Levi and Bristol: high school dropouts

[romulusnr]

They are really holding fast to the "f'n redneck" line. Apparently Bristol and Levi Johnston have both stopped going to school. Bristol, I guess, to get ready to start birthin' babies, Levi so he can get a good old unskilled minimum wage job to support his young family. I suppose the model American couple doesn't expect to have many money problems with the Governor as mother / in law.

Underage drinking, teen pregnancy, dropping out -- Levi and Bristol sure are the All-American (Redneck) Couple. Maybe mom Sarah will get them a double-wide, so they can live in luxury befitting their stature.

http://babble.com/CS/blogs/strollerderby/archive/2008/10/14/hey-sarah-palin-make-your-kids-go-to-school.aspx

[BrklynLiberal]

1. The American Dream....hahahahaha hahahahahahahahaah

If this was not so pathetic, it would be funny.

What are they going to do when the barracuda has to go back to Alaska and face impeachement..and then she is left with nothing...

[HeraldSquare212]

2. "I hope to do for all American children, what I've done for my own."

[leftofcool]

3. Think we might give Levi credit for doing the right thing?

And by the way, working in the oil fields is neither an unskilled job and pays much more than min wage. How about wishing the youngsters a healthy baby and a good start in life?

[vanderBeth]

4. Getting married isn't always the right thing.

[leftofcool]

7. But is appears to be for them and he deserves some credit

[vanderBeth]

12. How do you know it is right for them?

I'm not saying it isn't, but how do you it's right.

[Yes We Did]

15. Because unless he's abusing Bristol...

Or plans to abuse the baby... It's almost always better to have two parents than one.

Perhaps it's not better for them, but it IS for their child.

[vanderBeth]

18. So? You don't have to be married to be a parent.

How will it be good for the child if it's parents are in a bad marriage?

[Yes We Did]

54. Um... as I said...

If there isn't any abuse going on, (physical, verbal, psychological) it is better to have both parents in the same home.

[vanderBeth]

64. No.

Just because there isn't abuse doesn't make them have a better marriage or be better parents.

[Yes We Did]

68. Two full time parents are better than one.

All things being equal... that is all I am saying.

[vanderBeth]

73. Just because they're there doesn't make them a good parent.

[Yes We Did]

77. Didn't say it would.

[vanderBeth]

80. Then what would marrying do?

[Yes We Did]

84. Put both parents in the same home.

Look, maybe it would work, maybe it wouldn't, but when you have a kid, you have a responsibility to that kid to at least try to make it work.

That is just how I see it. It's about more than them now. They are having a child together. I just think that they owe it to that child to try to make it work. How are they going to know if it would work if they don't at least try.

If it doesn't work... they can get a divorce. It's not like marriage is the really sanctimonious thing repukes make it out to be.

As I have said over and over again; it's not the sanctity of marriage they want to protect, it's the sanctity of divorce.

[Captiosus]

26. The 'better to have 2 parents' meme is a crock.

Let me share a personal example with you.

I have a good friend from high school. For purposes of this post, I shall refer to him as G.
Five years ago, he was dating this girl who I'll call T.

G got T pregnant. T decided she was going to keep the baby. So G, figuring he was doing the right thing, got married to T. G does, in fact, love T - this is without question. T, on the other hand, doesn't love G at all. She sticks around because he's a free meal ticket. She doesn't work, she doesn't do anything around the house. All she does is sit around the house watching TV or playing video games. I realize this may sound somewhat sexist, but she opted to stay home with the child so, in my opinion, the least she can do is routine house maintenance.

G busts his ass at a 60-hour-a-week maintenance job to provide for the family. However, when G is home, she yells at him consistently. If he wants anything done around the house, whether it's laundry, cooking, cleaning, taking out trash... His friends and family have been all but alienated. I get to visit maybe once every three months and when I do you can tell everyone is miserable. Is it abuse? Perhaps. But if it is, it's very subtle mental abuse.

Their son, G-Junior, is 4 and a half as I type this. He's not potty trained because T can't be 'bothered' to do it and G works his ass off. G-Junior has never been put in a set routine because, again, T doesn't care. So, now, G-Junior acts just like his mother and knows that he can drive a wedge between T and G to get what he wants. Yet G won't leave T because he buys into the belief that it's better for G-Junior to have two parents and he thinks if he divorces her the court will, by default, give G-Junior to T.

These misguided beliefs are harming the four year old.

[joeglow3]

29. Sorry, but one example does not counter all the studies done.

But, I agree the could would be better off without the mother in that situation.

[vanderBeth]

32. I think the studies would indicate 2 parents in a good marriage, not people

forced into the role.

[Captiosus]

34. I will defer to practical experience of my mother's 18 years as an ED teacher

Over any studies on the topic.

The vast majority of the worst ED kids my mom dealt with were from families with two parents, not one.

[Yes We Did]

52. That is one isolated case, and even agrees with my statement.

Abuse is abuse; verbal, psychological or physical...

On average, children do better when there are two parents in the household. That's simply how it is.

[romulusnr]

87. provide a reference already

You keep claiming there are "all these studies" and you haven't named a single one. AFA doesn't count, btw.

[Yes We Did]

88. Um... you are responding to the wrong person I think.

I didn't bring up studies or the AFA.

[Lucky 13]

40. "Better to have two parents than one?" LOL!

Wow, what a very conservative Republican sentiment! How does making the decision NOT to get married deprive the child of 2 parents? Is it just assumed Levi will disappear without a ring on his finger and the legal documents.

I'm fucking tired of these sideways slams on single parents. It's as if they are some how deficient or at least, not preferable. Fuck that.

I would like to introduce you to someone. His name is Sen. Barack Obama. The single-parent household worked out pretty damn good for him.

[Yes We Did]

56. Love your spin.

I attacked nobody. And your attempt to say otherwise is laughable. My mom was a single mom and she did a wonderful job, but I believe we would have been better off having two parents in the household; not necessarily "my" father as he was, but in general, yes. Two full time parents are better than one.

[vanderBeth]

72. Yeah, it's nice to have two parents.

But you don't force someone into that position. I would rather have a healthy relationship with one parent then have two parents in a bad marriage, which could cause a child more distress.

[Yes We Did]

76. I would never do that....

And don't advocate doing that.

[LynneSin]

38. I can almost guarentee that if those two aren't married right after Bristol turns 18 on Sat

then they aren't ever going to get married. Levi is nothing more than Bristol's 'beard' that there is actually a father and a loving relationship there. From what I've read (from the same source that uncovered Edward's affair) this might not even be Levi's kid. Perhaps Levi was the one they could clean up the best.

[GreenEyedLefty]

66. I agree!

I can't think of a worse reason to get married than pregnancy.

[Barack_America]

6. Unfortunately, high school dropouts without his connections don't have those options.

I wonder how quickly both Levi and Todd will be dropped from their cush oilfield jobs once it's clear that Sarah's political star is waning.

[leftofcool]

8. Well, Todd Palin has worked the oil fields for 20 years

so it is unlikely he will lose his job

[torbird]

57. Nepotism!

[salbi]

9. I agree, I wish them both luck

I will do all i can do to never see Palin elected, but that doesn't mean I have anything against the kids. They are up against some bad odds, but I wish them and their new baby lots of love and luck.

[thunder rising]

10. That right thing would be knocking up the 16 year old? Oil field trash is trash and it is unskilled

[Captiosus]

13. Wait, what??

Why should I give Levi credit for anything?

He's not doing the right thing. He washed his hands of this situation until Palin showed up on the national scene and he got forced into it. He didn't wake up one morning and think: 'Gee, I should be a responsible young man and accept my part in the raising of my child'. No, up until Palin got tapped to be VeePee, he was off, drinking, carousing, playing hockey and posting things like "I'm a fuckin' redneck".

So why should I give him any credit for doing the "right thing" when it's blatantly obvious he wouldn't have done the right thing had Palin never been picked?

[Arkansas Granny]

19. I don't know if I think he's doing the right thing, but I really feel sorry for these kids to have

to face this situation under the microscope of the national media. They made an unwise choice, like many thousands of other teenagers, that has gotten all wrapped up in Sarah Palin's political ambitions. I certainly don't see dropping out of school to get a job and getting married at their age can be viewed as a positive thing, but I do wish them a healthy baby and a happy life.

[OwnedByFerrets]

30. He should have done the right thing and

worn a freaking condom. And no, since when is MARRYing the right thing to do? Are you condemning me for living in sin? Just askin.

[Lucky 13]

35. Dropping out of high school is never the right thing.

How is that a good thing?

[NotThisTime]

37. You can wish them a healthy baby AND to get back into school, although Bristol has missed 2 years

After missing last year and this year.... and what would she have been this year? A Junior since she just turned 17? So essentially she dropped out when she was a Sophomore. I'm sorry that's not parenting I want mimicked across the country.

[jberryhill]

43. We have no idea what either he or Bristol think of the situation

...or how they have been pressured/influenced/used.

Plus, it's none of our business anyway.

[Virginia Dare]

45. They are an inspiration for young people everywhere in America..

:sarcasm:

[SmokingJacket]

47. It's not necessarily the right thing.

Staying in school, getting the mother to stay in school, and getting the in-laws to pay for a top-notch nanny might be better for everyone.

[biglefthander]

51. Like he had a choice?

As if he was given a choice about whether to marry her...everyone in Alaska knows how vindictive the Palin's are when it comes to their family, so the shotgun in his back may only be "implied," but it is still there.

Like most marriages arranged under duress, these two young people will learn the bitter sting of divorce at far too early an age.

Abstinence Only! is a crock of shit. People fuck. They do. Learn to live with it, then make policy that helps people learn about the obstacles of life.

[Heather MC]

59. He's 18 why not finish school? What's one more year, work out a plan with mom

to get him an office job after school. The oil rig will be there after he graduates
it's sad, these people have the means to make sure those two stay in school it makes no sense

but I agree the Oil rig job is not Minium wage but without a Degree it would be hard for him to do anything else and make a living for his family. He seems to young to be closing off so many option so soon

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

60. Gaming the system isn't doing the right thing.

Thanks for playing.

[gatorboy]

62. When has getting an education ever been the wrong thing?

The Palin family should set the example and support these kids through school. Mean it when you say education is important to this country.

[romulusnr]

85. The right thing

is to be a role model for his kid (who isn't born yet) by dropping out of high school?

Not only will a high school diploma help him down the road in terms of employability (who wants to work in an oil field forever? What happens if he suffers an injury or health condition that makes oil field working impossible?), but it will set an example for his future child that education is important (and avoid teen-year "You did it, why can't I" arguments).

Of course, it's a joke; I can't imagine these two are ever going to really want for anything essential. Even if Governor Mom is going try and teach them a lesson in self-sufficiency, don't tell me they won't get bailed out like an investment bank with less hand-wringing than Henry Paulson.

Which honestly makes this move all the more nuts.

[TooRaLoo]

86. I wish the youngsters and baby a great life.

Getting married, however, is probably a horrible idea. Marriages like this almost never last. I don't think that will help their child at all. I've seen so many people get hurt this way.

[Bucky]

100. I agree. He's making a tough choice and choosing a tough road. I wish them well.

It's not ideal, but lots of families get started this way. I can't fault the Palins as parents. Teenagers make mistakes. Hers are apparently eating the consequences of their choices, which is certainly quite admirable.

Also, Obama has said "Families are off limits." I don't know why some DUers can't accept this.

[Montauk6]

5. Well, we should encourage more dropouts

We don't want them being indokternated by these librullll inteeleckchul teachurrs.

(whispers) Obama's an Arab... it's been proven by Fox News

[JohnMcCant2008]

11. Imagine if this had happened in the Obama family! Holy. Shit.

right wing hypocrisy :puke:

[ReadTomPaine]

22. That is the key here. He wouldn't have even made it past local activist.

Yet this woman is running for VP. The double standard is disgraceful - their lives reads like a Chick cartoon tract lesson in villainy and yet she's embraced as "Esther". It's going to be years before the GOP lives this one down, and rightfully so. Her record should be used as a cudgel every time an issue like this comes up against a Democrat.

[Ishoutandscream2]

14. With help from the Palin family, these kids could have finished high school

I am a school counselor, and I have several students who are pregnant or are about to have their babies going to school, and graduating. We have an excellent family services center that helps these kids. And usually, these are kids that come from low socio-economic families.

So, with the money the Palin's have, there is absolutely no excuse that they could help these kids out until both of them at least obtained their high school diplomas. As a school counselor, I would hound this family to get these kids back in school. We could provide them help in several ways. And of course, with Bristol's and Levi's connections, I could easily get them through school.

I swear, someone is not doing their job up there. Number 1, the parents. And number 2, the school district itself.

[sweetpotato]

16. Why doesn't he enlist with his future brother in law?

The army is always looking for recruits.

Is the oil pipeline more important than fightin' for freedom?

[RoadRage]

17. No need for a double-wide.. i'm sure "Papa Todd & Friends" will be happy to build them a house..

for "free".. as soon as Sarah approves the next big building project in Alaska... :eyes:

[WallStreetNobody]

20. Dropping out of high school just makes them typical Republicans (n/t)

[marshall]

21. Levi, what about government assistance?

Stay in school--there's lots of assistance that will support you--food stamps, welfare, section eight housing, grants, etc.

[zulchzulu]

23. Isn't is so beautiful that they have made a choice to not have to learn new things!

Praise Jesus!!!



:sarcasm:

[WinkyDink]

24. Don't forget the meth.

[Clio the Leo]

25. "I hope that anybody who is supporting me understands [the children are] off limits." - Barack Obama

[YDogg]

28. At 18, is Levi a child? And at least he gives his own interviews.

[Captiosus]

31. Too bad the Repukes don't agree.

As long as they use Piper as a "boo shield";
As long as they use Trig as a hot potato baby prop that they keep passing around;
And As long as they keep pointing to Bristol and Levi to tout their 'family values',

I will keep criticizing them for it.

No, I won't make it an issue in debate with anyone who supports McCain/Palin, but Palin should not get a free pass on the despicable way she is treating her children like political tools to be used.

[Lucky 13]

36. HE decided to start giving interviews!

If you make the decision to do interviews, placing yourself squarely in the public eye, then you are fair game for commentary and scrutiny. If he wanted to stay out of it, the north slope of Alaska is a great place to do just that...

[LynneSin]

39. Palin was happy to use her 7 year old kid as a shield at that Flyers game

Obama may keep them off-limits but as for the rest of us - fair game.

This is a perfect example of what we can expect with Palin as VP and potentially president (if McCain's health doesnt' hold out). I personally don't want a President or VP who thinks it's ok to force abstinence only "Just Say No" education on our children when her own can't even live up to those standards. And I don't want a Pres or VP telling us who can or can't get married when she's all too happy to force a marriage on 2 kids simply because one is pregnant. We all saw Levi's MySpace page where he talked about how he doesn't want to get married or have rug rats. I suspect this was NOT in his plans when he was forced to attend the RNC to save face for Palin.

[ecstatic]

27. Bristol strikes me as a nice person who is terribly embarrassed by her mom and McShame

has anyone ever watched her body language at the town halls? She seems mortified by the whole thing! I could be wrong though. I'd like to see an interview.

[peaches2003]

33. And are not married yet

and according to a right wing site I read the wedding will not be until next summer! Baby will be 6+ months old by that time. I asked why they didn't just have Sarah take one day off from campaigning and have a quiet simple wedding NOW in AK. I was slammed that there is nothing wrong with waiting. Can you imagine if this was a Dem baby coming and the parents weren't married before the birth? These rw freaks have very different rules for their own.

High school dropouts? ALL the Palin kids are now dropouts. I want to know who is schooling them and are school authorites anywhere checking up on how these kids are being brought up???

[emilyg]

41. I wish them much luck. Let's leave

the children out of this.

[Orsino]

49. They're going to need it.

Intelligent planning for the rest of their lives has probably been shelved for the duration of mommy's failed campaign, after which they (Levi, at least) will be discarded.

It doesn't smell as though a wedding is in the works, or you can bet we would already have seen the photo spread in People.

[traveller]

81. I wish them well also.

[bridgit]

42. Not from what I heard, not so unskilled, not so mimimum; he's been working on the N. Slope...

'These Palin's (Todd and Sarah) are 'loyal to oil' only, and Alaskans are left out, Alaskan issues are left out, they're being duped, as well as the right wing party. They're all about building the oil corporation, look Sarah's mission is to plant miles of pipeline that will eventually corrode and cost tax payers hundreds of millions. It's already happened on her beat on the North Slope (Prudhoe Bay)...oil spills and fires. I keep asking "what's wrong with tanking the gas?" Trucks are easier to maintain and not a national security issue. And what's wrong with a kid continuing his education? Most girls expecting, HAVE to complete school and go to alternative school to receive a diploma. HE's not expecting, BRISTOL is. There's been no mention of Bristol, only that the Palin children are going to the Juneau school district, which is a big hairy lie too. They are NOT in Juneau, maybe in Wasilla, or Anchorage area, but not registered in Juneau, as they claimed. If I were Levi's mom, I'd be pleading for him to stay in school, or he's just going to become a survivor, and holding onto the hem of Palin's skirt. He'll never be independent. He even said that Sarah better win the election. Why? What's in it for him? His life should be separate from DC politics, so the statement was strange. It just makes me wonder if he were taught responsibility of using protection, both in relationships and in governing his life (school). We know Sarah didn't teach her daughter, but what about Levi's parents? Didn't they teach him either? What's wrong with those CONSERVATIVES up north? Ever heard of being conservative with relationships until you can be responsible for one?'

http://www.democrats.org/page/community/post/michellepernula/CGkD

[olegramps]

44. The odds are stacked against them

Far too many marriages that start out as their's last over five years at best. What happens when the cushy job that his father-in-law and his mother-in-law's influence disappears. I thought that his remark in regard to her being Vice President was really remarkably candid. He remarked that he sure hoped so. At least he knows that he isn't going anywhere without their pull.

If she fails and returns to Alaska she will be returning to a pandora's box they wish they had never opened. Without all of the RNC powerful lawyers to protect them they will be an easy target. They will discover that when you are down, all those folks that you walked over will kick the hell out of you. How sweet revenge.

[Enrique]

46. Mr T needs to have a talk with them

[TheKentuckian]

48. multiplying like rabbits and ZERO importance being put on education

are not "family values" that I want anything to do with. Palin is a crappy influence.

We don't need 3-1 replacement with a population way out of control, people with little no knowledge and no foundation raising kids, or disdain for learning.

These people are no better example than the classic "welfare queen" and/or Jamie Lynn Spears AT BEST.

[Forkboy]

50. I dropped out of High School, got my GED and then went to college.

I'm not going to harp on anyone for dropping out. It's not an indicator in and of itself of what kind of person they may or may not end up being later on.

[Marrah_G]

58. I agree- I did the same

I won't go after these kids just because I cannot stand the girl's mother.

I wish they were making different choices, but the choices, good or bad, are theirs to make.

[Codeine]

53. To be fair to the kid

he seems to be trying to do the right thing, at least as well as a boy his age can understand what the right thing is.

And working as an oilfield electrician sure as hell ain't minimum wage.

[notaboutus]

61. He quit last winter 2008 before she was even pregnant

www.nytimes.com/2008/09/12/us/12hockeymom.html

[Marrah_G]

65. Who cares? Why would we care? Let his family concern themselves with that.

You know...Obama's daughters are young. When they are 17-18 they might make some bad choices too.

Obama has the right idea. Leave the kids alone.

[traveller]

55. Geez. Listen to Obama and LEAVE THE KIDS ALONE!!

[gatorboy]

63. You mean the 18 year old adult?

[Marrah_G]

67. barely an adult. There is enough to hate Palin for without attacking these kids.

[gatorboy]

70. Who's attacking?

All I've said is The Palin's should set the example and support these kids in their remaining year of school. What better way to show you're truly concerned about education?

[Marrah_G]

71. I agree with that. She has the means and the kids haven't taken off.

But then again, maybe she offered and the kid wouldn't do it. Who knows.

I just hate seeing these kids getting dragged through the mud just because the mother if a first class #$%^&.

Not necessarily your post...directed more towards others in the thread.

[traveller]

79. these two kids will have a rough time of it without others sitting in judgment

of their every move.

[notaboutus]

74. I am offended by the fact that the MSM has let Palin

run around talking about I can run a state, raise all american kids, have a healthy marriage and it is ALL A LIE. Her daughter was dating a boy who dropped out of high school his junior year, indulges in under-age drinking and drug use. I do not hate anyone period. I feel for them because I have children. My issue is not with McPalin period. It is with the MSM and Press not informing the public of the facts so they can form their own opinions and make an informed decision.

www.nytimes.com/2008/09/12/us/12hockeymom.html

[notaboutus]

69. Not about the "kids" about MSM and press not reporting facts

I am glad you posted this. Voters not only need to know but have the right to know, all the facts about a political candidate,to make informed decisions. Please read article below.
You should not be allowed to campaign in a national presidential election on "Family Values" while your teen-age daughter is pregnant by a boy that dropped out of high-school his junior year.
What does that say about education in America, not to mention the high school drop out rate?

www.nytimes.com/2008/09/12/us/12hockeymom.html

[WI_DEM]

75. I couldn't care less about these two kids. We have enough on McCain and Palin that we don't need to

drag them into it.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

78. Aaaah - the benefits of teaching abstinance-only in high school.

n/t

[amber_86]

82. my gosh

At least I finsh high school I was eight months. My home girl she had twins and she still finsh high school and she was 15 when she had her babies. So please get real. I am glad I got my eduation and still tell my kid she can do anything like finsh school, while pregnant.

[Scout]

83. no need to knock those who live in a double-wide....

there's nothing wrong with it, and it's not just ignorant redneck types who live in them.

[TooRaLoo]

89. Sometimes they're the smartest financial option.

I've considered getting one. And, they're really pretty nice nowadays!

[romulusnr]

90. i meant

to imply that a double-wide is the pinnacle of "f'n redneck" housing luxury.

[Yes We Did]

94. That makes it much better... yeah. n/t

[apocalypsehow]

91. I did a lot of underage drinking in high school, and though my girlfriend didn't pregnant,

she could have. In fact, it's a miracle she didn't. So I go easy on folks like Levi and Bristol on those matters.

That sort of thing isn't just for "Rednecks," and it's really a rather silly thing to say.

I agree they shouldn't drop out of school, though.

[pettypace]

92. The folks at Yale admissions will be disappointed by this news.

Yeah right.

[BlooInBloo]

101. hahhaha!

[iamthebandfanman]

93. trust me, i dont think levi has to worry about money.

hes in the governors family now , silly

[Terran]

95. I read he's going to work as an apprentice electrician

So, not exactly unskilled minimum wage.

[FormerConservative]

96. PREDICTION: they'll join the cast of The Hills :)

[Javaman]

97. oh man, I see a reality special in the works!!!

after mcinsane and failin implode, levi and failin jr. will have to make money somehow.

at home with the palins!!!

[bigwillq]

98. My aunt is a HS dropout and was pregnant at 16

We really need to be careful about how judge mental we are. Yes, I see some of your points that the Repukes have made family values a huge issue in the past but let's not pile up on the kids. Kids make mistakes. It happens. It can happen to your kids, and it wouldn't make you a bad parent if it did.

[romulusnr]

99. and

what does she think about that? does she recommend it?