Palin-Pranking Masked Avengers Merely Update The Couric Interviews

Sarah Palin got punked by the Canadian comedy duo known as the Les Justiciers Masques (the Masked Avengers) and, given the way the McCain campaign has controlled access to Palin, the prank feels like just plain good journalism -- almost as good as the real thing delivered by Katie Couric last month. The prank audio is entertaining, informative and damning, at least if you think the nation's leaders should be a little more sophisticated than, say, an excitable (and gullible) 10-year-old.

Utterly clueless -- the Masked Avengers' comically bad accents and pop culture and pornography references going straight over her head -- Palin blathers for what seems like hours, giving giggly answers and offering the slimmest possible analysis of her candidacy and the significance of campaign figure Joe the Plumber. At one point, she was led even to agree that FOX News broadcasts unfair critiques of her and is just another part of the the media bias in this country against muddle-headed winking Christian hockey moms.

The Avengers clearly could have gone on for hours with her, talking about the French first couple's sex life and the view of various countries from the Elysee Palace. Alas, they took pity on candidate Palin after even their compliments on Hustler's "Nailin' Palin," which they called the "documentary" of her life, elicited nothing more than giggling appreciation.

According to Ben Smith of Politico, the McCain campaign has confirmed that it was indeed Palin on the call. For real:

Gov. Palin received a phone call on Saturday from a French Canadian talk show host claiming to be French President Nicholas Sarkozy," emailed spokeswoman Tracey Schmitt. "Gov. Palin was mildly amused to learn that she had joined the ranks of heads of state, including President Sarkozy, and other celebrities in being targeted by these pranksters. C'est la vie.

A transcription of the call follows (minus the parts that I had trouble understanding due to the heavy fake accent):

[phone rings]

Palin staff member: This is Lexi.

Avenger: Hello Bexi

Palin staff member: Hi

Avenger: Hi, this is I'm with uh Nicolas Sarkozy on the line for Governor Palin.

Palin staff member: Yes, one second please, can you hold on for one second please?

Avenger: Yeah, no problem.

Palin staff member: Alright thanks.

[background noise]

Palin staff member: Hi, I'm gonna hand the phone over to her.

Avenger: Ok, thank you very much, I'm gonna put the president on the line.

In the background: [ok, he's coming to the line]

Palin: This is Sarah.

Avenger: Uh, yeah, uh, Governor Palin

Palin: Hello

Avenger: Just hold on for Sarkozy, one moment.

In the background, Palin: [Oh, it's not him yet [unintelligible] I always do that]

Avenger: Yes, yes, hello, governor

In the background, Palin: [I'll just have people hand it to me right when it's]

Avenger: Yes, hello, misses governor?

Palin: Hello, this is Sarah, how are you?

Avenger: Fine and you, this is Nicolas speaking, how are you?

Palin: Oh, so good, it's so good to hear you [giggle] thank you for calling us.

Avenger: Oh, it's a pleasure

Palin: Thank you sir. We have such great respect for you, John McCain and I. We love you, and thank you taking a few minutes to talk to me.

Avenger: I follow your campaigns closely with my special campaign adviser [not sure what name he says here] you know.

Palin: Yes, good.

Avenger: Excellent, uh, are you confident?

Palin: Very confident, and we're thankful that polls are showing that the race is tightening, and...

Avenger: Well, I know very well that the campaign can be exhausting, how do you feel right now my dear?

Palin: I feel so good. I feel like we're in a marathon, and at the very end of a marathon, you get your second wind, and you plow through the finish...

Avenger: You see, I got where I am in France because I'm real, and you seem to be someone who's real as well.

Palin: Yes. [giggle] Yeah. [giggle] uh, heh, Nicholos, we so appreciate this opportunity...

Avenger: You know, I see you as a president one day, you too

[giggle] Maybe in 8 years

Avenger: Well, uh, I ... for you. You know, we have a lot in common because personally one of my favorite activities is to hunt too.

Palin: Oh, very good, we should go hunting together.

Avenger: Exactly, we should go try hunting by helicopter like you did, I never did that. Like we say in France [something in French]

Palin: I think we'd have a lot of fun together, as we're getting work done -- We can kill two birds with one stone that way

Avenger: I just love killing those animals, mm mm, take away life that is so fun.

Avenger: I'd really love to go as long as we don't bring your Vice President Cheney [laugh]

Palin: No, I'll be a careful shot

Avenger: Yes, see, you know we have a lot in common also because except from my ass I can see Belgium, that's kind of ...

Palin: Well see, we're all next door to countries that we need to be working with, yes.

Avenger: Some people said in the last days that you weren't unexperienced enough in foreign relations, and you know, that's completely false. That's the thing I said to the prime minister of Canada Stef Carse...

Palin: Well, he's doing fine too, and Yeah, when you come into a position underestimated, it gives you an opportunity to prove the pundits and the critics wrong, you work that much harder...

Avenger: I was wondering because you are so next to him, one of my good friends also the prime minister of Quebec Mister [Franc Ouvrier?] has met him recently did he come to one of your rallies

Palin: I haven't seen him at one of the rallies, but it's been great working with the Canadian officials in my role as governor. We have a great cooperative effort there as we work on all of our resource development projects. You know, I look forward to working with you and getting to meet you personally and your beautiful wife, oh my goodness, you added a lot of energy to your country with uhm with that beautiful family of yours.

Avenger: Thank you very much. You know my wife Cécilia would love to meet you, uh, you know, even thought she was a bit jealous today that I was supposed to speak to you today.

Palin: Well, give her a big hug from me.

Avenger: You know my wife is a popular singer and a former top model, and she is so hot in bed, she even wrote a song for you.

Palin: Oh my goodness, I didn't know that.

Avenger: Yes, in French it's called [says something in French] or if you prefer in English, Joe the plumber, [singing] it's his life, Joe the plumber

Palin: Maybe she understands some of that unfair criticism, but I bet she is such a hard worker too, and she realizes you just plow through that criticism, and ...

Avenger: To be sure, I don't quite understand the phenomenon Joe the plumber, that's not your husband?

Palin: That's not my husband, but he's a normal American who just works hard and does not want government to take his money

Avenger: Yes, yes, I understand, we have the equivalent of Joe the plumber in France, it's called [says something in French]

Palin: Right, that's what it's all about, is the middle class, and government needing to work for them, you're a very good example for us here.

Avenger: Uh, I see a bit about NBC even Fox News was not an ally sorry about as much as usual.

Palin: Yeah, that's what we're up against.

Avenger: I must say Governor Palin, I love the documentary they made on your life, you know uh, Nailin' Palin

Palin: Oh good. Thank you. Yes.

Avenger: That was really edgy.

Palin: Uh, well good. [giggle]

Avenger: I really loved you, and I must say something also governor. You've been pranked. By the Masked Avengers, we are two comedians from Montreal.

Palin: Ohhhh, have we been pranked? And what radio station is this?

Avenger: This is for CKOI in Montreal.

Palin: In Montreal? Tell me the radio station call letters.

Avenger: C-K - hello?

[unintelligible talking in the background]

Avenger: If one voice can change the world for Obama, one [unintelligible] can change the world for McCain.

[unintelligible talking in the background]

Palin's staff member: I'm sorry, I have to let you go, thank you.

Comments

[dianhow]

I am one of millions who have volunteered in the Obama campaign. Why ? The urgent issues of our day demand change and voter involvement. Republicans have controlled the Presidency for 20 of the last 28 years, many of those with a friendly congress. Look what they have left us with: 2 wars, a massive financial crisis, the middle class beaten down like in no other period of our history. Laws are passed that do not give the average worker a fair shake. Bush only cares about CEO's, corporations and the very rich. The take care of their own. .McCain accuses Obama of re-distributing wealth ? Not so, It's Bush, Cheney, and Reagan who have re-distributed tons of wealth to their fat cat pals. They have done away with regulations & safe guards and passed many free trade bills ..but no FAIR trade bills ! China sells billions in merchandise here, but we are limited in what we can sell there. And why don't we charge a tariff ( tax ) on all these items we sell for them ? Bush gives companies who ship jobs overseas a tax break ! McCain agrees. McCain has voted 15 x against an increase in the minimum wage and against the recent GI bill..McCain has also voted AGAINST regulation most of his long 26 year career, now he pretends to be a born again regulator.He & Palen have run a smear filled campaign. What happened to the McCain of 2000 ? .

[b8akaratn]

OMG, it's TOTALLY in English, what he says about the French equivalent (at 4:33 in):

"Yes, Yes I understand. We have the equivalent of Joe the Plumber in France; it's called 'Marcel the guy with bread under his armpit'."

^_^

haaaaaahahhahaha

[Susej]

Special Campaign Adviser is Johnny Halliday, a French rocker from the 60's-70's:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Hallyday

[Kerkyra]

Ok, so who was the Palin staffer who colluded swith these guy? C'mon, don't be shy now. Tell us who you are so we can thank you.

[GaiaTerra7]

One word sums up this woman and her crumbling party. Oblivious!

[grailknight]

Can't wait to revive the tape for "oh12"!

[Jason404]

If she has never heard of Naylin Palin, it shows how much she is being shielded from what is going on in the media, as otherwise she will probably freak out.

[angrykeyboarder]

I wonder though, hs it been mentioned on TV (CNN, MSNBC, CBS, Fox Noise, ABC..)?

[Checquoline]

This woman's mind is blank.

[Alonzo]

Even after I read that the phone call actually took place, and knowing what a dimwit Palin is, I couldn't believe that the call was real. I played it and re-played it, but thought I had missed something - that the whole deal was a comedy bit. How could Palin actually believe that the president of France would actually talk to her that way? His wife was "hot"? He wants to go hunting becomes he gets a kick out of destroying life? And she goes on blabbing and blabbing, as if she's talking to some pal at a check-out counter, or bar (after a few too many). The woman is an idiot!

[enoughalready]

How many trade dealings has Palin had with Canada? To not recognize this as a prank when the avengers mentioned Stef Carse as Prime Minister is so off the boards it really shows how out of touch she is in Alaska, too.

Her staff must be the dregs of society. Maybe they can't afford anyone that is competent.

God help us if this woman ever gains national office.

[LemonMeringue]

Kinda weird since Alaska shares a big border with Canada, and when the prime minister rears his head and enters U.S. airspace...

[Vere15]

To take your last comment a little farther

Sarah claimed that she was qualified and gained her foreign policy experience based on the fact that Alaska bordered on Canada.

Additionally, she masterminded the deal with Trans-Canada Pipelines of Calgary, AB close to Stephen Harper's riding and Harper is very well known to the world of energy.

Thirdly, Harper has made considerable noise about Arctic sovereignty and the MacDonald Dettwiler satellite issue went to the core of foreign policy.

So how did she not know that Stephen Harper was Prime Minister of Canada.

However, if Obama wins maybe she and Toddy will try to re-energize the Alaskan Sovereignty party to join Canada since it has a conservative leader.

[GaModerate]

WOW. She will talk to anybody without preconditions

[chosenson]

Here's the full transcript, including the words that Dawn did not catch and the French translations.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/11/1/163922/235/763/649110

[G FORCE]

THANK YOU!!!!
ITS ABOUT TIME THIS GOT POSTED ON HUFFINGTON!!!
AND THANK YOU CANADA!!!!
The real fun will be watching the GOP disintegrate!

[Sock]

Thank you Canada, we owe you a beer! Brilliant.

[kilobravo]

We should give them something more than a beer.... how about Alaska?

[stealthgurl007]

no thanks, we'd rather you send her back there on Nov 4th!

[Rural Juror]

OMG! Yes, let's give them Alaska, you betcha!
(you made me laugh really hard with this, thanks!)

[fishgirl26]

Hey, Beer and alcohol is really expensive in Canada.....I'll head up there next week and buy a round on the americans!!! The Canadians will be thrilled....Pilsner all around!

[politicalwise]

Ms Fluff and stuff at it again.