Sarah Palin and Glenn Beck: 2012 Dream Ticket?

Sarah Palin isn't ruling out the possibility of running for president in 2012 with Fox News host Glenn Beck as her running mate.

The former Alaska governor and 2008 Republican vice-presidential candidate has said she has not ruled out the idea of making a presidential bid in '12. In an interview with the right-leaning Web site Newsmax, Palin also declined to give an unqualified "no" to the idea of a Palin/Beck ticket.

"I can envision a couple of different combinations, if ever I were to be in a position to really consider running for anything in the future, and I'm not there yet," Palin told Newsmax.

Fox News itself picked up on the Newsmax interview, and, when Palin went on the morning program "Fox & Friends" to plug her book this week, the network decided to see if the idea of Beck as a running mate had taken further root in Palin's mind.

"What are the chances that you'll run on a ticket with Fox's own Glenn Beck, as was reported earlier this week?" host Gretchen Carlson asked the former governor.

"I saw that, I saw that; he probably got a kick out of that," Palin said. "It was just a hoot, too, to hear such a thing. I don't know. We'll see, we'll see."

Courtesy of Politico, here's video of the exchange.



Palin, who has appeared on Beck's program numerous times, was Beck's first guest when his show moved from CNN's Headline News to Fox News. Judging from their past encounters, the two personalities would seem to share a governing philosophy.

What the Hottest Prime Time Jobs Really Pay

Between the clever quips, the incessant cleavage, and the convenient storeroom sex, this year's fall TV lineup makes a day at the office look nothing short of a college frat party. But anyone who's worked as a nurse, publishing assistant, or criminal investigator will tell you that the TV version of their job is far racier than the reality.

To set the record straight, we asked workers in the trenches what TV's hottest prime time shows get wrong about their jobs. We also dug up what these positions actually pay (hint: often less than their fictional counterparts) and how stiff the competition is, especially in today's tricky job market.


"CSI."
Hopeful crime scene investigators may be disappointed to learn that the job is 70 percent paperwork, homicides aren't the only crimes CSIs pursue, and much of the technology depicted on TV either doesn't exist or isn't in most department budgets, says Brian Stampfl, one of six CSI detectives with Seattle's police department. What's more, he says, CSIs are on call 24/7: "When the call comes in at 2:00 a.m., we have to go." Still, the competition is exceptionally stiff, Stampfl says, mainly because it's such a coveted, low-turnover gig. In Seattle, hopeful CSIs must first work the streets as a police officer -- a position that has a rigorous application, testing, and training process -- before applying anew for a CSI slot. And as the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) points out, application processes and qualifications can vary among states, municipalities, and police agencies.

Detective or criminal investigator, median annual salary: $54,304.

"Ugly Betty."
Other than the soap opera dramatics, this show's depiction of the New York fashion magazine world is actually "pretty true to life," says writer and editor Melissa Walker, who's spent a decade in the trenches with publications like Glamour and Teen Vogue. "Promotions happen from within, connected people get jobs, and crazies abound," she says. Assistants with good ideas do move up quickly, she adds, as long as they can fetch coffee and dry cleaning like nobody's business, keep their boss's schedule up to date, and store "a stellar pair of heels" under their desk in case of an unexpected party. Walker's biggest beef with the show: economics. "Be really, really happy if you have a starting salary above $25,000," she says. Another thing the show misses: how volatile the industry's become. According to MediaFinder, 525 magazines folded in 2008, and 279 folded during the first half of 2009. In other words, expect competition for entry-level gigs to be stiff.

Magazine editor, median annual salary: $50,488


"Law & Order."
In the real world, working as a district attorney is far less glamorous than on TV, says Dallas attorney Clinton David, who got his start in a DA's office and is now managing shareholder of a 21-lawyer firm. "It's really file pushing," he says. "You get a stack of 30 a day and you triage." As for all those cases ripped from the headlines, don't expect to work on them, David says: "The majority of the time you'll be handling DUIs and domestic disturbances." Closing arguments are far more exciting in your living room, too. In real life, he says, they're nothing more than dry, lengthy recaps. And those defendants who wilt under grueling cross-examination and confess on the stand? "That just doesn't happen," David says. Because being a DA is a big burnout position, turnover is high, he says. Still, according to the BLS, competition is tight for law school spots and legal positions.

Government attorney, median annual salary: $88,080.


"Grey's Anatomy," "HawthoRNe," and "Nurse Jackie."
Donna Jeskey, a registered nurse turned nurse practitioner who's worked in a New Jersey ER for 10 years, has a few bones to pick with these shows. "They portray all the newbie nurses as dumb," she says. "It's as if they didn't learn anything in nursing school." In reality, Jeskey says, even green RNs hit the ground running. Plus, the whole doctor-as-god thing is blown out of proportion on TV. "Nowadays it's almost an even playing field," Jeskey says. "I refer to all the doctors by their first names -- not 'Yes, Doctor; I'll be right there, Doctor.'" Then there's the matter of breaking the rules in the name of saving patients. "There are policies. You can't just do whatever you want," Jeskey says. As for the job outlook, nursing remains a good bet, despite the recession. According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, the country's still suffering from a nursing shortage.

Registered nurse, median annual salary: $52,143.

When is Dark Makeup Art?

When the producers of "America's Next Top Model" decided to make up its contestants to represent various ethnic groups, we here at StyleList were taken aback.

While it wasn't the first time this sort of thing has occurred on the show, we saw this editorial challenge as borderline blackface - it seemed to recall a historical form of entertainment rooted in the demeaning and inaccurate portrayal of African Americans.

But in a poll taken by more then 20,000 StyleList readers, 53 percent considered the "America's Next Top Model" images to be "a beautiful celebration of biracial women." A significant number of readers - who identified themselves as women of color - did not find it offensive. In fact, they thought it was more offensive to label it as blackface.

"ANTM" host Tyra Banks recently apologized if she offended anyone, but said she was proud of the show and felt it celebrated bi-racial women. Coincidentally, two prominent fashion magazines – French Vogue and V – have also featured white models painted in dark makeup.

What is really going on here?

The photo shoots have garnered mixed reactions from editors, makeup artists and scholars: Is it offensive for white models to wear dark makeup? Is it new racism? Or is it an artistic statement in a multicultural world?

"The first images I saw were from French Vogue and I hesitated to call it blackface," said Robin Givhan, fashion editor of The Washington Post, "because that refers to a "cruel, nasty and rude form of mockery and I don't think that was the intent."

Blackface arose in the 1830s as a theatrical device used in minstrel shows, variety acts in which white and black actors would paint their faces black with burnt cork or shoe polish, exaggerate their lips and don wooly wigs.

Givhan believes that it's a sign of the times that people feel more comfortable playing with images that refer to race. But she points out that when "it comes from an industry that is hurtful and dismissive it comes across as suspect." (The American modeling industry has long been criticized for a lack of models of color.)

The concept of painting models in full body, black makeup isn't new to the fashion industry -- Italian Vogue did it to critical acclaim in 2006, and designers Viktor and Rolf painted themselves, and their models, for their Fall 2001 "Black Hole" fashion show. Celebrity makeup artist Sam Fine, whose clients include Halle Berry, Tyra Banks, Iman and Naomi Campbell, sees it simply as art.

"I think we're very sensitive to these models being painted darker, but clearly they weren't trying to make them black," he said of the recent instances. "It doesn't speak to our blackness."

Fine dubs it as "makeup noir," and contends that if he were a fashion editor doing a similar photo shoot he would not cast a black woman.

"I would make sure to cast a girl with clear eyes and European features – it adds contrast to show off the art and the juxtaposition," said Fine. "Fashion is all about stories. I don't see it as something more than a spread of interesting hair and makeup."

But where some see art, others spy passive racism.

Dr. Yaba Blay, an assistant professor of Africana Studies at Lafayette College, argues that "we don't have the ability to desensitize ourselves on the historical legacy of blackface."

"I would place this in the guise of new racism," said Dr. Blay. "Whereas, the old racism was blatant with the Tom, Coon, and shuckin' and jivin', new racism works in a way that depends on these controlling images, but it remixes it."

V Magazine's "Beauty 2010" feature with model Sasha Pivovarova dipped in dark makeup embracing clearly pale model Heidi Mount reminded the professor of the 1991 United Colors of Benetton ad titled "Angel and Devil."

Michelle Obama Stuns in Strapless Gown at State Dinner

Last night's most coveted ticket was no doubt an invite to the Obamas' first state dinner.

As the hostess of the annual affair, Michelle Obama stunned in a sterling silver sequin abstract floral, one-of-a-kind nude gown by Naeem Khan -- the designer created the dress especially for the India-themed event. (The honored guests of the evening were Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his wife Gursharan Kaur.)

While Mrs. O accessorized elegantly with a color-coordinated wrap, stack of silver and gold churis (traditional Indian bangles) and dramatic shoulder-dusting earrings with fleur-de-lis detail and gold and purple stones, it was the strapless silhouette paired with her swept-back hair that really caught our eye.

MO's state dinner ensemble has fashion insiders applauding her social know-how.

"The nice thing about it is the Jackie Kennedy sort of appropriateness. Most people wouldn't know one way or another about Naeem's background, but if one sentence gets mentioned to the prime minister, then her subtleness would pay off," Hal Rubenstein, fashion director at InStyle magazine, told Associated Press.

As for President Obama, who has had a snafu or two with fashion (er, mom jeans anyone?), Rubenstein approves. "I often feel Obama's suits are too big on him, but I think he got a new tux."

Michelle Obama's highly scrutinized sartorial choices have clearly influenced the fashion industry, too. One of her favorite designers recently took home the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund prize.

Couple Crashed Obama State Dinner

Pair Reportedly Are Aspiring Reality TV Stars

Crashing a state dinner at the White House apparently takes a security breakdown as well as some kind of nerve.

The Secret Service is looking into its own security procedures after determining that a Virginia couple, Michaele and Tareq Salahi, managed to slip into Tuesday night's state dinner at the White House even though they were not on the guest list, agency spokesman Ed Donovan said.

An initial finding indicated that a checkpoint did not follow proper procedures to ensure the two were on the guest list, Donovan said.

President Barack Obama was never in any danger because the party crashers went through the same security screening for weapons as the 300-plus people actually invited to the dinner honoring Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Donovan said.
Donovan confirmed the identities of the couple. The Washington Post, which first reported on their evening out, said the Salahis were well-known in the Virginia horse-country set and were being considered for the Bravo reality TV show "Real Housewives of D.C."

In an interview with the "CBS Early Show" in September, Michaele Salahi said, "President Obama has made it very accessible for anyone to visit the White House, so that's like a big thing right now."

The CBS interview was part of a segment on potential candidates for "Real Housewives of D.C." but never was aired.
The Secret Service learned about the security breach Wednesday after a media inquiry prompted by the Salahis' online boasts about having attended the private event, Donovan said.

One of the many photos from the dinner posted on Michaele Salahi's Facebook page shows the couple with a smiling Vice President Joe Biden. In other photos, they appear alone or together with White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, Washington Mayor Adrian Fenty, CBS News anchor Katie Couric, Rep. Ed Royce, R-Calif., and three Marines in their dress blues.
Donovan would not comment on whether the couple had been contacted by the Secret Service, how long they were on the White House grounds or other details of the investigation.

The Post said uninvited guests who got in could face a potential trespassing charge unless someone from inside the White House staff slipped them in.

Donovan would not comment on possible legal violations.

The agency's Office of Professional Responsibility was reviewing what occurred. An initial finding indicated that a checkpoint did not follow proper procedures to ensure the two were on the guest list, Donovan said.

"It's important to note that they went through all the security screenings — the magnetometer screening — just like all the other guests did," Donovan said. And, he added, Obama and others under Secret Service protection had their usual security details with them at the dinner.

Star Jones Spars With 'Brangelina' Scribe

We're guessing there's a pretty good chance that writer Ian Halperin won't be stopping by Star Jones' house for some Thanksgiving dessert after a heated standoff on 'The Insider' on Tuesday night. Halperin, who was on the show to discuss his new book about Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt titled 'Brangelina: The Untold Story of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie,' caught the brunt of Star's anger when she began questioning his writing style and ethics. After calling Halperin and his writing "sleazy," Halperin shot back that he wasn't going to "spar with Star, because I'll knock her out in a heartbeat." Can't we all just get along, guys?

Surprise: Your Biological Father May Be Charles Manson

At some point, every adopted child wonders about his biological parents. Did I get my athletic abilities from my birth mom? Did my birth dad have these brown eyes?

In one particularly stunning case, Matthew Roberts of Los Angeles found out -- to his horror -- that he very well could be the son of convicted murderer Charles Manson.

Roberts, 41, started looking for his roots 12 years ago. Through a social service agency, he located his biological mother in Wisconsin.

She revealed that Manson might be his father. She claims she met the Helter Skelterite in 1967 -- two years before the infamous Manson Family murders -- and was raped by Manson in a drug-fueled orgy. After seeing Roberts' photo, she was convinced he is Manson's son.

Roberts was born March 22, 1968. The time line fits. Manson was released from prison March 21, 1967. He was arrested again Oct. 12, 1969. Any children he fathered near Roberts' age would have to have been conceived during that window.

Manson doesn't deny he might have children no one knows about.

"Every time I get out, I get a woman and a kid, and then she runs off," he said in a typically rambling interview for the 1989 documentary "Charles Manson, Superstar."
"Then the kid shows up 20, 30 years later, fat and acting like his mother."

There is no hard, scientific evidence linking Roberts to Manson. He has only his biological mother's word and recollection as well as a resemblance to the killer.

Roberts notices the resemblance himself. "If I get worked up, my eyes get really big and that's really freaked some people out before," he tells the British newspaper The Sun.

"I've tried to tone that down quite a bit. I don't like having that effect on people," he adds. "I don't even like the fact that I'm big. It makes me even scarier. My hero is Gandhi. I'm an extremely nonviolent, peaceful person and a vegetarian.

"I don't even kill bugs."

Roberts grew up in Rockford, Ill. and tells The Sun he has exchanged some letters with Manson. The killer has even sent him his prison phone number. However, he doesn't want to meet Manson personally.

"I didn't want to believe it," he says. "I was frightened and angry. It's like finding out that Adolf Hitler is your father. I'm a peaceful person - trapped in the face of a monster."