My point, in looking at the situation on a national level is to suggest that times are different today. Sarah Palin will have an influence on this group and could well become an acceptable leader for them. Sarah Palin could unify this great traditional American grassroots outpouring of tax-government antagonism and lead it into mainstream politics. She has the charisma, the cajones and the political intelligence to do it.
The thought that Lefty and mainstream hatred of Palin will be a barrier to her moving toward the center and appealing to independent voters fails to remember that the independent voters of America are uniquely galvanized by mistreatment from the mainstream media. The more vituperous the mainstream media, the easier it will be for Palin to consolidate Tea-Party and independent polities.
To understand this dynamic, merely recall the 2004 election where George W. Bush was excoriated every day for two years by the mainstream media and carried the country and Congress by a significant majority.