FoxWhile her star isn't as bright as in those heady days in 2008, if you ask Sarah Palin, don't count her out just yet.
Three days after her departure from Fox News, the onetime Republican vice presidential candidate turned TV talking head is now opening up about the amicable split.
In an interview with conservative website Breitbart.com, Palin claims she left the right-leaning cable network because she felt she'd be better at reaching a larger audience going rogue instead.
"I encourage others to step out in faith, jump out of the comfort zone, and broaden our reach as believers in American exceptionalism," she told the site. "That means broadening our audience. I'm taking my own advice here as I free up opportunities to share more broadly the message of the beauty of freedom and the imperative of defending our republic and restoring this most exceptional nation. We just can't preach to the choir; the message of liberty and true hope must be understood by a larger audience."
While that explanation sounds all well and good, some of her fellow pundits might question it.
Especially given various reports indicating that Palin's influence on the conservative agenda has diminished dramatically in the last two years, culminating in the weak showing of the Tea Party in the 2012 election, which saw President Obama win a second term.
Palin, however, stressed that reports of the Tea Party's imminent demise have been exaggerated as she plans to help rally "constitutional conservatives" to victory in the 2014 midterm election by speaking truth to power.
"I know the country needs more truth-telling in the media, and I'm willing to do that," she said.
Just not on the country's No. 1 cable news outlet, apparently (hey, there's always reality TV!).
Palin concluded: "I was raised to never retreat and to pick battles wisely, and all in due season. When it comes to defending our republic, we haven't begun to fight! But we delight in those who underestimate us."