Reading The Pictures: Not Just Rogue Warrior But McCain Campaign's Mutation

The hell with your robocalls, your special handling and your fancy wardrobe! (Insert terrifying growl.)

In this fantastical image from Sioux City on Saturday, a clever AP photographer captures what can best be described as the McCain campaign's worst nightmare. After keeping her literally cooped up for months, Steve Schmidt's brilliant creation has gone and turned against the head tutor, Salter, Davis and McCain (Palin's latest set of "good old boys"), having finally mutated into her own wild beast. With eight days to go in the campaign, having grown tired of taking orders, Palin is now in open warfare with the campaign itself.

The picture is evocative every which way with Palin, part-small state Governor, part-cartoonish campaign object acquiring a new rock-em, sock-em right arm, while her left arm seems to take an oath of some kind (POTUS in 2012?) at the same time she gazes to the future -- or just the supreme confidence-inspiring Pentecostal heaven.

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(image: Nati Harnik/AP. caption: Republican vice presidential candidate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, speaks in front of Wooly the Wolverine, the West High School mascot, during a campaign appearance in Sioux City, Iowa, Saturday, Oct. 25, 2008.)

Comments

[SilentShout]

It occurred to me tonight that Palin, rather than going "rogue", is doing exactly what she's being directed to, but by the RNC not the McC campaign. RNC knows McC will lose, perhaps they're trying to save Palin's political usefulness by dramatically dividing her from a losing campaign?

[carol]

My prediction: Palin will be the leader of a fringe group of right wingers and evangelicals. She'll be immensely popular on their speaking tours and may even run for Senate. She will never be a politician of national stature; she's burned too many bridges and she's pretty damned dumb....I think of her like Huckabee: charismatic, in tune with their audience, sometimes clever, but occasionally so far from reality they sound like weirdo nuts.. What's interesting is that the Republican party is splitting into factions.

[MeiLing]

There's a big difference between here and Huckabee though. Huckabee's likeable! Palin is just too negative and snarky.

[krocklin]

The pundits on both sides are saying she is a future Republican candidate in 2012, a politician to be reckoned with. This is way off base.
She doesn't have a butane torch's chance in an Alaskan avalance of maintaining her popularity except in the fringiest circles.
To think that the Republican bigshots consider her chances viable is ridiculous. She has no depth of thought, she's incurious about the issues and can't grasp simple concepts and policy nuances.
Far from being the quick study they hoped she would be, she has proven her talents are limited to sarcastic paper thin smears, glittering generalities and pure demagoguery.
Her appeal is so narrow she will be relegated to the furthest out nutcase segments of the Republican Party.

[SEQUOIABISON]

"Success has a thousand fathers but failure is an orphan."

An intelligent person quickly leaves a crumbling building, I am so happy that there is peace. love and harmony among our campaign workers, it is a beautiful thing to witness the collapse of the Republican Empire. Say goodnight Mr Gingrich, Mr Rove.

Obama/Biden

[bird63]

Should be "photo of the year." Could not have set up a better illustration of that woman. See, I have already forgotten her name.

[krocklin]

It is pretty clear how the McCain campaign made a major error in recruiting Palin and that it was a failure of not vetting her - in the typically impetuous McCain style.
They assumed that she could passably advance policy, but they miscalculated. She is all about glittering generalities and demagoguery. It comes naturally to her. If she could combine that with credibly discussing the issues - a talent just absent in her - she would have been a potent force.
She plays to her audience shamelessly, manipulating them with slogans and labels, paper thin smears, folksiness and crescendoing shrillness.
Never the quick study they had hoped she would be, it has gone to her head and she has become the Diva at odds with 60% of America and much of the McCain campaign itself.

[RaiHoney]

Her past behavior as a politician that "bites the hand that feeds" is actually fairly well-documented throughout her rise to power... I for one, am not surprised one teensy tiny bit about this development.

[asnevitt]

Yes, I was just waiting. She has used mentors as a doormat for every new office she's moved into.

[golfgoddess]

I am still amazed at the number of people...women...who support her. Amazed.

[sclucie]

women do not support her. they support obama by a pretty wide margin. but old men do support the mccain/palin ticket. i don't know who keeps spreading the word that she has mass appeal among women - but women from every end of the economic spectrum see straight through sarah palin. except that odd, shrill girl on the view.

[coastalcarla]

I know - I'm amazed, too. She reminds me of one of the many mean and popular girls from my high school days. Say the wrong thing or befriend the wrong person, and you were smeared with rumors and lies and out of the cool kids group. Kiss their hineys and tell them how great they were (and pull off their dirty tricks for them), and you got to be part of the "inner circle". That's exactly how she operates: like a spoiled little nasty mean girl from high school.

[realiybased2]

If you have been watching carefully, the "McCain/Palin" cards are subliminally reading "Palin/McCain".
She is quickly winning the Republican base. McCain is almost a non issue since he picked her. All the Republican big wigs are catering to her and NOW she has successfully divided the camp.

An article referred to them as the Palin Allies and the McCain Allies are fighting against each other. Even if they win, the Republican base will probably be hoping McCain get sick or something so they push Palin to the front of the line, literally.

After observing Palin for the past three weeks, this woman is VERY vindictive and cut throat, just like the Republican Machine, she is queen of their motto, destroy every character about your opponent.

[OnceaDem]

Here in Oklahoma the hard right-wingers don't rely on subliminal messages; they boldly come right out and admit they don't like McCain and call him a traitor to his party. They're in it for Palin and Palin alone. They just love her; they're extremely proud of her; and they are disassociating themselves with all the conservatives who've turned on her. To hell with the country, this fine bunch of Christians can only see red.

[sclucie]

Well, you're pretty lonely, because the rest of the country - including small states, rural states, poor states, and formerly republican states - just aren't with you.

And one thing I can say with absolutely certainty. THat woman may be a decent politician - but she is not a Christian. She follows the Revelation - but she seems to have skipped the Gospels completely. And if you disagree, give me some examples of when and where Sarah Palin has tried to take care of the least of her brothers and sisters, has tried to feed to hungry and given solace to the sick and dying, or has turned the other cheek. You won't find them. She is a spiritual warrior - someone who thinks being Christian is starting another war in the name of Christ.

[plafayette]

I think it speaks volumes that the only woman coming to stand by Palin on the campaign trail is Liz Hassleback. There are many republican women far more experienced & qualified to run for POTUS and none of them are trying to save Palin. The men in the Repub party seem to be the only ones really talking about how great she is for the party. However, we know that she would also have to appeal to independents, and some democrats...not just men or just party. I hope like many of you to never have to see or hear from her again.

[magicwanz]

Be careful what you ask for: you just might get it!

[burpgun]

I keep reading articles on Sarah Palin stating that she is the only one that is hurting Obama's lead at all! Especially in W. Virginia!. I find it interesting that she gets stronger and McCain gets weaker the longer the Campaign goes on. Maybe the real campaign that is going on is against the Dinosaurs in Congress that are so behind in their thinking that they can no longer cope in a world of "Global" Economies and rapid population shifts and worldwide terrorism. If you look closely, you will find that every world leader that joined President Bush in the Pre-emptive attack on Iraq is no longer in power...If this is, indeed , the trend than I would watch for a house cleaning in Congress that will be directed more at the "establishment" than at their Party. I know I have my list of the Congressmen who voted for the Bailout-Do you?

[sclucie]

Sarah's chances in 2012 are lower than Mitt Romney and Guliani. Only 20% of Republicans say they would support her. This frenzy around Sarah is based on a few zealots and some small and pretty crazy rallies.

This doesn't even take into account the suits against her - and the next huge suit to be filed. In the Alaska oil pipleline - Sarah accepted one bid, from a Canadian firm. She had just hired a lobbyist from that frm whose job was to help prep them for - guess what? Dealing with government contracts. I've seen $5000 government bids with more competition. And I like Canada - but why are we giving them $30 Billion dollars?

[Ganapati]

Palin represents the darkest aspect of America.
She will be back, or she may never leave at all.
Keep an eye on her. She is extremely dangerous.

[WeAreTheBorg]

I still think we'll see her in the future - expect her back in 2012.

[chonchobar]

Hmmmm - perhaps. But, I don't think she'd survive a primary against other GOP power elites who would rip her to shreds - they're much less likely to be as polite as Obama or Biden were with her. Put it this way - her, against Karl Rove: where would you put your money?

Is that a Wolverine behind her?

[Roninfbn47]

Kinda looks like a puma, either way, just surprised she's not trying to kill it !

[Wiserone]

There is Romney, Huckeebee, etc. etc. all very well honed political opportuntists who will chew her up and spit her out. She has been out of her league right from the start and there is no way in hell that Romney or Huckeebee are going to allow the GOP to support her again and so soon in 2012. Maybe in 2016, but nope she has too much liability attached to her now and folks i.e. voters do have long memories. Not to say, she won't be a fixture on the political scene after this, but she won't get as much face time over the next few years. Oh sure, the GOP will bring her out (unmoth ball any of jackets she bought at Sak's) and she'll be their pit-pull again. Other than that, she's been rendered insignificant. And, remember, McCain goes back to the Senate after this and if she tries and calls him up, I can just hear the conversation: "Sarah, Sarah, who? Oh, tell her I won't be available, ever".

[sclucie]

I guess that depends on whether or not she is in prison.

[Cambridge9]

And they said McCain is a gambler!!!!!!