[Major Matt Mason]

They reported it because they wanted to believe it was true, or thought that it was plausible given their elitist worldview. I still think Palin needs to crack open a few books, but she certainly is getting stronger by the day. If she can survive this and keep her nose clean the next couple of years, she'll be a formidable candidate in 2012. She has taken far more of a beating than President Soetero has, so she'll be battle-tested.

[driftless2]

"crack open a few books"

How do you know she hasn't already done that? Her younger sister said that she was a voracious reader growing up. Palin herself has said she read a lot especially items concerning Thatcher and Reagan.