Palin attorney, and pet poodle, Thomas Van Flein escapes to Arizona. Hmm what does THAT mean for Snowdrift Snooki?

From Politico:

One of Sarah Palin’s most-trusted advisers is going to work for a newly-elected Arizona congressman.

Tom Van Flein, an Anchorage lawyer who has become a political adviser and fixer of sorts for Palin and her family, will become legislative director and deputy chief of staff for incoming Republican Rep. Paul Gosar, it was announced Monday.

Van Flein is one of the four aides Palin most relies on, helping to devise political strategy and do research. He graduated from the University of Arizona College of Law, and formerly lived and worked in Arizona, Gosar pointed out in a statement announcing the hiring and praising Van Flein, who worked on Gosar's campaign, as "one of my trusted advisers."

"I look forward to working with him in Washington and ensuring that we listen to the American people and work to uphold the principles that make this country great," Gosar said.

As many of you are aware Van Flein has been one of Palin's most loyal and versatile staff members.  He aggressively represented Palin during the Troopergate investigation, he aggressively went after me on her behalf after I posted the Splitsville story, he represented her during the so-called "e-mail hacker" trial, represented Bristol in her child custody case with Levi, and even represented Palin's butt-boy Joe Miller in his fight to dismiss write in votes for Lisa Murkowski.

Yes Tommy-boy has been one of the Grizzled Mama's most reliable supporters and defenders, so what does it mean that he is suddenly picking up stakes and winging it to sunny Arizona?

Well he could simply be jumping off of the Palin Titanic before it finally hits that iceberg that everybody knows is in its path.  Or he might know that the Palin gravy train is about to run out of gravy and that there are more lucrative offers elsewhere. 

Van Flein worked on Gosar’s campaign, donating $2,760 worth of legal services, according to Federal Election Commission reports. They show that Palin’s political action committee, Sarah PAC, has paid Van Flein’s firm $155,000 in the past year for legal fees.

Or, if some of the rumors I keep hearing are correct, he might be heading off to help set up Palin's operation in Arizona, before the family all moves down there en masse.

I have to say that at this point I am not exactly sure which one of these scenarios, or which combination of them, is the actual reason.

However it seems that Palin is not completely cutting ties with Van Flein, like she did with some other staff members who rode off into the sunset.

It is unclear whether Team Palin intends to add staff to replace Van Flein during his absence.
In a statement, Palin said Gosar "is getting a wise, experienced and principled hand that will help him hit the ground running."

That sounds pretty magnanimous for the Grizzled One now doesn't it? 

And isn't that old fart that Palin allowed to share her 2008 Presidential ticket still Senator in Arizona as well?

Yes, I think this bears watching. I have the feeling that Van Flien's association with Sister Sarah is far from over.