http://www.politicalfilter.com/content/frontpage/comments/still-crazy-after-all-these-months/ 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. en-us brandonb Copyright 2009 2009-07-02T;14:00:31+00:00 http://www.politicalfilter.com/content/member/90/ (Didn't know about the chairmanship. Thanks.) 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.
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.]]> Thu, 02 Jul 09 20:23:40 +0000 http://www.politicalfilter.com/content/member/80/ Interesting that the establishment of her own party is against her.I'm skeptical it will damage her popularity though. In fact it might just help her. Thu, 02 Jul 09 16:41:48 +0000 http://www.politicalfilter.com/content/member/1/ Harley Barbour became Chairman of the RGA literally hours after Sanford's first press conference. 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. became Chairman of the RGA literally hours after Sanford's first press conference.

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.]]> Thu, 02 Jul 09 16:33:32 +0000 http://www.politicalfilter.com/content/member/90/ ...how frustrated then Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin had become with the manner in which top McCain campaign aides were handling her candidacy. 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? ...how frustrated then Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin had become with the manner in which top McCain campaign aides were handling her candidacy.

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?]]> Thu, 02 Jul 09 15:55:58 +0000