The alternative, reports the New York Times, would be a system of "nonprofit cooperatives," set up to provide a choice for citizens who can not afford the costs of private health insurance. "I think there will be a competitor to private insurers," Sebelius says, "That's really the essential part, is you don't turn over the whole new marketplace to private insurance companies and trust them to do the right thing. We need some choices, we need some competition." [NYTimes] [AP]

David Von Drehle and Jay Newton-Small (the latter also did a Q&A with Palin in which she lobbed softballs like "Did you feel that the institution of government was no longer the best way to bring change about?") paint Palin as a rugged, unconventional woman from rugged, unconventional Alaska — where the traditional rules of politics and even common sense don't apply. They call her "an Alaska original, raised and ripened in an environment remote, extreme, unfamiliar - and free," and give her ample opportunity to show off her woodsy retreat and facility with fishing metaphors. They write,

With salmon and wood smoke fragrant in the endless summer evening, amid wet socks and waders and red rubber fishing gloves, Palin tells TIME, "I cannot predict what's going to happen. I don't know what doors will be open or closed by then. I was telling Todd today, I was saying, 'Man, I wish we could predict the next fish run so that we know when to be out on the water.' We can't predict the next fish run, much less what's going to happen in 2012."

"In Washington," they point out, this would mean, "I'm running." But not in wild-and-crazy Alaska. There, "her answer could mean exactly what it says - that she doesn't yet know what she'll be doing in 2012. Here, you make each day from the materials at hand." See, Sarah Palin isn't like you and me, raised in the decadent urban fleshpots of the lower 48. She's an "exotic creature" serving in "the remote port of Juneau" and "armed with an anti-résumé" (when it meets a resume, do they explode?) and "if ever there has been a time to gamble on a flimsy résumé, ever a time for the ultimate outsider, this might be it."

Leaving aside the fact that candidates have been trumpeting their outsider status since before Ross Perot, Drehle and Newton-Small reveal a particularly annoying tactic of laudatory Palinography: geographical exceptionalism. Sarah Palin doesn't have to make sense, know facts, or do her job, because she's from Alaska, a bizarro world where up is down, bad is good, and resigning is awesome. Any criticism leveled against her can be turned on its head with this opposite-day rhetoric: normal expectations just don't apply to Palin, because where she's from, they gut expectations and hang them up in smokehouse to dry.

The Weekly Standard's Matthew Continetti gives a disturbing preview of what they call on Battlestar "the shape of things to come." He writes, "one thing you quickly learn about Sarah Palin when you study her career is that she never, ever does things by the book. The lady knows how to make a splash." And, "Palin likes gambles. Her career is filled with firsts." And, "Palin's unconventionality and authenticity is the key to her appeal." And, "Palin is not a normal politician." Okay, we get it. Sarah Palin is special. Sarah Palin cannot be judged by conventional (read: elitist) standards. And from now until 2012, every time someone does try to judge her, conservatives can call this critic conventional (read: elitist) and un-special.

Of course, there is some wrong-headed Palin-judging out there. Steve Chapman's allegation that Palin's appeal is in the lipstick, rather than the pitbull ("it's really not hard to see why Palin inspires such devotion. And I do mean "see." [...] She's a babe, and she doesn't try to hide it") is simplistic and sort of misogynist. And Judith Warner's claim that Palin's peripatetic and undistinguished college career makes her palatable to a nation that mistrusts "uppity," overeducated women makes sense — until you remember that uneducated women get plenty of flak too (plus, Palin's tweeting about Plato now!). Sarah Palin is more than a cipher for supposed American fantasies about hot, dumb women — but she's less than a pioneer.

Perhaps the flip side of the Palin camp's insistence that no criticism of her is valid is how poorly she seems to deal with such criticism. Even the otherwise drooling Continetti and the almost-drooling Drehle and Newton-Small acknowledge this problem. Continetti says that when Palin began responding directly to all the ethics complaints, Letterman jokes, and other negative press that came her way, "her public performances became personal testimonials to the damage the media can inflict on a person's reputation and career." He says, "Palin thought she could respond to every attack. But no one can respond to every attack. Nor should they."

Drehle and Newton-Small say Palin's determination to answer all critics descended into paranoia. They write,

A more experienced, more familiar politician would have been ready for the ramping [up of negative press], but Palin seemed consumed by it. Instead of ignoring hostile bloggers, she combed the Web for their latest postings. At the same time, she assumed the classic role of vice presidential attack dog, making insinuations about Barack Obama's religion and patriotism. She urged the McCain campaign to strike back at every heckler, and when staffers admonished her to remember the big picture, she suspected that she was surrounded by enemies. An armor of suspicion closed her in. Asked recently to name the people Palin trusts for advice, a source close to her answered, "Nobody. I'm not even sure she listens to Todd."

Palin's supporters may believe that her fish-gutting, moose-shooting, "politics as usual"-eschewing pedigree makes her above criticism. But Palin herself is far from above it — she seems obsessed with it. And if there's a chink in her Alaskan armor (during the Time interview, a blue T-shirt reading "Go Slam a Salmon"), this may be it.

The Outsider: Where Is Sarah Palin Going Next? [Time]
Time's Interview with Sarah Palin: 'It's All for Alaska' [Time]
The Secret Of Palin's Staying Power [Chicago Tribune]
Dangerous Resentment [Domestic Disturbances, NYT]
Movin' Out [Weekly Standard]

Related: The Cretin Of The Klondyke Discovers Bartlett's Familiar Quotations [Gawker]

The Lego inauguration is extremely detailed, with individualized figures portraying VIPs like the Obama family, the Clintons, Oprah, and Aretha Franklin, and a moving motorcade (though the real Obama probably won't be traveling in an open-top convertible). Sadly ,most people will not be able to attend today's inaugural "pre-enactment" at the park, but as with the real inauguration, there is plenty of media coverage, including a YouTube video and slideshow. [The Telegraph, Feministe, San Francisco Weekly]

While having your dad elected to the U.S. presidency is exciting enough, we're sure that the girls are probably overwhelmed with giddiness over the prospect of having a pup to call their own. To help Obamas out, we decided to make a list of the best dogs for their family using Petfinder, a website that lists adoptable dogs in shelters across the nation.

Malia, the eldest Obama sister, has allergies so we had to take that into consideration when picking out potential puppies. We also tried to stick to dogs in the Washington D.C. area.

The girls have expressed interest in a Goldendoodle, a cross between a Golden Retriever and a Standard Poodle that is said to be hypoallergenic. They sure are cute and a good mix of a "All American" and hypoallergenic to suit Malia's allergies. Colton, a Goldendoodle located in Denver, PA might be the perfect puppy for the Obamas!

Obama also told reporters that his family had been looking into Labradoodles, another mix of a typical American dog (Labs) and a Poodle. Boston, a Labradoodle in Washington, D.C. would be happy to play with the girls on the South Lawn.

The American Kennel Club has a list of dogs that are generally considered to do well with people with allergies. On the list is one of our (okay, my) favorite dogs, the Schnauzer. A Schnauzer would be great for the girls since they are both hypoallergenic and temperamentally well-suited for children. Lady, a Miniature Schnauzer from Laurel, MD whose owners lost their home would be safe and sound in the White House.

Since the girls seem to like the Poodle mixes, perhaps a Schnoodle (or Schnauzer-Poodle mix) would appeal to them. Elise, a Schnoodle in Hedgescille, WV would be happy to run around the feet of the younger Obamas.

A Bichon Frise is also recommended for allergy-sufferers. Bichon Frise's have an excellent temperament with a "cheerful attitude" and a playful but gentle-mannered behavior that is great for children. Sammy, an adult Bichon Frise in Potomac, MD would use his years of dog experience to help the Obamas adapt to the doggy-owning lifestyle.

The American Kennel Club also recommends Malteses for people with allergies. A Maltese would be a great dog to play with since they are fearless little balls of fur that are incredibly affectionate and mild-mannered. Arthur in Monkton, MD is a friendly little fellow that would have no trouble rubbing paws with foreign heads of state.

A plain Poodle would also be a great dog for the Obamas. Poodles have that hypoallergenic coat that Malia would need in order to enjoy snuggles without sneezing. Sydney, a cute Poodle in Chantilly, VA that came from a puppy mill will be ready to part with her pups when they are 8 weeks. The time lapse would be perfect for the Obamas who won't move into the White House until next year!

The most American choice of all would be a mutt. Hope, a mutt in Forestville, MD has some Poodle in her so she would be well-suited for Malia. And since her name is Hope, you know that she was meant to be with the Obamas.

Although our last two picks for First Pup aren't hypoallergenic, they'd still make excellent dogs for the family.

An energetic boxer would be great for an active family with growing children. The friendly breed would also be great for meeting with guests. Rocky in Washington D.C. looks like he is ready to meet his new family.

A perfect family dog — and a favorite of conservative writer and big Obama supporter Andrew Sullivan — is the carefree Beagle. The girls would probably enjoy watching this curious dog explore their new home. Beagles also naturally enjoy the company of other dogs and people, making them the perfect addition to a family that will be meeting a lot of people. Cracker in Washington D.C. would fit in nicely at the White House, but the Obamas might want to change his name.

Obama's First Appointment, A First Dog [Chicago Breaking News]
Obama Promises A First Dog To Sasha And Malia [NBC Chicago]
Dogs For Allergies [American Kennel Club]
Petfinder

• Scientists around the world are working on new male contraceptive techniques one of which involves a remote-controlled sperm valve that can turn off sperm flow at the push of a button. • From today until October 10 a carnival will be held in Nigeria where "bachelor catchers" parade a bachelor around a village in a noose in order to encourage young men to marry. • The Guatemalan government has announced a five-month program to provide some 15,000 lay midwives proper training to avoid preventable childbirth deaths. • A new study from England says that women who are undergoing fertility treatments can increase their chances of having children if they undergo acupuncture during the embryo transfer as part of their regular fertility treatment. • The annulling of a French marriage in 2006 based on the fact that the wife lied about her virginity is currently being appealed because the court decided that a woman's virginity was an "essential quality" and therefore grounds for annulment. • Historians and economists believe that "witch-hunts" tend to occur when times get tough as evidenced by Western history and current persecution of "witches" around the world. • The Japanese Defense Ministry decided today to lift gender restrictions aboard destroyers for female members of the Maritime Self-Defense Force. • An English woman kept a baby hare alive by storing the little fluffball in her bra to keep it warm and feeding the hare baby formula with a syringe. • A pair of cloistered nuns in Spain are the country's newest celebrity chefs with a hybrid reality show and cooking show called Taste of Heaven. • A new rapid test for HPV, careHPV, may be able to help stop cervical cancer for some women in rural villages worldwide. • The Indian government's decision to review the Anti-Dowry Act has been criticized by women's organizations who want the Act to be strengthened instead of dissolved or relaxed. • Okay, so we have been entranced for the past hour by this cute video of a kitty playing "red light, green light" with a camera. Whatevs, it's cute! •

[Photo via Getty.]

One nice thing about The Handmaid's Tale is, like Sarah Palin's resume, it's a pretty quick read. Basically the US has become a Christian theocracy where piety is required and women are chattel. They can't have property or jobs, and they are forced into arranged marriages or disturbing functional roles. A few become whores, and get to hang out at a brothel called Jezebel's. Others are Handmaids, so called because of a story in Genesis. Pollution has made most people sterile, but Handmaids are still believed to be fertile. Their job is to live with rich couples and have sex with the husbands — while the wives lie on the bed with them — in hopes of conceiving a child. The narrator, Offred, is one such Handmaid, and her description of the "fertilization" process ("My red skirt is hitched up to my waist. Below it the Commander is fucking. What he is fucking is the lower part of my body") probably stuck with you if you read the novel in high school, for its sheer awful dehumanization of sex. The Handmaids are told they are better off than women before the theocracy, who were "dying of too much choice."

So, is this the kind of world Sarah Palin wants to usher us into? Well, sort of. The Christian Heritage Week she signed into law in Alaska sounds like a far milder version of the state-sanctioned Prayvaganzas. When a group of Handmaids-to-be chants "her fault, her fault, her fault" at a rape victim, I thought of women in Wasilla paying for their own rape kits on Palin's watch. And of course there's the reverence for childbearing that permeates the culture of The Handmaid's Tale, from the gruesome displays of executed abortionists to the arranged marriages of girls as young as fourteen in order to "start them soon." All this is reminiscent of Palin's avowed pro-life stance, a stance so unswerving it's hard to imagine her daughter could have gone against it.

But does Sarah Palin actually want the US to turn into a Handmaid's-Tale-style police state? No more than any of us. She's not against women holding jobs — she's a working mother of five. Nor would she, if elected, force us all to attend Prayvaganzas or have sex with other people's husbands.

However, a character named Serena Joy should offer a chilling cautionary tale to Palin and her ilk. Before the theocracy, Serena Joy was a popular televangelist, preaching about the need for women to return to the home. Afterwards, she does just that, and she is trapped in an arranged marriage with knitting and gardening as her only occupations. Atwood writes:

She doesn't make speeches anymore. She has become speechless. She stays in her home, but it doesn't seem to agree with her. How furious she must be, now that she's been taken at her word.

Sarah Palin hasn't been as anti-woman as someone like Ann Coulter, whose persistence in asking people to listen to her while telling them women are stupid is a mind-boggling exercise in doublethink. But Palin does want to deprive women of the right to decide what we do with our bodies. And as The Handmaid's Tale shows, women who want to take power away from women should be careful what they wish for.

The Handmaid's Tale [Amazon]

Earlier:
Patriotism Is Not A Cultural Pissing Contest
Palin Gives Thumbs Up To Financial Bailouts, Down To Rape Victims

• The U.S. military has announced that it has arrested an al Qaeda figure who helped in the 2006 kidnapping of journalist Jill Carroll. • A black female physician was blocked from seeking a DNA test to prove her direct relation to U.S. founding father James Madison by Madison's recognized/white descendants. • With Proposition 8 looming in CA to ban gay marriage, some Mormons are going on the internet to voice their support for gay marriage. • A new study conducted by an economics professor at UC Berkeley says that economic, environmental, and war-related stress causes pregnant women to release more hormones and give birth to more girls. • The creator of The Secret Life of the American Teenager is upset that a PSA urging parents to discuss sex with their kids is put on at the end of each episode. • Hot Cartoons And The Women Who Could Play Them: Megan Fox as Pocahontas? Really? • Angelica Alfaro defied the odds and stereotypes surrounding children of Mexican immigrants by attending and graduating from a college and not having children. • A guideline for members of district councils in England has cautioned council-members against using phrases like "man on the street" and "manning the switchboard" because they are "offensive" to women. • Rosie Swale Pope, a 61-year-old grandmother in England has just returned from her 5-year, 20,000-mile run around the world. • The president of Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai, has pardoned 3 men accused of brutally gang raping a woman with a bayonet after she complained that they kidnapped her son. •

Senior Kirstin Neff discussed her leaning toward voting for Obama with her mother, who helped Ms. Neff change her mind in five minutes:

"She started telling me about how our generation takes for granted a lot of advances that women have made. She told me what it was like in the '70s and '80s and, you know, the general feeling that you were never as good or as important as your brothers or the men who you worked with. She talked about how women's stakes are so tied up in Hillary's candidacy, and how it could change what it means to be a woman and what all these little girls will think is possible in their own lives. So I just kind of started thinking about it like that, and it was like, 'Hmm. Okay. Do I really want to step in front of all of that?'"

What it comes down to is the meaning of feminism and what it means to be a woman. Is it more important, above all, to further the cause of women? Or is your number one priority to stay true to yourself and your ideals? Check out Hillary Clinton's Wellesley yearbook picture, and try to imagine her as a student and not a candidate. Which side do you think she would be on?

Young Feminists Split: Does Gender Matter? [Washington Post]
An Open Letter to Gloria Steinem [Glamour]