McCain and Palin: A Case of Paint and Corners

No jokes now, folks.  It’s zero flak time.

Conservatives4Palin has an article about some comments McCain made regarding tensions between Schmidt, the leader of his presidential campaign F-Team, and Palin.  He actually admitted they were there.  Then he went on to say nice things about Sarah Palin, one of those conservatives he usually works so hard to annoy and undermine.

It’s not the first time either.  He had some friendly words when she resigned as Governor of Alaska, and currently seems to be on civil terms with her.  This can only mean one thing:  He’s up to something.  My guess is that something is the 2010 elections, and him getting through them with his job.

Why don’t I take him at his word?  We’re talking about Senator “These things happen” here.   Furthermore, he has quite suddenly and conspicuously began making conservative noises ever since returning to Congress after his defeat.  He wouldn’t be doing that if he thought he could go maverick again and keep his seat.  That, or he’s seen some data which would lead him to believe he was going to lose it if he continued inflicting eye-pokes on his base.  You know, like those 20% that protest voted for Obama.

One conclusion that could sensibly be reached then is this:  McCain and Palin is a case of paint and corners.  In this case, it’s McCain attempting to paint Palin into a corner.  He thinks he’s going to need or want her help in the future, and is currently in the process of making it politically untenable for her to refuse.

Think about it for a moment.  McCain falls behind in the polls, be it in the primary or general election, because his base is sick of his backstabbing.  So he asks Palin for help.  If her response is along the lines of “Well, these things happen…to everyone”, do his staffers suddenly start saying things like…

“Well, you’re not going to abandon your buddy McCain after all that support he gave you?  After he introduced you to the nation?  You don’t want to be an ingrate, do you?”

In Republican politics, she’s a force and he’s a farce.  She’s popular, and he’s disliked by his own state.  Her book is selling like mad before it’s even printed, and he has two I barely knew existed.  She eclipsed him utterly in his own presidential campaign.  He’s having to swallow his ego every time he mentions her, and he wouldn’t be doing it without a self-serving motive.  IMHO, it’s the preservation of his career.

So goes my amateur punditry for the day.  Feel free to comment if you have anything to add, because your opinion is as good as mine.

Filed under: Zero Flak on October 12th, 2009

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