Granted, I've been a little critical of her in the past. She had 18 months of campaigning for president as Gov for experience, and she mumbled her way thru a few carefully controlled interviews.
However, since she has a political action committee and is working hard to keep her name relevant thru various TV feuds, book deals, and abstinence tours, it looks like we may see her throw her hat into the ring for a 2012 run.
Who would she likely be up against in 2012?
If obama is doing poorly, some good candidates might enter. if he's kicking butt, they will likely sit it out for 2016. Would Mitt, Huck, barbour, pawlenty, and jindal all enter the race?
What would she be like in interviews?
Remember that the campaign trail is 18 months of answering questions 15 hours each day. Will she refuse like she did in 2008? If Mitt and Huck will talk to reporters all day, and palin refuses, what will happen to her coverage?
What would her earning potential be?
If there's another promising star on the horizon that FOX annoints the next great hope, will they (since they have turned on her big time) cost her the far-right donations she got in 2008?
Would anyone pick her for VP choice again?
If another candidate wins, would they repeat mccain's choice of her as VP? 60% of 2008 voters said she wasn't even prepared to be VP. Would that info influence their decision?
Personally I think a bright and shining star will emerge in 2012 and give obama a run for his money. I don't know if palin has the shrewdness to get thru a year of speaking without getting herself into trouble, or that the party even takes her seriously. Especially with how she's not even mentioned in most major power repub polls for 2012 options.