Take heart, though; the feminist dream doesn’t die here. While I wish we could air this public debate with Mrs. Obama and Mrs. Romney, at least we have the Senate to turn to, where a record number of 12 Democratic women are candidates. Relying on strategy advice from the dean of the Senate women, Barbara Mikulski of Maryland, they have patched together a quiet agenda that could undergird an off-Broadway feminist electoral revival.

A public debate between Ann Romney and Michelle Obama would be awesome.

Now, in serious, the public would love to seem them debate parenting and homemaking issues more than domestic and foreign policy. Maybe add the woman who wrote "Why Women Can't Have It All" as the moderator, or co-debater.