Journalist Joe McGinniss is writing a book about former Republican vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin. He's also renting the property next door. Can you guess how Palin responded in her inevitable Facebook annoucement? That's right: Passive-aggressively.
In a Facebook note entitled "Just When Ya Think It Can't Get Any More 'Interesting'... Welcome, Neighbor!" Palin weaves the thrilling tale of The Journalist Next Door:
Spring has sprung in Alaska, and with this beautiful season comes the news today that the Palins have a new neighbor! Welcome, Joe McGinniss!
Yes, that Joe McGinniss. Here he is – about 15 feet away on the neighbor's rented deck overlooking my children's play area and my kitchen window. Maybe we'll welcome him with a homemade blueberry pie tomorrow so he'll know how friendly Alaskans are.
We found out the good news today. Upon my family's return this morning from endorsement rallies and speeches in the Lower 48 states, I finally got the chance to tackle my garden and lawn this evening! So, putting on the shorts and tank top to catch that too-brief northern summer sun and placing a giddy Trig in his toddler backpack for a lawn-mowing adventure, I looked up in surprise to see a "new neighbor" overlooking my property just a stone's throw away. Needless to say, our outdoor adventure ended quickly after Todd went to introduce himself to the stranger who was peering in...
Joe announced to Todd that he's moved in right next door to us. He's rented the place for the next five months or so. He moved up all the way from Massachusetts to live right next to us – while he writes a book about me. Knowing of his many other scathing pieces of "journalism" (including the bizarre anti-Palin administration oil development pieces that resulted in my Department of Natural Resources announcing that his work is the most twisted energy-related yellow journalism they'd ever encountered), we're sure to have a doozey to look forward to with this treasure he's penning. Wonder what kind of material he'll gather while overlooking Piper's bedroom, my little garden, and the family's swimming hole?
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, and I'll try to keep Trig's squeals down to a quiet giggle so we don't disturb your peaceful summer. Enjoy!
What a sweetheart she is, offering blueberry pie to the man "peering in" as she "puts on the shorts and tank top." And such concern in her voice as she wonders "what material he'll gather while overlooking Piper's bedroom, my little garden, and the family's swimming hole." Like Sarah, we can only speculate, but based on that totally neutral description, probably he will "gather" (masturbate to) a lot of "material" (the sight of Sarah Palin's underage daughter/the Palin family clad in swimtrunks/Sarah Palin's secret garden).
McGinniss, who broke the story of Sarah Palin's fake bus tour and wrote a terrific article about Palin for Portfolio, is a well known critic of the former Governor. As Palin says, he's also writing a book about her—tentatively titled Sarah Palin's Year of Living Dangerously. And like any halfway decent investigative journalist, he knows the best way to write about his subject is to get as close as possible to her. Do you know who else knows this? Sarah Palin, because she has a journalism degree. But why let that stop ya from writing paranoid, accusatory, passive-aggressive Facebook notes?
Here's Joe's new property. Can't wait for the funny "odd couple" comedy to get made!
Update: Via commenter Ripdash, Politico's Ben Smith got a quote from McGinniss' son Joe Jr.: "Sadly, she's right. We tried our best to intervene, but alas, the heart wants what it wants. We can only pray for him now. He's convinced that Todd will step aside and when the time is right, he'll be there, right next door, to pick up the pieces."