You’re correct on him writing many columns in two to four parts and I believe I’ve posted most all of them in the last 5 or 6 years. Plus I don’t believe he’s ever called the first part Part I, as you said.
This time it seemed to me to be a direct response to criticisms posted on not just this site and AS but others and the way this part was posted at AS without it being posted on Creators, I believe that’s a first.
I have gone back and reread some of his critic of “Tea Party” positions in various articles along with comments that were posted afteward on AS in response to the articles. You could look at his article of the 19th of Novemeber for example.
I don’t see this article, combining Part I and II, as being out of line with his cautions and critique of the hail Mary passes we were using in November.
As I said above, I consider Sowell brilliant and sincere. I think we can come no closer to a good standing apart viewpoint from a scholar than that vantage point of Sowell in general. If he makes a criticism of the hard line conservative position I hold, out of respect for his body of work, I have to ask myself to examine the issue in light of his comments. I know from past experience that my views aren’t infallible.