Of course, from all appearances, it looks like the Obamas are two highly intelligent and conscientious parents. Gee, think that makes a difference in a kid's life?

-- NoahVale

No. Not in terms of what the public heartlessly endorses as trashy and indiscreet: teenage pregnancy.

Avoiding indiscretion is somewhat easy when the children are young and social freedom is nonexistent.

Intelligent and conscientious parents are perfectly capable of raising kids that fuck up. Such is life.

You took the wrong drugs this AM. Palin is about as far from maternal as possible. She eats her kids alive and then complains she was forced to.

Mama grizzlies don't send their cubs out in front of a hostile audience. (When Palin was scheduled to appear at a PA hockey game, she was warned that the fans would boo her. She took Piper out on the ice with her, figuring that no one would boo a little girl. She was wrong--on several levels.)

I have a special needs child and for me the one unbreakable rule is that you NEVER use your kid's condition as an excuse for what you do or don't do. Saying that you're quitting in part because people have been mean to Trig is nonsense--she was in a position to change the fact that special-needs kids are targets throughout their childhood, but she didn't. She didn't stand up for Trig, and her promise at the convention that special-needs families would now have a high-profile advocate was just talk.

Mama grizzlies keep their cubs out of harm's way, not parade them in front of the cameras to burnish their image.

Perhaps one quality that stood out with her from day one for me: parading her family around like they were some kind of trophy set.

Sorry, but that's not enough to tell me it's a redeeming quality. It's not. Particularly not when she manipulates her kids to deliver a corrupt and dishonest political message.

Strong maternal woman? She's no better than Romney being a strong, paternal man. What's it buy him? Zip. What's it buy her? Zip.

Wastes of flesh. Both of them. Gender has zero to do with it.

T

Lovecraft rules!

like so many people. She loves to dish it out, but can't take it for five minutes. The worst kind of person in my book, I could care less if she is a mother, a father, a transvestite hooker, whatever. Lower then pond scum.

and then tell me if Palin would be getting the adoration and attention she has.

....yeah. didn't think so.

On what planet is any of Palin's bizarre behavior indicative of strength? Her "tough mama" persona was shakily-presented at best, and never supported by visible action. Her apparently willful ignorance implies just the opposite, that a working mother doesn't have the time for learning the details of how governments and economies work. The brittle, obstinate invention of media conspiracies showed her incapable even of handling criticism, much less possessing genuine competence. Her fleeing all scrutiny is the opposite of what a sensible columnist ought to term "strong."

Palin epitomizes the essential weakness of the Right.

Well darlin'... I think you might understand that the kids are props, too. ???? Yep, I do think Palin is doing a personal strategy dance here, self involved - evolved as ever and the family is just a prop in the play.

I'm sorry, but I have a very different impression of Governor Palin's maternal instincts. She uses her children as a prop and a punch line.

She makes decisions for herself. Period. Did you see poor little Piper in the Matt Lauer interview at the Palin home after the election? Matt asked Piper if she would want to do the campaign trail thing again. When Piper was hemming and hawing, Governor Palin "reminded" Piper about what a great opportunity it was to meet so many great Americans.

Or when Gov. Palin was putting her infant in front of a roaring crowd with bright lights, late at night. Or as she put Bristol in front of the whole country as a target for people on all sides of the birth control, abortion, abstinence, red neck issue.

Or when she was more concerned about shaking hands with the moderator than carrying her baby and handed him off to little Piper who is trying to follow her mom and carry the baby down the stairs. America collectively held their breath hoping Piper could pull it off.

Or when she propped up Levi Johnston during the campaign, trying to pose her family as having good family values. Who cares about Bristol's situation.

I could go on, but I don't see her as a strong maternal woman. She is a strong narcissistic woman.

Maternal?! She dragged her kids around with her, even the baby, like a circus act in order to benefit her political ambitions! Give me a break! The woman is a moron, a nasty hatefilled, religious and right wingnut! She should have no place in politics and anyone who believes she is smart enough, savvy enough or believes one word out of her ignorant mouth needs serious mental help. Amanda Fortini if you believe this idiot is a strong maternal woman you also need help!

My God, she's got a vagina. Strong, maternal? Grow up. She's got a vagina. Stop writing crap about this crappy human being.

I keep reading references about the trashing of her family by the press, but where and when? Other than one stupid David Letterman late night joke,I think the press has been very sympathetic and respectful to her family. I think some examples are in order before peoplekeep making that claim.

Her kids were (and are) used as props in the Sarah Palin show.

Nice try but you left out some other points - like why was Bristol living away from her family before the nomination? That's what fueled some of the speculation about Trigg - because Bristol disappeared and then suddenly Sarah had a new baby. Sarah intentionally hid her pregnancy. She has a very passive aggressive relationship with the media - she takes actions that will bring attention to herself - then complains about it. Only time will tell how happy the Palin kids are or aren't - and it's really nobody's business.

But I don't recall a politician who thrust their kids into the spotlight as much as Palin. There is no reason an infant needs to be appearing at late night conventions; or rallies. And Sarah talks alot about special needs kids and her devotion to them but there are differing stories as to what she's really done for them in Alaska or elsewhere (as far as funding special programs). And I still can't forget Palin agreed with or allowed rape victims to have to pay for their own crime kits in Wasilla. If a mother of 3 daughters can do that then I question her both as a role model and a modern woman.

If you do a little research prior to the election Palin was shopping around a reality show about her family - so she's very comfortable with the idea of their being in the spotlight and profiting from it - what she doesn't want is intense scrutiny. FOr those who support I'm sure they'll continue to by her superficial stances and incoherent sound bytes. She should be thanking her lucky stars for all of the attention that has made her a wealthy woman and which she is now going to cash in on - because at some point everyone's 15 minutes are up. . .