Believe what you want, but my sister-in-law most certainly does have her law degree from Harvard ... and she's a big-time Democrat who is very politically active in her state. She and I have had all sorts of interesting and invigorating discussions and arguments over the years.
"Niece" ... is that a Freudian slip for you, killthecat ... you have many women in your family that perform dual roles as your niece and your sister-in-law? I knew Massachusetts was backwards, but good grief!

The essential American soul is hard, isolate, stoic, and a killer. It has never yet melted. ~ D.H. Lawrence