I too would like to know what happened to make her opt out of the race. The last 3 times before her announcement, she looked down, tired, ??? She said SHE had the fire in the belly, and her family was behind her. What else could it be but the Republican “establishment”? Maybe they told her they would not support her with money or back her with the media, that she would be on her own. She knows from experience how difficult that would be. IF that was “it”, she is very gracious to even speak to any candidates. What I want to know (besides what happened) is who are these “Republican establishment”? Remember she told Michelle Bachmann “It's not your time”. Maybe she's heard this too??
Appearances are designed to be deceiving, but one thing is clear: politics is a blood sport played and supported by some of the most ruthless humans on the planet, especially at the level of power she had risen to. They will do anything, whatever it takes.
I believe if Sarah Palin were to have continued on the path to the White House she would have been successful, but I think those who oppose her would make it personally painful, most likely by going after her family with a Vince Foster sort of finality.
Maybe the GOPe, tired of what she did to them in Alaska, let her know she wasn't going to cut in line?
Maybe we'll never know, but this much is obvious to me:
No one scares the various factions of the Powers That Be more than she does/did, but she has been effectively sidelined...at least for now.