Analysis of Sarah Palin’s strange move: Timeout or Flameout?

First, a few political givens: These are different, changing times in U.S. politics. The last three presidents each emerged from nowhere and achieved the White House on their first bid, though Bill Clinton and George W. Bush each had governor’s terms and reelections under their belts. But what had Barack Obama ever accomplished as a freshman senator before announcing his desire for promotion? The emergence of social media and online networking have created a whole new political enviro