Yeah I wish things were different...
Wiser man than myself once said that a man cannot chose his destiny, but he can chose to embrace or ignore it. Maybe in some alternative dimension Palin is up on Obama by 20 points, with Nate Silver desperately skewing data to show Obama still has a shot at Illinois.
Not so. I choose my own destiny every morning when I get out of bed. Palin could have chosen to run, which would have resulted in her winning the White House. That she didn't, remains a mystery to us, but it's a destiny she clearly held within her grasp.
As I said before, that path is still open to her, should she ever choose to walk it.