While I don’t agree with the conclusion that Sarah Palin is some sort of genius that is thinking 2 or 3 steps ahead of the brightest members of the progressive side of the democrats, I do think there is some truth to this article:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/joan-williams/sarah-palin-plays-chess_b_457196.html
A large portion of Sarah Palin’s political power and appeal comes from the reaction from the Democrats and the media; which comes across as elitist, condescending, and out of touch with the values of most Americans. In the process of scoring points with their base, many of Sarah Palin’s most vocal opponents (directly or indirectly) insult the vast majority of Americans.