The Reliable Source

Live From St. Paul

Reliable Source columnist Roxanne Roberts was online from St. Paul, Minn., on Wednesday, Sept. 3, at Noon ET to talk about all the news and celebrity watching at the Republican National Convention. Amy Argetsinger joined her from Washington.

In today's column

In recent days: Who says the RNC isn't as wild a party? We found Sammy Hagar swigging tequila and, uh, Pat Boone! Political "soulmates." The media wolf-whistles at Sarah Palin. Outsiders are the new insiders at the DNC, and one longtime insider spends most of the week at Burning Man. Kanye shows, and Kirsten Dunst seems happy about it, or something. And OMG, Patrick Kennedy was totally making out with this girl at this one party.

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A transcript follows.

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Roxanne Roberts: Hey team Source! I went to bed at 3:30 a.m. this morning here in Minnesota, so be kind---I'm only on my second cup of coffee! Ready?

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Amy Argetsinger: Good morning all. Heard any good jokes lately? Let's try to keep things non-vulgar and well-sourced today. Looking forward to it!

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NYC: I understand that Palin's daughter is having twins and they are considering naming them Cari and Bou in support of her mom's ability to field dress Caribou. Can you confirm that?

Amy Argetsinger: Ha ha.

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Washington, D.C.: Okay -- can we admit it? We love the idea of four years of gossip reports about the Palin kids? You two must be giddy as can be at the idea of covering Bristol? Perhaps a designated Bristol reporter?

Roxanne Roberts: OMG----the GOP convention has already yielded a dozen great characters. Meghan McCain is the new Jenna, and Palin and her family? Endlessly fascination. Are you jazzed about Bristol's wedding? Can she wear white?

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Wheaton, Md.: Has anyone nailed down the identity of Patrick Kennedy's PDA partner?

Amy Argetsinger: Regrettably, no. I actually saw him the next day in Denver, and I was itching to barge up to him and ask, but he was in the middle of a conversation with a couple of kids about wind power or carbon credits or something like that, and I just couldn't do it.

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Washington, D.C.: You you have a "Political Soulmate?"

Amy Argetsinger: Sadly, still looking.

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Kensington, Md.: Hey Rox, is Bristol showing?

Roxanne Roberts: Haven't spotted her yet,but I expect her and the rest of the sibs on the floor during mom's big speech tonight. My bet? She wears a loose, dark dress that won't reveal much. Darn.

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Arlington, Va.: Did Donnie Fowley make jokes about the hurricane before of after Burning Man? Wondering of there is a relationship between running around naked and saying politically incorrect things.

Amy Argetsinger: Two different D. Fowlers. Don Fowler the elder, who was DNC chair back in the 1990s, is the one who made the politically unwise comments about Gustav; Donnie Fowler, his son (and -- full disclosure, full disclosure -- dear college pal of mine) is the one who split his time last week between the convention and Burning Man. It is my understanding that he is not one of the naked people there, but I'm hoping to go next year and investigate for myself.

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Re: wearing white: Is she old enough to legally marry?

Roxanne Roberts: I think the age of consent in Alaska is 16. Any locals know for sure?

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Arlington, Va.: Wow, that Levi Johnston sounds like a real prize! Is that some sort of work ID photo, or a mugshot? And where can I find someone to give my hubby that happening haircut? And is he or isn't he a high school graduate?

Amy Argetsinger: That's a hockey-team photo of him. Kinda cute, no? His mother did not make it clear whether he has graduated or not yet, just that he's not currently a student. Tell your husband he probably needs to let his hair grow a bit first.

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Eastern Market, Washington, D.C.: How did Kirsten Dunst look? Have not seen her in anything in a while. Met her at a political rally four years ago and she looked great, though if you believe the gossip pages, the past few years have not been good to her. Did she ask about me?

Amy Argetsinger: Yes, she asked about you, as always. She looked pretty good -- loose black clavicle-bearing top, had escaped the VIP pen to dance dance dance with the hoi polloi. Seth Meyers briefly said hello to her, but then I lost him in the crowd and never found him again for the rest of the week. I chatted with an NYC gossip type who derisively referred to her as "Kiki" and said that it's boring how often you see her in NYC, but I was fascinated.

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Re: Political soulmate: Don't worry there's someone out there for everyone, heck, look at Kucinich.

Amy Argetsinger: Dennis and Elizabeth -- they're everyone's inspiration.

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Bethesda, Md.: Did you see what Maureen Dowd called the Bristol scandal?

Broken-watergate.

Hilarious.

washingtonpost.com: Life of Her Party ( The New York Times, Sept. 3)

Amy Argetsinger: Why, that column's just filled with puns and word play. Will have to check it out. I'm still trying to get through last week's papers.

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washingtonpost.com: Levi Johnston ( Us Weekly)

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New York: There are a few things about Sarah Palin that bother me. First off why shoot a moose? Most moose I have seen are friendly and docile enough, now and then a moose will wander into a St. Paul barbershop and it will make the news back east but likely as not that ole moose will just amble right back on out with no harm done.

Roxanne Roberts: Awww. I love moose. (Mooses? Meese?) Kinda big and sweet. But then again, I'm not a hunter. At all.

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Woodbridge, Va.: Young Jeezy? What kind of a name is that? Is there an Old Jeezy?

Amy Argetsinger: One day there will be.

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Meghan McCain?: I hate to disagree with you on Meghan McCain becoming the new Jenna. But does it count when she is TRYING so so so so hard to become the new Jenna? With Jenna, it was just natural and she became a celebrity in spite of her wishes. McCain seems she is craving that attention.

Amy Argetsinger: You raise a good point. Jenna truly is a charisma supernova without even trying. I have a hard time seeing Meghan fill those shoes, in part because it's easier to be a one-name superstar with a name like "Jenna" than with a name like "Meghan." But since Rox got to experience the Meghan charm offensive up close and personal, let's ask her.

Roxanne Roberts: Gotta say Meghan (with my short exposure) is funny, charming, and pretty natural. And a little quirky, which is fun. If McCain becomes president, she'll be news.

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Washington Post Newsroom: Who got to decide who gets to go to each convention? No offense Rox, but it seems you got the short end of this deal. You guys flip a coin, or is Rox just more of a Gatlin Brothers fan than Kanye West?

Amy Argetsinger: The thinking was that Rox is from Minneapolis and therefore would know the terrain. However, I have it on good authority that she took her GPS with her.

I also assumed, like you, that Rox got the short end of this deal, but -- here's a teaser for you -- after hearing about her night last night, I'm already envious and resentful. And she still has two more nights of RNC madness to go!

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Pittsburgh, Pa.: Is Seth Myers as cute in person as he is on SNL? He reportedly visits Pittsburgh from time to time as he has relatives here, but I've never seen him (sniff).

Amy Argetsinger: Cuter in person. Bright eyes, great smile. He doesn't always photograph very well, so it's striking to see him in person. So sorry I lost him in the crowd and never got a chance to say -- well, honestly, I never know what to say to these people. Famous people.

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Marrying young: A pregnant minor can always marry the father of the child.

Roxanne Roberts: Is that really true? Even if she's, like, 13?

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Denver, Colo.: Amy -- Did youe see Jacob Dylan at the convention? And if so, did you ask him endless questions about what he feels everytime he hears "Tangled Up in Blue" on the radio?

Amy Argetsinger: Everyone knows that for Jakob Dylan, listening to "Tangled Up In Blue" or any other song off of "Blood on the Tracks" is a poignant reminder of his parents' divorce. I mean, we all know that, right? I didn't actually see him, though -- that party was attended by my colleague Jose Vargas, who had an unerring knack for being at the best party of the night. (Well, except for that one, maybe -- the place was basically empty when Jakob took the stage.)

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Dupont Circle, D.C.: There was an "article" on Palin's daughter in TMZ with photos of her drinking and another of her holding a shotgun with the title "Palin Daughter Puts the Party in GOP". TMZ has now removed it from their Web site. What gives?

Amy Argetsinger: I didn't know they had removed it. Those were all over the web yesterday. Who knows. Maybe they determined those photos aren't actually Bristol Palin. Maybe they realized that these photos don't look anything different than what every other high school kid in America has in their scrapbook. I mean, really.

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Pennsylvania: When the Palin family was being introduced last Friday, didn't you think it was kind of odd that the baby blanket was used to cover Bristol and not the baby?

Amy Argetsinger: Well, in hindsight, duh, that's what everyone's saying. Nice bit of camouflage. But it seemed to work -- I didn't hear anyone take note of it at the time.

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Hennepin Avenue: Which version do you prefer, Roxanne? The tough and gritty Hennepin Avenue of your youth, which your parents probably told you to stay away from, or the shopping mall it's become today? Frankly, I miss Moby Dick's.

Roxanne Roberts: Driving around Minneapolis is like having an acid flashback. I moved away in 1977, and have never spent more a few hours downtown since. I'm totally impressed by the sophistication of the restaurants, clubs, etc. But I saw that Schiders was boarded up, which made me sad. Wasn't that the place guys went to buy porn?

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Kensington, Md.: If McCain/Palin win, I wonder if Bristol, Levi and spawn will live at the Observatory where grandma can keep an eye on them.

Amy Argetsinger: Hopefully. Meanwhile, can we please not forget that there are FOUR other Palin kids to fixate on? Do you realize how lucky we are? The minute I heard their names on Friday, Track, Bristol, Willow, Piper and Trig instantly filled that gaping Romney Boys-shaped hole in my heart.

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Sarah Palin: OMG we never anticipated D.C. gossip could get this good! What a lucky noon-time-gossip-loving bunch we are

Amy Argetsinger: So lucky.

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Poconos : I want to applaud the Republicans for all the energy they're saving at this convention -- the lack of energy shows!

Amy Argetsinger: Ba-dum BUMP!

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Artic Circle: I would be concerned if Sarah Palin fires the White House chef and starts making moose stew and elk for state dinners.

Amy Argetsinger: I would be concerned if she didn't.

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Anonymous: Roxanne : We miss you ! Signed, Your Cats

Roxanne Roberts: Awww. But this has to be a hoax. My cats would say: "Okay, where the hell ARE you? It's been weeks....okay, days, but we're deprived of back scratching and lap time. You are going to owe us BIG when you get home, sister."

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Anonymous: I heard one joke: A guy goes up to David Letterman and says he has a psychic parrot. The guy asks the parrot "who's going to be the next president" and the parrot screeches "barawk, barawk." Letterman says the act is terrible and throws the guy out. The guy stands outside mumbling to himself "I can't imagine what went wrong", and the parrot then squawks "mccawn?"

Roxanne Roberts:"Macaws for McCain"

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When is a celebrity sighting worth reporting as a celebrity sighting, and when isn't it?: The morning after Ted Kennedy's brain cancer was announced, as I waited in Logan Airport for my flight home I spotted filmmaker Ken Burns striding down the concourse from an incoming flight, cellphone glued to ear. After seeing Burns' video tribute to Kennedy on the Democratic National Convention broadcast last week, I now suspect that Burns had already been contracted to make the video even before Ted's diagnosis, then was been summoned immediately to Boston to videograph Kennedy's hospital departure, discuss possible changes of plans in the video's content, etc.

It never occurred to me at the time that this sighting (in Boston, mind you) might have been worth mentioning to the Reliable Source, however. Should I have?

Amy Argetsinger: No, your instincts were correct. The best sightings are sightings that tell us something new or interesting -- "who knew Renee Zellweger was in town?"... "who knew Ben Bernanke does his own grocery shopping?"... "who knew R. Kelly liked the Cheesecake Factory?"... "why is George Stephanopoulos walking down the street without his shoes?" Whereas your sighting, when you had it, would only served to demonstrate that Ken Burns continued to exist that day. Especially when you consider that he lives in NH, and Boston is probably the closest international airport for him.

BUT! There's nothing wrong with reporting these sightings, however banal, to us and letting us do the thinking. reliablesource@washpost.com.

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Duck and cover: Isn't the last thing we need a VP who hunts?

At least we know that Cheney's supplying the shotgun for the wedding...

Amy Argetsinger: Ba-dum BUMP! You guys are doing okay today, btw. Staying within the lines, for the most part.

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Wait! Wait!: Rox, have you and Amy Dickinson ever appeared on "Wait! Wait! Don't Tell Me" at the same time? (I.e., do you know her?). I saw in the NYT where just married a guy she'd known since her youth in upstate New York, who she reconnected with last year when she went back to take care of her mom. So sweet!

Roxanne Roberts: Amy and I have been a few shows together. She's smart, funny and adorable, and I met Bruno at "Wait Wait's" anniversary show. (Quiet, sweet. He built a porch for her. I couldn't go to the wedding, but I'm thrilled for both of them.

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New York, N.Y.: Have we confirmed that Sarah Palin was a beauty contest winner? There was someone yesterday claiming she had won instead, but shall I presume this other woman turned out to be a publicity seeker?

Amy Argetsinger: Sarah Palin was Miss Wasilla in 1984 and came in second (not bad!) in the Miss Alaska pageant.

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Washington, D.C.: Marrying young: A pregnant minor can always marry the father of the child.

Roxanne Roberts: Is that really true? Even if she's, like, 13?

No, it's not true. Each state has its own laws on the subject. Alaska's law is AS 25.05.171.

16-18 - need parental consent. 14-18 - need parental consent or court approval.

Roxanne Roberts: Gov. Palin probably knew that already.

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Cleveland Park, Washington, D.C.: I'm wondering who among John McCain's children will join him onstage at the conclusion of the convention. We hear lots about Meghan McCain but doesn't he have other children, and some by his first wife?

Roxanne Roberts: All seven kids are in the Twin Cities---three from his first marriage to Carol, and four with Cindy. My understanding they will all be at the convention---probably all on stage---for tomorrow's acceptance speech.

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Bethesda, Md.: So, what's the inside scoop on all these Palin/Palin boyfriend MySpace pages being taken down. I didn't see them but heard there was plenty of naughty goings on pictured there.

Amy Argetsinger: The NY tabs eyeballed Levi's MySpace page before it evaporated, and I don't think they held back on the details. Some minor high-school vulgarity. Nothing that would shock anyone who knows an 18-year-old. He also professed to love camping and dirt-biking and says he doesn't want kids -- shocker! Like, what 18-year-old guy does?

There were also some MySpace-ish/Facebook-ish party photos supposedly of Bristol circulating on some of the gossip websites, but again, only a hypocrite or a serious prude would find anything shocking. She's seen smiling and holding liquor bottles, and also one posing with another girl, one of them sticking her tongue out. (This being the one that allegedly showed hot girl-on-girl action. Come on.)

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Duluth, Minn.: Is it true that there is a house of worship on every corner in St. Paul but all the bars are filled with Republicans ?

Roxanne Roberts: Haven't been inside a church this week---but I can tell you the bars are packed.

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Palin, of course: I feel like there's a double standard in the coverage of mishaps for Ds and Rs. What do you ladies think? I'm just saying that if Chelsea had gotten pregnant in high school I imagine it would have been hugely scandalous, but Bristol is just a young women who messed up and everyone seems to be very understanding. What gives?

Amy Argetsinger: Hard to say. This is the first time a prominent national politician's child has gotten (visibly, publicly) pregnant as an unwed teenager. We have to remember that this is a young woman whose mother was not nationally famous a week ago, who was not even regionally famous a year and a half ago. This has got to be hard for her. A lot of the coverage and the blog speculation has been cruel and tasteless.

Double standards exist on both sides. Some Democrats will trash a Republican for the same behavior that they will defend or downplay in a fellow Democrat; some Republicans will trash a Democrat for the same behavior that they will defend or downplay in a fellow Republican.

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I couldn't go to the wedding: Rox, you mean you were invited to Amy Dickinson's wedding? I am so envious.

Roxanne Roberts: What can I say? Who knew "Wait Wait" would make me an insider? I feel so....cool, in a public radio kind of way.

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Bridgeport, Conn.: I have a message for you gossip mongers. Lay off politicians children. You laid off Chelsea Clinton when she was at Stanford, lay off Bristol Palin she is a private citizen, who is being forced to grow up before she wanted too. This only came to light because of the hateful blog Daily Kos and their hateful and vile posts. Saying that Bristol was the mother of Trig and not her mother. So lay off

Amy Argetsinger: The Daily Kos stuff was hateful and, as it turns out, very wrong. But I think we all -- the public, the media, the Republicans and the Democrats -- are all still grappling with how to deal with the news that is true and was soon to be undeniable, whether it was announced or not: The fact that for the first time, a candidate for national office has a daughter who is about to become a teenage mother.

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22nd and K: re: "Alaska's law is AS 25.05.171.

16-18 - need parental consent. 14-18 - need parental consent or court approval."

So they took out the line reading, "and shotgun." Now that's what I call reform.

Roxanne Roberts: New slogan? "Consenting Minors for McCain."

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Cubeland, D.C.: I know that children are off-limits, but I am a health professional so I have to ask: what has happened to Bridget McCain? She has had some serious, serious weight gain in the past few months. Her mom Cindy is looking skinnier by the minute. You'd think that someone would reach out to help the poor kid. Or was the picture on TV last night just a little off?

Roxanne Roberts: Only caught a glimpse of Bridget, but she looked okay to me. Maybe she gained a little weight, but nothing I'm going to write about. Tough enough being a teenager and the daughter of the nominee.

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New trend?: Do you think the upcoming Bristol Palin -- Levi Johnston nuptials auger a new trend in teenaged marriages?

Amy Argetsinger: We'll see if they inspire Jamie Lynn and Casey to actually walk the aisle.

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Waldorf, Md.:"The fact that for the first time, a candidate for national office has a daughter who is about to become a teenage mother"

Hmmm...I wonder if that is correct, all the way back to the beginning of the Republic? Maybe some history nuts out there can weigh in.

Amy Argetsinger: Hopefully! I'm sure I'm wrong, but I'd rather bait someone else into doing the research for me.

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Hartford, Conn.: Hi ladies. Do you know if Levi Johnston has a job if he is not a student? Also, did you notice Laura Bush wore a white suit on Labor Day. Was she pushing the envelope? Thanks.

Amy Argetsinger: Not a whole lot is known about Levi Johnston, except that until recently he was a high school student.

I think the rule is that you're not supposed to wear white AFTER Labor Day -- and I made a point of wearing white yesterday. Well, I didn't make a point, it's just that that was what was clean. Actually, it wasn't very clean at all, but...

My point, and I do have one, is that isn't it really a rule about not wearing white SHOES after Labor Day? Because you often see the ladies who lunch wearing "winter white," and that seems to be okay.

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Dallas, TX: Will Robin Givhan have a take on Sarah Palin? First order of business: Get rid of the chip clip...

Amy Argetsinger: Hope so.

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Chicago, Ill.: Given the rampant Internet speculation, should Sarah Palin release a few medical records to prove she is the mother of Trig?

Amy Argetsinger: No, I think that's kind of ridiculous.

Roxanne Roberts: At this point, I think we have to accept her word for it.

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Hollywood, Fla.: What delegation has the wackiest people? Are there any foods that are a Minnesota specialty and have you sampled any yet?

Roxanne Roberts: I got here too late to attend the Minnesota State Fair (loved it as a kid.) One my my colleagues went and had----wait for it----fried spaghetti and meatballs on a stick. Awesome.

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Kensington, Md: Wouldn't it seem a little biased if Robin Givhan wrote about the chip clip and eyeliner of Palin but not the wrinkly pleated khakis of Biden?

Amy Argetsinger: Oh, she'll probably get to that too.

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Dumb question: What's a "chip clip"?

Roxanne Roberts: That plastic thingy on the back of hair holding it in place.

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Washington, DC: Far more important than whether this is the first time that a VP candidate had a teenaged mom is that we -- for the first time -- have a VP candidate who will be breast-feeding a newborn in the White House and vice president's Residence! That is revolutionary!

Democrats can dig all the so-called dirt they want and take nasty digs at Gov. Palin's family, but the thought of a working mom as the second most powerful person in the world gives me goosebumps.

Amy Argetsinger: I think we can all agree: Palin is a fascinating news story.

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Richmond, Va.: Sarah Palin will have to release all of her medical records once she is the official VP nominee.

Roxanne Roberts: Well, there you go.

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Roxanne Roberts: Guys----duty calls. Amy can stick around a few more minutes, but St. Paul is calling. Pray for me.

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Bristol, U.S.: The problem with "laying off" Bristol (who I feel terribly for) is that her "situation" is intertwined with her mother and McCain's polictical views -- abortion, abstinence only education, etc. If she was arrested for a DUI, I think most people would agree -- private family issue, but here, you have someone saying that her daughter chose to keep the child, while she believes that no one has the choice, so here, the line's a bit shadier.

Amy Argetsinger: I don't think anyone's saying we have to ignore the Bristol-is-pregnant story. It's unavoidable! (And given that everyone knew this had to come out sooner or later, if I were a GOP strategist, I think I would have recommended that it be announced on Friday along with the rest of her bio, all casual-like: "She's the mother of five, and she's about to become a grandmother!" You know, just own it.) And it's good to use any excuse to get the candidates to elucidate their stands on these topics. Have McCain and Palin really been staunch advocates of abstinence-only, or have they just said carefully shaded statements that will please certain audiences without making any commitments?

But let's please avoid any discussion of what if any protection this teen couple -- WHO ARE NOT THE ONES RUNNING FOR OFFICE -- did or did not use, and let's stop snickering over behavior that's fairly ordinary for any other teenagers.

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Kensington, Md.: OK Amy, Roxanne is gone. Tell us a little more about this party!

Amy Argetsinger: Hey, I'm stuck in D.C., picking up rumors and whispers about her activities last night. I'm still waiting for her to tell me!

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Presidents' Kids having Kids...: Franklin Pierce's daughter Mildred was 15 when she gave birth to her son Paul. Mildred was a famous party girl of her era, sort of like Jenna Bush but without the fashion sense; she mostly wore faded espadrilles and shapeless frocks.

Okay, I made all this up...

Amy Argetsinger: You really had me going there for a second.

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Anonymous: I blew off an appointment with my cardiologist for this chat and all we're gonna talk about is an unwed mother from Alaska ?

Amy Argetsinger: Hey, it was up to you to introduce some other topics. We were waiting for you.

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Pleated Khaki's?: Wait, Biden wore pleated Khaki's?

That's it, I'm voting Republican.

Amy Argetsinger: Let me just stipulate that I have not studied Sen. Biden's khakis, nor any other leg-covering choice of his, and I cannot vouch for the earlier chatter's assertion that his khakis are pleated or wrinkled or otherwise. Waiting for Ms. Givhan to hold forth.

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Baltimore, Md.: All those pleading to "leave Bristol alone" should train their guns on the McCain campaign, which came out and pleaded for her privacy only a few minutes after sending out a press release announcing her pregnancy. (All credit to Dana Milbank for pointing this out.)

Amy Argetsinger: Yes, but... don't you think they HAD to announce her pregnancy sooner or later? I vote sooner.

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Anonymous: Amy : Does this mean we can dish dirt on Roxanne ?

Amy Argetsinger: Yes.

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Cindy's father's other family: Will any of Cindy McCain's half-relatives be on stage in St. Paul?

Amy Argetsinger: If only.

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Jamie Lynn and Casey: At one point Jamie Lynn and Casey were planning to get married. Who says that Bristol and Levi will actually take the vows?

Amy Argetsinger: Everyone's still got "plans," as far as I know. I vote for a double wedding live on Oprah's show.

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Mildred Pierce: Was the title of a really great Joan Crawford movie. I want to think that the poster actually knew that.....

Amy Argetsinger: At least subliminally. That is indeed a great movie. Poor Mildred, working so hard to make her daughter Veda happy, getting no gratitude in return.

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Jill Biden: I am still in awe of Jill Biden. Man, she looks fabulous for her age. Has she taken a leave of absence from teaching for the fall?

Amy Argetsinger: We're almost 99 percent sure you will not be able to get into her class at the community college this fall.

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Gossip Party: I vote we start the Gossip Party and we will vote for those who will provide the most entertainment during their time in office. The pandering to the Gossip Party alone would worth whipping up a logo.

Amy Argetsinger: Finally, someone who has their priorities straight. Thank you. And now, Roxanne is off to chase more crazy crazy GOP merriment in her gorgeous party dresses, while it's back to the salt mines for me. I feel just like Mildred Pierce.

Please join us again here next week -- same time, same place -- but stay in touch all week long at reliablesource@washpost.com.

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