Democratic Diva

Slade Mead over at The Dry Heat has a pretty condescending post about what Obama should do about thorn in his side Hillary Clinton. As if she’s just a nuisance that he needs to figure out what to do with. Bottom line, he does not have the delegates to win as long as she’s in the race, nor will he. For all the talk about change and getting away from the same tired politics, this sounds pretty much like good old boy politics to me.

I work for one of the most incredible women I have ever know.  She is strong, a straight talker and one of the best mentors I have ever had.  She has this saying and I won’t say the entire thing here but let’s put it this way….when it is time to go to war she will say, “It is time to man up, put your #$%A  on the outside of your dockers and let’s go to war.”  It cracks me up, it is more symbolism than anything else the we need to be bold and stand up for what we believe in.  I believe in Hillary, and I believe she can and will beat McCain.  She has heard since Iowa that it is time for her to get out.  To all of you male media pundits….let me share a something with you….SHE IS NOT GETTING OUT!  She is in it to win it, because she believes she is the best candidate to lead the United States.  Let me say that again, she believes she is the best candidate to lead the United States. 

You can agree or disagree with me, it doesn’t really matter, because Hillary believes.  I work with and volunteer with a “few” women candidates.  Why do I work with and volunteer for them?  Because they believe they are the best candidate to represent their district.  Period!  If you are a candidate and you don’t think you can win, get out of the race.  If you think you can win, you don’t give up.  If you are in the race you give it all you have, you have to believe in yourself even if the media doesn’t.   Even if you don’t win you gave it you all and you deliver a message and talk about the issues that care most to you.  If you are in a competitive or “lop-sided” race people will always be saying things mostly behind your back or to the media they will rarely so it to you.

I am proud of Hillary, and I will stand with her till the end, because I believe she can and will win.  Let’s face it, we all know what an uphill battle it is to get the first woman or first African American man elected to be the President of the United States.  If anyone thought it would be an easy task then let me have a drink of that!  We knew it would be hard so we just need to stand up and believe in our cadidate and my candidate is Hillary. 

I hear all thim that a certain candidate does not stand a chance or that they should wait, if they believe they can win, have looked at all the numbers then don’t let the media talk you out of running and winning.  Look at what good candidates do to win, they give up all their free time and put themselves out there and they make huge sacrifices.   Shouldn’t we go to the wall for them and believe in them as much if not more than they believe in themselves?  They are the one who has given so much up so we should stand with them and for them! 

I am ready to ”man up” and keep fighting for Hillary because just like in Iowa, she said, if you will stand up for me today, I will go to the White House and stand up for you everyday.  I am standing with you Hillary.  I know it is an uphill battle, I know the numbers look discouraging, but what is the worst that can happen?  A competitive primary in a few more states where we increase voter registration for democrats, that voters in WV, OR, MT, etc are excited to go vote and the possibility that they meet Hillary or Obama along the way?  I just ask that they both talk about the issues don’t get personal and have FUN!   After June 3rd, let’s see where things are.  Until then, let’s hope Hillary having the courage to run encourages a few other women to run.

I just got back from San Francisco where we spent the 3 full days looking back and looking forward about Emerge!  I am so proud of what we are doing not only in Arizona but around the country.  We are certainly a training program for future candidate but we are MORE!  We are also working to create a culture of women supporting women at all levels.  This support is at many levels.  By supporting with networking, volunteering, raising and giving money and to be there when they need us.  When we look at the leaders of Emerge we are working to train them in confronting conflict and being all around great leaders. 

I was part of the founding of Emerge in the bay area and helped to replicate it in Arizona.  Since then we formed Emerge America in 2006 and now have programs in 7 states.  We all that we do with very little money and a lot of hard work.  What is very unique is the women involved all have a very common goal:  to help women achieve their political dreams. 

I think the dem diva’s are a living example of what we are achieving with Emerge.  We are all supporting each other and our support of the candidates.  We respect each other and although we are supporting different candidates we still support each other.  Way to go Emerge Network, we are creating a network that is breaking down barriers to running for office. 

By the way if you know of someone who should run for office, ask them, “Have you ever thought of running for office?”  Let them know about Emerge and encourage them to apply.  Women need to be asked and if you know of an amazing woman let’s put that idea in her head to run for office.  We can and will change the “good old boys club” with the “new woman’s network”. 

For those who do not know about Emerge Arizona google it, it is a great training.

That’s not what his piece in the AZ Republic was titled, but it might as well have been.   It had the more benign heading of “A free market approach to housing crisis”.  As every smart Diva knows, “free market” is GOP-speak for “I got mine, screw you”. This is the operating credo behind Shadegg’s helpful solution for cash-strapped Americans with ballooning mortgage payments in a troubled economy. But John wants you think he cares, so he’s willing to throw you a bone, although you don’t deserve it because you are a woefully irresponsible peon.

In a nutshell: Shadegg disagrees with Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA), who wants to create a fund to help the homeowners get new FHA loans. That damn commie Frank also wants to provide counseling to people who are about to lose their homes AND put money into improving neighborhoods!  I know. What the hell is Barney thinking? Like old President Regular Guy You Want To Have A Beer With is ever gonna sign anything that, you know, helps Regular People.

Anyway, Shadegg apparently got hip to the fact that a lot of American workers have these nifty things called 401ks and IRAs. Those are tax-deferred retirement accounts that were the Free Market’s answer to the eroding pensions and safety net that resulted from several decades of doing everything in their power to rid this country of pesky things like unions and job security. Now, over 100 million Americans are throwing their retirement security to the capricious winds of Wall Street. Some of them are currently tapping into those accounts to stay in their homes, while paying great penalties to do so.

Essentially, if you take a premature distribution on a tax-qualified (meaning you put pre-tax dollars into it) retirement account, you pay income tax on it plus a 10% penalty. So you could be losing 30%, or more, off the top of what you took out, not to mention losing the potential growth of the asset. Shadegg’s “solution” to the housing crisis is to magnanimously allow the dumb serfs to be temporarily forgiven the tax and penalties. Which…

…Okay, fair enough. I actually agree with him on the specifics of his bill. It makes sense to not kick people who are already down enough to have to liquidate their retirement accounts. That said…

IT’S NOT THE ANSWER TO THE LARGER ISSUE, SHADEGG, YOU CLUELESS PLUTOCRATIC ASSMUNCH!!

Not to mention how it’s not going to mean a hill of beans to all the other millions of Americans who aren’t even lucky enough to have a 401k or IRA. Or how it’s not going to replace the investment growth opportunity lost to the people who did take advantage of the 12-year tax and penalty forgiveness period Shadegg proposes in their retirement accounts. By the way, if those poor saps can’t pay back what they took out of their accounts in the alloted time, guess what? They have to pay back the taxes and penalties.

Be sure to read the editorial, and tell your elected representative to support Barney Frank’s proposal
www.house.gov/frank/fha0308.html. And kick a few bucks, if you have them, to Shadegg’s opponent Bob Lord: www.lord2008.com

Six, count ‘em, six of your Dem Diva bloggers are headed to Denver as pledged delegates. Woo hoo!!! Oh, and Donna, we outnumber you (but we love you anyway).

So this random dude read my post on Sheriff Joe and decided to set me straight on why hassling orange vendors and landscapers is vitally important to homeland security.

Comment by me on April 17, 2008 1:39 am

I think that Sheriff Joe is doing an amazing job.. He is doing the job that all the police chiefs in the county should be doing. I was a Dem untill just a couple of weeks ago and I tell you the number one reason I left the party is becasue of the illigals problem.. I just see Dems wanting to let these law breakers in…
I am so fed up with the racial profilling argument, these people broke the law and they deserve to be sent home.
It makes me laugh when I see people call him Hitler etc… And all the fools who protest against the deputies these men are just doing thre job.. The Pro illigal wing is putting these police mens lives at risk… I say GO JOE GO

Well hello, You.  Thanks for sharing.  And I truly believe “you” were a Democrat until just recently.  In fact, I find your poorly spelled missive so convincing that I’m now considering renouncing my party status to become a slavering Joe Arpaio acolyte just like you, You, and Lou Dobbs.

Or not. 

Anyway, You, have you ever given any thought to what might happen if, having successfully driven all the poor funny-accented brown people out of your midst, your life didn’t magically improve?  What then?  Who would get to take the blame for your problems and your massive sense disappointment in your life?   The Jews?  The blacks?  Gays?  Episcopalians? 

You see, You, that’s how scapegoating works.  There’s always some marginalized group that the people in charge can point the finger at, while stealing you, You, blind. It’s so painfully obvious and yet so many will go along with it, like sheep herded over the edge of a cliff. That’s how it’s always worked. And that’s why some people compare Sheriff Joe to Hitler.

Just thought You’d like to know.

Bye for now.

Donna

Watch this video about the FDLS Church and it’s creepy stranglehold on the girls and women unfortunate enough to be born in it.   Pay attention to the woman who comments about our state reps.   She’s right.   This is what happens when a plurality of your lawmakers think it’s just ducky to mix church and state.   And you know that’s why it continues to go on.   

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gI6pBftroEc

This a human rights issue, not a religious freedom one.