OK, technically it's not official until the convention in August, but today Clinton announced the end of her candidacy and endorsed Obama. She also asked her supporters to vote for him. I believe the official term is "called for party unity."
Or as I prefer, "end the tantrums about your favorite not winning and support the candidate that is closest to your views instead of allowing the polar opposite to get into office and destroy us all."
So let's hope we can get the same record voter turnout (or more!) in November and elect the Democratic ticket.
Hey, I even added Obama to my list of Facebook pages. And I still maintain he'd have to be stupid to pick anyone other than Clinton as his running mate. Want to talk party unity? Put the two candidates that drew out a record number of voters on the same ticket. It seems obvious to me. And I'm not the only one.
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Official Nomination-age
Friday, June 6, 2008
The Glaring Results Of Cultural Brainwashing.
Hey guess what, if two people who supported Clinton are quoted in a article, they represent the exact sentiments of every other person who supported Clinton! That's right. Obviously because this one woman felt that the Democratic party treated the candidates unequally and the other plans to vote for McCain over Obama, that must be how we all feel!
Well, that's what this glimmering beacon of political enlightenment seems to think.
Despite the fact that, well, Clinton's campaign was treated differently than Obama's by both Democrats and the mainstream media, if we call anyone out on it we're just whining because we think she was entitled.
Never mind the fact that Clinton herself said weeks ago how stupid it would be for her supporters to vote for McCain over Obama. At some point, some exit poll somewhere said that some Clinton supporters would vote McCain (I notice we failed to mention that nearly as many Obama supporters said the same thing)! And there's one person quoted in that article! zomg it's true for everyone!!!!!11111one
Run your eyes really fast from left to right over my banner. See me roll my eyes? I'm doing it for real, too.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
You've Probably Been Waiting For This.
Since the general assumption has been that I'm obsessed with the Clinton campaign, both of you reading this have probably wondered what my reaction to the final tally is.
First of all, I was never obsessed. I have an opinion and a preference and I'm not afraid to say what it is. But being in the minority in a lot of areas of my life, I was sought out as the go-to Clinton supporter and subsequently seen as a bastion of all knowledge and facts relating to her campaign. But obsessed? Not so much. Opinionated and obnoxious maybe.
Secondly, I have been saying since day one that I have no particular qualms with Barack Obama. In fact, come August (once the convention is over and his nomination is official) I will probably be sporting Obama campaign swag of some sort.
Trois, John Kerry wasn't my first choice in 2004 but I still voted for him. Of course, I voted by absentee ballot in Georgia so it probably wasn't counted anyway. But that's not the point.
I am, however, going to paste here something I just posted as a comment on Feministing. Basically I wrote about what the Clinton campaign (and the whole primary circus) taught me about this country.
It showed my how horrifyingly sexist our country still is. Even people I wouldn't have thought of as in any way misogynistic made comments about Clinton being "too political" or "too aggressive" and things of the same ilk, characteristics shared by all politicians but only lambasted in females.
It showed me that a woman can be the more experienced candidate but her career is taken far less seriously than a male competitor's is.
It showed me that a smart, strong, independent, qualified woman in a position of power still terrifies the American people at large.
I learned a woman can make a brilliant and intelligent speech or kick serious ass in a debate but the next day we will only her about her hairstyle, her pantsuit or her cleavage.
I learned you are either stony and emotionless or a hysterical woman; there is no middle ground.
I learned that if your husband cheats on you and you don't leave him, you are, by default, abusive to women and a sexual harasser. However, had you left him, you would be less of a woman or at least less qualified for the presidency for being divorced (that's my own speculation but I doubt anyone would disagree here).
I learned if your daughter helps you campaign, you are "pimping her out." Because there's no way that the daughter of a smart, strong woman would grow up to also be a smart, strong woman and be able to make her own decisions about politics.
I learned that the media's collective soft-kissing of a particular candidate can secure his future long before he ACTUALLY secures his future.
I learned that a female president will automatically attract terrorists, despite the fact that several countries we are allegedly fighting against have had women in positions of power, as have friendlier nations who have yet to be blown up for it.
I learned that people automatically assume that if you happen to choose the candidate that matches your sex or race (when there's actually an option other than white male) that is the only reason you are voting for them. It's not possible that you just prefer the candidate.
I learned that it's still OK to use derogatory sexist names and slurs while using parallel racial terms would earn you a one way trip to bloody-pulp-ville. Or banned-from-the-media-ville. Etc.
Mostly I learned that since the general public is still intimidated by smart, strong women, I should stand up and be one, not shut my mouth, not be a good little girl, and not take any of this sexist BS laying down, because if we just roll over and let it happen nothing will never change.
(I also decided that if Obama has any political savvy in him he'll pick Clinton for his veep, they would be completely unstoppable as a joint ticket in my opinion)
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
That's Exactly What I've Been Saying
While talking about the campaign, Hillary Clinton said precisely what I've been saying this whole time: it would be ridiculously stupid for her supporters to vote for McCain over Obama. And vice versa, it would be stupid for Obama's supporters to vote for McCain over her.
Because WHY would you vote for someone who's beliefs are 180 degrees away from yours when there is someone with a very similar platform to what you agree with right there just waiting for you to vote for them? Because isn't looking past someone's lack of experience or a minor deviation from your exact beliefs a better choice than someone with whom you have nothing in common?
I also agree with something else she said, which was that the Democrats will have a unified party once they have a nominee. I'm taking that to support my theory that the people who claim they would vote for McCain over their favorite are doing it out of some sort of hissy fit, or that they say that now but come November there's no way they'd pull the lever for a (pro-war, anti-choice, freedom-hating, Bush-imitating) Republican.
Also, I'm resigning myself to the idea that Obama will probably be the nominee. I know people out there think I'm obsessed with having Clinton win because I am not shy about the fact that I support and prefer her. Obama isn't a terrible candidate, he's just not my first choice. But hell, John Kerry wasn't my first choice in 2004 and I still voted and campaigned for him. Though I'm pretty sure my property won't be vandalized this time.
Having said that, I feel I should add a *woot* to West Virginia.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
On Being Ten Feet From Howard Dean
This is a little late, I apologize. But last week I went to a taping of The Daily Show. It was last Thursday, the episode that had Howard Dean as the guest. I thought that I'd walk you through the process.
First, you arrive and stand in line. You have to make reservations at the Daily Show Tickets page. Those come with the disclaimer that not every who makes a reservation will get in. It also suggest you arrive between 3:30 and 4:00. That's crap. On my first attempt to get in I arrived somewhere around 3:15 and was at the back of the line around the corner. They cut the line off about 10 or 15 people in front of me (*grumble*). That, however, worked out for the better, because if you get denied the first time you can e-mail them for VIP tickets that guarantee you a spot in the audience. Which is what I had last week.
With VIP tickets you don't have to get there quite as early. I believe 4:30 is the latest you can arrive and still be guaranteed a spot. I got there a little before 4:00 and stood and waited. At 4:30 (or 4:35 or 4:40...) they come down the VIP line and check your name off their list and give you a numbered ticket. I was #9. Yes, I made "Client 9" jokes. It was the right thing to do. Then you go through a security checkpoint. Metal detector and someone searching your bag. Like the airport without the condescension or attitude. Then you are corralled into a holding area while all 200 audience members go through security, and you stand there for about an hour total. Then they finally let you into the audience area (after making 2 or 3 announcements reminding you not to use electronic devices or take pictures, or to shout anything out during taping, etc) by your ticket number.
My party had really good seats. If you're facing the desk Jon Stewart sits at, we would be to the left (so, his right) in the second row. Pretty much as close as you can get without giving him a lapdance.
You sit there for another half-hour or so. There's a warm-up guy who comes out and makes fun of people in the audience and gives instructions about applause and all that. See, they don't use a laugh track. The audience is mic'd at half the volume Stewart is, so your reactions are what is used on the show. And you have to clap and cheer loud because of the half-volume thing.
So Jon Stewart comes out (woo) and talks/answers audience questions for a few minutes.
The taping starts. Little did I know, they do the entire show in a straight shot. They even have monitors hanging that play the pre-taped segments. It's exactly what you see on TV, only live. I was surprised by that initially, but I guess it makes sense for this particular show. It's scripted, but there's a little bit of ad-libbing and audience reaction that feeds it and is what makes it good.
So, on to Howard Dean. I was interested but not completely thrilled when I learned he was the guest. See, I don't agree with his decision to disenfranchise Florida and Michigan. Though I will say with his appearance I can sort of see where he's coming from, but I still think it's a huge mistake and very much smacks of what happened to Florida in 2000. Which I hate because he was one of my top choices in 2004, I think Edwards-Dean or Dean-Edwards would have been a better choice than Kerry-Edwards. Certainly more charismatic.
When he left (during the commercial break) Jon Stewart said a little something to the audience that to me sounded like he was pretty much thanking us for not booing Dean off the set. So that acknowledges the fact that I'm not the only liberal irked by his decision. Which I sort of already knew.
Anyway, after that, it was just like the end of the show. Wrap it up, Moment of Zen, out of there. Then the audience was ushered out.
It's a really cool experience. From a nerdy, "I love that show and anything that comes out of Jon Stewart's mouth" place as well as being interested in seeing how these things work behind the scenes.
Have some clips from that day's show (which, put together, are pretty much the entire show):
(I decided that John Oliver is by far my favorite of their current correspondents)
(I though this segent was kind of stupid, except when he asked if Clinton wore pantsuits when she was 3)
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Clinton Wins Pennsylvania!
It's been called by multiple sources. CNN, The New York Times, and Reuters.
Woo hoo!
See, here's the thing. People keep saying she's going to drop out any day now. They say it's coming; she hasn't got a prayer.
WRONG.
She's behind by less than 130 delegates. Know what that is? NOTHING. Pennsylvania alone has 188. And there are more primaries to go. Seven states, Puerto Rico and Guam still remain. That's 501 more delegates. And if you add in PA it's 689 (since we don't know exactly how the delegates will be divided yet). Say they split the remaining races exactly down the middle. If you take their current delegate standings (Clinton 1541 and Obama 1679) and added half (344) to either of them, it's still a razor thin margin. If that were the case, Obama would have 2023 and Clinton would have 1885.
Obama would be ahead, but that's still 2 delegates shy of sealing the deal*.
Basically, what I'm saying is, at this point it would be beyond stupid for her to drop out of the race. Especially with tonight's Pennsylvania victory, the margin between them is so tight there's no telling who's going to come out the winner.
We aren't going to know for sure until August, people (person?). We may have an idea when all the primaries are over in June, but I'm not taking anything to heart until the actual convention and official nomination.
*I realize I am not addressing any remaining superdelegates with this. But my point would stay the same. It's still too close to know, and it would be insane to drop out at this point. No superdelegates were harmed in the making of this post.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Feminism and the Clinton Campaign
New York Magazine has a great article this week about the effects of Clinton's campaign on modern feminism. It makes a lot of good points, the most notable of which is that, even if Clinton doesn't get the nomination and become the first woman president, she has started a national dialog and opened up a lot of people's eyes to how sexist our society really is.
Too many people thought that past waves of feminism had cured the U.S. of it's misogynistic ways, but they didn't realize that just because they didn't experience anything overt in their daily lives doesn't mean it isn't happening elsewhere. Besides, what they perceive as equal is still sexist because differences between genders are still noted. Women's successes and failures are still seen as successes or failures of their gender as opposed to the individual. Sexist and derogatory remarks are still made around the office, and covered up as "jokes." Women are still judged for their appearance hundreds of times more than men are. Pay is still unequal. Etc. I don't think I need to continue.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Friday, March 14, 2008
Candidates and Choice
Hillary Clinton: good, pro-choice. NARAL rating: 100% (rated since 2001)
Barack Obama: good, pro-choice. NARAL rating: 100% (rated since 2005)
John McCain: you probably don't want to know. *runs screaming into the night...or Canada* NARAL rating: 0% (rated since 1987, there were 4 years he did not score zero: 1992, 1993, 1997, 1998, where he was either 5% or 10%)
We need a pro-choice President. There is no question about it.
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Rush Limbaugh is a Tool, Part Deux
CNN's Political Ticker reported yesterday that Clinton said she would love to be part of a "dream ticket" of both her and Obama. I've pretty much been saying all along that that's what it should be. I think we should have Clinton-Obama in 2008, then re-elect them in 2012, then Obama should run for President in 2016 (and 2020). He would have 8 years as veep to remedy his lack of experience, and the U.S. would have 16 years chock full of awesome.
So where does Rushy-Rush play into this? With idiotic comments, of course.
Limbaugh claims that the ticket "wouldn't have a prayer" because "a woman and a black" wouldn't be something the country is ready for. Excusing me for quoting Scrubs, but I gagged and vomited at the same time. I gavomited.
I wonder what he'd say if it were Ann Coulter and Colin Powell? I don't know who he'd say it to, of course, since most of the country would probably flee in terror.
I'll close with an amusing picture I found on Google:
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Also, In Case You Missed It
I didn't know about SNL until after.
Here are Hillary's appearances on Saturday Night Live and The Daily Show (the writers are back, so it's "the" again, right?):
Part 1:
Part 2:
As Ohio Goes, So Goes The Nation
Let's hope that statement is accurate. Watch Clinton speak after her victories last night.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Rush Limbaugh is a Tool (I Know, That's Not Really News)
He seems to think republicans should "cross over" and vote for Hillary because then his party will have a better chance in November.
And he actually said "I want Hillary to stay in this…this is too good a soap opera."
Oi.
I hope his listeners DO go vote for Clinton. Because then when she creams them in November he can eat his words. I hear words go well with painkillers.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Obama's Sad Attmepts To Pander To The Right
According to Shakesville, Obama plans to appoint Republicans to key positions in his cabinet.
I know what some will say. Hillary Clinton says she will use Colin Powell to "hit the road on her behalf". The difference? Her idea is only to use him as a diplomat, not to appoint him to any official position.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Couldn't Have Said It Better Myself
There is a fantastic article on Cleveland.com about Hillary Clinton. It's called We Bruise Out Daughters When We Bash Hillary Clinton.
But wait.
Before you go "you don't have to like Clinton to be a feminist" or "voting for Obama doesn't make me sexist" go read the article. Every word. Especially the sentence "I don't think every woman should support Hillary Clinton just because she's a woman."
It's not about unquestioningly voting for Clinton because of gender. It's about the damage caused when she is judged inconsistently with her male opponents because of her gender and how that effects little girls and their views of what they will be able to do when they grow up.
It's a fantastic article. Go read it.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Tina Fey Has Been Promoted to Goddess
Tina Fey did an awesome bit on Saturday Night Live this week talking about Hillary Clinton.
Excerpt:
Maybe what bothers me the most is that people say that Hillary is a bitch.
Let me say something about that: Yeah, she is.
And so am I and so is this one. (pointing to Amy Poehler)
POEHLER: Yeah, deal with it.
FEY: Know what? Bitches get stuff done.
That's why catholic schools use nuns as teachers instead of priests.
Those nuns are mean old clams and they sleep on cots and they're allowed to hit you.
At the end of the school year you HATED those bitches
but you KNEW the capital of Vermont!
So COME ON Texas and Ohio
Get on board, it's not too late!...
BITCH IS THE NEW BLACK!
On top of this, SNL did a skit poking fun at the media (especially CNN) for their Obama worship by having a debate in which the moderators are all "Obamaniacs" and ask him ridiculous questions like "Can I get you anything?" while at the same time not actually asking Hillary anything except to talk about what states she's lost to Obama. It went on a little long and got sort of annoying, but the general idea behind it was hilarious.
It was hard to find that online, by the way. NBC apparently had a hissy fit so it's not on YouTube anymore. So if that video suddenly stops working, it's probably for the same reason and I apologize in advance.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Calling "Shenanigans" On The Media's Portrayal Of Clinton
I found this really fantastic article about Hillary Clinton and all of the hypocrisy, sexism, and violence directed at her campaign. You can go read the whole thing, but I'll put a few of my favorite lines here:
"Hillary is too ballsy but too womanly, a Snow Maiden who’s emotional, and so much a politician as to be unfit for politics."
"When a sexist idiot screamed “Iron my shirt!” at HRC, it was considered amusing; if a racist idiot shouted “Shine my shoes!” at BO, it would’ve inspired hours of airtime and pages of newsprint analyzing our national dishonor."
"Goodbye to the most intimately violent T-shirts in election history, including one with the murderous slogan “If Only Hillary had married O.J. Instead!”"
"So goodbye to conversations about this nation’s deepest scar—slavery—which fail to acknowledge that labor- and sexual-slavery exist today in the U.S. and elsewhere on this planet, and the majority of those enslaved are women."
"[Goodbye to] the notion that it’s fun to elect a handsome, cocky president who feels he can learn on the job, goodbye to George W. Bush and the destruction brought by his inexperience, ignorance, and arrogance. Goodbye to the accusation that HRC acts “entitled” when she’s worked intensely at everything she’s done—including being a nose-to-the-grindstone, first-rate senator from my state."
Yeah, it's a really good article.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
This Just In: Kansas and Louisiana Rapists To Be Released From Jail
They must want that, since those two states went to Huckabee, Lover of Rapists. The only positive thing is that I don't think he'd have a chance in the general election.
Obama also took a few states. The Democratic race is still really close, Obama has 1,039 and Clinton has 1,100 according to CNN.
On another note, I've noticed that Obama's supporters are a lot less friendly than Clinton's. Anyone else? I've actually had someone ask me if I was voting for Clinton because I don't like the black man. And I've had people yell at me on the street for having a Hillary button on my bag. I've seen lots of people with Obama buttons, and none of them get harassed. And I think you'd be hard-pressed to find someone who'd ask you if you hate women because you have an Obama button on. So lighten up, people. We're on the same side for Christ's sake! Every Clinton supporter I know says they will vote for Obama if he gets the nomination. I can't imagine the Obama people would vote for a Republican if Hillary gets it, so let's stop the accusations and rudeness. Can't we leave the mudslinging and immaturity to the Republicans?
Friday, February 8, 2008
Campaigning For Your Own Mother, The Horror!
Miraculously, the daughter of a strong, outspoken woman has grown into a strong, outspoken woman. How did that happen?
There was nothing wrong with Alexandra Kerry campaigning for her dad. Even her Cannes dress snafu was forgiven.
There's nothing wrong with the Bush twins' support of their father. Plus, no complaints about the parading of one's engagement to seem like a wholesome American family.
When John Edwards would bring his young children out, no one thought anything of it.
Michelle Obama is perfectly within her right to campaign for her husband.
Yet somehow, according to MSNBC's David Shuster, Chelsea Clinton is being "pimped" by her mother. Oh no, she didn't make her own choice as an adult (she's 27!). She couldn't possibly support her mother because, you know, she agrees with her policies or anything. She couldn't be relishing the fact that her own mother could very likely become the first female President (I couldn't be the only one that gets chills any time I read or write that). Nope. She's being pimped by her mother.
Like Chelsea hasn't put up with enough? Spending her teenage years (which are awkward for everyone) under constant scrutiny for her looks and had every tiny thing she did in the newspaper (like breaking up with a boyfriend, since she's the first girl to ever do that) weren't enough? Now she can't even support her own mother without MSNBC calling her "unseemly"? Gag me.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Super-Duper-Megatron Tuesday, Democratic Indesicion Edition
Technically, Hillary Clinton is still ahead, delegate-wise. But seriously not by much. We at least have to wait for the last few states with primaries (Ohio, Pennsylvania and Texas are the biggies). Ohio and Pennsylvania are both expected to go to Clinton, but in this race, who even knows what's happening anymore. Predictions are worth very little these days. It's like the Super Bowl, and I hope New York prevails in this game too.
I have a feeling we won't be certain who the official nominee is until the actual Democratic Convention. It wouldn't surprise me if we had no clue until the speaker actually uttered the person's name. Part of me wants to pass out now and wake up in late August just in time to hear the nomination speech.
I seriously think that whichever one gets the official nomination should choose the other for their (*cough* her) running mate. McCain and whatever white dude schmo he picks for veep wouldn't stand a chance.
