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| "Could you hold that thought Congressman? My Sarah Palin emergency cell phone is ringing!" |
Staffing problems at the highest level of Arizona Rep. Paul Gosar’s office have thrown his operation into disarray — spurring a string of departures and prompting members of the congressman’s inner circle to reach out for help, internal emails obtained by POLITICO indicate.
“Gosar has serious congressional staff issues,” said one Arizona Republican familiar with the operation. “It’s a total cluster.”
The emails, written by former staffers while they were still on the payroll, implicate chief of staff Rob Robinson and legislative director Tom Van Flein as the heart of the problem.
Gosar’s decision to hire the pair after he was elected raised eyebrows from the beginning — both men had no prior congressional experience and both had close ties to Sarah Palin, who boosted Gosar’s campaign with an endorsement.
Gosar’s relationship with Robinson began long before his recent venture into politics. They met when both served on the American Dental Association’s government affairs council, and eventually grew so close, Robinson quit his Wasilla-based dental practice in 2009 to become Gosar’s chief adviser. Robinson got to know Palin during his time dabbling in Alaska politics and through Van Flein, who also counts as clients Palin and the Alaska Dental Society.
In January, Gosar assured those concerned about Robinson and Van Flein’s lack of political experience that he trusted both men and that their relationships with Palin wouldn’t affect his office. “When it comes to politics, it’s nice to be mired with Sarah Palin. But I’m Paul Gosar. I’m my own person,” he told Roll Call at the time.
In a lengthy message sent in late January by Gosar’s former communications director, Stefani Zimmerman describes Van Flein as disengaged and preoccupied with the former Alaska governor’s portfolio.
Zimmerman accused Van Flein — who remains one of Palin’s most trusted advisers — of spending office time on Palin and other clients. She also said he “relays information the staff discusses with each other to people like Sarah Palin” and “writes op-eds and speeches without permission, all from Sarah Palin’s point of view.”
In meetings, Zimmerman claimed, Van Flein “asks questions that would benefit Sarah, not Paul,” and “advises Paul from a tea party perspective, not Arizona 1st’s perspective.”
Zimmerman also charged that Van Flein, like Palin, “goes rogue, … takes meetings, advises Paul, etc., without telling anyone, including Rob.”
Go ahead and ask yourself if this comes as any surprise to you.
No, of course not. Because as we all know EVERYTHING Palin touches turns to shit.
You know on a personal note I just have to say how much I have missed "Tommy" Van Flein around here.
Why it seems like just yesterday he was desperately bailing like a one armed sailor while Joe Miller's Senate campaign sank into the inky blackness of Alaska politics. With experience and credentials like that you can imagine what an asset he must be to Paul Gosar.
I am almost embarrassed at how sentimental I become when I think back to the days when Tommy would threaten to sue me on the Grizzled Mama's behalf (When we both knew he did not have the legal right nor sufficient set of balls to pull it off), or I would trick him into having brunch with me just to see the shocked look on his face.
But does he ever call? Or even write? Hell no.
Oh well I guess those carefree days of constant strife and "take no prisoners" warfare are all but gone now.
What can I say? Alaska's loss is....well apparently now Arizona's loss.
It is interesting to note, by the way, that it now seems apparent that whenever somebody pisses Klondike Kardashian off that it makes Arizona Rep. Paul Gosar's ability to do his job grind to a standstill, since part of his staff is then preoccupied with helping her with damage control and soothing her ruffled feathers.
You know SOMEBODY in Arizona politics might take that information and use it for their benefit.
I am just saying.
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