I find it hard to believe that she can move beyond her problem with female voters. For every woman who loves her for her home-spun foksiness, there is at least one woman who despises her for her lack of substance. I think there is a deep fear among women that she tarnishes the image of all women in politics.

One of my best friends did beauty pageants as a kid (70s-80s). Consistent with the letters, her mom is a narcissistic mess. She, however, turned out to be an extremely poised, bright, articulate woman. She said that she enjoyed it for a while and helped her develop poise and self-confidence , but grew tired of it at the end.

Greenholdt: The root of the word discipline is "disciple," you know the 12 guys who followed "JC" and called him "TEACHER." You may not like the religious reference, but it is the origin of the word.

The purpose of parenting is to TEACH your child how to behave in socially appropriate ways and is most effectively done by teaching them the "right" way to behave not whacking them in the mouth when they do the wrong thing.

To use your example, imagine you were learning how to drive a car. Which would be more effective, hitting you when you did something wrong? Or teaching you the skills for driving correctly, knowing that you were going to make some mistakes and correcting those mistakes in a non-hostile way. The former would suppress "wrong" behavior immediately, but would not in the long term teach you how to be a good driver. The latter is a longer process, but ultimately would produce the desired results. Good parenting (teaching) actually requires instructions and rewards for good behavior and correction or punishment for when your child misbehaves.

Please notice here that I am not advocating for kids running amok. I am as annoyed as you are by parents who do not attend to their child in public. If my daughter were sitting behind you on a plane, you would probably not notice her. She is a good traveler, not because we "control her," but because we bring toys and games and food and dvds. In other words, we have "taught" her appropriate behavior for a plane (you occupy yourself quietly).

re Druggy: I hear you about population control. However, at least some first world countries are actually experiencing negative population growth (e.g., Austria). Ironically, Americans are probably spared this problem because of illegal immigration.

On point, perhaps you are unaware that YOU and I are currently paying my parent's SS and medicare. And that MY KID will be paying yours. This is one of those pesky things called FACTS. And, like it or not, you WILL need good young docs to take care of you when you are old. If you can't acknowledge this fact, then you are delusional or perhaps you are waiting to be raptured.

Several posters expressed outrage that the childless should be inconvenienced by other people's spawn. I have two thoughts as I read your posts.

1) FOR GOD'S SAKE WHAT EVER YOU DO DON'T HAVE CHILDREN. Don't let anyone use guilt or social conventions to change your mind. I have many dear friends who are lovely, childless by choice people and I entirely respect their decision not to have kids. In the immortal words of Clint Eastwood, "A man's got to know his limitations."

2) Have a little patience with the rest of us who have decided to reproduce. Our spawn are going to pay your social security and medicare. Our spawn will be your doctors and fight your wars. Your geriatric years are taking a free ride on my ovaries.

3) For the really hostile out there, let me enlighten you about the meaning of the word discipline. It means "to teach" not "to control." Prisons are full of people whose parents either neglected them or beat them into submission.

And to be clear, I am a parent of a 6 year old who is usually well behaved in public and has always been a good traveler.

We have traveled nationally and internationally with our 6 year old daughter since she was 3 months old. She is a great traveler and a pretty mellow kid, so we haven't had a lot of problems (plus we over pack, books, crayons, food, dolls, videos).

However, I will never forget one time when common sense seemed to go out the window. Our daughter (2-3ish) was contentedly watching a video when a flight attendant snappishly informed us that it was against airline policy to listen to electronic devices without earphones. We offered to turn down the sound (which was barely audible over engine noise) and explained that she would not tolerate earphones. But, NO! Rules were rules. I then asked what she would prefer, a screaming toddler or Pixar cartoon noises. She again told us to turn it off and we did. If a) our child were not a mellow traveler and b) if this had not been hour 3.5 in a 4 hour flight, things could have gotten ugly.

My point here is that when a parent is doing a GOOD JOB of managing their kids, for God's sake don't sabotage their efforts.