2008 - the year of the woman in politics . . . and mediocrity?

The Washington Post today has an interesting read - "Ideology Aside, This Has Been the Year of the Woman." It's basically about the positive impact that both Hillary and Palin have had on the role and perception of women in American politics. There's a discussion about Palin and feminism, with comments from liberal and conservative women activists as well as "regular" women about what feminism means in 2008. WHile I don't agree with everything it says, it's definitely worth a look.

However, I bring it up because the absolute best part of the article comes in the last paragraph.

. . . some GOP women, along with their Democratic counterparts, have openly questioned Palin's qualifications. [Conservative activist and lawyer Cleta] Mitchell has an answer to that. "Even if Sarah Palin is as 'unqualified' as the left would have us believe," she wrote recently in the Wall Street Journal, ". . . then former congresswoman Bella Abzug's lifelong goal has been achieved. She used to say that she was 'working for the day when a mediocre woman could get as far as a mediocre man.' "

Ha! I guess after decades of mediocre male politicians, Sarah Palin demonstrates that women can be just as inexperienced and average as men in politics. Classic. Go equality!