Palin dodges the 2012 question in her first interview with Oprah

Love her or hate her, you've gotta admit that Sarah Palin is interesting to watch.

The former Republican vice presidential candidate and former Alaska governor granted her first interview for her new best-selling book, "Going Rogue," to Oprah Winfrey, the talk show host who openly supported her Democratic opponents, Barack Obama and Joe Biden, in the 2008 election.

Below are highlights of the hourlong interview, which aired Monday morning on ABC 7.

On 2012:

Palin dodged the big question, which is whether she intends to run for president in 2012.

"I don't know what I'm going to be doing in 2012."

She wouldn't even fess up to "thinking" about a presidential bid.

"It's not on my radar screen right now."

Was this a clue?

When asked why she resigned as governor rather than finish out her term, Palin quoted something her dad said about the situation: "She's not retreating, she's reloading."

Did you hear it, too?

It sounded like the audience groaned and chuckled while she defended her qualifications to be vice president.

Double standards Palin noticed during the 2008 presidential campaign:

1. The media left Barack Obama's kids alone and hounded hers.

2. Joe Biden's gaffes in his interview with Katie Couric were edited out and hers were accentuated.

3. Her clothing and diet were scrutinized, unlike the male candidates.

4. Being a mother of five, she was repeatedly asked, "How are you going to handle it all?" while the male candidates were not.

Nicknames Palin gave people:

Katie Couric - "The perky one."

Levi Johnston (the father of her daughter Bristol's baby) - "Ricky Hollywood."

Oprah - "The queen" and "The boss."

Biggest understatements:

On the Couric interview - "It didn't go well."

On Levi Johnston - "I was disappointed (with) those who are handling him and sending him onto those stages to discuss things that aren't true."

Why did the McCain-Palin ticket lose?

Palin didn't blame herself, or the campaign's refusal to let her "be herself." Instead, she said it was because the economy tanked under a Republican president. People wanted change, but they associated the Republican ticket with the status quo.

On Levi:

His Playgirl pictorial is "aspiring porn" and it's "a bit heartbreaking to see the road he's on right now," but she still invited him to their family's Thanksgiving dinner.

On Bristol:

She's an "amazing mom" who is now in college and working a job (she didn't say what).

On her former running mate, John McCain:

She called him a maverick and a bold man. "He's all about empowering women. He's all about equality."

Why Katie Couric annoyed her:

Couric asked her 12 times what her position was on abortion and the morning after pill (she's against abortion), forcing her to repeat her answer. Palin also believed Couric's question about which newspapers and magazines she read implied that she doesn't read, doesn't stay informed and isn't in touch with the real world because she lives in Alaska.

Debatable video clip choices:

1. Daughter Piper trick-or-treating while Palin followed along in the car (at Piper's request).

2. Palin going to the gym in shorts and a winter vest, with her toned legs exposed, and then exercising in front of the cameras.

3. Replaying the Couric interview where she's asked what specific newspapers and magazines she reads, and Palin stumbling over her words and never providing an answer.

4. A commercial for Barbara Walters' Tuesday morning interview with Sarah Palin.

What gets Palin through life:

"God and Todd" (her husband).

On not being invited to appear on the Oprah show during the campaign:

"No offense to you, (Oprah), but it wasn't the center of my universe."