The odd lies of Sarah Palin

[Jeremy Johnsen]

Andrew Sullivan did a series of posts during the 2008 election detailing the strange lies Sarah Palin would tell that could easily be verified as true or false. He's put the whole list together in one place in anticipation of her book release, expecting she will add to this list.

Remember: we are not including contested stories that we cannot prove definitively one way or another or the usual spin that politicians use, or even hypocrisy or shading of facts. We are merely including things she has said or written that can be definitively proven as untrue, by incontestable evidence in the public record.

So here's my question. I can understand why a politician might lie to get a bill passed, or try to get elected, but I'm talking big lies that nobody can easily disprove. I don't like it, but I understand it and think it comes naturally to them. But why tell lies about these stupid little things, many that I can't believe would influence a voter one way or the other like telling people she'd improvised her convention speech or that she asked her daughters for input on whether she should take the VP job? Is she really going to lose a vote if people she she wrote her convention speech instead of making it up on the spot?

I understand lying about WMDs, I don't understand lying about how many flags are in the Governors office in Alaska.

[Anaxagoras]

I can think of 2 possible explanations:

1) She's just really stupid, or she expects that people won't fact check her lies. The reason that she makes them in the first place is because she thinks that they put her in a good light.

2) Some people just don't have a good grasp of reality. They often fail to comprehend what's going on in front of their own eyes. Moreover, it's been shown that human memory is highly fallible for all people, but for some people the past is more malleable than for others, and they often believe their own "mistakes".

Personally, I think explanation #2 is more likely; I would guess that she believes her own lies & doesn't care what so-called "fact checkers" have to say. But that's the diagnosis of one armchair psychologist analyzing someone he's never met.

[Lum]

3) She believes she is special and doesn't have to tell the truth about annoying things.

Palin is the most classic demagogue in US politics since Huey Long.

[Kareem]

Some of those lies, at least the ones that don't appear to be purely dishonest attempts to get herself out of a tight spot, seem to me to be among the traits of someone who is a habitual liar. Like that Shimon Peres lie - just another falsehood to make somebody like her a little bit more. Sure, it doesn't really hurt anyone, but if she can't even avoid lying at a completely pointless juncture, when would she tell the truth?

That said, Andrew Sullivan's obsession with her is really wearing thin.

[MattKeil]

2) Some people just don't have a good grasp of reality. They often fail to comprehend what's going on in front of their own eyes. Moreover, it's been shown that human memory is highly fallible for all people, but for some people the past is more malleable than for others, and they often believe their own "mistakes".

I tend to think this is the case. Her peculiar religious beliefs would almost seem to require this to be true.

[Brettmcd]

All politicians lie, Obama lied to get elected, so did pretty much everyone else who is in Washington, but its only an evil thing when you can point out when a conservative does it I guess. Anyone else gets a pass.

[jerri blank]

All politicians lie, Obama lied to get elected, so did pretty much everyone else who is in Washington, but its only an evil thing when you can point out when a conservative does it I guess. Anyone else gets a pass.

Hey, everyone, Dirt's back!

[Staff Sergeant]

All politicians lie, Obama lied to get elected, so did pretty much everyone else who is in Washington, but its only an evil thing when you can point out when a conservative does it I guess. Anyone else gets a pass.

You just have no reading comprehension whatsoever, do you? The issue isn't that she lies, everyone lies. The issue is that she is such a total moron about lying, and she lies about things that are so easily verified, it's as if she has no concept of reality.

[Staff Sergeant]

Hey, everyone, Dirt's back!

Fuck that, Dirt was actually a little bit entertaining. This guy is just acting as if he wants to be ignored.

[Hawkeye Fierce]

Predictably, the ad for this thread is for her book.

[arctangent]

If you want something to be true really bad and imagine really hard that it's true, and then believe really strongly it's true, then it's gotta be true, especially if God wants it to be true ('cause he told you that, dontcha know), and you wouldn't be lying if you told everyone that it's true.

Until the cognitive dissonance gets you. Then you ignore it or deny you ever said it was true at all, and why are you picking on Sarah Palin?

[AndrewM]

The AP fact checks Sarah Palin's book.

[Cubit]

All politicians lie, Obama lied to get elected, so did pretty much everyone else who is in Washington, but its only an evil thing when you can point out when a conservative does it I guess. Anyone else gets a pass.

Ever since I learned that Brett pulls this same song and dance on many other forums, I take his conservativeness much less seriously. He might as well be a troll.

[noun]

When's the last time any politician faced any consequences for lying?

[MikeSofaer]

When's the last time any politician faced any consequences for lying?

You can probably find someone if you take a wide enough stance

[bago]

Well, if you lie about a blowjob, the ends of the earth will unravel. However, if you lie about your whoring, you'll pull so much weight that you will get the madam involved to commit suicide, and keep your office to this very day, while promoting "family values". That's just the way they roll in Georgetown.

[Warning]

Ever since I learned that Brett pulls this same song and dance on many other forums, I take his conservativeness much less seriously. He might as well be a troll.

Google "brettmcd aol" and the first link should take you to plenty of fun.

[FoRmaT]

When's the last time any politician faced any consequences for lying?

You can probably find someone if you take a wide enough stance

Milosevic?

[JeffL]

I think I like that Palin may be the new face of the far right. She's such a buffoon (and I started out giving her the benefit of the doubt) that she creates an easy opening for some of the moderate Republicans who are starting to peek out these days. I know some pretty conservative Republicans who really consider her to be a joke -they would back a moderate if she was the only other choice.

[FoRmaT]

Google "brettmcd aol" and the first link should take you to plenty of fun.

What sort of asshole forum moderator does something like that? Openly announcing how and why he's banning someone in a 500 word blurb?

[JD]

Personally, I think explanation #2 is more likely; I would guess that she believes her own lies & doesn't care what so-called "fact checkers" have to say. But that's the diagnosis of one armchair psychologist analyzing someone he's never met.

I'm going for #2 as well - it's how she perceives reality. Palin seems to surround herself with people whom she expects to be really, really loyal. Pissing her off gets you shitcanned pretty quickly. So, you have someone who apparently is not overly educated to begin with with a posse that's busy confirming her views.

[jerri blank]

I think I like that Palin may be the new face of the far right. She's such a buffoon (and I started out giving her the benefit of the doubt) that she creates an easy opening for some of the moderate Republicans who are starting to peek out these days. I know some pretty conservative Republicans who really consider her to be a joke -they would back a moderate if she was the only other choice.

David Brooks said as much on ABC this morning.

[Jason McCullough]

All politicians do this sort of thing; it goes with the narcissistic personality type they have. Palin's a hell of an extreme case though.

Huey Long-style demagogue is maybe right. She'll never get as far as him, though, as she doesn't have his light touch, or ability to deliver to constituents. She strikes me as more of a all hot air type; I can't think of a good example. George Wallace delivered the culture war, but he also was apparently an effective governor. Looking at wiki, I see Wallace's segregation forever speech was written by Asa Earl Carter....who also wrote the Outlaw Josey Wales?!?!?!?. What the fucking hell.

[Unicorn McGriddle]

Palin is the most classic demagogue in US politics since Huey Long.

I know what you mean, and it's true as far as it goes, but Long's successor, George L. K. Smith, is a much better comparison.

[JeffL]

This is REALLY sexist and REALLY unfair, probably, but she does strike me as the beauty pageant queen who has always had people fawning over her and telling her how profound she is etc. And hey, she's been elected governor of Alaska, got a bazillion dollar book deal, been chosen to be a VP nominee, etc. You get the behavior you reward.

[JeffL]

All politicians do this sort of thing; it goes with the narcissistic personality type they have. Palin's a hell of an extreme case though.

I don't think anyone is more narcissistic than Bill Clinton. The difference is that he is wicked smart - she appears to be fence post dumb.

[Jason McCullough]

Heh, and the smarts keep it under control. Not a bad theory.

[Brettmcd]

I don't think anyone is more narcissistic than Bill Clinton. The difference is that he is wicked smart - she appears to be fence post dumb.

The other difference is Clinton lied while under oath. But i guess thati s no big deal either.

[WarrenM]

Welcome to my ignore bin, troll.

[Inuvix]

The AP fact checks Sarah Palin's book.

I'm still waiting for the AP to put 10 fact checkers on "Dreams from My Father", you know, our actual President's book, rather than the losing Vice Presidential candidate. But I won't hold my breath.

And did you see those "lies". What a joke! The best you guys can do is, as usual, pathetic.

Ever since I learned that Brett pulls this same song and dance on many other forums, I take his conservativeness much less seriously. He might as well be a troll.

Welcome to my ignore bin, troll.

The legendary liberal open mindedness on display. And I love how you need to announce that you're ignoring him. If you ignore me, please announce that too. Because, it will be harder for me to sleep at night knowing there's one less lib on Qto3 that's not reading my stuff.