Regarding your recent elevation of Sarah Palin to "feminist icon," I think you're missing something very important: Palin is allowing herself to be used to a shocking degree.

Palin is not a partner to McCain. While the role of a VP candidate is to talk the presidential candidate's talk, Palin is clearly not consulted on the campaign or even informed of changes, as evidenced by her surprise over the decision to pull out of Michigan. Since she is a neophyte on national issues, she has zero input on the evolution of McCain's platform. Despite her executive experience (more than McCain or Obama, actually), she is not primarily promoted as representing McCain's supposed strength, experience. She is not trusted by her own team to be permitted to speak to the press in an open forum.

Even twisty old Karl Rove volunteered the opinion that Palin was chosen to campaign, not to govern. In other words, at the time she was selected her role was intended to be that of spokesmodel, a pretty face to sell product. She was to be Natalie Wood on a Pontiac hood, or Dana Perino and her panties (if you remember that transparently sex-injected discussion as Perino succeeded Tony Snow). However, without adequate coaching or preparation on the issues, she never can speak to McCain's platform, so she serves as something even less. She is merely released upon crowds for a visceral reaction. She is an organ grinder's pet monkey.

Much has been made of McCain's apparent contempt for Obama. His usage of Sarah Palin demonstrates far worse. More to the point, Palin's acceptance of that is hardly iconic.

The Palin attributes you say you admire - energy, uninhibited use of her sex appeal (winking and wiggling), an apparently sensible relationship with her spouse, et. al. - may be admirable in their way, but they do not make Palin anything more than today's perky, plucky Gidget. Even ignoring her viciously prudish sexual politics - anti sex ed, anti gay, anti rape kit, anti women's shelter, and radically anti abortion - Sarah Palin's part in McCain's campaign makes her no model for feminism.

C'mon, Camille. I respect and admire you tremendously. Please say you were "just kiddin'" about your "modern feminist" position on Sarah Palin. There certainly must be more to her than she is permitted to show in this campaign, but the fact is that her role today is no more than McCain's scampering pet. Vanna White would have turned down that gig. It is not representative of anything feminism has brought to equality and justice in America. To suggest otherwise is to demean and trivialize a lifetime of hard-won gains achieved by truly admirable women.

If I was your mom, I would be so proud. You are a good writer and thanks for saying what I was trying to say.

Oh yes...

I know - education and intelligence - why on earth would anybody want that in a President? We've only been living with the king of the "Joe Six-packs" in the White House for the past 8 years... look at all the fantastic things he's done for our great nation. Thank god John Kerry and Al Gore "lost" otherwise we might actually be better off. Like we have been after most democratic administrations.

BTW... I have never been to a wine and cheese party.

As for November 5th... Ummmm the polls ALL say otherwise, as do McLame's empty campaign offices. And Palin's empty head.

As for Ms. Paglia... Yes I think we have underestimated the degree to which Ms. Palin dredges up the dark side of the winger soul with quotes from her supporters like "Kill Him" and "Treason". She's a real feminist - she shows that a woman with virtually 0 accomplishments can lie her way into any job. Hurrah!!!

Worrying about talking with Iran is a VALID CONCERN??? Yeah, if you're a paranoid nutcase, I suppose so. Camille must sense some deep sisterhoody bond between her own illogic and the infantile rantings of an ignorant, uneducated woman who believes man and dinosaurs roamed the Earth together just 6,000 years ago. I suppose Sarah also thinks you could duck in to the Bedrock Drive In and order a heapin' helpin' of BBQ Brontosaurus ribs to go.

I guess we know now what kinda of women Camille is into!! Gah!

I was surprised when you wrote the above line. Obama has baggage that should trouble all Americans.

1. his books, community organizer profession, and his choice of a church are clear indicators that he is trapped inside the racial mindset.

2. He claims he will cut spending, but there's no history of any fiscal constraint.

3. He's born and bred by the Chicago political machine. A corruption that taints his house and his pork.

4. His campaign is outspending McCain 3:1. What is the source of the money? and who will he owe? I don't believe that the internet is giving him $300M+. I think that money is coming from overseas.

5. Obama is tied heavily to the current financial crisis. He got big donations from Fannie and Freddie and has heavily used the executives from those organizations

other letters she dumps.

I would never believe that a smile could be so seriously misconstrued. Especially when it's a conscious facial tic that Biden has used since childhood to reduce a speech disorder. If he's conspiring with the moderator, do you really think he's telegraph it in such an obvious manner? Or are you slyly making fun of his stuttering problem Camille?

Finally, a feminist whose fierce femininity is not contingent upon tearing males down. Camille, you are a true feminist. In the brave new world, any man would be proud to stand next to such a woman and fight to the death for your right to be free. No self-assured woman bases her independence on tearing down another, in fact, she is a source of power and strength to those around her. As someone who has suffered through the years of mind-numbing sessions with women who are not fit to tie you shoe in academia, it is so refreshing to read someone like you. You seem to know what it's all about intuitively and emits positive rather than negative energy. Camille, I am a staunch pro-life conservative, but I love you. We should clone you.