I know, I know, I said she would. Just as a disclaimer, I’m one of many who are considered “inner circle” for Sarah, and early this evening the email us her decision. Am I disappointed? Sure. I believe she would make a hell of a president. For all those who say, “She has no experience”, as I said before she had tons more than Barack Obama he got elected so the “experience” canard is stupid.

“October 5, 2011
Wasilla, Alaska

After much prayer and serious consideration, I have decided that I will not be seeking the 2012 GOP nomination for President of the United States. As always, my family comes first and obviously Todd and I put great consideration into family life before making this decision. When we serve, we devote ourselves to God, family and country. My decision maintains this order.

My decision is based upon a review of what common sense Conservatives and Independents have accomplished, especially over the last year. I believe that at this time I can be more effective in a decisive role to help elect other true public servants to office – from the nation’s governors to Congressional seats and the Presidency. We need to continue to actively and aggressively help those who will stop the “fundamental transformation” of our nation and instead seek the restoration of our greatness, our goodness and our constitutional republic based on the rule of law.

From the bottom of my heart I thank those who have supported me and defended my record throughout the years, and encouraged me to run for President. Know that by working together we can bring this country back – and as I’ve always said, one doesn’t need a title to help do it.

I will continue driving the discussion for freedom and free markets, including in the race for President where our candidates must embrace immediate action toward energy independence through domestic resource developments of conventional energy sources, along with renewables. We must reduce tax burdens and onerous regulations that kill American industry, and our candidates must always push to minimize government to strengthen the economy and allow the private sector to create jobs.

Those will be our priorities so Americans can be confident that a smaller, smarter government that is truly of the people, by the people, and for the people can better serve this most exceptional nation.

In the coming weeks I will help coordinate strategies to assist in replacing the President, re-taking the Senate, and maintaining the House.

Thank you again for all your support. Let’s unite to restore this country!

God bless America.

– Sarah Palin”

Allah Pundit’s analysis is spot on for the most part - except for the aforemened experience. But on the whole his points are valid.

“She did the smart thing by staying out. Just yesterday, CBS found that three out of four Republicans didn’t want her to run compared to just 23 percent who did. Her favorable numbers have been underwater for ages and she would have been hammered on the inexperience charge for failing to finish her term as governor. I do think she could have emerged as the “Not Romney” in the race over Cain and a weakened Perry, but realistically there was no way to beat Mitt once it was a binary choice. His campaign pockets are too deep and undecided Republicans are too desperate to beat The One to roll the dice on a nominee who’s arguably unelectable. Once Christie decided not to get in and split the centrist vote with Romney, there was no obvious path for her (which may explain the timing of her announcement today). Worse, there was a chance that she wouldn’t even emerge as the “Not Romney”: If Perry or Cain ended up faring better than her in Iowa or South Carolina, it would have shattered her mystique as the ultimate champion of grassroots conservatives. By staying out, her supporters now get to say “she would have won if she ran” without ever having to test their theory and she gets to kinda sorta play kingmaker as people wait to see if she’ll endorse Perry, Cain, or (gasp) Romney. And who knows? Maybe she’ll focus now on challenging Begich for Senate in Alaska in 2014, which would be a huge first step back towards national viability down the road. She’s 47 years old, fully 25 years younger than McCain was when he was nominated three years ago. No rush.

I would add this. In over 40 years of watching politics I’ve never seen a political figure take the hits, slander, lies and venom-filled reporting that Sarah has and still be a force to reckon with. Any other political figure who had taken half the brunt she has taken would have been long dead in the water.

The media will no doubt think they were successful getting her off the trail, but in truth they had little to do with it. In spite of slanted polling I’ve never see Sarah go anywhere where she wasn’t greeted with love and affection - via sold out crowds I might add. A conservative operative friend of mine said that no of the current field of candidates excites a crowd more than Sarah.

Rather that being a victory for the media, it’s actually their worst nightmare, for now Palin can be - as she said - immensely more powerful in the party. While 2012 is off the schedule, 2016 is -in the political world - just around the corner. I believe by then she may be the only candidate for the job.