Despite her sworn aversion to media scrutiny, Republican “It girl” Sarah Palin is backtracking to familiar territory in a bizarre — but potentially genius — political maneuver that’s left her fraternizing with the “fair and balanced” folks at Fox.

Well, maybe a little more than that. 

According to her multiyear deal, the blue-collar heroine will regularly appear as a political commentator and analyst on the cable channel, radio network, and website, in addition to hosting episodes of Fox News’ “Real American Stories” — a new series designed to revolve around the lives of citizens who have overcome adversity.

Touching? Sure. Yet while hand-wringing “liberal establishmentarians” calculate the prospects of our first Alaskan President, even Palin’s ululating base has misgivings as to whether her professional endeavors will pay dividends in 2012.
 
“I assume this is a business decision on the part of both Fox News and on Gov. Palin’s part,” opined former McCain spokesperson Nancy Pfotenhauer after news broke earlier this week. “Let’s first hope for [Fox News President] Roger Ailes’ sake that she doesn’t quit that job the way she quit her job as governor of Alaska,” added Paul Begala, a Democratic strategist and CNN commentator.

Their comments illuminate the obvious: that the ex. Gov, riding out an all-time political high, still has absolute power of the purse for television networks struggling to hike up their ratings; and the same “liberal media elite” that once spurned her sly winks and cutesy one-liners would sooner eat their pride than pass up a chance to get her on camera.

But the relationship may not be mutually beneficial.

First and foremost, there’s the issue of political overexposure. That isn’t to say that the gifted Alaskan would experience a decline in popularity — just that the scripted charisma which cleared her path to national stardom isn’t necessarily well-suited for the fastpaced, high-pressure environment of TV news analysis. Publicity is a double-edged sword, after all — and for the captivating (yet off-kilter) Palin, a special distinction must be made between boiler plate rhetoric and the substantive commentary expected by audiences.

It isn’t enough to excise parts of old stump speeches and hope it flies with the American public.  There is no “applause button” anymore, and Fox — Palin’s last line of defense against a meanspirited liberal media — can’t dish out any more unconditional love for the ex. Gov in the company of eggheaded journalists, ambassadors, etc. Even Congressmen — most of whom turn profits (and elections) as a result of positive coverage — balk at the idea of daily appearances, recalling many colleagues who’ve endured gaffes that could have ended their political careers.

Palin can’t afford to play damsel in distress. But her limited rhetorical capabilities — sans teleprompter — are limited, and potentially disastrous for her rumored Presidential run.  

In the end, it all boils down to perception:

Sarah Palin: sexy trainwreck, or God’s little soldier?

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