Actually, all of Washington said so. Palin has been airbrushed out of the GOP race by the entire scene – from Politico to National Review. And yet, for some unfathomable reason, she has secretly put together an hour long "Triumph Of The Will" "Evita" "Undefeated" documentary that will attempt to do what Josh Green tried: to reframe her as a visionary reformer. ("Undefeated" is another odd lie, of course. She lost the last general election overwhelmingly and would almost certainly have lost re-election in Alaska if she hadn't quit. But we're in postmodern Republican land here, so logic is not of the utmost concern.) More to the point, it's going to air in Iowa next month.
Why would someone who has decided not to run do that? Or am I airing bizarre conspiracy theories again – as opposed to the dignified restraint so many in Washington have shown? Here's what RCP's Scott Conroy has found out in a great piece of political reporting:
["The Undefeated"] is a two-hour-long, sweeping epic, a rough cut of which [filmmaker Stephen K.] Bannon screened privately for Sarah and Todd Palin last Wednesday in
Arizona, where Alaska's most famous couple has been rumored to have purchased anew home. When it premieres in Iowa next month, the film is poised to serve as a galvanizing prelude to Palin's prospective presidential campaign — an unconventional reintroduction to the nation that she and her political team have spent months eagerly anticipating, even as Beltway Republicans have largely concluded that she won't run. Bannon, a former naval officer and ex-Goldman Sachs banker, sees his documentary as the first step in Palin's effort to rebuild her image in the eyes of voters who may have soured on her, yet might reconsider if old caricatures begin to fade.
An interesting tidbit from the film:
Those unfamiliar with Palin's political background will be surprised to learn that the woman who has become one of the nation's most boisterous press critics was once such a media darling that two of the Alaska TV news correspondents whose highly favorable reports are shown in the film ended up leaving their jobs to join the Palin administration.
Balloon Juice commenters have some fun coming up with alternate titles. McGinniss, who understands her, notes he expected something like this. It may be a testing of the waters. But it has a crucial Palin aspect. It is entirely controlled by her; it is designed as pure propaganda; she is running against the media; she is running as a victim; she is running for revenge.
I, for one, feel nothing but a chill go up my spine.
Queen Esther is coming. Look busy.
The Dish 