Sarah Palin Welcomes New Next-Door Neighbor: ‘Scathing’ Journo Joe McGinniss

by Glynnis MacNicol | 10:36 am, May 25th, 2010

» 19 comments

I have to imagine that when legendary (“scathing”) political writer Joe McGinniss (The Selling of the President) landed a book deal with Random House last fall to pen a “investigative narrative of Sarah Palin‘s significance as both political and cultural phenomenon and as an embodiment of the contradictory forces that shaped Alaska as it moved into its second half-century as a state” he did not take into consideration Sarah Palin’s Facebook page. Or maybe he did and this is a part of a secret, ingenious, PR campaign. Either way, Sarah Palin says ‘Welcome.’ Actually, she says: “Hi, neighbor! May I call you “Joe”?

McGinniss has apparently rented the house next door to Palin’s in Wasilla, Alaska in order to research his new book, and has been taking the view from over the fence; something Palin does not fail to make sound slightly creepy. This is how Palin greeted him on her Facebook page:

Spring has sprung in Alaska, and with this beautiful season comes the news today that the Palins have a new neighbor! Welcome, Joe McGinniss!

Yes, that Joe McGinniss. Here he is – about 15 feet away on the neighbor’s rented deck overlooking my children’s play area and my kitchen window. Maybe we’ll welcome him with a homemade blueberry pie tomorrow so he’ll know how friendly Alaskans are.

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?

Welcome, Joe! It’ll be a great summer – come borrow a cup of sugar if ever you need some sweetener. And you know what they say about “fences make for good neighbors”? Well, we’ll get started on that tall fence tomorrow, and I’ll try to keep Trig’s squeals down to a quiet giggle so we don’t disturb your peaceful summer. Enjoy!

- Sarah Palin

Maybe McGinniss will write a book about the Facebooking of Palin. Even better, however, would probably be if Palin just collected her Facebook “notes” and published them. Steve thinks it would make millions. In the meantime, one can only hope McGinniss opens a Twitter account.

Facebook, Joe McGinniss, Piper Palin, Sarah Palin, Todd Palin, Wasilla

MichelleF

A little creepy if you ask me.
badr

Freak.
MichelleF

I’d be happy to lend her my 90lb American Bulldog, who wears a shirt that says, “I bite Liberals”.
paulmdoro

I’m sure he’d be terrified. Good strategy to help draw attention to himself and sell books down the line. Imagine that. Someone engaging in shameless self-promotion. In America of all places, where no one ever does or says anything to garner media attention.
ImNotBlue

…in order to research his new book, and has been taking the view from over the fence; something Palin does not fail to make sound slightly creepy.

Slightly creepy? If that’s what “slightly creepy” looks like, I’d hate to see what “creepy” looks like.
Fox News: We proudly pander to Teabaggers

it is “creepy” from the people who love it when Bill O’Reilly sends his stalker-producer to wait outside homes of his political enemies. vile hypocrites.
http://politicsofdestruction.com/ Bobomatic

Yup… a tad on the creepy side… a biographical stalker. Liberal is as liberal does.
MichelleF

Fox News: We proudly pander to Teabaggers says:
May 25, 2010 at 1:39 pm
it is “creepy” from the people who love it when Bill O’Reilly sends his stalker-producer to wait outside homes of his political enemies. vile hypocrites.

Not his political enemies, enemies of the folks. You know, like judges who like to let perverts out of prison, but not answer for it.
paulmdoro

Like Al Gore? Or Bill Moyers? Or Amanda Terkel, who was aggressively ambushed by O’Reilly’s producer while on vacation?
MichelleF

paulmdoro says:
May 25, 2010 at 2:19 pm
Like Al Gore? Or Bill Moyers? Or Amanda Terkel, who was aggressively ambushed by O’Reilly’s producer while on vacation?

Unfortunately, if you are a drive-byer that refuses to answer for yourself, sometimes that has to happen. Al Gore won’t answer any tough questions, and is profitiing to the tune of millions of dollars off of what alot of people consider to be a lie. If you’re going to be a coward, those are the breaks.
paulmdoro

It’s also pretty cowardly to ambush someone who’s on vacation and merely expressed distaste with O’Reilly’s disgusting comment that a teenager who was raped and murdered was a moron and brought it on herself due to her attire at the time. It seems to me that people like yourself are only outraged by ambushing if it’s done by the other side. If your side does it, it’s perfectly fine.
Barney

Wow..simply wow..these fucking libtard freaks aren’t just creepy..they’re out of their minds and dangerous.

I’m sure Sarah isn’t intimidated for herself..she has a lot of guns and knows how to use them.

What worries me is what this fucking freak might do the small children
paulmdoro

Why does he have a history of harassing or harming small children?
Chudi

Can you imagine what the media would say if somebody did this to Obama…
gahanson

I’m sure all the feminists who lobby for strickter anti-stalking laws will side with Sarah on this one. Oh, wait, it’s Sarah Palin, so the feminists will all sing the praises of the stalker, and applaud him.

McGinniss is obviously a creep, and is probably getting paid by the DNC, because this sounds like part of their psychological warfare operation aimed at Palin. Palin’s proved a tremendously tough customer, and this pathetic and creepy turn will fail like all the other attempts to intimidate her over the last 21 months.
http://www.sailrabbits.com Magister

I predict that at the end of five months, McGinniss will have two books. One about Palin and another about the adjustment from Massachusetts and the East Coast to the rhythms of Alaska.
paulmdoro

This is selective outrage. If a conservative writer moved next to Obama to research and write a book, and a host on MSNBC called for a boycott of the writer’s publisher, conservatives would be irate.
Snake Pliskin

Sara is looking better all the time. Tough as Nails. Someone I would vote for in a heartbeat to rid us of this socialistic hyjacking thru greed, corruption, and the chicago way. Ck out Shore Bank in Chicago, or Chicago climate exchange, or just plain globalization of government. Or Jones, Ayers, Rogers, Gore, Goldman sacks, and more. These people are not looking out for this country, they are taking it down.
Sunnyr

Effing Creep! Stalker!!