Honestly, some days it's just too depressing to have to keep fighting these battles; it's like too many people just don't want to evolve, don't want to have to give up the objectification of women.  Because that's really what M!LF does - it makes objects out of women and renders them worthy only of visually or otherwise gratifying men.

We're supposed to think of it as a compliment, I guess, and be grateful some man who can't bear to let go of his d!ck long enough to use his brain thinks we're in Bo Derek "10" territory.

Swell.  

And I'm tired of the excuse that "everyone's" using the word so how bad could it be?  I can think of a lot of other labels that would never benefit from that excuse, so I'm hard-pressed to understand why M!LF is deemed so benign.  Well, unless it could possibly be that most of the people who are perpetuating M!LF as an acceptable label are men.  No, that just couldn't be, could it?

Clearly, you just don't get it, don't want to get it, and have an endless number of reasons why this is the problem of women.

But overall, he's not someone I'd put at or remotely near the top of my list to bring in on sexism charges in front of the TL People's Court.

A sexist of long long standing.

You're relying on some very out of date early polling on the field. Last night I suspect changed some numbers, probably significantly, both as to Bachmann and Pawlenty, one going up the other down.

First of all, here are the candidates, in order, from a poll taken in early June: Romney, Palin, Giuliani, Cain, Gingrich, Paul, Bachmann, Pawlenty, Huntsman, Santorum. Here's the relevant paragraph:

Romney took 24 percent followed by former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, who has yet to announce a presidential bid, who took second with 20 percent. Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who has not formally entered the race, took third with 12 percent, followed by businessman Herman Cain and former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich who tied for fourth with 10 percent each. U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas placed sixth with 7 percent, followed by U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota with 4 percent. Another candidate from Minnesota -- former Gov. Tim Pawlenty -- was in eighth with 3 percent. Former Gov. Jon Huntsman of Utah, who has also not formally entered the race, and former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania garnered 1 percent each.

So, that is hardly "very" out of date. It's a week old.

But I assume you mean that the debate changed everything, and instantly caused all polls to become out of date? Well, perhaps. But if being a "MILF" was the primary reason for Bachmann's success, she would have already succeeded before the CNN debate last night. She's presumably had the "MILF factor" for a long time, and yet she still polled poorly. For months she polled poorly -- and others with similar rhetoric rocketed to the top of the polls -- in spite of the alleged "MILF factor". How do you explain that? Is CNN's John King some sort of fairy godmother for "MILFs" that unleashes their latent power to seduce voters, or...

Last night I suspect changed some numbers, probably significantly, both as to Bachmann and Pawlenty, one going up the other down.

In terms of the MILF issue, I don't pay attention to the GOP candidates like some others do (TPM or Balloon Juice for instance) but to my knowledge Bachmann hasn't really been categorized as a MILF the way Palin has been anyway.  I think Bachmann has the conservative Christian thing going on much more than Palin ever did, 23 foster kids, etc etc.  I never got the impression she was ever covered as a MILF by the media.  Maybe I'm wrong.  

but that doesn't mean i don't think he's sexist as hell much of the time

he is

strong Evangelical presence (esp in the Panhandle), [and because] there may be a bit of backlash toward what some stereotype as the Jewish female.

As for me?  My bona fides?  Are you freaking kidding me?   As far as I'm concerned, "bona fides" aren't necessary to observe what elevates or diminishes the dignity of others.  I need "bona fides" to recognize sexism?

And whether I've put myself on the line?  Not that it's any of your business, but do you mean when I started my career and had to work twice as hard as any man?  Or do you mean today when I was lectured by a paternalistic old goat on technical concepts I have been putting into practice for oh, the last decade or so?  Or do you mean all the years and incidents in between?  And let me tell you, when I have been in management it was part of my mission to ensure that women were treated as fully fledged members of the team, not the designated note taker.