It's looking more and more like McCain's "loss" was part of a prearranged deal between the two wings of the Republicrat Party - one that Palin wasn't necessarily privy to. 2008 was the Democrats' year, Hillary was scheduled to assume the throne in return for the Clintons' cooperation in knocking down the Gore campaign in 2000, but she couldn't hold up her end in the primaries.
As evidence, just try to find one substantive Administration policy change from the Bush years by Obama in the next six months on the issues of Federal Reserve governance, the Treasury Department's relationship with the money center banks, or Homeland Security policy. A lot of noise will be made about social issues and ANWR drilling, but that's all a sideshow to keep the sheep entertained. Watch fiscal policy and you'll see who really runs the country, and it isn't whatever joker happens to be sitting in the Oval Office.