The Fury of Women Scorned

Desperate Housewives jabs a stiletto heel into manly-man, post-9/11 culture

At last week's debate in Tempe, Ariz., it was ladies' night. George W. Bush traded in his scowl for a disciplined smile that analysts said was meant to seem less angry to female voters. John Kerry vowed that his minimum-wage proposal would help "9.2 million women who are trying to raise their families." Moderator Bob Schieffer ended the debate by asking what these husbands, each the father of two daughters, had learned from the "strong women" in their lives.

The candidates are not the only ones anxious about strong women today. TV executives are too, after the out-of-nowhere success of the No. 1...

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