I think one of the real questions is"will women see themselves in Palin?"

[Bread and Circus]

I'm of the belief that Hillary had a huge following owing to her gender mainly because she was archetypical on so many levels. Women saw themselves in her and therefore felt she would do the right thing. This is not a "gender specific" thing. Women aren't dumb for feeling or believing that way. People like Kucinich and John Edwards (pre screwing around on his wife) got so much traction here because we saw ourselves in them, and therefore liked them. As logical as we all want to think we are, picking a candidate is a highly emotional thing.

I don't know enough about Palin to say one way or another, but I'm actually quite open to the fact that she could be a dangerous pick for Obama if she has the qualities and characteristics that would garner votes from disaffected women.

On the other hand, she could make a lot of men run the other way or not vote. Mysogeny is alive and well. There's just simply a lot of guys who don't respect women. There's also a lot of guys that while the might respect women as equals, they aren't comfortable with women as superiors. Frankly, I like a woman on top ;) and I was a vocal supporter for Sebelius prior to the Biden pick. I am extremely happy with Biden too, though.

Hillary, albeit grating to men at times (sorry, but we can't control what rubs us the wrong way), is damn smart. She is smart enough and tough enough to be President. Is Palin? I have no idea. However, Hillary was pubicly picked on and put down by men in the public square for a long time, she was also an "ugly duckling". Finally, ol' Bill fucked around on her. Women can identify with her immensely, especially older women, who remember when it was even worse.

Will Palin garner the same empathy and sense of kindred spirit? I don't know but I'm waiting with baited breath to find out.

If she comes off as brilliant and competent, we are going to have a tough fight. If she comes off as a dingbat, I think this will backfire for McCain and lots of conservative men will end up sitting on their hands come Nov. 4th.

[progressivebydesign]

1. The question is... Is PALIN ready to be President at any moment?? NO!!! n/t

[Bread and Circus]

3. Yeah, that's the ethical question. I guess I was talking about the political questions.

But your point is very well taken.

[Justyce]

2. I think the bottom line is that she's a *republican*, and

a pro-life republican at that. Maybe she'll bring some of the undecided women, but I just don't see her taking many Dem women, IMO... I was a Hillary supporter, and I'm sorry, but there's no way in hell I'd vote for a republican, woman on the ticket or not. I'm a woman, but I didn't back Hillary because she was a woman, I backed her because I thought she'd do a good job. I just don't see where an inexperienced pro-life woman hurts us.

[peace13]

4. From your post I can see

That the rethugs have found a way to keep the Hillary scab open and bleeding throughout this election. From this point on the election is between Obama and Biden and the Rethug candidates. We need to keep Hill out of this. We have played nice on all sides. Don't fall into the trap being laid for you. Peace, Kim