Almost as soon as she'd finished her breakthrough speech at the Republican National Convention, one columnist for the liberal online magazine Salon called Palin a "dominatrix" and a "pinup queen," referred to her "babaliciousness" -- and described her convention address as having been charged with enough sexual energy to give the partisan crowd a "collective woody." Another Salon columnist described Palin as a "Christian Stepford wife in a 'sexy librarian' costume" who was, for the most ideological Republicans, a "hard-core pornographic centerfold spread."

Palin early on was called "Stepford Barbie" and "Caribou Barbie" -- terms used even by highbrow commentators, who find it acceptable to liken Palin to the impossibly proportioned fashion doll. The Barbie epithet marked Palin as an object of sexualized fashion fascination well before it came to light that the vice presidential nominee had used Republican Party funds to buy an expensive campaign wardrobe.

When did such a savage strain of sexism become acceptable public discourse?

A few weeks ago Palin was in Central Texas when she slammed Letterman.

Does anyone recall this?

Did anyone in the media ask why she was in Central Texas- a few weeks ago?

Central Texas?

Why is no one in the msm picking this up?

In her rambling appearance on Friday- did anyone pay attention to her speech?

Some of Palin’s rambling points:

*Gatekeeper of the Nation

*Oil and Gas

*God gave us energy

*Humbling responsibility- Alaska for National Security

*No more politics as usual

*Developed responsibly to develop their resources - oil and gas

*Petroleum development office

*Drilling for Oil and Gas

*58 to 1 victory protecting Alaskans to flow to the lower 48 - pro private sector project

A few weeks ago she made her decision to quit- In a few more weeks – she will be connecting to K Street in DC or in the proximity of K Street

National Security- oil and gas!

Central Texas? A majority of governors are behind Obama’s Energy Plan- 34 or 36-She was not one of them.

The train is leaving the station- enter Lobbyist Palin.

When did that savage strain of "sexism" become acceptable, you ask?

Right about the time Limbaugh called a 12 year old Chelsea Clinton the new White House dog.

Around the time various media crackpots said that Bill Clinton ran a murder/drug ring in Mena, Arkansas.

Pretty close to the time Hillary Clinton was accused unblinkingly of being a lesbian/murderer of Vince Foster/Machiavellian schemer-plotter by the same CNSNewservice/Newsmax crowd.

Seriously.

The Quitter has yet to experience one one thousandth of one percent of the character assasination jihad the Clinton's had to endure, and still do to this very day. To their credit, they do so with dignity, a word one would at this point, never associate with the Palin cry-me-a-river express.

Victimhood is a true loser in politics today, and, so is quitting.

I see. So then you condone the sexism I referenced here at Salon?

Cetainly, Cocco.

As soon as you acknowledge that politics is not bean-bag, it's a rough and tumble sport...and...that the man you presumably voted for, John McCain, is a sexist pig for saying that Janet Reno was Chelsea Clinton's father.

You see, once you put yourself out there, it's unrealistic to believe that you, and your family will not be the focus of whatever -ism you would like to cherry pick.

It's just fascinating to me that you seem to believe that Palin is the first victim, and of course, the most savagely decimated.

As Harry Truman said, "If you can't stand the heat..."

It appears that it got a little to warm for the Quitter.

of course, that should be "too warm". Sheesh.

And, I misread you, Cocco. Thought you said "condemn", not "condone".

Of course, I don't condone any sexism, however, if I were a female politician on the national stage, I would expect it.

"As soon as you acknowledge that politics is not bean-bag, it's a rough and tumble sport...and...that the man you presumably voted for, John McCain, is a sexist pig for saying that Janet Reno was Chelsea Clinton's father."

Of course I acknowledge that.

"It's just fascinating to me that you seem to believe that Palin is the first victim, and of course, the most savagely decimated."

Of course she's not. Hillary was savaged too. Women are savaged everyday. Please note, I don't even support Palin politically. However, that doesn't mean I shouldn't be outraged by the sexism I referenced here at Salon.

I think a lot has already taken hold. It's even accepted by people who should know better.

As in, Palin was undergoing her ethics problems long before she was tabbed to be VP. And the people leading the charge against her were primarily Alaskan Republicans, not Dems.

She was under investigation long before the Democratic Party knew she existed.

But it's become a part of her mantle of victimhood that the "attacks" started when she was named VP.

Uh, no.

She was already in trouble, and the latest scandal is about ongoing contract issues that began long before she was picked to become VP.

But this is something Republicans do very well. On any given day, we can turn to good progressive blogs and find audio tapes, video, transcripts of Republican leaders backdating events, distorting them, claiming they never happened, etc.

Like the recession Bush supposedly inherited but didn't.

http://mediamatters.org/research/200405010002

http://www.nber.com/cycles/november2001/

This comes up now because righties are whining about Obama telling the truth about the miserable economy he actually DID inherit.

Anyway, Palin was in deep moose doodoo long before she came on the national scene. Just because the McCain team failed to do any vetting, doesn't mean the national press should play along and ignore her past. And just because Palin and her supporters would rather play the victim's card than actually talk substantively about the issues doesn't mean we should let them. And it certainly doesn't mean we should let them revise history.

Also, I didn't vote for McCain.

OK, Cocco...however, one of the constants in American history is the fact that male or female, black or white, if you're out there running for or holding elective office, especially on the national stage, you will be subjected to a lot of nasty stuff.

Part of the territory.

It's just fascinating to me that this is surprising and/or shocking to anyone.

For tips or pointers on how to deal with these nasty byproducts of public life..with dignity, look up:

Clinton, Hillary Rodham

or

Clinton, William Jefferson