Schieffer on Palin: No Future in Politics

(AP Photo/Al Grillo)

Before Sarah Palin's highly-anticipated book, "Going Rogue," goes on sale this week, it has already generated controversy, skepticism and blowback.

In portions that have been leaked in advance, and in interviews Palin has given in advance of the book's debut Tuesday, the former Alaska governor criticized senior aides to her 2008 running mate John McCain, which prompted retaliation from McCain's campaign staff — some speaking on the record, some anonymously.

Of Palin's book, Steven Schmidt, McCain's chief strategist, told CBS News,

"This is Sarah Palin's turn to get even, as it were," said CBS News chief Washington correspondent and host of "Face the Nation" Bob Schieffer.

"She came under this intense criticism all during the campaign and now she's giving her version of why she didn't succeed as a candidate."

But Schieffer, speaking on "The Early Show" Monday, said he does not think her strategy will work. "It's kind of like a baseball player going into a slump and blaming the manager or blaming the bat boy or blaming the fans or something. You know, it makes for provocative reading, I think she'll sell a lot of books, but I don't think it's going to help re-establish her as a political candidate.

"My guess is she's not ever going to run for anything and I think if she did, I don't think she would get very far," he told "Early Show" anchor Harry Smith.

"Let's not overlook the fact that she had to leave the governor's office in Alaska because that was too much for her. You can imagine her going through a primary with an opponent? What would she say? 'When the going gets tough, I'm ready to quit?' That is not how one builds a political base.

"I think she's going to sell a lot of books. I think she'll be a great attraction as an amusement. She's interesting, she's a celebrity. But I can't imagine that she has much future in politics, I really don't."

Smith asked if her popularity among a certain segment of the Republican Party, including the "Tea Party set," might give her a base from which to build power as a GOP candidate.

"The Republican Party is very split right now," Schieffer replied. "You have that segment, mostly on the right, but you also have candidates like Mike Huckabee who ran the last time out who generally made a good impression [and] won the Iowa caucuses. She will not be the only person who comes at it from the right if she should decide to run.

"But I think the purpose here for Sarah Palin right now is to sell some books and to try to sell her side of the story."

Schieffer said one problem for Palin in building up her persona through her book is that many of the adversaries about whom she writes — campaign staffers — are unknown to the general public. "When you start taking on campaign aides, people don't know who these people are, you know? So she's fighting against people that most people don't know who they are.

"It will sell books, but I don't see it going beyond that."

Watch the interview below:

Watch CBS News Videos Online

More Coverage of Sarah Palin's Book:

Palin Book Roils Former McCain Aides
Palin "Vindictiveness" in Her New Book?
Sarah Palin's Book: The Fact Check
Palin Publicity Blitz Full Speed Ahead

[verax]

Old reporters with smart-guy-authority goggles keep their eyes on the rut. This viewpoint, even if were sincere, makes the point it misses.

[El_Pearl]

Very well put but the rightwingnuts won't give up

[devilfly1]

Hail to the Chief!

The key to economy: Take out your calculator and figure it out how much our taxes and the characteristic of Sarah Palin

You see Sarah Palin = a bozo politician + free tickets to Barnes Bailey Circus.

Now, why should we bother to listen her craps? Have her take the non-sense craps and shove it in somewhere else?

[watervliet]

TEA PARTY? OR KKK???

[samtc2012]

CBS,NBC and ABC are irrelevant as news organizations. They placate to the left while the majority of the country looks on in disgust. Bob Schieffer as well as most of the CBS News Organization is a tool for the left. Real journalism at CBS died years ago.

[RedWings_ninety_one]

So are you a opinionated FOX News person? I have nothing against the FOX organization. They have merged with CBS, atleast in Northern Michigan, where 9 & 10 News (WWTV) and FOX 32 News (WFQX) are run by the same people in the same studio.

[scoobydob]

So anybody who doesn't agree with your miniscule group of loudmouth ultra radicals is irrelevant? You must be as sharp as that bowling ball called simpleton sarah. Just because the ultra radical nuts make a lot of noise does not make them relevant.

[El_Pearl]

Very well put but the rightwingnuts won't give up

[50BMS13]

This article is nonsense. SARAH PALIN WILL BE THE 45TH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA! She is Beautiful, Bright, and has Braun. She FAR MORE QUALIFIED than Obama to run this country. As Lou Dobbs said today,"Obama is mis-managing the USA" All the hate I see posted here makes me think of what Jesus said when he was dying. Jesus said "Forgive them Father for they do not know what they are doing". A lot of posters here don't realize it now, but you will love Sarah Palin when she puts our great country back on track. She will know how to deal with Ahmadinejad and Kim Il Jong. She won't kiss muslim a** and "waiter bow" to foreign heads of state. She won't apologize for the American way to the world. You will all see this soon enough. Please keep an open mind my friends and don't listen to all the poison posts of hate people put up. She never lies. She knows lots of stuff. She can kill a moose, gut it, and cook it. She has been Mayor, Governor, and VP candidate. Great days are ahead of us. The future is bright!

[michst_texas]

She has Braun? Does she have some nice bathroom appliances? I think you mean brawn. Duh. She is pretty but there are many, many beautiful women in the US. Most of whom aren't qualified to lead this country. What is she going to do with Kim Jong Il and the others? Flirt with them? Yep, that will make the US look quite credible. She knows lots of stuff? Are you kidding? She's probably the least knowledgeable public figure outside of Hollywood in a long time. She was mayor of some random town, governor of a random state (good only for oil) and a mistake of a VP candidate. I hope you're kidding about all of this. She's the Paris Hilton of politicos...nice to look at, zero value. And I'm a Republican. Really now.

[Sprom]

Wow. This rather simple perspective is the kind that drives Democrats to the polls. And makes true Republicans shudder in embarrassment. Has this last Presidential election not taught anyone the value and importance of vetting and then logically selecting a candidate based upon a comprehensive set of criteria that cuts across personal, professional and political values, as well as measured experiences? It's obvious that not everyone has absorbed and retained the reasons why President Obama won a demographic landslide, not a pure numbers landslide last year. The Republican Party made an enormous mistake in judgment when they selected Sarah Palin. And the American Public recoiled at the prospect of Sarah Palin in the oval office, let alone any office. That response was across the country and across the board. So Sen. McCain took a lickin. Yet, observers such as this person who believes that the article is "nonsense" still hasn't grasped this reality. Frightening actually. Real Republicans hope this category of person quietly disappears. That way the party can move forward positively to find candidates that the mainstream in America can embrace from both sides of the aisle. For goodness sake, Sarah Palin is at least nothing short of consistent. The motivation is to sell books....which when translated means generating revenue for herself and her family. This is the fact on this one. Bob Schieffer wanted to say that, but took the high "media road" instead. Don't be fooled. That's what he really meant.

[buzbeech]

I thought you were a serious columist? What happened buddy, when did you start working for the gossip mags?????

[tallanh]

Let's see, in the picture she's talking, she's smiling, she's pointing her fingers... Chances are she's saying something really stupid...

[JoeSponge]

Whoa! Let's see, tallanh is thinking, giggling uncontrollably, and tapping at the keyboard! There's not a chance that s/he typing something stupid, it's a SURE thing. Woohoo!

[gmcopinion]

Oh my! If the Republican Party even considers Sarah Palin as a Presidental canidate, I will not even be able to leave my house. The sound of her voice just just sends shivers down my spine. The thought of such a fake and overbearing person at the head of our country just frightens me.

[Omni-Present101]

CBS News: Please Talk about Real Women with Real National and International Experience, such as Former Secretary of State, Condoleeza Rice and Senator Lisa Murkowski, who should be the Nominees for President and Vice President of the USA...

Opposed to this Hollow, Floating, Bubble, by the name of Sarah Palin, who has No National or International Experience or National Policy Making, whatsoever.

Please Respect the American People as Thinkers and not as Dumb, Hollow and Shallow National Enquirer Tabloid Trash Readers

____________________

[marineinfantry]

I agree... I just can't stand her voice. The media should not be paying this much attention on an unproven candidate. There are so many other important issues out there...