Once I opened Going Rogue, I was struck by how different it is than it sounds on MSNBC (and elsewhere). It was easy to get the impression over and going into the weekend that the book was a whole lot of score-settling. Having done a speed read of it, I’d say it’s a reintroduction more than score-settling.
Sure, Nicolle Wallace and Steve Schmidt aren’t giving it as Christmas gifts, but it’s not gratuitously nasty. In fact, it’s not even nasty (dang, there’s some sarcasm, but with a folksy Palin touch). Palin gives Schmidt some credit, even, along the way (for being well-informed on Iraq, for one; which she’s open about not being an expert on, with real self-awareness on display).
Because of the disloyalty of some on the McCain campaign, Governor Palin understandably felt the need to get on record about some things that happened during the campaign. What she has to say about some of these things are not the whole of the book. The book is “Who is Sarah Palin? By Sarah Palin.” Much of what you’ll find won’t surprise you. But it’s her reintroduction, on her terms. And in terms of any future she wants to have in public life of whatever kind, I think the whole reintroduction is a good move.