Sarah Palin

So the illustrious Governor of Alaska officially announced that she will be resigning from state office. Which brings me to the observation that this is nothing more than sending a message to Democrats and those within her own GOP party that she intends to run for President in 2012.

Palin is one of those public figures you just love or love to hate. It seems to me that her exit from state politics in Alaska is her attempt to send a signal to Washington and the world that she means business and has her eyes on the White House in 2012. Only time will tell.

With that being said, I believe that, for better or worse, Palin's legacy as a public servant will always be tied to the historical Presidential election of 2008. Sure, Barack Obama won and made history doing so, but it was one Sarah Palin who consistently made headlines whether she wanted to or not.

While some would argue that it was Palin's candidacy that ultimately helped bring down the GOP's hope of capturing the White House, it must also be pointed out that Palin helped energize a segment of the voting public to actually go out and vote. I would argue that Senator McCain would not have gained the kind of support he did from conservative voting women if not for Sarah Palin.

While all this is now long been moot since Barack Obama is now President, Governor Palin's recent decision to resign from office as the chief executive of Alaska has many people already speculating that a run for the White House in 2012 is basically inevitable. For that to happen however, Palin and the GOP must recast themselves entirely and strive to become a party that is willing to step outside the box and attract more voters.

If the success that now Secretary of State Clinton enjoyed during her long campaign in 2008 is any indication, then the answer is that someone with Sarah Palin's apparent willingness to lead may be able to bring the fractured remnants of her GOP party back from the political abyss. Palin has proven that she can grab attention and make a name for herself on the national stage. The question, however, remains whether she is able and willing to do the hard work and make the sacrifices necessary that will prove that she is capable and courageous enough to be the kind of leader that can transcend political rhetoric and help move this country towards fulfilling its potential for greatness.