it was also - for me - a deal breaker.  I was hoping that Senator McCain would nominate Lindsey Graham or someone along the same lines.  Governor Palin's strong anti-choice views (Although I believe that life begins at conception, I also believe that choices of that nature must be made by the woman in consultation with her loved ones and spiritual advisors.  As a mother I do not think the vast majority of women make such a choice lightly and that women of means and poor, desperate women will always find a way to end a pregnancy but I guess all of that is a separate post.) and her "drill, drill, drill" philosophy are signficantly different from mine to make it impossible for me to vote for her.  Also, just as I find Senator Obama insufficiently experienced to be President, I find Governor Palin insufficiently experienced to be President (sauce for the gander, sauce for the goose).  Still, I am mystified by female Democrats who have villified Senator McCain for selecting her and demonized Governor Palin as being able to single handedly destroy the feminist movement.  Apparently, the Democrat's Big Tent has only one entrance for women. 

I was in an airport bound for England when the news broke of Senator McCain's surprising nomination of Governor Palin.  Honestly - and I'm going to lose all credibility with my friends and family here - tears came to my eyes when she walked out on stage; not because of her personally, I knew nothing of her at that time, but more I suppose as a response to the letdown of Senator Clinton's campaign.  I was also in an airport the night of the off year elections in 2006 and the following day made a continuing attempt to find out news of their results.  This time, however, despite the fact that I knew immediately that the momentum had swung to the Republicans, I was curiously uninterested in the Presidential campaigns while I was away (this despite the fact that SP was on the front page of every paper virtually every day that I was in the UK).  While I knew that the Obama campaign would be on its heels for a couple of days (on its ass for about three weeks is more like it, although now Obamaville seems to be retrenching), I was surprised that Senator Obama had not returned the gesture of a congratulatory ad on the night of Governor Palin's nomination at the convention.  I cannot say I was entirely surprised though by the attacks of Democratic women.  Never have I been one to think that a world ruled by women would be a place of sunshine and light.  You can't seriously believe that if you grew up female in high school and then ever labored in a largely female workplace.  The much vaunted Sisterhood - like the coming of Obamaville's Post Partisan Administration - is a myth.  Still, Democratic women are smart so it's puzzling that they have the same blind spot when it comes to understanding SP's appeal to many working class and working in the home mothers.

First though, let me address the cynicism of Governor Palin's nomination.  Yes, it was without a doubt designed to steal BO's post convention bump and to appeal to Hillary Clinton's disaffected base.  This was unexpected?  Is it any less cynical than turning to the supposedly racist in his heart Bill Clinton to turn up the juice against the reengerized fundamentalist Christian Republican base?  Is it any more cynical than asking Hil herself to be the point woman against Sarah Palin?  Is it any less cynical to fuzz up the lens on Michelle Obama?  (I didn't like her when she was rude and condescending but at least she was real and I could respect her candor.)  It's politics, guys and gals.  Damn, even when I was 18 and working for Senator McGovern I understood the machinations, they may be beneath - yeah, right - Senator Obama but they are not beneath his supporters.  One of the things I have always admired about the Clintons is their taste for the game, the obvious relish with which they attack the political process and the fact they do not attempt to hide their delight behind pious phrases.  Had Senator Obama been willing to play his trump political card - putting Hillary on the ticket - he could have gone to Hawaii until November 4.  (As a supporter of what I hope will be a long and illustrious Senate career for HRC, I'm glad he wasn't able to make the obvious and best choice for a running mate).    

Now as to whether Sarah Palin will bomb the feminist movement back to the Stone Age.  I guess if your feminist world is Pro-Choice, Anti-Iraq War, Environmentally Friendly that is entirely possible.  While these ideas (very broadly) encapsulate my own politcal views they do not encapsulate feminism.  Women, like people of color, like white men are not a monolithic group nor should they be.  A woman need not be vetted by the left wing of the Democratic Party to be a feminist.  If I don't want the community of men establishing the rules of my game, I certainly don't want the community of women to do so.  I do not want Big Brother telling me what to believe and do, neither do I want Big Sister telling me what to believe and do.  The choice of the Clintons to have one child is acceptable.  The choice of the Palins to have five children is acceptable.  Hillary's sophisticated look and sensible pant suits are acceptable.  Sarah's beauty queen look and skirts are acceptable.  What is not acceptable, why I cannot vote for Governor Palin, has nothing to do with feminism.  While it may have been cynical for Senator McCain to have put Sarah Palin on the ticket, it is even more cynical to judge her by some false standard of what a woman should be.