President Palin???

Less than two years ago Sarah Palin was plucked from obscurity in Alaska and pushed into the national (and international) spotlight as John McCain’s choice for vice president. It didn’t go well. She had trouble handling her new celebrity status. Every time she opened her mouth she displayed her limited grasp of facts and issues; she didn’t want to talk honestly about the controversies and lawsuits she faced in her home state; and, of course, the McCain-Palin ticket lost.

Since then she's become more comfortable as a celebrity, boned up a little on the issues, and is a powerful spokesperson for a group of conservative Republicans. She’s also become a darling of the media – and one of its favorite targets. She still has that problem: every time she opens her mouth…

As governor of Alaska, Palin earned $125,000 a year. Since she walked away from the job last July, she’s raked in nearly 100 times that salary – an estimated $12 million in fees, contracts and book royalties. Her first book, Going Rogue, netted an estimated $7 million; add another $2 million for her 8-part Discovery TV series Sarah Palin’s Alaska ($250,000 per episode); plus a multi-year hosting contract with Fox News; a second book deal; and speaking fees of $100,000 or more, depending on audience and venue.

The president of the United States receives a compensation package (salary and expenses) of about $570,000, plus the perks of a residence with staff, retreats, 24/7 protection, and a variety of transportation options – not including personal income from writing or royalties. Do you think Palin would trade her $12 million (and the opportunity to earn as much every year) for that? And all the headaches that come with the job? Would you?

In summary, Sarah Palin now has celebrity, power, big bucks, her privacy, but none of the problems of national office. She doesn’t need the presidency, or its headaches.