The XX Factor : campaign '08

Forgetting Sarah Palin

Dana Stevens — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 16:40:00 GMT

Thank God our country now has bigger and better things to think about than calculating the precise degree of Sarah Palin’s venality, ignorance, and greed. Did she bilk the RNC of $150,000 in her shopping sprees, or was it tens of thousands more? (The...(read more)

Cue the Cleavage?

Dahlia Lithwick — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 15:27:00 GMT

Anne and Emily : I was as riveted as you by Carl Cameron’s breathless dishing—as well as by O’Reilly's almost palpable desire to smash him in the face on live television—but I couldn’t help but balk a little at the substance of the McCain campaign's criticisms:...(read more)

It's All Sarah's Fault

Emily Yoffe — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 14:05:00 GMT

I agree, Anne, that the gleeful details being spread by McCain’s staff about Sarah Palin’s Ali G-like geographical bewilderment, her temper tantrums, and refusal to accept interview preparation are particularly juicy. Let's accept all this is true—aren't...(read more)

Goodbye to All That

Meghan O'Rourke — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 22:30:00 GMT

Dana, I also noticed the lack of any mention of Hillary in Barack's speech. There was another notable absence, too. Early in the speech, Barack spoke about how last night's results were an "answer" to those who doubted America's democracy. He then said:...(read more)

Annals of One Smart Cookie

Meghan O'Rourke — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 21:23:00 GMT

This whole debate about Lafferty's piece in the Daily Beast raises a question for me: Does it matter whether Palin is a feminist or not? Isn't it possible that she could be a net benefit for feminism without being one? I, too, am bothered by Palin's politics...(read more)

Joe Biden's Wardrobe, Unpacked

Meghan O'Rourke — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 15:18:00 GMT

Last week I asked XX Factor's male readers to weigh in with thoughts about the suit Joe Biden wore to the VP debate. I was trying to see if we could redirect our dissection of Sarah Palin's wardrobe —to see whether men pay as much attention to male candidates'...(read more)

Vestal Guardians for Obama

Dana Stevens — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 19:09:00 GMT

Now wait a second. Just because that poster (in which cute hipster girls threaten to withhold sex unless their prospective partners vote Obama) has its roots in classical literature doesn’t mean that its vision of women's political power isn’t retrograde...(read more)