Joe McGinniss Becomes Palin's New Gotcha-Journalist Neighbor

Lots of different journalists choose to cover the ever-evolving celebrity of sometime-Alaska Governor Sarah Palin in lots of different ways, but only one man -- author Joe McGinniss -- has gone so far as to actually rent the house next door to the Palin's residence in Wasilla, Alaska. From that perch, McGinniss will study the Palin family's comings-and-goings for a book he's writing on the subject, which I guess has sort of taken a "Northern Exposure meets Rear Window" turn?

For her part, Palin is taking the news that she's now being neighbor-stalked in humorous stride, actually, "welcoming" McGinniss to the neighborhood on her Facebook page:

We found out the good news today. Upon my family's return this morning from endorsement rallies and speeches in the Lower 48 states, I finally got the chance to tackle my garden and lawn this evening! So, putting on the shorts and tank top to catch that too-brief northern summer sun and placing a giddy Trig in his toddler backpack for a lawn-mowing adventure, I looked up in surprise to see a "new neighbor" overlooking my property just a stone's throw away. Needless to say, our outdoor adventure ended quickly after Todd went to introduce himself to the stranger who was peering in...

Joe announced to Todd that he's moved in right next door to us. He's rented the place for the next five months or so. He moved up all the way from Massachusetts to live right next to us - while he writes a book about me. Knowing of his many other scathing pieces of "journalism" (including the bizarre anti-Palin administration oil development pieces that resulted in my Department of Natural Resources announcing that his work is the most twisted energy-related yellow journalism they'd ever encountered), we're sure to have a doozey to look forward to with this treasure he's penning. Wonder what kind of material he'll gather while overlooking Piper's bedroom, my little garden, and the family's swimming hole?

(By the way, Alaskan geography isn't exactly my forte, but did Palin just refer to Lucile Lake as her "family's swimming hole?")

This isn't the first time McGinniss has gone to extremes to gain proximity to Palin. Last fall, when Palin was auctioning off the chance to have dinner with her for the Ride 2 Recovery charity, McGinniss jumped into the fray and attempted to win the auction. At one point, McGinniss had offered to pay $60,010 for the privilege (he eventually lost to Palin fan Cathy Maples, whose winning bid was $63,500).

Anyway, keep checking your bookstores for this fascinating on-the-scene account of Sarah Palin's lawn-care activities.

RELATED:
Annals of journalistic enterprise [Ben Smith/Politico]

PREVIOUSLY, on the HUFFINGTON POST:
Fan Beats Critics For "Dinner With Sarah Palin" On eBay

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Comments

[Ms Noncommunist]

03:08 AM on 06/07/2010

So I've found out something. Huffie doesn't post anything she doesn't agree with - no opposing views. Sounds like she's taking her quey right from the White House.

[Ivyfree]

02:34 PM on 06/06/2010

Unless the Palins are sacrificing puppies in their yard, the only thing that McGinniss can learn living next door is how Sarah reacts- with a snarky post and adding eight feet to a fence.
She can't stand having someone she dislikes next door, although she built their house only 20 feet from the preexisting house.

She had the obvious choice of behaving with dignity, but Sarah never met anything with dignity, and she's not starting now.

Seriously looking forward to Mr. McGinniss' book.

[patria nostra]

12:21 AM on 06/06/2010

I suppose one could argue either side of the issue of Palin's new neighbour. Freedom of speech versus satlking, and at the end of the day valid points could be made for both sides. It seems however that the sad point being missed is that with all of the problems that America is facing, people like Palin and Beck are preying upon the ignorant to make money. Now I have nothing against making money, it's just that America doesn't need even one more hate monger stirring up the easily manipulated. Palin shouldn't be getting the time of day, and no intelligent person would even harbour the fantasy of her being in a position of responsability. The problem is that not only the intelligent vote, and nowdays there are twenty four hour a day propaganda programs on tv and the radio. Whenever anyone starts to feel that Palin's rights are being infringed upon, just remember that Americans put that ignormaus on the presidential ticket. If writing a book will help people to understand how close they came to signing America's death warrant, so be it.

[nobamaever]

04:31 PM on 06/01/2010

What hippocrites. WHO wants a stalker living next door? WOULD YOU?? You people seriously need to get a life and let go of your HATE for Sarah Palin. Why does she scare you so badly?

[billcostley]

07:07 AM on 05/29/2010

Palin defences out her new neighbor
because he totes a loaded laptop, not
a loaded gun, committing the crime

palinites fear most: armed literacy,
staying on-line 24X7, writing
day & night. Afraid he'll publish

ad lib., she shudders at the
prospect, snarling visibly.

(28 MAY 10, Santa Clara CA)v3

[James Mangan]

10:20 AM on 05/28/2010

Obsession defined:
1) see McGinniss, Joe
2) see Huffington Post, readers of, reaction to all things Sarah Palin (including clothes, fences, children's names

[southdakotajack]

09:38 AM on 05/28/2010

I have read J. McGinniss' books, and I like the scholarly research he does -- always revealing new, relevant information that put the subject's actions into context. The extreme Palin fence appears to me to be an expression of Sarah's need to hide all things Palin, not just a view of the Palin residence. McGinniss is going to penetrate this fence just in time for the campaigns for the 2012 elections.

[James Mangan]

10:13 AM on 05/28/2010

Uh, have you read his book about Castel di Sangro? It was brutal.

[southdakotajack]

11:13 AM on 05/28/2010

No, I didn't read it. Don't care for the topic.

[Brian Fellow]

11:54 PM on 05/27/2010

Wait, she puts her toddler in a knap sack so she can mow the lawn? Nothing like exposing tiny lungs to all that exhaust, and tiny ears to that unmuffled engine noise.

[patria nostra]

12:24 AM on 06/06/2010

That's not fair, her son, "Beef Jerky", is the one that starts the mower.

[peskime]

10:50 PM on 05/27/2010

I bet her neighbor who rented the house to Joe, really likes Sarah and her brood, they like her all the way to the bank. LOL

[Abby580]

09:37 AM on 05/28/2010

The owner of the home approached Mr. McGinnis to offer him the rental.

http://palingates.blogspot.com/2010/05/sarah-palins-imaginary-threats-to-her.html#disqus_thread

[James Mangan]

10:13 AM on 05/28/2010

Most people would respond with "no thanks, I'm not crazy."

[edgarcaycedoc]

06:18 PM on 05/27/2010

I wonder if he lives in Russia?? She can see it from her house. Ol' Cruella DeVille (AKA Bailin' Palin") has a tremendous shortage of brains, and I am sure he will pick up on some of her more unintelligent moments. But I think it will make for a HUGE book about her, if they pick up on ALL the unintelligent moments.

[JUSTSAYING--]

06:05 PM on 05/27/2010

A view from her window...HILARIOUS!!!

http://wonkette.com/415683/the-view-from-her-window

[SME131]

03:43 PM on 05/27/2010

Palin just has too much to hide otherwise why would she care who is next door. The house was used for three full years as an Oxford house for men just released from prison who are addicts. Not once was she concerned about convicted criminals lurking into her house, yet a well known journalist moves in and she freaks out like a 5 year old. She constantly tries to inspire hate and vengeance from others on her part. No one threatens her, yet she loves having her crazy followers threaten others on her behalf. She (and her nutcase followers) need to be locked away in a padded room.

[imnofred]

01:27 PM on 05/27/2010

Now Palin has got ABC involved. She has persuaded them to spin the story in her favor and has gotten them to knock on Joe's door.

[Mixey]

01:12 PM on 05/27/2010

(((FOX BREAKING NEWS! Sarah Palin builds fence to block out biographer neighbor, Can no longer see Russia from her porch!)))

[ladyoftheisland]

12:50 PM on 05/27/2010

Hey, seriously, does she write this stuff herself? It sounds like it came from a PR firm. Who outside of junior high writes about donning a tank top and shorts? Grownups write about putting on jeans or sweats, not cute little outfits.

Why are so few people wondering why her neighbor would rent his house to this guy? If she had any kind of decent relationship with the neighbor he'd have given her the chance to rent it herself. She's been making millions, if she's really that concerned over her family's privacy why not buy the house next door?