I think it's more, if not far more, common that people question the intelligence of female politicians than male ones, when all evidence demonstrates that stupidity is an equal opportunity trait. Hell, Newt Gingrich is hailed as a brilliant visionary, but he's really just as stupid as Palin. So is Mike Pence, or Eric Cantor, or any wingnut radio host.
The inescapable difference with Palin, however, is her unique manner of speech. I have those little books of Bushisms, but Palin makes Bush seem downright literate. I can't hear her speak or read her writings and not think "this person gives no thought to how her ideas are being conveyed."
That resignation speech really is a thing of bizzare beauty, that only gets better with the perspective of time. I'm considering a regular feature called "Sarah Palin's Resignation Speech Line Of The Day (SPRSLOTD)." I think I'll start with this gem.
"These troops in their important missions now, there is where truly the worthy causes are in this world."Indeed.