The Todd Factor

I confess - one of the reasons I didn’t support Hillary in the primary was the thought of having Bill wandering around the White House with nothing to do. I think Bill was a good president, aside from his zipper problem, but he’s so accustomed to power that it just seemed like it would be too big a job to ‘manage’ him and keep him on the sidelines where he belonged.

Michelle, Cindy and Jill fit our image of a first or second spouse, but Todd is a different kettle of fish. From reports coming out of Anchorage, he sits in on government meetings and he is copied on government policy emails. There’s even a joke in the legislature that comes up when they’re waiting for a decision from the governor’s office - “What would Todd do?”

In the small circle of advisers close to the governor, these people say, Mr. Palin is among the closest, and he plays an unpaid but central role in many aspects of the administration of Ms. Palin, the Republican nominee for vice president. http://www.nytimes.com

So, if Todd is the sort of person who would mess around in government business without being elected to office, and if Sarah is the sort of person who would let him get away with it, we need to look at this as the national security issue that it is. Who is this guy, anyway? Do we want him to have access to classified documents? Do we want him talking to national leaders from other countries? Do we want him influencing one of the most powerful people in the world?

I think the reporters need to go back to Alaska and give this guy a real close look. And McCain needs to tell us, specifically, what measures he’ll take to protect our nation’s secrets from this meddling spouse.

On another note, here’s a take from the Anchorage Daily News, telling us why the McCain campaign is so desperate to keep a lid on the Troopergate investigation:

Why do she and her new handlers in the McCain camp believe there is something in Troopergate that could cost them the election?

The real damage to Palin from Troopergate comes with an injury claim involving trooper Wooten when he hurt his back while in the line of duty.

Independent investigator Steve Branchflower testified recently he believes someone in the governor’s office tried to block Wooten’s workers’ compensation injury benefits….

Here’s why this is all so damaging to the governor. It’s one thing to try to get a trooper fired because you believe he is a danger to the public. But using your considerable power as governor to block the benefits of a former family member you have a long-running dispute with moves this scandal into a new realm.

It becomes about one thing and one thing only, revenge. Not public good, but settling a score.