In Today's GOP, Only the Women Have Balls

Sarah Palin, Michele Bachmann, Liz Cheney. Whether or not you agree with their politics, there's no denying that a "certain breed of fire-breathing pink pachyderm is clearly on the rise," writes Michelle Cottle at the New Republic. Disagree? Then, quick, name any male Republican who comes even close to their star power. If nothing else, these "angry female fringe-dwellers are arguably doing more than anyone to tear down some of the most tiresome stereotypes about women in politics."

Specifically, the "B.S." notion that women are of a gentler nature and will therefore make the world a cuddlier place when they're in charge. So maybe these "conservative girls gone wild" won't be embraced by Emily's List, writes Cottle. But "simply by being themselves—truculent, arrogant, awful—these women give the lie to lingering stereotypes that ultimately serve no one well. Somewhere, Betty Friedan may not be smiling exactly. But she’s almost certainly intrigued." (More Sarah Palin stories.)