If she has national aspirations she has no choice but to attend. It's just a fact of politics.
True, It is how the game is played. Some just do not understand that. Gov. Palin can be in the orbit of this group without being corrupted by it. On a national level this is a proving ground for her. She can prove she has the metal on policy and once that is completed she will be taken a lot more seriously. This will also expanded her knowledge in areas where she is less comfortable expressing her ideas. To me there is more upside for her than downside. Gov. Palin know how the game played if she does not like the direction she has a built in excuse to bow out and that is governing AK.