There was some very interesting stuff on NPR today comparing and contrasting this year's democratic ticket with JFK's, and how hard it was then to elect a Catholic president, how JFK refused to "play the religion card" and Nixon too, and so on. Very very interesting and I hadn't thought of that comparison at all. Of course, at my age I don't remember that election year, but you folkies who do, what do you think of that?

About tokenism and so on: I don't think that's what it is, I think the "handlers" think he's the best chance Gore has. But I fear, I fear. I remember when I found out, after living in the US for a few years and witnessing amazingly prevalent anti-black racism, that blacks had gotten the vote before women. I was SHOCKED. I mean truly shocked. I would never have pegged us as being more misogynistic than racist. And I see everyday antisemetism; and I think of the Redneck In The Street Who Votes: would they be more likely to object to a semite or a female? Again, I find myself assuming more antisemitism than misogyny, so I think this is a bad idea in terms of Will It Sink The Boat (NOT in terms of Should It Be Done - it's long overdue to have ANY variety in the White House) - but I've underestimated misogyny before, so maybe I'm wrong, and a woman would have hurt the ticket more.

As you see, I am very pessimistic about this whole thing...