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Sarah Palin speaks, but are Americans heeding her anymore?

Sarah Palin is speaking out about alleged insider trading by members of Congress and is shopping a new reality TV series. But networks aren't biting, and some analysts doubt her star can rise again. 

Long live Sarah Palin?

The former GOP vice-presidential candidate is back in the news, tangling with Washington insiders such as Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I) of Connecticut over alleged insider trading and "sweetheart land deals" by members of Congress (see also ) and shopping a new reality TV series featuring her husband, Todd.

The one-time GOP kingmaker 鈥� who said Oct. 5 she would not run for the party's presidential nomination but who has yet to endorse a candidate 鈥� proved to be a force to be reckoned with during the 2010 midterm elections. But analysts now are divided over Ms. Palin's聽political influence on the election cycle ahead, with some saying her star has waned so far it's about to drop into the ocean and others noting that she remains popular with her base and is even "electable."

鈥淧alin is trying to reposition herself to have influence in the upcoming political season,鈥澛爏ays Atlanta-based Republican strategist David Johnson, an adviser to Sen. Robert Dole during his 1988 presidential campaign. This is a tough path, because she has lost so much credibility with even her committed followers. 鈥淢any expected her to carry their values forward, and instead she seemed more interested in pursuing her own celebrity," he says.

Others see that path as all but impossible.聽Palin has become nearly irrelevant, says Tom Fiedler, former executive editor of the Miami Herald and聽now dean of Boston University鈥檚 College of Communication. 鈥�America鈥檚 fascination with Sarah Palin is like everyone鈥檚 fascination with a shiny and sleek new car that hints of fun and adventure,鈥� he says. But if it quits early, or if it refuses to run at all, 鈥減referring to sit at the curb and look nice, our fascination will quickly die."

Palin quit as Alaska鈥檚 governor midway through her first term, he notes, and she refused to answer supporters鈥� pleas to enter the GOP presidential race. 鈥淪he鈥檚 become the Kim Kardashian of politics,鈥� he adds, 鈥渇amous only for being famous.鈥�

As if to drive home that point, the TLC and A&E cable networks are both reported to be passing on a pitch for a second Palin-based reality TV series. The first, "Sarah Palin's Alaska," sold for roughly $1 million per episode and racked up 5 million viewers. But the latest idea 鈥� which would feature Todd Palin's snowmobiling adventures 鈥� is going begging, . 聽

Palin's "sell by" date is past, agrees Dorothy James, a government professor at Connecticut College in New London. 鈥淭here are newer Republican hopefuls who are sucking the oxygen out of any hopes she may have,鈥� she says via e-mail. 鈥淪he lacks the discipline to do the hard slog of running for national office on her own or actually governing.鈥澛�

But Palin retains a strong base of political support, note others who are not so quick to write her off.

鈥淚s Palin electable? Absolutely,鈥� says Mark Tatge, visiting professor of journalism at DePauw University鈥檚 Center for Contemporary Media.

Palin could deliver a certain base of people a presidential ticket with, say, Newt Gingrich at the top, he says. 鈥淪uch a partnership is not out of the question,鈥� he says, although Palin will have to find a way to 鈥渁tone for quitting the job of governor.鈥�

Less-likely candidates, he says, have made it to the top spot. 鈥淐onsider the former B-movie actor who was seen as a bit of a lightweight with a messy divorce in his past,鈥� says Professor Tatge, 鈥渁nd Ronald Reagan not only got elected but went on to become a two-term president.鈥�