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Sarah Palin told the media this week she would consider a White House bid in 2012 if God wanted her to run. That news prompted some interesting feedback in the globeandmail.com comment threads, including one from the self-identified God Almighty, from Montreal, who said. "It is not my will."
Whether this pronouncement was the sign the Alaska Governor was looking for remains to be seen. There was a definite revivalist feel to the week as Ms. Palin made the rounds with interviews on Fox News and an appearance at the Republican Governors Association. She defended herself and vowed to support President-elect Barack Obama. Once again, globeandmail.com's weekly Top-10 video list had a distinctive Palin feel to it.
1. Sarah Palin fires back (Associated Press), 18,379 views
Videos
Alaska Gov. called her critics cowards and jerks Friday for deriding her anonymously and insisted she never asked for the expensive wardrobe purchased for her.
Former Republican vice presidential candidate talks with Greta Van Susteren on Fox News
CBC journalist recounts kidnapping ordeal
Mellissa Fung kept repeating to herself that 'Dying is not an option' during the 28 days of her captivity in Afghanistan
Obama arrives at the White House
President-elect and his wife, Michelle, have arrived at the White House for a visit, his first since last week's landslide election victory.
Russian-born Svetlana Pankratova shows off her 1.32 metre-long legs at a ceremony in New York ahead of Guinness World Records week.
General Rick Hillier (Ret.) has earned a reputation for passion and urgency during a career that spanned more than 30 years. His determination to succeed led to his appointment to the highest ranking position in Canada's military.
President Bush's dog wasn't much in the mood for friendly attention during his walk outside the White House on Thursday
The pastor of a Dallas-area church says he will challenge his married congregants during his sermon Sunday to have sex for seven straight days, and he plans to practise what he preaches.
Quebec duo pull prank on Palin
The Masked Avengers, notorious for prank calls to celebrities and heads of state, notched its latest victory Saturday when it released a recording of a six-minute call with Palin, who thought she was talking with Nicolas Sarkozy.
A South Florida chimpanzee has new friends--two tiger cubs. The chimp helps give the cubs a bottle and regularly sleeps and plays with them.
The Pomegranate phone was part of a unique marketing campaign by the Nova Scotia government to draw newcomers to the province. Too bad it isn't real.
The interest in all things Palin continues. The Alaska Governor spoke to reporters in her home state and lashed out at the critics. She defended her knowledge of the African continent (she can't see it from her house), and choice in clothes (she just wore the wardrobe they gave her) and called the unnamed sources within the McCain camp "cowards" for leaking the allegations in the first place.
2. Palin sits down with Fox News (Associated Press), 13,945 views
See above. If it is God's will, Ms. Palin will make a run for the White House in 2012.
3. CBC reporter recounts kidnapping (Canadian Press), 9,015 views
Mellissa Fung told the harrowing tale of her month-long captivity in Afghanistan this week. It was the only interview she planned to give on the ordeal. She spoke in detail about her kidnapping that happened on Oct. 12 as she was leaving a refugee camp outside Kabul. She revealed she was stabbed in the shoulder, faked illness to speed along negotiations and kept repeating to herself that 'dying is not an option.'
4. Obama arrives at the White House (Associated Press), 5,723
To be a fly on the wall. Barack Obama had his first meeting with George W. Bush at the White House. By all accounts it was a lengthy chat, with much time spent discussing the war in Iraq, Afghanistan and domestic security.
5. High stepping (Associated Press), 5,351 views
Russian-born Svetlana Pankratova walked off with the title of World's Longest Legs according to the Guinness Book of World Records. Ms. Pankratova showed off her 1.32 metre-long gams at a ceremony in New York. It's not a stretch to say the Russian's limbs have caused her some trouble over the years finding clothes that fit, and cars she can sit in etc. Rest assured that she took the attention and recognition in stride.
6. The Rules: Rick Hillier (Globe and Mail), 4,776 views
The Rules is a weekly feature on reportonbusiness.com in which noted leaders discuss their path to success. In this episode, General Rick Hillier (Ret.), talks about leadership on the front lines. Hillier earned a reputation for passion and urgency, and enjoyed the support of his soldiers. Watch the video and find out why.
7. Barney bites reporter (Associated Press), 4,175 views
What's a dog to do? Barney, George W. Bush's Scottish Terrier, just had enough with the reporters always wanting a pet and a photo op. Sometimes you just need your space, you know? Barney snapped and nipped the finger of a White House hack, breaking skin and requiring treatment. For more on Barney, see his official White House web site .
8. On the seventh day... (Associated Press), 4,121
A late addition to the weekly list. A Texas preacher tells the married members of his flock to go forth and multiply, sort of. In telling his married congregants to have sex for seven consecutive days, he gained international attention. It's a bizarre pronouncement that has no real ecclesiastical basis (40 days and 40 nights it is not). The man of the cloth predicted that his church would be the "happiest" on the planet. That remains to be seen. Strangest, perhaps.
9. Quebec duo pull prank on Palin (Canadian Press), 3,863 views
The video of the prank pulled on Sarah Palin by Quebec's Masked Avengers refuses to go away. It may fall out of the top-10 before her 2012 run for President (God willing).
10. Best friends (Associated Press), 3,514
The feel good video of the week. Two Siberian tiger cubs are befriended by a chimpanzee who cuddles them, feeds them with a bottle and generally treats them like stuffed little toys. Beyond cute. It should be required watching after any Sarah Palin video.
Honourable mention
Fake phone furor (Canadian Press), 3,086 views
The Nova Scotia government came out with a web site advertising the Pomegranate, a do-everything phone that sounds too good to be true, because it wasn't... real. The viral campaign was slick and well-produced but it fell on a largely unaware public unsure of its intent. Check out the website here
