So yesterday I wrote about the political historical context of Gov. Sarah Palin's resignation, concluding that stepping away from government would not - in and of itself - prevent her from successfully running for office again one day. But the particulars of this specific case change the game somewhat. Basically, Palin and her people need to tone down the crazy if she ever wants to have any credibility as a national political figure ever again.
For starters, having your attorney threaten a blogger/radio host with a libel suit - on the Fourth of July, no less - is overkill of the highest order. In a post on the governor's apparent resignation, Shannyn Moore wrote that rumors of an FBI investigation into Palin's finances had been swirling for months. She didn't say the rumors were true, she just reported on their existence. Then on Saturday, Palin's attorney released a letter refuting that Palin did anything improper with respect to the construction of the Wasilla Sports Complex. That's actually a good idea, if you ask me - state the facts, nip it in the bud; the FBI's announcement that they're doing no such investigation only helps Palin out. This is where you want to stop talking and allow the story to disappear.
Unfortunately, the letter went on to mention Moore by name, and further threatening legal action against any mainstream media outlet that reported the existence of the rumors (none of which had done so... and all of which have since reported on the zany letter). The thing is, libel suits are incredibly hard to pull off even for an ordinary citzen. For a public figure, like a governor, there's a lot more latitude for criticism. In order for Palin to successfully sue Moore or anyone else, she would have to prove that Moore knew the information was false and published it anyway, AND that this caused definable damage to the governor's reputation. Palin would also have to do a deposition under oath, which is what got Bill Clinton in trouble.
Stupid, stupid idea. And to release a letter designed to cast a chill on free speech and freedom of the press on frakking Indepence Day is like bizarro PR - it's the worst possible message to send.
Of course, the people Palin was really trying to reach heard her loud and clear. The "poor pitiful me" act isn't going to gain her new fans in the moderate swath of the spectrum, but it does land right in the wheelhouse of those conservatives who already harbor a persecution complex. Which I guess makes Palin the right-wing version of Ralph Nader.
Palin isn't going to get anywhere if she continues to behave as though she's special and immune to the rules. Newsflash: there are entire actual Web sites devoted to proving that President Obama is the anti-Christ. There are people who are convinced that Hillary Clinton had Vince Foster killed, or that President Bush knew about 9/11 before it happened. I don't recall Bush resigning over that, or Clinton slinking off where the wingnuts couldn't get to her. Criticism, both fair and unfair, is as much a part of holding elected office as sitting in boring meetings and kissing babies at campaign rallies.
As I wrote yesterday, it's entirely possible that a politician can buck the established M.O. and still succeed. But it won't happen for Gov. Palin if she insists on stacking the deck against herself.
In the immortal words of Paul Rudd in "Anchorman," "Why don't you sit this next one out? Stop talking for awhile."
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