Betty Ford - Feminist

I watched a Betty Ford documentary last evening on PBS and became reacquainted with the strong, well grounded First Lady who was not afraid to speak her mind. Looking back on her life, I now realize how important she was to the women's movement. Betty Ford spoke out in support of abortion, staunchly supported the ERA, was very public about her breast cancer and not only admitted to the world her addiction to drugs and alcohol, but started a clinic which she participated in, giving strength to those afflicted with the same disease.

In today's political climate, it was almost mind boggling to watch this down to earth couple going about their very real lives. No staging, teleprompters, phony promises, arrogant stances, Greek columns or organic arugula grown on the White House south lawn. In fact, after President Ford was sworn in (upon Nixon's resignation), the family lived in the same home they had lived in for years, cooking and cleaning and parenting, until Nixon's belongings could be removed from the White House and the Ford family moved in.

If you have a chance to watch this on your PBS station, I highly recommend it. Betty Ford really was the real deal and a remarkable women.

Hey, Paul Krugman

OSTARA

Winter's barrenness has subsided,
From the death of Winter
Spring's new life.

Spring is coming to the land,
The days grow longer,
Warm breezes begin to stir.

All around us we see signs -
The growing things are beginning anew.

It's the resurrection of the dance of life.
The dance of the stems and stalks
As they push forth from the Earth.

It is the season of creation.
Growth has turned outward,
The land has become fertile again.

The Earth is caressed by
The loving touch of the Mother,
Where her hand passes.

Atoms twine together to create growth.
Buds burst open.
Leaves and vines unfurl.

She creates a vision of the green beauty.
Beauty so breath-taking after
The dark solitude of Winter.

It is this vision that we celebrate
On her day of Ostara
The world recreating itself--

Returning from the death of Winter,
Into the new life of Spring
Through the love of the Goddess.

Random Shots

I have some things that I’m really not sure how to deal with, but I thought if I got them out where I could look at them, it may help me to deal with them. Here's my list:

1. No, I don't want to listen to what happened at your place of employment every single day. I don't know the people you are talking about and, actually, I could care less.
2. Yes, I do knit. Why do you find that so incredible?
3. When you tell people that I am the "expert" in some area, I find that offensive. And, it makes me feel that if I don't know the answer to a problem, I've let you down.
4. I don't want to listen to the details of your sex life. Please stop sharing those stories with me.
5. Yes, I can believe it. You've been enabling him/her for years. Why can't you believe it?
6. Contrary to belief, I was not put on this earth to solve all of its problems. I have enough trouble dealing with my own mistakes.
   
7. When you ask me a question and I give you the answer, why don't you listen?

I feel better already. So, what's on your list?

Fancy Pants

I am spring blog cleaning and it is a work in progress, so please excuse the mess. I'll get it together soon.

Our Very Important President : Apology to Gordon Brown

I'm late, I'm late for a very important date
No time to say "Hello", "Goodbye" 
I'm late, I'm late, I'm late, I'm late
And when I wave, I lose the time I save
My fuzzy ears and whiskers 
Took me too much time to shave

I run and then I hop, hop, hop
I wish that I could fly
There's danger if I dare to stop
And here's the reason why
You see, I'm overdue, I'm in a rabbit stew 
Can't even say "Goodbye", "Hello" 
I'm late, I'm late, I'm late

Good morning Mister Chatterbox
I'd love to stop and chatter
But in six and seven-eighth minutes
I must meet with the Mad Hatter
The mad, mad, mad, Mad Hatter
We must chat about a very important matter

I'm late, I'm late for a very important date
No time to say "Hello", "Goodbye" 
I'm late, I'm late, I'm late, I'm late
And when I wave, I lose the time I save
My fuzzy ears and whiskers 
Took me too much time to shave

I run and then I hop, hop, hop
I wish that I could fly
There's danger if I dare to stop
Aand here's the reason why
You see, I'm overdue, I'm in a rabbit stew 
Can't even say "Goodbye", "Hello" 
I'm late, I'm late, I'm late..........

Take the quiz

I took the New Agenda "Which Western Feminist Icon are You" quiz that Violet has posted over at Facebook. It's right here in my sidebar, if you want to have some fun.

My results: You are Catharine MacKinnon! You are one amazing smarty-pants! You're hell on wheels and you know it, but you also know that because you're the "pretty" radical feminist, you get off easier in public. You combine law, philosophy, and feminist theory. You truly are a triple threat!

A fun diversion in an otherwise dark, dreary rainy morning in the Great Northeast. And, it's Monday to boot. Ugh.

But, it felt pretty good to be "hell on wheels". And, then I read this.

Obama's Pork Problem

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

Recession: When will it end?

Great article by my DIGG buddy UnlawflCombatnt

The same situation exists today that existed in 1929. There has been no cause for our GDP to expand since 2000. We grew based on increased debt-financed spending, overvalued homes, and derivatives thereof. But there was little additional real wealth produced, other than homes. And the artificially created over-demand for homes caused more to be produced than there was any wage/income-financed demand for.

Credit/debt-financed demand is not real demand. And when supply is increased in response to credit/debt-financed demand, there is an oversupply in real terms. And once that credit/debt source of demand contracts, so does the demand it created. At that point, the oversupply becomes apparent. The oversupply reduces demand, and reduces the value of all of the debt instruments created from that supply, and reduces the demand for all goods & services that were financed from the artificial paper wealth created by the instruments and their overvalued collateral.

And the loss of this artificial demand, coupled with the reduced demand from decreased "wealth effect," reduces demand for labor to produce goods and services. That, in turn, reduces "real" demand, by reducing both employment and wages.

So once again, what do these "experts" think is going to bring us out of this recession? What new source of demand will come along? What new product or industry will there be to create goods that there will be a demand for -- a product that consumers will purchase -- a good whose production will provide employment for American workers, giving workers the income to restore production demand, and employ still more workers to make that good?

Where is that new industry? Where is that new good that consumers will purchase? If the experts can't answer that question, then how can they predict a recovery? How can they predict a recovery if they have no idea what growth engine will arise anew, or whether one will arise at all?

I think we're in for an L-shaped De-pression. I think it will be many years before our economy returns to a $14 trillion GDP.

Yet it is politics and greed, not actual economic reality, that will prevent our recovery.

Bail Out This

The DNC did me a favor. Now that I am no longer a member of the Democratic party, my blinders have fallen off and I see more clearly. Rick Santalli's rant got me thinking. HERE

No, I don't want to pay for my neighbor's 2nd bathroom, summer vacation or flat screen TV. Nor do I want to bail out their mortgage if they overspent their monthly budget on cell phones, clothes from Saks, dining out and getting their nails done. And Peloisi's trip to Italy on the government's dime sickens me.

In the last two years I've lost my job, my health insurance, paid egregious prices for heating oil and gas, seen my antiques business dwindle away to nothing and now I'm dealing with Madoff stealing my husband's pension. But, we are making it. Granted, it's close, but we eat well, don't buy anything we absolutely do not need and, when we do, it's second hand or factory refurbished. I do my own wallpapering, painting, don't have a dishwasher and our food is homemade, even the bread. In short, we struggle, but we are making it. And, I refuse to shop at Wal-Mart.

I worked through the mortgage debacle and saw many people make a lot of money. And, it appears they are keeping it, because neither Realtors, mortgage brokers, underwriters nor banks are being held accountable. Who is? You and me. For something that we didn't fall for nor are a part of.

I'd really like to see what criteria will be used to decide which people will be helped out with their mortgages. I'm all for helping those who help themselves and aren't exploiting the same failed rules that got us here. However, if you feel you need a vacation, an iPod, a landscaper, cellphones and Coach pocketbooks, you shouldn't qualify for a bailout. And I certainly don't want to pay for your extravagant lifestyle.

And, by the way, what is wrong with renting?

Automatic Out of Blog Reply

My 14 year old nephew is spending the week with me. That translates into less computer time for me, more for him.

Be back soon!

If you read two things today go to Alegre's Corner

Via Pacific John at Alegre's Corner, the uncomparable Glenn Greenwald's Obama and liberals: A counter-productive relationship

But Krugman's larger point is correct: Republican groups demand from politicians support for their beliefs. By contrast, as Judis describes, Democratic groups -- including (perhaps especially) liberal activist groups -- now (with some exceptions) lend their allegiance to the party and its leader regardless of how faithful the party leadership is to their beliefs. That disparity means that there is often great popular agitation and political pressure exerted from the Right, but almost none from the Left (I'm using the terms "Left" and "Right" here in their conventional sense: "Right" being the core of the GOP and "Left" being those who most consistently and vigorously opposed Bush's foreign and domestic policies).

Campskunk has a terrific post up entitled: When is an Entitlement Program Not an Entitlement Program? WHEN IT'S YOUR !@*%# MONEY!.

The use of entitlement programs as a pejorative term by Republicans (and, sadly, some Democrats) tries to make you believe that they're all welfare programs created by a runaway nanny state. Obama's proposal to tax income over $100,000 a year is an effort to move Social Security toward such a program; higher-income people would be subsidizing the less well off. The beauty of the Social Security retirement benefit and Medicare benefit, though, is that you're getting your own !@*%# money back that you put into it. Everybody gets taxed on their first (and for most of us here, only) $100k of income. You have to work a certain number of years to qualify, etc. Social Security Disability and Medicaid are another matter, but, given the atrocious track record of our society in compensating people for work-related disabilities or taking care of the disabled, that's probably a good thing.

In fact, hop on over to Alegre's Corner and read the incredible posts by Alegre and the other bloggers who post there. And, if you are in a position, Alegre recently became yet another victim of this rapidly shrinking economy, so if you like what you see, feel free to leave her a token of your appreciation.

Read It and Weep

Via TGW
Screwed Royally

They make a big display of yelling at the CEOs and then the very next day they quietly remove any cap on their compensation. These people are not on our side. This is why so many Americans are so damn frustrated. Everyone in power appears to be bought and paid for. There is a circle of people in DC and NY that keep passing the money around to one another and then come and collect it from us.

Say It Ain't So

Good golly, Miss Molly, this cannot be true! The WSJ is reporting that Obama's news conference pre-screened the reporters chosen to ask questions. That is ridiculous!! This is the President who promised us an open government. It must be a lie! That's what George W. did - pre-screened attendees at events and refused to call on Helen at press conferences.

I bet it's those damn PUMA's stirring up trouble. Howard would never have stacked the cards in Obama's favor if he was going to be a 3rd term of Dubya, would he? Obama is so experienced and smart, he wouldn't have to avoid questions from reporters. Why, he is actually learning to speak without a teleprompter and I bet he'll get better and better at it as time goes on. It's awful hard to read those words off of the Starbuck's napkins Favreau writes them on.

Damn it, WSJ, stop publishing real news and let's talk about Michelle's Vogue cover. Speaking of Michelle, I wonder when she will start receiving a paycheck for all of her public appearances. She's a brilliant lawyer, don't you know, and a great asset to the White House. Geesh. And if he did pre-screen reporters, he must have had a pretty good reason. It's not like he has anything to hide, right?

Obama's press list

Shhh - Just Watch and Listen

Via Lambert

Here

Obama The Jerk

Via Feminist Law Professors, posted at April Winchell's. Barack Obama is tired of your motherfucking shit!

If you’ve ever read President Obama’s Dreams From My Father, good for you. I couldn’t get past the foreword.

I wish I had. Because today I discovered that there’s a fairly juicy little subplot in the book, involving one of Obama’s high school friends.

Ray, a fellow classmate of Obama’s, was also bi-racial, and also trying to define himself. But what set him apart was his colorful manner of self-expression. Ray cursed like a motherfucker.

This would all be snickerworthy enough, but it turns out that Obama actually read the audiobook version of Dreams From My Father.

And that means he read Ray’s quotes.

And that means you’re about to hear the President of United States using language that would finish Cheney off once and for all.

PMSBuddy.com or How to Ward Off the Bitch

For men who flee to hunting cabins deep in the woods around a woman's "time of the month", a handy dandy tool to help you plan your getaway.

PMS Buddy PMSBuddy started nine months ago and is now tracking the menstrual cycles of more than 100,000 women worldwide, including 4000 in Australia and 1000 in New Zealand via the site and a Facebook application.

I thought this might be snark, but the site is here.
Welcome to PMSBuddy.com!

PMSBuddy.com is a free service created with a single goal in mind: to keep you aware of when your wife, girlfriend, mother, sister, daughter, or any other women in your life are closing in on "that time of the month" - when things can get intense for what may seem to be no reason at all.

For women, this is a great way to give people in your life a heads-up of when you might be feeling a bit irritable without having an awkward conversation.

What's more, we will not only keep you informed, but will give you some free advice on what to do about it. With PMSBuddy.com, there is no reason to ever be blindsided by PMS again.

PMSBuddy.com - Saving relationships, one month at a time!

Gillibrand, Yet Again

I know that criticizing Gillibrand is not a popular PUMA or feminist position. I am taking a different path than my feminist political sisters, but I am not sold on Kristen Gillibrand as yet. However, I am a NY'er and I'll have to vote for her or against her. I hope she convinces me to vote for her. In the meantime, there's this:

The Best Candidate Or The Cleanest Record?

As I have said before, I am willing to give Gillibrand a shot. There are a few issues she will have to work out (i.e. gun control versus gun rights and immigration) but I think she will clarify her positions on those issues.

That said, the lengthy questionnaire makes me wonder if we were looking for the best candidate or the most well-behaved candidate. The questionnaire contains inquiries into the candidate's past, including questions about any crimes they may have committed and if they had paid their taxes on time. This questionnaire seemed to be a method for the Governor's office to eliminate candidates if they had the slightest flaw.

The questionnaire lacks anything of substance. There are zero questions about issues. There are zero questions about Gillibrand's plans for New York and a few things she would like to see happen in New York State.

Here

My Mama's Biscotti - Click to enlarge

I'm hunkering down, trying to stay one step above the low rung on the ladder and baking some comfort biscotti. For those folks who are as economically challenged as I, Price Chopper has Anise at $5.15, whereas my local co-op has it for $1.95. Go figure.

Hillary Supporters Stay Connected

Ann Lewis and Sarah Nolan, both long-time Clinton aides, have launched NoLimits.org, an organization intended to keep her supporters connected to one another and working on the policy issues that matter to them. Lewis says, "We want a way to stay in touch. We want to stay in touch with what's going on."

The new organization is building off the remnants of Clinton's presidential campaign, utilizing her email and donor lists to pull together like-minded individuals who want to stay involved in domestic policy issues Clinton once championed. Clinton herself, however, is not involved, as federal law prohibits her from engaging in much non-State-related political behavior (like fundraising and running a political action committee).