I agree with all you/ve said ... personally. That's all great stuff for a conservative looking for a quality conservative candidate.
What I'm looking for (I think in vain) from this thread is a rationale that explains how she attracts the independent voter. Not the conservative like you or me.
Thats your mistake. Don't ask how "she" attracts the independent. Ask how any conservative attracts the independent voter. You don't do it by hiding your light under a bushel. You do it by going bold. You do it by persuading. You can't persuade people of principles you are embarrassed of or persuade them of principles you would prefer to evade in order to avoid scaring the independents.
Just remember this last election. Conservatives did pretty well. We need to keep pushing forward. Don't worry if Palin is the flag-bearer or some other person. Worry that the flag-bearer is someone who actually believes in the founding principles and is someone who is prepared to fight.
You have to have noticed that there are several people toying with the idea of throwing their hat in the ring but who were quiet during the fight that led up to November 2. When O was spiking the ball over the net, some folks were quiet and some were in the fight. Choose someone who was in the fight.
Get your eye off Palin and get your eye on the Obamists. Fight them until its time to choose between Repubs, and when that time comes, pick someone who was in the fight when it mattered. If there is someone you consider to be more electable, and they are in the fight, then good; you know who to support. If your favorite "electable" is waiting until election season and letting others take the slings and arrows, then they are no leader, however electable you might think they are.
Woman. Mom. Outsider. Attractive. What more do you need?
The rationale has to come from Palin, herself. You won't find it here, or anywhere at present, because it doesn't exist. She will (or won't) create the rationale by her demeanor and the seriousness with which she tackles the big issues of the day. If all she ever does is run around throwing red meat to people who already support her, she will be Pat Buchanan in a skirt.