Until death. And I'll vote for Obama. But it was an absolute delight last evening watching Rudy and Sarah take Obama's pompous ass behind the woodshed. I was smoking a big doobie and digging on it.

I seem to recall many people asking questions about Edwards being able to handle the presidency with Elizabeth being sick and having two small children. I don't think it's sexist to wonder if having a special needs infant and a pregnant teenage daughter is too much to handle at this point in her professional life.

The question is basically, is there too much going on at home for you to considering this highly demanding job?

It's a valid question whether you are a man or a woman.

The pomposity of Obama. With his elite family background in which his father abandon's his mother. Being raised a black child by a single white mother, then by his maternal grandparents. What nerve...how dare you attend Ivy league schools without a famous or rich lineage.

Too bad gay marriage wasn't around back when he was younger. He could have married Bill Clinton to get his political credentials.

Of course, maybe you enjoyed watching Obama being taken to the shed by the "Naughty Librarian" Sarah Palin. Maybe that is a fetish of yours.

Come on over tonight and I'll show you my fetish.

Asking Sarah Palin questions about her family life? Well, I think the point is: the conservatives make this an important question, since their 'values' approach to politics makes this unavoidable. One should trace this kind of questioning to its source: the Republican interest in the character and family life of candidates. Would a man not be asked the same questions? Well, looking at what happened to John Edwards, I find that hard to imagine. If John McCain had a pregnant 17-year-old daughter, I'm pretty sure the same questions would have been asked--the problem is not whether he is a man or a woman, but how this fits in his worldview, the issues he claims to care about and the solutions he gives to them. A man who claims we need 'moral fiber' to teach 'traditional family values' to our children would certainly be criticized for any perceived difference between what he preaches and how his family acts. So maybe criticizing Sarah Palin for such things is not so sexist after all...

Of course, I will immediately agree that the issues are the important thing (see Mr Greenwald's latest about the Republican convention). The family topic is more or less irrelevant to liberal-minded people. But is asking about it is sexist? I think not.

Last night's Daily Show totally nailed it as usual. They showed clips of all these talking heads contradicting themselves on sexism and other areas. They would say one thing when they were talking about Hillary (e.g. "stop whining there's no sexism") and another when it's Palin ("the media is soooo sexist"). It was hysterical.

Also priceless was their segment on Sens. Foghorn Leghorn (Thompson) and Droopy Dog (Lieberman. Not to mention their report from the Larry Craig bathroom at the Minneapolis airport.I was crying laughing.

http://www.thedailyshow.com/full-episodes/index.jhtml?episodeId=184082

does not mean that the energy shouldn't be transferred to her. She is the woman under attack now for being a woman and presuming to run for a 'male' job. So we shouldn't defend her because she's a Republican? Ok, you stay a democrat, I'm sure they will resignedly put a woman in office sometime in the 3000 century... maybe. By not supporting her, we are (as we always seem to do) suppressing other women for not being just like us. Let's get more women in office and THEN focus on who we like and who we don't. If we do it before hand, we are just shooting ourselves in the foot. If this is strategic unloyal thinking- I admit, I'm more loyal to the idea of getting 1/2 the people in politics to be women, than I am to having them be either Dems or Rep.

...since no male candidate with a knocked-up minor child could ever be a major-party nominee for national or statewide office. That's a privilege reserved for women alone.

Exceptions in living memory?

From the CNN Political Ticker:

Palin attacks 'shrill and sarcastic,' says Reid spokesman

"Anyone who knows Senator Reid knows he never backs down when he's fighting for what's right and that he always stands up to John McCain when he is wrong," Jim Manley, Reid's press secretary, told CNN. "Shrill and sarcastic political attacks may fire up the Republican base, but they don't change the fact that a McCain-Palin administration would mean four more years of failed bush-Cheney policies."

Now let's see.... what word did they love to use for Hillary? Unfortunately, one thing this primary brought out is that many Dems are no better than the Republicans when it comes to sexism. Why are we our own worst enemy sometimes?

I have to agree with WES; I will never vote for McCain, but I enjoyed hearing Obama taken down a peg or two. And now that Hillary and Bill have clearly forgiven him for what were some of his vile campaign tactics, I will most likely now hold my nose and vote.

I am giving up the hope of being married anytime soon to the idea of getting more women in power. It's not something I chose lightly.

Excellent point about John & Elizabeth Edwards earlier! People absolutely DID question him, very strongly. In fact, I'd be sure it lost him votes. (which, in retrospect, may be a very good thing)

It's not wrong to look at what any contender has on their plate while assessing their potential. I would question a man who had as much family issues as does Palin.

"Let's get more women in office and THEN focus on who we like and who we don't. If we do it before hand, we are just shooting ourselves in the foot. If this is strategic unloyal thinking- I admit, I'm more loyal to the idea of getting 1/2 the people in politics to be women, than I am to having them be either Dems or Rep."

Are you being serious? Even if that woman wanted to set us back by overturning Roe v. Wade? I can't help but think you're kidding.

I agree with you in principle, but I worry more about someone who is so far to the right in their thinking being appointed to the second most powerful post in the free world. You can't just elect someone because of their gender - they MUST be qualified, or by example they can screw things up for a lot of people (women - good, qualified women) who come after them.