She's a mother of 5, including one later-in-reproductive-life-conceived Downs child. That's Reader's Digest level interest stuff not national political leadership stuff. She needs to be where she can continue to be a mother to a Downs child, not do that while she's trying to go through morning intelligence briefings on managing responses to global terrorism. Santorum's family illness matters during his campaign distracted him for much the same reason.
The family side-show Palin's daughter Bristol provided, not only during 2008 with her love-baby but "Dancing" around since then has been a complete human-level distraction suitable only for tabloid fare. That's the kind of thing that unfairly perpetuates the "hick" factor.
Palin was/is a Reagan-esque voice as much as is Santorum, but both have had way too much family baggage distractions to have ever made either of them effective as our nation's top-Leader. Each should be leading their respective families and tending to their family matters. Where political futures are concerned both of them politically would do best in the Senate.
Don't get me wrong. We need the Reagan-esque voice, not so much from a mother of 5 who made family raising an (admirable) priority, but from a male voice who leads and speaks in a polished fashion (Perry led, can't speak in a polished fashion).
That's your next Reagan.
Palin should challenge Begich in 2014 for the Senate run in AK, and form conservative coalitions when she gets there with House bill sponsors and make peer alliances with conservative tigers like Cruz and Paul.
She'll be plenty effective there even as Jim DeMint was, and she'll still be able to have the time and attention to continue to be an effective mom -- same for Santorum if he ever has a chance to get back in the Senate too.
FReegards!
