Nyuk-nyuk-nyuk. Freeping iz FUN!

What to think when the voting and the comments don't line up in an online poll? Is the poll at The Spec asking whether people would pay to hear Sarah Palin being freeped?

Yup.

Here's the managing editor on the matter:

Wondering about the numbers behind the percentages in our Sarah Palin poll? To the question "Would you pay to hear Sarah Palin speak", 1,252 respondents (31.2%) said yes as of Satruday evening. But 2,887 respondents (69.7%) voted no.

The controversy over Palin's visit is driving Spectator web traffic to unusually high levels, and tracking software suggests much of that traffic is coming from outside Canada, a rough indicator of how passionate people are on the subject of the former Alaska governor and possible Republican candidate in the next U.S. presidential election.Visit Have Your Say to join the lively discussion.

-- Howard Elliott, Managing Editor

Currently (about 10:30 a.m.), about 71% say they would not pay to hear her, 29% would.

And while Palinistas have invaded the comments, sentiment there is strongly against her visit to Hamilton.

'Sarah Palin to speak at a fundraiser for a socialist Canadian hospital'

I swiped that hilarious headline from a blogpost at Think Progress. It links to a story in the Hamilton Spectator, in which a fundraiser gushes over his 'coup' in getting the Quitbull to help his cause.

I guess Think Progress ran out of room because it should have read 'Sarah Palin to speak at a fundraiser for a socialist, abortion-loving, Canadian hospital with death panels'.

Think Progress elaborates:

– St. Peter’s Hospital is a public hospital within the national Canadian healthcare system. In Palin’s worldview, universal, government-insured health care is “socialism.”

– St. Peter’s Hospital performs abortions. Palin, a staunch anti-choice zealot, has protested outside of abortion clinics and has refused to denounce abortion clinic bombers as terrorists.

– St. Peter’s Hospital, through its Centre for Studies in Aging, offers “advanced directives.” Palin tried to derail health reform earlier this year by falsely labeling advanced directive reimbursements as “death panels.”

Why on earth would Sarah compromise her principles for such an unholy outfit?

Oh.

In any case, the Spectator reports that Palin is being paid “around the ballpark” of $200,000 for the speech, the going rate for a Palin appearance. Organizers hope to sell 1,000 tickets at $200 a plate, but raise more from selling photos with her.

UPDATE: Uh-oh. Judging from the Spectator's poll, an appearance by Palin might not be such a ring-tailed doozy of a notion. You can also comment on the Spec's blog here.


Screen shot at 2:25 p.m.

MORE UPPITY-DATE: Crap. The freepers are on it.

Screen shot at 8 p.m.