Sarah Palin: One Year Later

On August 29th, 2008, I woke up and, like almost every other American, was stunned by the news that Sarah Palin had been chosen as John McCain’s running mate. It was not that I had never heard of her or didn’t want her to be the pick (I had publicly called for her consideration numerous times), but because it was so clearly a very bold and risky maneuver and a true surprise in an era when we seemingly know everything well before it happens.

Moments after I heard the news I did a radio interview and predicted that the news media would destroy her in their transparent quest to pave the way for Barack Obama’s historic election. I had no idea just how right that “blink” calculation would be and I certainly never would have guessed that I would become a small part of that story by dedicating my life and fortune to documenting just how unbelievably bad it would get.

The last twelve months of Sarah Palin’s life truly bring new meaning to the phrase “what a difference a year makes.” I strongly believe that no public figure in modern America has ever endured more stress, pressure and unfair scrutiny in a more dignified fashion than she has over the past year (though what George W. Bush tolerated over the last three years of his presidency probably comes in a close second).

On August 28th of last year Sarah Palin was a largely unknown governor considered to be a rising star largely because of her willingness to take on Republicans in a way that had endeared her to Democrats. Today she is an ex-governor wrongly perceived by most of the country and virtually all of the news media as an erratic, unqualified, lightweight and ultra-partisan Republican who can’t even mange her own family.  (more…)

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Tags: Alaska, Barack Obama, Bill Maher, Chris Matthews, David Letterman
Posted Aug 28th 2009 at 7:55 am in Featured Story, Politics | 213110312 Commentshttp://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jziegler/2009/08/28/sarah-palin-one-year-later/Sarah+Palin%3A+One+Year+Later2009-08-28+14%3A55%3A02John+Ziegler

The Force is With Sarah Palin

Not to go an analogy too far, but Sarah Palin seems to be taking a page from the Hollywood playbook of George Lucas.  She has just completed her own introductory trilogy, and it was an astonishing success.  

First, she was a fantastically successful conservative governor lurking beneath the mainstream media’s radar.  Next, she was a vice-presidential candidate who, even though she lost, still did more to electrify the base than the headliner.  Third, she has now drawn the curtain on her post-election career as a sitting governor, a period that saw her deftly turn the tables on mainstream haters like David Letterman.   Like “Star Wars,” she’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but her fans are rabid and chomping at the bit for the next installments.  And as to these future installments, the question is whether the next step is going to be “The Phantom Menace” or something that doesn’t suck. (more…)

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Tags: Alaska, George Lucas, Katie Couric, sarah palin, Star Wars
Posted Jul 4th 2009 at 7:44 am in Politics | 176502434 Commentshttp://bighollywood.breitbart.com/kschlichter/2009/07/04/the-force-is-with-sarah-palin/The+Force+is+With+Sarah+Palin2009-07-04+14%3A44%3A28Kurt+Schlichter

Review: The Proposal

“Two Weeks Notice” hit theatres way back in 2002, which means a full seven years have passed since Sandra Bullock’s starred in a vehicle built around her that’s been at all appealing. And yet, she’s such an endearing star and the rare one whose private behavior has yet to diminish her public goodwill, that you can’t help but root for her. Unfortunately, when it comes to choosing projects all the goodwill in the world can’t change the fact that she needs better management.

Well, maybe she’s found some.

On paper, “The Proposal” sounds like more of the same; another concept-driven, fish-out-of-water romantic comedy. And that it is, but thanks to a solid script and winning performances from Bullock and co-star Ryan Reynolds, this coming weekend offers one of the better romantic comedies of the last few years.

“The Proposal” doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but built around the expected are a number of entertaining, very well written and performed scenes which create a believable central relationship you root for. The laughs are consistent, and though some are milked from contrived situations, most are earned honestly through realistic reactions from well-developed characters. Beneath it all beats a heart of the best kind; the kind that sneaks up on you in the end as if to say, “Who knew I cared this much?” (more…)

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Tags: Alaska, Betty White, Craig T. Nelson, Mary Steenburgen, Oscar Nunex
Posted Jun 18th 2009 at 5:03 am in Featured Story, Reviews | 163866One Commenthttp://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jjmnolte/2009/06/18/review-the-proposal/Review%3A+The+Proposal2009-06-18+12%3A03%3A21John+Nolte

Fool’s Gold

There’s a new gold rush on but you don’t have to head to the hills of California to be part of it.  All you have to do is tune in to talk radio and jot down an “800″ number where a few of the big syndicated shows pimp for the gold merchants.  The ads for these companies are all over radio and television.

I have no problem with a host or show taking advertising from any product.  If Rush wants to run a few Obama ads, no problem. If Dr. Savage can sell ads to the ACLU, I say he should give his sales staff a bonus. I’m a capitalist all for making a nickel who believes in the old saying, caveat emptor – buyer beware.  Yet, it’s different when the host reads the commercial live.  This signifies a level of approval beyond “we let this guy buy ads on our show.” (more…)

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Tags: ACLU, Alaska, California, CNBC, DNC
Posted Feb 26th 2009 at 5:43 pm in Media Criticism, Politics | 6586258 Commentshttp://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jjena/2009/02/26/gold-pimps/Fool%27s+Gold2009-02-27+01%3A43%3A24Jeffrey+Jena