Still crazy after all these months
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CBS has (exclusive! behind the scenes!) emails between Sarah Palin and John McCain's chief stagiest, Steve Schmidt.
The emails, from the final three weeks of the Presidential campaign, chronicle Palin's discovery and reaction to allegations that her husband, Todd, belonged to the Alaska Independence Party, which advocated separating Alaska from the United States. Palin wanted to respond to the stories, while Schimdt wanted to ignore it. Back and forth ensues, yada yada yada.
What's interesting is that these were leaked now, eight months after the election. Somebody on the Republican really doesn't like Palin.
The emails, from the final three weeks of the Presidential campaign, chronicle Palin's discovery and reaction to allegations that her husband, Todd, belonged to the Alaska Independence Party, which advocated separating Alaska from the United States. Palin wanted to respond to the stories, while Schimdt wanted to ignore it. Back and forth ensues, yada yada yada.
What's interesting is that these were leaked now, eight months after the election. Somebody on the Republican really doesn't like Palin.
Posted by brandonb at 9:00 AM on July 2nd 2009
That's just it, isn't it? It was not her candidacy -- it was McCain's, or more charitably, the ticket. In those final weeks, there was an impression that she was promoting herself at McCain's expense -- which the press seemed only too happy to oblige. These emails show a preoccupation with herself, and not a consideration of the larger ticket, in that she could not follow instruction/advice, preferring to direct the action herself. (And in that, her approach was completely wrong, and Schmidt's absolutely right, I'd say. That distinction of independence not meaning, you know, independence only invites the campaign to get sidetracked completely.)
So yeah. The timing of the leak is interesting. There's the possible long-term damage for 2012, but is the aim perhaps to block her for the now-vacant seat of the Republican Governors' Association? To keep her marginalized and off the national stage?
As to the timing if the leak, there's been talk of Palin should do after being Governor, so I think this was about just reminding everyone that's she not a good politician.
Good point, Tehanu. I'm sure that by the next cycle, there'll be some other labels in place for 'renegade' and 'outsider', which are already past their Best By dates.