Exactly!

I would say a NYT headline!

And WMD, yes, that it as accurate re-phrase. Many a (young) man gets himself into trouble while pursuing, eh, happiness.

That should read “in HEAT with Alli”

Crush, Crush, Crush… have you forgotten about the intensity and the desperation of young love?!?! Had you been in love with Alli at the time, you might have ignored those warning signs.

Besides, what sort of headline would this have been?:

“Governor’s husband threatens young man picking up his daughter for the prom with a knife.”

And yes tnjack, it is funny

Now that’s funny I don’t care who you are!
Jenn you and Alli both make great points. And I must say I like Alli’s dad too!

Well, speaking only for myself…yep!

If I had shown up to Alli’s door to take her on a date, and her old man was cleaning his Bowie knife and semi-automatic rifle collection, then I guaran-freakin’-tee you I wouldn’t be showing up for a second date!

Your father’s way would make most teens just sneak/lie out of the house or never make formal introductions.

Her dad’s way would have made a teenage Crush Liberalism avoid a teenage Alli like Ted Kennedrunk avoids a Kopechne family reunion!

I’m trying very hard not to judge the parenting abilities, but it’s hard. I think a lot of parents are soft today when it comes to giving kids what they want and for some reason the five months out of school for mono adds to my “who’s running the show” question. BTW I did slightly exaggerate my dad’s way, but you got the picture and I didn’t sneak out of the house – too scared to.

You’re right that there is no one size fits all policy to prevent teens from pregnancy. But you do whatever it takes. Information and education, morality, and a little parental fear can go a long way.

Excellent and very true second to last paragraph.

So you feel that birth control can be accomplished by brandishing weapons at any would-be suitors?

I’m not convinced there is a one-size-fits all policy for parents to prevent teenage pregnancy. I think it’s a little judgemental to speculate that this 17 year old got pregnant due to poor parenting abilities.

As a parent, control is but an illusion that passes each year your child ages. All you can really do is put forth your best effort knowing that you are preparing them to make their own decisions (and own mistakes.)

Your father’s way would make most teens just sneak/lie out of the house or never make formal introductions.

Yes, I have three kids. They are all under eight and they’ve made tons of mistakes already! I’m 100% sure at least one will have sex before they turn 18 and that none will wait until they’re married. I believe in teaching abstinence but not abstinence only.

However when it comes to teenage girls, I’m Ok with overprotective dads behaving like Gen. Patton. While my father trusted me, he still felt the need to show my date his gun license, knife collection, and old football trophies….after interrogating the lucky young man of course.

Are you a parent? If so, do you feel 100% that as your children approach adulthood they’ll never ever make a mistake?

I think Palin was a brilliant choice, even if she’s just a token to bring out the hate of the democrats.

You’re right about Jamie Lynn not coming from a solid family, but she did say she was going to marry the father and I believe they’re engaged (sorry, ashamed to admit I can’t resist People magazine once in a while.) We’re still not sure if Bristol will go through with marriage. I’m sure you’ll disagree with me, but I don’t think a teenager should marry someone just because they’re pregnant. She’s going to have a hard enough time being a mother without full understanding of who she is and finishing her education. Being a newlywed to someone you might never have married in the first place is not going to make things easier for her or the baby.

Forgive me for hijacking this post…and you’re going to hate what I have to say, but teen pregnancy is a huge pet peeve of mine. As a teacher, I saw it all too often and even saw it in my own family. And I can honestly say that each teenager who got pregnant either had too much time on their hands and/or lack of supervision. Several even wanted to get pregnant to fill some gap in their lives (lack of love and attention are big). I’m not saying this is the case of Bristol, but having a mother with a high powered job, a just as busy stay at home dad, and permission to stay out of school for five months because of mono makes me wonder if her parents were on top of this. BTW, I really do think they are good parents and this won’t reflect on how Sara Palin performs professionally.

The attacks regarding Baby Trig were horrendous and if people honestly think Palin put in a full day at work three days post-partem without that baby near her, then they are stupid. I comfort myself knowing they are extremists and just as relevant as James Dobson is….probably even less relevant than Dobson to be honest.

I know this family deserves privacy. But I think teen pregnancy needs to be addressed. When Tom Brady was about to be a dad, I remember a conservative woman saying “this happens, but I worry for the young girls who will see this man with unlimited resources and think it’s an easy situation.” I agree with her and I believe this can be the case with Bristol too.

And now, I will courageously click the submit button.

Also, the hypocrisy of the Democrats in attacking the children of a candidate; attacking Palin for having the audacity to not abort her Down syndrome child; attacking Palin for working while she has a Down syndrome child; and attacking Palin for not having enough “experience” when she clearly has much more experience than their Presidential candidate is just appalling.
I think we all learned a long time ago that the Democrats are not the party of women — they’re the party of Liberal women.

Nah! Only white hetero males can be sexist!

Hypocrisy makes the world go round. Look at all the people that skewered (can’t believe I’m going to say this) Jamie Lynn Spears and her mom for the exact circumstances – rightfully so, I might add. When an inner city teen gets pregnant, they say “great another welfare for life child”. Now these same people are saying “Good for Bristol!” Huh?

FWIW, if the election were tomorrow I’d still vote for McCain/Palin. She’s very interesting and frankly, I would love to look like her. Ooops! Does that make me sexist?