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It’s hard to be patient and kind when the criticism of Palin and her supporters is the same old unfair, untrue, and after four years, boring crap, and the constructive advice to her is, in effect, “If you did what you’ve been doing all along, people might like you better as a candidate. I definitely would.” She did exactly what you suggested. And continues to do so. Rather well, actually. At least as well, and in most cases better than, anybody in this campaign or the last. And it didn’t work. At least not with the “smart” people. The “smart” people, including many on FR, still said “no, Palin’s stupid, she’s unserious, she’s unorganized, she’s inarticulate, she’s only out for herself, anybody is better than Palin”. And they continue to do so. Even as the the other candidates and (although he’s less thoroughly disappointing than I expected) the probable nominee proved otherwise. So let’s say she does what you say she should (or actually, continues to do what she’s been doing). What precisely is going to change for her detractors in 2016 or 2020 (or whenever)? Being proven wrong on the campaign trail didn’t change them. What will? I’m not sure anything will. I would bet good money that Palin could be as impressive as hell between now and the next couple of elections, and yet when somebody brings up her name as a possible candidate, no matter how masterfully she does what you say, we’ll hear the exact same snark, the exact same sneering, the exact same comments on her daring to go out and make money, and the same BS excuses as to why she can’t be the nominee, she can’t win, la la la la la. And BS excuses are exactly what they are. No, Sarah Palin didn’t miss an opportunity in 2012 so much as the GOP and the conservative movement did. And they seem fully intent on missing a few more.

And with all due respect to Scott Walker...he’s a fine human being, a kick-ass conservative politician, and he has definitely had a rough ride at times. But not as rough as Sarah Palin did. Not even close. To suggest he did is just absurd.