When in Doubt, Back the Woman: Part Two

On the heels of the Coakley/ Brown upset in Massachusetts (which I am really not all the disappointed about) I want to say a few things about my own future voting strategy. It's an evolving strategy that I have developed over the last two years, as a PUMA and an Independent.

This kind of voting is new to me. In the past I have always, and I do mean ALWAYS, voted "D." (With the exception of a couple of Charterites on the Cincinnati City Council.) Never, before 2008, have I even *considered* voting for a Republican. But that's all changed, so now I need a new set of voting booth guidelines. You see, I really don't want to *ever* have to go to the polls and make a wrenching decision like the one my PUMA friends were forced to make in Massachusetts on Tuesday. Not without a set of guiding principles.

So here goes.... SYD's voting guidelines in a nutshell.

Principle One: When in doubt, back the woman.

The reason for this is simple. I pay taxes. I deserve representation. Period.

Please note that I did not say "always vote female." The reason is... I can imagine a scenario in which a stellar male that I adore emerges from the pack to run against a woman I don't much care for. Like, say... if my own dear son were running against Jean Schmidt, whom I often disagree with.

But, let's face it. There is a zippo zingo chance that I will ever know any male candidate well enough to erase any and all doubt. So the only way I am likely to be voting for a male politician in an upcoming election is... if he is running against another man. (Sorry fellas, but you have had your turn. And, quite frankly, you have done a lousy job of standing up for my rights.)

Principle Two: When two same gendered individuals run for the same office, do the best you can to select the one who agrees with you the most.

This is a little bit tougher. Because there are always going to be doubts about any candidate. And nobody is going to be on my side 100% of the time. But, generally speaking.... it is most likely that I will be voting for fiscal conservatives and social liberals in the future. If any party or individual moves toward a balanced budget while also supporting equal rights for all people ... they will certainly have my attention.


Principle Three: Vote for the track record.

So let's just say that we now have two same gendered pols who are both fiscally conservative and socially liberal. (Yeah right.) OK. Now how do I choose? Do I revert back to selecting the person who has the "D" behind her name, for old times sake? Or because I think her affiliation with a certain party matters?? NO!!! Now I look for the track record.

This kind of thinking would have been very helpful to social progressives in 2008, even if both Hillary and Barack were women. And even if they were spouting similar rhetoric. The one with the track record was, of course, Hillary Clinton. Had my former party-mates exercised any hint of good judgement at all... they would have backed her. And by now we'd have some realistic health care reform, as well as movement toward a balanced federal budget. We'd also have a President who has stood with social liberals in the past, and could be trusted to stand with us again.


There ya go. SYD's voting booth guidelines for 2009 and beyond. Take 'em or leave 'em.

The Lefty Blogosphere Begins to Wake Up About Sexism (Well, Sort Of.)

I realize it will be a slow, tedious process. And we won't likely get any real concessions about the matter until Sarah Palin is safely packed away and discredited as a future presidential candidate. But it does appear that the Lefty Blogosphere is beginning to awaken to the part that it's members played in the blatantly misogynist, sexist coup of 2008.

It is of no consolation to me that our, perhaps, number one women's ally in the world, Hillary Rodham Clinton, has been effectively silenced. As she spouts Obama policy, and tries to play nicey nice with his breast groping, frat boy administration.

"By all accounts, Mrs. Clinton has worked hard to be a good soldier in an administration run by the man she spent much of last year trying to defeat."

Indeed she has. And, I'll just say, it is a little more than concerning to hear her parroting catch-phrases like "Moderate Taliban." That one will come back to haunt Ms. Clinton, I'm afraid. But, worse... it demonstrates the degree to which Mr. Obama's fantastical ideas about militant Islam are pickling the brains of formerly intelligent and reasonable statespeople.

A scary situation, to be sure.

I guess what I can take away from all this is.... the Lefty Bloggers I used to respect, but came to disdain, are "waking up to sexism in the primaries" just as their Candidate's Secretary of State has decided to sip some of the kool-ade they are so intoxicated with.

But they won't be waking up to the sexism in the general election any time soon. Because Mrs. Palin won't be tipping the glass, so to speak.

She has no reason to.

Why Mac Chose Sarah (from the Horse's Mouth, so to speak)

More word from Mac on why he chose Sarah from the LA times.

"orders from McCain were to find "someone who had the capacity to be president," Culvahouse said. His team produced 50-page reports on each candidate, drawing from their own investigations and the potential candidate's detailed answers to 74 questions, including "Have you ever been unfaithful?"

Near decision time, Culvahouse said, McCain asked him for the "bottom line" on Palin.

"John," Culvahouse replied, "high risk, high reward."

To which McCain, the former Vietnam attack pilot who flew off and landed on aircraft carriers before spending more than six years as a POW, replied, "You shouldn't have told me that. I've been a risk-taker all my life.""

Long and short of it..... if Mac is behind Sarah, I think she has some REAL potential in 2012.

Mac Acknowledges That Sarah (Not He) Got 50 Million Votes Last Year

CNN covers it HERE.

""God bless them," McCain said Thursday at the Heritage Foundation when reminded of the tens of millions of people who voted for him last year.

"Over 50 million people voted for me and Sarah Palin - mostly for Sarah Palin," McCain said to an eruption of laughter. But "there was a sizable majority of the other party returned to Congress. And, elections have consequences. Elections have consequences. And these consequences we are seeing now in full display.""

What this tells me is that more of the GOP is rallying behind Sarah. One by one... they will see the light. She can whoop some serious ass in 2012!

I'll just add, here, that I remain in awe of this man. No matter what you do or don't like about John McCain's political stances, he is a humble servant of this country. It's the kind of humility that is so very lacking from Obama and his playboys. Therefore it stands in stark contrast at this moment.

Go Mac!! Go Sarah!!!