Feminism, war and polls

It looks as if the feminsit movement has matured. They are fighting it out within their own ranks, a sure sign that it is no longer in its infant stage.

Maureen Dowd is out hustling her new book which, if its not humor, is being attacked by critics for her seeming not to understand that most of the world does not hang out, as she does, with those who are brokering the world's power. I think Maureen is a very funny writer; certainly she can raise conservative vitriol with a stroke of the pen. But is she a feminist?

Who can say?

Condaleeza Rice has been holding the feet of middle east leaders to the American fire, making headlines and likely driving those male chauvinists mad. Just when the Israelis and the Palestinians were ready to back away from the table and begin their bloody feud again, Madam Secretary chained them to their places until they negotiated a new access treaty for Palestinians in Gaza.

Hilary Clinton, who took her husband to Amman last week to tromp through the rubble of the suicide bombing that challenged our strongest Arab ally, has sounded more hawkish than most Democratic Senators even while she chides the president for a failed Iraq policy.

Are we being prepared for the passing of the presidential mantle to either Secretary Rice or Senator Clinton? Perhaps.