Although almost eight months have passed since last year's elections, Palin Derangement Syndrome continues to manifest itself throughout America's press.
As NewsBusters' Mike Sargent reported Tuesday, Vanity Fair's Todd Purdum is gravely afflicted with the illness, and needs to see a team of doctors quickly if he ever wants to be taken seriously by anyone other than the extreme Left.
With that in mind, Palin documentarian John Ziegler had a fascinating radio interview with Politico's Mike Allen Wednesday that shed some light on how PDS works and why it's so pernicious.
To set this up, Allen was on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" earlier in the day, and defended Purdum's piece (15 minute audio available here):
MIKE ALLEN, POLITICO: Nobody can agree on what exactly went wrong with that disastrous campaign. Todd has a great phrase in there where he refers to it as "A Bermuda Triangle of a campaign." [...]
I know that she was advised after the campaign to disappear, to study, to learn foreign policy, to learn economics, learn some of these issues and come back in two years when she was ready. She didn't do it, instead she did a series of stupid interviews that just dug her deeper..." [...]
Sure, she has incredible star power as you point out. She's wanted for fundraisers. We all cover her. But Joe, I don't think she's taken seriously as a policy person. I don't think that that's the sort of circus act the Republicans are looking for. I think she'll get tons of coverage. It's hard to see her at this point being taken as a serious person.
After playing these audio segments, Ziegler asked Allen: "Which really stupid interviews that Sarah Palin did were you referring to specifically?"
Reasonable question, correct? Yet, no matter how many times Ziegler asked it, Allen never gave one example of Palin giving a stupid interview despite telling MSNBC's Joe Scarborough earlier in the day, "she did a series of stupid interviews that just dug her deeper..."
And therein lies the heart of Palin Derangement Syndrome: making totally false statements about the Alaska governor without being able to back them up.
Sadly, as this is what most media outlets want -- dirt about Palin irrespective of veracity -- the mudslingers not only easily get away with it, but are revered for doing so.
Fortunately, Ziegler was having none of it, and pointed out the hypocrisy to his guest:
You made a very serious allegation that you seem to be backing off of that you can't substantiate, and I'm just. You're a very good reporter. You're not a lefty that I can tell. But I was disappointed that you would make an allegation like that on MSNBC where you're obviously, you know, that's what the audience wants to hear, and then you're not willing to back it up. You're a good reporter, Mike. I would think that you would have some substance behind an allegation like that. [...]
You're saying that there's a perception that's out there. You're presuming that perception is reality, and then you're not, you're making allegations based upon that perception that you have no substance behind. As a reporter, don't you find that at all troubling? If someone else did that, wouldn't you criticize that kind of reporting?
Allen didn't answer those questions either demonstrating how the state of America's media is such that so-called journalists don't have to substantiate negative allegations concerning Republicans. They can say or write whatever they want about politicians they don't like -- irrespective of facts -- with total impunity.
And therein lies a very serious problem.
Bravo, John. Bravo.
—Noel Sheppard is the Associate Editor of NewsBusters. Follow him at Facebook and Twitter.
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Comments Policy
If Palin was everything the 'Rats claim
July 3, 2009 - 10:27 ET by kch50428They would not have to go after her the way they are.
They're not used to an adversary that fights back...
July 3, 2009 - 10:48 ET by ThalpyThey're not used to an adversary that fights back and won't put up with their nonsense. Fighting is almost unknown among Republicans--unless it's among themselves.
Palin supporters from now on have a mental disorder
July 3, 2009 - 15:10 ET by Daniel BakerPalin supporters from now on have a mental disorder unless she has a
medical condition, and the medical condition is a reason for her
stepping down.
Ziegler's mistake
July 3, 2009 - 10:29 ET by ThisnThat"You're a good reporter, Mike."
What a dumbass thing to say to a person who (a) is accusing Sarah Palin of things that never happened, and (b) won't answer questions.
That's what's wrong with our side. We're too damn willing to praise and be nice to absolute idiots when there is no reason to do so. Makes us look like wusses.
___________________________________
Liberals constantly demand that we accept a glaring falsehood as truth; Obama's elimination of the word "terror" will make terrorist acts less terrifying
John Zeigler
July 3, 2009 - 10:39 ET by BlondeI listened to the audio of this yesterday....Zeigler is rapidly becoming one of my absolute favorites.
I love how he doesn't put up with any nonsense, he just keeps hammering the point (or asking the question) relentlessly.
I hope he fails, too.
RINOs and "Beltway Types" Fear Palin
July 3, 2009 - 10:50 ET by BW222RINOs and "Beltway-type" so-called conservates fear Sarah Palin as much as liberals. People like Krathammer realize it makes them more popular on the DC cocktail circuit by bashing her.
BW222
No one fears her now
July 3, 2009 - 15:11 ET by Daniel Baker-------------------------------------------
Liberal judges are the high priests of redefined marriage. Good men want freedom, Evil men want license
What disastrous campaign?
July 3, 2009 - 11:08 ET by Blogger Guy00001Nothing "went wrong with that disastrous campaign." The media and their associates in the democrat party launched a full-force attack on Palin from the day when she was chosen.
Reporters swarmed to Alaska and asked every person who they met if they had anything on the Palins. Little compliant leftist lemmings throughout Alaska used their jobs and access to information to illegally dig up information on Palin and then willingly gave it to the media.
Late-night phoney "comedians" made fun of her.
No disastrous campaign. Just organized character destruction. (What liberals do best)
→ That disastrous campaign
July 3, 2009 - 11:16 ET by Cool ArrowThe campaign where McCain made a big to-do of marching back to the capitol so he could jump in bed with Bush and Obama rather than stand firm against government excess.
Palin didn't bring that old fool down. McCain's habitual pandering to the left brought that campaign down.
What If......
July 4, 2009 - 07:59 ET by GeneralAlWhat if the Tele-Prez Messiah had been put on the spot [Can anyone say Joe the plumber?]? How many stupid interviews would we be able to look back at? Instead they coached him with the questions and answers. Look how stupid he looked on O'reilly! They had to tell him the questions as well. The difference was he had been coached by the press for over a year before being on FOX!
Wow
July 3, 2009 - 11:32 ET by KC MulvilleI listened to this, in pure amazement. I read Mike Allen frequently, not always agreeing, but respecting his reporting.
Not after this.
In the first place, any answer to the question "what disastrous interviews did she do?" must reference at least one interview. Allen, instead, responded by repeating (verbatim) the line that "some who want to work with her in the future ..." He was effectively reading an index card. Which can only mean one of two things: either ...
Allen is clearly repeating what his sources told him. Funny. I was responding earlier to the post about the Washington Post hosting journalists, and in that post, I said that reporters will often repeat what the press release tells them. The reporter, like a ventriloquist's dummy, serves as a public face being manipulated by the corporation.
What's scary is how the prejudice against Palin is being established in the media's collective memory. They created the fiction in the first place, then later on, they remember the fiction as fact. I just finished Michael Crichton's book, State of Fear, in which a character talks about the "ecology of thought." That's a trendy name for how prejudices, even blatantly irrational prejudices, get propagated throughout society. I say this is evidence of it.
Not just one quick shot
July 3, 2009 - 12:06 ET by Chris NormanNot just one quick shot this time, but, instead, at last, an MSMer gets confronted with the truth for a spell and doesn't find it very comfortable at all. Especially since he has no glib answers
Politico is just a slightly newer version of the same old tired out liberal members of the MSM - "reporting" the same old tired out cliches and using the same old methods to make Republicans look bad and to protect Democrats.
What do the elites want - for Palin and her family to be snubbed, harassed and humiliated until she commits suicide? So they can - what - all dance on her grave? This isn't just a hatred syndrome - it's an all out persecution.
The "Mainstream" Media: By liberals. For liberals.
Poster slick willie had
July 3, 2009 - 13:21 ET by bigtimerPoster slick willie had this here yesterday on OT I think the thread was....I listened to it then, and commented there...I thank slick for putting this out also.
It was the most tortured 15 minutes I have sat through...then again, that's a leftist like Allen...talk about spin...and never answering a direct question...I was surprised Ziegler didn't think Allen was a lefty after all the years he has been around...guess he knows now...or should.
Ziegler did a good job...made a fool of Mikey, well, actually, Mikey made an arse of himself...all by himself...
Nothing new though.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
Ziegler rocks!
July 3, 2009 - 13:56 ET by ChrisMillsThis guy deserves an award for what he does best, never backing down. Too many Republicans are too willing to cave to the liberal media, but he keeps going after them and their silence exposes their bias. I just can't believe the news media keeps giving him a platform to score points off of their lies :)
This is as good place to
July 3, 2009 - 14:53 ET by bigtimerThis is as good place to put this as any too...Palin is immediately stepping down as of July 25th...
Interesting...something is going on.
Press conference next...or so I heard.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
well
July 3, 2009 - 15:04 ET by owlpelletsThe best thing that could come from this is a full time, coherent strategy and voice against what Bambi is doing to this country. The second best thing would be her attempting to shield her poor children from these faggy leftists that are out to destroy her. Either way, she and her family have my full support. What the establishment media has done to her over the last two years is criminal. She is as tough as they come and whatever she does I am behind her finacially and in spirit.
Don't blame me....I voted for Palin...
By your logic Palin is a criminal
July 3, 2009 - 15:13 ET by Daniel BakerHer and Mccain did it to her kids by pushing bristol into spotlight
-------------------------------------------
Liberal judges are the high priests of redefined marriage. Good men want freedom, Evil men want license
DB
July 3, 2009 - 16:02 ET by well99"Her and Mccain did it to her kids by pushing bristol into spotlight"
Bullshit!Obama had his family with him.Politicians have been having their families with them for years.They didnt push Bristol to the spotlight.It was the msm that honed in on the Palin family.First cames claims that Sarah's baby was Bristol.Then the left kept hammering on the family.
Re DB
July 3, 2009 - 16:26 ET by slickwillie2001Exactly. Had she not brought her family with her, the story would have been -what is she hiding? Is she ashamed of her Down's child? Has she abandoned her family in Alaska for politics?
The Bamster and Biden brought their families just as Palin did. The double standard from the hypocritical liberals here is obvious and disgusting.l
slick
July 3, 2009 - 16:31 ET by well99It sure is.There is no excuse for it.The cheap shots against her family by those lice ridden vermin.It was sickening.
I wish the best as well for
July 3, 2009 - 15:14 ET by bigtimerI wish the best as well for her and her family...something deeper is going on behind the scenes though...either way, Liz Cheney, Michele Bachmann, Marsha Blackburn are more my conservative cup of tea anyway...but that's just me and I know I've been in the minority anyway.
We don't know if she is done...but I think something is going on that hasn't come out yet...whatever it may be.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
hey bt
July 3, 2009 - 15:36 ET by jdlybrandAs you can see ya'll beat me to the punch on the Palin news. I hope nothing is going on as well. Being here in SC makes me hope to the Lord she ain't been out hiking the Appalachian Trail.
bt - I'm very impressed with Liz Cheney also. She has excellent
July 3, 2009 - 22:03 ET by Rush Fancommunication skills, and seems well-versed on both national and international issues. When she has been interviewed on CNN or MSNBC, I notice that they treat her with respect, since she is more knowledgeable on the issues than is the interviewer.
---------------------------------------------------
How Obama won -John Ziegler intervews 12 Obama voters
Evening RF... They also
July 3, 2009 - 22:17 ET by bigtimerEvening RF...
They also know they can never get the best of her....I've seen them try....she is the best of the best when it comes to quick wit, along with handling the msm on our side of the aisle...or any side for that matter....she simply baffles them, shuts them down...with pointed FACTS....that they can't dispute, can't keep up with...and have to remain mum to not look more the fools than they usually are daily.
Plus she is never rude....just pure swift class.
She is the only gal I have ever seen be given respect just from her wit and wisdom on television that I have seen in a long, long time...she leaves the nit-wits clueless.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
Hi bt - You described her to a "T". I don't think either you or
July 3, 2009 - 22:55 ET by Rush FanI are surprised with all of her skills. After all, she takes after her father, and I'm a big fan of Mr. Cheney.
Then there is two-faced Meghan McCain. She also takes after her father. I think you know how I feel about the both of them.
RF... Not only her
July 3, 2009 - 23:05 ET by bigtimerRF...
Not only her father...her mother too...
Did you ever see the pathetic pile of shite Lynn left Wolfie in a few years back now?
I used to have the link...don't think I do anymore, nevertheless...she ran all over the top of Blitzer, with a smile on her face for the majority of the time, and of course, pure class.
These types of twits just can't hold a candle to the Cheney family...and they despise them for it.
I'm not getting into air-head wannabe 15 minutes of fame Meghan...any more than her daddy. ..yes we feel the same, I think.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
bt - I saw the interview I believe you are referring. Here is
July 3, 2009 - 23:23 ET by Rush Fanthe transcript of the interview.
RF... That is the
July 3, 2009 - 23:37 ET by bigtimerRF...
That is the one. ;-)
Priceless.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
Yea I agree with RF
July 3, 2009 - 23:09 ET by general companySo why not her for POTUS, BT? She is Great, plus considering the pressure her and the family has been under, who could blame her. Our media is thugish, unrepentant, and just plane digusting now days. If she has done anything wrong I forgive her already, she and her's have been wronged
My Gov. thinks I am dangerous, so be careful
"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg
Evening gc.... I've
July 3, 2009 - 23:15 ET by bigtimerEvening gc....
I've posted Cheney/Cheney here many times before...just to make a point, and mean it...and make the left burn.
Then again, I don't know if we are following the same posts/thoughts..know what I mean?
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
Ohh whoo whoo
July 3, 2009 - 23:34 ET by general companyWow witch one up front? Guess I will go to sleep with that? But if it were me
My Gov. thinks I am dangerous, so be careful
"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg
gc... Oh the memories of
July 3, 2009 - 23:44 ET by bigtimergc...
Oh the memories of times long past...thanks for the close.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
Big time mess up
July 3, 2009 - 23:59 ET by general companyThis is what I meant you know me all blue's. Build them and write them.
My Gov. thinks I am dangerous, so be careful
"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg
But you know I realy like too
July 4, 2009 - 00:01 ET by general companyRock, with my Guitar
WHAT!!!!
My Gov. thinks I am dangerous, so be careful
"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg
I'm grinning from ear to
July 4, 2009 - 00:08 ET by bigtimerI'm grinning from ear to ear...this works just fine too.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
Just learned
July 4, 2009 - 00:32 ET by general companyThat Robert will be at Voodoo feast
We will be there, give us heads up, and we will meet.
My Gov. thinks I am dangerous, so be careful
"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg
Just received an alert...
July 3, 2009 - 15:28 ET by jdlybrand... from Politico. Palin will resign her position on July 25th. Politico speculates that it's because she will launch a bid for Pres in 2012. Palin is not someone I would piss off. This is the very thing the left is afraid of. They've pissed her off and there will be hell to pay if she gets to be POTUS. She has my vote. Come to think of it; she's the real reason I voted for McCain. Otherwise I would have gone fishing that day.
Ohhhh yea
July 3, 2009 - 15:38 ET by owlpelletsFinally.... someone with the nads to confirm everything everyone feels about Borack. The Romney and Huck guys will try everything to destroy her. Each time, I will contribute more as it's the right thing for me to do.
Don't blame me....I voted for Palin...
jdl... I've heard
July 3, 2009 - 15:41 ET by bigtimerjdl...
I've heard conflicting stories about her wanting to go ahead and run in 2012 than what the Politico is reporting...saying she does not want to run in 2012 and telling her backers to go ahead and put there support and money elsewhere.
We shall soon know the real truth...maybe.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
Report: Sarah Palin to leave public life altogether
July 3, 2009 - 15:52 ET by R D HelmI just heard on the radio that a long-time friend of Sarah Palin has said that Sarah told her that she intends to leave public life for good.
If that is true, I can't say I blame her.
Anybody else hearing that?
-Dave
"Obama's health care 'reform' plan is to blow up the building in order to fix a leak in the roof." - Herman Cain
I hope not
July 3, 2009 - 15:55 ET by general companyThat means the Dems can drive our best and brightest away using thuggery and threats,,,,Lord help us
My Gov. thinks I am dangerous, so be careful
"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg
GC
July 3, 2009 - 16:08 ET by well99500k in legal expense will do it.Personally I think the folks up there should tar and feather all those CSMFs that made the bogus ethics charges against her.
This whole assult on the Palins has been a sham
July 3, 2009 - 16:17 ET by general companyEvery time I hear a liberal say something negitive about her, I question them. They can never tell you jack about why they hate her, what she ever did wrong, why she isnt a good leader, nothing. I have never been a hugh Palin fan, but I do like her, she is sincere. I am absolutly beside myself, if this is the reason she left.
My Gov. thinks I am dangerous, so be careful
"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg
GC
July 3, 2009 - 16:37 ET by well99All they can do is fabricate lies about her.It just ticks me off to no end.I think she is sincere also.She doesnt come from money or some elite family so I think that ticks off the msm.It is a sad day.
Looks like the lack of trolls
July 3, 2009 - 22:10 ET by general companyOr liberals bashing the Palins here suggest I am right. The oldmedia collectivly should be ashamed of themselves
My Gov. thinks I am dangerous, so be careful
"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg
Ashamed?
July 4, 2009 - 19:51 ET by needle“The oldmedia collectivly should be ashamed of themselves”
Ashamed? The oldmedia collectively? Is this possible?
- Relying upon the MSM for your information is like relying upon an embezzler to manage your portfolio.
Dave... Yeah...I heard
July 3, 2009 - 15:56 ET by bigtimerDave...
Yeah...I heard that also as you can see above.
I said long ago though....there is stuff behind the scenes over the years previously that has gone on in the State of Ak. with others to get where she even got, before many people really even knew who she was that would eventually come out...and I think it may still.
One way or the other...we shall see what happens down the line...and I'm leaving it at that.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
bt,
July 3, 2009 - 16:01 ET by R D HelmSorry, I missed your post.
LOL-I have things going on here, at Twitter, and at HotAir.
-Dave
"Obama's health care 'reform' plan is to blow up the building in order to fix a leak in the roof." - Herman Cain
Dave... Lol...very
July 3, 2009 - 16:04 ET by bigtimerDave...
Lol...very understandable.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
have to say it
July 3, 2009 - 15:57 ET by owlpelletsYou suck Huck....
Don't blame me....I voted for Palin...
Out of a job
July 3, 2009 - 16:01 ET by TrickletownPalin is stepping down from her elective office soon.
John Ziegler revived a floundering career on the back of said Palin. Hence, how soon till Ziegler is out of a job, again?
Tt.... LOL...you do make
July 3, 2009 - 16:07 ET by bigtimerTt....
LOL...you do make a good point here....one thing about this, at least it took NK and Jackson off the air for a bit!
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
The explanation is weird at best
July 3, 2009 - 17:14 ET by nwahsShe's quitting because she doesn't want to be a lame duck????
Lame duck is a state of mind. Just put another feather in that cap. Weird.
http://newsbusters.o...
HONOR
July 3, 2009 - 17:31 ET by BO STINKSThis is about something called 'honor.' I .E. not allowing Alaska to pay for the silly legal maneuverings of the Democrat(icks) anymore. Honor is that which is so LACKING in the D-(ick) Party. Honor is a belief that is so far from the D-(icks) ability to comprehend that when they see someone practicing HONOR, they think it is 'weird.' Remember, liberalism is a mental disorder.
The great Socio/Economic Experiments of the 20th cent. (communism, socialism, fascism) only killed a few hundred million. Let's give 'em another try! - me
X
July 3, 2009 - 18:32 ET by serfer62I took politico off my blog list months.
Hugh Hewitt has this clown on a regular basis. His voice pattern is so screwy that I think Hewitt is becoming a clown also...