“Palin doesn’t seem engaged at all in legislative process,...”
Perhaps because she wasn't in the legislative branch. LOL.
Different governors have different styles. As all states require the governor’s assent to put a measure passed by the legislature into law (unless the legislature overrides), the governor can involve himself or herself, and can pull and lobby for certain measures. Maybe this isn’t seen in Palin’s email because she preferred to do it in person.