BS: Fake French President phones Palin

Subject: BS: Fake French President phones Palin
From: Alice
Date: 01 Nov 08 - 09:31 PM

TORONTO (AP) -- Sarah Palin unwittingly took a prank call Saturday from a Canadian comedian posing as French President Nicolas Sarkozy and telling her she would make a good president someday.

"Maybe in eight years," replies a laughing Palin.

The Republican vice presidential nominee discusses politics, the perils of hunting with Vice President Dick Cheney, and Sarkozy's "beautiful wife," in a recording of the call released Saturday and set to air Monday on a Quebec radio station.

Palin campaign spokeswoman Tracey Schmitt confirmed she had received the prank call.

"Governor Palin was mildly amused to learn that she had joined the ranks of heads of state, including President Sarkozy and other celebrities, in being targeted by these pranksters. C'est la vie," she said.

The call was made by a well-known Montreal comedy duo Marc-Antoine Audette and Sebastien Trudel. Known as the Masked Avengers, the two are notorious for prank calls to celebrities and heads of state.

Audette, posing as Sarkozy, speaks in an exaggerated French accent and drops ample hints that the conversation is a joke. But Palin seemingly does not pick up on them.

He tells Palin one of his favorite pastimes is hunting, also a passion of the 44-year-old Alaska governor.

Subject: RE: BS: Fake French President phones Palin
From: Alice
Date: 01 Nov 08 - 09:39 PM

Her staff should have known better in screening calls than to let that one go through. The blame game must be huge in that campaign right now.

Subject: RE: BS: Fake French President phones Palin
From: Azizi
Date: 01 Nov 08 - 09:42 PM

Here's a link to that prank phone conversation:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4aHL12vtEM

Here's the summary that was written for that YouTube video:

"Quebec comedy duo notorious for prank calls to celebrities and heads of state has reached Sarah Palin, convincing the Republican vice-presidential nominee she was speaking with French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

In the roughly six-minute telephone interview released Saturday, Palin and the pranksters known as the Masked Avengers discuss politics, pundits, and the perils of hunting with Vice-President Dick Cheney.

"We have such great respect for you, John McCain and I, we love you," Palin is heard to gush to comedian Marc-Antoine Audette, masquerading as Sarkozy.

Palin doesn't seem to realize she's being tricked until Audette tells her at the end of the interview.

"Oh, have we been pranked?" she says. Seconds later, Palin's aide can be heard before the line goes dead.

Throughout the conversation, Audette drops plenty of clues that something's amiss.

He identifies French singer and actor Johnny Hallyday as his special adviser to the U.S., singer Stef Carse as Canada's prime minister and Quebec comedian and radio host Richard Z. Sirois as the provincial premier".

Subject: RE: BS: Fake French President phones Palin
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 01 Nov 08 - 09:47 PM

With all the money those Republicans have, you'd think they could afford phones with caller ID.

Subject: RE: BS: Fake French President phones Palin
From: Big Mick
Date: 01 Nov 08 - 09:52 PM

How could anyone make the point any better than that?

Subject: RE: BS: Fake French President phones Palin
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 01 Nov 08 - 10:04 PM

How could anyone make the point any better than that?

Substitute Tina Fey for Palin and see if anyone notices?

Subject: RE: BS: Fake French President phones Palin
From: wysiwyg
Date: 01 Nov 08 - 11:42 PM

SarAH! Heads of state don't CALL you when you're just a candidate-in-waiting!!!!

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Fake French President phones Palin
From: katlaughing
Date: 01 Nov 08 - 11:43 PM

Jeez! Thanks Alice and Azizi!

Subject: RE: BS: Fake French President phones Palin
From: Cluin
Date: 02 Nov 08 - 02:40 AM

So she's joined an illustrious club. Remember when Canadian comedian Rick Mercer told George W. Bush that Canadian Prime Minister Poutine was behind him all the way?

No, probably not.

Subject: RE: BS: Fake French President phones Palin
From: gnu
Date: 02 Nov 08 - 03:56 AM

Cluin... I have mentioned that quite often here. It was one of those, "Oh my fuck!" moments for me. The first was when he was first elected pres and said he was looking forward to meeting the leader of the biggest trading partner of the US, Mexico. And, let's not forget what PM Poutine himself did when he served Garge Alberta beef and PEI potatoes!... and, not reported, they were served on dishes from the White House (no, I have NO support for the dishes).

BTW, before anyone mentions that Sarah was also invited baby seal hunting, she was invited in French. Unfair shot! Especially since she has such a hard time speaking English to begin with.

Subject: RE: BS: Fake French President phones Palin
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 02 Nov 08 - 05:23 AM

Now we know who put the alas in Alaska.

XG

Subject: BS: sarah palin interview
From: The Sandman
Date: 02 Nov 08 - 05:24 AM

Transferred from another thread

have alaugh at this.http://www.soundlantern.com/UpdatedSoundPage.do?ToId=18576http://www.soundlantern.com/UpdatedSoundPage.do?ToId=18576

Subject: RE: BS: Fake French President phones Palin
From: Beer
Date: 02 Nov 08 - 06:39 AM

Is he the fellow who also got through to Pope JohnXX111?
Beer (adrien)

Subject: RE: BS: Fake French President phones Palin
From: bobad
Date: 02 Nov 08 - 06:52 AM

They've done it to Chirac, Mick Jagger, Britney Spears and Sarkozy himself.

Subject: RE: BS: Fake French President phones Palin
From: catspaw49
Date: 02 Nov 08 - 07:02 AM

.......hook, line, and sinker.......

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Fake French President phones Palin
From: GUEST,Volgadon
Date: 02 Nov 08 - 07:03 AM

I know that you have to be careful, because you don't want to offend an ally, but it became pianfully obvious early on tht they were joking.

Subject: RE: BS: Fake French President phones Palin
From: wysiwyg
Date: 02 Nov 08 - 07:27 AM

Hey, we ALL want to believe, "They really, really want me!"

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Fake French President phones Palin
From: Azizi
Date: 02 Nov 08 - 07:40 AM

Here's a link to a Washington Post article that contains the complete transcript of that conversation:

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/sleuth/2008/11/sarah_palin_pranked_by_sarkozy.html#more

Subject: RE: BS: Fake French President phones Palin
From: Azizi
Date: 02 Nov 08 - 08:19 AM

Fwiw, that Washington Post transcript isn't totally accurate.

For one, the name of US advisor that the fake French President is said to have was given in that transcript as "Jean". However, in other accounts of this prank that I have read, that name is given as "Johnny Hallyday", a very popular French singer. This was one clue if Sarah Palin knew anything about French contempory culture. At the least, it was an inside joke for French people and other people who do know something French contemporary culture.

Also, the transcript mentions "French sounding phrases and French sounding names. But those phrases and names are part of the "joke" for French speaking people. For instance, I read that the title of the song that the fake French President's wife supposedly composed for Palin was something about lipstick on a pig. And especially because the newly re-elected Prime Minister of Canada {Stephen Harper} has a very English sounding name, giving a French sounding name for that Prime Minister should have been a big clue that this was a prank call.

In a word, this prank was embarrassing for Sarah Palin, and I think, for all Americans. To think that Sarah Palin could be one heart beat away from the Presidency of the USA. If nothing else, this prank showed how lax the Republican's procedure is for approving
in-coming telephone contact with their vice-presidential candidate.

Subject: RE: BS: Fake French President phones Palin
From: GUEST,Volgadon
Date: 02 Nov 08 - 08:30 AM

To her credit, Palin did handle the discovery pretty well. No tantrums or hissyfits.

Subject: RE: BS: Fake French President phones Palin
From: john f weldon
Date: 02 Nov 08 - 09:55 AM

Good grief, even the Washington Post can't find a francophone?

Subject: RE: BS: Fake French President phones Palin
From: bobad
Date: 02 Nov 08 - 10:01 AM

The scary part is that her "people" didn't know who Sarkozy was.

Subject: RE: BS: Fake French President phones Palin
From: bankley
Date: 02 Nov 08 - 10:43 AM

Quebec rides again...   these guys are good, they even pranked the Queen once pretending to be Prime Minister Jean Chretien..

Subject: RE: BS: Fake French President phones Palin
From: Jeri
Date: 02 Nov 08 - 10:51 AM

On the bit of it I heard on the news, it sounded like she was playing along. She wasn't particularly funny, but a VP doesn't need to be. I think that might be the Secretary of State's job.

Of course that means she'll probably never be a regular on Saturday Night Live, but I can see how it was more the writer's fault than Palin's.

Subject: RE: BS: Fake French President phones Palin
From: gnu
Date: 02 Nov 08 - 10:54 AM

"... pretending to be Prime Minister Jean Chretien."

Dat's not hard. If it was hard, it would be hard, but it's not hard, so for it to be done it would not be hard to do.

Subject: RE: BS: Fake French President phones Palin
From: Alice
Date: 02 Nov 08 - 11:04 AM

"Starting with persistent phone calls to Alaska, Audette said it took the duo -- which also includes Sebastien Trudel -- about four days of phone calls to Palin's handlers to finally get in touch with her."

What do you think of the giggling way Palin talks to someone whom she thinks is a head of state? How embarrassing.

Subject: RE: BS: Fake French President phones Palin
From: Bill D
Date: 02 Nov 08 - 11:36 AM

The whole thing was not terribly relevant...just one more 'nail in her coffin', as they say. And as noted, HER STAFF should be ashamed for not vetting it all better and asking for a PHONE # so they could call back.

Subject: RE: BS: Fake French President phones Palin
From: Celtaddict
Date: 02 Nov 08 - 11:57 AM

'ashamed for not vetting it all better'?
You are talking about McCain, right?

Subject: RE: BS: Fake French President phones Palin
From: Bill D
Date: 02 Nov 08 - 12:27 PM

as we say in Philosophy, that's the 'remote' cause.

Subject: RE: BS: Fake French President phones Palin
From: Cool Beans
Date: 02 Nov 08 - 12:59 PM

Chretien? Harper? You mean to say Poutine is no longer prime minister of Canada? Mon Dieu!

Subject: RE: BS: Fake French President phones Palin
From: katlaughing
Date: 02 Nov 08 - 01:51 PM

Not so sure she didn't have a hissyfit, she sounded kind of PO'd as she was passing the phone back to her assistant; sounded as though they cut it off before she got started. I'll bet someone got an earful.

Subject: RE: BS: Fake French President phones Palin
From: Cluin
Date: 02 Nov 08 - 01:59 PM

"... pretending to be Prime Minister Jean Chretien."


Non, I am not about to hopen dat Pandora's box of wormz at dis time.

Subject: RE: BS: Fake French President phones Palin
From: Ed T
Date: 02 Nov 08 - 02:26 PM

My guess is somewhere in a republican office, an advisor likely paid for the lack of telephone screening. While some may wishfully insist that Palin was "just playing along," I suspect the majority will see that the lady is really an eager novice. Hopefully, if elected, she will not push the red "launch" button when a russian "comedian-president" calls on her. Maybe she should get listed in the "do not call" political list?

Subject: RE: BS: Fake French President phones Palin
From: Little Hawk
Date: 02 Nov 08 - 02:37 PM

NoboDY helse can talk like da little guy from Shawinigan! No-boDY. If 'e give a call to Sarah Palin, by gar, she gonna get an earful straight from da heart. I t'ink dis was a cheap trick to pull on 'er, dat's what I t'ink. If someboDY pull dat one on me, I grab dat bastard by da NECK next time I see 'im and 'e won't do dat to me again noHOW, no WAY. Dese comedians, dey don' mess wit da little guy from Shawinigan!

Subject: RE: BS: Fake French President phones Palin
From: Bee
Date: 02 Nov 08 - 03:32 PM

Chretien was more at ease with comedians than Harper is, for sure. Marg, Princess Warrior, had a real relationship with Chretien and most of the rest of Parliament Hill, and my god, those were some funny scenes!

Subject: RE: BS: Fake French President phones Palin
From: Cluin
Date: 02 Nov 08 - 03:46 PM

I miss him. He didn't do a whole lot (except keep us out of Iraq thankfully), but he was entertaining as hell.

My favourite was when he ditched his RCMP bodyguards and jumped on the tourist bus to gladhand and give his own guided tour. He didn't need bodyguards anyway as long as there was a good Inuit soapstone sculpture to hand or even if he could get his giant mitt around your throat.

Subject: RE: BS: Fake French President phones Palin
From: akenaton
Date: 02 Nov 08 - 05:52 PM

"What do you think of the giggling way Palin talks to someone whom she thinks is a head of state? How embarrassing."

What I think, is that the vitriolic, partisan Democrats on this forum are much more of an embarrassment than Mrs Palin.

Subject: RE: BS: Fake French President phones Palin
From: Alice
Date: 02 Nov 08 - 06:01 PM

I'll say it again. Palin is an embarrassment to the USA.

Subject: RE: BS: Fake French President phones Palin
From: Riginslinger
Date: 02 Nov 08 - 07:04 PM

Reading the transcript of the phone call, it looks like Palin figured out the guy was a phoney and was just playing along. She has proven to be a whole lot smarter than the left wing media has given her credit for. They must pull their hair out everytime she shows them up for the chumps they've proven themselves to be.

Subject: RE: BS: Fake French President phones Palin
From: Bee
Date: 02 Nov 08 - 07:47 PM

Riginslinger, do you know what a Poe is, in internet-speak? Because I keep thinking you have got to be a very good one.

Subject: RE: BS: Fake French President phones Palin
From: bankley
Date: 02 Nov 08 - 08:09 PM

The funny thing about the Queen and Chretien prank is that they had previously met and had talked on occasion....

so hit's all depen on da numero pis le fron a faire ca

Subject: RE: BS: Fake French President phones Palin
From: Riginslinger
Date: 02 Nov 08 - 10:15 PM

"do you know what a Poe is, in internet-speak?"


             Let's see, Poe as in Edgar Allen?

Subject: RE: BS: Fake French President phones Palin
From: Big Mick
Date: 02 Nov 08 - 11:49 PM

Riggy.... you are kidding, right? I mean, the recording is right there to listen to ....... I want you to google up "state of denial".

Mick
cya Tuesday

Subject: RE: BS: Fake French President phones Palin
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 03 Nov 08 - 02:29 AM

Je t'aime, mais non moose....

Subject: RE: BS: Fake French President phones Palin
From: Mr Red
Date: 03 Nov 08 - 03:43 AM

we have had our own instances of this in the UK. But in our case they didn't let on for a year and they used the information gained to embarrass the government outside of the comedy programme that Rory Bremner (impersonator) fronted. He was totally unrepentant. I don't watch him any more.

Comedy has to plumb the depths in order to be noticed these days. It is a step too far.

Subject: RE: BS: Fake French President phones Palin
From: Monique
Date: 03 Nov 08 - 05:13 AM

I'll add that the title of the song supposedly written for her is "Le rouge à lèvres sur une cochonne" and though it seems to mean "lipstick on a pig", it's a double entendre. We don't use the feminine word to mean a pig, we use the masculine "cochon" or "porc". A "cochonne" is used to mean "dirty little girl" (kind of eating with her fingers and smearing chocolate all over her face) but about a grown up woman, it's used pejoratively to mean "a woman who likes sex"

Subject: RE: BS: Fake French President phones Palin
From: Riginslinger
Date: 03 Nov 08 - 08:14 AM

I knew there was something I liked about her!

Subject: RE: BS: Fake French President phones Palin
From: Bobert
Date: 03 Nov 08 - 08:29 AM

Word on the street is that she fakin' it...

Subject: RE: BS: Fake French President phones Palin
From: Cluin
Date: 03 Nov 08 - 10:11 AM

"I'll have what she's having."

Subject: RE: BS: Fake French President phones Palin
From: julian morbihan
Date: 03 Nov 08 - 10:43 AM

No-one so far has mentioned the fact that Nicholas Sarkozy doesn't speak English!

So the hoax call should have been a non-starter from the beginning 'cause I'm sure that Sarah Palin doesn't speak French.

Which seems to say that all of the USA, Canada and most of the rest of the English speaking world were taken in my this radio programme...

But for a possible president (if McCain gets in and then snuffs it) of the leading country not knowing what is going on is just going to give us more of what we have at the moment with dear George.

When will Americans get it that they are not the only people in the world?

Hey ho.

Subject: RE: BS: Fake French President phones Palin
From: Riginslinger
Date: 03 Nov 08 - 11:02 AM

That's a good point, Julian!

Subject: RE: BS: Fake French President phones Palin
From: Little Hawk
Date: 03 Nov 08 - 11:44 AM

"When will Americans get it that they are not the only people in the world?"

Boy, there's the 64,000 dollar question!

Subject: RE: BS: Fake French President phones Palin
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 03 Nov 08 - 12:54 PM

Are we sure this wasn't Tina Fey?

Subject: RE: BS: Fake French President phones Palin
From: Charley Noble
Date: 04 Nov 08 - 10:51 AM

Minique-

Thanks for your translation of "Le rouge à lèvres sur une cochonne." Inquiring minds always want to learn more and that makes the song title even wittier.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Fake French President phones Palin
From: Monique
Date: 04 Nov 08 - 11:26 AM

And here you can check that Nicolas Sarkozy doesn't speak English

Subject: RE: BS: Fake French President phones Palin
From: bankley
Date: 04 Nov 08 - 01:34 PM

actually, he could probably run for Prime Minister of Canada and get by okay... we're used to it