The Palin Problem Multiplies
25 October 2008 9:21 am by Taylor Marsh
BY TAYLOR MARSH
Considering the way this whole thing has been handled this story is very believable. The other issue is that Gov. Palin obviously has ambitions beyond this year.
Her image is so badly bruised now she can hardly do worse than the guys handling her.
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.“She’s lost confidence in most of the people on the plane,” said
a senior Republican who speaks to Palin, referring to her campaign jet. He
said Palin had begun to “go rogue” in some of her public pronouncements
and decisions.“I think she’d like to go more rogue,” he said. …
How she can resurrect herself in this election cycle is a question. It’s unlikely
to be done. But that in no way means she can’t come back after this election,
rehabilitate herself and have great prospects. Some are saying tv or radio (the
gods save us from listening to that voice), but I’d bet she wants to stay in
the political arena until that possibility is exhausted.
The real issue is that Sarah Palin auditioned for, by many accounts, and sought
out a job for which she wasn’t ready and not qualified in the least. You’ve
got to know your limitations when playing in the big games of life. The old
saying be careful what you wish for should be stamped on the Republican
ticket at this point. Sarah Palin walked into this with her eyes open. That
she wasn’t ready is something she should have known, especially given she had plenty of time in front of her to make a national move when she was ready. McCain helped it along, but it was Sarah who walked
into the general election buzz saw. Obviously, she’s been getting away on her charms so long she thought everyone would buy it wide. It will take a long time to piece back the image of the “maverick”
governor that had so many possibilities.
Of course, the base loves her, which is something on which she can build a foundation. You can’t win anything nationally with them alone, however. She’ll also have to fight to prove to the conservative intelligentsia that she’s worth the risk
another time around. Because make no mistake about it, a coming conservative war looks like it’s at hand. Sarah Palin could be at the center of it.
