Soapy Smith Awards
Cliff
"Strange Bedfellows"
[
Palin, Johnston dominate "Soapy Smith Awards"
Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and Levi Johnston, the teenager who sired Palin's
grandchild, dominate the 49th State's annual 2009 "Soapy Smith Awards," dubious
achievement citations named in honor of Skagway's Klondike Gold Rush scoundrel
and con man.
The citations are awarded by the Sunday "Alaska Ear" column of the Anchorage
Daily News.
Still, Palin had to share the year's top award. In the words of "Alaska Ear":
"To Sarah and the captain of the tanker-safety tugboat Pathfinder. She for the
big lie about (Obama) death panels being part of the proposed health insurance
reform legislation. (She gets extra credit for how effective the lie was.) And
he for managing to run aground in good weather on clearly marked Bligh Reef, the
most famous marine hazard in North America."
....
Levi Johnston, now estranged from the Palin family - and mounting legal action
over his child visitation rights - received the "BAIT AND SWITCH AWARD." As
related by Alaska Ear:
"To Levi Johnston, who promised to pose naked for Playgirl magazine, then backed
out at the last minute, opting for fig leaves -- well, hockey gloves, to be
precise. Levi worried, no doubt, about the Palins posting giant color
reproductions in the courtroom during the custody hearing."
An Alaska judge has rejected appeals by the Palin family that the custody battle
be closed to press coverage.
Sarah Palin scored another Soapy Smith, the "PULL THE OTHER ONE AWARD." The
inscription:
"To She Who Was Governor, for her explanation about wearing an old campaign
visor with John McCain's name blacked out. Ear still isn't exactly sure what she
said. Something about it being the only hat available (in Hawaii?) and a black
felt-tip marker being easier than going bare-headed."
Palin was photographed, wearing the visor in question, vacationing in Hawaii
after a tour promoting her bestselling memoir "Going Rogue."
Both U.S. Senators from Alaska figured in the Soapy Smith Awards." Sens. Lisa
Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Mark Begich, D-Alaska, shared the "DEFICIT: WHAT
DEFICIT?" award. As Alaska Ear put it:
"To Sen. Mark Begich, for neglecting to mention the huge budget hole facing the
city (Begich was mayor of Anchorage) when he left for Washington. Sen. Lisa
Murkowski gets an honorable mention for twice putting out bragging press
releases about money coming to Alaska from legislation she voted against."
....
]