I have the feeling the liberals in the Republican Party didn’t want Mrs. Palin around.
LOL. Ya think?
BINGO. That's why #3 is the closest answer. #1 is absurd. Their network is FILLED with commentators who have never held office or run for office. Why would that be a problem for Palin, an actual vice presidential candidate? Was there a problem with Geraldine Ferraro being a commentator? True, she may be overpaid, now that the big media attention on her being V.P. has naturally died down. But #3 seems to be the closest answer.
Ailes turned FNC into the Romney News Network during the primary and started undermining everyone who threatened Romney, starting with Palin, then Cain, Gingrich and Santorum. But Ailes desire to make FNC a "moderate" RINO network was evident even before this, when Glenn Beck's show was cancelled.
I believe they've publically indicated they've "maxed out" their ratings with conservatives as far as they can go so they plan to grow by trying to attract less conservative viewers. It's the classic Aesop's fable of the dog who has a bone in his mouth, then sees his reflection in the water, tries to grab the "other dog's" bone and loses both of them.