Through her local Senate office spokesman, Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska released this one-line statement: “I am deeply disappointed that the Governor has decided to abandon the State and her constituents before her term has concluded.”

Ouch.  With friends like that who needs enemies?

Alaska Governor Sarah Palin and Murkowski have never exactly been close.  In 2006, It was Palin who ran a vitriolic primary campaign against then-incumbent Republican Governor Frank Murkowski- a former Senator himself as well as Lisa Murkowski's father- and terminated the career of a fixture of Republican Alaskan politics.

Then earlier this year, Palin generated headlines when she refused to rule out a run for the younger Murkowski's seat in the Senate as well, thus affording her an opportunity to remain in the spotlight, deal with national politics under the spotlights of Washington, D.C., and begin a six-year Senate term that would keep her in office right up until the 2012 election (and even beyond if she decided to wait until 2016 to run for president).  She ultimately bowed out and gave a lukewarm endorsement of Murkowski.

Even with all that consternation, Murkowski's blasting of Palin still comes as somewhat of a surprise.  Top statewide officials in any given state- especially governors and senators- will typically offer each other broad strokes of respect and support, especially when those officials hail from the same party.  Plus, Murkowski took a shot at a woman Texas Governor Rick Perry called "the biggest star in the Republican universe."  And a lot of Republican voters agree with him.

Consider what it took to get that kind of indictment of South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford from Senator Jim DeMint (both Republicans): the governor disappeared, admitted to one extramarital affair, and then copped to "a handful" of others.  Only then did DeMint call for Sanford to "do the right thing" and resign.  Palin simply stepped down and turned the reigns of government over to Lieutenant Governor Sean Parnell.  All things considered, that's probably in the best interest of Alaska anyway.  Palin is perpetually drawn away from state business to appear on talk shows, go on national speaking tours, and deal with being the celebrity she always accused Barack Obama of being.

Murkowski's comment established a few things: for one, she solidified herself as the dominant player in Alaskan politics.  Moreover, it makes Palin a national celebrity without a home, a pariah of the Land of the Midnight Sun that gave rise to her career.

But more importantly, it opens the door for further attacks on Palin from those in her own party who see the former Vice Presidential nominee as a polarizing figure doing a general disservice to the national party's prospects in future elections.  Someone had to get the ball rolling, and Murkowski wasn't afraid to be the one to do it.

Up until now, national Republicans have been wary of taking shots at Palin, and perhaps with good reason.  Like it or not, she's popular.   If she performs well enough in the primary in 2012, GOPers don't want to be forced to stick their feet in their mouths as they take back all of the critical statements about her.  But with Murkowski venturing into those waters first, others may eventually follow.

Palin presents somewhat of a quandary for the GOP: she's got the pop-political appeal to be successful, but none of the economic or foreign policy chops that other candidates with less star power.  But if Murkowski's comment carries any clout, it could potentially split the GOP into two rival camps: Palin detractors and Palin supporters.

And in fact, the Steve Schmidt-Bill Kristol debacle has already given the feud a jump start, with the Republican operative and columnist alternately blaming and defending Palin for the problems suffered by the John McCain presidential campaign in 2008.

Recent Blogs

Related Blogs