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Robert Greenwald

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PalinGate, Too much Sarah Palin, Not Enough Substance

Posted: 06/14/11 09:58 AM ET

There's nothing funny about Sarah Palin or her influence on our democracy, but together we can use satire to make an impact and undermine her aura of authenticity and altruism.

Brave New Films is out today with a People's Cut of Palin's upcoming movie, and you won't believe what she's saying right now about her film.

Satire is an effective tool to take the conservative opposition's perceived strengths and use it against them, which is what we're doing here with Palin's movie. This is not a film, but our best chance to redirect the nonstop media attention she's getting with her bus tour and upcoming film.


It feels like every time Sarah Palin blinks she's written up in the news, and we don't intend to give her more media attention. We can't stop the presses from covering her every move, but we can help focus, undercut and change the Palin narrative.

Her film is likely coming to a theater near you, and we've all been carpet-bombed by the film's plot, importance and potential. Thank you news media, but you don't need to be a film critic or TV anchor to know the film misses the truth.

That's why we're giving everyone a chance to tell Sarah what's missing from her film. We're going to take the best submissions and put them to a vote. The winner receives a Sarah Palin collectable bobblehead doll.

Her movie isn't out yet, but there's plenty of ammunition when considering things the film's missing. Early reviews focus on the films omission of the Troopergate scandal, when Palin fired an aide who declined to retaliate against a state trooper who went through a bitter divorce with Palin's sister.

The film also fails to acknowledge or 'refudiate' the smorgasbord of liberal, independent and conservative criticisms of Palin, preferring instead to portray celebrities like Bill Maher, David Letterman and Matt Damon as political clairvoyants.

The film's flawed on its most basic Film Production 101 levels too. Even the New York Post, never to be misidentified as a liberal rag, panned the film because music was awful and the plot would contradict earlier scenes. Ed Morrissey at Hot Air, certainly no fan of my work, was also disappointed a two-hour movie relied on so many quick cuts.

"I'd guess the average shot length has to be somewhere around three or four seconds," Morrissey wrote. "It reminded me of the cable-TV series Dream On, and not in a good way. Like the soundtrack, the overall effect is decidedly unpleasant."

Media pundits won't stop talking about Sarah Palin's move, bus tour and her potential to shake up the 2012 election. Let's grab the microphone, speak truth to power and tell everyone what's missing from Palin's movie.

 
 
 

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09:18 AM on 06/17/2011
My my, this Robert Greenwald sounds like he's jealous of all the attention Ms. Palin is getting. He claims he's tired of seeing/reading her in print, yet what subject does he choose to write about? why, its Ms. Palin! Or maybe he wrote it to get people to ACTUALLY read HIS 'article'. Could it be he used Ms. Palin's name because she's one of the most googled people? If they look up her name, HIS article gets attention. Imagine that! Tisk, tisk, Mr. Greenwald. I expected better from you.
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06:47 PM on 06/16/2011
Why don't you liberals spend you time and ask questions of the current administration rather then the witch hunt you current are on?

Should the Palin camp refrudiate the up coming HBO special?

Really, "we don't want to cover Sarah but everyday I wake up and have to write negative stuff since I am a hateful liberal loon who can can understand how the country is going broke.
10:02 AM on 06/16/2011
The worst form of sexism, Palin doesn't have to provide any substance, any answers or any idea of the specifics of her policies, even though she claims to be qualified to run for President. And yet the press keeps reporting on her as if she is legitimate because anytime anybody says anything negative about her she cries victim of sexism.

Pointing out actual facts is not being sexist. It is sexist to ignore every single fault of hers solely because she is a woman.
10:04 AM on 06/17/2011
When, may I ask, was the last time you REALLY listened to her answer anything? As for sexism, in all the articles I've read, in all her talks, never once have I heard her imply nor say she was a 'victim' of anything. That's a term the liberals pasted on her, not her opinion or how she sees herself. As I see it, those who whine the loudest, appear to be those who have never really even looked up her views or listened to what she has to say on any given subject. If you're referring to her from 3 plus years ago, you're judgment of her is outdated. You ever hear it said, "You've come a long way, Baby?" Well, guess what, she has....and then some.
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HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
DJE12857
RAGING LIBERAL,ANIMAL LOVER&RECOVERING CATHOLIC!
06:23 PM on 06/15/2011
Palin has something that keeps her in the spotlight and it's called nerve. You would think after almost 3 years of verbal flatulence she'd realize she will never be the first female president. She should get in her Batbie Dream Bus and ride into the sunset.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
ColoradoTaxpayer
1st generation American...auf gehts
02:09 PM on 06/15/2011
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2011/06/14/2011-06-14_sarah_palin_writes_at_an_eighthgrade_level_in_recently_released_emails_says_writ.html#ixzz1PHiqejZl

Sarah Palin writes at an eighth-grade level in recently released emails, say writing analysts
BY Christine Roberts
DAILY NEWS WRITER

Tuesday, June 14th 2011, 11:40 AM

It turns out Palin's writing skills are still better than most educated Americans. Global Language Monitor gave Palin's emails a score of 8.2, which actually exceeds that of most chief executives.

"She's very concise. She gives clear orders. Her sentences and punctuations are logical," said Paul Payack, president of Global Language Monitor. "She has much more of a disciplined mind than she's given credit for."

John Katzman, CEO of another company, 2tor, gave Palin a score of 8.5. He said the potential presidential candidate's emails scored higher than his own, when based on the widely-used Flesch-Kincaid readability test.

But what do the scores actually mean?

Payack offered Abraham Lincoln's "Gettyburg Address" and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech as points of comparison. They earned scores of 9.1 and 8.8, respectively.
jaslyn
why can't we all just get along?
06:56 PM on 06/15/2011
The difference is is that Palin has nothing substantial to say and she's very uninformed. These scores clearly can't draw sensible or credible conclusions. She may have her own way with words, but real intelligence and substance are sorely lacking.
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Aarroonn Fleszar
I caught Bin Laden
05:00 PM on 06/14/2011
Did it ever occur to anyone she's put herself in the position she's in with the media by pure intention?
04:38 PM on 06/14/2011
I can't believe that people will have to pay to see this woman further promote herself ---- promote herself!. From what I've read, this is the first time a feature length movie about a political figure will be shown in theaters throughout the country. Even if only her three million Facebook supporters bother to see it, the profits will quickly surpass the $1,000,000 production cost.
03:19 PM on 06/14/2011
The press has all gone up to alaska to investigate Sarah Palin's e mail. So far, we only see a hard working and engaged governor. Oh well, so much for investigative journalism.
11:40 AM on 06/15/2011
Really? Very few media members have gone to Alaska. The emails have been read by people already there or online. Don't let facts get in the way of your argument, however; that's what the Republicans do these days.
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OleLadySquawking
'Trickled' on since 1987!
03:10 PM on 06/14/2011
What's missing? A brain...
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librldem
Snarking for Merika n jebus! Glory!
02:10 PM on 06/14/2011
Sarah speak through a Salad Shooter into a Mr. Microphone. A translation device does not exist or planned.
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Skate Free
Run if you can, fly if you must!
02:40 PM on 06/14/2011
^^^ Incoherent comment is incoherent ^^^ Meds time!
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librldem
Snarking for Merika n jebus! Glory!
03:20 PM on 06/14/2011
which word(s) are you having trouble with?
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OleLadySquawking
'Trickled' on since 1987!
03:12 PM on 06/14/2011
I've said it many times, how could she function as president if even the English translators have to translate what she says first.
04:42 PM on 06/14/2011
Yes! --- Can you imagine her at a meeting with foreign heads of state? First a translator would have to translate Palin-speak into clear English, and only then could it be translated into foreign languages..
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julietrecamier
Responsible and accountable
01:59 PM on 06/14/2011
Yawn. I can tell you without looking what will show up in the comments.
moldndecay
Only that day dawns to which you are awake
06:24 PM on 06/15/2011
Folks feigning disinterest while posting passive aggressive jabs?
12:23 PM on 06/14/2011
Could Big Media look any dumber?

The all-points-bulletin attention that national media organizations gave to the release last week of official e-mails from Sarah Palin's tenure as Alaska's governor sure backfired.

Not only was Palin not discredited by the emails, but they exposed to the public a competent leader and a rather decent human being.

Imagine the disappointment of The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times and other outlets.
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Guscat
01:24 PM on 06/14/2011
You had better take a closer look at the emails.
10:09 AM on 06/17/2011
So had YOU. If there had been even ONE sentence they could have exploited and used against her, they would have.
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10:05 AM on 06/15/2011
Pablo - the good news is that the rudiments of introspection have been detected in even the most insular of the progressive mindset.

Understanding the value of diversity and the value of simplicity continues to be a development opportunity... Cultivating these characteristics will take awhile.

Regardless, it appears to me that the more educated progressives - the shepherds of the flock (like Obama or some of their comedians) are beginning to question whether or not the progressive mission was founded on reality.

That's *real* progress for us all.

F&F
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ignacio sanabria
Mirror synapses at work
11:58 AM on 06/14/2011
``The Media made me do it`` Sarah Palin.
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den1953
The best politicians are for free!
11:16 AM on 06/14/2011
If your in charge of the media you never can get enough of Sarah Palin her bank account demands it!
11:58 AM on 06/14/2011
I would think that Governor Palin would be the Feminist ideal. Humble background, worked hard in school, married a nice guy, became mayor of a small town, rose to Governor of our largest state, became, what, only the second woman on a serious presidential ticket, and then left public service to make a boat load of money. And raised a family. At the same time.

I would think, except for the small inconvenience that she does not see a constitutional right to abortion, this woman would be someone women every where would be proud of.

Name some women you look up to that have similar accomplishments please.
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den1953
The best politicians are for free!
12:37 PM on 06/14/2011
I would imagine you would have been one of her donors that paid for her vacation and history vacation thank you on behalf of the Palin family for a very lovely vacation, not only was it enjoyable but educational also. Now to answer your question about the woman in my life i look up to the most my first choice would be my wife of 38 years and second my deceased mother that taught me how to stay out of trouble and provide for my family!
12:42 PM on 06/14/2011
Thanks, but no thanks. Palin is the epic "Bridge to Nowhere" for feminists. Yeah, she worked hard in school--worked hard to stay in schools (5 colleges); married a nice guy who made going after Wooten while using the resources of the Governor's Office his mission; was mayor of a small town that had to hire a city administrator because Palin wouldn't or couldn't do the job; was governor of our largest state land mass-wise, not population-wise; and who knows who's raising her family as she's rarely in Alaska.
10:30 AM on 06/14/2011
The thought of Sarah Palin as President of this country and as a representative of women makes me sick. I am a GenXer, and I can state that Sarah Palin in no way shape or form represents my generation of females at all whatsoever. Her influence is dangerous indeed.
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den1953
The best politicians are for free!
11:18 AM on 06/14/2011
Very good thought because corporate influence has no time for women's rights profits over self worth in this modern age is more important for the politician!
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10:41 AM on 06/15/2011
"Only government knows best for you and me"
11:30 AM on 06/14/2011
Why?