With Sarah Palin around, there is no slow news day
Let’s see if I’ve got this straight. Sarah Palin is often criticized for being a publicity hound and calling attention to herself. But when she doesn’t do something, or stops doing something, that’s big news, too.
So when observers perceived that her bus tour had stopped hurtling forward, it was news.
Just like when she quit the governnorship, right? Except that this time she went back to Alaska because—are you ready?—she was called up for jury duty.
It is hard to believe this was a big story (or, actually, series of stories) yesterday, but it was.
Her timing is exquisite. Rather than put out a press release about Jury Duty, she continues to let the media stew. String them out and let them look like fools.
The real question is, how many times are they going to reveal their psychosis over Palin before they stop it? How many times have they thought they had Palin only to have their legs cut of from under them? After a while, even “smart” people realize they should stop beating the head against the wall.
I’m not intrinsically a Sarah Palin fan, but I’m becoming more appreciative on watching how easily and repeatedly she outwits the “journolists.” She makes them dance a merry jig to her tune, and makes this soi-disant sophisticates look like fools in the process. I love it. If she can perform half as well against America’s other enemies as she does against the media, she might not be such a bad President, methinks. Let’s face it, we’ve done worse. Lots worse.
I won’t be the first to point out that, due to unforeseen circumstances, Palin might be providing “covering fire”, or a smoke screen, or a diversion that lets Bachmann slide through unnoticed.
If the MFM starts in on Bachmann, it’s probable that a least some potential voters will see it’s a tactic aimed at conservative women and not honest reporting. If that matters to anybody not currently favoring Palin.
1. A little googling reveals that both state and federal courts in AK allow jury duty to be excused or deferred. Just sayin’.
2. Richard Aubrey, come to think of it, IMHO Palin’s truncated gubernatorial record qualifies her to be Secretary of the Interior.
gs
ref jury duty. So? She’d be a better…something if she bailed?
Part of “jury duty” is “duty”. Archaic concept, I know, but the bitter clingers seem to like it. No accounting for taste.
The real question is, how many times are they going to reveal their psychosis over Palin before they stop it?
They can’t. Much like Uncle Remus’ “tar baby”, they’re “stuck on” Palin, and “just can’t quit” her.
I love this.
No big public announcement, just Palin merely stopping her bus tour (campaign?) to do her CIVIC DUTY.
And when the MSM, who has been feverishly following her every move, swoops in to catch her in a misstep and they find out the reason. Jury duty!
Everyone hates it and tries to find a reason to get out of it, but it’s an essential element of citizenship.
I tell ya, I don’t envision a scenario in which I would vote for this woman (unless she were running against Obama) but I do think she is the real deal. And downright awesome.
A little googling reveals that both state and federal courts in AK allow jury duty to be excused or deferred. Just sayin’.
Having recently filled out the juror survey for the local Federal district court, they only exemptions are:
1. you’re not eligible to serve (a felon or non-citizen)
2. you’re pregnant
3. you’re a primary care giver to small children or elderly people who depend upon such care
As I recall, in my local state courts, the exemptions are the same. I’ll guess they’re similiar in Alaska, with possible additions of “inclement weather”, “snow machine is broken” and “ice fog”.
You’re also not permitted to serve on a particular jury if you know the lawyers involved, or if you know the plaintiff (civil) or the defendent (civil or criminal). But that happens after you’ve been determined as being eligible.
I R A Darth Aggie:
I’ve filled out the questionnaire too, and I seem to remember a provision for people who are essential to a business.
One of the problems with the justice system is that it’s so easy to be excused from jury duty. Plenty of working people and business owners manage to wangle exemptions and excusals. What’s left are disproportionately half-wit soap opera watchers, who can be easily manipulated to “stick it to the Man”.
I’ve been called for jury duty twice, once for my county and once for federal court in Philadelphia. Each time I sat in the jury pool all day and was never called in for an interview, and was excused at the end of the day.
There was one other time in the mid-90s when Comet Hyakutake was approaching. It was predicted to become unusually bright (and it sure was!). I got a summons for jury duty and I immediately thought I would be sequestered and thus unable to watch the comet. I wrote a letter to the county requesting a delay, and explained why. I made it very clear that I was not seeking an excusal and would be happy to serve in a month or two once the comet was gone. A couple of weeks later I received a form-letter postcard saying “Your request for excusal has been granted.” I guess their computer software didn’t have any provision for comets.
I think that the fear of jury duty is powered in part by the sensational trials that are covered by the media, which grind on for months with a sequestered jury. That’s certainly the image I had when I wrote that letter I mentioned. But what percentage of juries are actually sequestered during a trial? I don’t know, but I now suspect it’s pretty low.
I R A Darth Aggie Says:
June 23rd, 2011 at 7:12 pm
…
Having recently filled out the juror survey for the local Federal district court, they only exemptions are: 1…2…3…
And I assert that the Alaska Federal District Court’s criteria for excuse or deferral from jury duty are, overall, materially broader than the criteria in your comment.
I propose a friendly wager to that effect, to be adjudicated by Neo. Loser donates ten bucks to this blog.
As others have pointed out , it is often not difficult to get out of jury duty. My guess is that while Sarah Palin could have gotten out of jury duty, she chose to embrace her responsibility as a citizen. It is quite possible that after being interviewed, she will not be chosen for jury duty.
… and if she *had* gotten out of jury duty, gs would have nailed her for that, too. It must be fun to always be right.
“If she can perform half as well against America’s other enemies as she does against the media, she might not be such a bad President, methinks. Let’s face it, we’ve done worse. Lots worse.”
I have no doubts about that. Palin is tough and savvy. Anyone who can rope a dope the MSM into getting their pantyhose into such a tangled, tight bunch is capable of running rings around the likes of Obama. Palin is rough and raw and brimming over with common sense. She lacks sophistication and hypocritical duplicity, and that is why I think she is our Harry Truman. If she decides to run I’ll petition her to make Cain her running mate.
I have done my time in the juror pool three times. I have always wanted to be chosen to serve because my wife has been a juror on two murder cases and she enjoyed the challenge and the chance to do her duty. I have wanted to serve as well, especially since I’ve been retired. For some dang reason the defense never wants me on the jury.
Sarah just keeps confounding the MSM with her old fashioned ways. You couldn’t write a better fictional story about a heroine who, by simply following the rules, bests her tormenters without mussing her hair. Right on!
So there is a discussion about how to get out of jury duty.
Why?
Is failing to duck the job some kind of a fault?
Oh, what am I saying?
With Palin, of course.
gs Says: June 23rd, 2011 at 5:05 pm
1. A little googling reveals that both state and federal courts in AK allow jury duty to be excused or deferred. Just sayin’.
The meaning of the word ‘defer’ is explained here.
Can anyone imagine Obama being held to Palin’s standards?
He would not have even made it to his gaffes –
He would not have gotten past his ‘church’ and his ‘friends’.