| Blind Allegiance to Sarah Palin: A Memoir of Our Tumultuous Years | |
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| Price: | $7.25 FREE 2-Day Nationwide Shipping* |
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| Binding: | Hardcover |
| Publisher: | Howard Books |
| Author: | Frank Bailey |
| Language: | English |
| Dewey Decimal: | 979.8052092 |
| ISBN: | 1451654405 |
| Publishing Date: | 2011-05-24 |
| Page: | 400 Pages |
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Editorial Reviews
This explosive, up-close view of Sarah Palin comes from an inner-circle confidant who shares surprising information about how Sarah dealt with staff and perceived “enemies,” and the discrepancy between what she said and what she did.
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A must read for all American (and especially GOP) voters
A must-read for all political junkies
A must-read for all political junkies, future campaign workers, literature professors, and anyone who enjoys a classic tale of betrayal and power.
Bailey drank the Palin Kool-Aid early on -- he was in the inner circle throughout her meteoric rise from smalltown mayor to national influence. The book is as much about one good man's fight to avoid being disillusioned by his idol, as it is about the detailed pettiness and vindictiveness of Sarah & Todd's Alaska reign. You can feel the emotional struggle Bailey undergoes to maintain his status as Sarah's confidant and trusted consigliere while the cognitive dissonance of reality piles up around him, and eventually destroys his loyalty. The book is a primer on how not to build a solid political machine: how can anyone run for office after making enemies out of trusted friends and dedicated staff?
Bailey drank the Palin Kool-Aid early on -- he was in the inner circle throughout her meteoric rise from smalltown mayor to national influence. The book is as much about one good man's fight to avoid being disillusioned by his idol, as it is about the detailed pettiness and vindictiveness of Sarah & Todd's Alaska reign. You can feel the emotional struggle Bailey undergoes to maintain his status as Sarah's confidant and trusted consigliere while the cognitive dissonance of reality piles up around him, and eventually destroys his loyalty. The book is a primer on how not to build a solid political machine: how can anyone run for office after making enemies out of trusted friends and dedicated staff?
A True Story of Self-Realization
I was truly drawn into this book. The authors have managed to craft a very human story, not a "bash Sarah, tell-all."
Don't get me wrong, there's plenty not to admire about the Palins in this book. Anyone who has followed her bewildering rise to fame will not be surprised by how petty, vindictive, and immature their behaviors are. The big surprise, IMO, is how easily people fell into the Palin world of persecution and drama.
Bailey comes across as a normal, nice guy who simply stopped thinking, stopped questioning, stopped looking at the world through eyes other than Palin's. He demonstrates the real power of Palin's victim meme. No slight was too small for attention and retribution, and there was no such thing as "overkill."
Troopergate gets the bulk of the treatment here. There are a couple of things that don't get covered I would have liked to have had some insight on--the creation of the Yahoo accounts in particular, and the situation in Emmonak.
The emails are all his own, from his personal Yahoo account. They demonstrate beyond a shadow of a doubt that Palin lied during her Troopergate testimony. It'd be nice to see some charges filed regarding that. It was an egregious ethics violation and shows how little understanding she has regarding good government. In Sarah's mind, "good government" is her. Bad government is any challenge to her. There is no middle ground.
Palin is not the villain in this tale. She's too unaware of what she's doing to be considered "villainous." She has no clue she's harming *people*; everyone else is just an extra in the drama of her life. People enter and exit her life like actors on a stage. That the have a life beyond her stage is not considered. It's like she's truly fourteen, and cannot see beyond herself/family. I really pitied her more than anything. She's like a spoiled child who needs a new toy every day or feels like no one loves her. I find it hard to believe she's my age.
Bailey is properly contrite. He does a great job of looking at his actions with hindsight, but is as bewildered as the rest of us as to how it really got that far.
Don't get me wrong, there's plenty not to admire about the Palins in this book. Anyone who has followed her bewildering rise to fame will not be surprised by how petty, vindictive, and immature their behaviors are. The big surprise, IMO, is how easily people fell into the Palin world of persecution and drama.
Bailey comes across as a normal, nice guy who simply stopped thinking, stopped questioning, stopped looking at the world through eyes other than Palin's. He demonstrates the real power of Palin's victim meme. No slight was too small for attention and retribution, and there was no such thing as "overkill."
Troopergate gets the bulk of the treatment here. There are a couple of things that don't get covered I would have liked to have had some insight on--the creation of the Yahoo accounts in particular, and the situation in Emmonak.
The emails are all his own, from his personal Yahoo account. They demonstrate beyond a shadow of a doubt that Palin lied during her Troopergate testimony. It'd be nice to see some charges filed regarding that. It was an egregious ethics violation and shows how little understanding she has regarding good government. In Sarah's mind, "good government" is her. Bad government is any challenge to her. There is no middle ground.
Palin is not the villain in this tale. She's too unaware of what she's doing to be considered "villainous." She has no clue she's harming *people*; everyone else is just an extra in the drama of her life. People enter and exit her life like actors on a stage. That the have a life beyond her stage is not considered. It's like she's truly fourteen, and cannot see beyond herself/family. I really pitied her more than anything. She's like a spoiled child who needs a new toy every day or feels like no one loves her. I find it hard to believe she's my age.
Bailey is properly contrite. He does a great job of looking at his actions with hindsight, but is as bewildered as the rest of us as to how it really got that far.
I have never been a Palin fan and I have followed her antics over the last few years. Nevertheless, I was shocked at just how vindictive this woman was. She couldn't let any criticism of her pass and the depths to which she would go to extract vengeance was astonishing. Her vendettas against Chuck Thoma and Jim Minnery, and her delight at David Kernell's plight were sickening. This book paints a picture of a woman more interested in marketing herself and extracting retribution from her "enemies" than a woman interested in the business of governing.
What was also startling was her complete disregard for the people who had helped her along the way. The number of people she threw under the bus when she had no further need for them tells its own story.
This book also reaffirms to me that Palin is not mentally stable - she is very emotionally fragile. She didn't even trust her own husband. Todd had to ring or email her staff in the mornings to let them know what sort of a mood she was in! Her treatment of her own children is especially sad.
All in all, this is an excellent book and a real eye-opener. I strongly recommend it.
What was also startling was her complete disregard for the people who had helped her along the way. The number of people she threw under the bus when she had no further need for them tells its own story.
This book also reaffirms to me that Palin is not mentally stable - she is very emotionally fragile. She didn't even trust her own husband. Todd had to ring or email her staff in the mornings to let them know what sort of a mood she was in! Her treatment of her own children is especially sad.
All in all, this is an excellent book and a real eye-opener. I strongly recommend it.
John 8:32, "Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
Whether politically you lean right or left, this book is impossible to put down. Bailey's story paints a vivid picture of life and community in Alaska. After reading this book, there is no way to dismiss Bailey's convictions as genuine and humble. The man literally gave up everything to follow his heart in supporting Palin, who time and again displays a complete lack of regard for her closest allies, and utter contempt for her enemies. The book is less a bashing of Palin and more a story, supported by facts, of how Palin's thirst for attention compromises her relationships with her supporters, friends and family. To deny Palin as a megalomaniac, by definition is refusal to accept the facts substantiated in Bailey's recollection of Palin's rise to power. Put simply, from page to page her facade comes crumbling down as you see her touting her evangelical principles from one side of her mouth, while manipulating the citizens of Alaska, including her children from the other. Regardless of your political affiliation, it is impossible to complete this book and not feel compassion for Bailey's pure intentions and inevitably come to an obvious conclusion: Sarah Palin is a monster. Well worth the read.
Moral Autopsy Results in "Blind Allegiance":
I was shocked to read this book. Yes, I expected "Blind Allegiance" to document the lies and crass self-aggrandizement of Alaska's Sarah Palin. I did not expect such a beautifully written, well-documented and ultimately spiritually inspiring saga of the disintegration of one man's moral integrity as he works for Palin. This is a journey of a well-meaning soul's travail through hell and his ultimate spiritual re-discovery.
Initially,being a total new-comer to political activism, Bailey naively perceives Palin to be a self-less political reformer who expresses his ideals and warrants his help. In end, after five years of hard work at the expense of his family and reputation, he recognizes that he had sold his soul to a shattered idol.
As Bailey participates in Palin successful efforts to become a wealthy national celebrity, he begins to understand that she does not have the emotional stability or common sense that he assumed. He sees that she does not really care about the people who elected her or care about fulfilling her governmental responsibilities. He sees that his faith in her has been betrayed. She seeks not good government but good personal publicity.
Frank Bailey was a 35 year old political innocent when he was captured by the charm and apparent political courage of Sarah Palin. A Republican disgusted by the corruption of Alaska's then governor, Frank Murkowski, Bailey signed on to Palin's seemingly hopeless primary run against the well-funded governor with the willingness to clean the toilets of her shabby campaign headquarters, not with the goal of being Governor Palin's chief of staff. But during his five year Palin career, he went from an innocent to a dirty political operative himself as he carried out the erratic, arrogant and unethical demands of his political idol -- his "Reagan in a Skirt".
Bailey documents his descent into Palin's emotionally strewned nightmare with e-mails he received from Palin, her husband, Todd, and others in the their inner political circle, a circle which changed as old members were thrown aside and new members of the faithful recruited. With Bailey's help, Palin got to the very pinnacle of Alaska's government and then to the pinnacle of Republican Party national politics as vice-presidential nominee for John McCain's run against Obama.
The chronicle shows that virtually Palin's only political skills came in the form of marketing herself to voters through her physical looks and charm. Her skill set did not include knowledge of the real problems facing her state or her country, much less knowledge of how to actually run a government.
The majority of Palin's time in office was spent putting her considerable power to use in demolishing anyone who she perceived to be an enemy. She included in her enemies her former brother-law, Trooper Wooten and anyone who dared to voice the slightest criticism of anything she did or said. Palin was ruled by her emotional whims not reason, and thus she ruled Alaska. "Off with their head" said the queen of public charm and vicious attack, while her minions, of which Bailey was one of the most loyal, immediately proceeded to sharpen their swords and attack. Many innocent people were badly injured in her forays.
Bailey was not innocent and it is not a pretty story to read of his own moral disintegration, but this chronicle of Palin's rise to fame and fortune, is extremely well documented through e-mails sent to Baily by Palin herself, her husband, Todd, and members of the shifting inner circle. The writing/editing team of Ken Morris and Jeanne Devon is to be congratulated for this work.
It is an important book for all voters, everywhere, to read, as it shows how easily we can be fooled by physical and emotional charm, or the glittering words of potential candidates who seem to express our ideals.
We need to look at candidates' deeds, their actual experience in governing, before we allow them election to critical offices. We only just missed electing Palin to the second highest office in our land, as vice-president to the 72 year old McCain, by a few million votes. We can't allow effective political marketing of shallow candidates to over-ride effective governing, and this applies as equally to the Palin-bots as the Obama-bots.
Read this beautifully written book!
Initially,being a total new-comer to political activism, Bailey naively perceives Palin to be a self-less political reformer who expresses his ideals and warrants his help. In end, after five years of hard work at the expense of his family and reputation, he recognizes that he had sold his soul to a shattered idol.
As Bailey participates in Palin successful efforts to become a wealthy national celebrity, he begins to understand that she does not have the emotional stability or common sense that he assumed. He sees that she does not really care about the people who elected her or care about fulfilling her governmental responsibilities. He sees that his faith in her has been betrayed. She seeks not good government but good personal publicity.
Frank Bailey was a 35 year old political innocent when he was captured by the charm and apparent political courage of Sarah Palin. A Republican disgusted by the corruption of Alaska's then governor, Frank Murkowski, Bailey signed on to Palin's seemingly hopeless primary run against the well-funded governor with the willingness to clean the toilets of her shabby campaign headquarters, not with the goal of being Governor Palin's chief of staff. But during his five year Palin career, he went from an innocent to a dirty political operative himself as he carried out the erratic, arrogant and unethical demands of his political idol -- his "Reagan in a Skirt".
Bailey documents his descent into Palin's emotionally strewned nightmare with e-mails he received from Palin, her husband, Todd, and others in the their inner political circle, a circle which changed as old members were thrown aside and new members of the faithful recruited. With Bailey's help, Palin got to the very pinnacle of Alaska's government and then to the pinnacle of Republican Party national politics as vice-presidential nominee for John McCain's run against Obama.
The chronicle shows that virtually Palin's only political skills came in the form of marketing herself to voters through her physical looks and charm. Her skill set did not include knowledge of the real problems facing her state or her country, much less knowledge of how to actually run a government.
The majority of Palin's time in office was spent putting her considerable power to use in demolishing anyone who she perceived to be an enemy. She included in her enemies her former brother-law, Trooper Wooten and anyone who dared to voice the slightest criticism of anything she did or said. Palin was ruled by her emotional whims not reason, and thus she ruled Alaska. "Off with their head" said the queen of public charm and vicious attack, while her minions, of which Bailey was one of the most loyal, immediately proceeded to sharpen their swords and attack. Many innocent people were badly injured in her forays.
Bailey was not innocent and it is not a pretty story to read of his own moral disintegration, but this chronicle of Palin's rise to fame and fortune, is extremely well documented through e-mails sent to Baily by Palin herself, her husband, Todd, and members of the shifting inner circle. The writing/editing team of Ken Morris and Jeanne Devon is to be congratulated for this work.
It is an important book for all voters, everywhere, to read, as it shows how easily we can be fooled by physical and emotional charm, or the glittering words of potential candidates who seem to express our ideals.
We need to look at candidates' deeds, their actual experience in governing, before we allow them election to critical offices. We only just missed electing Palin to the second highest office in our land, as vice-president to the 72 year old McCain, by a few million votes. We can't allow effective political marketing of shallow candidates to over-ride effective governing, and this applies as equally to the Palin-bots as the Obama-bots.
Read this beautifully written book!
While Sarah Palin was standing front and center in the limelight,(during the 2008 election) I tried to put my finger on why she ignited a such a conflicted emotional reaction in me. Frank Bailey has portrayed an individual whose leadership style-leadership by ego- is annoying in private, but potentially disastrous in a place of public responsibility. On the one hand she is mesmerizing, charismatic, and motivating. On the other hand she is deceitful, conniving and manipulative. In reading the book it dawned on me why my own reaction was so extreme. I suffered under a boss for the better part of twenty years who could have been her twin. Not pleasant or healthy.
Great Reading! Clear picture of Palin
This has to be the best book on how Sarah Palin's mind works or doesn't work. This insider's view and related emails (the emails are the touchstone) provides so much insite into her character or lack there of that it is difficult to see that if this was all known in Alaska that the McCain lawyers who vetted her for the VP postion, just missed.
There is a lot of dirt here and most of it is deserved.
My only question is how did the others who rated this book do so. I am considered a super fast reader, and the book was only available last night at 9 pm Pacific time to down load. No doubt an interesting campaign by Sarah Palin's minions.
This book really does shed light on her Sociopathic Personality Disorder.
There is a lot of dirt here and most of it is deserved.
My only question is how did the others who rated this book do so. I am considered a super fast reader, and the book was only available last night at 9 pm Pacific time to down load. No doubt an interesting campaign by Sarah Palin's minions.
This book really does shed light on her Sociopathic Personality Disorder.
Now I understand why she quit her job as governor
Sarah Palin is an enigma. We want to like her. A lot of us still do like her. If you can believe what is in this book you might not keep liking her for long.
Palin is in many ways the epitome of someone who has realized the American Dream. The author of this book was there as she began her rise to higher office. And he documents the changes that he observed in Sarah along the way. And she did change. A lot, according to him.
Palin reportedly just bought a mansion in a gated community in Arizona. There are rumors that she might run for the US Senate in Arizona. She could win if she does. But President Palin? I don't think so. Not gonna happen. This book will be debunked. Who really cares what she does in private? Even so, her dirty laundry makes a presidential campaign problematic. Just ask Mitch Daniels why he isn't running...
On the other hand this is not a celebrity bashing book. The author was actually there. Close to her. He has the e-mails. And he remains a conservative. Not sure about Palin's conservative credentials any more. She talks big. She earns big. This book makes me sad for America,
Palin is in many ways the epitome of someone who has realized the American Dream. The author of this book was there as she began her rise to higher office. And he documents the changes that he observed in Sarah along the way. And she did change. A lot, according to him.
Palin reportedly just bought a mansion in a gated community in Arizona. There are rumors that she might run for the US Senate in Arizona. She could win if she does. But President Palin? I don't think so. Not gonna happen. This book will be debunked. Who really cares what she does in private? Even so, her dirty laundry makes a presidential campaign problematic. Just ask Mitch Daniels why he isn't running...
On the other hand this is not a celebrity bashing book. The author was actually there. Close to her. He has the e-mails. And he remains a conservative. Not sure about Palin's conservative credentials any more. She talks big. She earns big. This book makes me sad for America,
Kudos to Frank Bailey for having the guts to write this
I've been fascinated by the train wreck that is Sarah Palin and this book, the first by a former member if her inner circle, does not disappoint. Lots of new information and details. Hopefully more of her former staff (and boy, it sounds like there are a lot of them) will have the courage and step forward as Bailey has done.
The Piper lemonade stand story, in particular, gives eye-opening insight into Sarah Palin's pettiness and vindictiveness.
The Piper lemonade stand story, in particular, gives eye-opening insight into Sarah Palin's pettiness and vindictiveness.
I just finished reading this book. It needs to be read far and wide. This is indeed a very good and fair book by a man who obviously knows what he's talking about and who criticizes himself as much as he does Sarah Palin and the Palin Mafia. By now it is obvious to any intelligent observers that all Sarah Palin is about is the cynical acquisition of wealth, fame, and power without responsibility or accountability at the expense of those gullible enough to let her exploit them. She plays to an audience that glorifies common sense while displaying none, keeping them on the hook using nothing but her glossy looks and empty platitudes. Actual governing is too much hard work.
I predict a day will come when many more will regret their gullibility and will whine that they were duped by this woman. But they will be like those who, in old age and rotting health, sue the tobacco companies claiming they never knew the tobacco that gave them lung cancer was bad for their health when--in truth--they knew all along but chose not to face that reality.
And we should not be surprised that three of Sarah Palin's flunkies have already posted empty-headed negative reviews of this book at Ms. Palin's behest. One wonders if they realize how obvious they are or if they even begin to grasp how they expose their fraudulent reviews by making comments that so blatantly display that they have never read the book.
These sad flunkies and followers deserve our pity and distrust--just as Sarah Palin deserves distrust and accountability for her greed, egomania, rampant narcissism, and lust for power. She should be ashamed of herself. But don't hold your breath waiting for that to happen. In the meantime, books like this alert all the bleating sheep that they have been forewarned and henceforth have nobody to blame but themselves. Thanks, Frank, for finding your way back.
I predict a day will come when many more will regret their gullibility and will whine that they were duped by this woman. But they will be like those who, in old age and rotting health, sue the tobacco companies claiming they never knew the tobacco that gave them lung cancer was bad for their health when--in truth--they knew all along but chose not to face that reality.
And we should not be surprised that three of Sarah Palin's flunkies have already posted empty-headed negative reviews of this book at Ms. Palin's behest. One wonders if they realize how obvious they are or if they even begin to grasp how they expose their fraudulent reviews by making comments that so blatantly display that they have never read the book.
These sad flunkies and followers deserve our pity and distrust--just as Sarah Palin deserves distrust and accountability for her greed, egomania, rampant narcissism, and lust for power. She should be ashamed of herself. But don't hold your breath waiting for that to happen. In the meantime, books like this alert all the bleating sheep that they have been forewarned and henceforth have nobody to blame but themselves. Thanks, Frank, for finding your way back.
Frank Bailey learned a very painful lesson as he participated in Palin's political charade. In a way, this book is ironic. The author uses Palin's own vengeful tactics to write this memoir. While I don't condone his actions throughout his journey, I do hope it will serve as a warning to the rest of us. A good leader has to be so much more than a pretty face!!! We have to insist that they are properly and thoroughly vetted!
Palin is an expert at getting revenge. The extent of which really surprised me. I have to laugh at the reviewer who changed her profile before posting her review. I understand!!! The book is loaded with stories of people whose lives were turned upside down needlessly by this selfish woman. There was so much time spent on attacking other people that I wonder who was getting the Governor's business done! She seemed overwhelmed by the duties of a Governor. And yet, she found time to create fake emails promoting herself to the media. I can only imagine how she would cope as President. Actually, that thought is terrifying! When I see her or read about her in the media, I will be wondering about the rest of the "Frank Baileys" out there promoting her. Christian? Moral? Family Values? Honest? Ethical? Greedy? I don't know how they all sleep at night. I suspect there will be more similar stories to come. ps...I have yet to read of any Palin reps claiming any specific "untruths" in the book. That is telling! I guess emails don't lie.
Palin is an expert at getting revenge. The extent of which really surprised me. I have to laugh at the reviewer who changed her profile before posting her review. I understand!!! The book is loaded with stories of people whose lives were turned upside down needlessly by this selfish woman. There was so much time spent on attacking other people that I wonder who was getting the Governor's business done! She seemed overwhelmed by the duties of a Governor. And yet, she found time to create fake emails promoting herself to the media. I can only imagine how she would cope as President. Actually, that thought is terrifying! When I see her or read about her in the media, I will be wondering about the rest of the "Frank Baileys" out there promoting her. Christian? Moral? Family Values? Honest? Ethical? Greedy? I don't know how they all sleep at night. I suspect there will be more similar stories to come. ps...I have yet to read of any Palin reps claiming any specific "untruths" in the book. That is telling! I guess emails don't lie.
Yet another Unmaking of Sarah Palin
This book, by some of Palin's closest confidantes, tells the story (via a multi-year trail of her emails currently being legally contested) of how her accumulation of power changed her. She apparently acquired, and then used her power like a blunt instrument; wielding it through fear, cowardice, betrayals, and organizational chaos. That is, by "kicking up enough rightwing fairy dust" to bootstrap her way up to the next higher job, leaving in her wake a trail of unfinished business and a lot of angry voters, ex-friends and associates.
The email trail uncovered by these authors is powerful testimony to how little "real" managerial skill and experience Palin actually has exhibited over the course of four high-level jobs. However on her resume of "devious in-fighting," lying and betrayal, she comes out as a world-class bureaucratic manipulator.
The Palin signature appears to be "suck your friends in;" and as soon as they are not looking, stab them in the back, and then move on to the next highest job. So far this vicious invocation of the infamous "Peter Principle" has served her well. She has proven to be an expert at parlaying meager talents - basically a photogenic face and a knack for schoolgirl schmoozing -- into jobs that are all well above any of her demonstrated abilities?
The book also tracks the authors own evolution: from one smitten by the Palin mystique and message "to shake up the system for the Christian Right," and from the outside, to one of complete and utter disillusionment with Palin's incompetence, lying, treachery and reliance on fear and organizational chaos as her preferred way of keeping her troupes in line.
Although, I am about as far from being a Palin lover as one can get, I still question the integrity of authors who jump ship just in time to cash in on the Palin phenomenon. It smacks of using Palin's on tactics of "riding the train" until the riding gets rough, and then jumping the tracks to saddle the next easiest pony.
After reviewing Palin's own illiterate monstrosity, "Going Rogue," Jeff Dunn's excellent book about Palin's penchant for lying, I am going to take a break from the "Ice Diva," as she prepares to make a run for the presidency in 2012.
[Are we at the bottom of this slippery slope yet? God help America!] Three Stars
The email trail uncovered by these authors is powerful testimony to how little "real" managerial skill and experience Palin actually has exhibited over the course of four high-level jobs. However on her resume of "devious in-fighting," lying and betrayal, she comes out as a world-class bureaucratic manipulator.
The Palin signature appears to be "suck your friends in;" and as soon as they are not looking, stab them in the back, and then move on to the next highest job. So far this vicious invocation of the infamous "Peter Principle" has served her well. She has proven to be an expert at parlaying meager talents - basically a photogenic face and a knack for schoolgirl schmoozing -- into jobs that are all well above any of her demonstrated abilities?
The book also tracks the authors own evolution: from one smitten by the Palin mystique and message "to shake up the system for the Christian Right," and from the outside, to one of complete and utter disillusionment with Palin's incompetence, lying, treachery and reliance on fear and organizational chaos as her preferred way of keeping her troupes in line.
Although, I am about as far from being a Palin lover as one can get, I still question the integrity of authors who jump ship just in time to cash in on the Palin phenomenon. It smacks of using Palin's on tactics of "riding the train" until the riding gets rough, and then jumping the tracks to saddle the next easiest pony.
After reviewing Palin's own illiterate monstrosity, "Going Rogue," Jeff Dunn's excellent book about Palin's penchant for lying, I am going to take a break from the "Ice Diva," as she prepares to make a run for the presidency in 2012.
[Are we at the bottom of this slippery slope yet? God help America!] Three Stars
Picking up the first stone and...
This book is reminder that when you send an email, you may have opened yourself to the world, who will judge you. Sarah needed to think before she emailed, she might have worked out her feelings first and not shared so much of herself and her true nature. But being a woman who lives by feelings, we see a trait that would make her a terrible World Leader, terrifying leader.
That being said, "Good read, Great read" and it is sad to see a Christian publicly humilating another Christian in order to get their attention. The book gives us a private, frightening look at a woman who wants to lead us. Any Christian can find themselves caught in lifestyles that can destroy those around them, that is why God calls us to repent. Sarah enjoyed the applause too much to repent, Frank should have sooner,but later is better than never. Maybe now the applause will die down.
A Bible professor once said, "There are two reasons why a Christian reads the Bible, one is to know God and one is to be God" No stones thrown here, but each Christian has to figure out that riddle on their own. Frank wrote the book, Sarah provided the text, she just doesn't want any credit.
Frank Bailey was hurt and did not receive healing, discouraged and needed comfort, betrayed and in the end felt the need to warn us.
WARNING TAKEN! We need to be wise in our choices, those who hate the book may have a false idol.
That being said, "Good read, Great read" and it is sad to see a Christian publicly humilating another Christian in order to get their attention. The book gives us a private, frightening look at a woman who wants to lead us. Any Christian can find themselves caught in lifestyles that can destroy those around them, that is why God calls us to repent. Sarah enjoyed the applause too much to repent, Frank should have sooner,but later is better than never. Maybe now the applause will die down.
A Bible professor once said, "There are two reasons why a Christian reads the Bible, one is to know God and one is to be God" No stones thrown here, but each Christian has to figure out that riddle on their own. Frank wrote the book, Sarah provided the text, she just doesn't want any credit.
Frank Bailey was hurt and did not receive healing, discouraged and needed comfort, betrayed and in the end felt the need to warn us.
WARNING TAKEN! We need to be wise in our choices, those who hate the book may have a false idol.
anyone who has ever has their life turned upside down by a malignant personality will understand what happened to Frank Bailey.
what happened to him is classic return when you deal with sociopaths.
this book is a wake up call to all who think it is a good idea to make someone else' s dreams and ambitions your own.
i think you will enjoy this book if you enjoy cautionary tales. tales of unrequited love, dirty tactics, betrayal, forgiveness and ultimately the amazing grace of God, not to mention the true and faithful love of his wife then get the book. it is a good read.
what happened to him is classic return when you deal with sociopaths.
this book is a wake up call to all who think it is a good idea to make someone else' s dreams and ambitions your own.
i think you will enjoy this book if you enjoy cautionary tales. tales of unrequited love, dirty tactics, betrayal, forgiveness and ultimately the amazing grace of God, not to mention the true and faithful love of his wife then get the book. it is a good read.
hard to see the truth through your dreams
I traveled the road of a believer that Frank traveled, but I did it during the Kerry-Edwards campaign. I became involved in politics for the first time and had many of the same emotions and experiences he had: no money, no supplies, no phones or computers, building a base of workers and contacts from the ground up, etc. It was exciting, exhausting, and gave the three of us "newbies" a sense of purpose in doing whatever we could to try to elect someone we thought would be good for the country. We went from only three of us Democrats who had never done anything like this before to darn near performing miracles in this very Republican part of Pennsylvania. How Frank got hooked is so understandable. I wish our candidate had won, but he didn't and everyone knows what happened to our country under the 8 years of the Bush presidency. Years later, Edwards had his own failings, but we didn't know that at the time, and we worked far removed from the candidates, unlike Frank.
I think Frank relayed his experiences in a fair and balanced,to quote Fox News, way. Sarah's actions demonstrated her inability to handle criticism, no matter how small or inconsequential in the overall scheme of things. She remained a great cheerleader, with extraordinary charisma, but did not know and was not willing to learn about matters beyond her lightly populated state and never developed that "thick skin" so necessary in politics and business. She was her own worst enemy and was expert at never accepting responsibility for her mistakes, but constantly put the blame on others or allowed them to fall on their swords for her because they believed in her and did whatever they could to protect her.
This book is backed up by hundreds of emails, and as everybody knows, you can delete it, but it's never gone. What this book reinforced for me is the fact that Sarah Palin would be a disaster in any high office, especially the Presidency. At heart, she's still Sarah Barricuda and she's still the girl in high school who made your life miserable if you crossed her.
I think Frank relayed his experiences in a fair and balanced,to quote Fox News, way. Sarah's actions demonstrated her inability to handle criticism, no matter how small or inconsequential in the overall scheme of things. She remained a great cheerleader, with extraordinary charisma, but did not know and was not willing to learn about matters beyond her lightly populated state and never developed that "thick skin" so necessary in politics and business. She was her own worst enemy and was expert at never accepting responsibility for her mistakes, but constantly put the blame on others or allowed them to fall on their swords for her because they believed in her and did whatever they could to protect her.
This book is backed up by hundreds of emails, and as everybody knows, you can delete it, but it's never gone. What this book reinforced for me is the fact that Sarah Palin would be a disaster in any high office, especially the Presidency. At heart, she's still Sarah Barricuda and she's still the girl in high school who made your life miserable if you crossed her.
Anyone who is even thinking about voting for Palin for any public office, should read this book first.
I like what an earlier reviewer said: "Palin's only political skills came in the form of marketing herself to voters". This sums up a major thread of the book. Also, the details of her underhanded wayw of destroying the lives of those who criticized her were frightening. I'm certain that Bailey had to think long and hard before writing this book. (I even had to think if my public profile would accompany this review in case she came after me. In fact, I went back and edited my profile to delete the city,state before publishing. Sad.) His honesty regarding his own responsibility in the wrongdoings was believable and a refreshing account of repentance and redemption. Highly recommended.
PS In light of the tactics outlined in this book, I am expecting a legion of Palin-bots writing scathing reviews of this book. I can see that there are already several.
I like what an earlier reviewer said: "Palin's only political skills came in the form of marketing herself to voters". This sums up a major thread of the book. Also, the details of her underhanded wayw of destroying the lives of those who criticized her were frightening. I'm certain that Bailey had to think long and hard before writing this book. (I even had to think if my public profile would accompany this review in case she came after me. In fact, I went back and edited my profile to delete the city,state before publishing. Sad.) His honesty regarding his own responsibility in the wrongdoings was believable and a refreshing account of repentance and redemption. Highly recommended.
PS In light of the tactics outlined in this book, I am expecting a legion of Palin-bots writing scathing reviews of this book. I can see that there are already several.
Though there is nothing shocking in this book, I was still surprised at how vindictive, unstable and vengeful Sarah Palin is. Anyone that has seen her come back against every. single. thing ever said about her knows she's thin-skinned and can't handle any type of pressure. She also can't let anything roll off her back. She needs to attack, attack, attack and drive the person that DARED to say something against her into the ground.
After reading how she conducted herself in regards to spinning public opinion about herself (manipulating print media and online sources), I'm doubtful any of the negative reviews are written by everyday people. I believe they are all plants from Sarah Palin and company to spin Frank Bailey as nothing more than a disgruntled ex-employee.
I was also surprised at how Todd Palin is portrayed in the book (though not surprised they have a terrible marriage). Her disregard for anyone but herself is appalling and she should be ashamed to call herself a mother.
The book is sketchy on details during the 08 campaign, which I was disappointed in. It mostly focuses on her 06 run for Gov.
After reading how she conducted herself in regards to spinning public opinion about herself (manipulating print media and online sources), I'm doubtful any of the negative reviews are written by everyday people. I believe they are all plants from Sarah Palin and company to spin Frank Bailey as nothing more than a disgruntled ex-employee.
I was also surprised at how Todd Palin is portrayed in the book (though not surprised they have a terrible marriage). Her disregard for anyone but herself is appalling and she should be ashamed to call herself a mother.
The book is sketchy on details during the 08 campaign, which I was disappointed in. It mostly focuses on her 06 run for Gov.
Stone Cold Truth -- Like it or not
Unfortunately, as a born & raised Alaskan, registered Republican for 20+ years, there wasn't much that I didn't know about Sarah Palin that I wanted to know. However, Bailey's mea culpa was worth purchasing the book -- if he is willing to share the truth about some (and I emphasize "some") of the despicable measures that Palin took, and that he & others on her staff took on her behalf, then I was willing to buy it in support.
In the end I did not feel sympathy for Bailey's pain. I know some of the people whose lives he ruined. I hope that he finds strength & forgiveness via his faith. However, this book/confession did not go far enough for me. Where's the hi-jinks with regard to the oil & gas industry in Alaska? The AGIA pipeline issue? I hope that they were not included because of legal issues, because otherwise there is absolutely no excuse for not including those very important issues in this book.
If you are curious about Sarah Palin's true motivations & riding the fence regarding whether or not she is qualified to do anything in the public sphere, then this book should be required reading. If you don't believe that she's fit or qualified for service in the public sphere, then this book will underscore that belief.
I've passed my copy on to a friend who is on the fence somewhat, and I hope that she, in turn, will pass it on to others who are as well. Nobody should vote for Sarah Palin until they've read this book. This isn't hearsay, these are real emails, Sarah Palin's own words. Her supporters may not like to think that their empress has no clothes, but she's been spiritually & ethically naked for decades, and this book has plenty of proof of that.
In the end I did not feel sympathy for Bailey's pain. I know some of the people whose lives he ruined. I hope that he finds strength & forgiveness via his faith. However, this book/confession did not go far enough for me. Where's the hi-jinks with regard to the oil & gas industry in Alaska? The AGIA pipeline issue? I hope that they were not included because of legal issues, because otherwise there is absolutely no excuse for not including those very important issues in this book.
If you are curious about Sarah Palin's true motivations & riding the fence regarding whether or not she is qualified to do anything in the public sphere, then this book should be required reading. If you don't believe that she's fit or qualified for service in the public sphere, then this book will underscore that belief.
I've passed my copy on to a friend who is on the fence somewhat, and I hope that she, in turn, will pass it on to others who are as well. Nobody should vote for Sarah Palin until they've read this book. This isn't hearsay, these are real emails, Sarah Palin's own words. Her supporters may not like to think that their empress has no clothes, but she's been spiritually & ethically naked for decades, and this book has plenty of proof of that.
Too Little, too late, Mr. Bailey
While reading Mr. Bailey's account of his years with Sarah Palin, I became enraged at this man who didn't have the backbone or the decency to walk away from such a mess and tell his story when it would have counted. To write and publish such a book after he has assisted in unleashing this megalomaniac on the rest of the nation tells me he is doing it for the money and nothing else. Donating all proceeds to people who were hurt by Palin would be a step toward righting this wrong.
Apparently Mr. Bailey was just where he belonged, with a person who has as few morals as he himself has. I am still angry at the way he "sinned" against this country and then conveniently called on his god to forgive him. What a crock! That's why people are so suspect when evangelical christian conservatives profess to be so holier than thou. I believe in God, just not the same one Bailey and Palin believe in. It is very difficult to separate the two of them because Bailey helped her in every way possible to play a cruel joke on this nation, including presenting her as an intelligent woman worthy of being the president of this great country.
Bailey, have you ever heard the saying about closing the barn door after the horse gets out? Yeah, that about fits this little scenario you help bring about.
I won't say I wish you luck in selling your book because now it simply sounds like sour grapes to those of us who recognized Palin for what she was and is - a greedy, conniving, cutesy, little school girl mental case.
Apparently Mr. Bailey was just where he belonged, with a person who has as few morals as he himself has. I am still angry at the way he "sinned" against this country and then conveniently called on his god to forgive him. What a crock! That's why people are so suspect when evangelical christian conservatives profess to be so holier than thou. I believe in God, just not the same one Bailey and Palin believe in. It is very difficult to separate the two of them because Bailey helped her in every way possible to play a cruel joke on this nation, including presenting her as an intelligent woman worthy of being the president of this great country.
Bailey, have you ever heard the saying about closing the barn door after the horse gets out? Yeah, that about fits this little scenario you help bring about.
I won't say I wish you luck in selling your book because now it simply sounds like sour grapes to those of us who recognized Palin for what she was and is - a greedy, conniving, cutesy, little school girl mental case.
Courageous and forthright documentary on Sarah Palin
After seeing Frank Bailey in several interviews about his book and reading the reader reviews on Amazon, I decided that this might be worth reading as soon as possible, rather than waiting until it becomes a bargain... and perhaps diminishes in its impact. I purchased the Kindle version, which is formatted very nicely and now I can't put this book down. It's quite a page-turner. The real interest for me is to see what happens in a volunteer setting when people rally around a cause or a particular person and that person's ideals. I can picture myself being caught up like Frank and his well-meaning and dedicated peers because like so many people I would love to be involved in making a difference for the better. This book is fairly well-written, but what makes it so compelling is Frank's voice. He is consistent throughout as if speaking to the reader while unfolding the story of how he went from being fanatically for Sarah Palin through the journey of becoming totally disenchanted. In fact, the reader comes to believe that Frank has written this book out of a sense of civic duty. I don't think Frank Bailey is after some kind of glory and profits. Writing this book and the ensuing promotion of it does not guarantee anything for Frank other than this helps clear his conscience and informs the American public. Among other conclusions, the reader might marvel at how Sarah Palin became such a powerful cultural phenomenon of our times, and how she became a slick entertainer and very rich woman.
I'm adding to my review since I have a bit more time: The developmental editing and copy editing of this book is a bit sloppy. I almost gave this book fewer stars for that reason. There are minor typos and grammatical errors throughout. My conclusion about this is that typical of the publishing industry in general, most editors have been laid off! A sign of our times. However, Frank's voice is strong throughout and my overall impression is that he is not just out to "get" Sarah Palin. I am pretty amazed at how objective he is. He seems truly to be trying hard to be as honest as possible and to just tell the stories as he sees them, unclouded by his former "blind allegiance." Like so many bad and dishonest politicians, Sarah Palin is a master at self aggrandizement and wealth accumulation, and she reminds me of a circus barker. (Although I hate to insult legitimate circus barkers!) She would be a great pitchman for OxiClean. Hey, there's another way she could line her coffers. Well, I'm sinking to Sarah's level now. The main point is that this is an important and essential book for people concerned about the direction of politics in this country. I've also just finished reading the excellent "The Lies of Sarah Palin: The Untold Story Behind Her Relentless Quest for Power" by Geoffrey Dunn on my Kindle. Mr. Dunn's book is stunning and and also essential to this story.
I'm adding to my review since I have a bit more time: The developmental editing and copy editing of this book is a bit sloppy. I almost gave this book fewer stars for that reason. There are minor typos and grammatical errors throughout. My conclusion about this is that typical of the publishing industry in general, most editors have been laid off! A sign of our times. However, Frank's voice is strong throughout and my overall impression is that he is not just out to "get" Sarah Palin. I am pretty amazed at how objective he is. He seems truly to be trying hard to be as honest as possible and to just tell the stories as he sees them, unclouded by his former "blind allegiance." Like so many bad and dishonest politicians, Sarah Palin is a master at self aggrandizement and wealth accumulation, and she reminds me of a circus barker. (Although I hate to insult legitimate circus barkers!) She would be a great pitchman for OxiClean. Hey, there's another way she could line her coffers. Well, I'm sinking to Sarah's level now. The main point is that this is an important and essential book for people concerned about the direction of politics in this country. I've also just finished reading the excellent "The Lies of Sarah Palin: The Untold Story Behind Her Relentless Quest for Power" by Geoffrey Dunn on my Kindle. Mr. Dunn's book is stunning and and also essential to this story.
Great insight from a great read.
I wanted to find fault in this book but got caught up in it instead. Fascinating. Like her or not, very much worth reading.
A wake up call for the independents and moderates
I just finished reading Blind Allegiance and as a former loyal GOP voter, this book should be a wake up call to those independents and moderates that swing elections. The book isn't a hit piece like the select few who comment repeatedly on this book's reviews, would want you to believe. The comments that I have seen on this site from Audrey and Zascha, who are not letting a single favorable review or comment of the anti-Palin book go unchallenged, is disturbing to me and a testament to the power Palin has over her flock. How ironic that they are guilty of the same behavior that the author Frank Bailey is trying to warn others about and not to follow his mistakes. If you take a look at the pattern here of the review comments, it makes the book that much more compelling to read. I think Frank Bailey did a good job in telling what happened and how he allowed his moral compass and integrity to take a backseat to this charismatic woman and her campaign. What I like about the book is that he provides an unvarnished look at Sarah Palin in her own words through the many emails she sent him on her Yahoo email address. Also he didn't use every opportunity in the book to roast her over the coals and is much harder on himself, than I thought he would be. You really do get the impression he is truly sorry for ever getting involved with working for Palin and wasting valuable time that would have been better spent with his family. I was glad to see he found his way back and in his own words "reprioritize his life, reconnect to family, and make up for lost time". Good for you, sir.
I did learn more than I thought I would after finishing this book and that surprised me. I had long ago Palin pegged as a money making opportunist and a petty, vindictive person who would punish those who spoke out against her. This book just confirmed I was right all long and my instincts were correct. I see Sarah Palin bring up Ronald Reagan again and again, like she is the reincarnation of him or close to it. You see a lot of her fan base do the same too. As a man who grew up on Reagan and admired him, here's the difference and this book clearly points it out. Reagan had a sunny, optimistic personality and a positive vision of America that attracted people. Palin, on the other hand is snotty, flighty, shallow and a whiny person with an intensely negative and a divisive view of a section of America that she doesn't agree with. That appeals to the perpetually angry Tea Party, but that's pretty much where it stops.
Lets face it, if you don't share the same religious beliefs and political doctrine she does, then you're not a real American in her eyes. You see it and hear it in her voice when she talks about what she feels is "the real America" and the comments she makes about those on the left and Democrats in general. Hell, she doesn't treat those in her own party decently or even on her own staff, who dare to disagree with her. Look in the book and it's all there in black and white. You find over time is that her biggest beef with the "lamestream media" is, if she announces that she's running, she has to give real, actual interviews to everyone and that's where her problem begins. I saw it in 2008 and the problem persists to this day. The campaign tried keeping her away from interviews, found that was hurting her image, and relented. Then she gave interviews and it hurt her image even more. Unlike Reagan, who could shine in an interview, Palin fears the press with good reason. If she speaks to news outlets other than Fox News, her ignorance, incompetency, and complete lack of experience is exposed to all of America.
Ignore the brownshirt tactics of a few of Palin's followers here and read the book. It's well worth your time.
I did learn more than I thought I would after finishing this book and that surprised me. I had long ago Palin pegged as a money making opportunist and a petty, vindictive person who would punish those who spoke out against her. This book just confirmed I was right all long and my instincts were correct. I see Sarah Palin bring up Ronald Reagan again and again, like she is the reincarnation of him or close to it. You see a lot of her fan base do the same too. As a man who grew up on Reagan and admired him, here's the difference and this book clearly points it out. Reagan had a sunny, optimistic personality and a positive vision of America that attracted people. Palin, on the other hand is snotty, flighty, shallow and a whiny person with an intensely negative and a divisive view of a section of America that she doesn't agree with. That appeals to the perpetually angry Tea Party, but that's pretty much where it stops.
Lets face it, if you don't share the same religious beliefs and political doctrine she does, then you're not a real American in her eyes. You see it and hear it in her voice when she talks about what she feels is "the real America" and the comments she makes about those on the left and Democrats in general. Hell, she doesn't treat those in her own party decently or even on her own staff, who dare to disagree with her. Look in the book and it's all there in black and white. You find over time is that her biggest beef with the "lamestream media" is, if she announces that she's running, she has to give real, actual interviews to everyone and that's where her problem begins. I saw it in 2008 and the problem persists to this day. The campaign tried keeping her away from interviews, found that was hurting her image, and relented. Then she gave interviews and it hurt her image even more. Unlike Reagan, who could shine in an interview, Palin fears the press with good reason. If she speaks to news outlets other than Fox News, her ignorance, incompetency, and complete lack of experience is exposed to all of America.
Ignore the brownshirt tactics of a few of Palin's followers here and read the book. It's well worth your time.
'Adolescent Know-Nothing' and Malevolent Demagogue
Frank Bailey formerly had a key role in Palin's campaigns and while she was governor. His prior background includes two degrees from different Bible colleges. Early on Bailey tells readers that counterattacking anyone who opposed her was top priority for those working for her. Early on she came up with the ideas of preparing ghostwritten op-eds (some she wrote herself), rigged media polls, character assassinations, using 'Fox News' surrogates and friendly blogs, etc. His motivation for writing "Blind Allegiance" - Bailey was convince that her priorities and personality would lead to a major disaster if elected to the presidency. Bailey also tells readers that he has no doubt desire for greater riches was the primary, possibly only cause, for Palin resigning as Alaska governor.
Alaska's population is less than that of Austin, Tx; 400,000 of its 700,000 residents live in Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau - the rest in an area about twice that of Texas. Wasilla had only 6,000 residents (now 11,000) when Palin was its mayor; Bailey also lets out the fact that she left the town $22 million in debt for construction and a bungled land acquisition of a new sports arena.
Bailey tells us that Palin was/is a micro-manager; workers frequently got caught between directions given by husband Todd and her own priorities. (Bailey's illustration of a confrontation over buying $2,000 more signs, however, was incomplete because he didn't tell her that he was following Todd's directions.)
'Troopergate' (the Republican investigator appointed by the non-partisan Alaska Legislative Council concluded that she had abused her power), the 'Bridge to Nowhere' ($233 million, to reach 50 residents on an island) are highlighted in the book.
Just after this week's release of 'Blind Allegiance,' Palin is back in the spotlight - raising interest in whether or not she will run for President. She recently bought a large home in Scottsdale, AZ. (fairly near where I live), is launching a bus tour in the Northeastern U.S., will soon debut a short film in Iowa (locale of the first primary) about her life, and has made speeches containing the magic phrase 'having a fire in her belly' that supposedly connotes running. Commentator Lawrence O'Donnell, however, on MSNBC's "Last Word" is convinced that she is not running. His rationale is that Fox News still maintains her status as a paid commentator - previously it had also retained Huckabee and Santorum, while dropping Palenty. More likely, perhaps, she will run for the Senate seat being vacated by Jon Kyl. We shall see.
Bottom-Line: Bailey adds credibility to the ranks of those with negative experiences working behind the scenes with Palin. On the other hand, his book is not as thorough as one would want - eg. it does not cover the controversies Palin created while Wasilla's mayor (eg. library censorship, trying to force out department heads who did not support Palin's election, supporting legalization of concealed weapons in schools, hospitals, etc., keeping bars open until 5 A.M., using the office to run her Lt. Gov. campaign), attempts to 'explain' the disastrous interview with Katie Couric, flip-flops (eg. 'The Bridge to Nowhere'), disingenuous versions of her actions in the McCain campaign, or why Sarah's treatment of her own high-school basketball teammates earned her the nickname "Barracuda.'
Alaska's population is less than that of Austin, Tx; 400,000 of its 700,000 residents live in Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau - the rest in an area about twice that of Texas. Wasilla had only 6,000 residents (now 11,000) when Palin was its mayor; Bailey also lets out the fact that she left the town $22 million in debt for construction and a bungled land acquisition of a new sports arena.
Bailey tells us that Palin was/is a micro-manager; workers frequently got caught between directions given by husband Todd and her own priorities. (Bailey's illustration of a confrontation over buying $2,000 more signs, however, was incomplete because he didn't tell her that he was following Todd's directions.)
'Troopergate' (the Republican investigator appointed by the non-partisan Alaska Legislative Council concluded that she had abused her power), the 'Bridge to Nowhere' ($233 million, to reach 50 residents on an island) are highlighted in the book.
Just after this week's release of 'Blind Allegiance,' Palin is back in the spotlight - raising interest in whether or not she will run for President. She recently bought a large home in Scottsdale, AZ. (fairly near where I live), is launching a bus tour in the Northeastern U.S., will soon debut a short film in Iowa (locale of the first primary) about her life, and has made speeches containing the magic phrase 'having a fire in her belly' that supposedly connotes running. Commentator Lawrence O'Donnell, however, on MSNBC's "Last Word" is convinced that she is not running. His rationale is that Fox News still maintains her status as a paid commentator - previously it had also retained Huckabee and Santorum, while dropping Palenty. More likely, perhaps, she will run for the Senate seat being vacated by Jon Kyl. We shall see.
Bottom-Line: Bailey adds credibility to the ranks of those with negative experiences working behind the scenes with Palin. On the other hand, his book is not as thorough as one would want - eg. it does not cover the controversies Palin created while Wasilla's mayor (eg. library censorship, trying to force out department heads who did not support Palin's election, supporting legalization of concealed weapons in schools, hospitals, etc., keeping bars open until 5 A.M., using the office to run her Lt. Gov. campaign), attempts to 'explain' the disastrous interview with Katie Couric, flip-flops (eg. 'The Bridge to Nowhere'), disingenuous versions of her actions in the McCain campaign, or why Sarah's treatment of her own high-school basketball teammates earned her the nickname "Barracuda.'
I recently purchased this book and it is hard to put down--I love it! Someone finally is showing Palin for what she truly is!! This is a must read for everyone--especially if she would think of running in 2012, and if you would EVER think about voting her in as President. This world would be in bad shape if she was ever to be in charge! Heaven Help Us!!
I absolutely love this book -- from the moment it arrived, I couldn't put it down. Superbly written (which isn't a suprise given Jeanne Devon's involvement).
I wasn't a Palin fan before, to put it nicely. This book was helpful to someone like me who never got her appeal; it definitely showed her ability to charm like-minded people. And of course, I ended up feeling terribly sorry for Frank Bailey and others in Palin's inner circle, DESPITE all of the horrible things that they had done on her behalf. She truly is a manipulative, emotionally abusive woman and it pains me to think of the national forum she now apparently has (although so few actually take her seriously).
What sets this book apart from others is the fact that it's backed up with fact instead of conjecture, rumors, and unsourced allegations. Simply put, the emails prove the case. Sarah Palin is unhinged and seriously unfit to be in any position of authority. Her own words show this.
All in all, well worth the money -- I was sad when I finished it (the day after it arrived in the mail!).
I wasn't a Palin fan before, to put it nicely. This book was helpful to someone like me who never got her appeal; it definitely showed her ability to charm like-minded people. And of course, I ended up feeling terribly sorry for Frank Bailey and others in Palin's inner circle, DESPITE all of the horrible things that they had done on her behalf. She truly is a manipulative, emotionally abusive woman and it pains me to think of the national forum she now apparently has (although so few actually take her seriously).
What sets this book apart from others is the fact that it's backed up with fact instead of conjecture, rumors, and unsourced allegations. Simply put, the emails prove the case. Sarah Palin is unhinged and seriously unfit to be in any position of authority. Her own words show this.
All in all, well worth the money -- I was sad when I finished it (the day after it arrived in the mail!).
Sarah Palin is A Dangerous Unstable Woman...
Bravo to Frank Bailey for penning this incredible book about one of the most dangerous women to ever enter politics. Every chapter added more fuel to the fire and one can only hope and pray that her own GOP realizes how much she hurts the Republican image. I don't think Mr. Bailey went far enough. It is clear that she is a mentally unstable and very unintelligent woman whose narcassistic personality disorder powers her unquenchable thirst for fame and power but with nothing at all to back her up. How terrifying that she actually has supporters.
Luckily, she will never ever get into office and this wonderful book is the first step in stopping this deranged woman once and for all..
Luckily, she will never ever get into office and this wonderful book is the first step in stopping this deranged woman once and for all..
Was expecting a hatchet piece but actually well done
I am not a fan of SP but at same time, was not really keen on reading some dis from one of her inner circle. I came away pleasantly surprised and more than a little disturbed. Frank Bailey comes across fairly credibly, as one who came in search of an idealistic goal, unabashedly conservative & Christian. It was interesting watching his descent into this world of AK politics, with the intent of 'cleaning out corruption' and yet sinking deep into the Palin's world of self serving & self deception.
I really dont think the Palins SEE themselves as lying or being untruthful. Which is part of the 'scary part' above. Bailey's account is backed up by NUMEROUS personal emails between himself, SP, TP & others on the team, spanning the yrs he was with her. What is fascinating is Bailey's internal struggles with his own moral slide, as he short changes his family, his values; becoming what he wanted to fight against, and the slow realization that the woman he had hoped would be the trigger for so much change was in fact worse in many ways than her predecessor.
He witnessed 1st hand her shallowness, her lip-service 'faith' ( except when in front of voters), her intellectual bankruptcy ( his listening to when SP was 'punked' by a Canadian radio show-she was so ignorant it's painful), her actual on the job laziness ( she was looking for ways to ditch being Gov for 4-6 mos before she found her mechanism- she likes the spotight, just doesn't like the 'roll up your sleeves, get to work' part-contrary to carefully crafted public image) & her absolute narcissim.
SP likes to liken herself to Reagan whenever possible. But the Republican she reminded me the most of was Richard Nixon. And I am not saying that to get a reaction or tossing it around lightly. The word to describe SP is "Nixonian". The paranoia (the Palins were at times convinced their phones were bugged, everyone out to get them -this was yrs BEFORE she popped up on our nat'l radar, the 'you're with us or against us' mentality), the 'enemies' list ( essentially if you criticize SP, TP, in ANY way personal or political...criticism = enemy FOREVER), the all out petty vindictiveness of their pursuit of you. I think SP REALLY believes the stuff she dishes out, she has tremndous cognitive disconnect between her words/actions & consequences.
Politicians must know when they enter the public arena that they need a THICK skin. SP is so thinskinned, every slight is equal. ALL of which confirms what we have witnessed being played out over the past 2 yrs. A fub on nat'l policy is treated the same as swinging at Letterman.
I have read some of the comments in here, and there a few people in here who attack anyone who writes favorably on this book. It's like they try and 'swarm' the reviewer. The funny thing is, it sounds suspiciously like the tactics Bailey say SP & her team used to rig polls in SP favor. (Read the book)
Anyway, for anyone seeking some insight into how this creature landed in the national spotlight, what her early roots were, it is a worthy read. it is not a nasty, snarky tell all. You feel Bailey's pain, his remorse, his guilt at the part he played. His search for his own personal redemption (having nothing to do with the book BTW) I found it a compelling read when I wasn't really expecting one.
I really dont think the Palins SEE themselves as lying or being untruthful. Which is part of the 'scary part' above. Bailey's account is backed up by NUMEROUS personal emails between himself, SP, TP & others on the team, spanning the yrs he was with her. What is fascinating is Bailey's internal struggles with his own moral slide, as he short changes his family, his values; becoming what he wanted to fight against, and the slow realization that the woman he had hoped would be the trigger for so much change was in fact worse in many ways than her predecessor.
He witnessed 1st hand her shallowness, her lip-service 'faith' ( except when in front of voters), her intellectual bankruptcy ( his listening to when SP was 'punked' by a Canadian radio show-she was so ignorant it's painful), her actual on the job laziness ( she was looking for ways to ditch being Gov for 4-6 mos before she found her mechanism- she likes the spotight, just doesn't like the 'roll up your sleeves, get to work' part-contrary to carefully crafted public image) & her absolute narcissim.
SP likes to liken herself to Reagan whenever possible. But the Republican she reminded me the most of was Richard Nixon. And I am not saying that to get a reaction or tossing it around lightly. The word to describe SP is "Nixonian". The paranoia (the Palins were at times convinced their phones were bugged, everyone out to get them -this was yrs BEFORE she popped up on our nat'l radar, the 'you're with us or against us' mentality), the 'enemies' list ( essentially if you criticize SP, TP, in ANY way personal or political...criticism = enemy FOREVER), the all out petty vindictiveness of their pursuit of you. I think SP REALLY believes the stuff she dishes out, she has tremndous cognitive disconnect between her words/actions & consequences.
Politicians must know when they enter the public arena that they need a THICK skin. SP is so thinskinned, every slight is equal. ALL of which confirms what we have witnessed being played out over the past 2 yrs. A fub on nat'l policy is treated the same as swinging at Letterman.
I have read some of the comments in here, and there a few people in here who attack anyone who writes favorably on this book. It's like they try and 'swarm' the reviewer. The funny thing is, it sounds suspiciously like the tactics Bailey say SP & her team used to rig polls in SP favor. (Read the book)
Anyway, for anyone seeking some insight into how this creature landed in the national spotlight, what her early roots were, it is a worthy read. it is not a nasty, snarky tell all. You feel Bailey's pain, his remorse, his guilt at the part he played. His search for his own personal redemption (having nothing to do with the book BTW) I found it a compelling read when I wasn't really expecting one.
I am an independent that leans more conservative. I was not sure whether to buy this book. I started reading it from my kindle and quite frankly, I can not put it down. The Author is convinceing and has many original emails. I am not sure how I ever felt about Sarah however, I knew I would not vote for her as President. After reading this book I would probably not vote for her for anything. I always think suppose someone did this to me, showed all my emails and gave their version of me and wonder what people would think of me than. I don't like to judge but there are many facts in this book and emails to back them up LT
A reminder of why I became disappointed in SP
I am about half way through this book, and think it is wonderful. I did notice a few factual errors, but mostly it is a very interesting inside look into the mind of Sarah Palin. As an Alaskan, I started out impressed with her. As I got to know her better after her election as Governor, I started to wonder if she might be a little over her head, but she had selected some good people to work for her and thought she would grow into the job. Then she was picked to run for VP. I was shocked to see her turn on Democrats who had been responsible for her only successes as Governor. I went from supporter, to disappointed, and finally to disgusted. This book reminds me why.
Blind Allegiance to Sarah Palin
I think anyone that wants to know Sarah should read this book. I thought it was excellent reading and informative....much of this book is Sarah's words!
Confirmation of everything I believed to be true already
This is an excellent, well-written book which pulls together everything I have heard about Sarah Palin over the last two-something years. She is indeed the self-absorbed, phony, vindictive, shallow, manipulative, etc., etc. woman I believed her to be. I highly recommend this book to anyone who either may be leaning towards her or who wants to see if what they have heard already is true. It is truly an eye opener and well worth the $$. The author appears completely credible. The book flowed well and was a page-turner. This woman is truly scary and maybe this book should be listed under the "horror" section of Amazon.
One can't help but be impressed by Bailey's honesty about his infatuation with Palin and how it lead him down into the black hole of her narcissism, lies, and paranoia. This is what she's like, up close and personal, folks. Isn't she pretty? Yes. Isn't she nice? No. Bailey's saga demonstrates the classic case of a pretty face hiding a very ugly inside.
I suspect his co-authors are responsible for the delightful flashes of wit and incisive phrasing that decorate Frank's story like diamonds on gold.
You can tell by the quality of the 1 star reviews that he's hit a big ol' nerve with Palins deluded fans. Frank Bailey has apparently committed the ultimate crime by demonstrating that it _is_ possible to snap out of delusion and admit that your idol has dirty clay feet.
I suspect his co-authors are responsible for the delightful flashes of wit and incisive phrasing that decorate Frank's story like diamonds on gold.
You can tell by the quality of the 1 star reviews that he's hit a big ol' nerve with Palins deluded fans. Frank Bailey has apparently committed the ultimate crime by demonstrating that it _is_ possible to snap out of delusion and admit that your idol has dirty clay feet.
So much of Frank Bailey's book (Bailey had two co-authors, who must have assisted him in getting past the baggage and presenting an interesting, coherent account of his memoirs) is spent in the years 2005 to mid-2008, before Palin hit the national scene, it provides a foundation for the woman we got to know in her brief run for national office, and her entirely successful campaign of self-promotion since then.
Most of the audience could pick up on the quality that gets Palin in trouble -- her thin-skinned disposition, from afar. Frank Bailey learned about it up close and personal as her campaign administrator in her successful run for Governor of Alaska in 2006. And, while he recognized it early on, he continued to be drawn, as moth to flame, into a circle of supporters that condoned, enabled, and carried out unethical behavior.
Bailey is openly self-critical about the time he spent "in the drama", forsaking his family, working long and unhealthy hours, believing in something and someone who ultimately betrayed the state he cares about so much.
I found the insider's account of Troopergate to be the most fascinating, although the description of the self-promoting email campaigns, the "power voting" to influence the outcome of polls, and quirky little stories, like that of Piper Palin's lemonade stand, stand out as testament to the background web of intrigue that is part of Palin's double life. It was also good to see someone so close to the inside of the Palin life totally debunk the rumor's of Trig's parentage and to show how heartbroken Palin was when Bristol's true pregnancy came to the surface. The latter incident did restore some of her humanity as a mother for me. I don't have a lot of faith in her humanity.
Definitely a page turner, made easier to believe by the wealth of actual email, a true political junkie book...good reading.
Most of the audience could pick up on the quality that gets Palin in trouble -- her thin-skinned disposition, from afar. Frank Bailey learned about it up close and personal as her campaign administrator in her successful run for Governor of Alaska in 2006. And, while he recognized it early on, he continued to be drawn, as moth to flame, into a circle of supporters that condoned, enabled, and carried out unethical behavior.
Bailey is openly self-critical about the time he spent "in the drama", forsaking his family, working long and unhealthy hours, believing in something and someone who ultimately betrayed the state he cares about so much.
I found the insider's account of Troopergate to be the most fascinating, although the description of the self-promoting email campaigns, the "power voting" to influence the outcome of polls, and quirky little stories, like that of Piper Palin's lemonade stand, stand out as testament to the background web of intrigue that is part of Palin's double life. It was also good to see someone so close to the inside of the Palin life totally debunk the rumor's of Trig's parentage and to show how heartbroken Palin was when Bristol's true pregnancy came to the surface. The latter incident did restore some of her humanity as a mother for me. I don't have a lot of faith in her humanity.
Definitely a page turner, made easier to believe by the wealth of actual email, a true political junkie book...good reading.
If you've ever experienced a time in life when a master manipulator had you help accomplish plans that turned out not to be transparent and ethical, you may find this book helpful. It will also help if you've followed Sarah Palin's rise to power as governor, and all the overblown issues that followed. If you ever questioned how Sarah could campaign so enthusiastically for John McCain, how she could parrot - about Israel and the Palestinians - that "it's got to be a two-state solution," why she would put emphasis on husband Todd's "good union job," or why she seemed to snub pro-life Alaska Family Council's Jim Minnery, then this book will help you understand why. Here's hoping Frank Bailey heals quickly from the bad fruit of this unhealthy relationship.
A sobering "must read" for American voters
Anyone who has been closely and open-mindedly following Sarah Palin's career has already realized that as well as being beautiful, charismatic, motivating, and ambitious, she is also emotionally unstable, self-absorbed, power hungry, ego-driven, manipulative, obsessive, and vindictive. I might add that adherence to truth is not her strong point.
This book sheds light on how the negative aspects of her personality eventually trumped her better nature, the one that originally drew author Frank Bailey to her side as right-hand `go-fer' man in her campaign for the Republican candidacy in the 2006 Alaskan Governor's race. Like many of those with "victim mentality," Sarah draws "enablers" to her side, and Frank - a good man desiring to bring positive change to his beloved Alaska - eventually became one of those enablers.
Frank's tale of his awakening to what he had become and finding a way out of it should serve as a good warning to us all about how easily we can fool ourselves - by not acknowledging the truth in front of us even when it stares us in the face and causes us pain. By way of recounting his experiences in the Palin camp, a very unflattering portrait of the real Sarah is revealed, one which illustrates how completely unfit she is for any elective office in the land. In addition to her pronounced psychological problems, she simply doesn't have the substance for it; she is all image & fluff.
This book sheds light on how the negative aspects of her personality eventually trumped her better nature, the one that originally drew author Frank Bailey to her side as right-hand `go-fer' man in her campaign for the Republican candidacy in the 2006 Alaskan Governor's race. Like many of those with "victim mentality," Sarah draws "enablers" to her side, and Frank - a good man desiring to bring positive change to his beloved Alaska - eventually became one of those enablers.
Frank's tale of his awakening to what he had become and finding a way out of it should serve as a good warning to us all about how easily we can fool ourselves - by not acknowledging the truth in front of us even when it stares us in the face and causes us pain. By way of recounting his experiences in the Palin camp, a very unflattering portrait of the real Sarah is revealed, one which illustrates how completely unfit she is for any elective office in the land. In addition to her pronounced psychological problems, she simply doesn't have the substance for it; she is all image & fluff.
...unlike some here who are giving it a "1-star" rating. I found this book very enlightening and easy to read. As a former (lifelong) Alaskan, it was easy for me to relate to the locations and cultural references. I understand the blind allegiance to someone you believe in that can be later regretted, having worked for someone just like her (the reason I am no longer in Alaska). Following the chronological path of his relationship to the candidate brought back those memories and it was easy for me to understand how you can enter into such a relationship, believing in someone so completely, only to have the blinders removed and the light shine in so harshly. Living afterward with the regret that you have put aside your own values and sacrificed your family for someone who can never be loyal in return. Praying that somehow you can return and make up for the lost time. The authors bring out, not just the story of Sarah Palin's rise to fame, but also how each of us deal with challenges. It begs the questions of the reader, "how much leeway do we allow others before we end a relationship?, do we defer to others to the point of being untrue to ourselves?". Frank Bailey cites numerous personal e-mail records, public record and media accounts to substantiate his (and the co-authors) work. There is too much information here to dismiss it lightly.
I will keep my political feelings about Sarah Palin undisclosed, as I don't feel it adds to a discussion regarding this book.
I will keep my political feelings about Sarah Palin undisclosed, as I don't feel it adds to a discussion regarding this book.
When Sarah first came into the limelight as the VP running mate of John McCain, I was pleased to see a woman slated for the position, and had every intention of voting the McCain/Palin ticket.
The more Sarah talked the more I reconized she was spewing BS. I'm not sure what made me uneasy about her, it was either just Woman's Intuition or just the knot that kept developing in the pit of my stomach everytime she opened her mouth, but I knew she was WRONG for this country.
The book offers great insight to the workings of Government. I'm sure most of the things done by her team are done everyday by others, but that doesn't make it right, and when exposed, they should be prosecuted. The people WE put into office are working for US, not for themselves. It was interesting to learn those polls we always hear about are not as accurate as we've been led to believe, that there is software out there that can allow unscrupulous individuals load the poll in their favor.
It still amazes me that so many people still blindly follow her, paying their hard earned money to listen to her speak garbly-gook, with her "cutsie" expressions as if the people she is addressing were intellectual idiots. Hopefully, those people will take the time to read the book and preen some facts from it themselves.
Great Job Frank Bailey and Ken Morris!
The more Sarah talked the more I reconized she was spewing BS. I'm not sure what made me uneasy about her, it was either just Woman's Intuition or just the knot that kept developing in the pit of my stomach everytime she opened her mouth, but I knew she was WRONG for this country.
The book offers great insight to the workings of Government. I'm sure most of the things done by her team are done everyday by others, but that doesn't make it right, and when exposed, they should be prosecuted. The people WE put into office are working for US, not for themselves. It was interesting to learn those polls we always hear about are not as accurate as we've been led to believe, that there is software out there that can allow unscrupulous individuals load the poll in their favor.
It still amazes me that so many people still blindly follow her, paying their hard earned money to listen to her speak garbly-gook, with her "cutsie" expressions as if the people she is addressing were intellectual idiots. Hopefully, those people will take the time to read the book and preen some facts from it themselves.
Great Job Frank Bailey and Ken Morris!
Blind Allegiance to Sarah Palin
I don't trust Sarah Palin at all and now this book really gives you the inside information everyone should know about her before ever considering her for any office. This book will really open your eyes regarding how she treats everyone; staff, constituents, friends, volunteers and family. This woman is incapable of taking any kind of a slight, without fierce retaliation. She is fast to ignite and burns long. This is one person that I think all people should fear if they ever choose to put her in close proximity to the little red button.
Palin, she could have had it all but now she's a circus.
Love her or hate her, we all must admit, Sarah Palin is one of the most fascinating celebrities this country has ever manufactured.
Frank Bailey served on Palin's staff from 2005 during her successful Gubernatorial campaign through her quitting that position in 2009. Initially enamored with Palin, Bailey saw her as hope and change for Alaska for all the right reasons. Palin positioned herself as fiscally conservative, no nonsense, no politics as usual, ethical, honest to a fault and all the other terms we would use to describe "hope in politics".
His family suffered both emotionally and financially as his service to Alaska via Palin took center stage. The Gubernatorial race of 2008 culminated in the crowning glory for Bailey as he saw Palin inaugurated.
Shortly after, the layers of Palin started to get peeled away.
This story is a glowing testament to how captivation and blind allegiance can cause people, good people, to go bad. Bailey and the staff slowly but surely became complicit as their Governor became more and more self serving and unethical. Palin, in many ways, is like George Bush II, unwilling to see fault in herself, authoritarian in nature, will not take blame and expects others to throw themselves on the sword for her. Bailey did, more than once, including Troopergate. Bailey was obviously enamored with Palin for more reasons than just her politics.
Upon her return from the failed run for VP along with McCain, Palin had less and less time for Alaska but more and more time to obsess about revenge and material wealth which eventually caused her to quit so as to devote herself full time to these pursuits. Those who, for whatever reason, still feel she quit for other more "honorable" reasons are still under the Palin spell.
Frank Bailey will be dismissed as disgruntled, jilted, whining etc and most likely and unfortunately go the way of so many other whistle blowers. That's unfortunate but, for those amongst us who do see past the cute smile, winks and catchy little quips that Sarah Palin is famous for, thank Bailey for confirming what we already knew.
Palin is now a circus as she rolls around the country giving empty speeches, destroying the most basic of history and just being an out of control rock star who is drunk on her own aura. Bailey, has his life and family back and is hopefully restoring his dignity as Palin destroys the little she may have left.
This is a pretty good read. The book is structured in chapters defining Bailey's time with Palin. There are email excerpts with accompanying explanations by Bailey along with Bailey's own opinion and inner thoughts. I enjoyed it.
Frank Bailey served on Palin's staff from 2005 during her successful Gubernatorial campaign through her quitting that position in 2009. Initially enamored with Palin, Bailey saw her as hope and change for Alaska for all the right reasons. Palin positioned herself as fiscally conservative, no nonsense, no politics as usual, ethical, honest to a fault and all the other terms we would use to describe "hope in politics".
His family suffered both emotionally and financially as his service to Alaska via Palin took center stage. The Gubernatorial race of 2008 culminated in the crowning glory for Bailey as he saw Palin inaugurated.
Shortly after, the layers of Palin started to get peeled away.
This story is a glowing testament to how captivation and blind allegiance can cause people, good people, to go bad. Bailey and the staff slowly but surely became complicit as their Governor became more and more self serving and unethical. Palin, in many ways, is like George Bush II, unwilling to see fault in herself, authoritarian in nature, will not take blame and expects others to throw themselves on the sword for her. Bailey did, more than once, including Troopergate. Bailey was obviously enamored with Palin for more reasons than just her politics.
Upon her return from the failed run for VP along with McCain, Palin had less and less time for Alaska but more and more time to obsess about revenge and material wealth which eventually caused her to quit so as to devote herself full time to these pursuits. Those who, for whatever reason, still feel she quit for other more "honorable" reasons are still under the Palin spell.
Frank Bailey will be dismissed as disgruntled, jilted, whining etc and most likely and unfortunately go the way of so many other whistle blowers. That's unfortunate but, for those amongst us who do see past the cute smile, winks and catchy little quips that Sarah Palin is famous for, thank Bailey for confirming what we already knew.
Palin is now a circus as she rolls around the country giving empty speeches, destroying the most basic of history and just being an out of control rock star who is drunk on her own aura. Bailey, has his life and family back and is hopefully restoring his dignity as Palin destroys the little she may have left.
This is a pretty good read. The book is structured in chapters defining Bailey's time with Palin. There are email excerpts with accompanying explanations by Bailey along with Bailey's own opinion and inner thoughts. I enjoyed it.
This book (well, iBook) was one I could not put down.
While nothing shocks me about Palin, this book came close.
The shocking emails written by her.
WOW.
It just goes to show how unattached this woman is from the real world.
I hope she does run for President.
This book will be front and center in bringing her down.
The book is simply amazing.
While nothing shocks me about Palin, this book came close.
The shocking emails written by her.
WOW.
It just goes to show how unattached this woman is from the real world.
I hope she does run for President.
This book will be front and center in bringing her down.
The book is simply amazing.
Frank Bailey joined Sarah Palin's nascent gubernatorial campaign in the fall of 2005 and stayed on as a close aide until her abrupt resignation from office in the summer of 2009. A Bible believing Christian with conservative values, Bailey had no political experience prior to joining the Palin campaign. He naively believed Sarah Palin was a different kind of politician. One who wouldn't tolerate politics as usual and who would put the interests of Alaskan citizens first.
Demonstrating a lack of sophistication usually reserved for adults who think professional wrestling is not fixed, Bailey is shocked to discover that Palin is no saint. He gradually learns that she can be petty, vindictive, incurious, self-serving and a bit of a hypocrite. In other words Sarah Palin is human, just like the rest of us....only more so.
In Blind Allegiance to Sarah Palin, Frank Bailey takes us through his first hand experiences with Todd and Sarah as they win the three way GOP gubernatorial primary and then the general election. With plenty of unedited emails to back up his facts, he goes on to illustrate what kind of governor Sarah Palin was and the picture he paints is not one Palin loyalists will take kindly to.
Bailey was not an active participant in the McCain-Palin campaign so very little pertaining to that rather important aspect of Palin's political career is addressed. But much of the book is dedicated to that sordid affair known as "Troopergate", Sarah and Todd's obsessional quest to have former brother-in-law Mike Wooten fired from his state trooper job. The author makes it clear he is deeply ashamed of the role he played in elevating a family feud into a public vendetta.
Blind Allegiance to Sarah Palin provides plenty of detailed information which more or less aupports the view of Sarah Palin already out there.
Demonstrating a lack of sophistication usually reserved for adults who think professional wrestling is not fixed, Bailey is shocked to discover that Palin is no saint. He gradually learns that she can be petty, vindictive, incurious, self-serving and a bit of a hypocrite. In other words Sarah Palin is human, just like the rest of us....only more so.
In Blind Allegiance to Sarah Palin, Frank Bailey takes us through his first hand experiences with Todd and Sarah as they win the three way GOP gubernatorial primary and then the general election. With plenty of unedited emails to back up his facts, he goes on to illustrate what kind of governor Sarah Palin was and the picture he paints is not one Palin loyalists will take kindly to.
Bailey was not an active participant in the McCain-Palin campaign so very little pertaining to that rather important aspect of Palin's political career is addressed. But much of the book is dedicated to that sordid affair known as "Troopergate", Sarah and Todd's obsessional quest to have former brother-in-law Mike Wooten fired from his state trooper job. The author makes it clear he is deeply ashamed of the role he played in elevating a family feud into a public vendetta.
Blind Allegiance to Sarah Palin provides plenty of detailed information which more or less aupports the view of Sarah Palin already out there.
There's no doubting she's a fascinating character, since all logical paradigms do not apply to her. How do you become so popular and successful with very little in-depth knowledge of "anything", AND, go as far as she did just amazes me. She's not stupid, but she's a total idiot. I couldn't put the book down, it explained alot of her psychological pathology. Millions of Americans can relate to her, because she's just as uninformed as they are, it's like the "blind leading the blind" or in this case "blind allegiance". Although I don't believe in Bailey's politics, this was a much need book to understand how a truly "crazed" emotional psychopathic megalomaniac operates.
Understand Palin better, and be very, very afraid.
The best thing about this book is its detail of Sarah Palin's (and her family's, especially Todd's) consistent pettiness and revenge on those she squabbles with. As an Alaskan, it was not a surprise when she quit, but the fact that she catapulted so far since has been. This book helps you understand her strategies to keep herself in the limelight and the money.
I would say Frank Bailey is not totally sympathetic in this narrative, but you can't help but feel his pain as he gets caught up in a nightmare. Excellent writing, very well researched and emails to substantiate his claims, this book goes a long way toward explaining to the world what so many Alaskans already knew. For Palin, it's all about herself and the duckets.
Yes, it will be dismissed as "sour grapes" by her supporters, but I encourage them to read the book and pay special attention to the emails. A strong case against Palin is built, and the facts speak for themselves.
I would say Frank Bailey is not totally sympathetic in this narrative, but you can't help but feel his pain as he gets caught up in a nightmare. Excellent writing, very well researched and emails to substantiate his claims, this book goes a long way toward explaining to the world what so many Alaskans already knew. For Palin, it's all about herself and the duckets.
Yes, it will be dismissed as "sour grapes" by her supporters, but I encourage them to read the book and pay special attention to the emails. A strong case against Palin is built, and the facts speak for themselves.
This book was well written, and highly informative. Having the point of view of someone who had personal contact with and knowledge of Sarah Palin just reinforced the picture I had already had of her. I have read op-eds and another book about her, but this one gave a unique view due to the close relationship. Well worth the time to read.
Permanent addition to my library
What a great book! Long after S. Palin fades into an embarrassing footnote in Alaskan history, this story of blind allegiance to a charismatic leader will still be worthy of recommendation. I don't care where the profits go, I'm making this a permanent addition to my book collection!
Hard to rein in the nastiness!
Sarah Palin has given me one opportunity to do something I and few others have done: reading books about people and events I know well, some intimately. I'll say it out front; I detest the woman and the bunch of hillbillies that surrounded her. When she was the "sports girl" at an ANC TV station, I was a fairly high-level technocrat with the State of Alaska. When Bailey had the hots for her so bad he foresook his wife, family, and real life for her, I was a Murkowski political appointee watching the wheels come off our administration.
Palin outright lies about what happened with Randy Ruedrich, but that was her rocket to stardom; she became the Anchorage Daily Knowles' favorite Republican. She thought it was because of her intrinsic wonderfulness; the McClatchey Rag thought a lightweight like Palin would be easy for Tony Knowles to beat in the '06 election.
I had the misfortune of spending lots of Monday mornings with her as we both attended the Monday morning staff meetings. She had a nothing patronage job; AOGCC commissioners have to be qualified to be friends of the governor, to sign work that other people do, and to go to meetings. In a job that required no knowledge, skills, or abilities, she still managed to be a ditz and then she pulled her rat off Randy stunt that made her famous.
In that fateful spring of '06, I hated my job and most of the people around me in the Murkowski Administration. I didn't have the angst that Bailey had because I no illusions that anybody who could get elected to high office could be a decent person. I faced either having to put up with Knowles' standard Democrat corruption, a movie I'd seen before, or have Sarah become my new BFF. But then I knew who AFSCME was and how to deal with them (read the book and you'll see how this might be important), and I knew that woman well enought to know that nobody was going to tell her anything she didn't want to hear. So, I decided July 1, 2006, was a good day to retire and I watched the Palin debacle from the outside.
The book has the ring of truth and certainly comports with my observations. I think he is both too ignorant of government and enamored with Palin to really understand some of what he describes. Guess now he has to make friends with Democrats; he's still a young man with a family to support and in Alaska, when you're on the outs, you're in deep trouble unless you really like wearing that blue WalMart vest. Every Republican/conservative should read it to learn from Alaska's mistake and not inflict that mistake on the Nation and the World. With real power, Sarah Palin would be a dangerous, dangerous person - right up until she got bored and quit.
Palin outright lies about what happened with Randy Ruedrich, but that was her rocket to stardom; she became the Anchorage Daily Knowles' favorite Republican. She thought it was because of her intrinsic wonderfulness; the McClatchey Rag thought a lightweight like Palin would be easy for Tony Knowles to beat in the '06 election.
I had the misfortune of spending lots of Monday mornings with her as we both attended the Monday morning staff meetings. She had a nothing patronage job; AOGCC commissioners have to be qualified to be friends of the governor, to sign work that other people do, and to go to meetings. In a job that required no knowledge, skills, or abilities, she still managed to be a ditz and then she pulled her rat off Randy stunt that made her famous.
In that fateful spring of '06, I hated my job and most of the people around me in the Murkowski Administration. I didn't have the angst that Bailey had because I no illusions that anybody who could get elected to high office could be a decent person. I faced either having to put up with Knowles' standard Democrat corruption, a movie I'd seen before, or have Sarah become my new BFF. But then I knew who AFSCME was and how to deal with them (read the book and you'll see how this might be important), and I knew that woman well enought to know that nobody was going to tell her anything she didn't want to hear. So, I decided July 1, 2006, was a good day to retire and I watched the Palin debacle from the outside.
The book has the ring of truth and certainly comports with my observations. I think he is both too ignorant of government and enamored with Palin to really understand some of what he describes. Guess now he has to make friends with Democrats; he's still a young man with a family to support and in Alaska, when you're on the outs, you're in deep trouble unless you really like wearing that blue WalMart vest. Every Republican/conservative should read it to learn from Alaska's mistake and not inflict that mistake on the Nation and the World. With real power, Sarah Palin would be a dangerous, dangerous person - right up until she got bored and quit.
It would be pretty easy to say that Frank Bailey will end up on Sarah Palin's infamous "Enemy List" after this book. The author laid it out pretty plain and simple that Sarah Palin is really an unstable and very dishonest individual who appears to have unlimited ambition for power and greed for wealth. And I voted for her several times in the past. Frank Bailey apparently under went a process of evolution himself from a blind robot to someone who slowly became aware of the differences between what is right and what is wrong. The infamous Troopergate Incident is center of this book since the author played the key role by being at the epic center of that scandal. They say that absolute power corrupt absolutely and this book clearly showed this in both Palin and the author.
I thought the book was pager turner myself. The author appears to wrote honestly in admitting his shortcomings and his personal lack of insights that led to his mental slavery to the Palin cause for so many years. He freely admitted that he literally did submit to blind allegiance to Sarah Palin, thus the title of this book is very proper.
I think Mr. Bailey is actually holding things back from this book. He knows too much to write such a generalized book. Maybe he still feel something for his former boss. Most of the material presented in this book deal with subjects matter that dealt directly and indirectly around the author. But it is clear that he knows whole lot more about other matters of state that went on while Sarah Palin was our governor. No man is an island. One thing is pretty clear, even if half of what he wrote are true, it enough to make any real American cringe at the thought of her being President or running for any public office at all. What bother me the most after reading this book is the extend of Palin's dishonesty and her willingness to throw anyone outside of her immediate family under the bus to save herself. And to be honest, I am not sure if her own family is that safe from reading this book.
This book will make a great contrasting reading with Sarah Palin's own book, Going Rogue. I read both now and I would venture out to say that the two books are definitely on the polar opposite. It would be up to the readers to decide but Mr. Bailey is right; most Alaskans like myself know the truth about Palin already and this book merely confirmed many of the facts. Right now, she won't even be elected dog catcher in Wasilla...her home town!
I thought the book was pager turner myself. The author appears to wrote honestly in admitting his shortcomings and his personal lack of insights that led to his mental slavery to the Palin cause for so many years. He freely admitted that he literally did submit to blind allegiance to Sarah Palin, thus the title of this book is very proper.
I think Mr. Bailey is actually holding things back from this book. He knows too much to write such a generalized book. Maybe he still feel something for his former boss. Most of the material presented in this book deal with subjects matter that dealt directly and indirectly around the author. But it is clear that he knows whole lot more about other matters of state that went on while Sarah Palin was our governor. No man is an island. One thing is pretty clear, even if half of what he wrote are true, it enough to make any real American cringe at the thought of her being President or running for any public office at all. What bother me the most after reading this book is the extend of Palin's dishonesty and her willingness to throw anyone outside of her immediate family under the bus to save herself. And to be honest, I am not sure if her own family is that safe from reading this book.
This book will make a great contrasting reading with Sarah Palin's own book, Going Rogue. I read both now and I would venture out to say that the two books are definitely on the polar opposite. It would be up to the readers to decide but Mr. Bailey is right; most Alaskans like myself know the truth about Palin already and this book merely confirmed many of the facts. Right now, she won't even be elected dog catcher in Wasilla...her home town!
The Riveting Revelations of a Repentant, Recovering PalinBot
In stark contrast to the woman that Frank Bailey believed was dedicated to fixing Alaska, Bailey accepts responsibility for his part in the lies, chicanery, cover-ups, and hatchet jobs that plagued the campaign and truncated Gubernatorial stint of Sarah Palin. In "Blind Allegiance" he neither seeks pity nor excuses his own behavior, but he does express remorse for the harm he did to others at Sarah's bidding. Bailey's motivation appears that of a man reconnecting with his soul, a man who feels duty-bound to provide a first-hand account of the woman who even now dominates the media as she contemplates a 2012 Presidential bid.
Bailey provides convincing evidence of pettiness, bullying, character assassination, and favoritism from "the Governor who wanted to be held to a higher standard" by quoting from her own emails as well as emails from her husband Todd and other willing participants. Bailey occasionally includes glimpses of Palin's more favorable characteristics, but he leaves us feeling like there is much more to be told than could fit between the covers of this book.
If you are looking for a blistering expose of the Palin dynasty, this may not be the book for you. You'll not find a sensationalized nail-Palin-to-the-cross shot of venom here. Showing no signs of vindictiveness in this book, Bailey accepts that his own human frailty bound him to a cause long after it had soured.
In addition, "Blind Allegiance" is extremely well-written (even with a surprising number of typographical errors in my Kindle version) with the aid of two accomplished co-authors.
Bailey provides convincing evidence of pettiness, bullying, character assassination, and favoritism from "the Governor who wanted to be held to a higher standard" by quoting from her own emails as well as emails from her husband Todd and other willing participants. Bailey occasionally includes glimpses of Palin's more favorable characteristics, but he leaves us feeling like there is much more to be told than could fit between the covers of this book.
If you are looking for a blistering expose of the Palin dynasty, this may not be the book for you. You'll not find a sensationalized nail-Palin-to-the-cross shot of venom here. Showing no signs of vindictiveness in this book, Bailey accepts that his own human frailty bound him to a cause long after it had soured.
In addition, "Blind Allegiance" is extremely well-written (even with a surprising number of typographical errors in my Kindle version) with the aid of two accomplished co-authors.
A COMPELLING AND DISTURBING READ.
This book is a fascinating read. It contains every facet of human behavior there is - the good, the bad, and the ugly. It is a classic example of the despicable hypocrisy of politics and the damage it does to people. I couldn't put it down, yet it left me feeling empty, sad, and with a bitter taste in my mouth. It reaffirms that our political system is our biggest shame. I recommend reading it even though it is not uplifting in any way.
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Wow, in all of these regards, this book is a winner. Frank Bailey paints a realistic and believable picture of a woman who has used fear and ignorance as stepping stones into national prominence, otherwise bypassing the traits and qualities that we Americans should hold dear in politicians. I was particularly delighted that Bailey chose to include the "early years", during which he too was a blind supporter of Palin. It's important to remember that we can all fall into the trap of (supposed) beauty and seemingly down-to-earth individuals, but we must remember that being a quality politician is about so much more.
In the end, Bailey successfully and persuasively paints Palin as what she really seems to be - a power and money hungry yet completely unintelligent woman that relies on vague and often very strange methods of leadership, and how this supposed "leadership" was actually a total abandonment of her post (governor of Alaska) because she was simply too annoyed at the aspects of her job to continue. A highly recommend this book to all who believe that politics are worth reading about, especially Republican voters who are still unsure of whom they prefer in 2012. This is a real eye-opener and you won't be disappointed!