Sarah Palin launched her political action committee (PAC).  You can check it out at sarahpac.com.  

 The  PAC seems primarily oriented around the issue of energy independence which has broad bipartisan support.  What doesn't generally have broad bipartisan support is the way to get to energy indpenedence.  You've got the "drill, baby, drill" crowd on one end and the "Wind is everything" clean energy crowd on the other end.  Neither group is entirely right.  But we know where Palin will likely land, and she is likely to characteristically make an issue that should theoretically be a bipartisan rallying cry into a new wedge issue.  

 But getting back to the website, the scant information on the PAC's recently uploaded web page is a perfect analog to the real Sarah Palin.  There are thin allusions to reform, innnovation, and bipartistanship, but these token aspirational statements quickly give way to comments about a GOP party revival.   She would likely have been better served by positioning herself as an relatively objective energy independence expert.  That, however, is not her brand; and it's therefore, not surprising that the true orientation of the PAC is to serve as a rallying point for hyper partisan members of the extreme right.  Palin is astutely filling a much needed void.  In the long meanderings in the desert of exile from power, the left sought solace in an oasis called MoveOn.org.  Similarly, there is likely a need being filled by structures like SarahPAC.  

 The PAC is also obviously a way for Palin to keep her name front and center in the minds of her GOP constituents, develop a grass roots fund raising infrastructure (a la Obama), and enable her to raise money to campaign on behalf of GOP candidates so that she can collect favors for a future run for the presidency or senate.  It's an astute politcal move, but positioning will be important if this is a prelude to a run for the presidency in 2012.  There will be a natural pull toward catering to her far right constituency.  This move will only reinforce her brand and move her away from current moderate mood of the country.  That mood, of course, could change and veer right over the next 4 years, but that would be a calculated gamble.  

Enough of the polity feel that there is enough empirical evidence to suggest that hyper-partisan, intellectually incurious, and less than wordly leaders are not a recipe for success.  To that end, Palin is probably perceived to be closer to a Bush analog versus McCain who actually had a fighting chance (if any Republican did) in this last election.  The GOP may feel that moving toward the traditional base is the right answer in the wake of a defeat of a moderate Republican like McCain.  Time will tell if that's the right calculation.  If it is, then Palin's your girl.  

Don't expect to find much on the website right now.  Just like Palin, there's not much there.   She needs to avoid a crach course in economics and foreign policy next time around.  She'd be wise to start that education process now by surrounding herself with smart people and having smart conversations about difficult issues.  She'll sound well versed, thoughtful, and intelligent the next time around not because of media training but because of true deep exposure to the issues.    

 And if she's looking for reading material advice...I'd suggest The Economist.