One of my coworkers pointed out today that, in the event McCain gets elected and then decides not to run for reelection in 2012, the likely Republican candidate would then be Sarah Palin, and, theoretically, she could run against Hillary Clinton, and then we’d have to elect a woman.

There’s been a lot of weird anger about the choice. I thought at first that it was purely a ploy to pull disaffected Clinton voters towards the McCain ticket. If the last few days have anything to show for it, this is probably true, as it doesn’t seem like McCain really checked her out in advance. It really was kind of a, “Well, she’s got a vagina,” choice. Because, you know, women are stupid and think all women are the same.

Here’s a brief list of blog posts about Sarah Palin that I have read. Maybe this encapsulates my thoughts.

Jezebel: Bristol’s pregnancy should be off limits. Bristol’s pregnancy is fair game.

One of the best posts on this topic was by Lauren at Feministe.

Sign of the apocalypse? Lindsay Lohan speaks about Sarah Palin articulately “I think the real problem comes from the fact that we are taking the focus off of getting to know Sarah Palin and her political views, and what she can do to make our country a less destructive place. Its distracting from the real issues, the real everyday problems that this country experiences.” Hey, that’s a really good point. Makes you wonder if it’s all part of the strategy, eh. “So, John McCain, what’s your plan for Iraq?” “Hey, what’s that?!”

The babies and the news media: what the scandal, such as it is, says about the candidates and the media.

Giuliani says Palin is more qualified than Obama. Of course he does.

Gawker has a clip of Sarah Palin talking about pregnant teens two years ago.

Bristol Palin’s pregnancy is fair game because Sarah Palin cut funding for pregnant teens. Bristol comes from a privileged place as part of Alaska’s first family and has resources available that an overwhelming number of pregnant teens do not, thanks, in part, to her mother.

If anything, this is why I think it’s relevant to talk about, beyond the fact that it’s kind of a fascinating human interest story. Sarah Palin’s family should be off limits from speculation, except when it reflects on policy. Here’s a woman who benefited from the feminist movement but is vehemently against it. A woman who slashed resources for teen mothers but is the mother of a teen mother.