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McCannibals
October 25, 2008 11:51 PM
As Slate’s John Dickerson noted a few days ago, for several weeks “Republicans inside and outside the McCain campaign have speculated about those moments when Palin and John McCain have appeared to disagree.”
Palin said she disagreed with McCain’s decision to stop competing in Michigan. She broke from McCain and said she supported a federal marriage amendment. McCain didn’t like the Bush administration decision to remove North Korea from the list of terrorist nations; Palin backed it. Palin told the New York Times’ William Kristol that she thought McCain should bring up Obama’s relationship with Rev. Jeremiah Wright, even thought McCain had said it was off the table. She said robocalls were irritating and suggested that if she were calling the shots the campaign wouldn’t be employing them.
Since these disagreements didn’t appear to be part of some plan, Dickerson wrote, “political insiders have started asking whether Palin is simply undisciplined or is intentionally ignoring the playbook. And if it's intentional, the question becomes: Is she putting her own political self-interest ahead of her running mate's?”
Today Ben Smith at Politico fleshed this story out a bit more, discussing the tensions between the McCain and Palin camps.
“Four Republicans close to Palin said she has decided increasingly to disregard the advice of the former Bush aides tasked to handle her, creating occasionally tense situations as she travels the country with them. Those Palin supporters, inside the campaign and out, said Palin blames her handlers for a botched rollout and a tarnished public image — even as others in McCain's camp blame the pick of the relatively inexperienced Alaska governor, and her public performance, for McCain's decline.”
One senior Republican who speaks to Palin told Smith "I think she'd like to go more rogue.”
.
Said a McCain insider, "These people are going to try and shred her” – meaning former Bush aide Nicolle Wallace, who helped with Palin’s rollout – “after the campaign to divert blame from themselves.”
(Many Republicans defend Wallace, arguing that the problem wasn’t that Wallace kept Palin from holding a press conference, it’s that Palin would have been eaten alive during one. The problem, they say, was the unpreparedness of the pick herself.)
CNN followed that up with a story in which “McCain sources say Palin has gone off-message several times, and they privately wonder whether the incidents were deliberate.”
One McCain source told CNN that Palin is looking out for herself more than she is looking out for the McCain campaign.
"She is a diva. She takes no advice from anyone," said this McCain adviser. "She does not have any relationships of trust with any of us, her family or anyone else. Also, she is playing for her own future and sees herself as the next leader of the party. Remember: Divas trust only unto themselves, as they see themselves as the beginning and end of all wisdom."
Meanwhile, while this is all going on, at The Daily Beast, former Bush/McCain aide Mark McKinnon defends the McCain campaign.
“The most popular parlor game in Washington, D.C., these days is the bludgeoning of the McCain campaign,” McKinnon writes. “One of the physical laws of politics is that if your campaign wins, you’re a genius. If you lose, you’re an idiot.”
McKinnon writes that the environment is McCain’s problem – not this backbiting, not the Palin pick. “There is a fundamental question we always ask in political polls. Is the country headed in the right direction or off on the wrong track?” he writes. “Whenever the wrong track number is over 50 it spells trouble for the incumbent party. The most recently recorded number is the worst in the history of polling. Only nine percent of respondents think the country is headed in the right direction. I know what you’re thinking. ‘Who are those nine percent?’
“So, by this measure, John McCain should be polling at about nine percent. And yet, (McCain strategist Steve) Schmidt and company ran a good enough campaign that McCain went into the Republican Convention tied. And came out of it ahead. The only real surprise in this race is that it was ever close."
Former Bush Sr. White House aide Jim Nuzzo, meanwhile, sounds like he's re-creating a scene from Animal House when he takes on the "cocktail party conservatives" who "give aid and comfort to the enemy."
Nuzzo tells the Sunday Telegraph: "There's going to be a bloodbath. A lot of people are going to be excommunicated. David Brooks and David Frum and Peggy Noonan are dead people in the Republican Party. The litmus test will be: where did you stand on Palin?"
("Wormer, he's a dead man! Marmalard, dead! Niedermeyer... ")
What say you?
-- jpt
October 25, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (61)
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regarding Miss Sarah....
My Mom always said, you can't make chicken soup out of chicken S??t! No matter how many carrots, (Neiman Marcus & Saks) Onions, (designer shoes) Potatoes (fancy hair-dos) you have... you still wind up with S??t.
Sara Palin has no substance and John McCain has no low. They are getting everything they deserve.
If you think things are tense now, wait until November 5th...I would hate to be a fly on the wall in the McCain and Palin homes...Wonder how fabulous "first dude" will seem then...
Peace and Blessings...
Posted by: JerseyPeach | Oct 29, 2008 2:03:35 PM
Should be duped. Dumped or duped my sentiments are the same...
Posted by: Jonathan C. | Oct 26, 2008 10:55:33 PM
I almost feel sorry for McCain regarding Palin. However, since he is such a "risk taker and likes to roll the dice", he deserves everything that has befallen him and that will occur as a consequence of selecting her. If he wanted a woman, he should have chosen someone of greater qualifications. In my opinion, he chose the least qualified person in the history of VP candidates.
As for her being the future of the party, please. If she is a candidate in 2012, my family and I will again vote for the Democratic candidate.
There are some things more important than party identification. I suspect that is the reason other Republicans are speaking out and/or voting for the Obama/Biden ticket. They might be a Liberals, but at least they aren't clueless - and that is putting it midly regarding my party's ticket of McCain/Palin.
I feel like this is a nightmare a bad joke. Only it isn't a joke, it is serious business we are talking about. Therefore, I say two thumbs up to those that are speaking out against this nightmare of a ticket. As far as being out of the loop is concerned, I and I am sure they(Brooks, Noonan, etc.) would rather be out of the loop than dumped.
Posted by: Jonathan C. | Oct 26, 2008 10:52:24 PM
Seah
After he stated Obama will be tested, he then stated: OBAMA WILL PROVE HE HAS WHAT IT TAKES TO DEFEND THIS NATION. Seriously, if you Republicans are not going to use the ENTIRE statement, then stop using it. You people make yourselves look stupid and desperate.
Posted by: Martin | Oct 26, 2008 10:36:33 PM
I wonder if McCain finally sees his Alaskan Folly now that Palin is biting his hand that feeds her. She is truly something else.
Posted by: buzziea | Oct 26, 2008 3:39:51 PM
Nini, what is the truth? For five years, when Barry Obama was 14-18 years old, he was mentored by a "father-figure" by the name of Frank Marshall Davis. Mr. Davis at the time was an agitator and recruiter for the Communist Party USA. Did Mr. Davis recruit Barry Obama? Was Barry Obama ever a member of the CPSUA? What is the truth? After that Barry Obama studied and practiced the principles of Saul Alinsky, another Communist. Sen. Obama has continuously surrounded himself with radicals for most of his life. So I repeat...what is the truth?
Posted by: James Danley | Oct 26, 2008 3:36:16 PM
Sarah Palin an opportunist? Sarah Palin believing that she's the future of the Repubs? Obviously, the future isn't what it used to be!
Posted by: chuck | Oct 26, 2008 2:58:05 PM
Trapper,
I think you are driving the debate, unfortunately. Why don't you admit that you have a gossip column. Remember truth in advertising?
Posted by: Nini | Oct 26, 2008 1:58:11 PM
Wow! Actual proof that Gov. Palin is a maverick. How refreshing!
Posted by: James Danley | Oct 26, 2008 10:55:59 AM
I voted for Palin.
Posted by: indy | Oct 26, 2008 10:43:30 AM
Biden has disagreed with Obama on many issues.
Remember he said, Obama is not going to get his guns.
Then that US will be attacked to Test Obama.
Bidens quote, "I forgot all I knew about foreign relations"
Biden was just brought on board to attack Obama opponents. They do not need him, he is dispensible once the election is over. Just a an attack dog is all they want him for.
Posted by: seah | Oct 26, 2008 9:47:10 AM
A FEW DAYS AFTER MCCAIN ANNOUNCED PALIN, I FELT IN MY HEART, AFTER WATCHING HER, SHE WAS GOING TO BE HIS WORST DECISION IN THIS ELECTION. IF ELECTED, PALIN WILL DO EVERYTHING SHE CAN TO BE THE FOCUS OF THE NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT. SHE HAS HER EYE ON 2012. SHE WON'T BE READY THEN EITHER. I WANT A LEADER WITH MORE THAN ONE DEGREE. SOMEONE WHO HAS A THURST FOR KNOWLEDGE, NOT POWER. WHAT DOES PALIN KNOW ABOUT THE LOWER 48? HOW MANY LATINOS AND BLACKS DOES SHE KNOW? MARK MY WORDS, THERE IS NO WAY PALIN WILL EVER BE POTUS, NEVER. YOUR GETTING A LOOK AT WHAT SHE REALLY IS. THERE'S A LOT MORE TO COME OUT, THERE ALWAYS IS. SHE'S ONLY BEEN FOCUSED ON FOR EIGHT WEEKS. PRETTY SOON, PEOPLE WILL COME OUT WITH THE DIRT AND YOU KNOW THERE'S PLENTY. ALASKA MIGHT AS WELL BE ON THE MOON BECAUSE WE IN THE LOWER 48 DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT AND SHE'S DONE PLENTY AND SOME PEOPLE HAVE NOT COME OUT BECAUSE THEY ARE AFRAID. JUST WAIT, GET THE POPCORN READY.
Posted by: jww | Oct 26, 2008 9:42:16 AM
Brenda,
What is your definition of presidential, then? Refusing to look at your opponent when talking to him? Calling him "that one"- as though he is an object instead of a person? Questioning his patriotism and insinuating the his supporters are less-then patriotic? Having your campaign call the northern part of a state that went for Bush in 2004 "Communist Country" because the whole place is leaning Democratic now? Picking a running-mate that would only help him win the election but with whom he has no intention to use to govern?
There is a difference between disagreeing with issues then to outright going rogue. She's not simply disagreeing with issues, she's disagreeing about campaign issues, about how she was introduced to the public. They can disagree on issues, but it shows disunity and fractures when Palin complains about McCain not campaigning in Michigan anymore or that the robo-calls should be stopped, or feels that they screwed up her introduction to the public. It's going to hurt them, it shows voters they probably won't be able to work together in the White House. Sad to say, I think McCain intended not for Palin to do anything but help him win the election.
Posted by: Grey Matter | Oct 26, 2008 9:34:09 AM
Whether Obama wins or not, one fact is crystal clear. Obama is NOT a honest man. Obama is NOT presidential. Obama is NOT and never will be my President. I do NOT support corrupt individuals whether they are republican or democrat. For those voting for Obama, you have been conned. That's a fact.
Posted by: Brenda | Oct 26, 2008 9:26:23 AM
Here's a thought, Jake the Journalist. When Obama picked Biden, the O-man pointed out that Biden was there to bring his "vast experience" to the ticket, and during the Obama presidency he would challenge Obama's thinking on many subjects. Well, Jake, how many times in the campaign has Biden purposefully challenged Obama's thinking? You and the rest of the Obama surrogates pretending to journalists lapped up the pretense of the Biden selection. Now, when there is a VP candidate on the other side, who legitimately offers alternative views to those held by the head of the ticket, on no more than a few subjects, you snicker derisively. Don't you tire of playing the role of the fool?
Posted by: jcarob | Oct 26, 2008 9:09:29 AM
I think a good mauling in November not just at the top of the ticket but in the down-ballot races would be a dose of good medicine for the GOP.
The Republican party has been hijacked by the religious right and ultra-conservative wingnuts. The party that used to be about fiscal conservatives and foreign policy conservatives- and conservative intellectuals has now devolved into a party that likes sabre-rattling for foreign policy, fear-mongering, fighting unneccessary wars, wasteful spending, questioning liberal American's patriotism, calling the Northern part of Virginia "Communist Country".
The GOP needs to have a good, long period of self-reflection and to take the party back from the extremists that have hijacked it.
Posted by: Grey Matter | Oct 26, 2008 8:59:16 AM
The watershed years for the GOP have begun.
Posted by: reed | Oct 26, 2008 8:53:40 AM
Obama is still a serious serial liar, whether he's a media-darling or not, whether he's a President or not.
Posted by: young_voter | Oct 26, 2008 7:56:33 AM
I love the expression "parlor game." It's used to sissify criticism, as if making a sincere analysis that cuts against the grain is like playing Charades or Up Jenkins.
Posted by: DG | Oct 26, 2008 7:50:51 AM
after haloween boris and natasha will be gone .hopefully-the badenoughs.the repub party has turned in a group of cartoon characters.
Posted by: rodney | Oct 26, 2008 7:47:13 AM
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