Levi Johnston Planning to Sue Palins for Joint Custody of Son

[BurtWorm]

It's the Wasilla Hill Billies! Take yer shoes off. Set a spell:

http://www.salon.com/politics/war_room/2009/11/09/johnston/index.html?source=rss&aim=/politics/war_room


Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has been making more and more forays back out into the public eye as the date of her memoir's release grows closer. Now, with the book due out in just eight days, she's been hit with news that's probably going to put a crimp in her whatever plans she's had for getting positive coverage during her book tour.

Levi Johnston, the former fiancé of Palin's daughter Bristol -- and the father of the former governor's first grandchild, 10-month-old Tripp -- reportedly plans to sue for joint custody of his son.

"It's not working. I'm done," Johnston told the Insider. "It's going to have to go to court. They just finally pushed me over the edge."

This could end up being a real headache for Palin. Johnston has previously said he has potentially damaging information about the woman who was once set to be his mother-in-law, and he's already made some accusations that could hurt her. (Palin has denied them all.) Having more of them in court documents won't help matters much, not as she's trying to promote a book and herself. Plus, this means some outlets will be asking her about Johnston during interviews about the book. Palin's booked for an interview with Oprah Winfrey, for example, who has enough power that she can ensure that no questions are off-limits; that could mean that Palin will be pulled off-message during the big launch of her tour.

[yellowcanine]

1. I get no joy out of this. A ten month old child is in the middle of this.

People tend to forget that. This is no time for political or personal score settling. Levi should do what he has to do but keep his damn trap shut about it. Let his lawyer do the talking in court. And we should refrain from being gleeful about it just because it is Sarah Palin.

[saracat]

4. And that child is better off with Palin? She hasn't proved to be any kind

of paragon of parenting.And the only pressure levi has is the court of public opinion. That is his only leverage. Palin has money support and thugs.

[Critters2]

6. Neither choice is very positive in this situation.

Will he have time to care for a child when he's flying all over, making commercials, showing up on Larry King, making threatening noises about his son's grandmother?

That poor child, to have been born into this nightmare.

[Cleita]

12. Maybe he'll make some money to support the kid.

What does Bristol have other than her parents financial support that they can withdraw at any time? I think about the price that she is paying for that. Sarah has already displayed her smother love when she interrupted an interview Bristol was giving about teen pregnancy. If what Levi says is true about Bristol, she is nothing more than an unpaid maid and nanny in that household.

[yellowcanine]

7. I didn't say that. If Levi is truly concerned about his child he will make his best case for

custody in court and leave the public posturing to others. If he trashes Sarah Palin he is trashing his own child's grandmother.

[saracat]

9. Having no real money or influence, Levi has no choice but to apply public pressure.

And it is what his lawyers will do anyway. it is what he has to do to win. This has no choice to come to the public area. And what is so wrong with trashingyour childs grandmother when she deservesit? One cannot make admirable that which is not. It is better that the child be raised with the truth and his grandmother isn't someone to be proud of.

[yellowcanine]

10. I wish I could believe that Levi truly is concerned about his son here. I am afraid I do not.

At least publicly he appears to be more caught up in the celebrity aspects of this than in being a father to his son. He is going to have a hard time convincing a judge that he really wants to be a father, imo.

[saracat]

13. Well, there is no evidence Palin is concerned either.Sooo?

[spanone]

15. mr levi has the right to say whatever is on his mind. so does sarah

[Raschel]

2. Will granny get her gun? What will Jed do? I predict Oprah will softball Palin.

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

3. If he didn't run the risk of being shot from a helicopter, I would suggest...

letting the child be raised by wolves, nothing will set you up for multiple appearances on COPS quite like being raised by this garbage.

[Bunny]

5. I think this is the only thing Levi can do to insure that he gets to have a

relationship with his son. Given how vindictive Palin has proven to be, I'd bet he will have a very difficult time exercising any visitation rights. He might as well go for joint custody. But he and Bristol really need to grow up and cooperate for the good of their son.

[tammywammy]

11. +1

That's my exact thoughts. Regardless of who's involved, it's best that parents get these visitation/custody and child support all sorted out with the courts. I know in Texas a father could be sending checks/cash to a mother every month, but if it's not going through the state it doesn't count.

Plus, if he really *wants* to be a father, this is the best way for him to retain his rights to see his child.

Bristol and Levi need to sort this out now, before their child is too much older.

[WonderGrunion]

8. Anything involving suing the Palins gets a rec out of me.

K&R

[TexasObserver]

14. Custody should be 50-50, absent compelling reasons.

It doesn't matter who the parents are, or who their mother might be. The child needs to have both its parents and families in its life, if possible. People who are a danger to the child should not be around the child, whether they are kin to the child or not, but that's on a person by person basis. For example, maybe Levi's mother cannot be around the baby without other supervision, but not so for Levi or his sister.

Sarah and her family of grifters don't have enough sense to settle this privately. She'll let it drag out publicly, because she's a lot more Jerry Springer material than 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue material.