Happy International Women’s Day!
I’ll just shut up and let them do the talking…
"We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men and women are created equal."
---Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Declaration of Rights and Sentiments(1845)
“It was we, the people; not we, the white male citizens; nor yet we, the male citizens; but we, the whole people, who formed the Union” ... “Men, their rights and nothing more; women, their rights and nothing less.”
---Susan B. Anthony
“If you say, ‘I’m for equal pay,’ that’s a reform. But if you say, ‘I’m a feminist,’ that’s a transformation of society.”
---Gloria Steinem
"Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of the husbands. Remember all men would be tyrants if they could. If particular care and attention is not paid to the ladies we are determined to foment a rebellion, and will not hold ourselves bound by any laws in which we have no voice, or representation."
---Abigail Adams
“Hey Manafort, Cohen, Flynn, Gates, Papadopoulos, and Stone: its truth telling time, and the truth will free your heart and soul—but no guarantees freedom from prison time.”
---Rep. Maxine Waters
“At present, our country needs women's idealism and determination, perhaps more in politics than anywhere else.”
---Shirley Chisholm
"I love to see a young girl go out and grab the world by the lapels. Life's a bitch. You've got to go out and kick ass.”
---Maya Angelou
Cheers and Jeers starts below the fold...[Swoosh!!] RIGHTNOW! [Gong!!]
Cheers and Jeers for Friday, March 8, 2019
C&J Scheduling Note: Well halle-frickin'-lujah, the end is in sight. Our six months of chemotherapy comes to an end Monday when, after we post an early C&J, the ox cart hauls our bloated carcass up the hill one last time to Mercy Hospital for our final 48-hour infusion. So that means we'll be wiped out Tuesday and Wednesday, Thursday will be iffy, but we'll definitely be back on Friday. After that, lord willing, it'll be smooth sailing for the remaining 40 years of this column (at least I hope I'll be able to retire at 95.) Thanks for your patience through this rude ordeal. It was very naughty of us and we promise not to do it again. ---Mgt.
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By the Numbers:
Days 'til Ruth Bader Ginsburg's birthday: 7
Days 'til the Oregon Cheese Festival in Central Point: 8
Rank of Sen. Kamala Harris among the announced 2020 Democratic primary candidates in terms of who got the biggest bump in the polls (8 points) in the week following their announcement, according to FiveThirtyEight: #1
Percent of Americans in the new Quinnipiac poll who support erasing criminal records for possession or use of marijuana: 63%
Percent of adults in the same poll who support background checks on all gun purchases: 93%
TV channel range to which cable company Spectrum has moved Maine's local-access programming in an effort to starve it, which has prompted a backlash and possible legal action: 1300+
Number of rivets in the Eiffel Tower: 2,500,000
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Special International Women’s Day Molly Ivins Moment
Women of America. This Sunday, April 25. Washington, D.C. The March for Women's Lives. Be there.
This is it. It's all on the line now. Everyone who thinks she's too old, too tired and has done this too many times before, be there. Everyone who has never been to a women's march, who thought all the rights had long since been secured, who thinks feminism is old hat and has nothing to do with your life, be there. Bring your daughters, mothers, nieces, friends, husbands, sons and significant others. If you can't be there, get in touch with a local women's organization and help raise money for a "scholarship" to send someone else to represent you. […]
Mountains of research show the quality of women's lives is directly connected to family planning. Our ability to get education, make money and participate as citizens depends on our ability to control the number of children we have.
---April, 2004
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Puppy Pic of the Day: Eleanor and Fala...
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CHEERS to the fairer equal sex. Happy International Women's Day! I don’t have enough fingers to count on, so I'll just take a wild guess that this is the eleventy billionth one since the first one in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland in 1911. There were commemorations, marches and demonstrations around the world today to remind the menfolk (you paying attention, husbands and bosses and politicians?) that this here planet don’t function so good without both sexes working equally. Organizers asked that you wear something purple today. If, instead, you chose to mark the occasion by running around in a red MAGA hat, it’s no problem: please stay where you are and a complimentary purple nurple will be dispensed forthwith.
JEERS to a slap on the wrist. Look that phrase up in the dictionary, and after yesterday's sentencing of Paul Manafort to 47 measly months, you'll find a photo of Judge T.S. Ellis next to it.
His dereliction of duty is destined to end up in the Travesty of Justice Hall of Fame. But there are a few positive things I can think of to slightly ameliorate the outrage. 1) We still get to chant "Locked him up! Locked him up!" 2) He's still going to spend 47 more months in jail than Hillary Clinton ever will, which will drive Trump a little closer to an aorta explosion, and 3) Next week Manafort will be sentenced again in a D.C. court. And this time, Judge Amy Berman Jackson will hand down an appropriately-harsh sentence to Captain Ostrich Coat. Because when you want a job done right, leave it to the women.
CHEERS to walking and chewing gum at the same time. Republican males, clumsy practitioners of false choices that they are, have this bizarre argument that says Democrats in the House can either legislate or hold oversight hearings, but they can't possibly do both at the same time---cuz there ain't 'nuff hours in thuh day!!! Let's see how well first woman-to-win-the-speakership-twice Nancy Pelosi is taking their mandate to heart. This all happened this week alone:
» The Homeland Security Committee grilled DHS director Kirstjen Nielsen on her and her boss's immigration policies made up of 50% heartlessness and 50% cluelessness.
» They passed H.R. 1, the historic election and ethics reform bill. Not a single Republican voted for it.
» Michael Cohen testified behind closed doors, providing---quite literally---suitcases full of evidence to the Intelligence committee
» The House Financial Services Committee shined a light on the wrecking ball the Trump administration has taken to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
» Oh, hey, lookie here! The House also introduced legislation to roll back the corrupt FCC chairman's rollback of net neutrality protections.
» The House Judiciary Committee held hearings on protecting Dreamers and TPS recipients, and chairman Jerry Nadler issued document requests from 81 associates of the Trump crime syndicate.
» House Intelligence Committee chairman Adam Schiff introduced legislation that would prevent the abuse of the presidential pardon.
» The House Oversight Committee is investigating credible accusations of voter suppression in the Georgia governor's election.
» And they even had time to make the noble opposition look like the bigots and racists they are by putting their generic anti-hate resolution on the floor and watching as 23 Republicans voted against it.
Major legislation, major oversight, and owning the Freedom Caucus to boot. Say it with me, class: "Please proceed, Madam Speaker."
CHEERS to supporting the troops. Speaking of powerful, compassionate women, happy 77th anniversary to Blue Star Mothers of America, a dedicated non-political, non-religious group of…
"…mothers, stepmothers, grandmothers, foster mothers and female legal guardians who have children serving in the military, guard or reserves, or children who are veterans. We support each other and our children while promoting patriotism. Our organization focuses on our mission every single day and will never, ever, forsake our troops, our veterans or the families of our Fallen Heroes.
True fact: the Metthees family of Goodhue, Minnesota had the most children serving at one time: three in the Army, two in the Navy and two in the Air Force. (They all made it home safe.) I can guarantee you this: there will come a day when BSMA is no longer necessary because our country is no longer throwing our men and women into conflicts as cannon fodder for the comfort of the well-manicured political class. I hear the earth will be absorbed into the sun in 7.5 billion years. That’ll probably do it. (Although given the tenacity of our military-industrial complex, better make it an even eight billion.)
CHEERS to the original plastic diva. 60 years ago this week, Ruth Handler's "Barbie" doll made its debut at the American Toy Fair in New York. Today she's a billion-plus-dollar-a-year industry for Mattel, thanks in part to expanding the colors, shapes and sizes she comes in, and special collectible editions like the “Role Models” collection to commemorate their 60th anniversary and International Women’s Day:
In its 60th year, the Barbie brand is honoring the largest lineup of global female role models and taking the next step to close the Dream Gap by donating to fund like-minded organizations aimed at leveling the playing field for girls through the Mattel Children's Foundation. Research has shown that starting at age five, girls start doubting their potential, this is the Dream Gap.
"For 60 years, Barbie has championed girls, inspired generations to believe through make believe and showed them that they have choices," said Lisa McKnight, General Manager and Senior Vice President, Barbie. "The Barbie brand believes girls should never know a world, job, or dream women haven't conquered."
As I recall, when I was a kid my job was to distract Barbie so Ken and G.I. Joe could sneak off for some clandestine cuddle time. Their eventual coming-out and garden wedding was beautiful. Right up until the the barn owls snatched 'em.
P.S. Speaking of role models, wanna see something super cool? History was made yesterday:
We should make more history like that. Soon.
CHEERS to home vegetation. Rumor has it there's stuff on TV this weekend and I guess I'll take them at their word.
After Chris Hayes and Rachel Maddow do that thing they do tonight, Bill Maher's guests on Real Time are conservative hack Noah Rothman, Jonathan Alter, Michael Steele, conservative hack Mary Katherine Ham and hackiest conservative hack ever Matt Schlapp. (On second thought, probably best to stay on MSNBC and catch Lawrence O’Donnell instead.) New home video releases include Creed II and Olivia Colman's Oscar-winning turn in The Favourite. The NBA schedule is here and the NHL schedule is here. Idris Elba hosts SNL. On 60 Minutes: the ACLU's evolution in the age of Trump. Marge takes up kite boarding on The Simpsons. Sunday at 9, CBS airs Aretha! A Grammy Celebration for the Queen of Soul. (Spoiler Alert: It's about Aretha Franklin.) And John Oliver,whose piece on automation last week was another classic deep dive, wraps up the week with a nudge-nudge, wink-wink on HBO's Last Week Tonight.
Now here's your Sunday morning lineup:
This Week: TBA
Face the Nation: Former deputy Secretary of State William Burns hawks a book, as does former deputy FBI Director Andrew McCabe; 2020 candidate Gov. John Hickenlooper (CO); Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA).
Meet the Press: 2020 not-a-candidate Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH); House Intelligence Chair Adam Schiff (D-CA); Rep. Liz “Bomb Them All” Cheney (R-WY).
CNN's State of the Union: 2020 candidates Gov. Jay Inslee and former HUD Secretary Julian Castro; Reps. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) and Will Hurd (R-TX).
Fox GOP Talking Points Sunday: White House economic Fox News plant Larry Kudlow; Rep. Katie Hill (D-CA).
Happy viewing!
P.S. Opening in theaters this weekend: a movie about a superhero whose primary power is hurling ancient Greek columns at the villains. I can't wait to get in line to see Captain Marble.
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Ten years ago in C&J: March 8, 2009
CHEERS to in-sourcing. The IRS says it's shutting down its practice of hiring private collection agencies to go after people who owe back taxes. Their sorry excuse: government employees kick the contractors’ butts. In related news, private nose-picking companies also lost their gigs because Republicans in Congress outperformed them 20 to 1.
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And just one more…
CHEERS (or, if you hate it, JEERS) to emerging from the dark times. I know, I know…for many of you Daylight Saving Time sucks. But up here where global warming is a hoax, it's a real shot in the arm to get that extra hour of daylight, and well worth the excruciating childbirth-like pain of losing an hour of sleep. So here's the deal: make a note to turn your clocks ahead an hour Sunday morning. Or better yet, make a note to tell someone else in your house to do it because you're sick of always being the one who has to do it.
As usual, Democrats on Capitol Hill will help their Republican colleagues set their pocket watches. If left to do it themselves, they won’t stop until they've turned 'em back fifty years.
Have a great weekend. Floor's open...What are you cheering and jeering about today?
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