When Kathleen Parker Suggests You Go

Although it sometimes leads to butting head with many feminists, I like the idea of feminism being the simple idea that women are human beings deserving of equal treatment under the law and equal pay. Everything after that is debatable. Today feminists from both parties can come together as Kathleen Parker suggests that Sarah Palin bow out of the race. Palin's candidacy insults all women. It's not having a woman nominee for any office that matters. It's having a qualified nominee. If that nominee is a woman, then so much the better for our democracy's ability to expand the number of voices in the conversation. Palin was nominated because of her gender, not because of her policies (although that whole praying for the pipeline thing probably excited the base) or because of her qualifications.

I keep hoping that when the glass ceiling is finally smashed, it will happen because the candidate is a qualified, poised, smart elected official who happens to be a woman.

"There are times when you are simply required to be impolite."

I've been on a bit of a West Wing binge lately and this Sorkin-imagined conversation between Pres. Bartlet and Sen. Obama definitely hits the spot.

Of Hunters and NASCAR

My Virginia Demcrats weekend reminded me just how in-touch our party can be. But let's keep working on it.

Ralph Stanley for President?

Bluegrass legend Dr. Ralph Stanley just endorsed Barack Obama during a campaign stop in Lebanon, Virginia. If you don't know who Ralph Stanley is, you might be an eltist. In addition to all of his amazing banjo pickin', Stanley also sang "O Death" in the Cohen brother's film O Brother Where Art Thou? This endorsement really could go a long way with Appalachian voters.

Roundup

There isn't too much I can say about last night's fairly quiet, but rhetorically interesting, speech that hasn't already been said.

But I do have to say that, optimistically, I have a renewed sense of love for this country and democracy in general. The last eight years have been rough for civil liberties, minorities, women, people in poverty, and pretty much every other marginalized group in this nation. But we're still standing. Even after eight years of failed leadership, we still have a place where free elections are the norm and there is still a modicum of respect for the Bill of Rights among everyday people. Is that silly or simplistic or naive? So be it; it gets me to the voting booth.

Oh, and watch this:

Priceless

A small apology from the media directed at Gov. Palin.

Language and the GOP

So I'm sitting in my disaster of a new kitchen watching the RNC and, maybe it's just the English major in me, but I'm growing increasingly frustrated with their use of rhetoric. There was just a "detailed" 45-second spot on how McCain will save America by "putting prosperity first." Are you serious? Who isn't for prosperity? And just how do you balance putting prosperity first with the speech former EBay CEO Meg Whitman gave on how government can't solve your problems. If they can't solve your problems, how can they put prosperity anywhere in the line-up? This might just be a preaching to the choir post, but it's this sort of doublethink that brought us wars on terror and drugs and other intangibles that can't actually be defeated.