The unholy (s)election of Bristol Palin

I wonder if being an old liberal hag causes you to write pointless dribble or if writing pointless dribble causes you to be an old liberal hag?

"Bristol is clearly getting votes she would never have gotten had she not been Sarah Palin's daughter."

Yes, and I'm sure Brandy - one of the best-selling female artists in American history - only got votes from people due to her dancing skills.

You know, no one voted for Brandy because she's Brandy, or anything. Clearly Palin should be ashamed of herself for using her mom to win votes on a CELEBRITY DANCING SHOW.

Ms. Quinn, do you consider yourself even remotely intelligent?

A THANKSGIVING PSALM

Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples! Sing to him; sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works! Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice!

Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually! Remember the wondrous works that he has done, his miracles and the judgments he uttered. He is the LORD our God; his judgments are in all the earth.

Sing to the LORD, all the earth! Tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples! For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and he is to be held in awe above all gods.

For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the LORD made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy are in his place. Ascribe to the LORD, O clans of the peoples, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength!

Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring thanksgiving and come before him! Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth; yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved.

Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice, and let them say among the nations, “The LORD reigns!” Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it! Then shall the trees of the forest sing for joy before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth.

Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!—I Chronicles 16

Have a thankful Thanksgiving.

geez, she's already got cellulitic legs, how old is she?

I hope she snags a decent goober before some wife beater gets to her.

What upset viewers, who appreciated Bristol's progress, was the unfairness of her persisting, particularly, past Brandy, whose dancing was far superior to Palin's.

Gray was a no-brainer. She's danced professionally, and dances very, very well. She's a good actor, too.

I don't hate Sally. I don't know why; that feeling to say something snide and sarcastic about her is just not there.

Oh well; I guess there must be something wrong with me.

I've watched Sally on O'Reilly and she has always appeared as a leftwing nut job on most issues. But, weighing in on Bristol on a "dance competition" which isn't, is lovely to read. Poor Sally, no one, except her snobby hateful dinner guests and herself, understand what is going on but she will write 300+ words spewing disdain, conceit, ugliness and hate....laughably like some matron of old. Please, who is sally? She puts words together and probably gets paid because of her friendships of old. Now the day this broad can put words together like Charles Krauthammer or George Will to name just two of the hundreds of excellent writers out there, I might listen. Until then, Sally is nothing but the Joker in court making the not so king, laugh!

Fascinating to read all the comments - most, actually, justifiably critical! - of Quinn's silly and elitist remarks!

So much hypocrosy, of course (her multiple votes vs. Palin fans' multiple votes, etc.) and so much "my opinion/values are better than yours," etc. And her ridiculous statement that the Bradlees build their Monday Night lives around DWTS (but what about that other iconic TV show, Monday Night Football?) is pretty much blown out of the water when she nonchalantly mentions that they actually had a DINNER PARTY on that very night - WTF?!? Can she be breaking her own rules? Or is this just another case, ho-hum, of blatant hypocrisy. And, as someone sardonicaly remarked, imagine forcing Norman Lear to interrupt his dinner and watch DWTS if/as he's not much of a fan!

Another annoying remark - totally off-base - was about the Tea Partiers being mostly Conservative Christians. Well, most of them are, but there are many Jews and atheists among this wide-ranging movement as well.

As for the guys over at HillBuzz.org, it's ironic 'cause they started out pre-2008 as staunch Hillary backers (hence their name, which they've NEVER changed!), but the inner sanctum of the group - all gay, of course - left the Dems when Obama forced their heroine off the stage - and they've never looked back. Now they've become Republican, Conservative and pro-Palin! Their multiple votes may have been "stretching" the intent of the rules, but they were definitely within the bounds of the rules (as set forth by the show's producers).

Quinn - like most libs watching the show and becoming distraught over the "popular vote" nature of it - refuses to accept that great dancing per se is NOT always the guiding influence here - nor is it expected to be! It's a combination of popularity mixed with great dance moves not always exercised with great precision or artisty, but always executed with heart and dedication!

Quinn is just another frustrated fan (but not with the final results, I should hope!) whose power is limited to her 35 votes - no Beltway bigshot need apply...

A "faith column" discussing Palin and DWTS, from a woman who has a not so secret reputation of having slept her way to her success, is the height of liberal hypocrisy.

"Seeing" into the mind of liberal-elitist Sally Quinn is truly frightening. She can't even "get" what a reality show's about, & can't avoid being an incredibly hypocrite. No wonder her ilk which includes her husband, can't "get" what destruction liberal economic policies have done to wreck our country since the 1930s (on the federal, state and local levels). No wonder. I would bet my entire life savings that a) she voted for Obama, b) she detested Palin for sophomoric reasons, c) she believes in man-made global warming and that reductions in our energy use will "save" the planet, and d) she's a hypocrite about said AGW with her own lifestyle.

Whew! Whee! Finally, all is well in Sally's world -- thank the Dancing God, and her prayers to it.

I voted for Demi Moore.

I also, do not normally watch Dancing with the Stars. But I decided to take a look to see what all the hubub is about Bristol Palin.

I also must admit, that she is more appealing in many ways than most of her competitors. Most of all, she seems almost like a little girl. No matter how much I dislike her mother, it does not seem right to transfer all of that to Bristol.

She actually seems like a very shy person, drifing in a vortox beyond her control, who is having perhaps the first good and postive experience of her life. So, I didn't vote for any of them. I am one of those freaks that votes for elected officials on election day. But I just let everybody else choose, in matters like this.

I think Sally had a point to make and she made it.

Like many of her essays, it was written in a light-hearted and tongue-in-cheek style.

It's called humor; look it up.

Anyone else keep wondering why the Judges keep sucking up to Palin? Ussually they don't hold back ripping people apart but with Palin its kid gloves...I don't get it.

Some people keep saying Palin should not be there. C'mon peeples its TV for our entertainment..so..we should all be up in arms over this Palin fiasco. How dare they mess with our entertainment like that?!

Is this any different than when Cloris Leachman won week after week on Dancing with the Stars or Sanjaya on American Idol when better contestants were voted off? This is part of these shows formats.

The voting public gets to vote therefore you may not always get the best candidate to win. I would urge you to watch John Zeigler's "How Obama Got Elected" for the best example of this truth.

How is people voting from multiple email addresses any different than Sally Quinn voting from her multiple phone lines? Hypocrite much?

Sally,

It's bad enough with the untalented atheist penning the euphemistic "FAITH" column for the Washington Post, but then to read you're concerned about voter fraud?

Why that's sacrosanct in lefty Washington circles. And we adversaries can't even practice Dig Up the Vote on DWTS.

I've only got ten votes and have never watched Dancing with Stars, but I think I'm going to cast my votes in the event Bristol Palin wins just to watch you go apoplectic.

Now that would be entertainment!

Sally, Sally Sally; tired, liberal hack.
I've never voted on one of these things, though I've caught portions of a few episodes with my wife. I have noticed, however the complete lack of guile on Bristol's part, in contrast to the drama exhibited by more than a few of the 'professional amateurs', who are used to audience adulation. Exceptions: the football player and Mrs. Brady, God love her. And good for young Bristol Palin.

I made a point to vote for Bristol from computer and phone last night. Because to --- with the liberal intelligentsia, that's why. Annoying when the multiple votes thing doesn't go your way, isn't it? And you all thought only Dems could win that way, and only in Illinois...

Why is Sally Quinn writing in a section called "On Faith"? Didn't she get her job by shagging that insufferable old hack, Ben Bradlee? Put her in the gossip column, where she belongs.

Maybe instead of watching dancing you should go out and dance. It will relieve some of your energy hat you're wasting hating a young woman.

FYI, Sally, this is a way to prove the GREAT "unwashed middle of this country" are tired of you, Couric, and the LEFT just as the Nov. 2nd elections proved!

GO, Bristol the Pistol and Sarah!

Anything that makes a mockery of these shows is okay with me.

Oh Sally, you are so dang pathetic!

Little middle Americans are seeing just what a truly dull life you and Norman Lear lead. Here we all thought you were hosting drug fueled orgies, or at the very least could keep each other entertained through four courses. Is the dinner conversation really so vapid at your dinner parties that DWTS is more intellectually stimulating?

Jennifer Gray starred in a movie about dancing. She obviously has had countless hours of professional dance training and cosmetic surgery. Soooooo what are your definitions of cheat and unfair?

The DWTS rules are that you can vote for whomever you like, not just 'stars" approved by you, and your dinner party guests. DWTS put Bristol Palin on the show to get ratings, don't you and your Hollywood guests understand the tv business? The longer Bristol stays on the show the more people like you write sad little articles about it, the more money the DWTS people rake in.

My advice to Sally - relax, pour your husband a half a glass of White Zinfandel, and try to enjoy the show.

Let's see:

1) Rank hypocrisy and condescension (Sally's main point, translated: "I cheat too, but I am a smart, important person who can afford to have seven phone lines, so I should be able to vote more than the rest of you proles").

2) Gratuitous name dropping (I wonder if Norman Lear now regrets accepting your invitation to dinner).

3) Delicious irony (listening to lefties gripe about vote rigging is pretty surreal. Did they find any more bags of ballots in New York today?).

4) A subtle, yet telling view of Sally's opinion of herself ("Sally, you're a good journalist, but...") No, Sally, you're really not a good journalist. You're not even a journalist. You're a glorified blogger with an agenda.

Indeed, Tom75. Lord have mercy, Sally sure has great fun with religion. Her personal best was mocking Holy Communion at Tim Russert's funeral mass. Asked to explain, she offered more mockery, "I did it for Tim." Hair-pulling, spittle-flecked libs, realizing they're not the ones anyone has been waiting for.

My husband and I are "DWTS" fanatics. We plan our social life around it, often regretting invitations that fall on the night of the show.......That may be the saddest thing I have ever read. I mean who would pass up more time with party animal Norman Lear! What a sad existence basing your actions around a tv show.

Ann Althouse's "brilliant takedown" was about 16 hours behind this: http://instaputz.blogspot.com/2010/11/um.html

Much more to the point.

How many people died in Iraq and Afghanistan this week?

Quinn's column is quite possibly the most ridiculous thing I've ever read. And she takes herself seriously. Ann Althouse has a great take-down of the whole thing:

http://althouse.blogspot.com/2010/11/sally-quinn-who-says-dancing-is-my.html

A "religious" article that preaches "Do as I say, not as I do". Sally Quinn clearly "cheated" when she voted 36 times, but fans of other dancers can't do the same? By the way, I don't understand why Jennifer Grey is even in the competition. I thought she was a professional dancer! The only movie I've ever seen her in was "Dirty Dancing"! Talk about cheating!

Wait! Ms. Quinn has six lines at home and a cell and she can vote five times on each line - I think that is 35 votes from her for her favorite. Even if the rules say you "can" do that, is that not cheating?

Oh shut up Sally. It's a stupid reality show. Grow a pair and move on. I can't believe with all that this country is facing, whining liberals like you are here CRYING over a dancing show and worrying about "cheating". As if this is new to shows like this. WHO GIVES A CRAP?! Will lives be lost if Bristol won? It's not like they actually win anything. There is nothing at stake but a liberals hurt ego, which is what this is really about. You guys hate knowing that the entire country doesn't loathe anything Palin the way you do. I hate the show. Never voted. But hearing Libs go on and on about it made me vote 5 times and then use my Boyfriends email to vote another 5. Loved Diry Dancing, hate Liberals. GO BRISTOL!!!! Sorry Jen.

Jennifer Grey vs. Bristol Palin?

Out with Dirty Dancing and in with Dirty Voting?

Just shows I don't know nothing about dance and Dancing with the Stars. I can't tell the macarena from the lambada too, but those are unTrue American dances.

Bet Bristol would win line dancing hands down.

Gotta to admire the passions of the Palinistas and the Bristolites in their unstinting support for their fave candidates, be it in the political or the dance arena.

Nahhh...I won't shoot horses nor TVs if my fave don't win.

Shows what _I_ know about dance: I didn't think her Chicago freestyle was anything any reasonably fit 20-yo couldn't do, but it was highly praised by the judges.

Of course Jennifer Grey is a good dancer. She only starred in the most popular dance movie of the last 30 years. She shouldn't even be in a contest like this.

Sally-Get over yourself and your crocodile tears. You don't seem to mind using 6 phone lines and a cell to vote. You also don't mind using your family connections to help your own son promote his projects.

Please explain the success of Kyle Ms Quinn. More tea party malfeasance?

You're instructed to vote for "your favorite." Obviously there must be cheating involved if the astute Ms Quinn doesn't like the outcome. Please explain the success of Kyle, Ms. Quinn. More Tea Party malfeasance?

It is amazing to me that anyone on this earth would want to run for political office in this country. Politicians can't solve problems. Nothing is too vile to say about them or their families. Get a life people. This is a DANCE contest not a right/left/independent conspiracy.

Next on Sally's "column to do" list: how Callista Gingrich time as her husband's mistress disqualifies her from being a proper first lady.

Ok first of all Sally you and your husband are big weirdos and need to somehow get lives....and that seems to include many of the Dancing With I Never Was a Star Show fans. Love how upset the pea headed liberal/socialist fans of this farsical show get so upset about the possible vote fraud yet actual real voter fraud...yawn...who cares...geesh people...REALLY!

I have never watched a single episode of DWTS, but if I had known the angst that Bristol was causing liberals, I would have voted for her as well.

You have a minimum of 35 votes, you are going to cast them all, and you are whining about cheaters?

How many votes must one cast before they become a cheater, in your book?

I'm not a DWTS viewer, and I won't be voting, but the hypocrisy of your position is blatantly obvious to anyone who can read.

You know this is a young girl. My daughter is 19 so close to her age. The infantile bile spewing from the Left is sickening. You people are just disgusting. You just can't lose can you? I mean you all stuff ballots cheat do whatever it takes and still lose. You know screw you all. Go to hell. She is a kid and you just attack her and Sara's poor little downs syndrome child. You all deserve a cancerous death.

OMG, who let Quinn out of the attic?

Why in heaven's name do you have SIX telephone lines in your house? PLUS a cell phone? That's ridiculous. Telling everybody that makes you sound braggy about how rich you are. Lame.

I have never watched this show, Sarah's Alaska reality show, or American idol. If others want to, fine. However, I find it disturbing that one young unwed mother without an education is seeking celebrity on a dancing show and apparently has little dancing talent from what I am hearing. Wouldn't you think her Mother would be encouraging her to get an education or a real job and do something responsible for a change. I also wonder about the nutty people who lap up everything this star-crazed family does -- it's difficult to comprehend. This is the most celebrity driven family I have ever observed. Apparently they are very needy and insecure.

'And Carrie Ann, regretfully: "Sally, you're a good journalist. Why do you want to put yourself through this?"'

Sally. How long have you been harboring this fantasy that someone would actually say to you that you are a good journalist? Like THAT would ever happen.

I have seen DWTS a handful of times, but I do confess to taking guilty pleasure out of how crazy Bristol Palin is driving the elitist crowd. She exists, enjoys life, doesn't worry too much about what other people think, and that is enough for the over-credentialed elite to go bonkers. Good for you Bristol --win, lose or draw, enjoy the moment and let them stew in their own juices.

And as for perspective -- get a grip, she's 20 years old. Then again, these are the same folks who thought Sarah Palin's Downs Syndrome child was and is fair game for criticism and derision.

BUT I WILL VOTE MY BUTT OFF FOR BRISTOL JUST BECAUSE IT GETS UP THE LIBERALS' NOSES!

To me, that sounds just as ridiculous as if a liberal who didn't watch DWTS voted against Bristol just to get back at conservatives. Whatever else a game show may be, it's not a referendum on anyone's political or religious views, including those of the Palins. It's unfair for anyone to treat this young woman as a proxy in those battles. I suspect the huge majority of this show's audience probably doesn't care about where the competitors stand politically.

DWTS is such vulgar trash. No wonder it is so popular.

Tormenting liberals is not only the highest form of patriotism, it is delicious fun. After all, they asked for it, especially those who, like the authoress, said such vile things about Gov. Palin.

*** SARAH 2012/16 ***
*** BRISTOL 2028/32 ***

Sally Quinn says ~ Under the show's rules, you're allowed to vote five times on one line. I have six lines at home and my cell, so I vote as many times as I can for my favorite.

I'd say the show is rigged for the elitist to vote more than once to try to get their guy or gal elected. Most of us don't have 6 lines at home. However, we don't mind recruiting friends, family and neighbors if we feel we need to try to balance things out!

Goes to show that Kevin Dujan knows what he is talking about! http://hillbuzz dot org/ if you want to check it out

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha (lawguy wipes the tears from his eyes). You libtards are all the same. If something doesn't turn out the way you believe it should you, you cry foul. Its just another example of elitists not trusting the American public to make the correct decision. Its typical liberal gobbly-de-goo No, the American public was not against Obamacare, we just didn't understand it. No, the American public didn't really vote to stop liberalizm run out-of-control, we voted for cooperation among the parties. No, George W. Bush did not win the election, he stole it from Al Gore. Get a life. Bristol won. Congratulations Miss Palin. More power to you.

This is too funny.

from the column:
"Under the show's rules, you're allowed to vote five times on one line. I have six lines at home and my cell, so I vote as many times as I can for my favorite."

So the real problem is some one else is better at ballot stuffing?

I have never watched this show, let alone cast a vote in it. I am going to have to vote this time. It is very interesting to see the insane reaction of these silly people to such a trivial matter. The picture of them sitting there shouting at the TV over some irrelevant reality show is priceless.

Posted by: bobmoses

~~~

If it's such a trivial matter, then please tell us why the Palin supporters rigged the voting system?

There is nothing trivial about rigging a voting system and then telling everyone else to get over it.

DWTS, as is the case with most of these American Idol-inspired television shows, is more of a popularity contest than a talent competition. In addition, the voting process is easily corrupted by minority of fans that find ways to skew the results to favor a less deserving competitor.

The producers encourage controversial results, as this often leads to an increase in ratings. Some people tune in to root for the undeserving contestants to succeed, many others hope to witness their demise.

As often as not, the most deserving contestant does not win, and sometimes the winner does not merit even reaching the Finals.

Sally Quinn, are you a nut case?

Right-Wing Religious fanatics have been cheating, lying, and doing all kinds of corrupt immoral sinful stuff all their lives. It's not new.

Why do you think they are the base of the Republican Party? Without them the Republicans would have no legal methods for winning anything. Nothing. Nada, Zero, Zip.

Lying, cheating, and being "atrociously" corrupt is the "mentality" of the Right-Wing religious fanatics and they will do anything to win and by any means possible, since the beginning of time.

Have you not figured that out, already, or are you just peeved, because this is your favorite show that they're rigging?

It's funny how their cheating, lying, and being corrupt never bothered you before.

NO NO,

This is good. About time everyone knew the Palins are just so much phony stuff held up by cheats and liars...

such as the two zionists who brought Sarah forward after the GOP convention and Americans wouldn't stand for Lieberman on the Vice Presidential ticket. Sarah is to be their stocking horse.. Another president (like Bush) that Israel can
get to make wars and let Wall Street
do anything it likes. Bingo. Cheating bingo.

These people are unhinged. It's a tv show. The most talented dancer rarely wins. It's a popularity contest. Get a life.

I just quit watching the show after Kurt was kicked off. I should have stopped after Rick. I suggest everyone else who feels this show has become a sham do the same and it will be off the air. I am on to my next interest.

Reading this peace brings up several interesting questions.

1) When Ms. Quinn proclains "Dancing is my religion," does this mean that she has repudiated her atheism? If so, what exactly are the tenets of danceism (dancingism?)? Are candles lit in front of statues of Baryshnikov and Nureyev in the Bradlee-Quinn household?

2) Has the Washington social scene collectively learned what night(s) "Dancing With the Stars" is on and scheduled parties accordingly? The opportunity to have an honest-to-Nureyev good time without gasbag Sally and the colostomy bag she married would be the answer to many prayers, if anybody in that sinkhole town actually prayed.

3) Does Ms. Quinn believe, really, that any sentient life form would refer to her as "a good journalist"? Is utter and unfettered delusion one of the perks of being a "D.C. Insider"?

I have never watched this show, let alone cast a vote in it. I am going to have to vote this time. It is very interesting to see the insane reaction of these silly people to such a trivial matter. The picture of them sitting there shouting at the TV over some irrelevant reality show is priceless.

" I'd absolutely LOVE IT if she received world-wide attention for encouraging her 'supporters' to cheat in a national election."

What on earth gave you the impression that she would do that?

Good lord, Palin haters are so pathetic. Get over it and get a life, losers.

Sally, hunny: Life. Get one.

"Wow, I'm soooooo impressed by your intelligence, by your maturity, by your grasp of reality"

Yes, your petty screed was much more mature.

Physician, heal thyself.

What on earth does this insipid account have to do with Faith?

This article is a great example of how this "OnFaith" blog is just an excuse for more liberal punditry. What a joke.

"BUT I WILL VOTE MY BUTT OFF FOR BRISTOL JUST BECAUSE IT GETS UP THE LIBERALS' NOSES!
Posted by: oldnova | November 22, 2010 5:13 PM

Voting for anything, even a dance competition contestant you don't like, just so your vote can irritate someone else?
Wow, I'm soooooo impressed by your intelligence, by your maturity, by your grasp of reality. People like you will complain about the government you've helped to create when you purposely voted on a candidate you knew wasn't good for the country, but you voted for them just to 'irritate' someone else.

Oh, by all means, let Sarah Palin run for President. I'd absolutely LOVE IT if she received world-wide attention for encouraging her 'supporters' to cheat in a national election. I'd LOVE IT if she were to somehow win the election, only to have the results thrown out due to rampant cheating.

Seriously though, I will be completely surprised if the Republican party chooses her. She became such a ---tch during her short tenure as VP candidate, I doubt if they can stand (or afford) her "I'm a diva, give me everything I demand" attitude.
In the last two years, SP has done nothing to increase her knowledge of foreign affairs, national policy, etc. All she has done is insult the President, while thinking she can do better with no plan to actually do anything 'better'. Her 'supporters' still cannot list in honest detail, any plans Sarah Palin has formulated to 'improve her country'......she has to do and say more than just wearing her glittery flag pins.

I sincerely doubt this is the first time anyone has ever used multiple addresses to vote for their favorite star.

I remember being extremely amused listening to several co-workers plotting out their strategy for getting Emmit Smith in. No one seemed to think it was cheating then.

Can't the whole Palin Alaska Hillbillies crowd just go away?

Conservatives are stuffing the vote on DWTS and liberals are stuffing the vote at polling places around the nation.

Glad to see you have your priorities in order, Ms Sally.

That Quinn is a ditsy DWTS "fanatic" dialing feverishly for her favorite doesn't surprise me in the least. In fact, she may finally have found her calling (because, let's face it, this column on faith ain't it). Boogie on, Sal.

and one more thing, regarding the "purity" of any reality show.

Are you kidding? They are all of them built around personalities and stories to make them watchable.

If the show is about being able to dance so well, why don't they have aspiring professional dancers so they can get a break into the field? Don't they have people who are already in another professional? My point is, it's not only about dancing. Just like American Idol.

I've never watched DWTS, but I will tonight.

Put me down for 10 votes (5x 2 lines) for Bristol.

This column and the behavior by quite a lot of so called sophisticated adults is bizarre.

We've all hated some politician but can you even grasp actually truly caring about someone you don't know personally? Attaching this much energy towards them?

You vote against them and hope they lose. It's not personal.

The people exposing their insanity have no idea what they look like to the general population at large.

It's real.

A self evaluated "good journalist" gets in a lather about a game show with dancing.

Okay.

Now we return to other important matters.

As you said yourself "Bristol is clearly getting votes she would never have gotten had she not been Sarah Palin's daughter."

How about this: Bristol is only on the show because she is Sarah Palin's daughter.
Of course she's getting votes because of who her mother is.

This is a popularity contest which involves dancing. There have been other shocking exits in past seasons but noone was bothered then, just surprised. Even this season, Kyle Massey has great personality but his dancing is not good at all - he's still there. Isn't it the same thing?

The only difference is that this is clearly the first time that any voters are cheating.

Sally, you were right when you called yourself a fanatic. You are absolutely psychotic! You have your opinion and others have theirs. Please get help dear...

Hey Sal - Let me get this straight: You have to hold hands with Norman Lear while you "breathlessly" watch the results? I mean, really - shouldn't you be out on a ledge somewhere?

And while you're investigating "conspiracies," why don't you ask your buddy Norman why some "Jewish detractors" accuse the Jews of running Hollywood? Oh right - that wouldn't be "fair". I agree. Of course, the fact that it's still only OK for old East coast liberal elitist hags to attack Christians doesn't hurt...

I am a Republican but not a Tea party member... I will not vote for Sarah Palin in any election (unless she is the #2 on the ticket) or primary.

BUT I WILL VOTE MY BUTT OFF FOR BRISTOL JUST BECAUSE IT GETS UP THE LIBERALS' NOSES!

I wonder how many Liberal men fainted trying to watch Sarah Palin's Alaska last night?

HeeHee

This could be a metaphor for things to come. Sarah Palin is a force to be reckoned with and if her supporters can influence a TV show of 23 million viewers they can have more serious influence on elections. And if they can mobilize the religious right then the Democrats better pay attention and start dancing as fast as they can.
And as for the people who cheated when they voted, all I can say is, "Lord have mercy!"
______________________________________________

You better believe Sarah and us are a force to be reckoned with!

And as for as your last sentence, that's what we said when you and the rest of the Slobbering Media and cheaters foisted Obama on us!

did sally quinn wince when acorn was enlisting mickey mouse to vote for her party's candidate or all the people who were six feet under. no but for a dance show she shows her convictions which really shows the truth of her convictions -- her and norman lear

Quinn is a CHEATER and I guess that gives her a special insight. You are a despicable piece of white trash pretending to be a Christian. I am not religious as I HAVE A BRAIN but if their truly is a God you will suffer for eternity as you are the ONE HE DISPISES THE MOST. The Washington Post needs to cut ties with this tired old hag ASAP.

PS I am not a Palin fan. On the other hand have nothing against them. Quinn you need professional help……..

Quinn is a dolt...... The audience votes and there for it's not possible to cheat. However it is funny that someone would try making this an issue.

But then again LIBERALS are only really good at one thing. BEING A VICTIM…….

Pathetic Sally simply pathetic your jealousy is showing……..

For a faith based article this leaves a lot to be desired. You might consider reading the "good book" again, before you write another.

I think the Washington Post must have some established threshold of crazy, and I can't believe Sally isn't already way, way past it.

How many times must she reprove this?

Well what would you expect from people who try to have more influence than their numbers by, for example, shouting down speakers at town meetings? They're cynical about any process including DWTS. With the TV show, I don't see it as a bad thing necessarily because it is just entertainment after all. I mean, who cares? But it is worth watching these people as to using these tactics in spheres that do matter like politics.

Anyone who believes that only good dancers should win is an elitist and should be strung up from the nearest lamp post.

Your joke touches upon the real issue. I didn't see the show so I can't comment on Bristol's dancing ability. From my reading, Sarah's supporters seem to view Bristol as standing up for "real Americans" in the enemy camp of snooty media types. It's part of what the Slacktivist blog describes as the religious right's persecuted hegemon mentality, simultaneously claiming that America is a "Christian nation" and Christians are a persecuted minority in America.

The real irony? The so-called elitists that Sarah is always railing against probably don't watch Dancing with the Stars. If the religious right did indeed "rig" the voting (a term that doesn't quite fit, because after all this is just a game show), the validation they seemed to be seeking was really illusory.

What on earth is this column doing on this website?

As for Bristol, this reminds me of the professional cowboy who was on DWTS a few seasons back. He wasn't the best dancer and he knew it, and he was clearly embarrassed to be coming back week after week. But he gave it all he was worth and put in very credible performances. I think that's why people kept voting him back. Seeing him, and Bristol, struggle and, if not succeed, come damn close to it, makes for better time spent in front of the TV than most things I could name.

The real surprise for me is seeing Kyle Massey in the finals. He knows more about performing that Bristol ever will. But although Kyle has a lot of energy, I'd rather watch Bristol dance: she's more graceful. Same for several of the people who were already voted off.

I'm not a big fan of Sarah Palin, nor am I an adversary. If people are breaking the rules, shame on them. But thinking DWTS is only about quality of dancing is a mistake. It's much more complicated than that, and liberals who are forever talking about "nuance" really ought to recognize that. I think the viewer voting is really about "Who do you want to see dance?" It is an odd and perhaps sad contradiction that Brandy was voted off first, but seeing her be excellent is no surprise. Watching Bristol do the best she can do in a difficult field is much more gratifying.

Steven T Abell
Author of DAYS IN MIDGARD: A THOUSAND YEARS ON

A very interesting column! Sally has written a very fair and balanced report on the status of DWS and the Palin effect. Some have asked how this relates to religion. They have missed the point. If "Christians" are cheating in how they vote, then they are not playing by the rules. Some have written articles elsewhere on WP that liberals cheat at the polls, presuming that Christians cannot be liberal. However, cheating Christians are no better than cheating athiests. As Sally says, "Lord have mercy."

How is this even remotely related to faith? A column on faith turns into a "Beware the influence of Sarah Palin" screed? Bash her all you want, but when you do it under the umbrella of a faith column, you show me that there's some other agenda than faith driving the bus.

Say it ain't So,Sarah! The Red Queen of the Mad Hatter's Tea Party and her followers trying to rig an American institution, "Dancing With the Stars". Gees, DWTS even been annointed through media reference to it solely through its initals-Just like the FBI or the Guiding Light or Green Acres (Well maybe not Green Acres).

Next thing you know Sarah and Co. will be accused of such dirty tricks as trying to influcence the last Mid-term elections by forming Goon Squads to intimedate voters who were non-White, registered Democrats.

Why can't you Lame Stream losers types simply get over yourselves and admit Sarah and her Tea Party followers DESERVE to win? Being the only remaining True Americans can't you see the rules simply do not apply to us, we are ordained to bring back simple American values such as institutional fraud, class privilege and the Buggaloo...!

Americans are more concerned about getting Bristol Palin crowned DWTS champ than they are in electing credible political candidates - you know, actually electing someone who doesn't believe that Jesus Christ himself is going to come down from the heavens to save America from global warming and kill all those godless Muslims. Sheesh! America is screwed; Americans just haven't figured it out yet - the rest of the world has!

Why no hatin' for Kyle Massey?

Could it be LIBERAL BIAS?

Let's assume for 2 seconds (which is probably 3 seconds too many) that this is in fact an evangelical Christian conspiracy. To what end? What's the desired outcome? Are you actually saying that the vast Christian conspiracy is expecting people to stand up on Bristol's victory and proclaim, "Bristol's won! I now have to repent of my sins, and confess Jesus as Lord!"

BTW Sally, you do realize don't you, that you just confessed to voting 36 times? Each week. With bias aforethought (never for Palin). Way to be open-minded.

Why is it that if someone says something negative about a Palin, the Palin in question (or Palin supporter) assumes that the person is a "hater"? It can only be because hate is what is in their own hearts. There can be no other explanation. I don't hate Sarah Palin. I don't hate Bristol. I just don't agree with them when they want to tell me how I should live my life. That's a long way from hate.

Wow, what high moral ground you occupy Sally Quinn!
You're no different than the rest of the Sarah Palin haters except you do it under the cover of the "On Faith" banner as if that give you some ethical superiority.
This is an entertainment show and you are smart enough to know that the producers are doing everything they can to stoke the fires of this dialogue while using Bristol Palin as nothing more than a sacrificial lamb. Now there's something you can opine about from your ethical perch.

Hmm... a cheater (Quinn had an affair with Ben Bradlee before they married) talks about unproven cheating on DWTS? She really shows her hate for the Palins by writing this:

"The Situation" was much better too and was sent packing.

The situation reminded me of Kenny Mayne who lasted all of one week.

Anyone who believes that only good dancers should win is an elitist and should be strung up from the nearest lamp post.

Woe betide ye educated elites when the Tea Kettle whistles!

"This is ostensibly a faith-based column and Quinn uses it to attack a young woman."
_________

Tom75: Quinn's not attacking Bristol. Did you even read the column? She's attacking cheaters who don't abide by the rules. The end justifies the means is Republican dogma.

I agree with LKS2.

You could have named this column a lot of things, but Sally Quinn seems unqualified to write about faith, as she doesn't seem to have any.

She's more of a progressive shill, when it gets right down to it.

Perhaps she should rename the column "On Faithless".

Wow.

No commentary on Kyle Massey?

That guy couldn't dance his way out of a wet paper bag.

I guess that's somehow not as good a story as the Palin one, though. Nothing like a good, juicy controversy to get some more viewers, and votes.

The only dancer on the show is Jennifer Grey, who is almost a professional.

I have only ever read one post on this "On Faith" column that didn't condemn Christianity. A Tea Party conspiracy on DWTS? While you're at it, let's add some dragons, elves, and other fiction characters. I can't believe this was seriously tied to a right Christian conspiracy!

Why call this column "On Faith"? A more apt name would be "On Faith-Columns About How Much We Hate Religion and the Religious" or "Pontifications of Leftist, Social Constructionists Deriding Religion".

Wow, ok, just 3 points here.
1 Relax people, it is just a TV show.
2 In terms of seeing this as a microcosm of things to come or turning this into something it is not, I am fairly certain they don't allow Federal election voting with just a fake e-mail address. It is much harder than we think to either rig a voting machine (mostly a fear of the "left") or to bus people to multiple polling places etc etc (mostly the "right"). So go on all you want about hanging chads or Ohio 2004 or the new black panthers, blah blah blah, just as long as you vote, because that is really what it comes down to in the end.

And finally,
3 CHILL OUT YOU F***TARDS, IT'S JUST A STUPID TV SHOW!

How would Sally react if Barney Frank was out on the floor attired in Vegas Showgirl feathers & sequin dress slit to the lib package!

I hope Bristol wins, just for the entertainment value of watching all the liberal obamabots heads explode.

Hillbuzz, the site you claim is a source for the alleged chicanery, is owned and run by Democrats. They are gay guys from Chicago -- former activists for Hillary that now support Palin. Imagine that, gay Democrats for Palin! Oh, and another person with a large following who has promoted Operation Bristol? Gay. (Ex Democrat now Indie.)

So, Sally, you got your conspiracy group wrong. It's not Christians, it's gay Democrats for Palin!

Is this article a joke? I have no idea what network this is on but if Sally Quinn actually thinks they are doing anything about this "fradulent" voting she has completely lost it.

How about 'Thou shalt not cheat in national elections', but that is recisely what he DNC did all across the country during this last election. There "secret" money from India and China, the SEIU's fixing voting machines, the fake candidates running "in opposition to" Democrats. This is country has completely lost it's way.

"And Carrie Ann, regretfully: 'Sally, you're a good journalist...'"

Dream on, Sally.

To Tom75: Don't you get it? It is not we liberals who are upset by the fact that the Palins' crazy supporters are sabotaging DWTS. All of us complete Obamabots are delighted that Sarah's name continues to come up, 'cause we are hoping with all our might that she gets the Republican nomination for 2012. It is people who like to watch good dancing, and Bristol's competitors, who are getting punished by the Palin fanatics and cheaters, of course.

Bristol Palin is a cheating hog.

Typical repug.

I don't think we can truly 'blame' the 'Christian Right' when it comes to votes - so many of them are tied up in religions that consider 'dancing' a sin! I think they are against dancing because some might think they are making love. The voting is well organized through the 'tea bags'. It's amazing Bristol is even on the show, let alone ending up in the final phases of it. WHAT made her a STAR to qualify? It must be because DWTS thought it would bring in more viewers' eyes. Palins (all of them) adore publicity - good or bad, and they are surely getting a their share (and more) of it.

The Palins are so cute. They don't give a crap what anyone thinks about them. It's fun to watch, amd they drive the people that write for this dishrag crazy.

The show on TLC is great. I highly recommend it for anyone who is interested in Alaska.

The Post watches it too. They are interested in seeing what a normal family looks like. The never see that in DC.

They think they are watching animals in a zoo. Honey, the animals are you!

lying and cheating: typical behavior for right wing loonies.

Too funny.

"Under the show's rules, you're allowed to vote five times on one line. I have six lines at home and my cell, so I vote as many times as I can for my favorite."

Maybe not cheating, per se, but an unfair advantage over us poor saps who have only one or two phone lines.

Oh, and Jennifer Grey is my favorite too. First time I ever agreed with Sally Quinn about anything. Although... it would be worth it for Bristol to win it all, just to watch all of the Palin-haters have a come-apart.

I haven't been watching DWTS nor voting for any of the contestants, but I think that I will start voting for Bristol myself.

I find it very amusing how the liberals are so foaming at the mouth at the idea of anyone from the Palin family being popular.

Bristol Palin Barack Obama.

Both affirmative action winners.

I find the cheating, and the voting system DWS to be really sad, but unholy that is going to far. There is nothing holy, or unholy about the whole process. If they allowed the real ball room dancing stars on the show, they would eliminate all famous people in any fair voting.

Not that she would do it hopefully, but I it would be sweet to see Chelsa Clinton on the show next year. I sure the Tea Baggers would think it find if I voted a few thousand times for her each week.

Sally, I don't watch this show nor do I vote for anyone on this show, but for you to waste the time and space to rag on some kid from Alaska because of her mother is too much. I'm sure there is one of those 10 commandments that you can't remember that just might cover your hatered. I'm soooo happy that you think you are the moral compass for our TV viewing and our country!!

I'll worry about this when Joel Grey starts leading the Republican primary polls.

"Auf Wiedersehen…à bientôt..."

Couch it as she may here, Ms. Quinn cannot hide her liberal Palin fetish.

What is it about a woman from a working class background with a flat midwest accent and a simple, uncommon belief in a deity, that drives liberals to such spittle-inducing spite and hatred?

This is ostensibly a faith-based column and Quinn uses it to attack a young woman (for her own good, you understand) and to debase the entirety of American born again Christians as voter cheats, implying that this would somehow carry over to 2012 elections?

Is she completely mad? Has the entire liberal world collapsed to such a degree that they're all in hair-pulling, stone-throwing, verbal-food-fighting to the bitter end mode?

Lord have mercy, indeed.