JAMES PETHOKOUKIS: Why Wall Street Should Fear Sarah Palin. “Palinomics, embryonic as it is, seems to be rooted in ‘free-market populism,’ a version of conservative thinking that is pro-market rather than pro-business. It says the role of government is to help markets function more fairly and efficiently for everyone, encouraging competition and ‘creative destruction’ (which Palin specifically mentioned in her book). Pro-business policies, by contrast, can end up subsidizing favored companies, raising barriers to entry and otherwise entrenching the status quo. . . . It’s easy to imagine her campaigning against corporate tax breaks, say, or in favor of limiting the size of banks under the belief that as long as they are ginormous, government will find a way to bail them out. That agenda might not attract much campaign cash from Manhattan bankers or Washington lobbyists, but it could be a compelling formula in the new Tea Party-infused Republican party.”

UPDATE: Reader Billy Harvey writes: “I’d vote for this in a heartbeat.”

ANOTHER UPDATE: A hedge-fund reader emails:

“Wall Street” isn’t afraid of Sarah Palin. The “too big to fail” bastards who’ve gamed the system may fear a more level playing field, but the hundreds of smaller players who’ve been elbowed aside by the crony capitalists would LOVE to see a new broom sweep through DC.

Well then, they should put some support behind the new broom of their choice.