NYT: Internal Battles Divided McCain and Palin Camps

[Trajan]

Source: New York Times

November 6, 2008

Internal Battles Divided McCain and Palin Camps

By ELISABETH BUMILLER

PHOENIX — As a top adviser in Senator John McCain’s now-imploded campaign tells the story, it was bad enough that Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska unwittingly scheduled, and then took, a prank telephone call from a Canadian comedian posing as the president of France. Far worse, the adviser said, she failed to inform her ticketmate about her rogue diplomacy.

As a senior adviser in the Palin campaign tells the story, the charge is absurd. The call had been on Ms. Palin’s schedule for three days and she should not have been faulted if the McCain campaign was too clueless to notice.

Whatever the truth, one thing is certain. Ms. Palin, who laughingly told the prankster that she could be president “maybe in eight years,” was the catalyst for a civil war between her campaign and Mr. McCain’s that raged from mid-September up until moments before Mr. McCain’s concession speech on Tuesday night. By then, Ms. Palin was in only infrequent contact with Mr. McCain, top advisers said.

“I think it was a difficult relationship,” said one top McCain campaign official, who, like almost all others interviewed, asked to remain anonymous. “McCain talked to her occasionally.”

-snip-



Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/06/us/politics/06mccain.html?_r=1&hp=&pagewanted=all&oref=slogin

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Yikes .....

Didn't take much time for the knives to come out ...

Apparently: Palin bought those clothes for $150,000 while the RNC expected the spree would cost $20,000 to $25,000 ....

[magellan]

1. I roared when I heard KO say that some McCain staffer called the Palins

..."Wasilla hillbillies looting Neiman Marcus from coast to coast".

But I think that's unfair to hillbillies. One of my dearest friends is a hillbilly and she's as mortified by Caribou Barbie's antics as everyone else.

[xochi]

2. Apparently she spent "tens of thousands" MORE than the reported $150,000

and, according to Newsweek, an angry aide characterized the shopping spree as "Wasilla hillbillies looting Neiman Marcus from coast to coast." Reported on Olbermann tonight. Here's a Huffpost write-up:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/11/05/palin-once-greeted-mccain_n_141394.html

[Number23]

3. Money Quote:

"As late as Tuesday night, a McCain adviser said, Ms. Palin was pushing to deliver her own speech just before Mr. McCain’s concession speech, even though vice-presidential nominees do not traditionally speak on election night. But Ms. Palin met up with Mr. McCain with text in hand. She was told no by Mark Salter, one of Mr. McCain’s closest advisers, and Steve Schmidt, Mr. McCain’s top strategist."

Okay, everyone must admit... she may be as dumb as a box of Twinkies but this broad has COJONES!!

[earthlover]

5. just why do you find it necessary to refer to her as a "broad"? Sexist

[Tansy_Gold]

7. "Cojones" is also sexist

It implies that one cannot be assertive without male reproductive organs.

"Spine" is non-sexist and implies the ability to stand up for oneself, whether others agree with one or not.

[ACTION BASTARD]

22. Male reproductive organs is also sexist

It implies that only men can have them and not women.

Yeah, that's right I went there! Deal with it.

[progressivebydesign]

14. and "dumb as a box of twinkies" is offensive to people that are sugar intolerant!!

I suggest we watch out language. I find the term "dumb" to be very offensive to people with less than average IQ, as well. :sarcasm:

[Number23]

18. Thank you. Oh the humanity!!!

I find the term "dumb" to be very offensive to people with less than average IQ, as well.

:P

I actually cleaned up my language -- I had planned on referring to her as a heifer but thought that broad was better. Little did I know the terminally offended DU Vernacular Squad would show up anyway!! :crazy:

I guess the fact that I'm a woman myself just went clear over their pretty little heads -- but there I go being sexist again!!! :)

[onager]

24. I know how you feel. I wanted to say she was "dumber than a stump..."

But on DU these days, that would probably require a survey of deciduous vs. evergreen stumps, and an abject apology to any complaining stump.

Since I'm in Egypt, I'd also have to survey 100 different types of palms and the banana trees. Oops...sorry for the male sexual symbology...

[Number23]

26. ROFL!!

But on DU these days, that would probably require a survey of deciduous vs. evergreen stumps, and an abject apology to any complaining stump.

DU is simply hilarious sometimes. So much outrage, so little time.... :)

[LiberalLovinLug]

6. Wasn't that the recipe for the last disaster in the WH?

It's a proven family favorite! They know it works, and with a big scoop of fundie family values on top. Don't be surprised if she finishes near the top or even on the top of the next Republican nomination process. :puke:

[RedSock]

8. i think we have a new phrase

"dumb as a box of palins"

[MadinMo]

20. It's got my vote! Love it.

[curse of greyface]

11. Twinkies are also sexist because they are shaped like a penis and filled with creamy goodness.

What are you trying to imply with the box of Twinkees visual.

[Number23]

19. lol!!

Twinkies are also sexist because they are shaped like a penis and filled with creamy goodness.

I don't think anyone reading that will ever be able to eat Twinkies again.... :) And that's probably not a bad thing....

[bemildred]

12. "Chutzpah" is the word. nt

[Pithy]

17. I bet that's why she was crying election eve

didn't get her final word in.

That, and being sent home to Wasilla as a big, fat LOSER!

[superconnected]

4. Now why would they expect this government funds-raiding welfare mom to do any different than what

she normally does.

"Instead, in a public relations debacle undermining Ms. Palin’s image as an everywoman “hockey mom,” bills came in to the Republican National Committee for about $150,000, including charges of $75,062 at Neiman Marcus and $49,425 at Saks Fifth Avenue. The bills included clothing for Ms. Palin’s family and purchases of shoes, luggage and jewelry, the advisers said."

[central scrutinizer]

9. Childish

"The call had been on Ms. Palin’s schedule for three days and she should not have been faulted if the McCain campaign was too clueless to notice."

Sounds like a little kid who has been caught doing something really stupid = "It's not my fault, why didn't you tell me not to do it?"

I love how each side is throwing the other side under the bus, then backing up and running them over again. First class entertainment!

[Lone_Star_Dem]

15. I saw it similar

Like a small child saying, "why weren't you watching me better so I didn't get in trouble?"

[customerserviceguy]

10. Expect to hear more of these stories

Palin needs to distance herself from McCain as much as possible to be viable for the 2012 Repuke nomination. Most of their voters just put up with Gramps, they really wanted Gidget. But in the end, there were not enough of them willing to stomach McPain.

[yellowcanine]

13. I am with McCain on this. She should have consulted him BEFORE scheduling the call to "Sarkozy"

She went off the reservation on that one and got burnt.

[chazndav]

16. Palin can now entertain us....

with some fancy pageant walkin' BACK to Alaska!!!

[VaYallaDawg]

25. Welcome to DU on your first post!

[olddad56]

21. and to think, McCain could have picked the real Tina Fey.

[No Elephants]

23. It's been a while since I bought a suit. They told her to buy six suits and expected a bill of

$25,000? $4,000 per women's suit? Seriously?

I am certainly no fan of either McCain or Palin or either of their camps. But, I don't get the point of these leaks. McCain replaced his key people twice before Palin ever got there. His campaign WAS in disarray and everyone knows it. And his campaign people gave him poor advice. Throwing Palin under the bus makes her look bad, but it does not make them look good, only indiscreet. Which politician wants that? They are not saving their careers.