Just less than one year ago, with about 53 percent of the popular vote, now-President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden defeated the Republican ticket of John McCain and Sarah Palin.

    With Obama and Biden in control in the White House, McCain has resorted to a relatively quiet role within the Senate, representing his home state of Arizona as he has for decades.
    “Quiet” is hardly a word used to describe his running mate Sarah Palin, the former governor of Alaska. The self-proclaimed hockey mom just won’t go away, although many conservative party leaders are probably wishing she would.
    Palin was largely irrelevant on the national scale in the days leading up to her selection by McCain in August 2008. One week after Obama selected Biden, McCain chose Palin, probably for her youth, enthusiasm and appeal to much of mainstream America, something he was hoping would counter Obama’s charisma.
    But before long, anything Palin said or did was blasted all over Saturday Night Live or other shows that poked fun at her accent, mannerisms or even her family.
    Last year’s presidential election was not about the issues, but about the candidates themselves. As candidates attempted to discuss the issues, they oftentimes found they were the issues, and Palin was no exception.
    In the months leading up to the election, voters might not have known where Palin stood on health care or illegal immigration, but they did know she was a former beauty pageant winner who once cited Alaska’s proximity to Russia as her foreign policy experience.
    Palin responded to the November election defeat and mounting personal criticism by resigning from her post as governor in July. According to one of her aides, the move came so that she could “more effectively advocate for issues of importance to her,” such as energy independence and national security. It has also led to speculation that she will run for president in 2012.
    It’s true that leadership positions in Alaska don’t typically lead to a fast track to the White House, but resigning as governor after fewer than three years of service is hardly the mark of a future American president.  
    Palin also reportedly stepped down in an effort to “protect her family,” but since her return to private life, she has hardly attempted to stay out of the spotlight. If she truly resigned in order to spend more time with her family or protect them from the media, why is she continuing to tour the country?
    I’m inclined to believe the answer is money and celebrity.
    Palin was given $1.25 million just to sign a book deal with publisher HarperCollins for her new work “Going Rogue: An American Life.”
    Scheduling Palin to speak at an event comes with a $100,000 price tag.
    As for the celebrity factor, countless individuals have attempted to cash in on Palin-mania, from numerous authors to her daughter’s ex-boyfriend.
    Levi Johnston, the father of 19-year-old Bristol Palin’s daughter, announced last week on CBS that he is keeping some “huge” things about Sarah Palin from the public.
    It’s hard to say if Johnston can back up his claims, as the teenager will likely do anything to stay in the spotlight.
    As for Sarah Palin, the last year has probably been the longest of her life. But the longer she stays in the public eye, the more her party suffers.
    She had her run at the White House, but Americans voiced their opinions. Perhaps now it would be better for all of us if Sarah Palin just went away.