THIS is the deeper vetting that McCain's folks might have considered! Even ultra-Christian Rove-trained sneaks should have ONE psychologist around to observe this doll's con: From city council to state administration, if her relationship with powerful older men has been to schmooze'em, use'em, and lose'em, shouldn't McCain staffers who genuinely care about their boss, & want to personally spare him bruised feelings, be worried? She may bring a dagger, as well as a moose-gun, to the party, and should not be expected to guard his six.

Even so, he might not care. McC 's eyes are on the prize only six weeks away, and there's no question that Lady McPalin is smart enough to not slit the throats of his guards, slip arsenic in his beer (or slip dinosaurs into the White House Christmas Creche) until after Inauguration Day. Hell, she'd probably stay Obedient Barbie for 6 months or so, until secure in her own separate power base. We'd just watch her charmingly siphon Energy Deparment jobs & funds to her family; use the Patriot Act to punish kids who were mean to her in 2nd grade, or those yucky Jew-boy reporters who might not show her enough deference, and so on.

But boredom is a dangerous state for a sleep-deprived, baby-toting, red-bull-addicted Moose-Maiden. When Sarah gets left behind in the Official Residence Bubble too often, thats when McCain should double up on double-secret Secret Service. The King's loyal thanes must remind him not to seek hospitality from the Lord and Lady MacPalin, lest they heed the foul witches of their sadder nature, start lobbying for his removal on health grounds, and then taxidermying the Great Seal as their prize rack-of-antlers-souvenir from her Presidency.

The daugther-overthrowing-father archetype would be a tragi-comedy, and may yet be a great modern opera. (Never mind Tina Fey: think Sarah Brightman-meets-Thelma & Louise)

To bad that We, the American people, would be left with the Reality show.

a brilliant and necessary piece. Ends do NOT justify means; and when emotions run hot (as post-9/11) is precisely when laws & treaty agreements become essential constraints on revenge-based brutality!

I recently heard a radio interview with an Army trainer for Iraq, who has a specific program to train young soldiers NOT to overreact & hurt civilians when a buddy gets killed. The leaders who send them into battle must be held to same standard, and prosecuted for war crimes when appropriate.

Congress helped make this possible, by requiring schools to fund girls & boys sports equally, a generation ago. YES I know Little League isnt a govt program, but despite initial howls of protest over Title IX of the law, there are SO many female athletes to be proud of, and girls in little league are now normal. With all the news-fights about what federal govt should do or not do, just thought I'd mention that social initiatives DO contribute to progress.

Its not just that women's value is still between our legs (and on our chests) -- it's that men's sense of control in life, their honor, & their status with other men, still depend on what happens between a woman's legs.

traditional means of control: Father guards & disciplines her, then hands her off to husband. If someone within the family gets access (incest), pretend it didnt happen—its OK so long as men in the family stay in control of her precious. If someone unauthorized by family gets access (she has an affair or a hookup or a rape), there is hell to pay—for HER (see "honor killings"). Or, if unmarried but de-virginned, a pimp/producer takes most of her money (see unpaid "dancers" in sexy music videos). She is exiled from main hall in traditional jewish/muslim temples so that the thought of whats between her legs doesnt hurt the MEN's spiritual development.

ITS NOT ABOUT WOMEN—ITS ABOUT MEN. Our bodies are used as a field of battle for men's power struggles, religions, temptations, and mental peace.

GUYS - peck away as much as you want for your pecking order: just take it outside!

Great chapter on this in book "When Women Were Priests."