Well somebody had to do it! Roger Simon's "the sin's of Sarah Palin" and Chief polittlecal columnist on Politico.com is very instructive of the thought process of the right leaning "intellectual"
see www.politico.com and search roger simon's article titled "the sins of Sarah Palin"
To make his argument he starts w/ this gem (Gerrymandering Electoral Math)"Bob Dole resigned his senate seat in '96 to pursue a presidential election" - Yes, he did Roger("back of the classroom") Simon - in fact there are more 'professional politicians" who have done exactly the same thing - you can Google it. Anyway, using your dubious analogy, Sarah "heaven forgive Hillary" Palin left the governorship in June 2008 to pursue her dream as our "heartbeat away president" - that's 2008 not 2009!
Thank goodness for her prescient political acumen - not to mention her spiritual advisers and political consultants - if this is this the finest rethuglickan thinking money can buy - thank the lucky stars!
So his thesis is that Sarah outwitted the media - smart little vixen that. And nice pick up "back-of-the-class" - the menstruating homily, priceless! After outwitting the 4th estate (who didn't see that coming?) she artfully eviscerates the "pooh-bahs and elites" (damn those elites - "shur-yubetcha" - they can see Harlem from their balconies).
How can she go wrong Rog? try seeing reality from the lip side not the ass!