I'm tempted to say, "We Won," but that's not quite correct...

...I firmly believe that tonight, after years of painful division, America Finally Won.

Approaching The End

One last time...I have to say it...

This is the most important election of our lifetime...for all of us. We all have a stake in this.

In the past eight years, we have seen an explicit and unimaginably hurtful division of this country brought about by an unnecessary and disastrous "narrowing" of the Republican party (to borrow a very appropriate word used by Colin Powell). The middle class has been ignored and discriminated against. Only the wealthiest, most powerful Americans have been favored. Our economy is in its worst state since the 1930s. Our foreign policy has alienated us from the rest of the world. The damage done over the past eight years cannot easily be reversed.

We need a leader who understands how to guide this country out of this horrific state...not one who wants to continue down the same disastrous path.

Barack Obama is the right person to lead this country. It is just that simple.

I could continue on, trying to write something with rhetorical flourish, filled with powerful talking points, but I can't. I will level with all our readers...I am a wreck. My stomach is in knots. That's how important this is--to me, to the country.

I have fear. There is evidence that Republicans stole elections in the past. What if they do it again? Or what if the polls are off?

...Or, worse--what if this country just isn't ready for true, powerful change?

Lots of things to worry about. Lots of things to fear. But that's not what this election cycle has been about...not for Barack Obama and not for loyal Obama supporters like me.

This campaign has been exhausting. But it has also been amazingly powerful. A message of transformational hope and change swept over citizens in every corner of this country. It has been an amazing moment...and I hope this moment lasts for the next four years, and beyond.

And you...all of you who connect and communicate over this vast blogosphere, all of you who have discussed, jousted, and outright duked it out with me or K over this past 11 months...all of you who shared in the joy and the pain of this election...all of you faceless enigmas who we've never actually "met," but with whom we've become inextricably linked through this beautiful, agonizing experience....I cherish you all. Vigilante, that old curmudgeon, undeniably knowledgeable and unwaveringly confident in his own views...Mad Mike, the Big Dog, a kinder, gentler curmudgeon (if that's possible) whose dedication over the past several months has been unparalleled...Stella, ever the optimist, a true uniter amid a sea of dividers...The Wizard, always one to analyze issues from every angle (many times to a fault), even though he recently jumped off the Deep End...I even have to acknowledge Lee, who lives in the Deep End...and of course, Utah Savage, who started it all...

...you all hold a special place in my Blogging Heart.

To K: Our first election together! Let's hope the stars aligned for this one, just as they aligned to bring us together. I love you...I am so glad I have your hand to hold as we approach the end of this experience (and as we hopefully enter a New Era together).

So...I argued politics endlessly over the past year. Got in plenty of fights, but hopefully made as many friends as I have enemies. I'll be a nervous wreck for at least the next 24 hours, so in case I'm M.I.A. until the result is finally announced...much love to you all.

And one last time...

OBAMA '08!

A Very Sad Moment During a Very Hopeful Time

Just saw this one...with only one day left in this election...

Barack Obama's Grandmother has passed away.

I've read both Dreams from My Father and The Audacity of Hope. I know how imporant "Toot" was to this man. I will let the news story and, most importantly, the Obama statement, speak for themselves.

What a strange moment for this to happen. I will not even begin to turn this into a "what does this mean for the election" type of ridiculousness.

My only statement is this: I wish Barack Obama and his family comfort during this time.

Enough is Enough. If You Are a Pig, I'm Gonna Let You Have It!

By now, I should not have to provide the following preface comment, but I will anyway. Sarah Palin and I do not have one issue in common. Not a single, solitary issue between us in common. I do not support her, or her narrow, destructive  views for our nation. Barack Obama has my entire, complete support.

However, I am beyond sick and tired of the way she is being treated. If you have a beef with her stances on the issues, please debate and show her ideas/positions up as being false, selfish, uninformed, extreme, unrealistic, and destructive. This takes brainwork, but there is plenty of fodder by which to bring Sarah Palin down. What is not called for is reducing her to an object or sexual outlet. First of all, its too easy and second, its just plain "not right."

I expect many members of the Republican party to have sexist views, for them to talk, act, and vote in ways that suppress women or take away their liberties and freedoms. I expect that party to feel entitled to make chauvinistic derisive comments. Its who they are. They, too often, are filled with animosity, disdain, and resentment. Those feelings spill over onto "others."  What I was not quite expecting was for fellow democrats to take on the once conservative mantra of "at all costs" and "whatever it takes." I have been disheartened with each belittling, misogynist phrase uttered each week by Bill Maher on his HBO series Real Time. I was disheartened by the throngs of democrats who laughed along and added their own hateful diatribes. And now, I learn that some democrats are purchasing and proudly wearing shirts with words describing Sarah Palin in such "hate speech" ways. None of us would stand for shirts that reduced Obama in such racist ways, why would we buy or condone shirts with such anti-woman slogans?

I have two ways of thinking about this sexist travesty. First, if we want to call ourselves true democrats or progressives, we do not condone the wearing of shirts which demean, objectify, and dehumanize more than half our party. When you call a woman a "cunt,"  you really call all women "cunts." Just like most feminists do not believe you can be anti-choice and still be a true feminist, the same holds true for democrats. You cannot vilify one gender and still be a democrat/progressive.  If you want to make fun of, leer at, demean and degrade women, then coin a new party. Call yourselves "The Assholes," because you certainly do not belong in the party of humanism, the party of "we."

Now, the more cynical side of me wonders: Why was I so shocked? Come on, why be surprised? There is one fact, honest and true, that crosses party lines: Women are not valued in our culture unless they are selling "the man" what he wants. Sex. People are not so enraged by Palin because she is so far to the right of most in our party. No, what has so many men's goat, is that she is a woman. How dare she! How dare a woman think she can leap from male fantasies and be taken seriously? How dare women think they have a place anywhere but in men's masturbatory thoughts? Afterall, millions of women are spread across the web highway showing men what they really are, what they really want.  Men move from their computer terminal where every Tori, Daisy, and Holly is being stuffed full of cock. So, they walk to the television and see Sarah Palin. Who the fuck does she think she is?

She is just a hole. She should shut up, go back home, take care of her kids, or put back on that pageant sash. Right, guys? Is that it? And let's not forget the women who don such repulsive shirts thinking they are so "hip" and "cool." None of you are. You are destructive to our party and to women in general. I could get into a big long discussion about why women take part in the fellow destruction of women, but I will save that for another day. 

For now, enough is enough. If you act like a pig, you are a pig. With or without lipstick. 

Don't Let Joe Biden (or the media) Ruin This!!!!!

New Quinnipiac University polls show Obama making small but very significant gains in Florida, Pennsylvania, and my home state, Ohio. New CNN/Time polls show Obama gaining stronger leads in states like Virginia and Nevada. The Yahoo! News Electoral Map--based on averages of all national polls--shows Obama with 330 electoral votes if the election were held today. We have one debate win under our belt, and all the momentum on our side.

And it is with all that positivity in mind that I say to Joe Biden: Don't screw this one up, buddy!

Let's be clear: I love Joe Biden. Unlike some others, I was thrilled that this feisty, inspiring, beyond-knowledgeable veteran Senator was selected by Barack Obama as the Democratic VP candidate. The only stronger pick, in my estimation, would have been Hillary Clinton. I have gone on the record several times saying that Biden was a great pick, will be a great debater, and more importantly, a great Vice President.

But tomorrow's VP debate poses many challenges--and potential landmines are set to explode all over the place. Clearly, Biden knows what he is doing--he's been doing this kind of stuff for decades. And clearly, the Obama staffers are endlessly prepping the Senator from Delaware on precisely how to maneuver in this minefield. However, if there ever was a time for McCain-Palin to surge ahead, tomorrow is it. Obama handled the blustery curmudgeon McCain about as perfectly as one could at last Friday's debate. It is very likely, since the first debate is the most influential, that at worst Obama should be able to more than hold his own in the two remaining presidential debates, especially since the two remaining formats--Town Hall and Sit-Down Intimacy--favor Obama's style and strengths. And so barring a huge Obama gaffe--or a bizarro October Surprise--tomorrow night is the Republicans' best chance to reverse the tide.

And I believe Sarah Palin can do it--don't laugh, bastards...I mean it. She knows how to bullshit to such a degree that she supposedly performed well at several gubernatorial debates in 2006 Alaska. And she bullshitted her way into the hearts of many Republican extremists all over the country. It was an astonishing show. Of course, time, an increasingly catastrophic financial state in the United States, and an increasingly ridiculous string of Palin speaking misfires (to put it kindly) have set the Killa from Wasilla way, way back. But she can still work that bullshit magic, make no mistake.

What is Joe Biden's job? Plain and simple, be the Attack Dog--and set his sights on the top of the ticket. He needs to be forceful...but not jerky like McCain was on Friday. He needs to be knowledgeable...but not so dense that it goes over voters' heads. He needs to wipe the floor with Palin but do it with such a light touch that no one even notices until the damage is done. He can't be condescending, but he needs to make clear just how incompetent his opponent is. It's a tough task, but Joe Biden is more than up to it--so long as he keeps his head on his shoulders and doesn't vomit up some random gaffe like the couple he made a little over a week ago.

And like the wonderful spin doctors they are, members of the media will certainly do their part to tell us what happened and who won, just in case we can't figure it out for ourselves. The media's immediate reaction matters just as much as the performances of both candidates in deciphering which side gets a boost from this debate, and which side loses a little bit of ground. 

Joe Biden should win this thing going away...it's up to him to determine whether we continue riding this powerful wave of momentum or see our comfortable lead become uncomfortable once again. And the media should be fair in their appraisal of the debate...some of that is up to the candidates, and some of it isn't...but they can influence public opinion, and could reverse the momentum just to keep this thing close to the end.

So which Sarah Palin will appear on national television tomorrow night? And how will Joe Biden handle himself? And how will the media portray all of the above?

We'll find out tomorrow...same bat-shit time as last Friday's debate, and any bat-shit channel you can think of.

Debate Will Have Two Participants

McCain decided not to commit campaign suicide, opting instead to lick his campaign-threatening wounds and get on a plane to Mississippi.

Let's see how he tries to spin all this nonsense. And let's see if Barack Obama can grill the guy's ass on every last issue.

Steve Doocy is the biggest idiot working in television today

That's all I wanted to say.

Today I gave a presentation...

...about how today's political culture is driven by the politics of the Narrative--stories and personalites winning out over policies and ideas. That was the perception when Barack Obama defeated Hillary Clinton in the Democratic Primary, and ever since the nomination of What's-Her-Name, it was clear that the Republicans were fighting to win the election on the back of compelling biographies and identifiable personal histories.

But my presentation today hinged on one key factor that is dominating this race: the MEDIA. Members of the MSM, as Vigilante pointed out not long ago, have taken on the job description of moderators looking to inject themselves into the story whenever possible, and in the MSM's hands, the presidential race has taken on the attributes of a high-stakes, down-to-the-wire sporting event--Presidential Bowl XLIV.

If the MSM has its way, this race will remain close and only get closer until crunch time, when one candidate will come through in the clutch and win the presidency after the "game" has been squeezed of all possible drama. In order for the moderators to achieve such a goal, it means that every story the MSM peddles--every Narrative they spin, whether by perpetuating current campaign narratives or creating yarns of their own--must fit into the "punch-counterpunch" framework of the best boxing matches. In short, each candidate must saturate the news cycle for a period, and then the other candidate must take over...back and forth, so on and so on. Because the simple is this: if you dominate the media narrative, you become the prominent candidate and the poll leader. Obama was the main draw (and, hence, the poll leader) right up through the Sarah Barracuda announcement--after that, the narrative shifted and the saturation of the Palin Story took effect. And voila!...McCain-Palin took the media reigns and rode it right into a slight lead in the polls. The combination of repeating the same old colloquial talking points, flaunting Palin's public speaking skills, and hiding her true stance on the issues worked savvily in the Republicans' favor. They found their version of Obama--a big, new, popular story to attract American voters. They seized control of the media narrative, and in so doing seized control of the national polls.

BUT THEN...

Can you say "bailout"? So can millions of other Americans...and for many of them, "solution to economic crisis" begins with "ousting Republicans from control." And so, as The Barracuda Effect became weighed down by Common Sense and Reality, the McCain-Palin Media Domination Phase came to a quiet close....and so did their lead in national polls.

So what does an old, cranky, tired, confused, desperate, calculating Republican presidential nominee do when he's waffled on the economic crisis and is losing his grip on the electorate, even with his Golden Goose-Killer by his side?

Well, he follows the advice of his advisers, of course, and attempts to TAKE BACK MEDIA SATURATION!

Smart idea...but what if it flies in the face of logic (well, perhaps I shouldn't be asking that question to the man who nominated Sarah Palin)? The last 24 hours of John McCain's presidential campaign have been among the most appalling and ridiculous of this 2-year process. He tries to steal back media attention by usurping a moment of genuine bipartisanship from Barack Obama, and then taking it ten steps further by calling for a delay of Friday's debate?!?! Obama's response was swift and correct (to paraphrase: "uh, can't presidents multi-task?"), clearly underlining just how presidential he is and McCain isn't.

Regardless of McCain's cowardly-whining-disguised-as-leadership, bipartisan negotiations commenced today in Washington, and--lo and behold--a tentative bailout deal was reached that both Democrats and Republicans believed to be passable and workable. "Great," I thought, "the debate will certainly go on as scheduled."

The headline I now read from the AP: McCain Campaign Won't Commit to to Debate on Friday.

Uh, huh. Yeah, I see how it works now. McCain is still holding out...still holding strong...still hoping that he will somehow look resolute and presidential as he bucks against a debate that should never be canceled for reasons so illogical...still wondering what the fuck he's gonna do to repair his image...still hoping one of his much more sinister and devious operatives will come up with a masterful strategy to get the Old Man out of this ditch.

Why is he doing this? ....Because at least it's media attention. And even if it's grasping at straws, what does Johnny have to lose? He's already down....he might as well pull out all the insane stops to try and get up off the mat. He's throwing insanity at the electorate and hoping something sticks....his Media Saturation Period depends on it.

I do want a debate tomorrow. I am naively excited about this election cycle. But if Johnny can't make it, I at least hope the networks stick around, Barack shows up, and uses the 90 minutes to talk directly with the American people about why he's the only one capable of leading this nation....since after all, he's the only one who's willing to show up to share his views with America.

Postpone the Debate? LUDICROUS!

Power's back on here in Obama Country (eh, at least our house is Obama Country)...but still taking care of fallen trees, etc. For now, a quick tidbit...

The events of the past several hours--in which Barack Obama called John McCain proposing a bipartisan effort to deal with the $700 billion financial crisis, then McCain called Obama back to accept, and mere minutes later made the second-most calculated political announcement of his campaign (guess what number 1 is), a feigned attempt to make himself appear "bipartisan" by calling for a delay of Friday's debate until a "solution" is agreed upon--is just the latest example of how Barack Obama is the most sincere presidential candidate we've had in decades, and how John McCain is so lost and so desperate that he's willing to play politics at every turn.

Obama, who is popular because of his powerful message and his inclusive policies, didn't come out with a massive press conference to announce how we should all bow down and respect his bipartisanship--he merely acted unselfishly bipartisan, and made a private call to John McCain. And instead of just politely returning the call and accepting the proposal, McCain refused to stop there; rather, he then unveiled the massive press conference to announce how we should all bow down and respect his bipartisanship. On the one hand, you have to admit that it was a pretty smart call, given the fact that McCain has waffled on this crisis constantly, Palin has done nothing but repeat campaign talking points and set up photo-ops, and Barack Obama has proposed solutions and made gains in the polls for his honest work. He was able to steal the spotlight, undercut Obama's true generosity and bipartisanship, and force Obama to back-track and make clear that he was, in fact, the one who started this bipartisan conversartion. On the other hand, it was as slimy and two-faced a move as one can imagine, one that was made purely for political gain--in short, it was signature John McCain, Presidential Candidate.

And so, to address this call for us to "put aside partisan politics and delay the debate," I first must say that McCain is doing nothing if not playing partisan politics. And then I must say that delaying the debate is the most ludicrous proposal I've heard from McCain since he walked out onto the Nutter Center stage and said, "Hey America, how 'bout Sarah Palin for VP?"

At best, the proposal shows complete tunnel vision and an utter lack of the ability to multi-task, a trait any presidential candidate should be anxious to display. At worst, it shows that McCain is trying to avoid a debate that he fears will further bury him in the polls, and perhaps also make his ultra-slim lead in states like Indiana and Ohio disappear.

As for Barack's response, I don't even need to paraphrase it:

"It's my belief that this is exactly the time when the American people need to hear from the person who, in approximately 40 days, will be responsible for dealing with this mess. It's going to be part of the president's job to deal with more than one thing at once."

Nailed it, nailed it, nailed it.

Barack Obama may one day go down as my favorite president of all time.

Are you there, Ike? It's me, Ohio...

Just over a week ago, the remnants of Hurricane Ike came blowing through Ohio and didn't let up for about 20 hours. I was downtown at the time, going to get some Obama-Biden signs with my two boys...but Democratic headquarters was closed for the day, and then we had to rush back home, as K called to tell me the power had gone out.

Over a week has passed...still no power. So here I write, from the university where I work/attend, just to let y'all know that we're still here...and that our commentary will return when the electricity does.

In the meanwhile, let's all bask in the return to sanity in the national polls, where Barack Obama is again at 50% in some, with as high as a six-point lead.

A big hurray for that...and a prayer for electricity.

Barack in his own words

Yesterday, I finished reading Barack Obama's book, The Audacity of Hope. The book is astounding, one that clearly allows the reader inside Obama's head and heart. It not only provides a background for understanding how the man came to embrace the virtues of grassroots organizing and bottom-up campaigning; it not only sketches in miniature the direction in which the man wants to take this country, replete with ideas, plans, opinions, facts, and stories; it also allows Obama to lay his hopes, dreams, doubts, and fears out on a literary platter, open to all who are willing to engage him. It is the perfect antidote to anyone who would say that the candidate is "too inexperienced, too little known, too untested, or too unaccomplished" to hold the office of president. Not only does Obama detail his many trips abroad and his work in the Senate, but he provides a glimpse into his life that will ring true to any American...to any citizen of the world. In her convention speech, Sarah Palin referred to the book as a "memoir," but it is much more than that--and in the instances when Obama does offer brief anecdotes from his life, they are always in support of a much grander idea, a much broader, all-inclusive American ideal, a much bigger hope for all peoples. The Republicans have gone to great lengths to publicize Palin as a relatable figure to many voters, but in Barack Obama's generous, insightful words, I see the full scope of the human experience, the unmistakably relatable element of honest humanity. I see myself in him; I see all Americans in him.

 It is very telling that I finished the book--which is a very intelligent, very powerful document--on a day like yesterday, when this blog was swirling with a string of increasingly nasty comments, mainly from two individuals, one of which is me. And while there may be solid points cased within the nasty packaging, those points are not why the comments were made--they were made in order to up the ante on the opposing writer, to win a never-ending battle of wit, to win an argument not based on logic or truth, but based on who can deliver the most exacting zing.

That is not the kind of argument I want to get in, even if my stubbornness and loathing of perceived injustice compels me to ignore my desire to remain above the fray. So it is all done--at least on my end. I was angry before--but then I re-watched the glorious Obama-Biden video that K posted a few days ago. I re-read some of Barack Obama's words. And I realize that while  zingers can be fun, and can also sometimes be appropriate, they better be in service of the underlying point and not the other way around. This election is about the hope for change...the opportunity to participate in change. It is a time to stop playing games and start working together to make a difference. That is why I support the candidate I support. That is why I wanted to take part in this blog.

So as we move forward, I feel it is absolutely appropriate to quote Obama, and to let his words provide a perspective that I wish to adopt for the remainder of this election cycle. I want to share the closing passage of The Audacity of Hope (sorry to spoil it for those who wanted to be surprised...), a passage that I feel stands with some of the best writing I've read in years, one that contains some of the most eloquent, passionate, and powerful sentiments Barack Obama has ever expressed.

"What satisfies me now [is] being useful to my family and the people who elected me, leaving behind a legacy that will make our children's lives more hopeful than our own. Sometimes, working in Washington, I feel I am meeting that goal. At other times, it seems as if the goal recedes from me, and all the activity I engage in--the hearings and speeches and press conferences and position papers--are an exercise in vanity, useful to no one.

"When I find myself in such moods, I like to take a run along the Mall. Usually I go in the early evening, especially in the summer and fall, when the air in Washington is warm and still and the leaves on the trees barely rustle. After dark, not many people are out--perhaps a few couples taking a walk, or homeless men on benches, organizing their possessions. Most of the time I stop at the Washington Monument, but sometimes I push on, across the street to the National World War II Memorial, then along the Reflecting Pool to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, then up the stairs of the Lincoln Memorial.

"At night, the great shrine is lit but often empty. Standing between marble columns, I read the Gettysburg Address and the Second Inaugural Address. I look out over the Reflecting Pool, imagining the crowd stilled by Dr. King's mighty cadence, and then beyond that, to the floodlit obelisk and shining Capitol dome.

"And in that place, I think about America and those who built it. This nation's founders, who somehow rose above petty ambitions and narrow calculations to imagine a nation unfurling across a continent. And those like Lincoln and King, who ultimately laid down their lives in the service of perfecting an imperfect union. And all the faceless, nameless men and women, slaves and soldiers and tailors and butchers, constructing lives for themselves and their children and grandchildren, brick by brick, rail by rail, calloused hand by calloused hand, to fill in the landscape of our collective dreams.

"It is that process I wish to be a part of.

"My heart is filled with love for this country."

Sarah Palin: Miss Contradiction

The Republicans have done a bang-up job trying to introduce Sarah Palin to the electorate. We know her beautiful family (with all its hush-hush behind-the-scenes machinations), we know that she has executive experience (executive power which she bulldozed her way into, and which she then abused in every way she saw fit), and we know that she's a pit-bull in lipstick (which apparently some sick bastards find attractive). Oh yeah, we also know that she placed second in the 1984 Miss Alaska contest.

With all that stuff having already been reported to death, I would like to take the opportunity to introduce the American people to yet another wonderful side of Governor Palin--and finally introduce her as the pageant winner she so deserves to be.

My fellow Americans, meet Sarah Palin, Miss Contradiction...

• Palin is the mother of a four-month-old special needs child who vehemently opposes stem cell research--the very research that could one day help millions of special needs children across the globe.
• Palin is also mother to a U.S. soldier who is being shipped off to Iraq sometime within the next couple days...yet she wants this disastrous mistake to carry on indefinitely.
• Palin is, as the Republicans have gone at great length to point out, a woman--one who stands in direct opposition to women's rights, equal pay for women, and above all a woman's right to choose.

She may have only placed second in the 1984 Miss Alaska pageant, and she wouldn't even come close to making anyone's short-list for a Miss Contraception pageant, but I feel Sarah Palin is the most qualified, most deserving, and most prepared candidate for the newly-minted Miss Contradiction Award for 2008!

Do we really need MORE abuse of power in the White House?

THAT ABUSE OF POWER THING....IT'S ONE OF SARAH PALIN'S CRIPPLING VICES

You can also see this link over at Swiftspeech!...the focus there is on Palin's overt racism, which is heinous and profoundly dangerous for our country--I am not overlooking that.

However, as the article continues, it becomes clear that "Troopergate," as Palin's current abuse-of-power investigation has been dubbed by many, is only the most recent example of the Palin's blatant abuse of power...

A brief snippet:

"Ironically, Palin was pushed into hiring the administrator by the party poobahs who helped get her elected after she got herself into trouble over a number of precipitous firings which gave rise to a recall campaign.

“People who fought her attempt to oust the librarian are on her enemies list to this day,” states Anne Kilkenny, a Wasilla resident and one of the few Alaskans willing to speak on-the-record, for attribution, about Palin. In fact, Kilkenny actually circulated an e-mail letter about Palin that was verified and printed by The Nation.

"For good measure, Palin booted the Wasilla police chief from office because, she told a local newspaper, he “intimidated” her."

Read the article...try your best not to cringe. Try your best not to shudder at what would happen to our country is Sarah Palin was leading it.

Obama/Biden: The Ticket of " Us"

I have been thinking about the two conventions all day, and I have been feeling this tension, not knowing how to communicate the frustration that rises in me when I think about how the Republicans hijack every political season with hatred.

Then, I opened a message in my email from Barack Obama and watched a video that he included and as I watched it, it hit me. The message we liberals, progressives, democrats, and left leaning independents need to get across is very very simple.

Our new theme should be this:

We are the party of "US"; They are the party of "ME"

That is why we value volunteerism and community outreach. Because it's about all of us.

That is why we value universal health care. Because it's about all of us.

That is why we value every town, small, medium, or big. Because it's about all of us.

That is why we value gay rights, civil rights, and women's rights. Because it's about all of us.

That is why we value economic relief for middle and lower class families. Because it's about all of us.

That is why we value keeping jobs here, at home. Because it's about all of us.

That is why we value the environment and don't just want to "drill, baby, drill." Because we all live here; it's about all of us.

That is why we value bringing the troops home. Because they should not die over lies; it's about all of us.

That is why we value properly funding our educational system. Because all children deserve a chance; it's about all of us.

It's us. Not "me".

This country is about all of us, not just a select few who want to get richer, more powerful, and live a life of twisted servitude and allegiance to God, a God who would be ashamed of the way they have become so "me" centered.

This election cycle is about us. All of us. We can be better, stronger, happier. All we have to do is think of "we" and a little less about "me."

Just as I thought...

So, dear readers, 

Did anyone see Bill Maher on his Real Time with Bill Maher Friday night? Bill Maher did an entire tirade on vice presidential nominee, Governor Sarah Palin. I knew he would. When I wrote that letter/blog Friday morning, I did so because I knew he would do exactly what he did 12 hours later. Every stereotype about women he could parade out and exploit, he did. Even George Bush, the murdering evil retard, has not ever earned an entire 5 minute opening act of his disdain. Why do you think that is, people? Because she is a woman. Bill Maher, with all his talk of being progressive, is really just as sexist as the Republicans he criticizes. Difference is, Republicans do not want women to have sexual freedom, Bill Maher believes women are ONLY useful for their sexual freedom.

His panel included the very smart, astute Michelle Martin, who held him to task and he blew her off. She said, "you do not make this any better or easier with your comments about Palin being a stewardess." Chuckles ensued. Then, Michelle pointed out that Palin has the same experience as Kaine, Governor of Virginia, who was on Obama's short list and interviewed by Maher only moments before Martin's comment. Did Maher address the counterargument? Nope. That would not be "funny" enough. As Maher kept degrading Palin as a "hockey mom," and sneered about her children, Michelle pointed out that out of all the candidates, Obama, McCain, Palin, and Biden, only Palin has actually fucking governed. Maher simply kept making jokes about how she had once been a mayor of a small town. Scoffing and shoulder wiggling continued.

And finally, when Ms. Martin pointed out that this election is going to become more and more about identity politics and how we have to be very careful about where that goes and how far we exploit it, did anyone listen to her? No, the conversation floated away from such important topics. 

The panel that night, guided by Maher, should have taken the opportunity to show why Palin is wrong for office. It is NOT because she does not have experience. It is not because she is a mom. And it is certainly not because she has a vagina. It is because her stance on the issues that should matter most are too extreme and not good for our country or her citizens.

During cookouts, all I heard from any family member or acquaintance was "what was he thinking? She has no experience."  "You knowwwwww why he picked her, right? Right?" And then there were jokes about how stupid women are to follow any woman into office.

Today, watching last week's Daily Show, Jon Stewart took the opportunity to joke about how Palin looks like Tina Fey (which she does), but his joke did not stop there. He also said she looked like a sexy librarian from late night Cinemax. Nice. As Pamela Paul points out in her book, Pornified, and as I have discussed in previous blogs, men are able to reduce women to fuck objects any time they want to dominate over them. Someone is not your candidate, debate them on the issues. What kind of democrats are we, if we demean women and degrade them in order to make our point? Oh, but it was just a joke, right? The show went on, and Samantha Bee went on to poke fun at/exploit the concept of women only following Palin due to their vaginas. She went on to coin about 3 derogatory terms for a woman's vagina, but that was all in good fun, right?

As if all of the above was not disheartening enough, after watching said Daily Show, I was told by my very liberal, usually very sensitive husband that I am taking it "a bit extreme." He added that Palin is NOT experienced and she was a stupid choice. We began fighting about the lack of experience concept. When Obama (who I support) was brought up, he turns into a mouthpeice: "he has the same experience as Lincoln did." When I bring up that Palin has the same experience as Kaine, I am greeted with, "but Obama was smart enough not to choose him." When I remind him that Kaine was only notified a short bit before Biden, and that he was on the very short list, he brushed me off and said I was, "irrational" and "crazy." My husband insinuated I "take a joke."

Well, Jason... and all the other men who read this and think I cannot take a joke. When we see a male candidate be reduced and attacked on the basis of his body parts, on his role as a father, or on his job of being a governor, when that has been plenty for past presidents, then, I will take a joke.

Our fighting escalated and instead of debating me anymore, the fight became, "go ahead and vote for her, then" devaluing my point and dismissing my position. 

All of us need to realize that if we continue to use stereotypes and exploit gendered constructions, it may bite us in the ass during this election, and we might lose what we so desperately need. But there is also, far more at stake. The role and perceptions of women in this society and the value placed upon them could be placed in serious peril, even more than they already are.  

A Letter to Democrats Who Want to Win in November!

Ok, look, everyone, I have said it over and over. You never wanted to hear it. You still don't, but we needed Hillary Clinton to decisively win in November. You do not get a much more ardent supporter of Clinton than I was. I have supported her issues and passions for 16 years. I remember my "I'm for Hillary's Husband" button affixed to my shirt with pride in '92. Now, with the news that 27% of her voters report they will vote for McCain, we need to stop being angry at people who wanted her and learn how to win them over or keep them in our camp.

I am one of those voters who is deeply saddened, disappointed, and still a bit angry, for Hillary Clinton should have been our nominee. However--and it is a huge however, so all you Democrats, bare with me here--I want Obama/Biden to win in November. See, Hillary had it right in her speech  at the convention the other night. When she said, "Were you really in this just for me..." it became clear--this is an issues campaign. If we want to win, we have to keep the debate centered on the issues that matter most. I was and am for Hillary Clinton, but I am for the issues she stood for even more.

With the latest news that Sarah Palin is John McCain's running mate, we have to tread very carefully or we will lose...not just lose, but lose soundly. We will not just lose the election, but we will lose the gains we have made for women and men who support women and their rights.

It will become far too easy to try to attack Palin for being "inexperienced" or "only chosen because she is a woman." We cannot win (the election or the larger goal of equality) if we try to tear her down through gendered stereotypes and constructions. Already I have heard (and the news is only 2 hours old), from Democrats, "How could he pick someone so inexperienced?" Well, we say Obama has enough, right? Well, Palin has governed and run a state. She has enough. 

I have already heard from a Democrat that "she has 5 children, one with special needs, so why is she not at home with that 4 month old child?" We, as Democrats, do not want to win by becoming arachaic, fundamentalist and sexist. We will push those who already feel slighted by the loss of Hillary Clinton further into the McCain camp. And in the long run, we will devastate what we have fought for with regards to women and equality.

Here is how we, Democrats, liberals, and progressives, win. Keep it to the issues. Period.

Obama/Biden needs to treat Palin with respect (as they wisely did to McCain at the convention by saluting him as a hero and honorable man), but then drive home ISSUES incessantly. It's quite simple... we all, staffers for Obama,  men for Obama, women for Obama, all of us need to keep this to the issues and we can win.

Palin is a social conservative. There are clear, distinct differences between the two campaigns, between the two presidential candidates and between the two veeps. Dig in, focus on the differences on the issues, and beat them down.

We just need to push this question: Do we want someone who will DO and CARE about those less fortunate, those like us, those who work hard and deserve a shot? Do we want someone who will fight for health care, our troops, our jobs, and equality for all people?

Or, do we want a pair who will fight for more money for those who already have plenty and who will fight for the rights of white, straight men and unborn zygotes? Do we really want no changes in health care, the war, and the way we are viewed by everyone else in the world?

Do we want to capitalize on the promise of our country, or do we want to continue to give in to fear of progress?

What do we want as a people? 

We Want Change. 

Keep it there. Drive it home.  We have hope. We want America to be what it CAN be for everyone if we just elect Barack Obama and Joseph Biden.

Keep it simple, and keep it true to who we are. 

Unleash... on women!

You know, pornography can be rather insidious. Not only is it insidious, but now it is almost warmly accepted as just "the way things are."

The other day in my research I stumbled across a site that attests to what I just wrote last week from Paul's Pornified. If a man at any time feels down, angry, frustrated, emasculated, lonely, sad, slighted, ignored, rejected, he is a few clicks away from "feeling all better."

The site is... dare I say it... because free advertising is not really what I want to be in the game of here. Anyway, the place's site for free porn clips (substantial porn clips... anywhere from a few minutes to 30) has the most telling tagline ever. And here it is...

"Unleash Your Daily Anger"

That's right men... You are entitled to feel better. Why shouldn't you? All you have to do to feel better about yourself is to watch big, strong, manly men "stick it women". Over and over again, for free.

Dangerous Games And the Part Women Play!

The "rant" below is for everyone, but dedicated to Wizard. It is from a response to Utah Savage's magnificient March 31st 2008 "Aging Barbie" post several months ago.

******************************************************
Its a dangerous game we women play. We want in the "game" so badly... we want to have access to power and the only power we can really have is that constructed for us--power as desirable, beautiful, feminine objects.So, it is a conundrum for women. It is not simple. If you want to be able to have power, you become obsessed with "the ideal"... the ever elusive ideal. So, women are forced to chase their tail, never ever catching it.

We are set up to fail... so many billions made off of our obsession to attain access to power. Cosmetics, billions, Cosmetic surgeries, billions, shampoo/body wash, billions....And, if women are "lucky" enough to attain the "perfect image," she is also seen as a whore, as vain, as unintelligent, and she probably has starved to a point she has probably killed brain cells... so she may legitimately not be very smart.

Think of how much time women spend on "getting ready." Most women need 1-3 hours to "perfect" themselves. What do men spend? 10 minutes? How do they spend the 2+ hours we spend on frivolity? How much more educated, read, physically active, relaxed do they get to be in the time we spend trying to be presentable?Oh, who am I kidding, they spend the time whacking it to plastic barbies we can never be without a shitload of dinero and an eagerness to become porn stars. Self entitled men (which is most I would argue) feed off of our images and gain more power by degrading us.

So... if we actually attain the access to power... if we are able to starve, shave, cut, and design our face and bodies to be exactly what society wants, then we really only have a false sense of power because we have lost ourselves. And, its fleeting. Intelligence lasts a lifetime, youthful looks do not.What have we lost while we have prioritized beautifying ourselves? What have we lost out on? Who have we become? And worse, how have we fed the beast (culture) further?

For every woman who teeters on high heels, wears strappy dresses in dead of winter... for every woman who increases her breasts 4 sizes and saunters around with musk melons... for every woman who cares more about fashion than comfort... for every woman who posts pics or videos of herself as object... for every woman who designs (I say cuts) her vagina...for every woman who plies on a mask before exiting her home... you teach and shape what every other woman thinks she needs to be as well.

So... just say fuck it, right? Just be yourself and stop this hideous phenomenon, right? Wrong. Because if you do not play by the rules, you are absolutely nothing. No one sees you. No one hears you. And worst of all, in context of our society... no one fucking wants you.

***********************************************

A post on legalizing prostitution will be forthcoming. Look for it and thank, Wizard for prompting me!

Pornified Culture

Am reading Pornified by Pamela Paul, and I am struck by how often what I am reading echoes what I have lamented for so long.

I also am so tired of not finding the time to write on this blog that I have determined that I am not going to wait around for the "perfect" thing to say. I tend to stew over items and then get overwhelmed by how much there is to say, especially on gender constructions and items which fall under that such as Pornography. So, instead, I am going to write one or a few things that trouble or move me and then if it gets me going, fine. If that's all there is, well, that's all there is, folks!

So, the latest thing in Paul's Pornified that made me nod and nod until I felt like I had some disease is the concept of how often times porn is not just an assist to masturbation. Rather, it is a way for men to validate and dominate. If anything goes wrong in their real world, they can save face by reverting to a fantasy world where every woman will bow and suck them off. Ah, finally, I AM better than somebody else. A Pornified world is one in which any man can get any woman and she will love every fucking (no pun intended) minute of it. Men love such a world because its easy, because it releases the frustration from all the women who do spurn/reject them, and it validates them as men. What is almost sad is that they have no idea the destruction they do to themselves let alone women.

Here is an astute quote from Ms. Paul, "The women in pornography exist in order to please men, and are therefore willing to do anything. They will dominate or act submissive. They can play dumb or talk back, moan quietly or scream, cry in anger or in pleasure. They will accommodate whatever a man wants them to do, be it anal sex, double penetration, or multiple orgasms. The porn star is always responsive; she would never complain about a man being late or taking too long to come. Her hair never gers trapped under his elbow or her thighs never tire. She's easily aroused, naturally and consistently orgasmic, and malleable. She is what he wants her to be. She's a cheerleader, a nurse, a dominatrix, a nymphomaniac, a virgin, a teenager, your best friend's mother. She is every woman who was ever out of your league. She's the girl next door, the prom queen, the hot teacher, the supermodel, the celebrity. She is every woman who ever did the rejecting. She used to be a lesbian, she used to be frigid, she used to be afraid of sex. She is every woman who cannot be had. Now she loves sex, she can't get enough of it; she can't get enough of sex with you. She is every woman who should appreciate you."

Ironically, men use porn to feel better about who they are. To dominate when they feel oppressed. Only the pathetic would use such a crutch and not even realize its a crutch.

Silly Quizzes-But I like the result!

Your results:
You are Wonder Woman

Wonder Woman 90% Spider-Man 70% Supergirl 70% The Flash 70% Green Lantern 65% Robin 60% Superman 55% Batman 55% Iron Man 55% Hulk 50% Catwoman 50%

You are a beautiful princess with great strength of character.

Click here to take the Superhero Personality Quiz

A Trip to my Neighbors

A seemingly nice neighbor let J and I borrow tables for a garage sale we had a few weeks ago. Upon returning them to his garage, I noticed the back walls plastered with women of perfection. Luckily, they were scantily clad women and not of the buck naked variety. Lucky?

This moment caused me to go into an hour-long reflection and rant with my husband. Notice, I did say with and not at, for J is in agreement about the objectification of women. Our moment together at the neighbor's made him recall one of his earliest moments exposed to pornographic images. He was 10 and was left in an mechanic's office while his mom's car was being worked on. Not a private office mind you, but rather one where customers met to discuss initial problems regarding their vehicles. J disclosed how the first monthly image (it was a calendar proudly hanging from a wall in plain view) was a woman standing with her rear hanging out of a "mini" skirt; however, each month deterioriated until the women were splayed out, with every inch of their body visible.

J was 10, but that was not even his earliest exposure, however. He had witnessed not-so-scrambled Playboy channel at 8, unscrambled at 10. The worst exposure of the lot, however, happened upon a trip he took to his neighbor's at age 12, where every magazine known to the top three pornography companies sat collecting dust in boxes, ready for eager pre-pubescent hands. And, the 14 year old neighbor was only to glad to share hard core films to boot. Then the internet hit, where any boy of any age can find any thing he wants at any minute he wishes it, and sometimes even when he does not wish it.

What kind of people are we? We act as if we are better than other countries. We sit, self righteous, and bemoan how other country's treat their women. Be it shrouded in a veil or removed from all clothes, we should not kid ourselves. Our society does not respect women, we degrade them. Sure, women do not have to follow 10 feet behind while walking down the street, but they better be sure they look hot and desirable on their trek.

Interestingly, as Ariel Levy points out in her Female Chauvinist Pigs, there is a growing number of women who eagerly wear this degradation, for it is the only access to power women have here in America. The more sexualized and wanton we are, the only attention--negative or not--we "earn." Women are sexual commodities, but before we are "bought," our sexuality has buying power.

Anyway, Ariel Levy's astute commentary on the new trend of women who actively objectify themselves is a post for another time. Here, I want to finish on how absurd it is to display women for their sexual parts.

Imagine walking in to get your car worked on and seeing a calendar of demure naked men, begging to be oogled. Wouldn't this be absurd?

And before you say, "hey I have seen those beefcake calendars," let me argue that that hardly counts. It is inane to objectify men, but look closely at those images. Those "firefighter" or beefcake calendars reiterate positive male characteristics, making men look manly, muscular, tough. Not about making them look like sex kittens who can't wait to be ravaged.

Imagine driving down the road looking for a place to eat and you see a new restaurant opening: COCKS. COCKS and their half naked men selling hot dogs outsells the leading Hooters and their wings by leaps and bounds. Absurd?

Imagine coming over to my house to bring me back the sugar you borrowed and you walk through a garage with penises plastered to the walls. Absurd?

Yes, it is absurd. But don't worry. Upon a trip to my house, you will not see gargantuan cocks displayed on my garage walls. I have too much respect for humanity for that. Sometimes I wish I did not. Perhaps if we all woke up and saw men displayed as we now display women, people would wake up to how absurd it all really is.

Hillary for Vice President!

I am so sick and tired of hearing all sorts of names floated about for vice president other than Hillary Clinton's. I am also beyond tired of how many bloggers and pundits take it upon themselves to rip into Hillary as they lift someone else up as a "better" choice. There were only two real choices: Barack and Hillary, both splitting the democrat vote nearly in two. If we can't have him, we want her. If we can't have her, we want him. What does that tell you? Put them both on the ticket.

Not too long ago, I heard Gephardt thrown around as a good vice presidential candidate. I think it was in my latest Newsweek and they said that Gephardt appeals to the blue collar workers who wanted Hillary and not Obama. Okay,..... sooooooo, why not Hillary instead of Gephardt? Do you get how absurd that is? He could go with Gephardt because he appeals to the people who want Hillary? Go with Hillary.

Then, I have heard countless bloggers and pundits talk about Wesley Clark... and I hear, "and he is a Clinton supporter. That will make Clinton supporters happy." Um, how about Obama pick Hillary if he wants to make Hillary supporters happy!?!

If she does not want it, fine. But if she wants it, it should be hers. She earned at least the vice presidency. 18 million voters picked her over Barack Obama. I will vote for Barack Obama, but as Hillary gets discussed as a candidate less and less, I find myself getting frustrated all over again. Yeah, you Obama-ites, I'm still sore. Its hard to get over feeling robbed, especially when she gets slighted even for sloppy seconds as well.

And the debate is getting framed as we speak. Everywhere I read, I hear "Obama" and "inexperience" side by side. McCain deftly (the bastard) in the June 16th Newsweek interview: "How to Beat a Rock Star: 'Substance'"made his rhetorical strategy clear. McCain=Right Change; Obama=Wrong Change. He went on to frame the argument as substance vs. eloquence.

I think Obama would make a swell president, but I fear the only person who can beat McCain is Clinton, which is why begging her to be Veep is important.

Write it down, dear readers, so in November, if we lose the presidency yet again to a maniacal Republican, I can at least think to myself through tears, "I told you all so. You should have picked Hillary!

Self Pity and the Image She Wants

So, I thought I would just write from the hip... an overweight hip as it were. Actually, its not my hips that are overweight, but my stomach. Anyway, my tangent for today is that I have been running a tad over 3 miles each day for 3 solid months. Anyone who runs and anyone with kids knows this is no easy feat. Time is an issue, my motivation is an issue, etc. But, still, I trudge out everyday, rain or shine.

I have been running for two reasons... one, I want to be more healthy, and two, I want to be much thinner. Much, Much thinner. Dieting did not work, so I figured I need to get my ass moving. However, my running has not been working either, much to my dismay and shock.

I went to the doctor yesterday because I know people who walk around the block once or twice and lose 10 pounds, so I figured I should talk to my physician. Secretly, I hoped I would get on and see some movement. Something. Nope. Its been 6 weeks since I weighed myself last, and the scale had not budged one single pound. The only change I know created by running is that my legs are harder and leaner and I am no longer one of the most constipated people on the planet. But any sveldt,  slim image staring back at me from any reflections? Nope. Nada. Still the ever pudgy me. Depressing.

My doctor did order blood drawn for possible thyroid problems, but his other explanation upon me asking, "Doesn't this shock you... with me running 3 miles a day," was quite disheartening. He retorted, "Not for a woman. Its just plain impossible for many women to lose weight." 

Sigh. Heavy, long, large, sigh. 

What do I think of Sex and the City?

So, for any of you who have been at my husband's and my Cinema Squared site, you have read how much I love Sex and the City the television series and how much the movie let me down. Moreover, you read a cryptic one liner about the "issues" I have with Sex and the City as a whole. I told you... it was complicated.

Let me elaborate.

Before SATC aired in 1998, there was very little on television for women, about women. There was certainly nothing like it when it came to female friendships and female sexuality. On television and in movies, women were sex objects and the butt of sexual jokes and conquests, but rarely if ever did we get to see women discuss sex and make men their own sexual playthings. That all changed with SATC. Suddenly, we had 30 minutes every week devoted entirely to what these particular women were thinking, feeling, and wanting.

Now the complications... often what these women wanted was defined as what men wanted. Ariel Levy astutely points out in her book Female Chauvinist Pigs that Carrie, "usually 'couldn't help but wonder' what was going on in the head of the man she was seeing, and rarely evaluated her own happiness as such." She refers to one specific episode when Carrie says, "I actually catch myself posing... (around her love interest)... its so exhausting." Even though Levy is completely right here, that the women are too often defined or happy by what men think and want, I admire that the show illuminated what many women find themselves agonizing over. To be blunt, I realize it's bogus bullshit to define my worth through male gaze, but yet, Carrie's admission is honest. I, too, have exhausted myself "posing" and wondering what I look like in various forms and acts throughtout a day. I think SATC empowered women by allowing them to see the nonsense they perpetuate.

Another issue for Levy, and one I agree can be problematic--and it's far more problematic in the movie version--is the commodification of women and stuff in general. Sex and the City definitely affords women power through material goods. They acquire happiness and attention not through their thoughts and relationships sometimes as much as through shoes, labels, bags, etc. This is the conundrum that is current womanhood. The only access to power in our current culture is through sex object (either as sex barbie or as designer model) and in our zeal to assauge some sort of keys to the throne for ourselves, we have jumped in bed with our own worst enemy... the unachievable, perfect, materialistic Mattel doll.

Levy's point that SATC blurs the lines of what is male and what is female by assigning the females terms of maleness, especially Samantha who "fucks like a man,' complicates matters. To seize power, the women have to be seen more like a man, and even more problematic is that if we, women, use sex as a tool to access power, we ultimately lose power, for sex is precisely what perpetuates male authority and entitlement. The sex we use is at the hands of the men who make it a commodity. They ultimately decide if its "worth having."

For all the problems that I could analyze in SATC, ultimately I keep coming back to one, very important positive that allows it to remain one of my all time favorite shows. Its about women. Its about women who are not so perfect. Its about women who make mistakes, women who focus on the wrong things sometimes, and its about women who all too often mirror what they think men would want them to be... BUT and its a huge, but, ladies and gentlemen, these women are real and they try to come to terms with why they want what they want. They represent women out there who are good, honest, and deserve to have their voices heard. Sure, they make mistakes and they are not the most pioneering of feminists, but they give value and voice to distinct women who search for love and have real lasting, true friendships with other women. I, frankly, had and still have not since, seen a show which has been about and for women in this way.

So, that is my "complicated" response. Ultimately, I just want stories about women. The women do not have to be feminist cookie cut-outs (although that would be cool, too) ... I just want to see decent, honest, "real" women on screen, in my home and at the cinema.

For Father's Day...

First, before I post anymore  "downer" father-daughter poems, let me say that many fathers are absolutely wonderful. My step-father is a very good man. Interestingly and fortunately, there seems to be a trend in which more and more fathers are attentive, loving, and completely invested in their children's happiness. My ex- husband is a wonderful father. My current husband is a wonderful father. My children are lucky. Many children are not so lucky.

On a day when we honor fathers and everything becomes goodness and light; golf balls and BBQs, let me share more poetry which echo some other people's truths.

The Pact

She squirms

She cries out

No one hears

As he crams his anger into the vessel that has to listen

She rips

She bleeds

He is relieved

Tears plead

As the last seed is pumped 

Into his daughter's body

The pain once knotted in his chest gone--gone

He has forgotten the pact

The one from the beginning

The one where he swore to protect his little girl

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Daddy's Girl

Her customer slides off his pants

Change dances in his pockets

As she reaches behind to unclasp her bra

Her cheeks no longer flush crimson

As her garments fall

Exposing young breasts

"So anything goes for $50, huh?"

"Anything"

Arms motion her to him

And he tugs off her underwear

Her father briefly looms before her

His lips, his tongue, his fingers, his hands

Wincing at his touch

She crams her eyes shut--blots him from thoughts

As she violently thrusts her hips to meet his

Grinding hips and tightening vaginal muscles

Will bring    it    closer

Familiar grunts emerge and signal    it

the beginning    of the end

Using her head for leverage 

His hands pull and tangle her hair

Faster, he jams and pounds

Crushing her chest

Tearing her pinkness

Finally he ends

But with the end, there  is beginning

And her father is always waiting

Waiting for his girl 

Triggering some old poems...

Stella, a bright, quick, wonderful woman with whom I am becoming fast friends, quoted Shirley Chisholm today on Utah Savage's blog: 

The emotional, sexual, and psychological stereotyping of females begins when the doctor says, "It's a girl."

This quote reminded me of a poem I once wrote, and I wanted to share it with my new friend but also anyone else who might frequent the site.  

The Birth

The warm, comforting nest is forever lost

The baby is expelled

This innocence is smacked with life

What will she become?

What will her life hold?

The parents smile as they cradle their child

Perhaps they wear masks

Perhaps her gender is a disappointment

The mother secretly promises herself--

     next time I'll give him a son

As the father thinks of protecting his little angel

Why Women Can Be Superior to Men...

Not that very long ago, on a trip to a blogging friend Mad Mike's site, I spotted an interestingly silly, infuriating, but funny 'top ten' list: "Why Airplanes Can be Superior to Women." I told Mike that when "I get my new blog off the ground" that I would retaliate with a "Why Women Can be Superior to Men." So... I am now officially taking reader suggestions and will craft a list of reasons women are superior the moment I have enough winners.

I could start us off with one: Women are superior because they do not need pornography to get themselves off.

As good a time as any...

Hello, readers...

I was waiting to begin until I could find the right way to start, to find the right words, to light a fire under us. But while I waited, time kept marching past me. So, here I am, starting this blog, now is as good a time as any I suppose. 

I wanted to start this blog because I am sick of feeling alone with my feelings about sexism and gender constructions. There are a few people, and by few I mean one handful, of people who seem to "get" me. Others look at me like I am an alien or shit on the bottom of their shoe. It seems daily a read or see something which infuriates and makes me feel even more alone.

I have been quite down the last few months during this democratic primary season, watching as so called democrats did all they could to trash Hillary Clinton in favor of the golden boy, Obama. Endless nights, I scratched my head. I could not understand why on earth no one saw what was so seemingly obvious to me: Although a wonderful candidate with gobs of potential, a candidate I would love to see learn and get more experience and become our first African American President,  Barack Obama was no where near as qualified as Hillary Clinton. My bleeding liberal heart would love to see two African American girls playing on the White House Lawn, and same heart would love to strike a dagger into the racism that still exists in this country,  but not this year, not this time. 

It has angered, frustrated, and pained me to watch Hillary vilified and be the butt of sexist jokes and prejudices, yet at the same time, countless pundits, bloggers, entertainers all took it upon themselves to talk about how its worse for African Americans  and that they are the only ones victim of the 'glass ceiling." How sexist constructions and sexism could pollute a candidate's chances (remember the "she's cryingggg" when she never did?) and then everyone ignore the elephant in the room is beyond me. The only African American who has it worse than women, is African American women. This election proves it. No matter how racist our country still is, its constituents would rather be for a black man than the more experienced, more qualified female. Because as I have always argued, our society views man as better than woman, period. Of course, black men do have it harder than white men, but all men still enjoy luxuries women are not afforded.

Everything in our society boils down to gendered constructions. What is seen as masculine is valued and that which is seen as feminine is not.  Race, class, religion swill and shift these constructions, but nothing holds fast in dictating power as gender does.

For everyone who reads this entry, I am sure I will have a long way to go before I persuade any of you of anything because for some reason, gendered divisions seem to be the last fortress. Most of us admit to racism or a handful of other "isms," but sexism is one that people continue to roll their eyes at even a they continue to degrade and objectify women in so many forms which will be denoted in upcoming posts.

Sexism is one that most do not want to admit to or change. I am not entirely sure why, but I hope this blog and the voices who contribute to it help me (us) discover why, and more importantly, strive for a way to change it. Then, maybe the most qualified candidate will win, no matter his/her gender.