Where it gets interesting is how important different generations rated different qualities.

So, McCain may not be thinking like a CEO , but it looks like he's thinking like a lot of bosses who tap people who don't have the goods. Potential is one thing; proven ability is another.

Within minutes, another friend (also a successful female in a very male-dominated field) called me indignant about what she calls "Palin's utter lack of qualifications."

Palin, at 44, is a generation removed from the 72-year-old McCain. But I'm not as interested in whether she can help McCain close the generation gap or even the gender gap. I wonder whether she can close the technology gap.

I'm assuming that Palin knows how to use a computer, which apparently McCain doesn't. Whatever way the election turns out, I'm hoping that Palin can bring the Senator into the 21st century, at least when it comes to technology.

We've written about it a lot on this blog, but what's your experience working with older people who aren't tech-savvy? If you're one of the not tech-savvy folks, how do you feel about getting training from someone younger?

But I underestimated Obama. And I'm impressed with his first major show of leadership since claiming the nomination. He's thinking like a CEO. While you can argue about this from a political perspective (did Hillary Clinton deserve the No. 2 spot, is Biden's past criticism of Obama and support of McCain an embarrassment?) you can't argue about these points: Biden's strengths complement Obama's weaknesses; Obama isn't afraid to surround himself with a big personality; Biden is likely to give Obama straight talk not happy talk; and yes, from a succession standpoint, there's no question that Biden would be qualified to succeed, if God forbid, that were ever necessary.

As one Democratic political insider told me: "Obama is surrounding himself with the best, and he's putting the party's interests first, rather than special interests, which is what choosing Hillary would have been." Like I said, Obama is thinking like a CEO.

What do you think of Obama/Biden? Do you think this dual-generation ticket makes sense? Is thinking like a CEO the way he ought to be thinking?

Funny as I still think that is, I don't know that her own daughter making fun of her will be enough to make the younger generation care about the right way to fold a T-shirt. Maybe Martha's time has come and gone.

Do you think a humorous, self-deprecating approach will help Martha win a younger audience? Would you try such an approach with your own team?

Whoa, I thought.

"There's a kind of shorthand for that, Sue," I said, "and in your case it would be Sue dot Smith at Equator Investments dot com."

"My goodness," she said, "I'm terrible with things like that."

"No problem," I said, but I must admit before Jah and this blog's readers, I also thought, Lady, it's 1998! My mom knows how to recite her email address, for Pete's sake!

See you at the debates...

“Whoa!” said one Boomer engineer. “When I was her age, I had to put in at least ten years before I could even think of getting off an hour early one day a week!”

“You’ve got to be kidding me!” said another Traditionalist marketing manager. “These kids are getting to do a ropes course and scavenger hunt their first day. My first day I was handed a phone and phone book and told to get to work cold calling.”

“I can’t believe this new hire is stressed out about crafting her work schedule,” said an Xer designer. “I had to fight tooth and nail just to get PTO (paid time off).”