Michele Bachmann’s (R-Mars) chief of staff is bailing out, and declines to say why.

The aide who helped turn Rep. Michele Bachmann into a controversial mainstay of cable news has informed colleagues that she’s quitting — just as the firebrand Republican congresswoman prepares for her biggest media moment yet.

Multiple sources have confirmed that Michelle Marston, a veteran Hill aide, is leaving Bachmann’s office.

In an e-mail exchange with POLITICO, Marston declined to say why she’s going.

“I’m just not talking about it, and frankly I don’t think there’s a story here,” Marston wrote. “Now, the thousands of people calling our office to tell us [they’re] coming to Capitol Hill tomorrow — that’s a story.”

Marston was referring to the prolific Bachmann’s latest political brainstorm, a “house call” on the Capitol Thursday to which she’s invited Fox News viewers and other conservatives to march with her through House office buildings, “find members of Congress, look at the whites of their eyes and say, ‘Don’t take away my health care.’”

Oh, for Pete’s sake. Meanwhile, anonymous sources muttered:

A conservative Republican House member, speaking on the condition of anonymity, suggested that Bachmann’s views — and her willingness to state them — make it hard for her to keep staff. “When your captain’s crazy, it’s time to find a new ship,” the lawmaker said.

UPDATE at 11/4/09 5:11:20 pm:

Judge Andrew Napolitano warns Michele to watch out for Nancy Pelosi and her schemes, because she controls the capital and might do anything at all to stop the populist glory of Michele’s “house call.”

UPDATE at 11/4/09 5:16:26 pm:

Yay! It’s the “Super Bowl of freedom!”

A highly unusual animated short film by Malcolm Sutherland, who helpfully explains the plot:

When a hungry astronomer falls asleep while working on a problem, he discovers a solution not in outer space, but in the surreal food-chain of his subconscious mind.

Here’s video of RNC chairman Michael Steele’s statement this morning, with some pointed comments aimed at Sarah Palin, Tim Pawlenty, and RedState blogger Erick Erickson’s claim that the NY-23 loss was a “victory:” Steele Throws Elbow to Palin, Pawlenty on NY-23.

Meet the next hero of the tea party movement: In NY-23, Hoffman Vows to ‘Continue This Fight’.

“I can guarantee you the political world hasn’t seen the last of me,” the Conservative Party candidate told Washington Wire today, after losing the closely watched special House election in upstate New York to Democrat Bill Owens.

“I’m going to make sure that going forward, either I will decide to run again for something or I will help other people to get involved and run to make sure that we continue this fight,” Hoffman said by telephone from his campaign headquarters in Saranac Lake, N.Y.

Over at RedState, the all-spin zone, CEO Erick Erickson is trying his best to take the NY-23 loss, dress it up in a cheap suit, and call it a “victory:” In NY-23, Conservatives Win.

Erickson’s “point,” if it can be called that, is that the far right “sent a message,” scared the hell out of the GOP, and “crushed” the official GOP NY-23 candidate Dede Scozzafava. Therefore it’s a victory, even though their candidate, uh, lost.

Meanwhile, Michael Steele enthusiastically declares a ‘Republican renaissance’.