New Video from The New Agenda: Powerful!

Spread the word!!

PUMA Reactions to Last Evening's Rout: "Republicans Must Be Magic."

For me... the only thing that would have made it better would have been to see sexist pigs, Reid and Brown, defeated by women. :~(

Now for the some righteous PUMA reaction:

Uppity Woman.

Dandy Tiger at The Confluence.

HILLBUZZ.

D.K. Jamaal, Post Partisan Examiner.

Big Pink.

PUMA PAC.

Tennessee Guerilla Women.

Logistics Monster.

Not Your Sweetie.

The New Agenda.

Tom in Paine.

Anna Belle Pfau.

MIQ at The Confluence.

More to come, as the bittersweet gloating continues...



And finally...

Dr. Socks at Reclusive Leftist explains the whole debacle this way : "Republicans are magic!"

Oh The Double Standards!

First the "You can say that all you want about Republicans, but you better not say the same about Obama" double standard that has seen many a liberal female blogger shunned.

And then the "If you are male pol you can hire undocumented workers to cut your grass, but if you are a female pol you better not hire one to be your nanny" double standard that is so popularly used to take women down in the final weeks of a successful campaign.

All in a day's news....

A Speck of Sanity on the Horizon: Common People's Sensibilities Winning Out Over Hollywood's Love of a Child Rapist. (Sign the petition to jail Roman

Yes, the tide of public opinion appears to be turning. Or maybe not? Maybe Americans never did buy the anti-woman apologism that the MSM, with it's Hollywood jerk--a-lot friends were peddling.

This "Polanski the Child Rapist" story is giving me hope.

Why?

Because the sensibilities of common Americans have been awakened, and seem to be winning out. In the hours since the story broke... and the apologists started singing their sick little song.... the commoners have revolted. Asking us to excuse a man who, while in his forties, drugged and raped a 13 year old... is simply a bridge too far. They have underestimated our resolve.

We want Roman Polanski jailed!

The Wave and the Wheel: Can the "Fourth Wave" of Feminism Rise Above the Second and Third?

Please humor me while I quote, once again, Susan B. Anthony:

“I have worked 40 years to make the Women’s Suffrage platform broad enough for Atheists and Agnostics to stand upon, and now if need be I will fight the next 40 to keep it Catholic enough to permit the straightest Orthodox religionist to speak or pray and count her beads upon.”

And then humor yourself with a trip over to Reclusive Leftist. In the comments following this post by Dr. Violet Socks, you can see that a battle is beginning to rage as we attempt to define the "fourth wave" of Feminism.

Really it's not a "new battle." It's the same old same that has divided women since Feminism took root... within the Women's Suffrage movement. Herstory does repeat herself. Doesn't she?

We would do well to take a lesson from Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady-Stanton. We are reliving their trajectory in at least two ways, are we not?

First of all... They also tried to tackle race and gender simultaneously. Race trumped gender then too. (As boys will be boys, and they do not tend to reciprocate the favors we do for them.) The argument for "intersectionality" in the women's movement has proven... for a second time... to be ONE BIG FAIL!

Secondly, Susan B. Anthony was quite clear in her views related to secular and religious women coming together to fight for their own (and each other's) rights. She said so in the quote I posted at the outset of this blog entry. Ms. Anthony saw the folly of the division along lines of faith, and vowed to work against it.

So... now... where does that leave us, as the "fourth wave" begins to crest? Will we rally as one to reject the "intersectionality" arguments that have led us down this path of failure? Will we gather in unity to defend our daughters, despite our differences?

Personally, I would like to see us abandon the "wave" analogy. It isn't serving us well. Why? Because "waves" are intangible. They arise on their own and dissipate just as quickly. A wave can be as strong as a tsunami. Or as sneaky as an undertow. But, like a snowflake, a wave never really repeats itself in just the same way.

In my mind, we are entering the second *cycle.* Our second time around the *WHEEL.* If we do not observe the lessons of the first wheel, well enough to create the second out of COLLECTIVE ACTION, we will each have to trudge up the mountain alone, with only our backpacks full of shoulds and shouldn'ts.

Why would we want to do that?

Failure is, indeed, impossible! But that doesn't mean we can't spend another generation or two thrashing around in the "waves"... hanging on to our man-made life preservers.

It is all remedial at this point. We must go back and study herstory. If we learn our lessons well, two *wheels* can make a bicycle. And then we'll have a chance to go somewhere… fast!

"Sarah Palin is a Bad Mother" and Other Beastie Boi Fantasies: Letterman Day Five in the PUMAsphere

The beastie boiz are at it again. Or should I stay, still? Here we see Ed Schulz and Donny Deutch at MSNBC declaring that "Sarah Palin is a bad mother." Why? Because she defended her daughter:



The PUMAsphere dares to disagree:

Tennessee Guerilla Women respond to the bogus charges.

HILLBUZZ continues to lead the charge in the Letterman boycott. And PUMA PAC adds the effort to their "daily prowl."

The New Agenda points out that Letterman's writers (you know, the ones responsible for researching and writing his jokes) have, in fact, PARADED THEIR OWN DAUGHTERS INTO THE PUBLIC EYE! TNA asks us to respect those girls anyway. Even though their fathers are dickheads.

Besides "prowling" the Letterman advertisers.... I am proud to report that I am also slowly making the rounds with small donations. To all of my favorite news sources (those listed above plus a few more.) I am giving $17 to each of them for the 17% of female elected public officials that hold high office. Anyone that is fighting to increase that number, deserves my support!

Carry on,

SYD

On Television Pedophiles & Mamby Pamby "Feminists"

I finally did it. I eeked out a donation to "The New Agenda." You will want to do so as well, after you read Amy Siskind's blog entry on why women can't seem to break the 17% barrier.

Yesterday I spent a day of my valuable time ranting about a 62 year old jerk that makes jokes about raping 14 year old girls. Yes, PUMAs and Palinites, we accomplished something. We got .... not an apology.... but and excuse from the pedophile. In fact, David Letterman should be fired for promoting the rape of a minor by a professional ball player. The defense that the pervert was confused about which Palin girl he was "joking" about ... the 14 year old or the 18 year old... MEANS NOTHING.

But, alas, the teevee "Feminists" are OK with it. I mean, look at how Contessa Brewer of the supposedly "Progressive" MSNBC defends the Letterman situation:

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Sigh.

Phyllis Chesler is right. Liberal feminism, as I once knew it, is dead. So much so, that Madamab is asking if the LGBT community can save us! If you go to her blog post at Widdershins, and watch the video of Naomi Wolf... you will see why she is asking.

Geesh, Naomi, take a cold shower. Will ya?

When I look at the media hacks we are supposed to accept as the new "Liberal Feminists" (ie. Naomi and Contessa) it convinces *this* old yellar dawg, that she had better stand by Sarah Palin. Sarah is the kind of gutsy, no nonsense, Feminist we can rely on to bring us into the future. She is our last, and perhaps only, hope.

I guess I am in for another day of letter writing.

SYD

Enough Hormones On the Bench, Already!

Personally, I have had it with all that testosterone. Haven't you? I mean... testosterone is the "anger hormone." And it is also associated with risk taking behaviors.

That is why I am calling for equal representation from the other half of the population. You know, the one that has less testosterone. And a little bit more estrogen. Estrogen, being the hormone of love, can only bring balance to the important decisions made by our highest court.

Just about anything you want to know about Sonia Sotomayor can be found RIGHT HERE.

H/T to Prof. Darren Hutchinson at Dissenting Justice, for doing all the research. If it were not for him, I would know far littler about this Obama appointee. IMO, the MSM ... even it's liberal organs.. are doing a TERRIBLE job of telling us who our next SCOTUS appointee is.

Judge Sotomayor *will* be confirmed, despite their negligence and outright misogyny. She has to be. We just can't take anymore of those out of control "hormones" on the bench.

SYD

Women I Will, And Women I Can't, Defend (And Why.)

I love "The New Agenda." A bi-partisan group that defends women against the sexist onslaught of the MSM is just what we need. The group is on my list of PUMA bloggers that I must donate to.

That said... I have to admit... I don't have as much energy as some of the members do, to defend ALL women. I'm sorry if this is a divergent viewpoint. But I really must triage.

It's not that I think "Pelosi Galore" was a good idea. Or that TNA needs to "get a life" rather than raise hell about it. I am, in fact, happy that there are women who will defend Speaker Pelosi against sexist attacks. All I am saying is ... for right now, I'm not one of them.

Look. I live a life of dedication to causes. I run a pet rescue. I volunteer at a hospice. Before I did these things I was a mother/baby nurse and midwife.

I believe in birth, life, and death with dignity. For all beings. Those are my highest priorities. Principles that guide my Feminism. Birthing and deathing are predominantly the domains of women. They always have been. In this culture. And in many others. (What happens in between, tends to be controlled by men. That's how it is.)

So... where does that bring me in the matter of defending women pols?

I'll defend, to the bloody end, any woman who will stand up for the cause of dignity for all. Hillary Clinton, Sarah Palin and Sonia Sotomayor are in that category as far as I am concerned. So, you see... right now, on the national (and international) level, I have a pretty full plate. I am also reserving some energy for Ohio's local women candidates in 2010. (And I'm ashamed to say I don't even know who I may be working for yet.)

Nancy Pelosi has betrayed me. She backstabbed the best Presidential candidate ever. (One who just happened to be a woman.) Plus, Nan is not in my state. I don't have to be concerned about voting for her. Ever!

So... here's my deal. I will support The New Agenda in speaking out against sexism. Where ever it may happen. And to whomever. BUT..... that is as far as I will go.

Speaker Pelosi and her beloved abusers are of little concern to me.

SYD

I'd Rather Not Have To....

Brace myself for the Sotomayor misogyny fest, that is.


Can I climb back in my hole now?

On second thought.... "Go Sonia! Go widowed mother of Sonia!!" We've got your backs!

UPDATE: Two excellent pieces on the subject of the Sonia Sotomayor appointment appear HERE and HERE. H/T to Prof. Hutchinson at "Dissenting Justice."

Attacks on Ms. Prejean, Attacks on Ms. McCain: Where's the Outrage?

My thoughts, in response to THIS THREAD at The New Agenda:

Wow! This is really something to read. Gay activists attacking Feminists and vice versa.

Look. This is how white male supremacy is maintained. They divide women against blacks, blacks against gays, gays against women….. and in the end … only THEY can unite. There are many, many more of US than THEM. We need to remember that.

White women (even Carrie Prejean) are not the enemies of blacks or gays. Some of us are a bit misguided, IMO. And we may listen to ... or even parrot ... the patriarchy, thinking that they speak for us. It is confusing… to be sure. But, the fact remains... no "Carrie Prejean" has the power to keep another down. Not until she has the power to break through the glass ceiling herself.

At any rate… I call for women (and men) of all colors and sexual orientations to unite and get a grip. No one is free, when others are oppressed. Even if that “other” is Carrie Prejean.

Oh, and I’ll say one more thing.

Laura Ingraham has an effin’ lotta nerve calling anyone out for attacking a woman’s looks. She is the one that called Meghan McCain fat. I think the exact words were “a plus sized model for the GOP.”

Gotcha, Laura. Meghan is pro-gay, so her body is fair game. Carrie is anti-gay… so hers is sacrosanct??

Give me a break.

Moral of the story: Sexism sells, and both sides are using it.

“Fulfilled life is possible in spite of unfulfilled wishes.”

But that doesn't mean we don't try!

The Vicissitudes of Life are being discussed over at PUMA Pac this morning. "How does one cope?" seems the question of the hour.

That got me to thinking (thanks Murphy and Mountainsong!) Here’s what I do, how I cope:

First of all, I take stock of what is *good* in my life right now. I recognize that I have a pretty darned good life. I live with the love of my life. I have what I need. And I do what I love.

Secondly, though, I know and accept that my own good fortune does not let me off the hook when it comes to fighting for the rights of others.

Third, I remind myself that “getting upset” won’t help. Yes, bitching will. Yes, acting mad may. Yes… telling it like is is can…. But, on a personal level none of these actions have anything to do with me. Really.

And when they do … when the vicissitudes of life are truly personal ... I recite little gems, like this one:

“Fulfilled life is possible in spite of unfulfilled wishes.”

About a dozen other sparkling jewels of wisdom, like the one absconded from Bonhoeffer's work, bounce around in my brain ... like pinballs in the game of life. And they reassure me that, no matter how bad things seem I am not the first to walk a difficult path. And I won't be the last.

So, I do what I can.

Which reminds me... I will be away for a while, doing a pet rescue run. I have six doggies and four kitties joining me on my Spring Break journey to CT/MA/NY/PA. All going to forever homes.

When I get back, I will be meeting with "The New Agenda" in Cincinnati. Looking forward to that! And to more ways that I can promote and protect the rights of women.

For those who do not know, we are meeting on March 14th at 4 PM. At the Front Porch Coffee House. See attached flier! (And, thanks to Anna Belle for that wonderful template!)

Title Quote: Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945)

On Not Beating Ourselves Up Over Our "New Agenda" (Part Seven in the Real Feminist Series)

Feminists, or should I say women, have a habit of second guessing themselves. That has been my experience in these 50 years of life. I don't think it's an exaggeration, or a stereotype. I think the tendency sprouts from our cultural upbringing. We are taught, early on, that we should be careful to consider the feelings of others.

I was not surprised, really, to see many of my PUMA friends "reconsidering" yesterday. After all, it was Candlemas, or Imbolg, or Groundhog Day depending on your orientation. This is the season when our hibernating, winter selves re-emerge victorious. We have made it through another long winter! Now we can just hang on 'til spring. And, we can survive six more weeks of ANYTHING. Right?

Well, maybe.

One of my PUMA friends, Betty Jean at Free Me Now, woke up to the new day and proclaimed "We don't need a New Agenda." She called for a return to, and Democratic takeover of N.O.W. It's an interesting take on how to move forward. But it's not a view I share. Mainly because I see the National Organization for Women as overly beholden to one political party. And far too aligned with just one women's right issue: abortion.

Even if we COULD take N.O.W. over, and change it's focus.... it would be at least a generation until the rest of the country saw us as having anything to say about anything other than reproductive choice. And I betcha it would be at least two generations until Republican women trusted us.... if ever.

Riverdaughterat The Confluence has another take on the situation. She is looking for the new leaders of the Feminist Movement. She names a few in this paragraph:

"As far as I’m concerned, feminists HAVE no leaders. We have a few promising ones emerging, like Amy Siskind of The New Agenda and Heidi Li Feldman of 51%. And we have some very talented writers like our own madamab, Reclusive Leftist’s Violet Socks** and action powerhouse Darragh Murphy of PUMAPac. We’re out here and we are keeping things together. Had I known about this conference, I might have gone down there myself to give the a leaders piece of my mind and a dope slap or two. Leaders LEAD. They don’t ask for someone to pass the Kool-ade.

Snap out of it, women. Four years is a long time."

I would simply add that Riverdaughter herself should be added to that list! And, I think she is right on. In another decade, or two, the words of Heidi Li, Violet Socks, and Amy Siskind will be studied in our universities whenever the career and presidential candidacy of Hillary Clinton is studied. (Which will be quite incessantly in Women's Studies programs. Sooner than we think. And I dare say, N.O.W. will be assessed as having come down on the wrong side of the battle for women's equality.)

The turnaround time for recognizing authors is generally shorter than the turnaround for changing family attitudes. So, YES! PUMAs must keep writing!! Don't ever let them silence you!!! And for those of us who do not write quite as well or proliferatively .... keep linking and circulating the blogs of your sisters. This is more critical now than it was when Hillary was still in the race. We want more, and more PUMAs to be recognized at the forefront of Feminist bloggery.

Perhaps the strongest essay to emerge at the end of our PUMA winter gestation was this one by Anna Belle. It was published, first in her own blog. And then quickly made it over to the New Agenda (linked here.) Anna Belle cuts through all the second guessing about our recent herstory. She takes us back to the core of herstorical Feminism. In so doing, she helps us to recognize what happened this past year.

This division we experienced.... the animosity between those favoring racial or gender emancipation.... how it played out in the presidential election, and particularly in the Democratic primaries .... was *nothing new*. PUMAs, as Feminists, can stand squarely upon the shoulders of Susan B. Anthony, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Knowing how the early suffragists handled themselves does me a world of good. It helps me know that, I am not a "racist" just because I favor women's progress.

Herstory, like history, repeats itself.

So now I propose that we are NOT lost! We do not *need* N.O.W. to show us the way. Until (if) N.O.W.'s leadership re-examines, and gets it's head on straight about representing *all women* they can die a slow death as far as I am concerned. N.O.W., as it exists today, is obsolete. So is Ms. Magazine for that matter.

That being said, though, we do not suffer a lack of leadership! We are, in fact, standing on the shoulders of some very clear-headed ones, if we but study herstory. And we are holding hands with some visionary ones, if we but open our eyes and get beyond partisan enmeshment.

Our "New Agenda" is doing just that!

ADDENDUM:

Yet another reason why a return to N.O.W. is unfeasible can be explored at Reclusive Leftist.

Preparing Your Comebacks for the 51% Argument: Proportional Representation is the New Women's Suffrage

I was reading HEIDI LI'S BLOG about her 51% effort this morning. And it got me thinking....

Yesterday I wore my buttons from THE NEW AGENDA to generate conversation. And they worked! Folks at my church (a progressive denomination) were actually quite shocked to know how disproportional was women's representation in our government. They had never thought about THAT.

We "Feminists" nowadays, tend to think about a few high profile women... like Hillary Clinton, or Sarah Palin. We look at their accomplishments and convince ourselves that we have "made it." In fact, though, we have a very long way to go.

Look at it this way: Proportional Representation *is* the New Women's Suffrage. We're going to need to stand on some very powerful shoulders to accomplish what Fifty-One Percent, and The New Agenda have set out to do. We're going to have to go beyond PUMA. We need to reach across the chasm of party divide... to bring in women from BOTH sides of the proverbial aisle.

When I post about my new buttons, or 51% on MY TEAM SARAH PAGE I receive a wholly different kind of reaction than I did at the UU church. There I see what I will call a "typical Conservative comeback." Grounded in thinking that, in essence, holds it's NOT about having *women* in govenment, it's about having GOOD women. No matter how few their numbers.

My response to this kind of "Conservative logic" is thus: "Yes, and it's about having good men too."

It is true, perhaps, that if we only count "good women" in our percentages.... the ratio will actually be less balanced. But, if we only count "good men", as well I bet it would be more balanced. (No matter what yardstick they are using to measure "good" at this point you see the lightbulb come on.)

These are the kinds of discussions I get when I post about 51%, or wear my New Agenda buttons. From the Left, surprise. From the Right, cynicism (and maybe disdain, if they perceive 51% as a form of "affirmative action.") I'm aware that I need to be ready with my comebacks. And I'd love to hear your ideas as well!

I'd like to end this post with a couple of quotes from Susan B. Anthony. These, I feel, offer us a blueprint for how to proceed with The New Women's Suffrage. Because we will not be successful unless we can answer the concerns of women from both "Liberal" and "Conservative" backgrounds.

• What you should say to outsiders is that a Christian has neither more nor less rights in our Association than an atheist. When our platform becomes too narrow for people of all creeds and of no creeds, I myself shall not stand upon it.

• I tell them I have worked 40 years to make the Women's Suffrage platform broad enough for Atheists and Agnostics to stand upon, and now if need be I will fight the next 40 to keep it Catholic enough to permit the straightest Orthodox religionist to speak or pray and count her beads upon. ~ Susan B. Anthony


(Many thinks to Goldie, at WOMEN IN POLITICS for calling these two quotes to my attention.)

Peace,

SYD

ADDENDUM: Also suggested: HOW TO GET FROM 17% to 50%. by Cynthia Ruccia.