Unless you tuned out in November of 2008, then you should have noticed that starting that very same month, Palin took the reins of leadership of the Reagan wing of the GOP, and started helping win reelections in December of that year, she then helped conservatives to historic gains in 2010, and again led us to moving many offices right, in this years primaries.
Mitt Romney’s veep candidate is one thing, but Palin is the leader of the right wing of the party, and still the most influential endorsement of either party.
I think that you are confused about Ryan, he is not exactly the Reagan like, charismatic, movement leader, that is why he is just a valued conservative, among many.