The Sunshine Empire

Other than bleeding things, the news media love nothing more than to report on some kind of internal strife. Using the term “civil war” for something other than an actual civil war is a favorite of any political reporter. Our current example of such is the multitude of stories regarding internal conflict between the McCain and Palin camps during their run for the White House last year. Former Alaska governor Sarah Palin’s new book title comes from the McCain camp’s accusation that Palin was “going rogue” and establishing her own base of power. I think these stories are a bit overblown. While I do think that several high ranking staffers in the McCain campaign that understood what a wingbat she was, McCain himself was rumored to have told his former staffers to stay out of the media.

During last year’s campaign I signed up for both of the campaigns mailing lists. I wanted to read what was going to McCain supporters as well. Unlike Barack Obama’s campaign arm, which still sends regular emails, McCain has only sent two or three. Yet now I receive emails from SarahPAC, the political action committee of the former Alaska governor. Much like the gag order on staffers, sharing mailing lists seems to show that McCain himself is still very much behind her. The email I received today, which is meant more than likely to drive book sales of her magnum opus Going Rouge, is humorous for it’s constant use of “Commonsense” instead of common sense. It also has the obligatory Ronald Reagan reference for good measure.

Whether the internal strife in the McCain campaign was real or inflated, the internal strife in the Republican party over what Sarah Palin’s place in the party should be will continue to entertain me.

Related posts:

1. Could It Be Senator Sarah Palin?
2. Goodbye Sarah Palin, Sorry We Hurt Your Feelings
3. Sarah Palin May Be Helping GOP with Addition By Subtraction
4. Sarah Palin Flakes Out Again
5. John McCain And Sarah Palin On Earmarks