get elected.

Kinda silly to swat at the 'father' aspect. Remove that and he's worthless feldspar.

And if you had agreed with her politics, you would be extolling her virtues and pointing up her victimization at the hands of a male-dominant media to the Nth degree.

Too predictable.

I just posted a letter that said essentially the same thing you did, and it was deleted. I'd like to know why.

I do NOT get the continuing need to somehow validate Palin as a feminist warrior and/or maternal warrior. She just isn't.

The funny thing is, this time we hope you get your wish. Please don't throw us in the briar patch, br'er fox! Anything but the briar patch!

Sarah Palin hasn’t done any more or less than any decent mother. To single her out as some kind of Ur mother or paragon of motherhood is disingenuous at best and stupid at worse.

1. Amanda, you have a cool sounding name. Good luck with Salon.

2. This doesn't make a very good liberal bed time story, but there are some facts that must be remembered.

First, the Atlantic Magazine reacted to Palin's nomination by publishing rumors that Bristol, not Sarah, gave birth to Trig. Nothing Sarah did "invited" such a story. The Washington Post then ran with a story on the existence of rumors -- but not the alleged facts underlying them. Of course, if you wished to learn more, you could go to the Atlantic for details.

This was perhaps the scummiest act of journalism in modern memory, but where is the commemoration of it? Is there no hall of shame for such behavior? Apparently not, if the target is a pro-life Christian.

Second, recall that Bristol could have stayed home and out of the spotlight, and her pregnancy would have become known to few nationally. But once the Atlantic and the Washington Post fingered her as the mother of the VP's child, McCain/Palin felt they had no choice -- maybe right, maybe wrong -- but to clarify the subject with Bristol's pregnancy. They called for privacy, but of course the media gleefully ignored it. If the hall of shame is ever built, and has at least two wings, we have now have exhibts for both.

3. I saw two of Palin's children, Willow and Piper, at a rally in Indiana. As a parent myself, I have a feel for these things. I thought the kids looked absolutely on top of the world, as did their parents.

4. And speaking of on top of the world, has anyone seen the Runners World picture of Sarah, standing next to the flag? Not to sound too superficial, but goodness gracious. To be a mother of five and a presidential aspirant and look like that, with her "sub-four marathon" and such. It's really unusual.

5. And speaking of images, anyone interested in Sarah Palin and motherhood should go to Youtube and watch her video message to the Special Olympics in Idaho last year with Trig. It's really quite adorable.

6. I've explained on Joan Walsh's posts why Sarah Palin is not really finished with presidential politics. Her biannual PAC fund raising closed on 6/30, and will release figures by 7/31. She's putting on war paint right now to get back in the arena and throw Huckabee over the ropes in Iowa. It's one man's opinion, but I think I'm right, and explained why in some detail.

7. Amanda, tell your boss "thank for" you writing a nice headline, and some decent content, on Palin. She deserves it.

And considering numerous people have suggested she has NPD, and ALSO considering she's exploited her children for political gain, you'll have to forgive me if I don't see her as a model maternal figure.

There have been SO many other strong, maternal figures in politics--past and present (Hillary, anyone?), that the odd need to find a positive take on Palin to the deliberate exclusion of these other women is extremely distasteful. Just knock it off, already. Several writers on Broadsheet have bent over backwards to convince us she's not so bad after all; problem being that she IS that bad, and we all know it. Let's move on.

What's next, an article lauding George Bush as steadfast and resolute?

Palin acted like a frantic get-away driver throwing her kids out of the car hoping that would slow down her pursuers. Every scandal, every criticism, every political opportunity and another Palin kid got jettisoned and left to fend for themselves.

Frankly I'd answer "hell yes" as well if Sarah was my mom and offered to stop cynically exploiting me.

I'm sorry, but this article was almost as incoherent as Palin's resignation speech.

What Palin did with her children is unremarkable: as a politician, she gathered them around her in public appearances; as a mother, she defended them against sleights both perceived and real. Neither action deviated from the norm in politics or motherhood.

As for being tough, I'd say that Palin is more deranged and sociopathic and devoid of empathy for anyone or anything weaker than herself.

Hardly. It's what she was selling, but I never bought it. Not once, not ever. Popping out kids doesn't make you maternal. Sarah Palin is all about Sarah Palin, and there's no room for those kids. What kind of mother forces a 7-year-old to stand there for a long speech like that? There is no doubt that she uses them as political props. And that poor baby?

Have you had a baby, Amanda? Have you seen the way Palin holds him? It's not natural. Most mothers hold their babies face in, close to their chest, and hug and kiss them fairly frequently, especially young ones. Did you see her kiss Trig once? Bristol smiled at Trig more often.

And most mothers would rather actually take care of their kids than slay fake dragons over Photoshopped photos not insulting babies too young to get the insult anyway.

So, no, Palin's no mama grizzly, just an opportunistic jackass using her kids like too many politicians before her.

The woman who drug her entire family, including minors, around the entire country for months in order to win an election is now some symbol of motherhood?

Please.