BlogHer - Comments

wow

kazari — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 04:30:43 -0500

Every time I read something new you've written, I'm blown away by what a gutsy woman you are.

I often think there are two ways to make a decision - agonise about it, then do it. Or do it, then agonise about it. I think from your other posts, that you are the sort of person that usually invests much time and energy into making choices, and making the right decision.

This time, it still sounds like you made a considered decision, and you're happy with it - but it sounds like a choice you made relatively quickly. Maybe it will take your usually considered heart a while to catch up?

I wish you peace : )

I think I have a recipe for that...

Democrats listen up. All, read para 3, want your thoughts

L16 — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 04:22:59 -0500

Naming Palin as VP will not sway Hillary supporters, it will increase women Republican voters who rarely voted in the past. Democrats, I encourage you to try to find NEW voters, register 'em up and preach the Obama platform, if you want Obama Biden. Let's forget tact about the adage of never speaking politics (clearly doesn't apply here! HA!) and get Obama elected!

Let me tell you American women, the joke is on you. You might be the least well represented faction of any 1st world country out there. The right wants to turn over your right to abortion; it is mind boggling. They talk about sanctity of human life and family values, yet won't provide affordable healthcare to those in need, those who are not as lucky to win the healthy jackpot/or rich jackpot at birth. Healthcare is a service and it ought to be paid for. Yes, I understand. But every society needs people to fill lower paying jobs, and those people just can't pay for healthcare, under the present system. Their low but living wage paying job is what keeps products cheap for American consumers; at the least they deserve proper health care, no? An abortion might be spared if a woman knew the pregnancy alone won't break her.

The one thing I have longed to ask American women about is the lack of proper maternity/parental leave in your country. You live in a country that brags about being the richest and the most powerful. Despite this power and richness you have what is the worst maternity leave policy in the world. And I don't mean asking for a paid maternity leave, I just mean protection of one's job while on leave, so that after recovery and pause to celebrate and enjoy this wonderful thing that is adding to your family, one can return to a job. Clinton signed the family and medical leave act in 1993. Read about it here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_and_Medical_Leave_Act_of_1993 You only qualify for the paltry protection if you work where there are more than 50 employees, and you get 12 weeks that is it. Look at what the rest of the world gives the women who have/adopt children. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parental_leave It is sorted by continent. For those of you who don't want to look at it, in Canada you get 50 weeks of leave with job protection, no matter how small your employer is. I know Mrs. Palin has a four month old and feels ready to be VP and good for her, but is that what the average American woman would choose if she had the option of staying home longer? (not a rhetorical question - seriously, does this piss you guys off?) What good is living in the richest, most powerful nation in the world if the thing, family, that everyone gets all cheesy and drooly and oh it is so important about, is given a swift kick in the face right off the bat, at birth?

Obama wants to expand the family and medical leave act. His proposal is not enough, but it is a start. American women, if this at all is important to you, start the momentum by voting Obama. I checked McCain's site to look up his policy on the FMLA but couldn't find anything. He doesn't list Family or Women as issues.

This is important to me because my husband is American and wants to move back to the States because he loves it so much (you guys are soooo patriotic) and wants his kids to be born Americans, on US soil. It's ok with me, I heart America also but I will likely earn more than my husband for the forseeable future. I will be a full time working mom, and it won't mean I am at all neglecting my kids, even if I did go back at 12 weeks postpartum. But my employer will get rich from my 7 yrs postsecondary education that I paid tens of thousands of dollars for. The economy will benefit from my tax dollars and my spending, over my thirty plus years of work. And in return when I, or any American woman has or adopts a baby, receiving just 12 weeks (if any) unpaid leave with job security max, is an absolute disgrace. I may sound crazy but women around the world feel for American women. You deserve so much more. I know there are costs to providing job security but I am curious what they are, and how great are they really? I would LOVE to hear your thoughts. I am not trying to disrespect any of you, love America, but do believe even the greats have room for improvement. Blog posts and links if you so please. It looks like there are some "real" writers tuning in here (you know I am not one - all the switching of tenses and first and second person - apologies :) ), and I would love, love, love to hear thoughts on all sides, and what you all have found on women's issues while evaluating your options.

I got to cross off pocky this afternoon!

kazari — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 04:15:15 -0500

We had an east-meets-west afternoon tea, and somebody brought some. They were yummy, but not exactly ground breaking...

I think I have a recipe for that...

Not Feeling Palin

Candelaria Silva — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 04:11:46 -0500

With hats off to what she's accomplished, I'm not feeling her as VP but then I'm not a McCain supporter or a Republican.

I believe Presidents and VPs should be above average, something more.

Her experience as a mother, I know dozens of women who've done what she's done and more (with less). It's what millions of women do. Getting elected governor is no mean feat. But, I just can't believe she is the best female for the job and I worry that she could land in the presidential spot. Wow she wouldn't be worse than George - she could be just as bad.

blog.candelariasilva.com

Good and plenty!

Lucky you

Candelaria Silva — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 04:02:04 -0500

Not only did you bring us the everyday ordinary stars at the DNC - you also saw celebrities. Lucky you! You've created memories for days!

blog.candelariasilva.com

Good and plenty!

Happy here...

nancypants — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 01:47:21 -0500

I better preface this by saying that I really don't like McCain and really do not want to vote for him. But honestly, I don't care if the Veep has a vagina or not. For the sake of future women's rights I am very happy. She actually will push for allowing more tiny in-utero women to make it through their mother's vaginas and into the world. I value my right to have been born, even if my mother didn't want me, more than I value my mother's opinion on the matter. Sorry Mom. So I certainly feel that an anti-abortion candidate will actually be the best candidate to secure women's rights, and more importanly, human rights in general.

As for experience she has at least as much as Obama. I laugh when I hear people saying that she doesn't have enough experience... Obama is extremely inexperienced and democrats know it and that's partly why they like him! He's fresh/exciting. Most people say they are sick of Washington insiders. I must say,I like her partly because Alaska is about as far as you can get from Washington.

I really don't think this is a desperate attempt to lure women voters. I think there are very few who would switch just for gender (women aren't that stupid as a group.) I think it's a desperate attempt to lure actual conservatives (because he is not one.) And it might actually work... ((shrug))

Nan blogs regularly @ www.shawnanigans.net

Every single one of those

evilslutopia — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 01:26:47 -0500

Every single one of those issues WAS center stage...every day of the DNC. Don't think you can thank McCain for that ;-)

The Evil Slut Clique
Evilslutopia

I found that comment to be

evilslutopia — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 01:23:09 -0500

I found that comment to be laughable. Sarah Palin is NOT Hillary Clinton. She isn't running for president, she was chosen by a man to be his VP. 18 million people didn't vote for Palin. Nobody (outside of Alaska) has voted for her for anything. I think it's insulting to Hillary for her to draw that comparison and suggest that serving as vice president (and to a man who is, in our opinion, totally anti-woman) would somehow be shattering the glass ceiling in the same way that Hillary becoming president would have been.

The Evil Slut Clique
Evilslutopia

Sarah Palin opposes abortion

evilslutopia — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 01:09:18 -0500

Sarah Palin opposes abortion even in cases of rape and incest. That makes it really hard to us to take her seriously when she says she's a "feminist" for "life".

The Evil Slut Clique
Evilslutopia

I don't think criticizing

Lizitish — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 00:13:16 -0500

I don't think criticizing him is racist. I could care less. Did I say anything about race? Did I mention Hillary? You are arguing back with party line defenses to arguments no one here has made.

I do think comparing him to Palin is foolish. She is not without experiences. It just has nothing to do with governing a nation on the world stage. This is my issue with her. It makes me nervous because, though I won't be voting for her because no, I do not agree with her platforms, she could be elected to lead my country! If John McCain dies, she would be President.

Barack Obama has shown an ability to amass and manage an effective team with a campaign that has broken with historical precedent in fundraising and outreach. I am not into a figurehead POV...I believe governance is a team effort, and management wisdom is key. I personally think he has proven, throughout his career, that he is savvy, effective and no-nonsense in this - managing a huge team, picking world-class advisors and leading an operation on a national level. He has already accomplished this, in the past 18 months and outsmarted a team largely believe to be worldclass and unbeatable. I also happen believe the nuance of multicultural experience and a legislative mindset equips you to run a nation. It takes a broadview and an ability to build coalitions and consensus,and command respect.

I don't agree with all of his platforms, either, but I think he is the one to effect the type of policies needed today.

Ms. Palin is untested outside of her community. She will largely remain so now. The idea she could suddenly be at the helm and relying on her knowledge of running a household and Alaska is terrifying to me. Part of my fear comes from seeing how well Bush's executive background aided him in leading us.

I think Palin could have been great in a focused position, cleaning up corruption...the idea that she could be in charge of everything...and EVERYONE...I find it disconcerting and upsetting.

Alaska does not represent what will work for the American people as a whole. Neither did Texas. And conservatives charge in ready to impose these strict worldviews and this bothers me. That's why, though I am an Independent, I err on the liberal side...of compromise.

I would feel the same way about my Governor, a woman who has a similar personality and has been a politician for decades, quite honestly. And our little state is pretty diverse.

State governance is not the same as national governance. That is a generalization that doesn't hold 100%.

Morning Glow Still Here!

NursePam — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 23:02:39 -0500

Even at 2100. Nothing can dim my rosy left wing outlook.

However, I will not bash McCain for his choice. The fact that she is a woman makes her good enough in my book. It's like when the Tigers and the Chargers met at the World Series. Either way, I win.

Hoping for Obama but willing to go with the flow.

Always in trouble...

Just how gullible are women?

Nordette — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 22:51:56 -0500

How can women vote for a candidate who's called his wife a "c***" in front of reporters (not just a *c* but a trollop too) and has really shown little interest in the rights of women or social justice for anyone else who can't get into an old-school country club, for that matter, simply because he selected a woman as his running mate?

I guess he's moved on from trophy wives to trophy VPs. As an African-American, I get bored quickly with tokens. Been there, done that. All it's worth is a t-shirt.

Hillary asked "Did you do it for me?" Or did you support her candidacy because you care about America? Sorry, but I don't believe any woman who's actually concerned about women and women's issues could vote for McCain. I think any woman who'd vote for him based on his having a woman VP values window dressing not justice.

So, just how gullible are women, or should I ask, how gullible are women in the eyes of McCain and company?

Nordette is a Contributing Editor with BlogHer.com whose personal blog is hosted on another site at this link.

Great helps

MinnesotaMom — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 22:46:45 -0500

For people like me who need them. Thanks!

MinnesotaMom
www.minnesotamom.wordpress.com

Thanks for the article!

MinnesotaMom — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 22:40:04 -0500

My baby girl (just turned one!) is hardly of allowance-receiving age, but I drink all this wisdom in now and save it in my camel's hump for later use. :)

MinnesotaMom
www.minnesotamom.wordpress.com

Good for women, good for the GOP

MinnesotaMom — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 22:36:59 -0500

John McCain is not a conservative. He has chosen a true conservative as a running mate (good for him, but he still doesn't get my vote). This will win him more votes from conservatives.

He has chosen a woman. This will get him more votes from women, even swinging some of the Hillary fans who were going to vote for her just because she's a woman.

Sarah has this going for her: She's a governor; she's had experience running something (even if it's Alaska, it's more than Obama OR McCain can say).

MinnesotaMom
www.minnesotamom.wordpress.com

BlogHer - Comments

wow

Democrats listen up. *All, read para 3, want your thoughts*

I got to cross off pocky this afternoon!

Not Feeling Palin

Lucky you

Happy here...

Every single one of those

I found that comment to be

Sarah Palin opposes abortion

I don't think criticizing

Morning Glow Still Here!

Just how gullible are women?

Great helps

Thanks for the article!

Good for women, good for the GOP

Democrats listen up. All, read para 3, want your thoughts