feminist blogs

Ok, I was wrong. Whilst I supported Diane Abbott at the beginning of the campaign trail, before the campaign had really begun, because of what she stood for – her campaign has been so bad I really can’t continue to say that I think she would be the best person for the job. I mean, none of the candidates are really that good, a candidate made up of pieces of each candidate would be better. But consider the news that as few as 11 MPs will be voting for Abbott, it is a sure reflection of how negative and regressive her message has been. Instead of focusing on the future, on what she can offer, she focused on herself and her, whilst being good, voting record.

I am not really sure who I would back if I was pressed for a decision now. Most likely, it would be Ed Miliband, as he seems the most able to unite a progressive vision without creating too many internal divisions within the party. But, Andy Burnham has had some progressive tax ideas, and Ed Balls has a very competent economic message. Nevertheless, the former would be better staying at health, undertaking his National Social Care system (great idea) whereas the latter would be best put as shadow chancellor.  When it comes to David Miliband however, I know I would definitely vote against (well, tactically anyway – giving its AV). If Labour want to avoid going back to the days of Blair, where progressive values are mere ethical objections – then they need to stay well clear of him.

Nevertheless, I have come to the decision that none of them are really that path breaking, and I can’t really see any of them remaining a long-term prestigious leader. I just hope whoever the leader is they are set on carving out a progressive alternative to the current ConDem message, and that they don’t buy into the right-wing ideological necessity argument.

And yes, I can sit on the fence :)

At long last, the question we've long wondered here at TGW moves to the New York Times.

Yet more scary fear and loathing of Muslims in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The small uptight college town is 35 miles from Nashville:

Ben Goodwin of the Rutherford County Sheriff's Department confirmed to CBS Affiliate WTVF that the fire, which burned construction equipment at the future site of the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro, is being ruled as arson.

Special Agent Andy Anderson of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives told CBS News that the fire destroyed one piece of construction equipment and damaged three others. Gas was poured over the equipment to start the fire, Anderson said. . .

"No mosque in Murfreesboro. I don't want it. I don't want them here," Evy Summers said to WTVF. "Go start their own country overseas somewhere. This is a Christian country. It was based on Christianity."

UPDATE: Authorities investigate shots fired near Islamic Center site

Politics Feminist News Gender

Of the many people who did not or could not evacuate New Orleans in the face of Hurricane Katrina, prisoners were especially helpless.  Seven thousand prisoners, including 100 juveniles, were in New Orleans Prison when Katrina hit landfall.  Prisoners were generally not evacuated and the flood waters created the conditions for a hideous human rights tragedy.  Drawing on a report from the ACLU, political scientist Caroline Heldman writes:

Many reported being left in their cells while the water rose above their heads; being beaten and sprayed with mace once evacuated (to state maximum security prisons); and left on Interstate-10 in the hot sun for days without food or water. An entire building with about 600 prisoners was left behind in the evacuation process and weren’t rescued for days (Quigley, 2006). Most of the 7,000 prisoners had been charged with misdemeanor offenses and would have been released within a few weeks, even if convicted. But Governor Blanco effectively suspended habeas corpus (due process; right to a speedy trial) for six months, so some were incarcerated for over a year – doing “Katrina time” (Flaherty, 2006). “The court system shut its doors, the police department fell into disarray, few prosecutors remained, and a handful of public defenders could not meet with, much less represent, the thousands detained” (Garrett & Tetlow, 2006).

(source)

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This photo of prisoners guarded on I-10 was taken more than two days after the storm:

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This hour-long BBC video documents their experiences:

(View original at http://thesocietypages.org/socimages)

Sometimes, I know I like something, but I don’t know why. I could be enjoying a cabernet sauvignon, for example, and then someone with a better palate than mine says, “This is so deep and rich. So many tannins. Do you taste the chocolate?” And bingo! It all becomes clear. And so it is with [...]

"I don't really regret anything. But the only thing I wish I wouldn't have done is put out that apology, 'cause it kind of makes me sound like a liar. And I've never lied about anything. So that's probably the only thing. The rest of the stuff I can live with."

Politics News Gender

OR:

It is really discouraging to do feminist work sometimes. It seems like there are a thousand people working against equality for every person working towards it. When I talk to my peers, it becomes obvious that a lot of people have accepted sexism as a fact of life. But looking back on important milestones in feminist history helps. It helps to know that despite the fact that a lot of bigoted policies are still out there, the feminist movement has made huge advances in the last 100 years. A woman nearly won the democratic nomination for president, we now head two-thirds of American families, and we have a female Speaker of the House.

Speaking of which, Nancy Pelosi wrote an article today celebrating this anniversary while urging women to vote. I did a lot of voter registration work this summer and I can attest that not nearly enough women (particularly young women) vote in off-year elections. So celebrate this anniversary by voting and reading the below Susan B. Anthony quotes which I included out of hero worship.

"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."

"The fact is, women are in chains, and their servitude is all the more debasing because they do not realize it."

"[T]here never will be complete equality until women themselves help to make laws and elect lawmakers."

"I can't say that the college-bred woman is the most contented woman. The broader her mind the more she understands the unequal conditions between men and women, the more she shafes under a government that tolerates it."

Creepy.


via Palingates and Mediaite

Politics Liberal News Gender

The White House says Alan Simpson's job as Social Security axeman is safe:

"We accept his apology and he will continue to serve."

Cause Obama only fires people when right-wingers demand it.

Politics Liberal News