What’s this “like” business ? The media doesn’t like Republicans, period (although they are quite successful with baiting liberal ones and pretending to be their friends until it’s time to lower the boom). As long as Palin was in Alaska, there was no “threat” to the national establishment. She was, however, a threat to the establishment in Alaska (she was never a part of the old Stevens-Murkowski-Young power structure). Frankly, McCain didn’t have her as a first choice (indeed, his first choice was Lieberman, but he was told that was simply a no-go - the base would’ve crucified him) and he picked her more as a stunt (and to appease the base).
Anyway, they still take a two-pronged approach with her, by deriding and by dismissing her. If she had cozied up to the GOP establishment, it would be a different story (although she has shown them more respect than they have ever shown to her). If the media believed their own propaganda as to how much of a “loser” she is, they’d be falling all over themselves to promote her candidacy. You want the weakest opponent the opposition can put up. It’s why they float the scum like Slick Willard or Huckster or (C)Huntsman or even long-damaged goods like Gingrich, who turned from hero to zero with respect to the party base. They don’t want her as the nominee because they know she could win. The media despises her for obvious reasons and the RINO establishment hates her because they know she’ll end their gravy train and stop this pro-big government collusion dead in its tracks.
The only debatable point here is where she’d be now had she not been selected as the VP running mate. I do think she would be a top-tier candidate for President regardless, but where she would’ve been hamstrung is being tied to her duties in Alaska. Now, she is free to reach out nationwide. Of course, we would’ve eventually seen the vicious attacks and hysteria, albeit delayed.
We all recognize that the the MSM does push liberal Republicans and tries to sell the idea that those liberals are conservatives.
The point I’m making is that Palin wouldn’t have been one of those favored candidates if she wasn’t picked by McCain. I’m not saying that McCain picking her made her a favored candidate.
And I think you recognize that point, you seem to be saying something similar.
If Palin wasn’t selected by McCain, the main difference between that scenario and the situation we have now, is that Palin would not be the most famous Republican running and the Republican with the highest very favorable ratings running.
She’d be unknown, and would have no money, and the MSM wouldn’t talk about her because she wouldn’t be on the list of RINOs they want us to pick. None of those things are “top tier”. People would be just starting to figure out about her right now. She’d be in the same ballpark as Cain, except if Palin was in that first debate a month ago, people would be saying “who is this Palin”? instead of talking about Cain.