Let’s assume for the hell of it that Sarah Palin is interested in being an influencer in the national debate, and even that she might like to be President someday. Does being governor of Alaska advance her cause, with or without the constant nuisance lawsuits and ethics investigations? It doesn’t.

Running Alaska doesn’t really qualify as executive experience in the first place in the minds of voters and the political elite — and besides, the electorate has made it abundantly clear that lack of experience is a red herring. She’s not going to stop getting sued by lefties who hate the fact that she’s the only conservative voice which also happens to be presentable and articulate. But now that she’s a free agent, she can move to somewhere in the lower 48 (Atlanta would be an intriguing choice), start up a robust legal defense fund, and launch her media career.

In 2008, Americans voted for a radical left-wing message that’s plainly toxic to much of this country’s history and ideals, primarily because they were seduced by the messenger. Republicans generally have this fantasy that good ideas and good experience (see McCain’s best argument for his election) will win, but that assumes that Americans select their leaders with a process that emphasizes those things. They don’t. Adam Lambert didn’t win American Idol for the same reason. To say that things should be different is a waste of time.

What about the point that she got out of the kitchen when it got too hot? In the future, the only people who will remember that are the same ones who insist that a Presidential candidate needs to be qualified by executive experience in government. As I said, there’s no upside for her in Alaska, and she needs to get out of there and into circulation. Besides, if she really isn’t made of steel, that will become apparent readily enough in the next few years.

It was rare and serendipitous to be gifted with Ronald Reagan as a vehicle for the conservative message, especially after his days spent as a national television figure with GE. Now that Republicans have Sarah Palin, they shouldn’t waste her, whether or not she ever runs for President. National-class charisma doesn’t come along every decade. And the fact that she’s a lightning rod for everyone who otherwise believes in women’s rights is a bonus.

Palin’s not a policy expert, and never presented herself as one. She’s never going to be a state governor again. She could be Vice President someday. Otherwise, the only elective office that makes sense for her is President. Will she be President in 2012? Nope. The only thing that can stop Obama is… well, nothing. But she has 25 years ahead in which to make the case, and perhaps someday she’ll run.

Republicans have a habit of disqualifying talented people permanently for their first misstep, or perceived misstep. The Democrats are swooning over their good fortune at having opponents that insist on perfection. If Palin is thinking in the back of her mind that she might run for President someday, that necessarily means she’s betting that the people will either forget about this episode, or else not see it in the same light as Republican bigwigs and pundits do.

But it doesn’t necessarily matter. If Republicans are going to be electorally ineffective for years to come, as seems likely, then the only way to keep the Democrats from seriously damaging America will be for strong conservative voices to speak out from a position like Palin’s. Even if she never holds elected office again, she will influence the conversation strongly.

Read more at Francis Cianfrocca’s blog.