And yet the media are still treating her as if she's the next president

If you needed further proof that the media obsession with Sarah Palin is less about her popularity and influence in the country and more about the tingling in male media personalities' dicks, here's a poll showing that Palin's favorable ratings seem to be limited to the extreme of Teabag Central:

Sarah Palin is viewed unfavorably by nearly 50 percent of Americans, a new CBS News poll finds, a significant challenge for her to overcome should she enter the 2012 presidential race.

Palin is viewed favorably by just 22 percent of Americans, according to the poll - including less than half (44 percent) of Republicans. Twenty-one percent of independents and 6 percent of Democrats view her favorably.

Forty-eight percent of Americans have an unfavorable view of Palin. That includes 73 percent of Democrats, 44 percent of independents and 22 percent of Republicans.

Twenty-nine percent said they are undecided or not sure how they feel about Palin, including about one in three Republicans and independents.