"Armed with Democratic polling, the California Democrat has for months been touting a 'women’s economic agenda' in more than two dozen events across the country, with more planned soon."
ADDED: I've been entertaining the suspicion that the basic problem is that women are — or are thought to be — less interested in politics than men. We represent more than half of the electorate, and yet we may be apathetic or distanced or deferential to others about the traditional political issues — foreign policy, economics, business affairs, infrastructure projects, and whatnot.
We may tend to sit back and let others worry about those things and even decline to vote. Or politicians might simply think that's our tendency. And so something extra seems to be needed to get our attention and to lure us into having an opinion that is sufficient to motivate us to vote. So that's why we get special politics for women.
One thing Republicans might do — and I think some of them already do — is to portray that special politics for women as offensive to women. Of course, that itself is special politics for women.
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It won't be about "women", it will be about free birth control and abortion. Its the playbook.
Well she certainly can't get far trying to make it about the economy (whoops!) or health care (whoops again!) or executive overreach and abuses of power (whoops trifecta!). So, probably makes sense to pander in hopes of boosting turnout among her core constituency. Gotta use whatever weapons you have.
Because they're the most easily fooled?
Yeah, by all means run on the free abortion platform in Louisiana and Arkansas. You go girl!
Turning you gals into perpetually whiny, needy victims.
What could be more empowering sister?
Agree with all of the above.
It's all she has.
The diversity/divisiveness effort goes on. You must self-segregate and then demand that your group's demands are accommodated!
Just remember 77 percent. That is all you need to know
The Democrats are going to campaign that before having a job to support themselves woman need birth control and abortions? I have yet to meet a woman who would put birth control and abortions as the most pressing need in their lives.
And Rand Paul was out ahead of this coordinated Democrat and media push by a week. How crazy is that? I mean, how can a political novice like Senator Rand Paul get so lucky?
The "War on Women" theme may not work so well if the Republicans keep harping on sexist actions and statements of key Democrats.
So, any parts of "women" that will be focused on besides their vaginas?
Ho. Hum. This is what moral and intellectual bankruptcy looks like.
@cubanbob That won't be how it works. If you don't follow the playbook on abortion and birth control, you are against women, so it matters not what you say about the economy, national security, etc.
I suppose they figure the gains in female voters will exceed the losses in male voters, but I'm not sure that captures the full picture of what they are turning the party into.
Instead of force-feeding Obamacare to preserve the status quo, she should have addressed the causes of progressive cost of living in a productive economy.
I think it's much more simple than that, Ann. Everybody likes to think of themselves as a victim who has had to overcome great adversity to get where they are today, and any failures in their lives are a result of a coordinated effort to keep them down. That's why identity politics works on the simple minded.
Kathy Antley:
That reminds me of the line: "Excuse me, I'm up here". People are obsessed with sex. Not personal development. Not economic development. Not even life.
Can Nancy Pelosi do this without making the midterm election about her? Because if the midterm election is about Nancy Pelosi, or for that matter about Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Democrats will lose.
All I really want is a "Magic Ray Gun" which would remove the effects of Botox in anyone I loosed it at.
Kathy Antley:
There is another possibility. It is traditional wisdom that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach. Perhaps progressive wisdom posits that the way to a woman's heart is through her vagina.
Hey, this kind of thing is safe politics in the Bay Area.
After the rush of freedom is kind of a tyrannical collectivist belonging
They can't admit it publicly, but the Dems have given up hope of winning the House this year--their best bet is to hold the Senate. So Pelosi's going to push whatever wedge issues she thinks will split some otherwise moderate women away from the GOP, but I doubt even she expects it will do more than save one or two vulnerable House seats.
The problem with this strategy is it only works for so long before it starts to backfire. Women seeing their job prospects dimming in a weak job growth market, women graduating college (at higher rates than men, for that matter) with more debt than likelihood of a decent starting salary, and women watching their health care costs going up despite the promises of Obamacare are only going to listen to boogeyman stories about the GOP for so long before they tire of it and start demanding action on more concrete matters.
Then again, the GOP has been pretty good at playing into the Dems' hands, what with the abortion laws being passed at the state level and a level of messaging that makes one wonder if they ever spoke to women that weren't on their payroll. Pelosi may be able to draw a bit more water out of this well yet.
@cubanbob That won't be how it works. If you don't follow the playbook on abortion and birth control, you are against women, so it matters not what you say about the economy, national security, etc."
@ Steve besides the fact that most woman would prefer to not to to depend on food stamps to eat and public housing for shelter they also like nice clothes, handbags, shoes and other finery that aren't legally available to the welfare set ( if that is her only source of legal income). She would need a job for those things. Why do the Democrats want to deprive woman the opportunity to enjoy finer things? Do they hate woman?
So according to the article the Dems' problem is the traditional low turn-out for midterm elections. Their solution seems to be try to get the morons worked up and out in force without the noise and glamor of a presidential election to get their attention.
Notice how it never occurs to them to do what they're always concern-trolling Reps to do, viz., pander to people who won't vote for them anyway? (E.g., "My dear Pachyderm, you must throw your trog xenophobe base under the bus and ingratiate yourself with "Hispanics"! I have your best interests at heart, dearest friend!) Never any soul-searching by Dems about how to stop alienating electorally highly significant groups like white men or married white women, eh? "But appealing to morons always worked for us before!"
(OT semantic point, but it's neat how the Stupid Party is less the Party of the Stupid than the Evil Party is. But I wouldn't say that the Evil Party is less the Party of the Evil than the Stupid Party is. Probably about equal on that score.)
So, Wendy Davis now supports a 20 week abortion ban.
http://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/headlines/20140211-wendy-davis-backs-20-week-abortion-ban-that-defers-to-women.ece
I guess that filibuster was really about nothing.
Damikesc--I'm waiting to hear how Wendy Davis' cheering squad in the media reacts to that flip flop. It's also a bit bizarre--does she actually think voters won't still primarily remember her from how she first got famous--fillibustering an abortion bill? If she'd stayed consistent she at least would have a job lined up as an MSNBC commentator.
Why do the Democrats want to deprive woman the opportunity to enjoy finer things? Do they hate woman?
No,they just want to be able to capture the low information voters and identify a republican as anti -women. That's to theoretically energize that small percentage to vote and swing a close election.
I find your excessive use of the word "we", a little disturbing, and of course, presumptuous.
You are usually more careful than that.
What's her position on pubic hair?
The Texas law that was filibustered was about more than the 20 week limitation, which agree with. It was about closing many abortion clinics and removing exceptions for rape and incest.
I think that we are going to see more Democratic women coming out as being in support of a 20 week limit, with exceptions for rape, incest, life and health of the mother and the fetus. Make abortion legal, easy to access and safe and you might be surprised at how many women on the left would be ok with the 20 week limitation. Babies with modern technology can be viable at 22 weeks, or so.
Dear Everyone,
The least interesting things about you are in order:
1) your skin color
2) your gender
3) who you like involved in your sexual activity
Please start acting accordingly. Thank you.
I've been entertaining the suspicion that the basic problem is that women are — or are thought to be — less interested in politics than men.
Perhaps it's that woman are, or are thought to be, more homogeneous than men in their political affiliations. As with IQ, body size, incidence of psychosis, and many other traits, women may tend to group together in the middle more than men-- a tighter standard deviation, as it were, in political preferences.
If that's the case, then a cynical politician would wisely target women more than men, because the payoff is potentially cheaper and bigger, especially with women representing the majority of voters.
One thing Republicans might do ... is to portray that special politics for women as offensive to women. Of course, that itself is special politics for women
No..it is simply the truth.
ALL the Dems are trying to make every election about women. Obama is harping on the Golden Oldie meme, "70 cents for every dollar."
They're all trying to boost Hillary, that's why. She's running on a platform of being a certified wimmins: "Oh noes! The clock is turning back on wimmins! It's a crisis for the wimmins! And only Hillary, a certified wimmins, can solve it!"
So there's coordination behind the scenes to help that gibbering Madame-Ceasescu clone assume power.
I think we need to see Hillary's vagina certificate. Can't be too careful about these things.
I've been entertaining the suspicion that the basic problem is that women are — or are thought to be — less interested in politics than men.
No..the basic problem is that women are less rational and more emotional than men, and the Democratic Party has learned that it can manipulate those emotions to win elections.
I'm just giving folks a heads up here, in my opinion, take it or leave it, whatever, we are going to see a move away from Hillary as a candidate. Elizabeth Warren speaks loudly on the economic issues. Some are calling for Hillary to not run, to make way for Warren.
Inga said...
The Texas law that was filibustered was about more than the 20 week limitation, which agree with. It was about closing many abortion clinics
Closing them directly? Or indirectly, by requiring that the meet the same medical and safety requirements that every other outpatient surgery in the state must comply with. I don't know the answer in Texas, but after Gosnell, it seems to me that abortion clinics could use a bit more regulatory oversight. And no Inga, I'm not a "right to lifer". I'm one of those "Safe, legal and rare majority types".
Let the liberals deal with the Juggernaut for a while. "We're from the Health Department, and we're here to help. Let me see your certificate of...."
""House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi is trying to make the midterm elections all about women.""
What Nancy is also doing is vaccinating herself as the Dem Leader. It's hard for her caucus to go all estrogen gaga, then vote her out, regardless of the outcome...
New Yorker cartoon, woman to middle aged husband, "Now, don't try to reason with me."
Wayne Booth adopted it as a title for a book on the new rhetoric in politics.
A non surgical abortion does not require a surgical center. Most abortions are not surgical abortions, especially those under 20 weeks.
Nipples are the eyes of the chest.
So, any parts of "women" that will be focused on besides their vaginas?
You have to hold women's interest.
Vagina as a sexual term is a euphemism. It seems like you need something corresponding to penis for feminist rhetoric.
It stands for the more or less whole female sexual difference thing.
"The bills would require physicians who perform abortions to have admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles, allowing abortions only in surgical clinics and setting a higher standard than for other procedures with similar low risk such as colonoscopy. The fact is that abortion is one of the safest medical procedures. The risk of complications from abortion is minimal, with less than 0.5% of abortions involving major complications."
Texas Abortion Bill: Is There a Medical Case For Turning Abortion Clinics Into Ambulatory Surgical Centers? | TIME.com http://healthland.time.com/2013/07/03/texas-abortion-bill-is-there-a-medical-case-for-more-regulation-of-outpatient-procedures/#ixzz2t8LPAis9
Elizabeth Warren's focus is on the economy. You misogynists will be caught up short if she chooses to run.
It would be rather wonderful if Elizabeth Warren ran against Hillary Clinton in 2016. Ms. Clinton might explode. What the hell is this, the flavor of the month club?
Inga wrote: Make abortion legal, easy to access and safe and you might be surprised at how many women on the left would be ok with the 20 week limitation.
Inga quoted: "The fact is that abortion is one of the safest medical procedures. The risk of complications from abortion is minimal, with less than 0.5% of abortions involving major complications."
Inga, you've established that abortion is safe, easy to access, and legal. So where's the compromise?
I've been entertaining the suspicion that the basic problem is that women are — or are thought to be — less interested in politics than men.
What do you serve when you are entertaining a suspicion?
Henry, the issue is that abortion is becoming less easy to access, especially if states get to close down many abortion clinics because they aren't surgical centers, as in Texas and other states.
I LOVE THIS NOTION OF A WOMEN'S-AGENDA ELECTION!
It plays perfectly, here in Michigan, where control of the U.S. Senate might be decided with a 51st Republican vote.
And where former Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land (R)will face down Congressman Gary Peters (D).
Inga wrote: Henry, the issue is that abortion is becoming less easy to access, especially if states get to close down many abortion clinics because they aren't surgical centers, as in Texas and other states.
And so the compromise that you suggest is so easy will always be out of reach because, somewhere, some body politic might offend.
This is exactly what I'm driving at. The easiest way to play identity politics at the national level is to relentlessly hunt down idiots and overreachers and make them the story.
This approach continually begs the question of what is happening in the individual state or community.
I've been entertaining the suspicion that the basic problem is that women are — or are thought to be — less interested in politics than men.
That's the polite way of putting it, yes.
In a bumper sticker:
"Think globally, make excuses locally."
Ms. Althouse wrote "One thing Republicans might do — and I think some of them already do — is to portray that special politics for women as offensive to women."
Yet when Republicans do precisely that, she demagogues it. The 'libido' controversy is a good example of that.
And Inga? Bless her heart.
I know Elizabeth Warren's focus will NOT be on her ethnicity and the affirmative action benefits she unfairly accumulated in her life.
Don't pander to classes of people. That's why destructive cycles are repeated ad infinitum.
A non surgical abortion does not require a surgical center. Most abortions are not surgical abortions, especially those under 20 weeks.
And, of course, all uterine suckouts and scrapings end without any complications requiring greater skills or competent and more robust medical facilities.
This is a public service message brought to you by the Kermit Gosnell Baby Feet Bottling Works.
Oh - and if they make it out alive you have to finish the job outside of the womb.
Henry,
You can blame identity politics all you want, facts are facts. Idiots and overreaches have power in those deep RED states that affects real people.
I wonder what Ms. Pelosi would think if the women she tries to influence into voting actually read the bills she wants to pass into law.
In my social circle, the women are the ones that review all the health insurance materials and have the most concerns about the Affordable Care Act.
if you read the article, she really isn't changing her position. She says she wants restrictions, but ones that give more power to women and their doctors.
Any bets on whether that means a loophole big enough to fit Kermit Gosnell's clinic into?
INga. It was about making physicians get hospital admitting privileges, not "closing clinics". I provided clear evidence in another thread that the majority of the American people support such a requirement
It was about making physicians get hospital admitting privileges, not "closing clinics". I provided clear evidence in another thread that the majority of the American people support such a requirement
RecChief, Inga doesn't care about facts.
I've been entertaining the suspicion that the basic problem is that women are — or are thought to be — less interested in politics than men.
What do you serve when you are entertaining a suspicion?
Toasted innuendoes with muttered asides.
On the original point of gender-varying interest in politics - for some reason that reminded me of the old joke about the man from some generic Mediterranean or Middle Eastern land (Greece, maybe?) who told his friend that he left the small decisions to his wife - what to shop for and eat, how to clothe and educate the kids, keeping a budget, etc. - while he was responsible for the larger decisions including foreign policy, the economy, war and peace, and such.
@Gerry. Yes I know.
I provided polling data from Marist and CNN that show how the American people feel about common sense restrictions on abortion, but she ignores them and continues with her bullshit. I'm not in the mood for bullshit today
Inka said,
"You can blame identity politics all you want, facts are facts. Idiots and overreaches have power in those deep RED states that affects real people."
Yeah. Thank God no idiots and overreaches [sic] have power in those deep BLUE states that affects real people.
Matthew 7:3-5.
One third of abortions occur at the sixth week of pregnancy or earlier; 89% occur in the first twelve weeks.
Medical abortions occur in early pregnancy, most abortions are early abortions. Medical abortions are abortions that do not involve any D and C.
What is a "medical abortion"? Is this a substitute for "medically necessary abortion"?
Perhaps she meant early medication abortions, which accounted for 36% of abortions before nine weeks’ gestation in 2011, according to the link she provided.
Or maybe women - particularly single women - vote almost as monolithically democrat as blacks do. This seems to signal that they are mostly thoughtless and reactive. Ask a woman if Republicans are the party of "mean" and you will get the answer you expect.
Medical abortions are non surgical abortions. They are referred to as "Medical Abortions" as opposed to "Surgical Abortions", which would involve a D and C. Medical abortions, which use medications, are performed up to 12 weeks according to the latest medical information available online.
i'd be willing to pay for Sandra Fluke's birth control pills if the tradeoff was to eliminate abortions that aren't needed due to health of the mother, rape and incest. But then, 99% of abortions aren't because of rape or incest. By the way, did you know that there have been over 57 million abortions in the US since Roe v. Wade? 17 m illion abortions of black babies since 1973. Why are Democrats waging a war on black people?
By 16 weeks, The genitals have formed. In the case of a girl, the uterus has already developed and the ovaries are in the proper place.
War on women indeed
Inga wrote: Idiots and overreaches have power in those deep RED states that affects real people.
So why does that preclude reasonable compromise in Massachusetts?
Your stance is akin to H.L. Mencken's definition of Puritanism: "The haunting fear that someone, somewhere, may be happy." In your case, you assert that you're all for reasonable compromise except for the haunting fear that someone, somewhere, may be disagreeable.
Since it's always to easy to track down disagreeable people, one can claim to be a reasonable person without ever having to actually act like one -- because those other people are so wrong.
Or maybe women - particularly single women - vote almost as monolithically democrat as blacks do. This seems to signal that they are mostly thoughtless and reactive. Ask a woman if Republicans are the party of "mean" and you will get the answer you expect.
Or maybe women - particularly single women - vote almost as monolithically democrat as blacks do. This seems to signal that they are mostly thoughtless and reactive. Ask a woman if Republicans are the party of "mean" and you will get the answer you expect.
"In your case, you assert that you're all for reasonable compromise except for the haunting fear that someone, somewhere, may be disagreeable." except leftists aren't really for compromise. They want what they want, and want others to compromise their principles. That is the compromise they are concerned with
One third of abortions occur at the sixth week of pregnancy or earlier; 89% occur in the first twelve weeks.
My niece has had a couple of miscarriages prior to the 12 week period. Both times she had a D & C.
EMD, my daughter had two miscarriages, one closely before 12 weeks, one slightly after, with no D and C.
Warren v. Walker in 2016. That'd be a contest.
It was about closing many abortion clinics and removing exceptions for rape and incest.
Because holding abortion clinics to ANY sanitary or professional requirements is oppressing women or something.
The risk of complications from abortion is minimal, with less than 0.5% of abortions involving major complications."
Or about 53,000.
Gotta break some eggs to make an omelette, right?
You're aware that abortion clinics don't have licensing agencies or any kind of organizations to hold the clinics to any standards.
But, hey, asking to ACTUALLY have abortion be safe is too darned much.
Elizabeth Warren speaks loudly on the economic issues. Some are calling for Hillary to not run, to make way for Warren.
PLEASE run Fauxcahontas.
Barely won a Senate election in fucking Massachusetts.
Yeah, she'll do great nationally.
Run the lame-brained, lying imbecile. I am BEGGING you.
A non surgical abortion does not require a surgical center.
Because medical procedures going poorly NEVER happens.
You're a nurse...aren't you?
You've never seen even a routine medical procedure go awry? Not even one?
Medical abortions occur in early pregnancy, most abortions are early abortions. Medical abortions are abortions that do not involve any D and C.
Then why go to the mat, opposing things that you claim to support?
Medical abortions, which use medications, are performed up to 12 weeks according to the latest medical information available online.
And anybody is saying ban abortions before 20 weeks...where?
Or do you mean that it would be a bad idea for admitting privileges to exist because reactions to medications are never negative?
Ever hear of a place called an Emergency Room Damikesc?
If "women's health" now means abortion, what term do we use if we are concerned about women's health?
@Inga said: "Some are calling for Hillary to not run, to make way for Warren."
Inga, from your lips to God's ear!
Godfather, don't get too giddy. She could fire up the base and attract moderates in a similar way to Obama in 2008.
Elizabeth Warren: A Democrat I'd Vote For, from The American Conservative.
Inga, you are mostly full of crap. My daughter had a miscarriage at 3 weeks and had a D&C.
Inga, you are mostly full of crap. My daughter had a miscarriage at 3 weeks and had a D&C.
Ever work in an ER, Inga?
I hear they just love it when standalone clinics have problems and just send them to the ER. It saves sooooo much time that would otherwise be wasted trying to get the immediate prior history from the outpatient practitioner.
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Scalawag!
Inga goes to the way-back machine.
As for me, I voted against her.
I will vote for her in the Democratic primary against Hillary if that fantasy scenario really happened. I'm not a fan of demagogic scolds, but at least Warren has the semblance of an independent mind.
I'm confused. If abortion is so easy and painless, then why are these clinics closing? Is that all these clinics do? Why doesn't your Ob/gyn just take care of the procedure? Surely, your regular OB has admitting privileges, right?
D and C after miscarriage
It would be unusual to have a D&C at a three week miscarriage. It pays to be informed and not spout nonsense. If there are signs that all the contents have not left the uterus a D&C would be warrented. Most miscarriages have no such complications.
Touting Liz Warren as some sort of centrist is a laugh.
Maybe she would have a chance, before Obamas disastrous 8 years had occurred. But, I doubt it. She's a doctrinaire elitist lib. Obama got elected because he hid his doctrinaire elitist liberalism.
Liz Warren is already known as a foolish PC liar, having been called out as a phony by the Tribe she was claiming blood relations with. And that's just the start.
Inga, people aren't going to give it to the Democrats, probably for another 8 years at least. Obama has seen to that.
Dream on, there is already Obama fatigue, just like there was Bush fatigue. He has betrayed and pissed off the middle that bought his bullshit and elected him. He REALLY boned the young; they won't be back. Say buh-bye to the WH for another 8 years and possibly the whole ball of wax for 2 to 4 years.
If any Planned Parenthood clinic closes due to medical requirements, its only because they decide that it was more important to spend their money on political campaigns and not funding their own clinics.
So, I have zero sympathy with their complaint.
SGT Ted, I don't think she's a centrist. She is sufficiently to the left for my liking, but there are some out there who do consider her a centrist. Guess we'll have to wait and see what happens, should be interesting to say the least.
Birches, I don't think anyone indicated that abortions were easy or painless.
BTW, many D&Cs are done in the doctor's office and if there are complications, guess where they go? To the ER.
but there are some out there who do consider her a centrist.
...who, Cook?
The American Communist Party?
I meant medically easy and painless from a practitioners perspective, Inga.
And if a D &C is routinely done in offices (and I know it is), then why again are all these abortion clinics closing? Aren't these patients better served by heading to their actual ob/gyn who shouldn't have any problems with the new requirements?
The American Communist Party?
No doubt.
The left need to quit the lying and trying to frame themselves as the centrists. It's a naked effort to manufacture consent through the appearance that they are a part of a majority. They are not.
I guess your "majority" didn't win the election .
"BTW, many D&Cs are done in the doctor's office and if there are complications, guess where they go? To the ER."
So they're being done without anesthesia ?
Interesting. I've done them but never without anesthesia.
Michael here's the answer to your question.
That idea is like the crack of a bat home run.
Althouse: ...the basic problem is that women are — or are thought to be — less interested in politics than men.
You may not be interested in Politics, but Politics is interested in You.
The "majority" was achieved by hiding, lying about and downplaying the radical leftism of Obama by the press, to include hiding his college records from the public.
If the press had done it's job with Obama, like they do on GOP candidates, Hillary might be President right now. The press enabled Obamas candidacy to succeed in the first place.
Quit pretending Obama ran as a leftist. He didn't.
EMD, my daughter had two miscarriages, one closely before 12 weeks, one slightly after, with no D and C.
So we are talking about surgical procedures, then.
Thanks for clarifying that.
No EMD, we are NOT talking aout any surgical procedures. She had a typical miscarriage, cramping, bleeding and passage of uterine contents, just like women did for thousands of years. Do you think women had D and Cs after miscarriages back then? Sometimes the ignorance is simply too much. Read a book on women's reproduction for pity sake.
Look up the term "expectant management after miscarriage". It is not a given that women have a D and C after miscarriage.
Inga: It was about.. removing exceptions for rape and incest.
Thats another lie. You have 20 weeks to abort the product of rape or incest. I know women are indecisive, but geez....
Inga: Most miscarriages have no such complications.
And the few that do? We just let them bleed out on the table. Women sacrificed on the altar of Sex Without Consequence. You've come a long way baby!
Because we can't be bothered to move our little out-clinic to within 30 miles of a hospital. We'd have to close instead! Oh noes!
It does seem counter-intuitive. According to Inga, the procedures are as safe and routine as dentistry performed in a strip mall. So what is there to move?
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