Palin Foe Frozen Out of Auction When Identity Revealed

I have a confession to make. I've been watching the Sarah Palin Ebay charity dinner auction with somewhat of an obsession. Who would be willing to bid $25,000 or more for dinner with Sarah Palin? Newsworthy? Probably not. More important things to think about? You betcha. But I've been doing it anyway. It's cheap entertainment when you're sitting around sick with the flu. Blame it on the Nyquil.

The best part about my frivolous obsession, is that shortly after I started watching the auction, I became privy, thanks to a couple of the bidders, to the strange and mysterious back story of the bidding wars. There were seven bidders total. And we know for a fact that at least two of them were not of the "Palinbot" persuasion. And we know that both successfully passed the "pre-approval" process.

First, there's Ken Morris - Wall Street whiz, trader-turned-financial-thriller-novelist, whose top bid exceeded $50,000. What was he hoping if he won "the experience?" He explained it this way.

There exists an emotional divide in this country that I've not experienced since I attended the University of California near the end of the Vietnam War. As a protester who took to the streets post the bombings of Cambodia and being tear-gassed on three occasions and nearly arrested twice, I was part of the schism that ripped apart our generation. While leaving scars that thickened the hearts of many from that era, the ending of the war allowed for a healing to begin. Painful, but now mostly a distant memory.

Today's rancor, however, troubles me more profoundly. Why? Maybe it's because I don't see a catalyst--like the end to a tragic war--that will magically lead us to end this political divide. Politically biased "news" channels, over-heated rhetoric by bloggers, and (in my view at least) the demise of investigative mainstream journalism and the role of Watergate-like Fourth Estate, are here to stay. This period has more the odor of the Civil Rights debate that ripped apart the South during the administrations of President Kennedy and Johnson. A rift that has never been bridged.

How, I'll ask Ms. Palin, can we work together ("we" meaning not just her and me, but all people on both sides of the political fence) to begin to fix this? I'll ask her a few questions that might seem harsh, but aren't intended to offend--after all, we must be honest, no? Do your regret saying several hundred times that our president "...palled around with terrorists..."? Do you really believe that providing health insurance to all Americans is socialism or fascism or Nazism or that there are truly 'death squads' in these proposals?

Wow. So, that pretty much would have ruled him out, even if he had been the top bidder.

Why? The auction rules clearly state that:

Governor Palin reserves the right to refuse dinner with a winning bidder if, in her sole discretion, the winning bidder is not a suitable bidder based on her subjective standards of suitability, professionalism, background and other factors. In the event the high bidder is rejected for this reason, the high bidder's bid will be refunded, if paid, and the next highest bidder shall be notified, and thereafter, until a suitable match is determined.

Bridging divides? Pallin' around with terrorists? Serious discussion about policy? Death panels? We can almost imagine Palin's handlers smacking down a big red rubber stamp on Ken Morris' application: "REJECTED."

That brings us to our second candidate, dubbed c***i by the Ebay alias assignment team, and known to those in the outside world as Joe McGinniss. McGinniss, also an author by trade is best known for his books The Selling of the President about Richard Nixon, and Going to Extremes, about Alaska, oil and the 1970s pipeline boom. McGinniss is an outspoken critic of Palin, evidenced most recently by his article for Conde Nast's Portfolio entitled Pipe Dreams, which cast a critical eye on Palin's handling of the ever-elusive Alaska gasline. McGinniss is currently working on a book whose focus will be the ex-governor herself.

McGinniss, hoping to win the auction, had the high bid at one point close to the end. The amount was a whopping $60,101.01, and he was willing to go higher. And then something interesting happened. The Alaska Dispatch came out with a story identifying McGinniss as one of the bidders. When the unsuspecting c***i went to place his next bid in the amount of $60,301.01, he was met with this message:

Despite his previous pre-approval, his dreams of sniping the auction were dashed. McGinniss was unapproved, with only an hour to go, and the brief and glorious career of c***i was cut off at the knees. Presumably this untimely freeze-out allowed the Palin camp to avoid future embarrassment.

So, who did win? Cathy Maples, the owner of a defense contracting company in Alabama. She thinks Sarah Palin is pretty swell, and hopes she gets to be president some day. McGinniss passed on the following note to the lucky winner:

Ms. Maples,

As one of the underbidders, I salute you and congratulate you on winning the dinner with Sarah Palin.

I'm pleased that my bids helped increase the total proceeds that will go to our wounded veterans through Ride2Recovery. I wish you the best for your forthcoming trip to Alaska.

Although I would have enjoyed the opportunity for a frank exchange of views with Gov. Palin, I'm pleased that someone with your record of accomplishment will grace her table.

Sincerely,
Joe McGinniss

Ken Morris, says he'll make a donation to Ride2Recovery anyway, despite the fact that his bid was not high enough to win "the experience" with Ms. Palin.

And as for Ms. Maples, she'll be planning a long trip to Alaska soon to collect on that dinner. Or maybe she won't have to. A few hours after the auction was posted on September 8, there was a revision made to the listing.

Alabama? Why would the "experience" happen in Alabama? That would be pretty inconvenient, unless you, like our lucky winner, perchance happen to live in ... wait for it ... Hunstville, Alabama.

Perhaps they thought AL was Alaska? That mistake's been known to happen, but it says "Alabama" all spelled out like that. Pretty weird.

Well, one great thing that came out of all this reality auction drama is that Ride2Recovery made a whopping pile of cash for a really good cause. I think if I ever cross paths with Joe McGinniss or Ken Morris, I'm going to take them out to dinner. They've got to be cheaper dates than Sarah Palin, and a whole lot more fun.

Follow AKMuckraker on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Mudflats

Comments

[Charlie Peters]

support HR1207

[damnedgentlemen]

I recently obtained a highly classified transcript of Palin's last speech, with all the B.S. edited out:

"Good Evening...(scene missing)...Thank you and good night!"

End Transcript

[dustiedog]

It's just too bad that the GOP didn't find her sooner.
She could have run with Bush in 2000 and saved us all a lot of trouble.

I am a disabled Vet from the first Gulf War and am ashamed that raising money for the care of my fallen comrades has come to this. This definitely is one of the low points in American history when an uneducated, loud mouthed hypocrite perpetuates her political agenda in the name of helping our heroes.

Shame on you Sarah Palin you truly disgust me.

[zackxaq]

Welcome to the new McCarthyism. Go ahead and label those lefties Communist, Socialist, Nazi. We stand for the freedoms provided in the Constitution. It is our right to say what we want. Hey... don't call me that? Ok.... that's it.... You aren't allowed to write on my facebook page anymore...­..........­..

By the way... Vote for me.

Ludicrous. If Sarah Palin was president and the pundits were talking about her the way they are talking about Obama, would free speech still exist?

[Actongue]

It does not suprise me that Sarah would censor or ban people.

She has been having people banned/blocked from her Facebook page for quite some time now.

I understand the blocking if people make crude disgusting comments.

However, comments that are verbatim in what Sarah says will get a poster banned if they do not paint Sarah in an intelligent, bright rosey way The poster will also CENSORED/blocked from her Facebook page.

Some claim she can do whatever she wants because she is a Citizen. This would be true, but there are many that were banned from her page back when she was Governor so it gives you some insight to exactly what kind of person she is when she was in a position of power.

If she tried to control just that one aspect when Governor it is plain to see what she would do with a higher authority.

[scyntar]

Well, all in all, it's awful nice that the proceeds go to a good cause. And I do mean that. Meanwhile ... tick tock ... Mrs. Palin's scheduled keynote speech at the CLSA Investors' Forum Wednesday in Hong Kong draws nigh.
"We have asked her to address US foreign policy, to discuss her views on governance, healthcare, and of course, China," Jonathan Slone, chief executive officer of the Asia-focused brokerage, said in an interview with AFP.
Palin was chosen to speak since she's a possible Republican candidate in the next US presidential election and because of her influential role in politics, he said.
"... a possible Republican candidate in the next US presidential election." Are you serious? Anyhoo, I am looking forward to hearing the content, and watching the presentation.

[Zeroes]

Wow...close to a million on facebook...

[Actongue]

Aye and many of those are not "Fans of Sarah" they are on their for a variety of reasons.

Many of them can not believe that people actually think that there are those that support her.

Others are there because they want to Charac uhmmmmm yea Mock her.

Some even join it because they thought it was a support group for those with palinitis.

[ebanks84]

Can this woman do ANYTHING honestly?

[SnapShots]

Hi there, America!

I just popped in to give ya a big hello and proudly for all the bids to have dinner with me and, also the winner Cathy Maples, a true patriot and such an important role providing arms for our country's patriots that bring us safety for us here at home.

The bidding was hands down for winner Cathy Maples and I will sit down and break bread and toast with a true patriot to the things that make this country great and also the true Americans who believe in our constitution, and millions yes millions of people who made that long trek to Washington, D.C., to protest runaway spending and reigning it in and lowering taxes and also celebrating the true patriots who make this country so great on 9/12.

Showing so much support from all of you good Americans who believe in what's right and aren't afraid to go out there and carry signs and also seeing fathers 'tea baggin' with daughters and sons and neighbors and everyone else for that matter and putting your faith in me and all of us truly patriotic Americans and the Great State of Alas-kah and also supporting me because that's what this country is all about and I am so proud to be an American (wink) and to have so much support from all the other true Americans. I tell ya, it does this patriot proud.

Luv ya!

Sarah Palin

[Am-I-Dreaming]

Stop. You're killing me! Either you're the speechwriter for all of her impromptu chatter or you have a brilliant career ahead of you in comedy writing.

I write for a living and could never write like this. Kudos for a GREAT post.

[aphid]

Brilliant!

[superjules]

I love your almost complete lack of punctuation. Because you know that's exactly how she would write it! Kisses.

[Bademus]

Tina?

[lordmi]

You should add "also" after every fourth word.

[Lee323]

Interesting post, AKMuckraker.

If Palin put as much thought and energy into intellectual pursuits as she does into hiding that she's a cowardly sham, she might actually accumulate some modest credentials. Or not.

[lordmi]

intellectual?
hmmmmmm
does not that propose to have an intellect?
If so - how could she make it without any?
even any brains?
even any tool to think with?

[chris76543]

Very true - but I don't think she's smart enough. She seems to have a need to be the center of attention and no matter what she'd study, someone else would know more. But she CAN be the number one muckraking rabble rousing ditzy barracuda, so she pursues that.

[hwoodude]

Dinner with Sarah Palin? You'd pay to do this? HUH? Get real, pilgrims...if you want to really raise oddles and oodles of money for a good cause....why not open up bids for money someone would pay N O T have a meal with Sarah?! I'll start out with..say, twenty bucks? Thats about what it would cost for a couple of Big Macs and all the trimmings, right? Well?

[LiberalLee]

Did anyone actually believe for even a split second that ole, " Quit while the quitting's good" Sarah would have dinner with anyone that might try to pin her down and ask her a real unscripted, can't-chec­k-with-som­eone-first question?
I didn't.
While the charitable end result is a good one, why not just make the donation and skip the Sarah part?
I can't imagine a more boring, self-centered, dinner guest.

[pixiepotpie]

I would like to sell my circa-1984 fushia ski pants on E-Bay. However, I don't want to sell them to anyone whom i deem as "uncute," as i would hate to run across a picture of someone I deem unsuitable wearing the pants formerly known as mine. So, under the current guidelines, is it okay, therefore, to have my proposed bidders provide me with a "rearview," so i can decide exactly Which bidder i want to win? I think that sounds fair, and hey, what a bonus to have all the other bidders drive the price up!!! Who knew E-Bay could be quite This lucrative!!! :)

[RuffNReddy]

Hilarious!

[spartancaver]

Then can I offer up a dinner date with ME! A some what semi - famous author, at least in the Cracker Barrel Circle of Scoutmasters back in the 90's. One time construction shop manager for a 5 season long Home Improvement Show on HGTV. I mean who wouldn't be willing to travel 30 miles and give my favorite chairty The Boy Scouts of America $50 for a dinner date with me. Let the bidding begin.

[pixiepotpie]

I'll bid 1 dollar, but only if Barney comes along. :)

[laocoon]

same old m.o. for death panel palin-- refusing to be questioned.