Ego's tarnish on a falling star.

There have been a recent spate of news stories about Fox News and Sarah Palin parting ways.  Palin at the height of her popularity signed a deal with Fox News, building a studio at her Alaska home and extending her influence over a disenchanted conservative voters.  While it's no surprise that the group nicknamed the "Lame-Stream Media" by Palin would swoop in on this story about her fading star and influence they will miss a critical lesson for us all.

While I'm not ready to call Palin a flash in the pan it would be silly not to acknowledge that her star is not quit as bright. Frankly, I was one of her early cheerleaders.  She brought such a fresh energy to a GOP desperately in need of an injection, she also gave a voice to conservative women who had for years been told their views were not legitimate because they were only parroting their husband's view.  The subtext being these women were too stupid to have their own views since they weren't feminists.  She made being a conservative female not only attractive but strong.  Look out for the Mama Grizzlies.

Palin was mistreated by a cadre of Washington professionals who didn't understand her strengths nor have confidence in them.  At the same time, rank and file conservatives were going crazy for the new personality center stage.  So Palin took the adulation and believed the notion that not only did she have all the answers, she was the answer.  A human failing with which we are all a little too familiar.

The truth is no person has all the answers.  An effective leader must find advisors that can fill the gaps and strengthen their own performance.  By being distrustful and perhaps threatened by experienced politicos, Palin cut herself off from the ability to become a more well rounded leader offering deep, well developed policy solutions instead of being reduced to spouting shallow sound bites.