re: #207 ObserverArt

I have not read the book or viewed the movie. I hated that McCain/Palin bull so much I stayed away from it.

By the way, John Heilemann was on with Nicole today and did say he covered some of it, but he kind of made is seem what Schmidt was saying today was even more out in the open.

I guess it was all new to me.

Been a long time since I read the book, but from the movie they were certainly complicit:

Steve Schmidt: There are unknowns with Palin, and, ah, certainly it could go bad. But if it were me, I’d rather lose by ten points going for the win than lose by one point and look back and say “Goddamn, we should have gone for the win”.

and

Mark Salter: John is getting slammed for making an irresponsible choice!
Steve Schmidt: We picked her.
Mark Salter: No, *you two* picked her and then slapped her on the butt and shoved her out there under a banner saying “Country First”!

And Nicolle’s warm fuzzies worrying about what they were putting poor Palin through:

Nicolle Wallace: [shakes head, calls Steve Schmidt] Steve, it’s Nicolle. I will gladly resign if you want to blame me for Couric, but if you want me to stay, then I’m back on McCain’s bus tomorrow, as I never want to deal with that woman ever again!

They may have had regrets after all was said and done, but they were all in when they thought they could win.