"Raúl Labrador" and "Butch Otter" may no longer be possible in the same sentence, but Texas has a "Bunni Pounds" looming!
Hey, guys, learn to bake cookies.
1
How DO you keep your sense of humor in these time?
2
re: "... if I told you the Democrats had nominated seven women for Congress you might have cynically assumed Pennsylvania had seven districts where the party was so outnumbered the Republicans would triumph if they nominated a collie."
I would prefer a collie--esp. a border collie--over any Republican congresscritter.
4
Gale - Love your work. But, as we have had more than thoroughly
illustrated to us in the persons of, say, Michele Bachman, Sarah Palin, Betsy DeVos, et alia, ad infinitum, cheering for *any candidate/political appointee based *only upon what is between their legs, rather than for what is between their *ears, amounts to full force folly !
What the World demonstrably needs is *fully qualified, *ethically solid and *sane women and men. Gender does *not qualify the Ray Moores the Anthony Weiners, and the Donald Trumps of the planet any more that Gender qualifies the women mentioned above.
The old canard that once had it that "the more women we have in office, the more kind and gentle will our Country become" was
illogical fantasy when it was proposed, and it clearly *remains "magical thinking" now that the *evidence of experience so
*glaringly proves that view to have *been an acid flashback
confection composed of green cheese all *along.
2
Please do not blame unethical behavior on "testosterone." First, it's insulting to all men and second, Cordelia Fine blew the testosterone myth (that the hormone causes all sorts of "boys will be boys" behavior) out of the water with her recent book "Testosterone Rex," which won the Royal Society science book of the year for 2017. Attributing bad behavior to biology is just as egregiously wrong whether applied to race or sex. People behave badly because they make bad choices.
4
What - collies and labs and even otters - but no Irish Setters? Seems a Seam(us).
4
While I agree with the need for more women candidates and am excited to see women winning seats at all levels across the country, I can't wait to vote out my Congresswoman Claudia Tenney. She has incomprehensibly hitched herself to the Trump bandwagon in direct opposition to the needs of Central New Yorkers, and generally has been a disappointment and an embarrassment. In this case, the woman candidate is by far not the best option!
I live in the great gerrymandered commonwealth of PA and I am so happy with the pressure individual citizens are putting on our legislators (Democrat and Republican) to pass a bill to place redistricting in a the hands of an independent citizens commitee. To end gerrymandering in PA, our state constitution has to be amended. It'll be a long, hard road but we are not going anywhere. (Do you hear me Daryl Metcalfe?)
2
just read a speech by a very conservative woman, Heather McDonald. She has nothing but negative things to say about the women's movement.
Some items
"facts are facts and throughout music history the greatest composers have been male."So, its not discriminating that there are few female conductors. its just men are better.
"Rather then seeing a women in a important position why not let the most qualified person be there"? This in regard to a women being put in a high position at a engineering college.
"studies show that women gravitate towards different jobs then men" This in regard to low numbers of females in science and math.
Western women are not forced to veil and can parade around in scanty clothes" This as a response that our culture is patriarchal.
She has a lot more to say but it shows there are women who do not want the female group to get any special treatment and they think that things are already fair so why complain?
I hope women in this mid term are more knowledgeable and better able to go on the attack when necessary than women were in the 2014 mid terms.
I mean Zephyr Teachout, Allison Grimes and Wendy Davis were not exactly ready for prime time.
2
If the cesspool soiling our Oval Office had only learned to shut his mouth and learn his job, the mass outrage that greeted his inauguration might have dissipated.
But no: The man, 'administration', and party of corrupt domination had to govern as they'd campaigned in 2016, with contempt with those who neither look nor think like them. So the rage has built to the point that the monsters are reduced to prayer that the Roberts Court's gutting of the Voting Rights Act will have its intended effect.
Kakistocracy.
4
Here in SC, a bloodred state, we also have a plethora of women running for everything from governor (a gun-toting Republican fired from multiple government jobs) to state representative and even the school board.
It's very encouraging, even though the chances that some Democratic women will win is rather small. Our precincts and districts are still gerrymandered. No one in power cares about that, maybe because they are the beneficiaries of that gerrymandering.
But we know that as our names become known and our principles of fairness, dignity and equality for all become recognized, eventually we will prevail, both as women and as a party.
3
I’ll vote for quality over quantity every time. I’d never vote for a Republican woman candidate (if that category exists). However, a vote for a Democrat woman candidate who receives corporate funding is the same as a Republican. I encourage and support women candidates as too much testosterone in the room is stupid and lethal. But, again, the Hillary Clintons and Gina Haspels in the world are just as dangerous as any heartless warmongers. The country needs a Progressive wave of social justice to take over. As such, women should be partners in leadership. Voting based on gender is a mistake, but diversity of choice is the answer!
6
"I just wanted to point out, sadly, that we will probably never again have a chance to use “Raúl Labrador” and “Butch Otter” in the same sentence."
That is, of course, unless Otter straps the Labrador to the roof of the car while vacationing with Mitt Romney...
3
Dear Gail - funny and charming as always.
Wanted to add Mike Crapo's name (R-Sen) to your "... I just wanted to point out, sadly, that we will probably never again have a chance to use “Raúl Labrador” and “Butch Otter” in the same sentence."
Idaho sure has a knack for picking them.
"...Men take a powder" reminds me of the nasty supremacist sexism of many of the early 1960's feminist leaders - "up against the wall you male chauvinist pigs".
Yes, men are "falling like flies", not because they have misbehaved, but because the rules have been suddenly changed by the men-are-guilty-until-proven innocent #MeToo movement. For every man with a mistress or a sexual harassment complaint, etc. - except for the use of force and criminal abuse which belongs in court - there has been a cooperating woman who has decided to participate - and sometimes even sold her sexual favors for large sums of money (the oldest profession). The #MeToo movement changed the rules in the middle of the game (baseball analogy = one strike and you are out) in the favor of the women's side, big time, bypassing the fundamental principles of our legal system - innocent until proven guilty, trial by jury, etc.
Men continue to allow themselves to be intimidated and emasculated in another radical giant step by feminists, one which has aroused unhealthy emotions in most women, who tend to follow fashions of all kinds, for a form of dominance, an unhealthy imbalance, in the age old war of the sexes.
This is where the nasty sexist "Men take a powder" comes from - perhaps not Collins' words in an editor written headline - but clearly the sentiment of her article. And it ain't going to stop until men wake up and assert their masculinity on their own, not via women's voices.
8
Hahahahahaha, sure. I vote for you Gail
PS: GOP Tenn. 4th district Rep Scott DesJarlais claims anti-abortion politics.
1
With headlines like this, is it any wonder that many men are resentful? Here's a tip - if you want allies, don't go out of your way to insult them.
7
Right on the money. This is yet another piece in the ongoing NYT narrative that in order for women to win, men have to lose... and that men ~deserve~ to lose. This is why Democrats have a working class male problem. And yet they don't seem to learn that pitting men and women against each other, rather than encouraging us to work together toward shared goals, is a losing strategy.
Some women politicians will be great and some will be dismal failures, in roughly the same percentages as men. Can we please stop pretending that there is something morally and professionally superior about women and that they are somehow immune from bad behavior and corruption?
1
Bad title: "Women Win. Men Take a Powder". Why would I take a powder when something long needed has happened? The title reflects an attitude that when women are empowered, men should feel disempowered. I don't. You might want to rethink the attitude, or get a new title writer.
The attitude is, of course, not unique to this column. I, a liberal male who has voted for many a woman in my electoral life, find it galling. Perhaps my experience is unique, but I have encountered the attitude exclusively from privileged white women, like the columnist here. In the current political environment, we might want to step back from this rhetoric.
7
My experience is that female officeholders usually perform as I would prefer. They tend to deal with fact (even most of the Republican women!), and most seem repulsed by the fraudulent radical conservative message especially on health care and women's issues.
Women are much better judges of men and their transparent attempts at seduction, manipulation, bullying, etc. and therefore have a clear idea of male motivation and strategies.
Women, as mothers and potential mothers, are naturally infused with empathy and this emotion seems to influence their decisions in a primary way.
All things being equal, I'll vote for the lady.
3
You could have saved a lot of typing if you'd just said "men bad, women good."
1
Thanks, Gail. The snarky-ness was spot on and much appreciated. I think you should have added a "D) All of the above" to the multiple choice questions.
1
Gail Collins is the reincarnation of Mark Twain
The funniest and most astute female avatar of Twain possible
1
The biggest news amongst the storm of current developments is actually that Senate republicans are now admitting that Russia attacked the US elections ("meddled") -- specifically to get trump into the White House.
Let that sink in for a moment.
Russia, America's enemy (let's not sugarcoat this) wanted trump to "win" the election.
I repeat: Russia, American's enemy wanted trump to "win" the election, steal the Presidency, occupy the White House.
That's really all that anyone needs to know about this whole thing.
Why do you think the Russians would want trump in the White House -- because he would be such a great President for America?!?!
(Hint: no, they wanted him in there because they knew he would destroy the US from within, and he is well on his way doing just that)
(Against this background it is almost irrelevant whether trump knew that the Russians were helping him or whether he even was actively conspiring with them -- which we know beyond any doubt, let's not sugarcoat this either, that he did -- which is treason)
6
There is too little difference between democrats and republicans....not the other way around. Find me someone who truly believes in America and wants the best for her and her citizenry.....most of these people are charlatans......
3
This 71 year-old male says, the United States will be a much better country when the President is a woman, and the majorities in both houses of Congress are women. (That is, if we can work hard enough to defeat the enemies of democracy currently dominating those two branches.)
6
The Women's March began this rise of women's power in the Democratic Party. It has also been the driving force in the successes in the special elections. But the driving force began with Black women. So I'm wondering why more of the successes Tuesday have come from White women ? Let's continue getting more wopmen candidates, but lets be sure to keep open the path for women of color.
We know that the Republican Party will continue to be racist .
10
How about we support the best candidates, regardless of genitals.
This is all very nice Gail and i am happy about this being a woman myself. I hope we are at least a bit better than men, but reading about Senator Harris of California and the Collin case i have misgivings. (I would never vote for Harris even if she relents and allows Collins to have that DNA test.) Still there is Governor Brown and Sessions to consider to consider. At this moment both of these men call themselves Christians. Ha. My cat is a better Christian than those two. I am looking for agnostics and atheists to run. I have a deep feeling they might do much better at being decent and honest while doing their jobs. It couldn't hurt to try.
7
You're mad at Kamala Harris and Susan Collins for introducing bipartisan legislation to protect abused animals seized in Federal raids of their abusers, and at Jerry Brown for being a Bible-thumper?
Well, isn't that special.
3
Robert, did you even read my comment?
Because of the money sloshing around political offices, public service attracts a lot of truly venal people.
If we had mandatory public campaign financing, those greedy types would find other games to play and leave public service to those who want to serve the public.
16
Never fear Gail, maybe you’ll no longer have Butch Otter and Raùl Labrador to write about in the same sentence, but you’ll still be able to write about Mitch Romney and Seamus the Irish Setter for sometime to come. Woof!
3
Governwoment.
2
For evil men to succeed it is only necessary that good "women" do nothing::::: E Burke. Women have stepped up and it is necessary that women now ::::vote::::
10
Gail, on Meehan's "soul mate" excuse, you need a fourth response option:
D) Eeeeewwwwwwwww
12
Women are about 50% of our population.
It only makes sense that they then represent 50% of our population.
7
"...we will probably never again have a chance to use “Raúl Labrador” and “Butch Otter” in the same sentence." With luck after 2020 or before we won't ever have to say "President" and "Trump" in the same sentence again either.
20
Ms. Collins, you may not have a chance to refer to Labs & Otters in the same sentence, but as long as there are GOPers lurking in the swamp, you may count on continued usability for "skunks" and "snakes"...in multiple numbers and ways.
7
Women successfully run the 'smallest businesses in the world'...namely The Family. They need to be put where they can do the most for "The Families" - particularly, our U.S. Congress.
7
Thank you, as always, for the chance to giggle about politics--instead of being tempted to just stay in a dark closet until it all just goes away.
7
One labrador, one otter, couple bark beetles, and a lamb, but no Irish setter. Gail's titillating menagerie for today. The evolution to animal nicknames for female pols is guaranteed. More fun than coming up with new analogs for K-A Conway.
1
We have a son interested in politics. The constant tsunami of articles like this,month after month, year after year, leaves him wondering if there is any place in the dem party for a young guy looking for encouragement.
3
Sure there is room for him in the Democratic Party but he should understand why there is a tsunami of articles about women because half of the population has been left out of the process. It might be harder for him but if he’s the better candidate he can win. As a women I want choice of women candidates but that doesn’t mean I will vote for them on gender alone but what they stand for.
6
Keith, my first piece of advice for your son is to stop reading the NYT op-ed pages. People in the real world don't think this way.
No mention that the DCCC opposed all of those candidates, then? Aight.
7
This is excellent. Men can also take a long walk off a short pier. Women are smarter, harder working, less violent, more empathetic and thoughtful, than men ever dreamed of being. Looking forward to the day when science makes them unnecessary.
2
Women didn't invent and build all of the things that make you so comfortable in your life, nor did they die in their millions to defend that lifestyle and your right to say such spiteful, indecent, and disrespectful things.
1
It's sad that all issues now pit men against women or otherwise are examined through that prism.
6
I agree, but then again it has always been about pitting men against women. Men are only squealing about that now because women seem to be getting the fighting spirit. This IS about getting the gender issues out of the ring by allowing the best and brightest to participate. And THAT just might mean encouraging more women. Oh my!
3
I like the RBG response to men asking how they could help, something to the effect of: "All I need is for you to take your boot off my neck." Maybe we're figuring out how to make that happen.
7
"...the combination of those new districts and Donald Trump has sent still more House Republicans slinking off in despair."
#vote2018 so as PA goes, so goes the nation! Let's see those despairing GOP slinkers hit the road!
5
This will drive Republicans into even more of a furor, men and women alike. The nature if conservatism is to conserve the past, to protect WASP and male domination. “My god now women are stealing our jobs, our positions of power. America is doomed!!!!” You can see the campaign ads now. You can hea the evangelical sermons. Amen amen
6
Russian President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin knows that American primary elections don't matter.
Whichever of these women whom Czar Putin has taken a preferental hankering to win is all that really matters in these 2018 Mid-term elections.
While Donald Trump imagines that he fighting by tweeting and speaking slurs, Putin's foes end up in hospitals, mental institutions, prisons, urns and coffins. Along with the Oval Office of the White House.
Mrs. William Jefferson Clinton stumbled twice on the way to her political coronations. See 'This is America' by Childish Gambino
1
A refreshing change from the old men who wanted to swim naked in the Congressional pool - I guess demonstrating their number of hands - just like horses. Seriously! Look at the havoc created by Trump and his Mafia-like minions!
3
Please don’t let Trump know that Butch Otter is soon to be out of work. I just know that in a heartbeat old Donny boy will put him on the Bureau of Fish and Wildlife. And Labrador? Aw c’mon, everybody knows that if you want a friend in the White House you should get a dog. Gail, you’re making it too easy.
5
Such brave intrepid women seeking to waltz with the Congressional Pigs, to step on their toes, leave them drowning in their swamp music. You go girls!
3
I love you Gail!
1
Wouldn't gloat, Gail...
If the last 18 months have proven anything - nobody likes the sore winner in American politics...
Though wouldn't want to be trapped in an elevator with the sore loser...
.....
Don't count your (once-and-future) Hatches, before they've chickened out...
2
So, Gail, have you finally gotten over your Donald Trump funk? Funniest column in about 20 months.
1
'bout time, dude.
"First rule of the #MeToo movement is that bosses do not get to be soul mates with their underlings."
And yet we in California are on track to elect Gavin Newsom as governor.
This, when we have a capable, competent, if not particularly charismatic, female Democratic candidate, Delaine Eastin.
C'mon California, this is (really, finally) The Year Of The Woman.
1
The foolish assumption is that women will be less corrupt than men once in power. Voting on the basis of gender or race is infantile and anti-progressive.
6
Vpte. It mattters.
When I go to the polls, I select my candidate by the brains, not the genitalia. I have no problem with women in politics; the first candidate whose campaign I worked on in the late 1960's was female and I have supported and voted for many since then. I do not, however, see any reason to believe that just because a person sits down to urinate that makes them a better (or worse) candidate for public office.
To put it simply, gender is (or should be) irrelevant in politics.
5
Why is Ms. Collins's article newsworthy, since the average reader probably has never heard of the women involved in these primary elections, and could not care less, with the exception of the fervent supporters of the candidates themselves? In the jargon of the street, author seems hard up for a subject to write about, and appears here as a cheerleader for women power, nothing more!Save me from such tedious advocacy!What has happened to author, once known for her wry humor?Author here is stretching the limits of tedium for average reader.Personally, Ms, Collins, I don't care whom you mock or hold up to ridicule, although you have an unmistakable anti Trump bias,just make us laugh!Once a comedic writer starts to proselytize, it is a sign he or she has lost sight of his, her vocation!Late William Safire called HRC a "congental liar,"but he meant it good naturedly, as if to say, no hard feelings. Ms. Collins once had that knack, but seems to have lost her groove! No prescription for that, except to put her partisanship on hold, and try to get back to basics.Hemingway once said that a writer is not like a baseball player who could hang up his spikes after retirement. A writer never retires. Writing is "plus fort que lui meme, "or "elle meme!"Keep at it, Ms. Collin's, and maybe that ability to keep it light will return, "ojalla!"
3
Really, Mr. Harrison? Most readers could not care less? Wow, I kinda enjoyed the article and it's subject. But I am only one person. AND, I would hope I were to be cautious enough to not speak for the entire readership. That would make me (rightfully so), appear smug and pretentious.
2
Gail, and now at 03:30 Swedish sommartid poet Larry Eisenberg, I am made aware that there is one thing Sweden does lack. What might that be?
Answer: A columnist and a comment author who can take the statements of highly placed (note I did not write highly regarded) people and simultaneously hilarious and deeply serious take them down.
Here the highly placed are not politicians but rather the surviving, need I note, male, members of the Swedish Academy and in particular one Horace Engdahl.
The Academy has long met and supported a club run by a man said by 18 women to be a master groper- even of then young Princess Victoria. But Engdahl was so awed by the man that he, Horace, proposed that the man should open a school to teach Swedish males how to be "gentlemen".
Did we have a column writer, a Gail, to rise to this challenge?
Not a chance. Instead the most outwardly intellectual columnist we have, one Lena Andersson, came to Engdahl's defense because he had risen above the fray, using an old Swedish word in his characterization of the Academy's crisis as nothing more than the work of sensation-seeking journalists.
Never a Gail in Sweden.
Only-NeverInSweden.blogspot.com
>
This implied idea that women will be better at politics and governing than men seems obvious until one listens and watches some of the women in the GOP. But for I doubt not they are just as nasty and the men in the GOP.
N.b., I maintain no defense for men; so save me the #MeToo stuff.
3
But will Labrador end up on Mitt's car roof?
2
It used to be the Democrats with their big tent who ran candidates with odd names. Perhaps Raul Labrador can be Mitt Romney's running mate, riding on the roof of Romney's car.
I know it's politically incorrect but I'll miss reading about Butch Otter. The president's doctor being a rear Admiral was pretty good too. Honestly, the only candidate who's conspicuously absent these days is Ben Dover.
Gail just lost two big laugh lines. Maybe this one: Labrador chases Otter in most recent poll for ASPCA presidency. Romney ties down Labrador on support of cage fighting. Anyway, she just lost two big ones.
How does any of this help Americans? This sounds more like a continuation of narcissistic ignorance wasting our money to feel good about themselves. yuck.
1
Sigh. Women have to save the world — again — after men screw things up. This has been going on since Adam and Eve. It’s about time we cut to the chase and just take control of the reins. Why did it take so long to get here?
3
A lot of comments decry the fact that there are very capable republican women in Congress and they are being overlooked by Gail. And while that is basically true, it overlooks the fact that these women have done nothing to prevent the misogyny and cruelty towards women and the poor this administration is so good at. Also, across the country stricter laws decreeing what women can and can’t do with their bodies are being passed daily with no end in sight. It’s going to take decades for us to overcome this tsunami of hate and backward thinking which is ruling this country right now, and maybe these newly elected women can get us back on track to a forward looking society.
4
I sincerely hope that there will be many successful women in politics in future AND that they will operate with more grace, dignity and less naive bitterness than Gail and the likes.
3
Thank you so much for this column today. How about writing something about men who should not be in office but are and keep climbing the ladder, higher and higher, like the Florida governor who once was the head of a hospital corporation guilty of medicare/medicare FRAUD and was fined well over a billion dollars. He got off SCOTT free. Now he is running for the U.S. Senate. Oye.
6
After reading the comments, it becomes apparent that many people believe that women are the answer. They are, but be careful. Part of the argument for giving women the right to vote was that they would never elect politicians that would send their sons to war. We had just come out of The War To End All Wars. Remember, we have women on the hard right, and Tea Party ilk, that can just as negative, self-serving, and venal as some men can be.
2
I welcome the entry of intelligent and engaged women to the political scene. Let's remember it's not man vs woman, it's sane and reasonable vs extreme and crazy. At least right now it is.
3
I was thrilled when a young woman named Lindsey Williams knocked on my door in the small PA town I live in, and told me she was running for State Senate. No male candidate has done that ever, in the 30+ years I've lived there. Clearly, they were "too busy." Ms. Williams was pounding the pavement and spreading her message, which I liked.
Meanwhile, guys like Murphy, an entitled white male if there ever was one, would clearly, as his text indicated, "staffed it out." That he and his ilk are now a sad historical footage is very encouraging, as was the win by Ms. Williams!
7
I voted for Kara Eastman and her election did not surprise me at all. Brad Ashford was never popular with most progressives in the party and the progressives are in the catbird seat now in Nebraska's Second Congressional District. This means we may actually start winning more elections once Democrats run as true blue Democrats again and not as the Republican-lite candidate.
6
My first thought was: Men make a mess, then women are brought in to clean it up.
But that is not entirely accurate, since some women are like Trump and manage to make any political situation worse. Michelle Bachmann and Sarah Palin come to mind.
But for all the "We're Number 1" cheering, we are really doing poorly relative to most other countries.
The U.S. world ranking for women in national parliaments and legislatures is:
106 out of 188 countries, with 19.% women in legislative positions in the U.S.--Sweden has 43.6% women in its legislature; Mexico has 42.6% women; but we are doing better than Uzbekistan at 16.0% and the Russian Federation at 15.8%)
http://archive.ipu.org/wmn-e/classif.htm
What difference does it make having more women in legislatures, besides sharing more diverse perspectives on issues?
A U.S. study reported women are more likely to sponsor legislation related to health care, regardless of political party.
And since the U.S., the richest country in the world, ranks highest in the world in cost of health care, but ranks #37 in quality of care, we obviously can do better in this area.
Another finding is that young women are more likely to be interested in participating in politics in the U.S. when there is more media coverage of women in politics--so hats off to Gail!
However, the critical factor is to vote the right-wing GOP out of office and replace them with Democrats, and Democratic women look especially promising.
We can do better!!
10
Could it be that we eventually have a congress that reflects the public with 50% women? BTW, labrador breed standard at AKC is an otter like tail. Just so you know.
4
I am glad the GOP men are out. They need to work in Trumps hard labor coal mines to get that hostility out they have so much of. Democratic women will be more caring for getting an affordable health care plan , working for higher minimum wages,saving the environment from the polluters GOP and avoiding nuclear confrontations. I will vote for a Democratic women any day I voted for HIllary and would vote again.
3
Step by step, state by state, we are going to make 2018 the year of women. Bravo to all progressive women who found the courage (and funding) to run for office!
11
A candidate's selection should be based on their qualifications and not on their gender. The best candidate should be chosen whether it is a woman or a man.
Are they suited to be in office, do they show concern for the people, have they listened to their needs and concerns, etc. To favor one candidate's sex over another is very foolish if they do not have the skill and competence to be in office. I think it is wonderful that more women are running for political office but let's decide on the best candidate that can fulfill the duties and tasks regardless of their gender. Let the best man or woman fill the seat and that should be of major concern for all voters. Let the best man or woman win and not make it about gender.
3
If that were the case, Hillary would be president.
In my experience, the only people who ever make this argument are white men who have had the resources and support to always be the "best" for the job.
7
Men have been running the world throughout history, to the point that one could say with assurance that past results guarantee future catastrophe. Could one gender, do generically better? I am willing to make the experiment.
5
The constant male bashing and generalizations of men will not get women the male vote. I hope during the general election they keep this in mind.
6
Great column, Gail! Loved the bit about Butch Otter and Raul Labrador. Speaking of dogs, Mitt Romney is running for Senate. I’m sure you can get creative and sneak in a reference or two to Seamus, Mr. Romney’s (in)famous roof-riding retriever. Pretty please? With sugar on top?
5
It's offensive to compare a human being, Raul Labrador, to a dog. Labrador is a Spanish word meaning a person who works the land.
1
let's hope none of these women demonstrate their equality to men by sinking to the current political level.
10
It makes sense that the mother who didn't hire a mother, did so because the applicant was a mother, because the employer mother would know what mothering entails, and how little energy is left over for all the other tasks people need to handle. It is a fact that mothers don't work as many hours as men, or childless women. Must we ignore that?! It is crazy how the left wants to force employers to pick up employees that they know they don't want and won't be as helpful. Call it discrimination of reality, a discrimination that should not be illegal. From the NYTimes perspective what issues/characteristics can't an employer use to choose not to hire. The oppression olympics continues at the New York Times.
It doesn’t make sense. The mother doing the hiring is working and apparently performing well enough to be a manager. A sensible assumption would be that motherhood does not preclude good performance on the job. It was such a sensible assumption that it’s the law.
If anyone has benefited from de facto affirmative action for men for hundreds of years, it’s men. Obviously, they were not all in their jobs & roles because they were the most competent among all men & women. One reason they rigged the game is that they are afraid of being bested by women. That’s what people do when they suspect they can’t compete. They cheat.
We don’t need to be told how to choose a candidate. We understand that all the competence in the world is worthless if the supposedly competent do not represent our interests, and in fact ignore or actively undermine them. Conservative right wing religious women do this as well as anyone so, no, I won’t vote for one because she’s a woman. But it’s only sensible to vote for a woman whom I suspect would represent my interests more fully because she has lived them. This is the part that commenters such as yourself fail to grasp when you lecture us on how to choose a candidate. Listen & learn.
5
Thanks, Gail. You always make me feel better when I'm ready to jump off the Golden Gate Bridge.
5
Gail—don't forget to add Gina Haspel to your list of amazing women! With an assist by our powerful and smart Dem senator Heidi Heitkamp she's our new torturer in chief! Keep winning like this and Condileeza Rice might be our next POTUS!
1
Thank you, Gail! I needed this.
Butch Otter. Raul Labrador. Still chuckling...
4
You make fun of Republicans winning "if they nominated a collie."
If only.
I would prefer a collie to Trump or nearly any Republican member of Congress. I knew a collie, and believe me, Mr. Trump, you're no collie.
21
Indeed. We have a collie, and I guarantee she’d be the kindest, smartest, funniest member of Congress. Probably a Democrat, since although born purebred, she came to us as a rescue dog so she knows the value of a safety net. Also, her first family lost their house thanks to GWB’s economic meltdown so she might growl and snap a bit when she herds all Republicans out the door.
3
i guess they hadn't otter strap the labrador to the top of the car.....
4
I wonder if there's a Nelly Otter.
Gail, YOU are so important! A female journalist who consistently tells it like it is, reports the truth and hides nothing. Thank you , thank you, thank you.
8
The NYT, who in today's editorial, calls out Sinclair, Fox and a few others for promoting the Trump agenda which means, with few exceptions, they aren't in the Trump bashing business but fail to take credit for the NYT being the house organ for progressive democrats. Nothing wrong or earth shaking about women being elected to congress. There are some really good ones like our own Susan Brooks and there are others like "beloved" Maxine, and Debbie, the crook. Wasserman. It shouldn't be about gender, but ability.
Please don’t lecture us about ability while Trump is in office. If only people voted based on ability. The point is to vote for someone who represents my interests, as I’m sure you do. We have plenty of examples of leaders, historically male, who subverted & ignored our interests, so we’re more than willing to gamble on a candidate who understands our lives, experiences, and concerns because she’s lived them. I will vote for a woman if she
represents my interests better than a man would. It’s that simple. I suggest you understand the problem before you offer advice.
3
Great summary Gail. I'm hopeful these women can show their political muscle and gain a number of seats in the fall elections. Although Trump is not especially bright I'm sure he is beginning to sense these women will not cow tow to his every silly whim like so many of his weak kneed House boys did. I'm glad many of these cowards are leaving office. In Wisconsin we may have a Senate face off between two women assuming Republican flame thrower Leah Vukmir runs against Democrat Tammy Baldwin in November. It's exciting to see that gender equality may finally beginning to occur in congress.
1
Here in Arizona, we can't watch TV for very long without an ad popping up for U.S. Rep. Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), who is running to fill the U.S. Senate seat that will be vacated by Jeff Flake (who is retiring at the end of his term this year). She would be the first openly bisexual person elected to the U.S. Senate and the second openly LGBT person to serve in the Senate (after Tammy Baldwin (D-WI)).
So the big question is: What can we expect with voter registration (and anticipated voter participation) for the upcoming elections? We currently have a U.S. president who was elected by about 1/4 of all registered voters in the U.S. This November, it would be heartening to see the U.S. behaving more like the participatory democracy it is meant to be. That means we all need to do our part to vote and to ensure others register to vote and get their ballots counted. Perhaps consider checking with your local party headquarters to see how you can help make a difference with all the local and national elections this time around?
4
Gail, a modest suggestion. Let's all take a breather, from voting for male candidates, especially those of the GOP/NRA Party. Testosterone and Politics is a very foolish combination. It's like giving a fat kid keys to the candy store, or giving an alcoholic unlimited credit at the liquor store. Or encouraging Mitt Romney to get a Dog. Just saying.
8
Who chases who? Labrador or Otter?
I guess it depends on whether you are on land or in the water.
Our wonderful representative to the state legislature, Sarah Peake, said it best at this past January’s march in Hyannis: “When women run, women win!”
2
We all have a handful of favorite words. Reading Gail Collins about the ascendancy of women Democrats running for positions held by Republican men brought to mind a favorite: “comeuppance.”
The men reaped what they sowed – some more than others, and some wanted to sow without reaping.
1
Why do we think women will be better leaders or improve the country. Some of the decisions the likes of Teresa May in Britain and Angela Merkle made in Germany had bad outcomes This gender sexist obsession sounds like something kids do on High School.
3
We think women might improve the country because they couldn't possibly do worse than men have done, and there seem to be fewer of them with murderous tendencies. Of course, there are exceptions.
2
I believe that the only path for a return to democracy for our Nation is going to be led by women.
I look at our current National legislators and the morality tilt is wildly feminine.
Elizabeth warren, Kirsten Gillibrand, Tammy Duckworth - these are the leaders who will help us find our way away from this awful place that America has become.
It’s hard to explain so many women winning. Must be Russians interfering.
I'd vote for a Republican collie anytime over a Republican human, even if it was Seamus dressed up as a collie... (and there were no Democrats running for office).
What I noticed in PA is that Bernie Sanders' personal endorsement doesn't always mean a win. His group Our Revolution endorses many candidates but Sen. Sanders has been very picky about whom he appears with in person to endorse - or even who he tweets support of.
In PA one candidate Sen. Sanders endorsed, John Fetterman, won his primary; but two candidates he endorsed (Greg Edwards/Rich Lazer) lost theirs. Notably, Sen. Sanders didn't endorse either of the women (Mary Scanlon/Susan Wild) who defeated his chosen candidates.
Notice other than Zephyr Teachout (who lost), Sen. Sanders' endorsements for female candidates are rare; he didn't endorse senatorial candidate and Bernie voter Paula Jean Swearingen in West Virginia, though he met with her; she lost the May 8 primary to Sen. Joe Manchin.
Sen. Sanders was noticeably silent during the races of Rep. Conor Lamb, Sen. Doug Jones, and Gov. Ralph Northam - all of whom would be considered moderate Democrats - and all of whom won anyway. Notice Sanders' progressive choice against Northam, Tom Perriello, lost in the VA primary - yet went on to endorse Northam. Sanders did not.
"Sanders-backed candidates are 10 for 21 this election cycle, while 46 of the 134 who had the support of Our Revolution, the group Sanders started after his presidential bid, triumphed."
https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/the-revolution-is-real-but-its-...
4
progressive Democrats had some tidy wins in these primaries showing that some of the 2016 election was about voter impatience with the old guard.
The Republicans rejected their conservative candidates and picked Trump as the only alternative to that bunch of retrofits. Dem establishment had already picked Clinton years before and were not going to let Sanders change the conversation.
The country, east, west, north, south and in the middle is roiling with the push and pull of old and new. Trump is taking advantage of the moment, as is his uncanny instinct, but, always as well for him, his animal ability does not transfer to human consciousness. However, like a dam that can no longer hold back the flood, he did reveal the true depth of Republican party perfidy.
some voters will always bury their heads in the sand but the future is beginning to take shape. Years yet and plenty of events to unfold that history will prove to be our shame but will also prove to be the impetus forward.
2
These were primaries only; nothing has been "won" yet.
The GOP are masters at winning elections by any means fair and foul, and if you think they're on the ropes you will be in for a nasty surprise.
Let's not forget 2016's hard lesson in chicken-counting.
2
Anyone who thinks women are the answer to our political swamp needs to watch Fox News and CNN. There's a babbling nonsense you wouldn't believe. The answer isn't gender, Gail. What we need is wisdom and prudence. It is not found solely in those with the XX chromosome. It's found in the hearts and minds of those who truly care for others. That needed commitment is hard to find these days. Just don't look for love for one another in all the wrong places.
5
The idea that gender determines quality is ludicrous, whatever party.
The torture lady at the CIA is proof of my obvious statement.
Lisa Murkowski, destroyer of Alaskan environment, is another.
Marsha Blackburn?
I'm sure you have your own example, but why beat a dead mare?
5
The first rule of #MeToo is that bosses can't be "soul mates" with their female (or male?) employees. The second rule is that "women rule": government, corporations, movies, art galleries, fashion industry. We just have to figure out how to provide vocational rehabilitation for our newest trendy minority -- men -- for the jobs of the future: coal mining, ditch digging, garbage collection, lawn maintenance, sperm donor/stay-at-home dad.
2
Women in Congress countenanced Mitch McConnell holding a Supreme Court seat vacant for a year, voted for Trump's tax cut bill and failed to denounce the 'Muslim ban'. What makes you think even more women will help?
3
And you? When will you be throwing your hat into the ring? Well, OK, it doesn’t have to be you. You’ve got an important and useful (to us hoi polloi) job as it is, but we need women with a sense of humor (and irony, sometimes we need politicians to get serious) to help put things in perspective, to help quiet the “forces of testerone,” as you wonderfully put it, simply with a kind (or not so kind) phrase or two (or, if that doesn’t work, a vote). What we don’t need are more presumably adult males, like Trump, who think they’ve just gone through puberty.
For Charlie Dent, I would have guessed "all of the above." Anyway, the interest thing about new districts is we don't really know what's going to happen. This is an unusual election year and we just reset the benchmark for analysis. Sure, you can approximate the impact of new lines but you're just layering a guess on top of another guess. We all saw how that worked out in 2016. I'll never forget the look on Amy Walter's face. Something like: What just happened? I got nothing.
Right now the districts are a 3-3 split with two toss ups and everything else pretty much locked. We have a long time till November though. I wouldn't be surprised if we see voter sentiment swing dramatically before that time. If I were a Pennsylvanian Democrat right now, I would have one message for every stump speech: ZTE. Trump promised American jobs. Now he's out fighting for Chinese jobs. That's a very awkward subject for any pro-Trump Pennsylvanian.
3
Yes, there are anti-female biases, but it’s strange that many anti-male (and other) biases are almost totally ignored by supposed progressives. Many are in their favorite pgms such as Social “Security.” However, occasionally Social “Security” lurches partway into reality, and reports some of them on its website, in annual reports, etc. Some universities, think tanks, etc. do likewise. Miracle of miracles, even a few Democratic/left-leaning think tanks cannot avoid some of the monstrosities on rare occasions.
This data is from a 2004 study by the Urban Institute, founded by LBJ. It often is regarded as left of center, but sometimes it tries to claim that it is “independent” or similar words.
I don’t see a way to show charts, so I’ll list examples that state the average Social “Security” net lifetime gain/loss for various cases of single males & females with equal incomes, Social Security taxes, etc. They are based on retirements starting in 2005 to 2045. Many biases have been known for its entire 80 years, and this type became bigger & bigger over time.
Males always do worse, and also note that the lifetime net average goes negative for people who are far from rich! Many important factors also often are not included in lots of gender pay studies, which even some female professors have shown are massively distorted.
Case 1: $35K/year
Male: +2237
Female: +40565
Case 2: $50K/year
Male: -21917
Female: +18272
Case 3: $95K/year
Male: -152724
Female: -96862
1
Anti-male bias is not overlooked by progressives any more than personal data collection is overlooked by Facebook. It is the bread and butter of the whole operation.
It's not a mistake that articles like this never look at stats like prison sentencing (hugely anti-male), custody grants (same), fathers' rights (basically zero),college degrees granted etc.
Any facts that contradict the narrative land you in the big trash bin called "Alt-right" even if you've voted democratic your whole life.
1
Just vote for the Democrat this November.
VOTE.
5
The important thing is these are Democrats. Women such as Nickey Halley, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Sarah Palin, Jeanine Pirro, Joni Ernst etc. are not at all a change. Being a woman is not a panacea if those women are no better than the men they might replace. Again, Democratic women, yes, Republicans of any stripe, no.
5
"This is not going to make any impact on your life, but I just wanted to point out, sadly, that we will probably never again have a chance to use “Raúl Labrador” and “Butch Otter” in the same sentence."
But which of them would you put in a crate on top of your car? Great column, Gail!
1
One sentence tells the tale, "My staff writes that stuff," Murphy's way of explaining away his private pro-choice position, (so private it applies only to his mistress and no doubt to his wife and daughters).
I've believed for a very long time that Republican voters will forgive almost every transgression except hypocrisy. Donald Trump has proved that to be true. He has committed every possible sin, but he's no hypocrite. He's a liar, a bombastic big mouth, philanderer, tax cheat, swindler, xenophobe, and misogynist; and is rather proud of it.
Fortunately, all Democrats and increasingly some Republicans, especially Republican women, remember and reverence truth, honor, loyalty, citizenship, the rule of law, respect, and all the values that have made America a beacon of hope in the world.
The Trump tower will crumble on November 6, 2018. Like Trump steaks, it is all sizzle.
I'm happy that women are running for office. I am sad that the horribly unqualified Trump had to beat one of the most qualified women in history to run for office to help spark the movement. Humans are quite reactive.
17
Qualified in which ways? I keep seeing this talking point but nobody ever seems to have anything to say beyond Sec of State (we have had many) and senator.
Other than that, what’s so special about HRC? Seems to me there are plenty of women who have real accomplishments and aren’t grifters who might run.
3
How much better it was to elect a grifter with absolutely no experience whatsoever.
2
Thanks Gail for this column and for all your columns. Whenever I see your name in the list of opinion pieces, your writings are the first I read because they make me laugh and as others have said, I need to laugh right now.
Women have gradually been waking up in so many areas; it used to be that few women were journalists, lawyers, doctors, professors, writers, rabbis, ministers, school principals, ceo's etc. Now there are significant numbers of women assuming these positions and making a difference. It is not until recently that women have assumed powerful political positions and now the numbers are rising in dramatic and important ways. Anyone who thinks this is solely a result of the MeToo movement needs to wake up. The Goddess is awakening after a long and deep sleep and her love and wrath will transform us.
10
The many wins for women running in the primaries are exciting. But the real elections are in November and many states continue to be severely gerrymandered, too many Democrats continue to not show up, and many of these women are progressive or liberal which right wing voters see as inimical to democracy or to their religion. I wouldn't get too jubilant just yet.
5
If the epitome of a "pig" can win the highest office in the land and women can't take congress solely because they are women then god help us all.
This article speaks only about women running in the Democrat party. Is it because they tend to favor progressive issues that they are figured so prominently in this piece?
There are many fine Republican women who hold political office but we could also see more of them running for current elections too. I hope they decide to throw their hat in the race and represent the voters.
Many voters vote more moderately and some of these candidates do not share the concerns of all voters. They want jobs and a sound economy not liberal policies that have been pushed by the Democrats. Many of these Democrat women are far too liberal for the average voter. They need to represent all voters and not just a select few.
14
The ones winning elections are not "too" liberal.
26
Sorry WPLetc.
The "Sound Economy" tag has been shot full of holes by the current occupants of the Majority Congress (read: "Republicans").
They've already shown their true colors- Deficits Matter Lots! (but only when a Democrat is in office).
There is no currency in the belief Republicans are for a sound economy.
GHWB proved that in '88 and it took Clinton to bring the deficit under control (and provide a budget surplus that GWB blew up into a 10 T deficit by putting two wars on a credit card).
Obama was making strides in cutting the deficit by Healthcare Reforms and effective stimulus packages (while he had the chance to, before the "Party of No" took full hold in 2010) but now "The Infant Terrible" in the WH has burst the dam with OTT Military Spending and a Tax Plan built and approved by the 1%'ers.
No, we've seen quite enough of the Sound Economic policies that Republicans spout, by either sex.
62
It's called the Democratic Party.
48
PREDICTION: The Trump Administration will stimulate more books and comedy routines based on his rare combination of personal character flaws, than his 44 predecessors. How many so far?
ENCOURAGING DEVELOPMENT: In the Era of Mendacious Authoritarianism supported by partisan zealotry, there is a dim glimmer of change. In tiny Kent County, MD, a bipartisan duo is running for County Commissioner.
2
Otter and Labrador! Women in power! Hope the best woman in these elections wins! Plenty more to come but maybe not in states like Idaho, but there are lots of spots open and there is no doubt that Trump is driving this wave. A great comment by the writer who reminded us of the great Frederick Douglass and his words. Thanks.
7
"Meehan was the second Pennsylvania Republican House member to fall to the forces of testosterone recently. You may remember that Tim Murphy, an avid anti-abortion crusader, had to resign from his seat after word got out that he’d urged his former mistress to consider terminating a possible pregnancy."
Yes, I do, Gail. Just as I will never forget the tender image of a voluntary RNC finance chair Elliot Broidy who dispensed with an extramarital fling with a staffer who inconviently got pregnant by leaning on Trump Fixer Cohen to fix the little lady's "problem."
What do they do in Washington, put Viagra in the drinking fountains of all capitol office buildings?
All these aging (and unattractive) lotharios playing around while the wife looks away.
So, I'd change the title of your essay, Gail, when you tell us what Republican men are doing.
Reword it, to something like "Women Win; Men Take Another Drink from the Fountain of Youth,"
20
"The Democratic establishment was disappointed when primary voters in Nebraska picked Kara Eastman, a nonprofit executive, over former Representative Brad Ashford, who was regarded as more salable even though he seems to have switched parties as often as he changed socks. "
Interesting that the "Democratic establishment" is off the mark. I live in a purple district whose current GOP Representative is vulnerable. A young woman, mobilized by tRump's election, announced her candidacy and was campaigning with grass-roots support. Suddenly, the DNC announces support for a Hispanic woman who lost the recent mayoral race (in a Democratic city, and she failed to carry her own neighborhood!) So now we face a divisive primary between a woman who was going to have a hard row to hoe to start with, and a woman who has proven herself unelectable. The DNC needs to butt out and let the people pick their own candidates, and then support them!
28
Dear Gail, when you write I laugh. When I laugh I get rid of the sinking feeling that perhaps all is lost. Doomsday hovers constantly. Thank you for momentarily lifting the cloud.
26
"This is not going to make any impact on your life, but I just wanted to point out, sadly, that we will probably never again have a chance to use “Raúl Labrador” and “Butch Otter” in the same sentence." that is, of course, unless "Wolf Blitzer" finds an occasion to interview "Raul Labrador" and "Butch Otter."
17
Not all of PA, Gail. While Philly and Pittsburgh and the Lehigh Valley nominated women, out here in south central PA (aka Pennsyltucky) it's still a man's world. In most congressional races, and even PA House races, no women ran at all.
Fortunately, the populations of the areas moving forward vastly outnumber those stuck in the 1950s. So there's hope. Don't write the whole state off yet, Gail.
12
"Philadelphia on one end, Pittsburgh on the other, and Alabama in the middle." - James Carville?
1
I would like to point out that what will be the most interesting race of my lifetime will be Pence versus any woman running against him. I don't believe Trump will either survive to run again or would win if he does. So who is second string? Pence, who has been warming up as Trump's great enabler. And Pence will have to demean any woman who runs against him. You know: " a woman's place is to wear an apron and stay in the kitchen while the men smoke cigars and drink brandy" kind of guy. And as long as an opponent runs who doesn't have any baggage, Pence will never have to worry about being alone in the same room with Ms May or Ms Merkel. For under that white hair (I think it's a dye job so nothing on him is black) and that sinister smile is Trump 2.0.
136
Nobody likes Pence, not even Republicans who early on brushed him aside with humiliatingly low polling numbers.
But Republicans will not abandon Trump, and he will either prevail in 2020 (he could still win the electoral college with a deficit of up to five million popular votes) or he take the Republican Titanic down with him.
In either event, poor Donald is facing RICO law convictions, and the bad news for him is that they do not allow tweet-access in federal prisons.
36
What every voter needs to know is that 5 million voter number. HRC had 3 million more and so missed the mark to take the College. That is why I always write.... Vote like your life depends on it.... because it does. Until the College is abolished returning the decision back to the people, every vote counts more than ever
1
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again; Donald Trump will be re-elected and Ivanka Trump will be the first female President. Not what I want but there it is.
2
I enjoy and appreciate your columns Gail. However, please do not every suggest that sexual assault and harrasment are 'testosterone fueled'. As has be endlessly articulated, these behaviors are an abuse of power, not a behavior inherent to hormones. To imply that they are is part of the excuse perpetrators have enjoyed for centuries.
11
I'd like to read an article that praises the success of women without including derogatory comments about men. Equality means equal...
8
Then you're reading the wrong paper my friend.
Ms. Collins,
It is thinking such as yours that gives feminism a bad name. The world is not a contest between women and men, where scorekeeping determines which gender is gaining ascendancy over the other.
Your "The Future is Female" brand of feminism is ultimately an anti-egalitatiran and bitter movement.
10
When a huge disparity is reduced, there is reason to take note and for all to celebrate; and if there is bitterness, it perhaps because some do not.
19
We don't want to gain ascendancy. We just want an equal place at the table. The only bitterness in the feminist movement comes from the constant disappointment with policies written by men that have a deep and negative impact on women's lives.
225
Powerful point. Would be more so if I saw half the people coming out of foundries, mines, construction sites, roofing jobs etc. were.
But it’s a seat at the non-icky fun jobs table you wanted, right?
2
Hahahahahahahahahahahahaahahaha!
Loved your column and laughed out loud.
Republicans may not have a monopoly on hypocrisy and sex scandals, but they sure have a commanding 9 to 1 lead. Add to that, Republican leadership and office-holders are 99 to 1, white wealthy men. Who pretend to be loving, family-value Christians.
It's ironic that the Founding Fathers limited voting and representatives to white men of wealth. Today, we are witnessing women, people of color, and people without wealth, stepping forward to save our republic and democratic principles. Add to that mix, they are NOT Republicans!
Go lady go!
17
Lamb, Otter, Labrador, Wild. Can’t make this stuff up.
10
C). Always choose c). It's good for the soul!
4
Don't ask for what you what Gail, you may get it, another Hillary.
Americans including many women do not want to vote for women simply because they are women and bash men.
They want to vote for women who want to run, are qualified and run as Americans not women.
If you don't follow what history has taught us, you are given the republicans and Trump another shot in 2018 and 2020.
7
HRC was unequivocally more qualified for the job than DJT. Tell me again how the voters don't discriminate against qualified candidates who don't happen to be white men.
3
Thank you for your reply Anine.
Again of course Hillary was more qualified than Trump, but that is like saying rearranging the deck chairs on the titanic was better than not doing it.
Re your second sentence the answer is Obama. He ran as an American and not as a black. Hillary ran as a woman and not an American and despite the fact the majority of the electorate is female, she lost to a ego maniac, pathological liar, demagogue.
That is how bad the campaign she ran was. It was geared toward establishment identity obsessed liberals that she already had in her back pocket and not trying to make coalitions with people outside that group.
A ray of sunshine in an otherwise dismal day. Keep it coming, Gail. There's little else to laugh about these days.
5
Women candidates should be the norm and not special stories. Until that happens, we have work to do. All the while we must remember that a large number of Trump supporters were women. Still hard to understand that one.
14
I feel uneasy about mid-terms, the same uneasiness I felt with Clinton. I know what the polls were saying back then, but, I sensed she was a weak candidate, there was a base who were upset with eight years under a black President, and the economy was not working for blue collar workers. Trump followers are cult like---nothing will deter them from going to the polls to make America great again. My hope is that democrats, finally, get up off the couch or leave the office early or put down the book they are reading and go vote.
167
For the record, some of us didn’t really care that he was black (and didn’t vote for him in 2008 to prove how not racist we were, but instead out of concern over Sen. McCain’s obsession with making a third war in the Middle East) but were instead so disgusted that every “hope and change” promise turned into milquetoast business-as-usual that we took a radical chance, knowing HRC would be the oligarchic self-dealing known quantity.
What disgusted me most about President Obama, aside from the Nobel Drone Prize irony, was that with a democratic majority wave, he still failed to do anything more with his big healthcare plan than make a couple reforms and deliver all of us into the hands of private insurers. Service down, can’t use my old specialist, premiums up—thanks Obama indeed.
If the democrats would like myself and others like me back, please become actual progressive populists focused on the nation’s future.
Don’t make me choose between a candidate of the banks, a doddering old man who can’t do basic math, a loon who wants speech codes, and a brash total unknown—because I’ll pick the unknown quantity every time given those choices.
Why do you think he crushed 17 contenders in the primary? People may have been just slightly sick of business as usual.
3
The more exact term is "Trump zombies."
8
Well how’s that brash unknown working out for ya? Or is Trump the doddering old man? Having a hard time parsing your descriptions.
"And whatever happens, the state is guaranteed to get at least one congresswoman — there’s a Philadelphia area district with female nominees on both sides."
That's my district, the newly-drawn 5th, which is mostly suburbs with a sliver of Philadelphia. Redistricting will have an impact in the general elections and also undoubtedly impacted the primary in that it led more Democrats to run as they saw their chances of winning in the general election improve. MeToo also most likely played a big role in both getting more women to run and in how people voted. It didn't hurt that this was the seat vacated by sexual harasser Pat Meehan. But it's not so simple. Ironically (or not), the inclusion of part of Philadelphia in this district took votes from female candidates as seen by the fact that the union-backed, Sanders-endorsed, Mayor Kenney-protegee, 32-year-old male candidate won overwhelmingly in the Philadelphia part of the district. I bet every district has its own story with its own peculiar dynamics.
3
Here in the 178th Pennsylvania assembly district, in a non-primary special election, a woman dem, Helen Tai, won the seat held by a white republican male for the past 34 years in a settled district without any real population changes, in a county where the courthouse has been held by the GOP since beyond memory. Prior to now, democrats here simply served as sacrificial figures to fill a ballot. This sea change is more than amazing and promises to be tidal.
35
I celebrate these women and I hope that women Democrats win the general elections. But, in my mind, the most important element in the mid-terms are African-American women voters. It will be black women who save us, if we can be saved at all.
So I say (an older white woman) to all black women voters: THANK YOU! Thank you, in advance, for taking time off from work, for standing in long, long lines in big cities, for doing what you have to do to get there and vote. Vote as if your lives depend upon it - because they do. It's a huge responsibility for you to take on but as you were needed in the past to make gains for this country, you are needed now.
YOU will make all the difference. Will we have a free country or not? If I could go to every voting poll and bring you water and sandwiches I would. We need you now.
Thank you.
49
Georgia, Georgia on my mind. The Deep South state founded by Methodists who rejected their anti-slavery theology, the home of the port city that held America's biggest auction of enslaved (called "the weeping time"), the state run by unyielding segregationists and ax-handle toting governors, the home state of Martin Luther King, Jr., the adopted state of John Lewis, now home to an amazing cluster of international businesses and the nation's busiest airport (whether going to heaven or hell, you will pass through Atlanta!).
Georgia is a place where the chatter of antebellum parties and the cries of drowning, murdered slaves (Ebenezer Creek) can be heard in winds and rains, in local myths; a state Sherman burned. Georgia is witnessing the former Democratic leader of the Georgia House who flipped six districts under her leadership and turned back tax raises on the middle class and poor, a woman who demands her place despite how her hair looks or her skin color; a woman with a strong grassroots campaign active in all Georgia's 159 counties--Stacey Abrams is running to be Georgia's next governor.
Never mind the history before or after her win! Vote for her and support her: because she does not reward privilege, is transparent in decisions and logic, conceals no special interest ties or hidden agenda. She is simply the best candidate Georgia has seen for a long, long time. The state will benefit from her victory and service.
Stacey Abrams! Remember to tell Georgia your friends!
112
It was my pleasure to vote early for Stacey Abrams although I think Stacey Evans is also excellent. The leading GOP (male) candidate is extremist and doesn't have a college degree. I was friends with the late Civil Rights leader W. W. Law, and he once said that if you want to be part of the picture, you have to get inside the frame.
5
Mr. Rhett - I have read everything I could get my hands on about Stacey Abrams, and if she becomes Georgia's governor I will be over the moon!
I also hope and believe Ms. Abrams will be our president someday.
I would also like to encourage people from all over the country to read up on this amazing, brilliant woman and to support her campaign in any way possible.
8
Democrats have seen some women win in the primaries but they still have to win the general election. That will be the major test as to whether these woman are popular with the voters. Whether it is a woman or a man, the best candidate will be elected by the people. The voters will choose the candidate that has paid attention to their concerns and will make their lives better. They want to hear more then just talk they want action. Talk is cheap positive action and results are much more difficult. The voters will have the major say and not the media.
3
Hillary won the popular general election.
1
Yes, we have a very fine House Rep here in Central Florida, Stephanie Murphy. She even has the heart to push for 'bipartisan' cooperation.
Need more like her so I am happy if the movement continues to gain speed.
20
Florida also has a not so fine republican female state congresswoman, Ms. Raschiein, who would not even vote to allow debate in the State House on AR-15s after the Parkland shootings. Sadly, she has no opponent in the coming election.
17
Comments similar to "So what? Just nominations so far."
Well, it is a big deal that unlike in the past, with a few exceptions, women were often summarily rejected at that stage or didn't even feel there was an opportunity to run and win. So, yes, there is something to celebrate that women get to compete in the election. And it is worth noting that some representatives see the writing on the wall that their behaviors do not represent the electorate and are not running again.
37
I live in PA. I live in Ryan Costello's district. I am thrilled that Chrissy Houlahan will be our next Congressman because although Ryan's supporters like to point out that he was a "moderate voice," he also voted the GOP party line most (as in almost always) of the time.
PA is a 50-50 state and yet through the miracle of partisan gerrymandering, we were represented by 13 GOP Congressmen and 5 Democrats. I am hopeful that after the midterms, we will have at least 8 Democrats. There is a bill in the PA state legislature that calls for the establishment of a bipartisan redistricting board to draw district lines in the future. My Republican legislator (a former neighbor and a real profile in courage) initially refused to co-sponsor the bill. After the PA Supreme Court redrew our Congressional districts (this made Ryan Costello really angry because "Congressman Moderate" much preferred the status quo), my state legislator had a come to Jesus moment and became a co-sponsor. I hope that Melissa Shusterman, the local mom who just won the Democratic nomination to run against him, beats his pants off in November. She's got my vote.
I am hopeful. Last year (2017), we elected Democrats to virtually all local and country seats, seats that had been held by Republicans for decades (maybe centuries). Even the new County Coroner is a Democrat. (I'm not quite sure why we elect a County Coroner.) I credit Trump for this and for whatever success Dems enjoy in November.
100
Glad to see that Gail is in such festive spirits – must be celebrating the midpoint between spring and summer. Given all the stories about how successfully Trump is demolishing the totems of Obama’s “legacy”, you guys needed SOME cheery news.
But … what exactly is being celebrated? That women won a number of Democratic House NOMINATIONS? You might be joyously roasting the sacrificial lamb just a MITE early. I’m happy that more women will be contending this November – there are only 82 women in the House, so we obviously could use a lot MORE sets of sensible shoes in that chamber. But the attention should be on who is likely to WIN those districts in November, Republicans or Democrats. Right now, the good news is that Democrats, at least, have begun the process of overcoming their dreadful history of suppressing women; and not that this phenomenon is evidence that Dems will take the House majority.
What are the real implications to more women running and winning the NOMINATIONS of America’s LIBERAL party? Pick your response:
A. We’ve obviously been letting in too many illegal aliens who are women than men, and should consider redressing the imbalance;
B. We really need to throw a few bones to Dems in Congress, because this grasping at straws is becoming concerning, what with a hopping economy and Trump striding the world as the only leader since Ike who believes in solving problems instead of kicking cans; and
C. Hahahahahaha.
2
“...Trump striding the world as the only leader since Ike who believes in solving problems instead of kicking cans;“
Hahahahaha, indeed. That’s a really good one. Moving the embassy to Jerusalem, e.g. Problem solved, right?
61
Thanks, NA--
"Moving the embassy to Jerusalem, e.g. Problem solved, right?"
Maybe we should be looking at candidates' children and sons-in-law in making our nomination decisions if we want real progress. Only a truly gifted statesman could have brought us peace in the Middle East in less than a year without even having a security clearance! Boy, that Jared--what a guy!
2
I can't wait to see how hard you're laughing in November. PA is probably going to send 1/4 of the Democratic Congressmen to DC that will be needed to make Kevin McCarthy the House Minority Leader. And then Donald Trump can spend the rest of his presidency dealing with Adam Schiff's subpoenas.
12
130 years ago last month, Frederick Douglass spoke to a women's conference in a long thoughtful speech. He said that only women can really address the problems of women and their solutions, and that she is her own best representative. Men, he said, should get out of her way.
Close to the end, he quoted Theodore Parker on three types of greatness: 1) executive and administrative ability; 2) greatness in the ability to organize; and, 3 in the ability to discover truth. "Wherever these three elements of power are combined in any movement, there is a reasonable ground to believe in its final success."
Perhaps we have come to the long-overdue moment of the three forms coming together in government - the truths of the Me,Too movement, the ability of women to organize as seen in the enormous women's marches, and their executive ability.
It would be much healthier for this country as well as more sane to not let someone in the White House or Congress make critical decisions on women's health and issues without women themselves sitting at the table in much closer to equal numbers and status.
133
@ smb Savannah - Thanks for Frederick Douglass and your own thoughts. Even in Sweden it is only some years after I moved here that cardiologists were forced by female cardiologists to realize that the study of human-heart disorders should not be based solely on the study of men.
Only-NeverInSweden.blogspot.com
Dual citizen US SE
36
SMB, and Larry-- these victories of women in Democratic primaries, while welcome and telling, aren't the main show. Even if they win in November (and 3 are thought certain to) it's not victory in the real battle.
The real battle is women and particularly evangelical women on the right. Conservative women face the choice of leaving the GOP or truckling under to Trumpismo. While many have done the latter the damage has not yet been reckoned, and it cannot be permanent.
Droves of moderate conservative women have no home and little representation, but are likely lost forever to the new GOP. You aren't going to see politicians like Nancy Kassebaum and Christine Whitman.
And more religious women will not live with the hypocrisy required to support Trump or the like forever. There will be a break.
The future isn't here until women on the right rescue themselves somehow. Frankly I have no idea what that will look like. But until they do, the GOP is like Wiley Coyote suspended in air ... for a moment ... after he went off the cliff.
20
@ Lee Harrison - Albany - Thanks Lee for your reply to both of us, I think perhaps because I live in Sweden I am not so well equipped to take the perspective you offer.
Since most of my contacts with people outside my family here in Sweden are with people who came as refugees and there I and everybody is aware of generational splits within families from the Middle East and the Horn of Africa whether the families are, for example Assyrian or Lebanese Christians or Muslims of various branches.
But back to your view, I wonder who is studying the situation you describe, it clearly deserves plenty of attention.
Soon to be in the Upper Madison neighborhood in Albany, one of good experiences each year in the US.
Larry
This is smart tactics by the Democrats. No one on the left of politics are going to change votes because the candidate is a woman, but some in the center will. Let's not imagine for a moment this is a moral outcome of the #MeToo movement, done in a spirit of equality, but rather the result of a political party desiring power, and thus admitting social change by the back door. Thus it ever was.
3
There are two factors in play here beyond what the 'party' strategically decides:
1) Women willing to step up to run for office, even when they have never done so before
2) People willing to vote for them.
Consideration of those two important factors is a good palliative for cynicism.
60
Far more relevant - progressives trounced Democratic party-backed establishment hacks.
23
Thank you, Gail, you're my "cheat sheet" on politics: It's gotten so surreal and unthinkable it's just about incomprehensible to me.
22
Woman are more mature than "men" from K-12 on, now the "promising boys" are 30-40 year old Kushner and Trump Jr.--clearly voters are sick of frat boys and want to elect women who are intelligent and serious, and at the least do not get into too much trouble.
143
I have to admit I have always found it very strange the way Kushner and Trump Jr are treated like they are teenagers, lads, young men, etc. They are 40 for pete's sake.
18
We have so many serious, deadly issues to deal with and men have proven, overall, not able to solve issues because of their Egos. Women have egos and it's time to turn the reins over to women and give them a shot at solving the problems that face us.
8
But Ivy, nobody voted for Jared or Don Jr., one of the most obvious problems with this “administration”.
8
Gail. Love your columns. Anything that makes me laugh these days is a miracle. Thank you.
135
It's about time I saw more women talking heads on the tube, better listening skills, more socially engaged and adept, all pluses. I can't wait. Sign me up.
35
Watch MSNBC - lots of brilliant women are on their discussion panels.
2
You evidently don't watch PBS. Try it. The women you see there are an amazing group, starting with Judy Woodruff.
1
As a native PIttsburgher, I'm watching my beloved Pennsyltucky with great interest from here on the Left Coast. Let's hope the women Dem candidates can turn my home state blue.
147
As a progressive I find it heartening to read that more women are entering the political arena.
And I fervently hope that these women now engaging the electoral process will convince Betsy DeVos, Sarah Palin, Elane Chao, Susan Collins, Nikki Haley, Marsha Blackburn, Melania Trump, Ana Navarro, Peggy Noonan, Dina Powell, Pam Bondi, Kellyanne Conway, Laura Ingrham, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Ann Coulter, Liz Cheney, Carly Fiorina and those astounding 38% of American women who identify as Republicans that voting for a grotesque misogynist like Trump is not in their long-term interests and, well, decidedly not cool.
No, not cool at all.
442
53% of white women voted for Trump. They are responsible for his victory. There's a lot of making up to be done.
18
you left out the new Head of the CIA , an acknowledged torturer. Still, , hey, as long as they are women....
6
Generally those women who make it to the top are benefiting from the corrupt and unequal system. It's very hard to make it to the top by fighting against it. Change happens from the ground up, not the top down. The only way real change will happen is when people in DC are shaking in their boots from uprisings and strikes. It worked here in AZ. Teachers, mostly all of which were women, marched and fought for their lives and their students' lives. That's when you get results.
13
ms collins
i always love to read your op-eds and your dialog with mr stephens.
thanks for the laughs.
15
Slowly but surely, Congress will look less like an old boys’ club and more like a body representative of our nation.
81
I really wish they'd hurry up. I'm old and getting older by the minute.....and I'd really like to see that happen.
1
Gail, here in Idaho we have been reading or hearing Butch Otter and Raul Labrador in news media sentences for a long time now, too long actually. Hopefully your sentence will be one of the last.
34
May there be more women in power and many more presidents like Angela Merkel.
105
Best possible outcome of the upcoming election? A judiciary committee newly reinforced with highly motivated women who insist on getting to the bottom of what's really been going on throughout the executive branch since the 'election' of Donald J Trump, up to and including the serious culpability of the Republican party for its role in undermining the constitution by aiding and abetting criminal activity throughout the executive branch before, during and after the fact of The (execrable) Donald's rise to power.
120
How can all these GOP Representatives quit? Won't they lose their health insurance if they change jobs? And it's not like they have a retirement plan/pension? And they cannot, relatively soon, change their minds about going back home to palooka ville and, instead, become Washington lobbyists can they? OMG! You mean they don't have to worry about all that? Then why do any of them stay?
30
It is a bad sign when women are elected not for their qualities of potential legislators, but because of the protest wave against sexual harassment. The feeling of shared guilt, whether justified or not, drives the electorate and the country into oblivion.
2
I would be interested in seeing the evidence that the women that Gail is writing about are not every bit as qualified as legislators as their male counterparts. I suspect it doesn't exist.
28
How do you know that they were not voted for their qualifications. It is possible that one reason they ran was in response to the exposure of the depth and breadth of sexual harassment and discrimination.
But if I remember correctly both pundits and party, as well as Trump himself, credited his win to the protest wave against the establishment "elites". Many seem to be happy about that protest vote and have no complaints that it was.
22
Women have been told their whole lives that they have to study hard and be prepared. Am I ready to do that yet, or do I have to learn more, study more, get more experience, wait more, first?
Well, my guess is that after seeing the totally unprepared immature self-indulgent bully march into the White House clueless as to what the job required, the women realized that they are much more than ready to step up(and the voters agreed)
33
I've seen at least one credible study that shows that when women run for office, they win about as often as men do. I'm sure you are familiar with it, Gail.
And the results in PA kinda bear that out.
Let me tell you, it's a relief that women have been motivated to finally get up off their tuppets and run for office rather than complaining how there are SO MANY MEN running things. And how they can NEVER win, because patriarchy, privilege, the Illuminati, and goodness knows what else.
Apparently, just showing up and not be a raving lunatic or hypocritical Republican (and all too often, both) seems to work.
It's a much more productive strategy than just moaning.
15
Thank you. This actually made me laugh, and I needed it.
24
Whoa, curb your enthusiasm! Great to have more balanced gender reps, but not all women are saints...
12
No, but how many women end up involved in sex scandals? They are few and far between.
2
You're correct, not all women are saints. Lots of them voted for trump...
4
RE: but not all women are saints...
We know. We know. We got:
Ivanka Trump
Sara Huckabee Sanders
Kellyanne Conway
Kelly Sadler
Betsy DeVos
Ann Coulter
Hillary Clinton
Nancy Pelosi
Ayn Rand
Sara Palin
Jury is still out on Niki Haley
But even so, to quote the President, "what do you have to lose?" I guess that actually is the big fear for some, that the men will lose something if women legislate and govern.
3
Glad so many more women are running, but I will get excited when Democratic women win the general elections, or, for that matter, when Democratic men win general elections as long as they keep their hands to themselves and show no interest in sexting or online pornography.
15
Answer to first question, "C". Answer to second, "All of the above."
Gail Collins at her best. I'm still smiling.
18
Men, or rather republican men are seeing the writing on the wall and are cutting and running before being washed over by the ''blue wave''.
They all voted in lock step for their corporate taxes and did their bidding for their 1% backers and themselves.
They are now getting out before they are tarred by whatever allegations ( individually or collectively ) to corporate and lobbyist positions, all the while saying publicly that they need to spend more time with family.
Good riddance.
30
While celebrations are due I also worry about the outsized influence of Fox News and the millions who buy into its lies and the distortions being promoted on alt-right Internet feeds. There's also the Russian bots still gaining attention on social media.
106
My father is a retired professor and over the course of his career he's had a number of female and male advisees. His preference has been for female advisees as they work harder than their male counterparts and they are willing to work with others to accomplish a common goal. My father discovered something back in the 1970s that so many people are just now understanding - women know how to get things done.
195
Oh, and I noticed about half the people I see are, in fact, women! Who knew there were so many?!
46
I too am a retired professor who was in academe in the 70s. During my office hourse the women would come to see how they could do better or where they went wrong on an assignment. The men would come to whine, complain, and seek special dispensation. Looking back for exceptions, I can't find any.
41
Agree! With the exception of Hillary.
1
While it would appear that Ms. Collins views anything occurring in our little state as barely worth a mention aside from laughs it might bring, those of us who live in Idaho are very excited about the primary results. Seeing the shockingly conservative Labrador, a former Rep, lose the primary, was incredibly encouraging. This is a man who supported a bill to discriminatensure against gays and unmarried women, all in the name of religious freedom. And my excitement in seeing Paulette Jordan beat an establishment Democrat is palatable. At the ripe age of 39, I can recall our last Democratic governor, Cecil Andrus. It's not impossible for Paulette to win, and her win, as a Native American woman, would impact the nation.
417
Having grown up in the conservative part of Oregon I understand what you mean. I hope she wins and that this is a sign that we're finally ready to be more inclusive. Politics based on exclusion just isn't healthy long-term.
103
I'm with you and rooting for and tweeting about Paulette Jordan from the other side of the country. Sooo very happy she won the primary. Now onto the Fall. Yes she can win this. Idaho voters, vote for Paulette like your life depends on it.... because it does.
35
Yes it would but it's not going to happen. Boise is changing but the rest of the state is doubling down on conservatism. Of course I hope I'm wrong but I don't thinks so.
9
It’s good to see women doing well in Pennsylvania.
It’s looking more and more like Hilary Clinton would have been rightfully elected president if the Russians were not seriously meddling with the 2016 election. Clinton was well prepared and eminently qualified to be president and she happens to be a woman. We may find out that after the multiple investigations are done that a woman did win the presidential election.
199
We already know a woman won the presidential election---by 2.8 million votes. But, as Socrates so rightly points out, thanks to the "slave-state-inspired Electoral College" the will of the majority was, once again, ignored.
25
And she should then take her Rightful place as president of United States.
7
Had Hilary Clinton not encouraged Donald Trumps's nomination (see her campaign's well documented "pied piper" strategy), perhaps some other Republican would have been nominated, and Donald Trump would not be president now.
Clinton would still have lost, for sure, but at least we would be spared the spectacle of Donald Trump, the idiot (in the literal, original Greek sense of the word), presiding over us.
Thanks Clinton.
2
It took a while for the Grand Old Psychopaths to make a Frankenstein out of the House, the Senate, the Presidency and the Supreme Court, but they worked hard at it for decades by carefully deceiving Americans that Father Knows Best, that tax cuts solve every known problem, that Christian Shariah Law is the law of the land, that 'others' are the problem for the White Wonder Bread Society, that evidence and science are liberal conspiracies, that Down Is Up, and that the best pregnancy is a forced one mandated by old, white crusty legislators in the capital.
Of course a majority of Americans never supported these psychopaths, whose raisons d'être were unfettered greed and power.
But Grand Old Power was so diabolically skillful and nefarious at suppressing democracy at every juncture that they happily hijacked America over multiple cliffs and duped half of America into thinking that the most expensive, corrupt and ineffective healthcare and campaign finance systems in the modern world are perfectly normal and that having the slave-state-inspired Electoral College undemocratically appoint a Moron-In-Chief every 16 years is perfectly legitimate.
But it's not legitimate.
It's part of a long-running Russian-Republican coup d'etat that has thoroughly rejected representative government in deference to a corrupt Kremlin-style oligarchic swamp.
Democratic women are standing up for American democracy that Republican men abandoned for a Twidiotic Matryushka Doll.
Good for America.
503
Great Comment, Soc!
48
Socrates, I love your writing, and look forward to reading your comments every day! I wish you had an on-going column or opinion piece in the NYTimes. Just wondering, " Do you have a blog"? I would love to read more and share it with others! Thanks, as always!
6
Women may be on an electoral role in the primaries Gail, but in the Senate Mumblemouth McConnell has been sitting upon House-passed legislation to overhaul the scandalous Congressional processes addressing claims of sexual harassment and assault. Why the delay? What's going on here?
93
Hmmm ... from here it smells like a Fiasco.
11
Fifty years from now I think Mitch McConnell's statue will be one of the biggest in the Smithsonian's future Hall of Treason museum.
10
The more women the merrier.
I'm exhausted by what my own gender has produced of late.
There's something to be said for those that don't feel the need to prove that their metaphorical 'hands' are bigger than those of their opponent's.
167
Here Here! I, for one, would just as soon spend my time supporting women in politics by going fishing, even if I have to clean and cook them myself. No, I don;t want the government to give me fish to eat, but is there a way they could help out with a boat?
It will really be terrific if we get enough women in power to make sure laws are written with women in mind..not in front, just equally considered as they have not yet been.
153
The first Native American governor could be a woman Native American. Now THAT is good funny. Thank you, Gail.
41
Not all women are enlightened (see Palin, current White House) but it is absolutely certain that the future of humankind depends on more women getting into power, political and otherwise.
I'm ecstatic!
281
If we could have a Congress full of Amy Klobuchars (D Senator, MN) this country would be in great shape. I hope she runs for president. She's calm, sensible, very smart, easy to listen to, always fair. Just what we need in a president.
27
Men, or rather republican men are seeing the writing on the wall and are cutting and running before being washed over by the ''blue wave''.
They all voted in lock step for their corporate taxes and did their bidding for their 1% backers and themselves.
They are now getting out before they are tarred by whatever allegations ( individually or collectively ) to corporate and lobbyist positions, all the while saying publicly that they need to spend more time with family.
Good riddance.
203
Republicans have been buoyed up by hype, hot air and hysteria for far too long. A near psychotic presidential campaign emboldened them, making them think that the cluelessness of the American public was bottomless. Many thought they could get away with absolutely anything. Most dropped their guard. A few dropped their trousers. And now they’re dropping like flies.
Women are playing a key role in their reversal of fortune. After the president was sworn in, they swore never again. They marched in the streets and bought enough pink knitting yarn to reach the moon. Did Republicans smirk at the futile gesture? I’d like to think so.
Remember when Roy Moore was someone we had to worry about? He was practically a midwife at the birth of the resistance. He and his fellow Republican hypocrites came close, but they fell short. The momentum shifted. Women started to realize that they weren’t required to sit down and shut up, even if Mitch McConnell told them to.
The handwriting is on the wall. Even gerrymandering isn’t the guarantee it used to be as the courts take a close look at Republican districts that appear to have been scrawled by a slow five-year-old, or perhaps the president. Frankly it’s hard to tell the difference.
For whatever manufactured reasons, Republicans are leaving; they’re all just Flakes in the wind.
601
"A near psychotic presidential campaign emboldened them, making them think that the cluelessness of the American public was bottomless."
Unhappily, it *is* bottomless. Otherwise this horror would not have happened in the first place, and certainly would not still be going, much stronger then it was going on January 20, 2017.
55
Gemli: Yes to all this. As to the overconfidence of the GOP by their 'methods': False Pride goeth before the Fall.
16
Gemll, I suggest you read my reply to Gail.
Don't ask for what you what Gail, you may get it, another Hillary.
Americans including many women do not want to vote for women simply because they are women and bash men.
They want to vote for women who want to run, are qualified and run as Americans not women.
If you don't follow what history has taught us, you are giving the republicans and Trump another shot in 2018 and 2020.
Yes consolidate progressive gains but stress the issues like blue collar job loss, unfair trade agreements, Wall Street running wild.
Americans really don't care that 50% of all CEOs are not women and that the republican candidate is not female identity obsessed.
They just want jobs especially in the rust belt and Hillary's record sank her.
3
Sorry about Butch Otter. Every time I read his name I think of a Jungle Book character in leather chaps and a motorcycle jacket. I’m almost positive there was a bar in the old meat-packing district that held “butch otter” nights in conjunction with Bear parties.
Raul Labrador was the dog with the Spanish accent who was best friends with Pongo in 101 Dalmatians, right? My memory is hazy.
229
I, too, am disappointed. I was really, really looking forward to the Otter-versus-Labrador debates.
48
Michael c,
A beam of sunlight in your direction, and all we are missing for perfection is Thunderhead John, as in one wild mustang roaming the green grass of Kentucky.
16
BOOM. Hits this one out of the park! Kudos!
19
Isn't it finally time?
Male dominance piled on the slime,
And now Macho Don
Grisly grabbing one
The role of a POTUS doth mime.
198
Let's hear it for Good Old Perversion
Trump's party of men in reversion
women they'll grope
self-pity their trope
FOX news their only immersion
12