Old Women Bruhs

What is the old white woman version of the word "bro?"

Gloria Steinem--second wave feminist icon--totally stepped in it when she tried to old-splain why young women were not supporting democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

Women are more for [Clinton] than men are. Men tend to get more conservative because they gain power as they age, women get more radical because they lose power as they age. 

They’re going to get more activist as they grow older. And when you’re younger, you think: ‘Where are the boys? The boys are with Bernie.’ --More here.

I kinda get her motivation. She's like, "Damn! I just might see a woman elected president of the United States in my lifetime! And I don't have any idea why young women are not wanting this, too!"

Classic and historical problem with American 2nd Wave feminism--white, middle class, educated and tone deaf to the needs of the women who are not them.

Now, Steinem did take it back. Using the classic and historical excuse of "misspeaking."

But still, insulting people who you want on your side because they disagree with you just might be the problem.

Making Fun of Yourself--If You Can

I really liked Kanye poking fun of himself--liked it really alot--on Saturday Night Live on Saturday.



I like Kanye anyway. When people talk about his oversized ego, I don't think that they have sat through any of his CD's. The man has alot of big feelings, is passionate about his art, and, he can really make a beat. In all of his big-head phoniness, he comes off to me as a real person.

Contrast that with another Chi-town transplant, Ms. Hil. Jon Stewart had a time with her, and her very squirrely laughing.

I know, as Kanye says, it's the media that makes it bad--cutting and splicing. Heck she might not have really even been there.

But when Hil is being touted as perhaps the next Al Gore--I get the shivers.

"Like the former vice president, she often came across as a pontificator and an automaton — in contrast to the personable and humorous person she is known to be off-camera. And she seemed especially evasive when dealing with questions requiring human reflection instead of wonkery." (Frank Rich, NYT)

Here is some important data points for all potential presidents:

1. Remember that the wonky Al Gore LOST. Becoming real after the election is simply too late.
   
2. Be more like Kanye. He makes mistakes, but for all his Louis Vuitton-isms, he seems more real than the whole lot put together. (Get that Barack?)
   

Missing Link

The House and Senate both flipped based on Tuesday's election. With all the hoopla about concessions and successions, resignations and designations, hand shakes and half baked, I am focused on a missing link.

Or should I say, missing Linc. Lincoln Chafee, the defeated Republican Senator from Rhode Island, that is.

Did you know that Chafee stood apart from all Republicans and most Dems on the October 2002 Iraq War resolution? Chafee, Russ Feingold & Ted Kennedy on one side. Shumer, Clinton, Edwards, Kerry, and the entire Republican Senate delegation strongly behind the White House on the other (The Vote).

Did you know that Chafee thinks that global warming is real and needs to be addressed? Is against drilling for oil in the Arctic? (On the environment)

Did you know that Chafee didn't vote for Bush in 2004? Although he did say that he couldn't vote for Kerry. (NYTimes)

Did you know that 63% of the people who voted in Rhode Island on Tuesday said they approved of him. And 51% said he was about right on the issues (CNN Exit Polls). So, most people who voted in Rhode Island approved of his work and agreed with him on the issues.

I must be getting old and soft, but this Senate turnover is a bit bittersweet when legislators who are doing the bidding of their constituents--and provide a moderate voice to their party--lose out. Somehow I think we all lose a little on some level. Where is the roadmap to bi-parisanship? I need to think on this.