I appreciated both Amy Alexander's and Patricia William's piece about Sarah Palin. What Gloria Steinam's position paper, NOW's pronouncements and feminists' claims of being "insulted" do not understand is precisely this visceral appeal of the woman. Indeed, when I was watching Palin's convention speech, she reminded of my favorite democratic "ballsy" women: Anne Richards and Molly Ivins. If there is one thing I learned growing up in Texas, it is this: never underestimate the woman with the up-do. Richards and Ivins could dish out the snarkiness with the same kind of humor and populist mischief that Palin did in her speech, and we Democrats loved them for it.

However, what both articles miss, I believe, is the fact not of Palin's emotional but her political appeal. Though I abhor Palin's policies, I, like many women I know, feel betrayed by the lack of support Clinton received from the left, from the Democratic party, and in the end, from Barak Obama himself when he did not choose her as his running mate. What a ticket it could have been. Truly historic--a coming together of two movements that have, for too long, been separate and at odds with one another. When Obama did not pick Clinton, her female supporters felt that the candidate did not value them as a demographic, that he did not care about their issues, and that it foretold at least four more years of traditional masculine political images, resulting in the diminution of the cultural and political status of women.

The notion that Palin would provide some kind of real corrective to the imminent disappearance of a strong woman from the political stage is not irrational. This alone is not reason enough to vote for her. But the fact of her political appeal must be acknowledged.

rachel devlin
Tulane University

Tulane University
New Orleans, lA

This is the strangest article that I have ever read in defense of women, or femaleness. She has balls and she wants to overturn Roe v. Wade so that women can submit themselves to being baby factories no matter the situation or circumstances? and this qualifies her as a steel-balled lady, according to a woman? Wow! She stood up to Charlie Gibson? How? He asked her about the Bush doctrine and she didn't have a clue. Instead of saying I don't know what the Bush doctrine is, what is it, Charlie? she answers, "His world view?" The lady is a pathological liar. This falls in the category of sniper fire.

JAMES PINETTE

Caribou, ME

I really appreciated this article. It is a rare thing (particularly in an election year) to hear complimentary things said about someone when the writer does agree with her subject. The author clearly stated how she did not fall in line with Gov. Palin, yet this did not stop her from admiring certain aspects of the VP nominee. In a time when all too many people unduly conflate moral worth and political affiliation, it was refreshing to see genuine respect paid to an opponent.

Timothy Padgett

Chicago, IL

I think some would call this piece "putting pitbull on a lipstick."

David Schneider

The Boy Bedlam Review
New York, NY

I am highly offended by this article. First, I find the term "ballsy" to be particularly offensive. Given the pain, discomfort, and threat to life that women have endured, from the beginning of time, to continue the species, I think we only have to look to our own anatomy for a strength metaphor.

Second, when I look at Sarah Palin, I don't see confidence; I see ruthlessness. She has no qualms repeating the same lies over and over again. She seeks to impose her own extreme theocratic views on all women. Unlike Alexander, I cannot separate her politics from her character.

No, I can't see Sarah Palin as a role model for my daughters. When it comes to women "juggling" children and career, we tend to act as if mothers are somehow in two places at once. Relying on others to care for your family doesn't make you a hero. It just makes you someone who made a choice. Sarah Palin took extreme risks with the birth of her youngest child, choosing to give a speech after she was leaking amniotic fluid, and then spending many hours traveling, before finally getting to a hospital. Then she went back to work after three days. This is not the model I want my daughters to follow. I'm all for women having the choice to work. But to quote Oprah Winfrey: "You can have it all, you just can't have it all at the same time."

Amy Fried

Rockville, MD

Manifest Destiny is simply imperialist ideology that yielded destructive acts of early US violence perpetrated against people, animals and all else that stood between "rightful proprietors" and their treasure. This arrogant belief still exists and is brutally unleashed by imperial armies and global corporations on behalf of ruling classes against all living things that reside in resource-rich regions (e.g., Iraq, the Amazon, the ocean, etc.). So to say that Sarah Palin has "transported us back to the era of Manifest Destiny" because of her rugged "can do" persona is revealing and of great concern.

It is revealing because it forces one to question whether strength is found in the politics of one's gender performance or in one's ability to speak truth to power and act against dangerous beliefs such as Manifest Destiny. I think contradictions and hypocrisies are exactly what informed populations use to assess candidates. Demonstrated by her apologetic support of the Bush doctrine and imperial "blunders," it is evident that she does not possess the strength to stand up for what is just. I don't think feminism is on trial for the support of Mrs. Palin; rather, I think those who claim to care about women's struggle have to think hard on whether to consume this gendered image being sold.

Aaron Modica

Oakland, CA

I don't know why I bother to read The Nation, but reading the smug nonsense of liberal progressives hearkens me back to the days of censorship at the Politburo. How can people who have been so consistently wrong on nearly every issue be so condescendingly certain of everything they say? One reason could be that they only talk to one another. And it's not a rational exercise; politics to a liberal progressive is about as heartfelt as the "hip" place to go on vacation and the newest fashionable restaurant. Dostoyevesky had your number back in the nineteenth century, and there's really nothing more I can add here. But if it wasn't for liberal progressives, I suppose people that actually have jobs and go to work to try keep society going need to be reminded of what would happen if they just sat around bitching like a bunch of wrinkly teen-agers all day--in fact, like the editorial staff at The Nation! It truly would surprise me if you actually printed this letter, since it's pretty much a one-party system you have in your universe. But I did want you to know that people other than the faithful do read your magazine, as awful as it can be at times. Please try not to whine so much.

Gavin Simmons

New York, NY

Finally! An opinion piece that can actually acknowledge that Sarah Palin is an impressive person with some compelling qualities! This is why I read The Nation. I'm a conservative Republican, but I appreciate the intellectual honesty that is in greater supply at this publication than the mainstream media.

I believe in open, honest discourse... and potentially agreeing to disagree on occasion. Hurling hysterical slurs at Sarah Palin has been one of the most illiberal, intolerant and intellectually dishonest things I've ever seen the Left do. For example, the "Sarah Palin is an insult to women" comment (one of the most commonly used slurs), begs the question: which women? Liberal women? Democratic women? Feminist women? On the evidence, it's not insulting white women, who now favor McCain/Palin by a wide margin over Obama/Biden. So... is that "feminine majority" somehow not "feminist"? Not "real women" either?

When the left, which bills itself as more enlightened and intellectual, engages in such smears of broad swaths of Americans, it discredits itself and ends the conversation. Unfortunately for liberals, Middle America is just that--in the middle, and in need of persuasion (left or right). Love or hate Sarah Palin, you have correctly identified that she projects a positive, confident view of life, family and country, and liberal smears do little to refocus attention away from that and onto specific policy questions.

I'm an Ivy League grad myself, and I would think that my fellow liberal alums would have the intelligence and intellectual honesty to appreciate that it doesn't matter how correct you may be on the issues if you can't persuade others of your views. And insulting those you wish to persuade is absolutely counter to the liberal ideal of vigorous discourse, and calls into question the very intelligence of those who fancy themselves highly educated and intelligent. Why would a coastal elite write an op-ed piece of hysterical claims ("Sarah Palin is basically a man"), and then be surprised when Middle America reacts strongly and negatively to that. (Alternatively, maybe it's secretly a--perverse--compliment, along the lines of the male politicians during the Democratic primary that claimed that Hillary had more balls than Obama?) Sarah Palin is a woman. She is a strong woman (seriously--she drubbed the Republican establishment in Alaska). She is a feminist, according to some definitions of feminism (not just the orthodox, liberal definition that demands adherance to the unlimited abortion stricture). She doesn't agree with liberals on very many things. Imagine that--a different opinion!

You're on to something. Too bad so many of your fellow writers would rather have a shriek-fest with themselves than a persuasive conversation with America.

David Fisher

Denver, CO

Ms. Alexander's sheepish respect for Sarah Palin's ballsiness is understandable, but also tells us much about the decay in the American feminist movement, divested as it has been of its radical roots.

Part of Sarah Palin's appeal is that she has bested the big boys at their own game, but this is not new to many countries that have elected women leaders, for good or ill. No one doubts the triumph of her will either, whether on the court in high school or as a controversial mayor in sleepy Wasilla. She has come a long way, but to what end? Anyone who promotes "girl power" should ask themselves whether this includes the brutal gunning down of defenseless animals from the air, or excuses doing much the same to human beings in other countries. Indeed, the photoshopped picture of Palin's head on top of a guntoting American-flag-bikini-clad woman unintentionally speaks volumes about the degeneration of commercialized American feminism where empowerment has come to represent the deployment of sexual power to use and abuse others as well as yourself, as opposed to true equality and a more peaceable, compassionate world.

What makes Palin's wingnut particularly hard to crack is the fact that Barack Obama has also relied heavily on his biography to give a progressive sheen to his vaguely centrist policies and endless genuflection to Washington elites. Palin has done much the same thing, effectively deploying her family and even its secrets to earn sympathy from Middle American voters, while advancing extremist social and environmental positions and enthusiastically embracing a neocon foreign policy agenda. Sadly, all this deflection serves only to perpetuate the rule of money power in this country to the very end of the Republic.

Rajiv Rawat

Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada

To Amy Alexander: XOXOXO! I don't share your politics either, but that does not prevent me from appreciating your acknowledgement of Govenor Palin's intestinal fortitude, determination and conviction. It is so refreshing after reading a lot of other women's opinions. Feminist organizations and icons seem to be the most condescending and illogical, to say the least.

I respect and love you, Amy. You are my sister-from-another-mother.

Judy Jacob

Choctaw, OK

Imagine that Barack Obama had recognized the corruption that is Chicago politics and single-handedly, exposed it, ran against the incumbents and beat them. Imagine that he examined all the sweetheart deals that his predecessors had done with big business and big labor, and renegotiated them to the benefit of the people he represented. Imagine that he took the major energy projects, such as a new refinery, that had been stalled for decades, and got them moving. Imagine that he did that in the space of four years. Had he he done all that, he would have proven himself fit to be President.

But he didn't have the balls to take on corruption, the party bosses, big business, big labor or any of the institutions and people standing in the way of change in Chicago or Illinois.

Palin had the balls to take on the corrupt GOP leadership in Alaska and she beat them to a pulp. She took on Big Oil and squeezed their balls so hard they squeaked "you win." She called Big Oil's bluff on building a natural gas pipeline and negotiated a better deal with a Canadian company.

She did all that without a patron, without a financial backer, without any political connections, and without the support of her party.

That took more than balls; that took utter fearlessness, absolute determination and exceptional leadership. Imagine that Barack Obama had recognized the corruption that is Chicago politics and single-handedly, exposed it, ran against the incumbents and beat them. Imagine that he examined all the sweetheart deals that his predecessors had done with big business and big labor, and renegotiated them to the benefit of the people he represented. Imagine that he took the major energy projects, such as a new refinery, that had been stalled for decades, and got them moving. Imagine that he did that in the space of four years. Had he he done all that, he would have proven himself fit to be President.

But he didn't have the balls to take on corruption, the party bosses, big business, big labor or any of the institutions and people standing in the way of change in Chicago or Illinois.

Palin had the balls to take on the corrupt GOP leadership in Alaska and she beat them to a pulp. She took on Big Oil and squeezed their balls so hard they squeaked "you win." She called Big Oil's bluff on building a natural gas pipeline and negotiated a better deal with a Canadian company.

She did all that without a patron, without a financial backer, without any political connections, and without the support of her party.

That took more than balls; that took utter fearlessness, absolute determination and exceptional leadership. Imagine that Barack Obama had recognized the corruption that is Chicago politics and single-handedly, exposed it, ran against the incumbents and beat them. Imagine that he examined all the sweetheart deals that his predecessors had done with big business and big labor, and renegotiated them to the benefit of the people he represented. Imagine that he took the major energy projects, such as a new refinery, that had been stalled for decades, and got them moving. Imagine that he did that in the space of four years. Had he he done all that, he would have proven himself fit to be President.

But he didn't have the balls to take on corruption, the party bosses, big business, big labor or any of the institutions and people standing in the way of change in Chicago or Illinois.

Palin had the balls to take on the corrupt GOP leadership in Alaska and she beat them to a pulp. She took on Big Oil and squeezed their balls so hard they squeaked "you win." She called Big Oil's bluff on building a natural gas pipeline and negotiated a better deal with a Canadian company.

She did all that without a patron, without a financial backer, without any political connections, and without the support of her party.

That took more than balls; that took utter fearlessness, absolute determination and exceptional leadership. Imagine that Barack Obama had recognized the corruption that is Chicago politics and single-handedly, exposed it, ran against the incumbents and beat them. Imagine that he examined all the sweetheart deals that his predecessors had done with big business and big labor, and renegotiated them to the benefit of the people he represented. Imagine that he took the major energy projects, such as a new refinery, that had been stalled for decades, and got them moving. Imagine that he did that in the space of four years. Had he he done all that, he would have proven himself fit to be President.

But he didn't have the balls to take on corruption, the party bosses, big business, big labor or any of the institutions and people standing in the way of change in Chicago or Illinois.

Palin had the balls to take on the corrupt GOP leadership in Alaska and she beat them to a pulp. She took on Big Oil and squeezed their balls so hard they squeaked "you win." She called Big Oil's bluff on building a natural gas pipeline and negotiated a better deal with a Canadian company.

She did all that without a patron, without a financial backer, without any political connections, and without the support of her party.

That took more than balls; that took utter fearlessness, absolute determination and exceptional leadership. Imagine that Barack Obama had recognized the corruption that is Chicago politics and single-handedly, exposed it, ran against the incumbents and beat them. Imagine that he examined all the sweetheart deals that his predecessors had done with big business and big labor, and renegotiated them to the benefit of the people he represented. Imagine that he took the major energy projects, such as a new refinery, that had been stalled for decades, and got them moving. Imagine that he did that in the space of four years. Had he he done all that, he would have proven himself fit to be President.

But he didn't have the balls to take on corruption, the party bosses, big business, big labor or any of the institutions and people standing in the way of change in Chicago or Illinois.

Palin had the balls to take on the corrupt GOP leadership in Alaska and she beat them to a pulp. She took on Big Oil and squeezed their balls so hard they squeaked "you win." She called Big Oil's bluff on building a natural gas pipeline and negotiated a better deal with a Canadian company.

She did all that without a patron, without a financial backer, without any political connections, and without the support of her party.

That took more than balls; that took utter fearlessness, absolute determination and exceptional leadership. Imagine that Barack Obama had recognized the corruption that is Chicago politics and single-handedly, exposed it, ran against the incumbents and beat them. Imagine that he examined all the sweetheart deals that his predecessors had done with big business and big labor, and renegotiated them to the benefit of the people he represented. Imagine that he took the major energy projects, such as a new refinery, that had been stalled for decades, and got them moving. Imagine that he did that in the space of four years. Had he he done all that, he would have proven himself fit to be President.

But he didn't have the balls to take on corruption, the party bosses, big business, big labor or any of the institutions and people standing in the way of change in Chicago or Illinois.

Palin had the balls to take on the corrupt GOP leadership in Alaska and she beat them to a pulp. She took on Big Oil and squeezed their balls so hard they squeaked "you win." She called Big Oil's bluff on building a natural gas pipeline and negotiated a better deal with a Canadian company.

She did all that without a patron, without a financial backer, without any political connections, and without the support of her party.

That took more than balls; that took utter fearlessness, absolute determination and exceptional leadership. Imagine that Barack Obama had recognized the corruption that is Chicago politics and single-handedly, exposed it, ran against the incumbents and beat them. Imagine that he examined all the sweetheart deals that his predecessors had done with big business and big labor, and renegotiated them to the benefit of the people he represented. Imagine that he took the major energy projects, such as a new refinery, that had been stalled for decades, and got them moving. Imagine that he did that in the space of four years. Had he he done all that, he would have proven himself fit to be President.

But he didn't have the balls to take on corruption, the party bosses, big business, big labor or any of the institutions and people standing in the way of change in Chicago or Illinois.

Palin had the balls to take on the corrupt GOP leadership in Alaska and she beat them to a pulp. She took on Big Oil and squeezed their balls so hard they squeaked "you win." She called Big Oil's bluff on building a natural gas pipeline and negotiated a better deal with a Canadian company.

She did all that without a patron, without a financial backer, without any political connections, and without the support of her party.

That took more than balls; that took utter fearlessness, absolute determination and exceptional leadership. Imagine that Barack Obama had recognized the corruption that is Chicago politics and single-handedly, exposed it, ran against the incumbents and beat them. Imagine that he examined all the sweetheart deals that his predecessors had done with big business and big labor, and renegotiated them to the benefit of the people he represented. Imagine that he took the major energy projects, such as a new refinery, that had been stalled for decades, and got them moving. Imagine that he did that in the space of four years. Had he he done all that, he would have proven himself fit to be President.

But he didn't have the balls to take on corruption, the party bosses, big business, big labor or any of the institutions and people standing in the way of change in Chicago or Illinois.

Palin had the balls to take on the corrupt GOP leadership in Alaska and she beat them to a pulp. She took on Big Oil and squeezed their balls so hard they squeaked "you win." She called Big Oil's bluff on building a natural gas pipeline and negotiated a better deal with a Canadian company.

She did all that without a patron, without a financial backer, without any political connections, and without the support of her party.

That took more than balls; that took utter fearlessness, absolute determination and exceptional leadership. Imagine that Barack Obama had recognized the corruption that is Chicago politics and single-handedly, exposed it, ran against the incumbents and beat them. Imagine that he examined all the sweetheart deals that his predecessors had done with big business and big labor, and renegotiated them to the benefit of the people he represented. Imagine that he took the major energy projects, such as a new refinery, that had been stalled for decades, and got them moving. Imagine that he did that in the space of four years. Had he he done all that, he would have proven himself fit to be President.

But he didn't have the balls to take on corruption, the party bosses, big business, big labor or any of the institutions and people standing in the way of change in Chicago or Illinois.

Palin had the balls to take on the corrupt GOP leadership in Alaska and she beat them to a pulp. She took on Big Oil and squeezed their balls so hard they squeaked "you win." She called Big Oil's bluff on building a natural gas pipeline and negotiated a better deal with a Canadian company.

She did all that without a patron, without a financial backer, without any political connections, and without the support of her party.

That took more than balls; that took utter fearlessness, absolute determination and exceptional leadership. Imagine that Barack Obama had recognized the corruption that is Chicago politics and single-handedly, exposed it, ran against the incumbents and beat them. Imagine that he examined all the sweetheart deals that his predecessors had done with big business and big labor, and renegotiated them to the benefit of the people he represented. Imagine that he took the major energy projects, such as a new refinery, that had been stalled for decades, and got them moving. Imagine that he did that in the space of four years. Had he he done all that, he would have proven himself fit to be President.

But he didn't have the balls to take on corruption, the party bosses, big business, big labor or any of the institutions and people standing in the way of change in Chicago or Illinois.

Palin had the balls to take on the corrupt GOP leadership in Alaska and she beat them to a pulp. She took on Big Oil and squeezed their balls so hard they squeaked "you win." She called Big Oil's bluff on building a natural gas pipeline and negotiated a better deal with a Canadian company.

She did all that without a patron, without a financial backer, without any political connections, and without the support of her party.

That took more than balls; that took utter fearlessness, absolute determination and exceptional leadership. Imagine that Barack Obama had recognized the corruption that is Chicago politics and single-handedly, exposed it, ran against the incumbents and beat them. Imagine that he examined all the sweetheart deals that his predecessors had done with big business and big labor, and renegotiated them to the benefit of the people he represented. Imagine that he took the major energy projects, such as a new refinery, that had been stalled for decades, and got them moving. Imagine that he did that in the space of four years. Had he he done all that, he would have proven himself fit to be President.

But he didn't have the balls to take on corruption, the party bosses, big business, big labor or any of the institutions and people standing in the way of change in Chicago or Illinois.

Palin had the balls to take on the corrupt GOP leadership in Alaska and she beat them to a pulp. She took on Big Oil and squeezed their balls so hard they squeaked "you win." She called Big Oil's bluff on building a natural gas pipeline and negotiated a better deal with a Canadian company.

She did all that without a patron, without a financial backer, without any political connections, and without the support of her party.

That took more than balls; that took utter fearlessness, absolute determination and exceptional leadership. Imagine that Barack Obama had recognized the corruption that is Chicago politics and single-handedly, exposed it, ran against the incumbents and beat them. Imagine that he examined all the sweetheart deals that his predecessors had done with big business and big labor, and renegotiated them to the benefit of the people he represented. Imagine that he took the major energy projects, such as a new refinery, that had been stalled for decades, and got them moving. Imagine that he did that in the space of four years. Had he he done all that, he would have proven himself fit to be President.

But he didn't have the balls to take on corruption, the party bosses, big business, big labor or any of the institutions and people standing in the way of change in Chicago or Illinois.

Palin had the balls to take on the corrupt GOP leadership in Alaska and she beat them to a pulp. She took on Big Oil and squeezed their balls so hard they squeaked "you win." She called Big Oil's bluff on building a natural gas pipeline and negotiated a better deal with a Canadian company.

She did all that without a patron, without a financial backer, without any political connections, and without the support of her party.

That took more than balls; that took utter fearlessness, absolute determination and exceptional leadership. Imagine that Barack Obama had recognized the corruption that is Chicago politics and single-handedly, exposed it, ran against the incumbents and beat them. Imagine that he examined all the sweetheart deals that his predecessors had done with big business and big labor, and renegotiated them to the benefit of the people he represented. Imagine that he took the major energy projects, such as a new refinery, that had been stalled for decades, and got them moving. Imagine that he did that in the space of four years. Had he he done all that, he would have proven himself fit to be President.

But he didn't have the balls to take on corruption, the party bosses, big business, big labor or any of the institutions and people standing in the way of change in Chicago or Illinois.

Palin had the balls to take on the corrupt GOP leadership in Alaska and she beat them to a pulp. She took on Big Oil and squeezed their balls so hard they squeaked "you win." She called Big Oil's bluff on building a natural gas pipeline and negotiated a better deal with a Canadian company.

She did all that without a patron, without a financial backer, without any political connections, and without the support of her party.

That took more than balls; that took utter fearlessness, absolute determination and exceptional leadership. Imagine that Barack Obama had recognized the corruption that is Chicago politics and single-handedly, exposed it, ran against the incumbents and beat them. Imagine that he examined all the sweetheart deals that his predecessors had done with big business and big labor, and renegotiated them to the benefit of the people he represented. Imagine that he took the major energy projects, such as a new refinery, that had been stalled for decades, and got them moving. Imagine that he did that in the space of four years. Had he he done all that, he would have proven himself fit to be President.

But he didn't have the balls to take on corruption, the party bosses, big business, big labor or any of the institutions and people standing in the way of change in Chicago or Illinois.

Palin had the balls to take on the corrupt GOP leadership in Alaska and she beat them to a pulp. She took on Big Oil and squeezed their balls so hard they squeaked "you win." She called Big Oil's bluff on building a natural gas pipeline and negotiated a better deal with a Canadian company.

She did all that without a patron, without a financial backer, without any political connections, and without the support of her party.

That took more than balls; that took utter fearlessness, absolute determination and exceptional leadership. Imagine that Barack Obama had recognized the corruption that is Chicago politics and single-handedly, exposed it, ran against the incumbents and beat them. Imagine that he examined all the sweetheart deals that his predecessors had done with big business and big labor, and renegotiated them to the benefit of the people he represented. Imagine that he took the major energy projects, such as a new refinery, that had been stalled for decades, and got them moving. Imagine that he did that in the space of four years. Had he he done all that, he would have proven himself fit to be President.

But he didn't have the balls to take on corruption, the party bosses, big business, big labor or any of the institutions and people standing in the way of change in Chicago or Illinois.

Palin had the balls to take on the corrupt GOP leadership in Alaska and she beat them to a pulp. She took on Big Oil and squeezed their balls so hard they squeaked "you win." She called Big Oil's bluff on building a natural gas pipeline and negotiated a better deal with a Canadian company.

She did all that without a patron, without a financial backer, without any political connections, and without the support of her party.

That took more than balls; that took utter fearlessness, absolute determination and exceptional leadership. Imagine that Barack Obama had recognized the corruption that is Chicago politics and single-handedly, exposed it, ran against the incumbents and beat them. Imagine that he examined all the sweetheart deals that his predecessors had done with big business and big labor, and renegotiated them to the benefit of the people he represented. Imagine that he took the major energy projects, such as a new refinery, that had been stalled for decades, and got them moving. Imagine that he did that in the space of four years. Had he he done all that, he would have proven himself fit to be President.

But he didn't have the balls to take on corruption, the party bosses, big business, big labor or any of the institutions and people standing in the way of change in Chicago or Illinois.

Palin had the balls to take on the corrupt GOP leadership in Alaska and she beat them to a pulp. She took on Big Oil and squeezed their balls so hard they squeaked "you win." She called Big Oil's bluff on building a natural gas pipeline and negotiated a better deal with a Canadian company.

She did all that without a patron, without a financial backer, without any political connections, and without the support of her party.

That took more than balls; that took utter fearlessness, absolute determination and exceptional leadership. Imagine that Barack Obama had recognized the corruption that is Chicago politics and single-handedly, exposed it, ran against the incumbents and beat them. Imagine that he examined all the sweetheart deals that his predecessors had done with big business and big labor, and renegotiated them to the benefit of the people he represented. Imagine that he took the major energy projects, such as a new refinery, that had been stalled for decades, and got them moving. Imagine that he did that in the space of four years. Had he he done all that, he would have proven himself fit to be President.

But he didn't have the balls to take on corruption, the party bosses, big business, big labor or any of the institutions and people standing in the way of change in Chicago or Illinois.

Palin had the balls to take on the corrupt GOP leadership in Alaska and she beat them to a pulp. She took on Big Oil and squeezed their balls so hard they squeaked "you win." She called Big Oil's bluff on building a natural gas pipeline and negotiated a better deal with a Canadian company.

She did all that without a patron, without a financial backer, without any political connections, and without the support of her party.

That took more than balls; that took utter fearlessness, absolute determination and exceptional leadership. Imagine that Barack Obama had recognized the corruption that is Chicago politics and single-handedly, exposed it, ran against the incumbents and beat them. Imagine that he examined all the sweetheart deals that his predecessors had done with big business and big labor, and renegotiated them to the benefit of the people he represented. Imagine that he took the major energy projects, such as a new refinery, that had been stalled for decades, and got them moving. Imagine that he did that in the space of four years. Had he he done all that, he would have proven himself fit to be President.

But he didn't have the balls to take on corruption, the party bosses, big business, big labor or any of the institutions and people standing in the way of change in Chicago or Illinois.

Palin had the balls to take on the corrupt GOP leadership in Alaska and she beat them to a pulp. She took on Big Oil and squeezed their balls so hard they squeaked "you win." She called Big Oil's bluff on building a natural gas pipeline and negotiated a better deal with a Canadian company.

She did all that without a patron, without a financial backer, without any political connections, and without the support of her party.

That took more than balls; that took utter fearlessness, absolute determination and exceptional leadership. Imagine that Barack Obama had recognized the corruption that is Chicago politics and single-handedly, exposed it, ran against the incumbents and beat them. Imagine that he examined all the sweetheart deals that his predecessors had done with big business and big labor, and renegotiated them to the benefit of the people he represented. Imagine that he took the major energy projects, such as a new refinery, that had been stalled for decades, and got them moving. Imagine that he did that in the space of four years. Had he he done all that, he would have proven himself fit to be President.

But he didn't have the balls to take on corruption, the party bosses, big business, big labor or any of the institutions and people standing in the way of change in Chicago or Illinois.

Palin had the balls to take on the corrupt GOP leadership in Alaska and she beat them to a pulp. She took on Big Oil and squeezed their balls so hard they squeaked "you win." She called Big Oil's bluff on building a natural gas pipeline and negotiated a better deal with a Canadian company.

She did all that without a patron, without a financial backer, without any political connections, and without the support of her party.

That took more than balls; that took utter fearlessness, absolute determination and exceptional leadership. Imagine that Barack Obama had recognized the corruption that is Chicago politics and single-handedly, exposed it, ran against the incumbents and beat them. Imagine that he examined all the sweetheart deals that his predecessors had done with big business and big labor, and renegotiated them to the benefit of the people he represented. Imagine that he took the major energy projects, such as a new refinery, that had been stalled for decades, and got them moving. Imagine that he did that in the space of four years. Had he he done all that, he would have proven himself fit to be President.

But he didn't have the balls to take on corruption, the party bosses, big business, big labor or any of the institutions and people standing in the way of change in Chicago or Illinois.

Palin had the balls to take on the corrupt GOP leadership in Alaska and she beat them to a pulp. She took on Big Oil and squeezed their balls so hard they squeaked "you win." She called Big Oil's bluff on building a natural gas pipeline and negotiated a better deal with a Canadian company.

She did all that without a patron, without a financial backer, without any political connections, and without the support of her party.

That took more than balls; that took utter fearlessness, absolute determination and exceptional leadership. Imagine that Barack Obama had recognized the corruption that is Chicago politics and single-handedly, exposed it, ran against the incumbents and beat them. Imagine that he examined all the sweetheart deals that his predecessors had done with big business and big labor, and renegotiated them to the benefit of the people he represented. Imagine that he took the major energy projects, such as a new refinery, that had been stalled for decades, and got them moving. Imagine that he did that in the space of four years. Had he he done all that, he would have proven himself fit to be President.

But he didn't have the balls to take on corruption, the party bosses, big business, big labor or any of the institutions and people standing in the way of change in Chicago or Illinois.

Palin had the balls to take on the corrupt GOP leadership in Alaska and she beat them to a pulp. She took on Big Oil and squeezed their balls so hard they squeaked "you win." She called Big Oil's bluff on building a natural gas pipeline and negotiated a better deal with a Canadian company.

She did all that without a patron, without a financial backer, without any political connections, and without the support of her party.

That took more than balls; that took utter fearlessness, absolute determination and exceptional leadership. Imagine that Barack Obama had recognized the corruption that is Chicago politics and single-handedly, exposed it, ran against the incumbents and beat them. Imagine that he examined all the sweetheart deals that his predecessors had done with big business and big labor, and renegotiated them to the benefit of the people he represented. Imagine that he took the major energy projects, such as a new refinery, that had been stalled for decades, and got them moving. Imagine that he did that in the space of four years. Had he he done all that, he would have proven himself fit to be President.

But he didn't have the balls to take on corruption, the party bosses, big business, big labor or any of the institutions and people standing in the way of change in Chicago or Illinois.

Palin had the balls to take on the corrupt GOP leadership in Alaska and she beat them to a pulp. She took on Big Oil and squeezed their balls so hard they squeaked "you win." She called Big Oil's bluff on building a natural gas pipeline and negotiated a better deal with a Canadian company.

She did all that without a patron, without a financial backer, without any political connections, and without the support of her party.

That took more than balls; that took utter fearlessness, absolute determination and exceptional leadership. Imagine that Barack Obama had recognized the corruption that is Chicago politics and single-handedly, exposed it, ran against the incumbents and beat them. Imagine that he examined all the sweetheart deals that his predecessors had done with big business and big labor, and renegotiated them to the benefit of the people he represented. Imagine that he took the major energy projects, such as a new refinery, that had been stalled for decades, and got them moving. Imagine that he did that in the space of four years. Had he he done all that, he would have proven himself fit to be President.

But he didn't have the balls to take on corruption, the party bosses, big business, big labor or any of the institutions and people standing in the way of change in Chicago or Illinois.

Palin had the balls to take on the corrupt GOP leadership in Alaska and she beat them to a pulp. She took on Big Oil and squeezed their balls so hard they squeaked "you win." She called Big Oil's bluff on building a natural gas pipeline and negotiated a better deal with a Canadian company.

She did all that without a patron, without a financial backer, without any political connections, and without the support of her party.

That took more than balls; that took utter fearlessness, absolute determination and exceptional leadership. Imagine that Barack Obama had recognized the corruption that is Chicago politics and single-handedly, exposed it, ran against the incumbents and beat them. Imagine that he examined all the sweetheart deals that his predecessors had done with big business and big labor, and renegotiated them to the benefit of the people he represented. Imagine that he took the major energy projects, such as a new refinery, that had been stalled for decades, and got them moving. Imagine that he did that in the space of four years. Had he he done all that, he would have proven himself fit to be President.

But he didn't have the balls to take on corruption, the party bosses, big business, big labor or any of the institutions and people standing in the way of change in Chicago or Illinois.

Palin had the balls to take on the corrupt GOP leadership in Alaska and she beat them to a pulp. She took on Big Oil and squeezed their balls so hard they squeaked "you win." She called Big Oil's bluff on building a natural gas pipeline and negotiated a better deal with a Canadian company.

She did all that without a patron, without a financial backer, without any political connections, and without the support of her party.

That took more than balls; that took utter fearlessness, absolute determination and exceptional leadership. Imagine that Barack Obama had recognized the corruption that is Chicago politics and single-handedly, exposed it, ran against the incumbents and beat them. Imagine that he examined all the sweetheart deals that his predecessors had done with big business and big labor, and renegotiated them to the benefit of the people he represented. Imagine that he took the major energy projects, such as a new refinery, that had been stalled for decades, and got them moving. Imagine that he did that in the space of four years. Had he he done all that, he would have proven himself fit to be President.

But he didn't have the balls to take on corruption, the party bosses, big business, big labor or any of the institutions and people standing in the way of change in Chicago or Illinois.

Palin had the balls to take on the corrupt GOP leadership in Alaska and she beat them to a pulp. She took on Big Oil and squeezed their balls so hard they squeaked "you win." She called Big Oil's bluff on building a natural gas pipeline and negotiated a better deal with a Canadian company.

She did all that without a patron, without a financial backer, without any political connections, and without the support of her party.

That took more than balls; that took utter fearlessness, absolute determination and exceptional leadership. Imagine that Barack Obama had recognized the corruption that is Chicago politics and single-handedly, exposed it, ran against the incumbents and beat them. Imagine that he examined all the sweetheart deals that his predecessors had done with big business and big labor, and renegotiated them to the benefit of the people he represented. Imagine that he took the major energy projects, such as a new refinery, that had been stalled for decades, and got them moving. Imagine that he did that in the space of four years. Had he he done all that, he would have proven himself fit to be President.

But he didn't have the balls to take on corruption, the party bosses, big business, big labor or any of the institutions and people standing in the way of change in Chicago or Illinois.

Palin had the balls to take on the corrupt GOP leadership in Alaska and she beat them to a pulp. She took on Big Oil and squeezed their balls so hard they squeaked "you win." She called Big Oil's bluff on building a natural gas pipeline and negotiated a better deal with a Canadian company.

She did all that without a patron, without a financial backer, without any political connections, and without the support of her party.

That took more than balls; that took utter fearlessness, absolute determination and exceptional leadership. Imagine that Barack Obama had recognized the corruption that is Chicago politics and single-handedly, exposed it, ran against the incumbents and beat them. Imagine that he examined all the sweetheart deals that his predecessors had done with big business and big labor, and renegotiated them to the benefit of the people he represented. Imagine that he took the major energy projects, such as a new refinery, that had been stalled for decades, and got them moving. Imagine that he did that in the space of four years. Had he he done all that, he would have proven himself fit to be President.

But he didn't have the balls to take on corruption, the party bosses, big business, big labor or any of the institutions and people standing in the way of change in Chicago or Illinois.

Palin had the balls to take on the corrupt GOP leadership in Alaska and she beat them to a pulp. She took on Big Oil and squeezed their balls so hard they squeaked "you win." She called Big Oil's bluff on building a natural gas pipeline and negotiated a better deal with a Canadian company.

She did all that without a patron, without a financial backer, without any political connections, and without the support of her party.

That took more than balls; that took utter fearlessness, absolute determination and exceptional leadership. Imagine that Barack Obama had recognized the corruption that is Chicago politics and single-handedly, exposed it, ran against the incumbents and beat them. Imagine that he examined all the sweetheart deals that his predecessors had done with big business and big labor, and renegotiated them to the benefit of the people he represented. Imagine that he took the major energy projects, such as a new refinery, that had been stalled for decades, and got them moving. Imagine that he did that in the space of four years. Had he he done all that, he would have proven himself fit to be President.

But he didn't have the balls to take on corruption, the party bosses, big business, big labor or any of the institutions and people standing in the way of change in Chicago or Illinois.

Palin had the balls to take on the corrupt GOP leadership in Alaska and she beat them to a pulp. She took on Big Oil and squeezed their balls so hard they squeaked "you win." She called Big Oil's bluff on building a natural gas pipeline and negotiated a better deal with a Canadian company.

She did all that without a patron, without a financial backer, without any political connections, and without the support of her party.

That took more than balls; that took utter fearlessness, absolute determination and exceptional leadership. Imagine that Barack Obama had recognized the corruption that is Chicago politics and single-handedly, exposed it, ran against the incumbents and beat them. Imagine that he examined all the sweetheart deals that his predecessors had done with big business and big labor, and renegotiated them to the benefit of the people he represented. Imagine that he took the major energy projects, such as a new refinery, that had been stalled for decades, and got them moving. Imagine that he did that in the space of four years. Had he he done all that, he would have proven himself fit to be President.

But he didn't have the balls to take on corruption, the party bosses, big business, big labor or any of the institutions and people standing in the way of change in Chicago or Illinois.

Palin had the balls to take on the corrupt GOP leadership in Alaska and she beat them to a pulp. She took on Big Oil and squeezed their balls so hard they squeaked "you win." She called Big Oil's bluff on building a natural gas pipeline and negotiated a better deal with a Canadian company.

She did all that without a patron, without a financial backer, without any political connections, and without the support of her party.

That took more than balls; that took utter fearlessness, absolute determination and exceptional leadership. Imagine that Barack Obama had recognized the corruption that is Chicago politics and single-handedly, exposed it, ran against the incumbents and beat them. Imagine that he examined all the sweetheart deals that his predecessors had done with big business and big labor, and renegotiated them to the benefit of the people he represented. Imagine that he took the major energy projects, such as a new refinery, that had been stalled for decades, and got them moving. Imagine that he did that in the space of four years. Had he he done all that, he would have proven himself fit to be President.

But he didn't have the balls to take on corruption, the party bosses, big business, big labor or any of the institutions and people standing in the way of change in Chicago or Illinois.

Palin had the balls to take on the corrupt GOP leadership in Alaska and she beat them to a pulp. She took on Big Oil and squeezed their balls so hard they squeaked "you win." She called Big Oil's bluff on building a natural gas pipeline and negotiated a better deal with a Canadian company.

She did all that without a patron, without a financial backer, without any political connections, and without the support of her party.

That took more than balls; that took utter fearlessness, absolute determination and exceptional leadership. Imagine that Barack Obama had recognized the corruption that is Chicago politics and single-handedly, exposed it, ran against the incumbents and beat them. Imagine that he examined all the sweetheart deals that his predecessors had done with big business and big labor, and renegotiated them to the benefit of the people he represented. Imagine that he took the major energy projects, such as a new refinery, that had been stalled for decades, and got them moving. Imagine that he did that in the space of four years. Had he he done all that, he would have proven himself fit to be President.

But he didn't have the balls to take on corruption, the party bosses, big business, big labor or any of the institutions and people standing in the way of change in Chicago or Illinois.

Palin had the balls to take on the corrupt GOP leadership in Alaska and she beat them to a pulp. She took on Big Oil and squeezed their balls so hard they squeaked "you win." She called Big Oil's bluff on building a natural gas pipeline and negotiated a better deal with a Canadian company.

She did all that without a patron, without a financial backer, without any political connections, and without the support of her party.

That took more than balls; that took utter fearlessness, absolute determination and exceptional leadership. Imagine that Barack Obama had recognized the corruption that is Chicago politics and single-handedly, exposed it, ran against the incumbents and beat them. Imagine that he examined all the sweetheart deals that his predecessors had done with big business and big labor, and renegotiated them to the benefit of the people he represented. Imagine that he took the major energy projects, such as a new refinery, that had been stalled for decades, and got them moving. Imagine that he did that in the space of four years. Had he he done all that, he would have proven himself fit to be President.

But he didn't have the balls to take on corruption, the party bosses, big business, big labor or any of the institutions and people standing in the way of change in Chicago or Illinois.

Palin had the balls to take on the corrupt GOP leadership in Alaska and she beat them to a pulp. She took on Big Oil and squeezed their balls so hard they squeaked "you win." She called Big Oil's bluff on building a natural gas pipeline and negotiated a better deal with a Canadian company.

She did all that without a patron, without a financial backer, without any political connections, and without the support of her party.

That took more than balls; that took utter fearlessness, absolute determination and exceptional leadership. Imagine that Barack Obama had recognized the corruption that is Chicago politics and single-handedly, exposed it, ran against the incumbents and beat them. Imagine that he examined all the sweetheart deals that his predecessors had done with big business and big labor, and renegotiated them to the benefit of the people he represented. Imagine that he took the major energy projects, such as a new refinery, that had been stalled for decades, and got them moving. Imagine that he did that in the space of four years. Had he he done all that, he would have proven himself fit to be President.

But he didn't have the balls to take on corruption, the party bosses, big business, big labor or any of the institutions and people standing in the way of change in Chicago or Illinois.

Palin had the balls to take on the corrupt GOP leadership in Alaska and she beat them to a pulp. She took on Big Oil and squeezed their balls so hard they squeaked "you win." She called Big Oil's bluff on building a natural gas pipeline and negotiated a better deal with a Canadian company.

She did all that without a patron, without a financial backer, without any political connections, and without the support of her party.

That took more than balls; that took utter fearlessness, absolute determination and exceptional leadership. Imagine that Barack Obama had recognized the corruption that is Chicago politics and single-handedly, exposed it, ran against the incumbents and beat them. Imagine that he examined all the sweetheart deals that his predecessors had done with big business and big labor, and renegotiated them to the benefit of the people he represented. Imagine that he took the major energy projects, such as a new refinery, that had been stalled for decades, and got them moving. Imagine that he did that in the space of four years. Had he he done all that, he would have proven himself fit to be President.

But he didn't have the balls to take on corruption, the party bosses, big business, big labor or any of the institutions and people standing in the way of change in Chicago or Illinois.

Palin had the balls to take on the corrupt GOP leadership in Alaska and she beat them to a pulp. She took on Big Oil and squeezed their balls so hard they squeaked "you win." She called Big Oil's bluff on building a natural gas pipeline and negotiated a better deal with a Canadian company.

She did all that without a patron, without a financial backer, without any political connections, and without the support of her party.

That took more than balls; that took utter fearlessness, absolute determination and exceptional leadership. Imagine that Barack Obama had recognized the corruption that is Chicago politics and single-handedly, exposed it, ran against the incumbents and beat them. Imagine that he examined all the sweetheart deals that his predecessors had done with big business and big labor, and renegotiated them to the benefit of the people he represented. Imagine that he took the major energy projects, such as a new refinery, that had been stalled for decades, and got them moving. Imagine that he did that in the space of four years. Had he he done all that, he would have proven himself fit to be President.

But he didn't have the balls to take on corruption, the party bosses, big business, big labor or any of the institutions and people standing in the way of change in Chicago or Illinois.

Palin had the balls to take on the corrupt GOP leadership in Alaska and she beat them to a pulp. She took on Big Oil and squeezed their balls so hard they squeaked "you win." She called Big Oil's bluff on building a natural gas pipeline and negotiated a better deal with a Canadian company.

She did all that without a patron, without a financial backer, without any political connections, and without the support of her party.

That took more than balls; that took utter fearlessness, absolute determination and exceptional leadership. Imagine that Barack Obama had recognized the corruption that is Chicago politics and single-handedly, exposed it, ran against the incumbents and beat them. Imagine that he examined all the sweetheart deals that his predecessors had done with big business and big labor, and renegotiated them to the benefit of the people he represented. Imagine that he took the major energy projects, such as a new refinery, that had been stalled for decades, and got them moving. Imagine that he did that in the space of four years. Had he he done all that, he would have proven himself fit to be President.

But he didn't have the balls to take on corruption, the party bosses, big business, big labor or any of the institutions and people standing in the way of change in Chicago or Illinois.

Palin had the balls to take on the corrupt GOP leadership in Alaska and she beat them to a pulp. She took on Big Oil and squeezed their balls so hard they squeaked "you win." She called Big Oil's bluff on building a natural gas pipeline and negotiated a better deal with a Canadian company.

She did all that without a patron, without a financial backer, without any political connections, and without the support of her party.

That took more than balls; that took utter fearlessness, absolute determination and exceptional leadership. Imagine that Barack Obama had recognized the corruption that is Chicago politics and single-handedly, exposed it, ran against the incumbents and beat them. Imagine that he examined all the sweetheart deals that his predecessors had done with big business and big labor, and renegotiated them to the benefit of the people he represented. Imagine that he took the major energy projects, such as a new refinery, that had been stalled for decades, and got them moving. Imagine that he did that in the space of four years. Had he he done all that, he would have proven himself fit to be President.

But he didn't have the balls to take on corruption, the party bosses, big business, big labor or any of the institutions and people standing in the way of change in Chicago or Illinois.

Palin had the balls to take on the corrupt GOP leadership in Alaska and she beat them to a pulp. She took on Big Oil and squeezed their balls so hard they squeaked "you win." She called Big Oil's bluff on building a natural gas pipeline and negotiated a better deal with a Canadian company.

She did all that without a patron, without a financial backer, without any political connections, and without the support of her party.

That took more than balls; that took utter fearlessness, absolute determination and exceptional leadership. Imagine that Barack Obama had recognized the corruption that is Chicago politics and single-handedly, exposed it, ran against the incumbents and beat them. Imagine that he examined all the sweetheart deals that his predecessors had done with big business and big labor, and renegotiated them to the benefit of the people he represented. Imagine that he took the major energy projects, such as a new refinery, that had been stalled for decades, and got them moving. Imagine that he did that in the space of four years. Had he he done all that, he would have proven himself fit to be President.

But he didn't have the balls to take on corruption, the party bosses, big business, big labor or any of the institutions and people standing in the way of change in Chicago or Illinois.

Palin had the balls to take on the corrupt GOP leadership in Alaska and she beat them to a pulp. She took on Big Oil and squeezed their balls so hard they squeaked "you win." She called Big Oil's bluff on building a natural gas pipeline and negotiated a better deal with a Canadian company.

She did all that without a patron, without a financial backer, without any political connections, and without the support of her party.

That took more than balls; that took utter fearlessness, absolute determination and exceptional leadership. Imagine that Barack Obama had recognized the corruption that is Chicago politics and single-handedly, exposed it, ran against the incumbents and beat them. Imagine that he examined all the sweetheart deals that his predecessors had done with big business and big labor, and renegotiated them to the benefit of the people he represented. Imagine that he took the major energy projects, such as a new refinery, that had been stalled for decades, and got them moving. Imagine that he did that in the space of four years. Had he he done all that, he would have proven himself fit to be President.

But he didn't have the balls to take on corruption, the party bosses, big business, big labor or any of the institutions and people standing in the way of change in Chicago or Illinois.

Palin had the balls to take on the corrupt GOP leadership in Alaska and she beat them to a pulp. She took on Big Oil and squeezed their balls so hard they squeaked "you win." She called Big Oil's bluff on building a natural gas pipeline and negotiated a better deal with a Canadian company.

She did all that without a patron, without a financial backer, without any political connections, and without the support of her party.

That took more than balls; that took utter fearlessness, absolute determination and exceptional leadership. Imagine that Barack Obama had recognized the corruption that is Chicago politics and single-handedly, exposed it, ran against the incumbents and beat them. Imagine that he examined all the sweetheart deals that his predecessors had done with big business and big labor, and renegotiated them to the benefit of the people he represented. Imagine that he took the major energy projects, such as a new refinery, that had been stalled for decades, and got them moving. Imagine that he did that in the space of four years. Had he he done all that, he would have proven himself fit to be President.

But he didn't have the balls to take on corruption, the party bosses, big business, big labor or any of the institutions and people standing in the way of change in Chicago or Illinois.

Palin had the balls to take on the corrupt GOP leadership in Alaska and she beat them to a pulp. She took on Big Oil and squeezed their balls so hard they squeaked "you win." She called Big Oil's bluff on building a natural gas pipeline and negotiated a better deal with a Canadian company.

She did all that without a patron, without a financial backer, without any political connections, and without the support of her party.

That took more than balls; that took utter fearlessness, absolute determination and exceptional leadership. Imagine that Barack Obama had recognized the corruption that is Chicago politics and single-handedly, exposed it, ran against the incumbents and beat them. Imagine that he examined all the sweetheart deals that his predecessors had done with big business and big labor, and renegotiated them to the benefit of the people he represented. Imagine that he took the major energy projects, such as a new refinery, that had been stalled for decades, and got them moving. Imagine that he did that in the space of four years. Had he he done all that, he would have proven himself fit to be President.

But he didn't have the balls to take on corruption, the party bosses, big business, big labor or any of the institutions and people standing in the way of change in Chicago or Illinois.

Palin had the balls to take on the corrupt GOP leadership in Alaska and she beat them to a pulp. She took on Big Oil and squeezed their balls so hard they squeaked "you win." She called Big Oil's bluff on building a natural gas pipeline and negotiated a better deal with a Canadian company.

She did all that without a patron, without a financial backer, without any political connections, and without the support of her party.

That took more than balls; that took utter fearlessness, absolute determination and exceptional leadership. Imagine that Barack Obama had recognized the corruption that is Chicago politics and single-handedly, exposed it, ran against the incumbents and beat them. Imagine that he examined all the sweetheart deals that his predecessors had done with big business and big labor, and renegotiated them to the benefit of the people he represented. Imagine that he took the major energy projects, such as a new refinery, that had been stalled for decades, and got them moving. Imagine that he did that in the space of four years. Had he he done all that, he would have proven himself fit to be President.

But he didn't have the balls to take on corruption, the party bosses, big business, big labor or any of the institutions and people standing in the way of change in Chicago or Illinois.

Palin had the balls to take on the corrupt GOP leadership in Alaska and she beat them to a pulp. She took on Big Oil and squeezed their balls so hard they squeaked "you win." She called Big Oil's bluff on building a natural gas pipeline and negotiated a better deal with a Canadian company.

She did all that without a patron, without a financial backer, without any political connections, and without the support of her party.

That took more than balls; that took utter fearlessness, absolute determination and exceptional leadership. Imagine that Barack Obama had recognized the corruption that is Chicago politics and single-handedly, exposed it, ran against the incumbents and beat them. Imagine that he examined all the sweetheart deals that his predecessors had done with big business and big labor, and renegotiated them to the benefit of the people he represented. Imagine that he took the major energy projects, such as a new refinery, that had been stalled for decades, and got them moving. Imagine that he did that in the space of four years. Had he he done all that, he would have proven himself fit to be President.

But he didn't have the balls to take on corruption, the party bosses, big business, big labor or any of the institutions and people standing in the way of change in Chicago or Illinois.

Palin had the balls to take on the corrupt GOP leadership in Alaska and she beat them to a pulp. She took on Big Oil and squeezed their balls so hard they squeaked "you win." She called Big Oil's bluff on building a natural gas pipeline and negotiated a better deal with a Canadian company.

She did all that without a patron, without a financial backer, without any political connections, and without the support of her party.

That took more than balls; that took utter fearlessness, absolute determination and exceptional leadership. Imagine that Barack Obama had recognized the corruption that is Chicago politics and single-handedly, exposed it, ran against the incumbents and beat them. Imagine that he examined all the sweetheart deals that his predecessors had done with big business and big labor, and renegotiated them to the benefit of the people he represented. Imagine that he took the major energy projects, such as a new refinery, that had been stalled for decades, and got them moving. Imagine that he did that in the space of four years. Had he he done all that, he would have proven himself fit to be President.

But he didn't have the balls to take on corruption, the party bosses, big business, big labor or any of the institutions and people standing in the way of change in Chicago or Illinois.

Palin had the balls to take on the corrupt GOP leadership in Alaska and she beat them to a pulp. She took on Big Oil and squeezed their balls so hard they squeaked "you win." She called Big Oil's bluff on building a natural gas pipeline and negotiated a better deal with a Canadian company.

She did all that without a patron, without a financial backer, without any political connections, and without the support of her party.

That took more than balls; that took utter fearlessness, absolute determination and exceptional leadership. Imagine that Barack Obama had recognized the corruption that is Chicago politics and single-handedly, exposed it, ran against the incumbents and beat them. Imagine that he examined all the sweetheart deals that his predecessors had done with big business and big labor, and renegotiated them to the benefit of the people he represented. Imagine that he took the major energy projects, such as a new refinery, that had been stalled for decades, and got them moving. Imagine that he did that in the space of four years. Had he he done all that, he would have proven himself fit to be President.

But he didn't have the balls to take on corruption, the party bosses, big business, big labor or any of the institutions and people standing in the way of change in Chicago or Illinois.

Palin had the balls to take on the corrupt GOP leadership in Alaska and she beat them to a pulp. She took on Big Oil and squeezed their balls so hard they squeaked "you win." She called Big Oil's bluff on building a natural gas pipeline and negotiated a better deal with a Canadian company.

She did all that without a patron, without a financial backer, without any political connections, and without the support of her party.

That took more than balls; that took utter fearlessness, absolute determination and exceptional leadership. Imagine that Barack Obama had recognized the corruption that is Chicago politics and single-handedly, exposed it, ran against the incumbents and beat them. Imagine that he examined all the sweetheart deals that his predecessors had done with big business and big labor, and renegotiated them to the benefit of the people he represented. Imagine that he took the major energy projects, such as a new refinery, that had been stalled for decades, and got them moving. Imagine that he did that in the space of four years. Had he he done all that, he would have proven himself fit to be President.

But he didn't have the balls to take on corruption, the party bosses, big business, big labor or any of the institutions and people standing in the way of change in Chicago or Illinois.

Palin had the balls to take on the corrupt GOP leadership in Alaska and she beat them to a pulp. She took on Big Oil and squeezed their balls so hard they squeaked "you win." She called Big Oil's bluff on building a natural gas pipeline and negotiated a better deal with a Canadian company.

She did all that without a patron, without a financial backer, without any political connections, and without the support of her party.

That took more than balls; that took utter fearlessness, absolute determination and exceptional leadership. Imagine that Barack Obama had recognized the corruption that is Chicago politics and single-handedly, exposed it, ran against the incumbents and beat them. Imagine that he examined all the sweetheart deals that his predecessors had done with big business and big labor, and renegotiated them to the benefit of the people he represented. Imagine that he took the major energy projects, such as a new refinery, that had been stalled for decades, and got them moving. Imagine that he did that in the space of four years. Had he he done all that, he would have proven himself fit to be President.

But he didn't have the balls to take on corruption, the party bosses, big business, big labor or any of the institutions and people standing in the way of change in Chicago or Illinois.

Palin had the balls to take on the corrupt GOP leadership in Alaska and she beat them to a pulp. She took on Big Oil and squeezed their balls so hard they squeaked "you win." She called Big Oil's bluff on building a natural gas pipeline and negotiated a better deal with a Canadian company.

She did all that without a patron, without a financial backer, without any political connections, and without the support of her party.

That took more than balls; that took utter fearlessness, absolute determination and exceptional leadership. Imagine that Barack Obama had recognized the corruption that is Chicago politics and single-handedly, exposed it, ran against the incumbents and beat them. Imagine that he examined all the sweetheart deals that his predecessors had done with big business and big labor, and renegotiated them to the benefit of the people he represented. Imagine that he took the major energy projects, such as a new refinery, that had been stalled for decades, and got them moving. Imagine that he did that in the space of four years. Had he he done all that, he would have proven himself fit to be President.

But he didn't have the balls to take on corruption, the party bosses, big business, big labor or any of the institutions and people standing in the way of change in Chicago or Illinois.

Palin had the balls to take on the corrupt GOP leadership in Alaska and she beat them to a pulp. She took on Big Oil and squeezed their balls so hard they squeaked "you win." She called Big Oil's bluff on building a natural gas pipeline and negotiated a better deal with a Canadian company.

She did all that without a patron, without a financial backer, without any political connections, and without the support of her party.

That took more than balls; that took utter fearlessness, absolute determination and exceptional leadership. Imagine that Barack Obama had recognized the corruption that is Chicago politics and single-handedly, exposed it, ran against the incumbents and beat them. Imagine that he examined all the sweetheart deals that his predecessors had done with big business and big labor, and renegotiated them to the benefit of the people he represented. Imagine that he took the major energy projects, such as a new refinery, that had been stalled for decades, and got them moving. Imagine that he did that in the space of four years. Had he he done all that, he would have proven himself fit to be President.

But he didn't have the balls t

Pat Dooley

Cleveland, OH

When the Democrat presidential candidate has no executive experience--compared to Sarah Palin's six years as mayor, two years as governor and management of the family's commercial fishing business--leftist arguments that "she is entirely unprepared to hold the second-highest office in the land" do nothing but emphasize Obama's total lack of executive experience.

As regards foreign policy experience, Palin has at least as much as Obama. Difference being, of course, Obama is running for the presidency; Palin for the vice presidency. And McCain's foreign policy experience is so far superior to Obama's, it's like comparing apples to steaks.

This, like pointing out "Palin's hypocrisy and contradictions," is not a winning argument--as all it does is highlight the even greater weaknesses of the left's candidate. Is there an issue on which Obama has not flip-flopped since the primaries?

Royal Sanders-James

Wesley Chapel, FL

I expect all of our elected leaders, men and women alike, to be decisive and tough. I also expect them to be knowledgeable, reasonable, honest, analytical and willing to accept the facts. But from what I have read about Sarah Palin, she is none of these; vindictive, incurious, ideological and unbending are more like it, and they are not substitutes for the former.

If McCain wins this election, his selection of Palin will be trumpeted as a politically bold and a strategically successful gambit. For the country, however, his choice would be a disaster that we will all pay for on the day she becomes President.

Jame R. Easthom

Chapel Hill, NC

While it is nice for those of us Hillary Clinton supporters who were appalled and angered by the type of media coverage she received earlier this year and who are dismayed by the sexist bashfest that greeted Sarah Palin's sudden debut to say that we can tune out the media, it's surprisingly meaningful to come across this commentary.

I'm not sure what hurt more--the lack of appropriate boundaries and balance in how the female leaders were covered this year or how feminists have acted like, well, partisan tools in undermining both Hillary Clinton and this Sarah Palin. It's also hurt that so many African-Americans were the agents of sexism, and I feel a sense of adversity and us-versus-them sentiment toward the leading African-American voices who were the agents of Hillary-bashing that I never felt before.

There is no doubt that we can identify on a personal level with our political leaders. There 's a process of personal projection that is a part of our social cognitive function, probably, that allows a bunch of us predators to form into large groups and give our money and power to someone to head up our society.

I identified with Obama until the sexist, nasty attacks started on Clinton as leveled by his supporters and surrogates. I identified with Clinton, and the personal, sexist nature of the attacks on her, as opposed to what would have been legitimate forays against her on issues or other matter of substance, disrupted my ability to identify with Obama, and I now perceived his campaign as that of the enemy. The sentiment is revived with the attacks on Sarah Palin.

If John McCain wins this fall, I know that there will be some unfinished feeling, however, that I do want to vote for a black President in my lifetime. I've been so negative about what I perceive to be Barack Obama's sexist surrogates, supporters and campaign tactics, that I didn't realize that until I read your commentary. Identity politics is a complicated thing.

Thanks to Amy Alexander for this commentary, because it was quite different than what others have published recently.

Annette Keller

Reston, VA

I liked this article. I am a conservative-leaning Libertarian who is voting for McCain unless something really dramatic occurs, and I thought his pick of Palin was brilliant, but I also have reservations about Palin's experience. Since she is running for VP, however, and since the VP's traditional role is cutting ribbons and giving speeches, I can happily vote for a McCain/Palin ticket. McCain, who is at the top of the ticket, has more experience than Obama, who he is running against.

I do think Palin brings many positives to the ticket. First off, she is a self-made woman, and both strong and feminine. She shows a different face of feminism. As a woman, I think it's important that women have choices--some may choose to be stay-at-home moms, some may choose to have no kids and a brilliant career, others may try to combine the family and career. All choices have pros and cons, but what is important is that women (and girls) have opportunities and decide for themselves what choices they wish to pursue.

I also think as the wife of a blue-collar guy and the daughter of a school teacher and secretary, Palin brings a more "common" touch to the ticket. To the extent she does have influence with McCain, she may help him to understand the concerns of the average working person better. This can only be a good thing.

I really appreciate this article as taking a different, rational tone than many of those excoriating Palin.

S.S. O'Hara

Austin, TX

As the son of a fairly famous writer who is on the vanguard of the left (my own politics are essentially center-right), I learned many valuable lessons about the power of language as it relates to the ability to persuade without resorting to the kind of subliminally hateful intellectual snobbery and condencension that that seems to pervade much of our political discourse these days.

Without belaboring the point, the phrase "I detest her politics" implies acrimony well beyond healthy disagreement. Indeed, it is a statement that immediately conjures up an image of something more personal than political.

It is a further reflection of the bumbling "strategy" currently being employed by Obama's handlers, chief among them David Axelrod (who did such a bang-up job with Freddie Ferrer's campaign against Bloomberg).

Picking a cultural fight while ignoring a rational discussion of substantive issues is an excellent way to lose an election. My father and I disagree about a few things, but the discussion never degenerates to class warfare.

michael o'connell

Basking Ridge, NJ

Incredible! This opinion piece is just another example of why voters are so turned off by the media. You make a point of stating your aversion to Ms. Palin while grudgingly admitting that she gave a very solid interview to Mr. Gibson.

As an independent voting woman, I find it is the height of arrogance for columnists to focus on what they feel is Ms. Palin's lack of experience for the number-two slot, while ignoring the lack of experience of Mr. Obama for the number-one slot. Both Ms. Palin and Mr. Obana have served about the same number of years as an elected representative of their constituency, yet somehow Ms. Palin has less experience. Mr. Obama has not promoted any major legislation of note within his Senate term, unless you count the Obama/Hagel Global Poverty Act. In case you are unaware, the Global Poverty Act is unique in its breathtaking scope. It is not foreign aid. The act will require the President and Congress to set aside .07 percent of the annual gross national product--our GNP--to be distributed around the globe to relieve poverty at a cost of about $800 billion dollars annually to taxpayers. It is Mr. Obama's response to the call of the Bali Global Warming Conference for a global carbon tax; a blatant redistribution of wealth. What he is proposing is an approximately 65 percent increase in entitlement spending, except that this time the entitlements aren’t even for Americans. Contrast that legislative action against Ms. Palin, who has tripled funding for special needs children in Alaska while balancing the budget, taken on the oil companies and won, created a savings account for her state, given back surplus funds to every citizen of her state, run a business, run a family and maintained a marriage based on mutual resect, and I think I will support the candidate who can back up her claim to executive esperience with real results, for Americans.

The disingenuousness of your opinion piece lies in the scope of your omissions, rather than the usual media hit on Ms. Palin as a real woman. Experience as a requisite for candidate support this election cycle, with the onus somehow being only on Ms. Palin, is a white elephant. Sorry, but voters are not buying. As a woman who has seen real opportuity for other women increase since the late '60s and early '70s, I totally support the aspirations of all women, from Sara Palin to Hillary Clinton. Homogenized feminism is a lie supporred by columinists such as your self who find you can only support those who already agree with you and your positions.

So, as with the rest of the media, sit back and scratch your head while McCain/Palin rise in the polls despite the best efforts of the majority of the media "elite." But Ms. Palin has energized Republicans and independents. We, the American electorate, are too savvy to let the media's bias influence our votes.

Kim Jaser

Milford, CT

While I do think it's entirely admirable to witness women overcome the hurdles and obstacles to which men need not even pay the slightest attention, I do find it lamentable that descriptions, such as the one found in this article, seem always to be couched in rhetoric that finds what is most laudable in accomplished women to be their success in adopting what are normally considered very "masculine" qualities.

This article praises many of these qualities: Palin's "steeliness," her "ballsiness," her ability to "man up," as well as certain "ballsy" female authors.

I'm fully aware that women don't have many other options at their disposition, when pursuing careers in almost any field, than to adopt a "steely" and "ballsy" demeanor—and, as a man, I don't wish to in any way claim that I understand what it feels like to face sexism firsthand--but, though it may be a bit too idealistic of me, I do hope that in the future we can appreciate the individual accomplishments of a woman without having to focus solely on the "strength," "power" and "balls" that currently, and unfortunately, seem so necessary to their realization.

Benjamin Korones

Brooklyn, NY