Palin takes prank call from fake French president

[maddezmom]

Source: AP

MONTREAL (AP) — Sarah Palin has unwittingly taken a prank call from a Canadian comedian posing as French President Nicolas Sarkozy and told him she may make a good president in eight years.

The Republican vice presidential nominee discussed politics, the perils of hunting with Vice President Dick Cheney, and Sarkozy's "beautiful wife," in the telephone call released Saturday.

When the caller told Palin she would make a good president, she laughed and replied: "Maybe in eight years."



Read more: http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5g6h1fK1yrnh6Tqp-SAGxAmFgDf1QD946CPD80

---

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbEwKcs-7Hc


Quebec comedy duo talks porn and politics with oblivious Sarah Palin
November 1, 2008 - 17:41

By: Jessica Murphy, THE CANADIAN PRESS

MONTREAL - In an over-the-top accent, one half of a notorious Quebec comedy duo claims to be the president of France as he describes sex with his famous wife, the joy of killing animals and Hustler magazine's latest Sarah Palin porno spoof.

At the other end of the line? An oblivious Sarah Palin.

The Masked Avengers, a radio pairing notorious for prank calls to celebrities and heads of state, notched its latest victory Saturday when it released a recording of a six-minute call with Palin, who thought she was talking with Nicolas Sarkozy.

Throughout the call, which was making the rounds in U.S. political circles by day's end Saturday, Palin and the pranksters discuss politics, pundits, and the perils of going hunting with Vice-President Dick Cheney.

more:http://www.570news.com/news/international/article.jsp?content=w110195A

:rofl:

[ShortnFiery]

1. Yeah, that's the person I want having control of the nuclear football.

:sarcasm: :nuke:

[upi402]

2. She is the best thing to happen to Democrats since FDR

And I hope she runs for Pretzeldent in 4 years against incumbent Obama.

[Chicago1]

3. I was on the floor SCREAMING LAUGHING

That was HYSTERICAL!!!! I loved it. Good for them!!!!

[The Doctor.]

10. I'm DYING here!!!!

Holy shite! What a moron!

[Po_d Mainiac]

94. I just snarfed

a mouthful of beer on the keyboard.........will it die?

At 12:30 Sunday AM there are 524,000 links through Google. It will aire at 3pm Monday in Montreal. A big wink and a TY to our northern neighbors!! Gr8 timing. The late night talk hosts just soiled themselves K&R

[Karenina]

4. Ms Thang is clearly quite s-l-o-w on the uptake...

:rofl:

[WiMu]

5. I loved that

Her staff person had to take the phone from her an hang up on them. She is even to stupid to hang up the phones after she has been told it was a prank.

[Raschel]

48. Her staff person? Are you sure it wasn't her daughter? She sounded about 13 yrs. old. In fact, the

call sounded like two teenagers having a sleep-over and a boy calls. Weird.

[LynnTheDem]

6. Sarah Palin'....

...WTF can one say???!

Sarah Palin', Village Idiot; Comedy's Greatest Gift.


Ever.

[Botany]

7. maybezz wees can work togethet, No?

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

Zat film "nailin' palin es is edgy, NO?"

[spiderpig]

8. Un.Believe.Able.

:rofl:
I kept thinking "she's GOT to catch on" with lines like "I can see Belgium out of my ass", but nooooooo.........:banghead:
Dumber than a hundred thousand white hot burning Dan Quayles.

[JimboBillyBubbaBob]

114. Good One

Yeah, the ass line was the best! :headbang:

[shadowknows69]

9. Someone get this to Keith please

He'll piss himself laughing at this one. He should have John Cleese back on to discuss it.

[maddezmom]

12. poor John might choke to death coughing if he hears about this

last night he was a riot. :hi:

[beckmsolo]

49. How about Rachel Maddow?

Man, I've got the tv on, waiting for Maddow's show...Can't wait to see what she has to say about this latest Palin gaffe!!

I felt the same way when I saw this latest as when I watch O. Stone's movie W -- all I could mutter was "What an idiot!!!"

Palin's another Bush! geez!

[Shoelace]

93. Colbert will pick up on this too, Stewart?

oh Monday night should be fun stuff eh?

[L. Coyote]

11. Call an ambulance. I'm dying here. LOL How many nails can this coffin take???

This is why you do not speak to foreign leaders without preconditions. Like (trumpets) A., that they be real foreign leaders!!!

[maddezmom]

14. Hardball is playing it right now

:D

[shadowknows69]

17. I'm there, thanks maddezmom

[CRF450]

34. Just saw it. I garantee you she was pretty pissed at the end.

Telling by how the lady was talking.

[remember2000forever]

13. I LOVE QUEBEC! I lived there for one year.

The food, the people, Th arts, ( don't forget Cirque De So lei started there in a tent. I went) I was an Ami: (American) and when I tried to speak French, They broke into perfect English and were the friendliest people on the planet.
Cool!

[spiderpig]

15. Then you must have recognized that "Joe the Plumber"

was actually "Lipstick on a Pig" in French:rofl:

[Critters2]

23. Yep! That's what I heard!!

Funny and sad all at the same time. And people are voting for this doofus!

[tofulover]

74. and while not only helicopter hunting

he threw in.... "we could kill baby seals!":rofl:

[nolabear]

16. Just on Hardball

Chris Matthews just reported this on his "Sideshow" segment. He was remarkably merciful. Oh well.

Lord, can you imagine that giggly schoolgirl attitude dealing with world leaders?

(deep breath) Three days...three days...

[shadowknows69]

18. The spin will be turned around to say

"She knew it was all a prank and was just playing along." they'll edit out her aides probably literally grabbing the phone away from her lol.

[L. Coyote]

20. The spin is "John McCain and Palin LOVE French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

and Sarah thinks his wife is hot!

[mcg]

29. That's already one of the spins at freerepublic,

believe it or not. Others: a Palin impersonator, anyone could have been fooled, citing examples of others that have been fooled, insulting the pranksters, imagined Obama being pranked, etc.

Standard spin.

They don't deal with what the prank revealed about Palin.

[shadowknows69]

30. I was holding my sides laughing, it was like she was on the line with Inspector Clouseau!

[kestrel91316]

19. She kept on talking after he mentioned how hot his wife was in bed.....

No. Words.

[maddezmom]

21. they gave her plenty of opportunities to hang up before that also, too

:D What about the Prime Minister of Canada being Stef Carse!!

[Dr.Phool]

22. I loved the documentary on your life.

Mr. Flynt's "Nailin Palin".

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[Haole Girl]

24. Sarah Palin makes Dan Quayle look like Albert Einstein. (nt)

[Creationismsucks]

25. What I want to know is

where does "FrenchieCat" stand on all this?

[Blue Velvet]

26. I love that quote in the AP article from the "Palin campaign spokeswoman":

"Governor Palin was mildly amused..."

Yeah, I'm sure the operative word here is "mildly" - EXTREMELY mildly.

[Shardik]

27. right, Sarah. No one else heard the end of the call

You sounded pissed at your assistant.

[struggle4progress]

75. This story needs a four day news cycle

[uppityperson]

28. I have followed very closely with my American advisor Johny Holiday!

Oh my, too funny. I hope this gets wide coverage. Just who we need in the White House.

[Lautremont]

45. Johnny Hallyday - a famous French singer.

[uppityperson]

50. I misspelled, here he is...oooo baby

He's a skanky singer in France, where the French people I know laugh at him.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Hallyday

[mcg]

71. Johnny Hallyday - wikipedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Hallyday

Hallyday supported Nicolas Sarkozy in the 2007 French presidential election. In an ironic twist, when the Canadian comedy duo the Masked Avengers prank called American vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin by pretending to be Sarkozy, they named Hallyday as Sarkozy's "Special American Advisor."

[mcg]

79. Saying Hallyday was 'special American advisor' was an inside joke...

or so it seems to me, they were alluding to some stuff most Americans wouldn't get.
Hallyday has done many covers of American songs and has a bit of an American stage persona.
The joke is that this qualifies him as an advisor to the President of France on American issues.
Here's some of what I've found ...



Sarkozy's 'Bling-Bling' Presidency
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1697098,00.html

"Where some of us have a problem is with the apparent starization of the presidency" one conservative member of parliament who asked not to be identified explains. "We know Nicolas Sarkozy is a brilliant politician and capable leader, but there's a difference between being the President of France and being a staple of the celebrity magazines as a sidekick of Johnny (Hallyday)."

I don't know why the word 'was' is used here ...

http://www.cmt.com/artists/az/hallyday_johnny/bio.jhtml

Johnny Hallyday was France's first and only full-fledged rock star. Other French artists may have been influenced by rock & roll, but none was as beholden to the original sources, or as enduringly successful, as Hallyday. He was a distinctly French phenomenon, never achieving recognition in the U.S. or U.K.; certainly, part of the reason was that a good chunk of his repertoire consisted of French-language covers of early American rock hits. Moreover, his appropriations of Elvis Presley and James Dean captured the French imagination, but -- language barrier aside -- were often too stylized and imitative to resonate with audiences used to the genuine article. Yet even if his musical interpretations lacked some of the punch of their sources, his sense of rock & roll style, with all its rebellious trappings, was impeccable. ...

[annabanana]

31. And that wasn't even at 3am!. .

Just imagine what she'd believe when groggy.

[DaLittle Kitty]

32. The Quebec Pair Are PATRIOTS FOR THE WORLD! America is Grateful! Good Timing Too!

:rofl: :patriot: :kick:

[proud2BlibKansan]

33. They just played the whole thing on MSNBC

Man, that lady is D U M B.

:rofl:

[jimshoes]

35. David Schuster just played the whole thing

on MSNBC. Sarah was none too quick on the uptake, in fact she never caught on at all. How utterly embarassing. :rofl:

[Xipe Totec]

36. O, Mon Dieu!

:rofl:

[llmart]

37. You know what?

I never in my wildest dreams thought anyone could be dumber than Bush but this broad's got him beat. It's funny, yes, but it's also very sad to think that our country is even considering someone like her for the VP slot.

[noel711]

38. I gonna take Palin's side in this....

Where the hell were her handlers?

And how did these two creeps get access to a phone
to get her?

This is sad; her aides and handlers are charged with
making sure nothing happens to her, but they blew
this, and this might blow some sympathy votes her way.

It certainly shows great naivete on her part,
and how unknowledgeable she is with foreign
protocol. Very sad ....

I say: Fire them all.

I may not like you Palin, I may find your campaigning
discusting, but maintain your dignity.

[uppityperson]

55. WHAT dignity? Giggling to a foreign president and not listening to him?

Using a personal phone call to make a campaign speech rather than actually communicating? Perhaps she needs to learn to listen, with dignity, rather than giggling and agreeing that her biography "Nailin Palin" was a good thing.

[Twinguard]

60. forget her handlers..

Shouldn't she have some sort of built in crap detector? She bought this hook, line, and sinker! Wouldn't any reasonably smart person have caught on when he started talking about hunting from a helicopter, hunting with **** Cheney, or Hustler's Nailin' Palin? What about when he started in on how good his wife was in bed... wouldn't anyone else have caught on and called him on the inappropriate subject matter? She should have caught on when he brought up Joe the Plumber, but nooooo.

Maybe I've heard too many prank calls, but really, why wasn't her crap detector at terror alert level red from the beginning. Does she think Sarkozy would really call her out of the blue and discuss porn?

Governor Palin, you failed the brain power test... again.

[godai]

65. She's accused Obama of 'pallin around with terrorists' You take her side?

This is a harmless prank. Only her overinflated ego is being hurt. Compared to what she's said about Obama, this is nothing.

[Bryn]

82. Ugh!! Sarah has no regard for animals at all

She doesn't deserve any respect much less "dignity". This proves that she ENJOYS killing animals. What a psycho!

[Janice325]

39. I am laughing so hard as I type this. It's kinda hard.

I saw/heard the clip on MSNBC with David Shuster. The laughing is making me cough. Jeez....If I wasn't terrified of her becoming Prezdent, I'd feel sorry for her. Big if, huh??

You can't make this kind of stuff up. Palin was pranked!!!:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

[fortyfeetunder]

40. You think they'd dare go after Barack after this?

Hmmmm.....

[ellius101]

41. Cant wait to see KO's take on this!

[Janice325]

42. OH, MY GOD!!!

I sure hope SNL can come up with something really fast and use this newest Palin "faux pas" tonight.
I wonder if McCain is still going to show, and if Tina Fey will appear again.
Hehe, Ben Affleck (host tonight) is supposed to do a skit impersonating Keith Olbermann. I think I'll stay up again and watch.

[President Decider]

46. Holy shit ... I'm in a state of disbelief here. Can this woman actually be this stupid?

[mcg]

64. An impersonation of a bad impersonation of Sarkozy,

and Tina impersonating Palin falling for it. I really hope they do this.

[originalpckelly]

43. THAT IS THE DUMBEST PERSON ON PLANET EARTH!

:rofl:

[democracy1st]

44. No noway in hell will this dumbass ever be in the Whitehouse

[beckmsolo]

47. Terrifying!

What is scarier than George Bush is the vision of Sara answering the RED phone in the White House.

Everyone pray for us.

[tooeyeten]

51. She's too sad

:bounce:

How dumb is she? Where are her handlers?

[GreenPoet64]

52. She is not having anyone vetting her phone calls. OMG! n/t

[jeff30997]

53. We are the champions my friends !

Lol! I believe they tried to spoof the pope a couple of months ago.But not by phone and they got

arrested by the Vatican police which have no reason to envy the FBI.

[radfringe]

54. AHHHHHAHAHAHAHAHA MARCEL with dirt under the armpit..

:rofl:

[uppityperson]

56. I think it was Marcel with a loaf of bread under the armpit.

They are brilliant.

[radfringe]

58. whatever...it was priceless...

still laughing...

[uppityperson]

61. I know. That guy was brilliant. Way to show she doesn't listen and is, um, stupid.

There are so many things in there that are good. Johhny Hallyday. "Nailin'Palin" (documentary of her life). Oh my. I hope it gets wide coverage. I cannot imagine having her actually having to talk to people. I am sooooooooooooooooooooo looking forward to having her go away.

[mcg]

68. Pic: bread under armpit

Yummy, but why is it under my armpit?
http://www.larryhnetka.com/wordpress/archives/2008/01/04/delicious/

Unfortunately, the guy's name is not Marcel.

Depending on the state of the armpit, this could impart an unwanted flavor.

[uppityperson]

77. French in-law asked why all the picts we took of them showed them with bread under their arms.

I just laughed. When I go to our local street market and buy bread they want to put it in a bag and I tell them no thank you, and tuck it under my arm.

[Divernan]

84. I thought he said, "Marcel, with hair under his armpit."(France's version of Joe the Plumber.)

Giggling and semi-flirting with a world leader? Just when the rest of the world thought the US had hit rock bottom with W, the GOP comes up with this tarted up moose turd doin' some fancy pageant walkin'!

[Joszef Pelikan]

57. K&R

lolerskates

[Ian David]

59. Did he tell her he was mugged by an Obama supporter who carved a "B" on his face? n/t

[OswegoAtheist]

62. The good news is that...

...since they were Canadien, it still counts as "foreign policy experience" for her.

Oswego "Proud Canadian Export" Atheist

[radfringe]

63. mccain must be throwing a fit over this

wonder how high the tensions between the two camps will be tomorrow?

I'd like to be a fly on the wall for that conversation, but palin would probably shoot me

:rofl:

[Don Davis]

66. Reality Check: Palin the "PunKER," Not the "PunKEE"

http://satiricalpolitical.com/?p=4547

[madaboutharry]

67. She is simply a stupid person.

There is no intellect.

[enuegii]

69. The French online journals have picked up on it, too...

and judging by the comments, they're all laughing like hell.

[Courtesy Flush]

111. Le Monde is covering it

http://www.lemonde.fr/elections-americaines/article/2008/11/02/sarah-palin-piegee-par-un-faux-sarkozy_1113750_829254.html

[Bread and Circus]

70. It was hilarious

[minnesota_liberal]

72. McCain campaign likens Palin to heads of state and celebrities...

... on the basis of her having been "pranked" by this duo.

Consider, though, that the freepers have criticized Barack Obama for being a "celebrity" just because he attracts large crowds and for "acting as if he's already won" whenever he says or does anything remotely "presidential."

I spell hypocrisy, R-E-P-U-B-L-I-C-A-N

[gvstn]

73. It wasn't spontaneous the call was vetted...

I don't know who they have working on the campaign but it wasn't just some intern putting the call through--it was scheduled. Unbelievable. Although, I'll admit the Canadian assistant didn't use the cheesy accent--that would have been pathetic.

In an interview Saturday, Mr. Audette told The Canadian Press it wasn't easy setting up the interview with Republican presidential candidate John McCain's running mate, and described the accomplishment as the pair's biggest triumph to date.

“It really took a lot of work,” he said.

“We had to go through the Secret Service, the people in her entourage. It's the biggest coup so far. We're proud to add (this prank) to our top hits.”

It took the pair, known for securing surreptitious interviews with celebrities, politicians and heads of state, five days to set up the call, Mr. Audette said. The secret to getting powerful people on the line? Time and persistence.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081101.wqueduo1101/BNStory/usElection2008/home

[lonestarnot]

85. scarey. Snort!

:rofl: Welcome to DU :hi:

[scytherius]

76. How is it possible to be this dumb and still be alive? She's too dumb to know how to eat. n/t

[Milspec]

78. OK, I listened to the 570 clip.....

and have not scrolled down. Tell me is this from the Onion or what.This just can be real has McCain/Palin truly put forth the worst campaign ever? OK can't wait scrolling down now.....

[Don Davis]

80. Sacre Bleu! Palin Takes Call from Pepe Le Pew!

http://satiricalpolitical.com/?p=4549

[grantdevine]

81. I haven't R'd or even commented for quite a while, but this is HISTORICAL!!!!!

This is going to be talked about for decades.

Poor Palin, I almost feel sorry for her.

SHE COMES OFF LIKE A COMPLETE FOOL!

This will earn Democrats an extra million votes AT LEAST.

[gvstn]

87. I'm figuring...

it might be a good time to stock up on some t-shirts for washing the dog. "Palin 2012" shirts should be selling really cheap tomorrow. ;)

[lonestarnot]

83. OMG Rich!

:rofl:

[slampoet]

86. The Prankers took 5 Days setting this up YET Palin's People Had NOBODY WHO SPOKE FRENCH on the line?

Holy Crap!


That is some Major malfeasance.


Anyone can fall for the setup but to not have a single Francophone listening to the call is a ........


...Security problem?
....Major FAIL?


....there really isn't a word for this in the English language that describes the level of fundamental fukup combined with the head wound anyone witnessing your behavior wants to give just for you making them witness your dumb ass.

[bertman]

88. This can't be true. Is there any proof it's actually Sarah Palin? Could her campaign people really

be so stupid as to let this through the screening?

Am I the only one who thinks this is fakery?

[Dem2theMax]

89. Youtube video has been taken down. Anyone have a link that works?

I want to hear this. LOL.

Edited to add:

I found a working link on another DU thread. LMAO. If this were still October, I'd call this the October surprise. :evilgrin:

[Shoelace]

90. Daily Kos has it still, hilarious!!

scroll way down, it's on there!!

[stark6935]

92. It's 3:00 AM John McCain just had a stroke, and only one woman

has what it takes to answer the call of duty.

[pinto]

91. LOL & Oh geez.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

95. So basically she's admitted that she's not ready to be vice president...

because the vice president should be ready to assume the role of president on Inauguration Day.

[L. Coyote]

96. Another hlarious riot here:

http://www.dailykos.com/hotlist/add/2008/11/1/151958/557/displaystory//

[Waiting For Everyman]

97. I wonder how many people who already voted for this nitwit

are going to hear this, and wish they had their votes back? We can only hope this sobers some others up in time, to stop them from making the same mistake.

I'm so disgusted with the Repub party for their trash nominees. I thought Agnew was just a bad fluke, and then Ford was worse, and Reagan was ludicrous... then Quayle, THEN W., and who could imagine worse than that? And yet, there it is.

They have NO respect for the office, obviously. I have nothing but contempt for even the so-called "intelligent" among them, for this parade of fools they have foisted upon us. And I have even less respect for their voters, who elect them repeatedly.

Yes, it's hilarious. And yes, thank you Masked Avengers, for this massive public service!! This needs to go viral on steroids, asap. Any pundit or reporter who can still go on tv after this and advocate that ticket, or fail to disclose this to the voting public, should be tarred and feathered. If not charged with something.

I know - I have no sense of humor. (That's what Turdicle will say, no doubt.) At first it was funny, but now, I'm just angry.

[mackerel]

98. She's the gift that keeps on giving. Finally a beauty queen who

doesn't support world peace.

[trusty elf]

99. Oh my, talk about nailin' Palin! Thank you masked Avengers!

:wow: :rofl: :dunce: :rofl: :wow: :rofl: :dunce: :rofl: :wow:

:wow: :rofl: :dunce: :rofl: :wow: :rofl: :dunce: :rofl: :wow:

:wow: :rofl: :dunce: :rofl: :wow: :rofl: :dunce: :rofl: :wow:

[Liberty Belle]

100. Pailin Falls Prey to Canadian Pranksters(French news coverage!)

Source: Reuters (French news service)

The European press is being far less kind to Pailin than the American corporate media is over the prank call. Here are excerpts from the French news service, Reuters:

In an over-the-top French accent, a member of the Quebec comedy duo "The Masked Avengers," famous for tricking celebrities and politicians including Sarkozy himself, asked if Palin would take him on a hunting trip by helicopter, and then in French said they could also go kill baby seals.
An apparently oblivious Palin said she thought that would be fun. "We could have a lot of fun together as we're getting work done. We could kill two birds with one stone that way."
<snip> "You added a lot of energy to your country with that beautiful family of yours," Palin said.
The prankster responded by complimenting Palin on a notorious Hustler porn film "Nailin' Paylin," which he said was a documentary of her life.
"Oh good, thank you," Palin said.
http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE4A027O20081102


Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE4A027O20081102

[Shoelace]

101. just googled it, it's all over the world, Here's WaPo's

take on it. Palin, the gift that keeps on giving!:bounce:

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/11/01/palin_pranked_by_sarkozy_imper.html

http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&tab=wn&ncl=1265526771

[grannylib]

103. Did you read some of the comments? Must be some of the 20% of

the populace that still approves of Chimpy the Unelected Imbecile.
Man, there are some people missing some serious grey matter - I'm amazed they're still breathin'.

They are eeeyidiots, babe...it's a wonder they can even feed themselves.

[Flagg]

112. this comment is a doozy.

"Regarding hunting, the fake Sarkozy says, "to take away a life, that is so fun".

You just wait, you stupid frogs, you'll see how much fun it is soon, when Palin is President. It will be more fun than sticking firecrackers in the anus of amphibians like GWB did when he was a child. Real Americans will be laughing at you when your slimy butts are blown up.

Posted by: goaway41 | November 2, 2008 7:14 AM | Report abuse "




Psychopaths for McCain!

[Mira]

102. Kicked and recommended in honor of my Momma

who lives in Germany, follows all of this closely, and will laugh her butt off in the morning.

[Ezana]

104. Pallin does not believe that she is ready to be president now; she said, ª may be in 2012ª. But,

MCcain belives that she is ready. What a judgement this experienced and "tested" politician have !

[Blue Gardener]

105. Another idiot repuke

Makes America the laughing-stock of the world. Their time is about up.

[muriel_volestrangler]

106. FYI, Reuters is British, and is combined with a Canadian corporation:

Paul Julius Reuter, a German born immigrant, arrives in London from Aachen where he has been running a news and stock price information service using a combination of technology including telegraph cables and a fleet of carrier pigeons that grows to exceed 200. This helps Reuter establish an enviable reputation for speed, accuracy, integrity and impartiality. Reuter opens an office with the help of an 11 year-old office boy at 1 Royal Exchange Building in London's financial centre and located close to the main telegraph offices. He transmits stock market quotations and news between London and Paris over the new Dover-Calais submarine telegraph cable, using his “telegraph expertise.
...
Reuters restructures itself so that it is owned by the British National and Provincial Press, together with (in 1947) the Press Associations of Australia and New Zealand. The Reuters Trust Principles were put in place to safeguard its independence. The principles govern how the company conducts business, committing Reuters to independence, integrity and freedom from bias in the gathering and dissemination of news and information.
...
The Thomson Corporation and Reuters Group PLC combine to form Thomson Reuters.

http://www.thomsonreuters.com/about/company_history/#1890_-_1799

[90-percent]

107. gotcha

This is gotcha journalism at it's finest.

I felt bad for Palin and I could only get through half of this, though. I don't get a lot of joy from hearing this woman confirm beyond a shadow of a doubt that she is an absolute imbecile.

This country would be better served with an average eighth grader in the upper third of their class than Palin.

Her choice as Republican VP candidate is an insult to every American with an IQ above 50.

We'll find out this Tuesday if we are all as collectively stupid as this woman is, I guess?

-90% jimmy

[Karenina]

108. An EPIC GOTCHA.

She has avoided vetting by the media, UNTIL NOW. THAT, ladies and gentleman, is the unscripted Sarah Palin. Time to take the turtle down from the post.

[Doctor_J]

109. 61 million Americans think this fascist dunce is fit to be president

God, are we screwn

[Courtesy Flush]

110. After "I can see Belgium from my house" she should have smalled a rat.

Dingbat!

[Sugar Smack]

113. This is really brutal. Not to mention unfair to Sarah Palin. We're better than this.

Her dignity's taken a real public beating. So she's camping with the enemy. We, as Democrats and humanitarians, can scarce afford to partake in this cheap ridicule. We need to provide a sound example for the rest of the country and the world; send a mature message to our children, and avoid such juvenile mockery. It will only make us look bad. :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[northamericancitizen]

115. Quebec comedians shocked by reaction Palin prank

THE CANADIAN PRESS

From the article:

MONTREAL – The Quebec comedians responsible for pranking Sarah Palin are getting the star treatment from the international media.

The duo known as "The Masked Avengers" was being courted by U.S. news networks Sunday after their prank call to the Republican vice-presidential nominee took the Internet by storm.

The Avengers – Marc-Antoine Audette and Sebastien Trudel – managed to get Palin on the phone, conning her into thinking she was speaking with French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

"We're flying to New York in a couple of hours to do the CBS morning show – oh, my God," a breathless Audette said Sunday.

The two say they're surprised at the impact of the gag, which has garnered global headlines after it surfaced almost instantly on blogs and websites around the world.

"We're doing it for fun – as comedians, that's our job," Audette said.

TheStar.com

[kitty1]

116. Our Canadian diplomats will now be delegated to the back of the room

for formal functions because of this. The dark corner table next to the swinging kitchen doors.

[grantdevine]

117. K&R. n/t

[KansDem]

118. I blame her staff for this one...

Sure, she came off sounding shallow and clueless, but we all knew that anyway. The staff person who took the call and told her it was the French president needs to be sacked...

[MadinMo]

119. Can't watch Youtube at work, have dial up at home.

Is there a transcript for this anywhere? I've heard bits and pieces, but I'd love to read the whole thing.

It is such a hoot. Its all I can do not to ask my repub co-workers what they think about it.


Edited to add
I found a link to the transcript:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081101.wpalintranscript1011/BNStory/usElection2008/home?cid=al_gam_mostemail

[Juneboarder]

120. That clip is hilarious!

[Karenina]

121. The transcript is NOT.

Read it and weep. The woman thinks she's talking to the fucking PRESIDENT of an ALLY NATION!

[Juneboarder]

122. Yes, I'm aware of that and think that

it's hilarious that she's that dumb. So, no weeping for me :)

[Karenina]

123. You're obviously completely confident

Obama will be declared the "Winner." I be hangin' out witchoo. :party:

[Juneboarder]

124. Yes, I was confident

And Rightfully So!! Woo-hoo!!

Congrats to all those for Obama!!

gObama!!

:)

[grantdevine]

125. I think everyone should send these Canadian comedians a thank you

they probably delivered one or two states.

[Sabriel]

126. Did "Sarkozy" call her today to commiserate?

"Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice...uh...won't get fooled again...."