For me Palin’s significance is profound. It is not as much her as much the ideological bigotry that has risen up in this nation to create a sense of scandal and shame about being conservative.
The yelping dogs of MSNBC, CNN, academia and elsewhere continue to behave in a uniquely hateful way to intimidate conservatives. It has been building for a long time. Until Conservatives successfully humilate this community on a national scale, the escalation will continue.
I think it is very important to put someone in who has been rejected by the punditry. The public tends to know this.
Re #8 , excellent post.