...the presence of the former Alaska governor on the GOP ticket headed by Sen. John McCain in 2008 invigorated the party – at the time, at least. And although they lost to Obama and Joe Biden, it wasn’t the blowout that Mondale and Ferraro suffered against Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush. Ferraro went on to relative political obscurity, twice losing Democratic Party primaries for the US Senate. Ms. Palin, on the other hand, was just getting started......all evidence to the contrary. I'd be happy to hear her take the Oath, but Sarah's main role has been and will probably continue to be to draw fire.
Palin will not have a political career unless she holds elected office. Quitting the governorship was one of the biggest political blunders of all time.
Her political influence in recent years is the half life of the 2008 buzz. Her influence as a pundit will continue to fade asymptotically toward zero. As a commentator she does not stand out in a crowd.
I’d vote for her for anything, but her public life is over unless she changes course dramatically.