As Barack Obama continues to flounder, flip-flop and act like a fumbling fool on the issue of health care, Our Girl is doing what she always does: blooming where she’s planted. Aren’t you glad that SOMEONE in the Obama Administraiton is acting like a Democrat?!
Clinton’s just-concluded 11-day trip to Africa has sent the clearest signal yet that she intends to make women’s rights one of her signature issues and a higher priority than ever before in American diplomacy.
She plans to press governments on abuses of women’s rights and make women more central in U.S. aid programs.
But her efforts go beyond the marble halls of government and show how she is redefining the role of secretary of state. Her trips are packed with town hall meetings and visits to micro-credit projects and women’s dinners. Ever the politician, she is using her star power to boost women who could be her allies.
“It’s just a constant effort to elevate people who, in their societies, may not even be known by their own leaders,” Clinton said in an interview. “My coming gives them a platform, which then gives us the chance to try and change the priorities of the governments.”
(Haven’t had a good Hillary whine in a while. Ahhhhh, it felt good!)
Come on. Isn’t she magnificent? And can you imagine Barack Obama having the spine to stand up for women’s rights the way she does here?
One of the most ridiculous memes I heard from die-hard Obots in 2008 was that Hillary would sell out women’s reproductive rights down the river. Oh, as opposed to Mr. Dial-An-Evangelical currently occupying the Oval Office? The guy who threw away funding for birth control in order to “get 80 votes” for his budget, for which not one Republican voted anyway? The guy who thinks women get late-term abortions because they’re “feeling blue?” The dude who thinks women need to consult a committee before deciding what to do with their own bodies?
I have a question for those religious folks who feel they have the right to control my reproductive organs. If you believe God made us, then God put women in charge of either having, or not having, babies. If God trusted us, why don’t you?
In a post entitled “But Hillary Voted for the Warrrrrrrrr!“, I detailed the absurdity of the default Obot position that Barack Obama was somehow “superior” to Hillary Clinton regarding Iraq, simply because he had given a speech in 2002 stating that he was against the invasion.
Did any of the Obots even know Hillary Clinton’s plan to end the war in Iraq? Or did her scary ladyparts get in the way?
Here is the portion, found at the above link, that makes me especially sad today.
SUMMARY OF HILLARY CLINTON’S PLAN TO END THE IRAQ WAR
(Source: Hillary for President website)
If President Bush does not end the war, when Hillary Clinton is President, she will. Her three-step plan would bring our troops home, work to bring stability to the region, and replace military force with a new diplomatic initiative to engage countries around the world in securing Iraq’s future. Hillary has been fighting every day in the Senate to force the President to change course. And today she described how she would bring the war to an end.
Starting Phased Redeployment within Hillary’s First Days in Office: The most important part of Hillary’s plan is the first: to end our military engagement in Iraq’s civil war and immediately start bringing our troops home.
As President, one of Hillary’s first official actions would be to convene the Joint Chiefs of Staff, her Secretary of Defense, and her National Security Council.
She would direct them to draw up a clear, viable plan to bring our troops home starting with the first 60 days of her Administration.
She would also direct the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs to prepare a comprehensive plan to provide the highest quality health care and benefits to every service member — including every member of the National Guard and Reserves — and their families.
Well, Obots, it’s been more than 60 days since Obama was inaugurated. What’s he doing about Iraq? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Is the issue which provided the official excuse to excoriate Hillary Clinton on a daily basis no longer important to you?
Well, it’s the first day of the G20 Summit in Great Britain. My teevee this morning showed me a picture of Our Girl sitting right next to President Obama in one of his morning meetings. My suggestion to Barack?
Step 1: Replace your TelePrompTer with an earpiece.
Step 2: Have Hillary speak into it.
Step 3: Repeat everything she says.
My guess is, the press would find that you’d suddenly “recovered” your “natural speaking ability.” Cough! Cough!
As shown in the picture above, there are thousands of protesters who are just as mad as we are in America about the widening gap between rich and poor, and the horrible mess the global corporate overlords have made of their country. And French President Sarkozy is threatening to walk if they don’t do what he wants and start strictly regulating international transactions.
It’s happening – the promised awakening that resulted from the misogyny directed at both Hillary Clinton and Sarah Palin during the election of 2008. Women are realizing that they are a force to be reckoned with, and that their power lies in standing strong to support other women.
Just look at Barack Obama’s executive order, signed on March 11, which created a White House Council on Women and Girls. Many Presidents have had similar councils, including Presidents Clinton, Kennedy and Roosevelt. This council was not part of the President’s original plans; but womens’ groups have been lobbying him to make this happen for several months. And lo and behold, it did!
Do I think that a lot of good will be done by this council? I have to say, I’m not too optimistic, considering that the person who’s leading it is Valerie Jarrett, whose only qualifications appear to be her long friendship with the President. Putting her in charge is similar to putting Dick Cheney in charge of the White House Committee on Terrorism, which had not one single meeting prior to 9/11. And although WomenCount and other organizations wanted the Council to be a Cabinet-level organization, it isn’t.
But in a way, it really doesn’t matter. What is key here is that Obama felt pressured into doing something, even if it appears to be more of a token gesture at this point. And why? Because women are flexing their political muscles, and doesn’t it feel good?
Besides which, there is no telling what will happen once Ms. Jarrett gets in a room with other women. I believe that every woman has a deep, undeniable connection with every other woman, which our patriarchal society does its best to suppress. But let’s face it: when a woman looks at another woman, she KNOWS that woman. On a basic level, that woman has gone through the same things she has; has suffered and triumphed over the same things, whether they be physical or emotional: menstruation, which can be horrible for many women; first love; losing her virginity; facing up to sexism at home, at school, and at work. That awareness is in Valerie Jarrett, too; although it would have been much better if she had been a true believer like Eleanor Roosevelt, President Kennedy’s choice to head up his council, there is no telling what she could become. Continue reading →
Poor Barack Obama. He didn’t realize that New York governors don’t sell their Senate seats like Chicago governors, no matter how many rich and powerful people you marshal in your favorite’s defense.
But Paterson didn’t listen. He went with Hillary’s choice, Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand. It seems like he always meant what he said from the beginning – he would pick a woman, and a person who represents the more conservative upstate area of New York, which it is difficult for Democratic politicians to win over.
Governor Paterson had a conference call last night. In it, he stated he had made his choice on Sunday and would announce it on Friday. Given that information, isn’t it easy to understand why Caroline withdrew? There is a lot of speculation about possible tax problems, nanny problems and a high-profile affair with the editor of the New York Times. But honestly, it just seems as though he never wanted her, and told her so.
Political strategist Donna Brazile noted the contrast between the excitement surrounding Obama’s inauguration this week and the general public attitude toward women in office, one that she said helped drive Kennedy out of the running.
Um, Donna? Didja not notice that Kirsten Gillibrand is, like, you know, a woman? So clearly, the “general public attitude toward women in office” had absolutely jack SHIT to do with Caroline being kicked to the curb. Caroline Kennedy was not qualified, just as Obama wasn’t qualified. And New York politicians seem to take their responsibilities seriously, unlike their colleagues in Chicago.
I have no doubt that Kirsten Gillibrand, who is already a two-term Congresswoman, will be a great choice for the next New York Senator. And may I say, thanks SO MUCH to all the New York PUMAs who joined me in my efforts to convince the Governor to do the right thing, especially TPT/NY! You go, sister girl!
Meantime, for those keeping score in the new Obama administration: Hillary 1, Obama 0.
Caroline Kennedy has told Gov. David Paterson that she is withdrawing her name from consideration to replace outgoing Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton in the U.S. Senate, The Post has learned.
Kennedy cited “personal reasons,” according to sources.
Her stunning move comes as sources revealed that Paterson had intended to appoint her to the now-vacant seat today.
Really. He was going to appoint her and she withdrew for “personal reasons?”
Something is, um, a little off about that story. Don’t you think?
We still have a chance to make a difference. Call, write, email or fax the Governor’s office, and disseminate the open letter below as far and wide as possible.
Governor Paterson’s Contact Information:
To Write To The Governor: David A. Paterson
State Capitol
Albany, NY 12224
The person whom you appoint to Senator Clinton’s seat should have two qualities:
1) She should be a woman; and
2) Like Hillary, she should be ready and qualified on Day One.
Satisfying the first requirement should be quite simple. However, it is the need to satisfy both requirements that seems to be escaping your attention.
To a certain extent, we need gender affirmative action in government. As a group that makes up 51% of the country’s population, women are severely under-represented in Congress, at an abysmal 17%. When Senator Clinton becomes Secretary of State, that already inadequate percentage will dip to 16%.
But in the case of the next New York Senator, there is no need to appoint a person who has literally no Congressional experience whatsoever; a person who has apathetically declined to vote in several New York primaries; a person who, with her fawning, disingenuous attempts to pretend Barack Obama was ”a President like her father,” was instrumental in making sure that the highest, hardest glass ceiling was not shattered for women this year.
Yet that is what you may end up doing with Caroline Kennedy. And according to the Post story today, it is for no other reason than the Kennedy-Bloomberg money and connections she is promising you.
May I ask how this is ANY different than what Rod Blagojevich was arrested for doing? If you are unconcerned with the fate of your state, and only looking out for your own political future, then I say you are simply selling the Senate seat that Hillary Clinton worked so hard to earn, to the people with the deepest pockets and the most political influence. For shame, Governor Paterson!
Two outstanding Congresswomen, Carolyn Maloney and Kirsten Gillibrand, are more than ready and qualified on Day One. Should one of them be appointed, Ms. Kennedy could easily step into one of their seats and EARN her stripes as a New York Congresswoman before running for the Senate seat in 2010. Interestingly, Carolyn Maloney’s district is the same as Ms. Kennedy’s. It would be a seamless transition for both women, should you choose this path.
Honor the New Yorkers at whose pleasure you serve. Do not choose Caroline Kennedy as the next Senator from New York. Below are just a few of the many blog posts and articles stating that Caroline Kennedy would not be a good choice.
THE SCENE: DAVID AXELROD’S conference room. We are witnessing a meeting with the Obama team’s inside-iest insiders. Attending are AXELROD, DAVID PLOUFFE and VALERIE JARRETT. RAHM EMANUEL is attending via teleconference from Paraguay, where he is hiding out from Patrick Fitzgerald and his ongoing investigation. His face is shown on a screen on the far wall of the room. The other three participants are seated in cream leather executive chairs around the black granite table, which is polished to an immaculate sheen. The walls are sage green and covered with pictures of Obama looking beneficent and Presidential.
AXELROD (addressing the wall screen): Rahm, can you hear us? I know things are kinda primitive in Paraguay.
EMANUEL: Not where I am. Our man Barack has made everyone feel so post-partisan that George W. has been hosting me. (a Paraguayan houseboy, wearing a large nametag that reads “Hello, my name is Juan” brings him a tropical drink) Thanks, Miguel! (The houseboy leaves, rolling his eyes; EMANUEL sips his drink) Mmm…nothing like fresh mango.
JARRETT (sarcastically): Gosh, can I be the target of a federal investigation too?
PLOUFFE (looking around) Shhh! For god’s sake, Valerie, don’t jinx it! Everyone, make the sign of the “O”!
(The following ritualized actions are done with a precision that would put synchronized swimmers to shame.)
(ALL raise their arms and make an “O” sign with their hands)
AXELROD: Ahhhh, that’s better. It looks like we’re ready to start now.
(ALL put on their “serious” faces)
AXELROD: As you know, today was a big day for our President. Several of his appointments went to confirmation hearings, including…HER.
(ALL nod solemnly)
AXELROD: Now, none of us wanted HER, but thanks to those damn voters in the primary and those idiotic PUMAs, she had the leverage to elbow her way into the Cabinet. A moment of silence, please, for our brother John Kerry, who deserved the Secretary of State position so much more.
I do not have time to write about the Hillary Clinton confirmation hearings today, but if you would like to read some very entertaining and wonderful posts and live-blogging, please do visit The Confluence and check them all out. It’s all Hillary, all the time over there today – and with good reason.
I am so proud that I supported her during the primaries, and I am so proud that I never drank the Kool-Aid. And I am so, so happy for America that despite the fact that she will not be President, we will still have the benefit of her brilliance and compassion as Secretary of State.
I know that she will go far in repairing the damage that eight years of the Bush Doctrine have done to so many countries and so many people across the world.
Tomorrow, I will have a snarkier take. But today, the pleasure of seeing excellence at work cannot be sullied. Hillary Clinton is an Olympic athlete of politics; and today, she was one who took the gold without breaking a sweat.
