the Illinois Senate and run for the US HoR. He lost so he returned.
In 2004 he did leave his Illinois Senate seat to run for US Senate.
In 2008 he left his US Senate seat to run for President.

I'm not putting him down for any of this, I'm just saying that Palin is not the only person to leave a public office for a "higher purpose" in their opinion.

The point is that rarely do any of those stategies actually work. How long have there been speakers and televison, and parents warning kids against sex and drugs? Yet those things are probably at the height of their popularity with kids.

Again, I don't like crazy Sarah but I' don't hold that against her daughter. I don't blame anyone for trying to make as much money as they can for the least amount of work. I blame the morons who will pay that price for an ineffective strategy.

Also, I don't see the need to praise Bristol's character for facing this issue like some people think we would if it was someone not named Palin. If she donates a good portion of the money to a worthy cause that could really do some good for teen mothers or some other such gesture then I will praise her.

thavoice wrote: Sure they are afraid...and threatened...that a seemingly normal type of family woman with good looks can climb the ladder and be in a power of position.

The jabs taken at her arent acceptable from the start.

Haha, what do her looks have to do w/ anything???

I am threatened by the prospect that Palin could get elected Pres (though I doubt it will happen). We're in bad enough shape without some being held in high enough esteem b/c of her looks, gender, and values that she could gain a following who think those characteristics would make a good president for us right now.

jmog wrote: Am I the only one that find it amusing that the left talks about Palin "quitting" on Alaska but seem to skip over Obama's attempted and successful leaving of offices.

In 2000 he tried to leave the Illinois Senate and run for the US HoR. He lost so he returned.
In 2004 he did leave his Illinois Senate seat to run for US Senate.
In 2008 he left his US Senate seat to run for President.

I'm not putting him down for any of this, I'm just saying that Palin is not the only person to leave a public office for a "higher purpose" in their opinion.

What is her "higher purpose?"

At least Obama left for other positions of public service.

Simply looks bad when Palin leaves and then she starts showing up on Fox News as a paid talking-head.

I just think she would be crucified, rightly or wrongly, for it over the course of a national election.

She left because the countless unjustified, ridulous, baseless ethics investigations were bankrupting her and her family. How could she effectively serve the people of Alaska when she and her staff were caught up defending themselves? Any crazy hater can file a complaint and have her investigated and it was happening at a rapid pace.

Might be true.

But, the fact remains that it just doesn't "look" good, rightly or wrongly.

And for that reason, i don't think she's viable anymore on a national level.

Hard to preach service to constituents and the like when you leave in the middle of a term and then show up on Fox News and in other arenas cashing in quite well.

And, i am one who thinks that she was, obviously, unfairly treated.

Just trying to justify why i don't think many are actually afraid of her.

If i was the left, i would be more afraid of Paul et. al. then a glorified puppet for the Tea Party movement like Palin.

She isn't the leader they need, and the Tea Party folks will see that.

And lol @ the person constantly bringing up her looks.

Not like she is the first "good" looking person to hold high public office.

Fab4Runner wrote: She left because the countless unjustified, ridulous, baseless ethics investigations were bankrupting her and her family. How could she effectively serve the people of Alaska when she and her staff were caught up defending themselves? Any crazy hater can file a complaint and have her investigated and it was happening at a rapid pace.

Exactly...make a choice, face bankrupcy or find a way to support your family while still advocating for conservatives.

Strapping Young Lad wrote:...its not Bristols fault for trying to milk this.

I see what you did there, clever.

thavoice wrote: Sure they are afraid...and threatened...that a seemingly normal type of family woman with good looks can climb the ladder and be in a power of position.

The jabs taken at her arent acceptable from the start.

Well, to be honest, a lot of jabs taken at a lot of politicians probably shouldn't be considered acceptable. But on both sides, the general consensus seems to be, "Well, you guys do it to us, so we're going to do it back to you!"

As to the first part, I'd say a lot of people probably SHOULD be afraid and threatened when a person's success in a field like politics seems as tied to things such as "good looks" as anything else. I highly doubt the general public would care about her if she was "wouldn't hit after a 30-pack" ugly regardless of how smart she is, but because she's very photogenic, she's a magnet for the public eye.

If she can take that kind of money from the bible thumping fools who are willing to pay, then more power to her. She and her mom are laughing all the way to the bank. I wonder if she is now practicing what she preaches? I bet not.

As long as they are not paying her with taxpayer money, then who cares??

You should be more concerned with groups like Acorn getting millions of peoples money.

To those belly-aching about the $15K, when you consider half will go to taxes, another big piece will be spent on security and other overhead, Palin will only net a few grand at best. How many of these events do you think she does in a year? 15-20? So she brings home, what, $60K at the end of the year. Her ex was paid more than that to show his pecker in "Playgirl" and to talk trash. I don't see the outrage about that from the people questioning who she is and why she should get any money for speaking publically.

ManO'War wrote: As long as they are not paying her with taxpayer money, then who cares??

You should be more concerned with groups like Acorn getting millions of peoples money.

For once MOW and I agree completely .

jmog wrote: I have 2 sons with my wife while she was religiously taking the pill.

Your wife hoodwinked you brah.