Palin Won't Dine With Journo— Even for $60,000

Her screed against journalist is 'incredibly irresponsible'

(NEWSER) - Sarah Palin's diatribe on Facebook against her new neighbor in Alaska—author Joe McGinniss, who's writing a book about her—is astonishing, writes David Weigel at his Right Now blog in the Washington Post. "Can somebody explain to me how this isn't a despicable thing for Palin to do?" It's "incredibly irresponsible" for politicians to "sic their fans on journalists they don't like," he says, noting that Glenn Beck is already on the case . More»

She's planning a 'tall fence' very soon

(NEWSER) - Sarah Palin is not so thrilled with her new next-door neighbor. A post on her Facebook page today says Joe McGinniss, who just happens to be writing a book about her, is the new renter. "Welcome, Joe! It’ll be a great summer—come borrow a cup of sugar if ever you need some sweetener. And you know what they say about 'fences make for good neighbors'? Well, we’ll get started on that tall fence tomorrow." More»

An 'undercurrent of fear' grips Palin's town

(NEWSER) - When Joe McGinniss moved in next door to the Palins on Wasilla's Lake Lucille, "Mama Grizzly" was furious . But, McGinniss claims, the rest of the town welcomed him. He's heading home to Massachusetts today to write his book, and talks to the AP about Palin's politics and the "undercurrent of fear" that grips her hometown. Some highlights:

• On his welcome to Wasilla: The locals "started bringing me blueberry pie," he recalls. "I had many offers of handguns to borrow. I turned them all down."

He loses job after joke gone wrong

(NEWSER) - The editor at Sarah Palin's hometown paper who reminded Joe McGinniss that Alaskans can use "deadly force" to protect their property is now looking for a job. The publisher of the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sent Tom Mitchell packing after his line set off a media firestorm of its own, reports the Alaska Dispatch . "It certainly caught fire," said Mitchell. "Palin's a spark plug for a lot of things." More»

Family thinking of moving to escape Joe McGinniss

(NEWSER) - The Palin family summer has been spoiled, thanks to author Joe McGinniss moving in next door, and Todd Palin called Kathleen Parker to talk about it. Parker writes in a Washington Post blog that the Palins are considering moving the family elsewhere rather than live with "big brother" watching when they step outdoors. “It’s very creepy," Palin says. "Knowing that someone is going to be writing a hit piece, and he’s 15 feet away from you.” More»