The point missed — or avoided — by Dowd is that men and women can be equally dumbfounded and equally “mean,” if in sometimes gender-tilted ways. What is gratifying about this season is that we have enough women running that we can criticize them without resorting to the old catfight canard.

Some women, just like some men, are simply unqualified and should be “refudiated” on their merits or the lack thereof. That Queen Bee Sarah has led the hive of busy benefactors, meanwhile, should be cause for a celebration of sorts — and would be if the brewing brood were Democrats. Why, a swell of liberal women threatening to take over Congress with tough, manhood-withering talk would have the sisterhood in cackles.

Once upon a time, Dowd and I were appearing together on “The Chris Matthews Show” to discuss Dowd’s book “Are Men Necessary?” In the green room, I remember telling her: “We have more in common with each other than with them [the men and others who would relish our disagreement]. They obviously want a catfight. Let’s deny them.”