Massachusetts Two Step

[Jester]

Michelle Bachman?

It is interesting that the main tactic in attacking women politically, whether it be Pelosi, Palin or Bachman, is to proclaim either how crazy they are (hysterics), or how ignorant / stupid they are. Personally, in the political arena, I find Mark Dayton to be the biggest dull buffoon our state has produced lately.

I'm no fan of having a separate set of criteria or invectives for use with women only. It's generally something that pisses me off. But ... Michele Bachmann and Sarah Palin *are* loopy. This isn't a judgement about their gender. They're as crazy as Crazy Glenn Beck - and largely for the same reasons. It has nothing to do with hysterics (Sarah Palin is cool as a cucumber... in fact, she's downright oblivious. Bachmann not so much...) and everything to do with publically supporting conspiracy theories, wingnut beliefs, and other assorted crackpottery. They're no crazier than, say, Rick Santorum or Tom DeLay, but that's putting the bar mighty low.

There are female Republican politicians who are perfectly sane. I don't agree with Condoleeza Rice about anything at all, but she's at least not off her rocker. Olympia Snowe is downright reasonable, although I suppose that's almost cheating to use her as an example. Sandra Day O'Connor was a solid justice, the complete opposite of ignorant or hysterical, but also a lifelong Goldwater Republican.

So, it's not just women, and it's not just women from the "wrong" party. It's the crazies that are crazy, and both Bachmann and Palin can stand up and be counted.

-Jester