Here is Sowell's article titled "Not One of Us", which tries to make some sense of the irrational reaction to Sarah Palin in political circles. I'm not sure why he's writing this now, but it is great for the history books. He uses the Alger Hiss controversy (American spy for Russia) as an analogy, concluding:
"Why did it matter so much to so many people which of two previously little-known men was telling the truth? Because what was on trial was not one man but a whole vision of the world and a way of life.
Governor Sarah Palin is both a challenge and an affront to that vision and that way of life-- an overdue challenge, much as Chambers' challenge was overdue.
Whether Governor Palin runs for national office again is something that only time will tell. But the Republicans need some candidate who is neither one of the country club Republicans nor-- worse yet-- the sort of person who appeals to the intelligentsia."
Well, Palin may not be "one of them", but she is one of mine! I say run, Sarah, run!