About the author of the "So Sambo beat the Bitch" article

I don't know a thing about him, but since veracity and journalistic standards are being discussed I figured I'd post his online "about me" from Helium. If his own promo is accurate he's not Bob Woodward, but he's not a hit-and-run internet prankster either. (If his bread and butter is in-flight and corporate house-organ magazines he's certainly stepped out on a limb.)

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A former assistant editor of "Business Week" magazine, and a television news producer and reporter before that, Charley James began writing when he was about eight and hasn't stopped.

Now, covers and writes news articles including his own independent investigative reporting, writes websites and newsletters for clients, drafts speeches, creates and writes ad copy, and crafts hopefully-humorous essays about things people encounter every day. He also writes fiction and non-fiction books, and has penned a few movie scripts one of which was actually produced.

Charley's crisp yet punchy writing style was shaped by years in journalism; his sense of writing for business grew from the years he spent as a C-level marketing and communications executive at some of North America's most-successful companies. And, his ironic but never biting view of the world was honed by observing people and situations while traveling in five continents over three decades.

His work has been published by in-flight magazines, company-sponsored magazines (including those he created for clients), city publications such as "St. Louis Magazine," among others, and business newspapers such as "The Financial Post," "The Financial Times" and general interest magazines like "Esquire." He is a frequent contributor to on-line e-zines and newspapers.

http://www.helium.com/users/31745

Other articles:

http://www.helium.com/users/31745/show_articles

Original "Sambo" story link (not the LA Progressive site):

http://thepoliticalcurmudgeon.blogspot.com/

I appreciate it.

Since he has at least some reputation to defend I would guess that someone in Alaska actually told him that story. That wouldn't make it true, but it's better than an outright fabrication.

for looking into this! :)

Yeah, those are gossip mags.

I have been railing against the idea that it was "rumors" all day. It was obviously fact-checked enough to clear editorial and be put out there.

They guy wrote like a pro, so I'm not surprised by his credentials, but am very pleased. Perhaps this will calm the Chicken Littles and Nervous Nellies here.

The Political Curmudgeon is the original publication site.

So it is "just a blogger" saying something, but at least a blogger with some journalistic experience.


http://thepoliticalcurmudgeon.blogspot.com/

He is not related to this story but he gives a feeling what it was like
going to High School there

This link is from a student that grew up in Wasilla in 1985
http://www.dsrstudio.com/dsrblog/archives/2008/09/sean_went_to_wa.html

As a for-instance, it's clear throughout Bob Woodward's last book that his accounts are from people in the room saying what someone else said. It's best to have two sources for hearsay like that, but I didn't read that "Sambo" piece as being much shakier than a lot of Seymour Hersh.

I wouldn't bet a nickel on it one way or the other, but it's no outright slander. I believe someone told HIM that story as true.

Everyone should get a turn to have their say on this issue.

However, that still doesn't mitigate the issue around the waitress and her motives and if this situation can have some solid proofs behind it. Keep in mind you have people like Larry Sinclair propped up as significant and given air time by a lot of people (most of MSM ignored him blessedly). So really until we get something with her acting in such a way then we have nothing.

I also don't need to mention the 'whitey' tape rumor that was passed around, made it to MSM, and had a lot of hearsay involved in it. I mean this is iffy ground unless we have a soundbite if you get what I mean and that really is the issue. So even if a statement is true, it's basically a rumor without undeniable proof. That proof normally lies in a tape or a video of some kind. Without that, it's just a rumor. That's not to say if many people come out and say the same it's not true, but still those people can be looked at as having an agenda and basically dismantled if their personal history is looked into.

Meaning, it's probably neither provable nor falsifiable.

Unlike the god damned Bristol is Trig's mother story which was subject to bright-line refutation at any moment. (And was decisively refuted except in the minds of die-hards)

There is a HUGE element of the white Alaska population that is EXTREMELY racist.

One thing about living in the "Last Frontier", it makes people feel very free to let it all hang out. They can get their hate and bigotry on, and no one is going to say "boo" about it. Because it's such a small population, there's no overwhelming unspoken social sanction against being an overt racist asshole -- quite the opposite. Being an overt racist asshole is part of being "in". Being an overt racist asshole is "cool".

The people who try to stick up for Native Alaskans, for example, are vilified and ostracized by the majority white culture up there. The majority white culture in Alaska is PROUDLY racist, and if you don't go along with that, YOU are the odd one out.

When I lived in Alaska, I felt like I was living on a different planet -- it is decidedly NOT like the rest of U.S. culture. It. just. isn't.

Keep in mind, LOTS of Texans and other Southerners moved up there in the early 70s when the big pipeline was being built. One of the things they found in their new home was lots of space with very few people. Lots of freedom to think and say whatever the hell bigoted stuff they wanted, without any social inhibitions, because there was so little "civil society" in place.

Alaska is the refuge for a lot of scum.

sw

It's a pretty sweet deal, living in a oil fiefdom. No state income tax, a guaranteed $1,000+ check every year for every man, woman and child. Not too many people want to rock the boat.

sw

scarletwoman. People who have never lived in Alaska DO NOT understand Alaskans. The reverse is true also - life-long Alaskans DO NOT understand American life "Outside".

I lived there for 6 years and was amazed at the culture shock I endured every time I went back to the Lower 48. And I didn't move to Alaska until I was over 40. It must be like a sci-fi novel for those who spend their whole lives there.

People can not understand the REAL Sarah Palin without understanding the Alaskan mindset. And she has no true understanding of the lives of American "Outsiders", IMHO.

That's why my wife and I tell people:

No, you REALLY don't understand!

When I moved to Alaska, I intended to spend the rest of my life there. I did my damndest to adapt. I plunged in wholeheartedly; got totally involved with my community, organized stuff, was a member of the PTA, learned lots of subsistance living skills, mushed dogs -- even won a local sprint race with a borrowed dog team!

I really understood how little the rest of the U.S. knew about life in Alaska -- and, like you, I had already lived for almost 40 years Outside before I moved there. I only visited Outside once -- very briefly -- during the 6 years I lived in Alaska.

In the end, I came to realize that Alaska just wasn't really my true home. It's such an overwhelmingly macho culture. And even though I could macho with the best of them, I just wasn't into it in my heart of hearts.

But I'm so glad I had that experience. It was a rich and amazing learning experience.

And you're totally correct -- if you haven't lived that life, you really have no idea what it's really like.

sw

But it does wear on you after a while. My wife and I were ready to leave when we moved away.

Geezaloo.

the pipeline was being built were from Texas. Which only makes sense -- they would have had some oil work experience from their home state.

I didn't mean to imply that it was ONLY Texans -- I said "and other Southern states". Another big factor in the Alaska demographic is the military. Lots of military people get stationed up there, fall in love with the place, and end up moving there permanently.

And a lot of the military is populated by southerners -- military service is inarguably a big part of Southern culture.

I've got nothing against Texans -- I have several lifelong friends from Texas. All I'm saying is that the kind of Texans who moved to Alaska for the pipeline were often the asshole kind.

sw

Later we all lived in Seward. When she and BIL took my wife and me to Wasilla, she made a point of telling us how "redneck" it was. Lots of Texans and Oklahomans. Since we're from Texas we knew what a redneck town looked like.

Lots of ex military in Anchorage and Fairbanks.

In Seward, we knew a lot of folks who came from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Washington and Idaho, probably to escape the harsh winters down there.

or Secretary of State, even, then...

:)

Good stuff.

Bob Woodward.

many people would like to have a sit down with him.