In my lifetime, I'm confident that there's only been two babies in the White House--John Kennedy and Patrick Kennedy (the child  died soon after birth)--and one more child under five--their sister Caroline.  I'm 99% certain that no vice-president has had a child that young.  I know Mrs. Kennedy felt exhaustion and loss, that her husband was not able to fully respond, and that he relied on  prescription stimulants to meet the energy demands of the office.

If you told me that a man had decided to run for president with a four-month-old baby, I'd be very sad for his wife and child.   You can't be there for tiny children and their exhausted at-home parent while doing a good job on the campaign trail.  And you can't be there nearly enough while sitting the Oval Office or next door.

I'd feel a little better if you told me the mom had a strong network around her while the dad was going to be so insanely busy--but I'd also imagine myself as the aunt, grandma, or nanny trying to provide enough support to fill in for daddy-gone-a-roaming.

Okay, I admit that I worry an extra round when Sarah Palin says the same thing. She's breast-feeding, and that adds to the strain.  I'm used to women filling in for missing husbands on parenting, but she's already done the loop where she thought her husband would become the full-time parent and he turned out to have other ideas.

Add in the fact that Trig has special needs, and I truly don't understand the Governor's intentions with regard to her family, the campaign, and the office she seeks. Short-changing the child would be tragic.  Short-changing the campaign would be bad.  Short-changing the job--and the one she might inherit--would be a terrible disservice ot the nation. 

As a feminist, a mom, and a career woman, I know that astonishing juggling acts can be carried off--but I also know it takes a plan and it takes knowing that you'll let many important things drop. 

What will Candidate Palin, VP Palin, President Palin drop?  And does she really think John Kennedy is evidence that she can keep enough balls in the air?

Bluntly, I see no sign that she has thought that through, and I fear that she's a reckless running mate for a reckless John McCain.