I had the same reaction you did, Joan, about why little Piper wasn't in school -- and neither were her two older sisters. Some said they were being tutored while on the campaign trail, but it's clear from Piper's comments about how hard it is catching up that no schooling/tutoring occured.

Moreover, it's clear that baby Trig is still being used as the NUMBER ONE PROP in the ongoing campaign of Sarah Palin. I questioned the need for having the baby present throughout the home interview done by Matt Lauer. (Even Piper wasn't present throughout.) I also questioned the positioning of Track's unframed picture in full uniform on a ledge in direct view of the camera when it was on Lauer. And, finally, who cooks dinner looking like Palin did in that interview? When she finished mushing up whatever was in that bowl sitting next to the salad, did she go to change from the form-fitted black suit and pumps, take off the earrings and let her hair down so the "family" could enjoy a nice relaxing dinner together?

She certainly didn't look like a woman who was frantically searching through boxes and a dozen suitcases trying to find the kids' underwear so it could be returned to the RNC! She clearly looked like a very ambitious person who has already seen that door and has "plowed through" it even if the good lord hasn't yet given her the directive!

(Oh, and will someone please explain to me what Todd Palin meant when he referred to what a busy family they are? Did he say something about the SLOPES and fishing in the summer? OK, I concede he does commercial fishing part of the year, but what in the world is the reference to "slopes"? Didn't I read somewhere early on that he was a stay-at-home Dad---except, of course, when he wasn't racing sleds or during fishing season? Oh, could it be that they race sleds on slopes?)

It's been a long time since I've seen that many responses to an article here. Paglia clearly aroused emotions in readers, with lots of them calling for Salon to drop her column.

I would tend to agree, not because of her Palin defense, but because of the unnecessary after-election muck-raking. What purpose does it serve to bring up Bernadette Dohrn at this point in time? Seems like the proper place for Paglia's comments are in the Drudge Report.

LET'S GET THIS STRAIGHT, FOLKS. THOSE OF US WHO ARE LIFELONG LIBERALS (and in my case, a long life it's been!) HAVE REFUSED TO USE THE TERM "PROGRESSIVE" DESPITE WHAT SOME DEMOCRAT PARTY LEADERS WHO WANTED TO TAKE THE PARTY TO THE MIDDLE TRIED TO DO.

I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A LIBERAL. I WILL ALWAYS BE A LIBERAL. I AM PROUD TO BE A LIBERAL. I WILL SHOUT IT TO THE WORLD: LIBERAL..LIBERAL...LIBERAL...LIBERAL...LIBERAL...LIBERAL!!!!!

If the pundits had looked beyond the sound bites they would have known we've always been out here professing our liberalism--proudly!

....listening to Al Franken and others broadcasting on Air America election night of 2004. Elation turned to despair as the night wore on and we saw what was happening in Ohio. There is NO WAY Franken is going to cave to Coleman and not have a recount which, by the way, is required by law in Minnesota because of the small margin between the two candidates.

And since the republicans don't seem to have learned any new tricks, I expect to see Bolton (or one of his clones) and his group of thugs pounding on the windows of those doing the recount, bringing in "outraged" Coleman voters, and generally causing havoc in an effort to disrupt the recount process.

Will Jim Baker show up with his cadre of lawyers to challenge the recount in the courts? Well, maybe someone of slightly less stature, but I don't doubt that will happen also.

Will the recount process start and then be stopped, only to start again, etc., etc. Could happen. Coleman protesting about a recount is small stuff when the real show is still to come.

Yes, the Senate needs a good humored guy like Al Franken! Looks like that will happen....I hope, I hope, I hope......