“....I’m not keen on the idea of an elected governor stepping down to take a party position: it strikes me as being dismissive of the constituents who voted for him or her....”
I agree 100%. That is the primary reason I hope Plain remains the Governor of Alaska and appoints a staunch conservative to fill Ted Stevens’ seat. He needs to go, but she needs to stay where she is. She will be more effective rallying the troops from outside the DC crowd.
Yes, I want to see Palin make it as a governor: she’s very much at risk of looking too ambitious right now, and the move to Washington wouldn’t help that at all.