LS,
Palin WAS the only Governor in history to have frivolous lawsuits filed against her AND prohibited from setting up a defense fund. Notice that no lawsuits were filed against her immediate successor, Parnell. Why?
Discipline? Doesn’t have to take the form of elective or running for high office. Look what Palin has accomplished after she resigned. She could have easily returned to private life outside of politics but chose to get involved and elect scores of Republican conservatives nationwide, some from the brink of death like Ernst and Cruz.
You are simply being disingenuous.
However much SOME victories can be attributed to her help, many other candidates she endorsed or supported did not win. But it's not about whether she can get a few votes for Cruz---but whether she can convince large numbers of voters, including far more conservatives than you want to think, that she is a trustworthy candidate. By trustworthy, I mean if they invest time, emotion, and money in her, will she show the political discipline to be a "serious" candidate? Will she develop solid policy answers when someone says, "What would you do about. . ." And get a reasoned response instead of a "riding" joke or a (well-deserved) media bash.
Palin had a chance in her hiatus to make herself into a genuine candidate, just as Reagan took the time after his governorship to deliver radio addresses on a variety of issues.
When W ran for president he developed a series of developed answers to all the policy questions he would be asked. Palin has not, and it is my opinion that she could, but stubbornly won't because it would take. . . Discipline.