The Political Voices of Women

The most powerful woman in US politics for the past two years, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi is a woman unafraid.

After becoming one of the most vilified women in history since Eve and demonized, even by members of her own party, during the 2010 midterm elections, Nancy Pelosi has announced that she will be running for the position of House Minority Leader. And whether you do or don’t like her style or agree with her political stances, women everywhere should applaud her courage and strength of conviction.

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi is not one to run from her accomplishments or it seems, a good political fight. In her letter to house Democrats she wrote:

Dear Democratic Colleague:

Over the past several days, I have spoken with many Democratic colleagues about how to continue our fight to make our country more secure and strengthen the middle class, create jobs, protect Social Security and Medicare, and promote the innovation, technology and education to make America Number One in the world. As always, I am inspired by the fighting spirit of our Democratic Members.

As you know, Democrats have produced historic legislation in the area of health care, veterans’ benefits, women’s rights, Wall Street reform, and cutting taxes for 95 percent of the American people and millions of small businesses. And we have restored fiscal discipline to the Congress by making the deficit-cutting Pay As You Go rules the law of the land.

These accomplishments have begun the difficult work of recovering from the worst economic collapse since the 1930s and, according to independent reviews, prevented our country from plunging into another Great Depression. As a result, numerous congressional experts call this the most productive Congress in a half-century. This was only possible because our members had the courage of their convictions and put the interests of the country first.

Our work is far from finished. As a result of Tuesday’s election, the role of Democrats in the 112th Congress will change, but our commitment to serving the American people will not. We have no intention of allowing our great achievements to be rolled back. It is my hope that we can work in a bipartisan way to create jobs and strengthen the middle class.

Many of our colleagues have called with their recommendations on how to continue our fight for the middle class and have encouraged me to run for House Democratic Leader. Based on those discussions, and driven by the urgency of protecting health care reform, Wall Street reform, and Social Security and Medicare, I have decided to run.

I am writing to respectfully request your support and I look forward to hearing your views. Please let me know what you are thinking.

Thank you for your leadership and friendship.

Best wishes,

Nancy Pelos

As Russell Berman and Michael O’Brien reported for the blog The Hill:

“Though deeply unpopular with the broader public, Pelosi remains well-regarded in a caucus that will lean more liberal after the more conservative Blue Dog Coalition was decimated in the midterms.

Outside liberal groups are already organizing support for Pelosi. Americans United for Change launched an email campaign on Friday encouraging supporters to “send a personal note to Speaker Pelosi about how much you appreciate her leadership,” and to “make sure she knows that we still support her.”

The liberal website Daily Kos started a similar online petition.

‘Democrats lost because they didn’t fight hard enough for popular progressive reforms in the last two years. The Democratic leader least culpable of doing that is Nancy Pelosi,’ the co-founder of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, Adam Green, said in an interview before Pelosi’s announcement. ‘She’s the last person among Democratic Party leaders who should step down.’

After the Pelosi tweet, Green called her decision ‘the first bold move we’ve seen from Democrats since the election.‘”

And as Political Voices of Women Contributing Editor, Jill Miller Zimon wrote on her blog “Writes Like She Talks“:

“There is a serious backlash about to be felt if those on the Hill do not realize that with women barely making gains, if any, at the federal level, and losing at the state legislatures, women will dig in and retrench and be back. And those who are already in positions that can be leveraged for leadership are seeking and should be expected to seek more and more visible roles to show that we don’t fade.”

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Nancy Pelosi has clearly demonstrated that she is not about to fade. After all, someone has to fight off all of those mama grizzlies

If you were raised in the United States, you can probably recall the PSA with the image of an egg frying and the saying, “This is your brain on drugs”. Well the current political climate in America indicates that our collective brain is well on its way to being just as fried.

In an article for Alternet, Tammy Ganeva outlined the, “10 of the Most Obscenely Stupid Right-Wing Conspiracy Theories and Attacks Against the President.”

Janet Shan of The Hinterland Gazette posted a story, “Capt Connie Rhodes Files Lawsuit to Fight Deployment to Afghanistan, Disputes the Legitimacy of Barack Obama’s Presidency.”

Stacy Morrow posted a story for MSNBC informing us that the Arlington Independent School District which passed on showing President Obama’s address to school children plans to bus (yes, bus) some of those children to Texas Stadium on September 21st to hear former President George W. Bush.

What do these stories have in common?

They are all describing the insanity that has gripped this country. A form of mental illness so severe that it prompted Rep. Congressman Joe Wilson (SC) to shout “You Lie” at President Obama during the latter’s address to Congress.

Friends this isn’t Sparta, this is madness

Like an addict hooked on crack, it seems that a large portion of American society is hooked on fear. And now that fear is turning to disrespect, race baiting and worst of all, religious zealotry that twists the gospel of Jesus Christ from a message of love into a sermon of hate.

What bible is this man reading? Certainly not the same one that I am because in my bible Matthew 22:36-40 reads:

³⁶“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” ³⁷Jesus replied: ” ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ ³⁸This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ⁴⁰All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Pastor Steven Anderson needs to rethink his religion. A lot of people do.

We also need to rethink our political conversation. Yes, the blogosphere has had a lot of fun pointing out the hypocrisy and absurdities coming from both of the major political camps. In fact, some blogs/bloggers have become famous and infamous for their flaming conversations. But is this really who we want to be as a society?

It would be easy to say that this is all the result of the American public having had their fears manipulated for the past 8 years. I’m sure that eight years of: environmentalists being portrayed as kooks; war veterans being portrayed as cowards; twisted stories about weapons of mass destruction; politically timed and motivated terror alerts; anti-war dissent being labeled as of being un-American; the suspension of habeas corpus; mass wire-tapping by the telecoms; et. al. had their effect. But I suspect that the current outpouring of venom is something that has always been hidden in the dark recesses of our national soul like some dormant parasite just waiting to be fed.

In the months ahead, health care reform may or may not pass. The economy may continue to improve or it may worsen. And political candidates may or may not be re-elected. But many of the words of hate spoken over the past months will be remembered for a very long time.

America, this is our brain on fear. Consider this an intervention. Now get help!

Related links:

Tell Congressman Joe WIlson to apologize for disrsepecting the President during his address to Congress.

Sign the Credo mobile petition urging the FBI and Secret Service to do all that they can to protect the President.

crossposted on Pam’s Coffee Conversation

This is very sad news…

From Reuters – Senator Edward Kennedy Dies at 77…

U.S. Senator Edward Kennedy, a towering figure in the Democratic Party who took the helm of one of America’s most fabled political families after two older brothers were assassinated, has died at age 77, his family said on Wednesday.

Dear friends,

It’s a sad irony that while the President and First Lady are taking their two young daughters on the trip of a lifetime, other African-American parents had to explain to their children why a group of White parents didn’t want them to swim with their children.

In July of 2002 the Ad Council and the Freedom Center launched “the Racial Cooperation campaign” which was designed to inspire Americans to speak out against incidences of discrimination and do their part to promote racial equality. You’ve probably seen at least one of the PSAs which all end with the line, “imagine the power of one voice.” However, one of those PSAs quickly comes to mind.

Imagine this scene:

A white mom comes to a public playground with her young daughter and they take a seat on a bench. The young girl quickly spots who good friend and classmate, a young African-American girl who is playing with other children on a jungle-jim set. The young African-American girl invites her friend to come play and the young white girl starts off to join in the fun. However, before the young white girl can get off the bench her mom sees another group of children (all white) playing in another area, points to that group then says to her daughter, “Why don’t you go play with those children”. The little girl asks her mom, “Why?” The mom is silent. The PSA ends with the voice-over, “imagine the power of one voice.”

By now you know that two weeks ago outside Philadelphia, sixty-five children from a summer camp were rudely turned away from a private pool that they had contracted to use.

When the campers entered the pool, White parents took their kids out of the water, and the swimming club’s staff asked the campers to leave. The next day, the club told the summer camp that their membership would be canceled and that they would refund their money. When asked why, the club’s leader said the “kids would change the complexion … and the atmosphere of the club.”

I wonder if any of those white children asked their parents, “Why?” I know that the young black children. many with tears streaming down their faces, asked theirs.

I’ve just joined ColorOfChange.org in doing exactly that — will you join me, and email your friends and family asking them to do the same? We’re also calling on the Department of Justice to evaluate suing the facility under federal law. It takes just a moment to do both, here:

http://www.colorofchange.org/swim/?id=2378-624169

We all know stories like this one — similar incidents play out quietly every day in different communities across the country. The difference in this case is that folks got caught and there was a contract in place that makes for a potentially illegal act.

Standing up now isn’t just about making things right for these kids in Philadelphia or bringing consequences to this swim club (called the Valley Swim Club). It’s about creating a climate of accountability everywhere. If we can publicly shame the Valley Swim Club and hold them accountable for this incident, it will make others think twice before engaging in this kind of discrimination.

Please join me in condemning the Valley Swim Club’s blatant discrimination and calling on the Justice Department to investigate whether they violated civil rights laws. And please ask your friends and family to do the same.

http://www.colorofchange.org/swim/?id=2378-624169

And after the protests, the investigations and the legal actions, I hope that this incident will encourage EVERY parent to consider investing their time, energy and, if they have it, money into their community recreation center & public or private pools so that NO child ever has to experience what these children have.

ALL children should have a safe, clean, fun, well supervised place to play. And there are enough racially enlightened residents and businesses in Philadelphia and the surrounding area to make this happen.

Sadly there may always be bigots among us, it is up to us how we choose to respond to their ignorance.

Surely, this will be a summer that all of those children will remember.

Here are some links to more info:

“Pool Boots Kids Who Might ‘Change the Complexion,’” NBC Philadelphia, 07-08-09
http://bit.ly/90Zyr

“60 Black Kids Booted from Philly Pool For Being Black — Speak Out,” Jill Tubman at Jack and Jill Politics, 07-08-09
http://bit.ly/GkJTs

Camper’s Complexion No Problem for New Pool , NBC10, July 9

Video: President Barack Obama Sworn Into Office

Republican Corruption: Sen. Ted Stevens Found Guilty on 7 Counts

From USA Today…

Sen. Ted Stevens was found guilty Monday on seven counts of concealing more than $250,000 in gifts from wealthy friends — becoming the fifth U.S. senator ever to be convicted of a crime.

The verdict comes about a week before Alaska’s voters will decide whether to re-elect the Republican senator to an eighth term and at a time when his party is fighting to stem its losses in a tough year.

How does this conviction affect the McCain/Palin campaign? Isn’t it a little odd that Sen. Stevens can still be elected to the Senate, but as a convicted felon, he can’t vote? Let me know what you think in comments.

You can follow Jill on this historic speech at her blog Writes Like She Talks.

Link:  Barack Obama’s “Closing Arguments” Speech

SEE FULL VIDEO OF THIS OBAMA SPEECH HERE

Legislative Panel:  Palin Abused Authority

A legislative committee investigating Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has found she unlawfully abused her authority in firing the state’s public safety commissioner.

The investigative report concludes that a family grudge wasn’t the sole reason for firing Public Safety Commissioner Walter Monegan but says it likely was a contributing factor.

The Republican vice presidential nominee has been accused of firing a commissioner to settle a family dispute. Palin supporters have called the investigation politically motivated.

Just in case you missed it…Here is the full video of tonight’s Presidential Debate. Did you watch the debate? What did you think? Who won? Did you learn anything new? Let me know in comments.

I think John McCain may have just lost Florida, and therefore the election.  How?  Not only is John McCain’s healtcare plan a dud for most Americans.  Especially, anyone with a pre-existing medical condition (ie: asthma, high blood pressure, cancer, diabetes).  But, McCain will cut Medicare to fund his (so called) Healthcare Plan?  Yes.  McCain is planning to cut $1.3 Trillion dollars over 10 years from Medicare, to fund his healthcare plan.  Is this some kind of joke?  No.

From The Wall Street Journal…

In the months since Sen. McCain introduced his health plan, statements made by his campaign have implied that the new tax credits he is proposing to help Americans buy health insurance would be paid for with other tax increases.

But Douglas Holtz-Eakin, Sen. McCain’s senior policy adviser, said Sunday that the campaign has always planned to fund the tax credits, in part, with savings from Medicare and Medicaid. Those government health-care programs serve seniors, poor families and the disabled.

McSame to Cut Medicare to Pay for His Terrible Health Care Plan

Guess how J. Sid McSame intends to fund his terrible health plan that taxes employer based health care coverage and gives insufficient tax credit to employees to struggle finding health care insurance on their own?

He plans to make big cuts in Medicare!

Yesiree, multimillionaire J. Sid McSame, who has had government paid health care coverage his whole life and collects Social Security which he called a disaster, and US Navy disability checks, wants to cut your Medicare benefits! How’s that for robbing Peter to pay Paul!

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