The Political Voices of Women

Watch as Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice and Defense Secretary Robert Gates dance around the truth about the consequences for Russia’s actions in the Russia-Georgia conflict.

Try not to laugh

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url: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li25wM6JTUkI give everyone of those journalists credit for maintaining a poker face during those interviews. However, don’t you wonder what was going on off-camera?

Now with a straight face, explain to me how Russia’s international reputation is any worse than that of the United States after the Iraq WMD debacle. If, as Secretary Gates states, “the world is looking at Russia through a different set of lenses”, just imagine the magnifying lens they’re using to look at the US.

As for the impact on Russia’s reputation referred to by Secretary Rice, apparently no one in the Bush Administration saw this 2007 interview with Garry Kasparov. I sure did.

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url: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Z9g7jN3Kso

A little earlier today, Reuters correspondent Oleg Shchedrov reported the following on the Russia-Georgia conflict:

“Washington demanded on Friday that Russia pull its troops out of Georgia ‘now,’ but Moscow said it would be another 10 days before the bulk of its force left Georgian soil.

In a sign of growing tension between Moscow and the West over the conflict in Georgia, a Russian news agency reported that Russia had temporarily frozen cooperation with the NATO alliance, though there was no immediate confirmation.

In some of Washington’s toughest comments to date, the White House declared Russia in violation of its commitments to leave the territory of Georgia after routing Georgian forces in a war that erupted two weeks ago.

White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said he could not imagine a circumstance in which the United States would engage in military-to-military cooperation with Moscow until the Georgia situation was resolved.

U.S. impatience has been growing by the day as it waits for a full-scale pullout of troops and weaponry that Russia sent into its small Caucasus neighbor two weeks ago to counter a Georgian attack on the Moscow-backed South Ossetia region.

A Reuters reporter saw a column of T-72 main battle tanks lumbering across the border from Russia into Georgia — the first sign of heavy armor being withdrawn from Georgian soil — but elsewhere Russian forces remained in place.

As Charles Amico noted in his blog, “We The People”:

“So the Bush Administration has overplayed its hand again and has been blowing smoke at Russia in the form of bellicose language expected to threaten the Russians. Do you really believe this tactic will work? If you do, wake up.”

Related posts:

The New Old Russia

Obama Wraps Up Tour of Mid East and Europe - by Heather Holdridge at The Care2 Election Blog

Senator Barack Obama made his way home Saturday night after a long trip throughout the Middle East and Europe. During his visit, he went to Kuwait, Afghanistan, Iraq, Jordan, Israel, Germany, France and the United Kingdom. Upon returning, he was met with criticisms from Senator John McCain for basically neglecting his own people by paying too much attention to the world audience. But polls show that Obama’s Europe trip may have given him a boost:

Democrat Obama’s apparent advantage over Republican John McCain in national polling has “stretched” to seven percentage points, according to the latest results of the Gallup daily tracking poll - a survey taken at the height of Obama’s widely watched march across Europe, days in which he polled strongly against McCain.

It’s funny that McCain basically challenged Obama to make a trip to Iraq before this trip happened, and once it did, McCain started calling Obama out on it. In a radio address Saturday, McCain said, “With all the breathless coverage from abroad, and with Senator Obama now addressing his speeches to the people of the world, I’m starting to feel a little left out. Maybe you are too.” Obama responded with, “The reason that I thought this trip was important is that I am convinced that many issues that we face at home are not going to be solved as effectively unless we have strong partners abroad.”

Then, after all the hubub from the McCain campaign, the Senator tells Wolf Blitzer that a 16 month timetable in Iraq is “a pretty good timetable.” Huh? From Daily Kos…

Read full post at The Care2 Election Blog

Here is the full video of Barack Obama’s speech in Berlin…

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Obama’s Berlin Speech Appears To Resonate With Crowd…

Tens of thousands of Germans, along with some resident Americans, filled Berlin’s Tiergarten park to hear Barack Obama talk about the U.S., Europe and their shared visions and challenges. It was a remarkable turnout for the lazy days of late July, when most Germans are more focused on summer vacations than foreign politics.

The audience repeatedly interrupted his speech with applause and cheers, and erupted in chants of “Yes, we can!”

A lot of Europeans are hoping Obama will give them a reason to love America again.

“I expect Obama to be a president who makes it possible to be proud of being a fan of the USA,” said Gerda Schulz, a 72-year-old retiree. Schulz has watched historic speeches here by a string of American presidents — John F. Kennedy in 1963, Ronald Reagan in 1987 and Bill Clinton in 1994 — and on Thursday added the Democratic presidential contender to the list.

Did you hear Barack Obama’s speech? What did you think?

How much worse could the mortgage crisis get? The failure of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac could create a mortgage and banking disaster, so they will now be getting a government bailout.

McCain Flip-Flops on Offshore Oil Drilling - by Catherine Morgan 

John McCain is using our sky-high gas prices to justify his flip-flopping on the issue of offshore oil drilling. I mentioned this yesterday in a post, and questioned why the MSM didn’t seem to notice. Today, they have noticed.

However, there is no evidence that allowing more offshore drilling will help in reducing the price of gas in the near future (as McCain is suggesting), or even the far future. But, I guess the McCain campaign is hoping you will be fooled, and vote for McCain in the hopes of lower gas prices.

Here is an interesting clip from The Late Edition With Wolf Blitzer…

SEE VIDEO AND READ FULL POST AT THE CARE2 ELECTION BLOG

Afghan Prison Break - Taliban Fighters Taking Control — by Catherine Morgan (cross posted at The Care2 Election Blog)

Have you heard about the prison break by Taliban rebels in Afghanistan on Friday? You might not have, it’s not getting very much coverage in the MSM. However, as the days have gone by, this situation has escalated. Here are some video and news clips, as well as blogger reaction to this news.The first report I heard about this prison break was this 1 1/2 minute piece of coverage…

What do you think? How big of a problem is this prison break? How big of a problem is the Taliban in Afghanistan? Has the war in Iraq hurt the war on terrorism?

READ FULL POST AND SEE ALL THE VIDEO CLIPS AT THE CARE2 ELECTION BLOG–

Roundup: McCain and Obama on the Iraq War — by Catherine Morgan (cross posted at The Care2 Election Blog)

Today’s political blog roundup will take a look at the Obama and McCain positions on the Iraq war. We will start with this video clip by Keith Olbemann.

Keith Olbermann really gives the context, with a comprehensive look at McCain’s views on the war and why he has been wrong. Keith Olbermann’s Special Comments on John McCain’s Views on Iraq…

The Nation: Obama, McCain & Iraq…

It’s a tradition in American presidential politics that once the primaries are over, both the Democratic and Republican candidates move to the center in search of that all-important centrist swing voter. Let’s hope that this year, at least, Barack Obama resists that impulse when it comes to what is likely to be one of the most contentious issues in this fall’s campaign: Iraq.

In fact, we need to do more than hope. Progressives, antiwar activists and, yes, even swing voters–who long ago realized that Iraq is what Obama, in 2002, called a “dumb war”–should demand that the senator from Illinois draw as stark a contrast as possible between himself and John McCain over Iraq.

READ FULL POST AT THE CARE2 ELECTION BLOG

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Are The World’s Women Part of the Political Agenda?

Watch Anika’s video, read what our party activists have to say and then log in to comment with your own thoughts and questions. Our participants will respond! Invite your friends and colleagues.

Introduction - Part One

On Tuesday, June 3, join RH Reality Check and Americans for UNFPA for an online forum on global women’s health in American politics.

Our forum begins with a video statement from Anika Rahman (below), President of Americans for UNFPA, and the insights of Democratic and Republican activists about their parties’ treatment of women’s issues. From 1pm to 4pm ET, Anika Rahman will be watching the comments section to follow the discussion and respond to your ideas on how to prioritize women’s health internationally.

Introduction - Part Two



Today, we have the insights of Darlee Crockett into the Republican Party and its recent struggles over women’s health and rights. Next week, we’ll hear from former Congresswoman Pat Schroeder on the Democratic Party and its struggles. Please feel free to share your thoughts on both parties in your comments.Darlee Crockett, national chair of Planned Parenthood Republicans for Choice, responds…

(read full post at RH Reality Check)

JOIN THE CONVERSATION TODAY — Respond to Anika and Darlee in the comments below, and Anika will answer your questions and engage your ideas from 1pm to 4pm EST on Tuesday, June 3. — Go to HR Reality Check to join the conversation.

Here is a guest post by Pamela Lyn at Pam’s Coffee Conversation.

(If you would like to be a guest blogger on this site, please join our community)

As Daniel J Weiss reported in his article “Up, Up and Away” the escalating oil prices in America can be attributed to a number of factors.

He writes:

Analysts suggest that there are five primary factors contributing to the year-long rise in crude oil prices:

• the low value of the dollar,
• increased demand from China and India,
• dwindling supplies,
• political instability in some oil producing nations, and
• an assumption from speculators that prices will continue to rise.”

I’d also add to the analyst’s list:

• the lack of a government energy policy that benefits the consumer not just the oil industry
• a failure on the part of the oil industry to reinvest its profits into the development of alternative energy
• corporate greed and collusion, and
• a failure to be honest with the American consumer

The truth that most politicians don’t want to tell you is this:

• the low value of the dollar is tied to the sub-prime mortgage and credit crisis as well as the US trade deficit.
• demand from China, India and other developing nations will continue to increase and there’s nothing that the US government can do about that
• It took millions of years to create the fossil fuel that it has taken the world a little over a hundred years to consume. There is a limited quantity left in the world and when it’s gone, it’s gone. So running the risk of destroying pristine wilderness or coastline for centuries will only buy consumers another decade or two of oil.
• the US should not ( and cannot ) intervene in the political affairs of every oil producing nation just because we need their oil and,
• in a generation whose mantra is “greed is good”, there will always be speculators.

In short, oil prices will continue to go up. As long as Americans are addicted to oil they’ll do anything to get their fix and the Oil pushers will bank the profits while they can. Have you heard the phrase “Get It While the Getting Is Good”.

It’s Time for An Intervention

There is an answer to the problem of high oil prices. It’s called adjusting our lifestyles as we switch to alternative energy solutions. Think of it as a form of detox and rehab that involves a serious commitment and a lot of discomfort. But that’s not the answer that most people want to hear. And, it’s not an answer that will get most politicians re-elected.

Republicans like Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) want to convince you that the US oil crisis and consumers’ discomfort will be eased by allowing drilling in the Artic Natural Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) or along the California and Florida coastlines (S.2958). In fact, Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AL) argued before Congress today that drilling in ANWR is reasonable, environmentally feasible, and will correct the “supply and demand” imbalance that is driving up oil prices. Iaf you buy that argument then you probably still believe that the Iraq oil revenues are paying for the US invasion of Iraq. You are in denial.

At a recent campaign rally Sen. McCain expressed support for drilling for oil domestically, as long as states allow it, and also pushed development of solar, wind, tidal, and nuclear power.

On the other side of the aisle, the Democrats (and even Republican presidential candidate, John McCain) are suggesting that the government stop adding to the US strategic petroleum reserve. Senator Hillary Clinton has proposed a “gas tax holiday”. These two are short term solutions that are beginning to remind me of giving morphine to a dying patient to ease the pain.

Don’t get me wrong, I am as financially affected by rising gasoline prices as the vast majority of American consumers. Any idea that will help give me a break at pump, the supermarket, anything that is shipped and on utilities will be welcome but haven’t we learned from the credit crisis that the party now and pay later concept just doesn’t work.

American consumers need an intervention. They need politicians, journalists, scientists and environmentalist who are willing to speak the truth. Americans need to be told that the pain that they are experiencing today is not going to get easier just by putting it off for a few years.

To borrow a phrase from Al Gore this is just one more “inconvenient truth”.

cross posted at Get The Facts and Get Involved

Here is a guest post by Penny Ronning from The Non Silent Majority.

As the silence against the violence women continue to experience during war remains just that, SILENT on the political front, a new film series looks to empower the collective voices of the women on the frontlines of these horrendous acts of war. I encourage all women to speak up for those that are powerless to speak for themselves. As women, let’s make silence on violence against women a top issue in this political year. Stand up, Speak up, Change the world!

News release from the UNFPA, UNIFEM and dev.tv:

NEW FILM SERIES TAKES ON CULTURE OF SILENCE ON VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

First Global Broadcast — Women on the Frontline — Presented by Annie Lennox
on BBC World, Tomorrow, 18 April 2008 at 1930 GMT

United Nations, Geneva, 17 April 2008 — This is an unfortunate anniversary.

Fourteen years ago, in April 1994, news got out that ethnic violence in Kigali was spreading throughout Rwanda. Since then, the world community has struggled to explain how the genocide of 800,000 people happened in full view, but less discussed is the ongoing impact of the rape and other forms of sexual violence committed against hundreds of thousands of women.

Violence against women is the theme of Women on the Frontline, a series of seven films being broadcast for the first time tomorrow Friday night by BBC World at 1930 GMT to about 300 million households to help peel away the silence surrounding the brutality of gender-based violence that crosses all borders.

“Violence against women threatens the lives of more young women than cancer, malaria or war,” said Annie Lennox, the British singer who presents the series of investigative reports. “It affects one in three women worldwide. It leaves women mentally scarred for life, and it is usually inflicted by a family member.”

Unfortunately, when it comes to war, the use of rape as a weapon continues.

Read more »