Keynoting BlogHer White House Project
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Aug
24
I’ve written before about how exactly do women use whatever positive attributes, as women, we have on the campaign trail, especially given that there are three or four generations of women around to vote and they definitely don’t all view female politicians and campaigning as a woman in the same way. But now the New York Times has really conflated the coverage of women politicians and still somehow managed to ignore what does matter in a political competition in, “Blazing Campaign Trails in a Certain 3-Inch Heel.”
Folks: Women politicians can be covered for fashion – in the fashion section and at the same rate that men politicians are covered for fashion. I would never deny that fashion is something no one candidates – male or female – thinks about.
But women politicians should be covered by the media for their issues and character and leadership abilities, based on their experiences, accomplishments and vision for how they’ll fulfill expectations in public office should they win. Exactly as men politicians.
It’s beyond the pale now: there is NO QUESTION that the NYT did this story to get up hackles and in the end, throw serious political reportage of women candidates under the bus. It’s an inexcusable dog and pony show for readers and frankly, if I were that candidate, I would have demanded a different article.
Now – lest I be picked on for saying that a woman politician should be able to choose being portrayed anyway she wants, fine.
BUT I would then ask: WAS SHE GIVEN A CHOICE? Did the Times say to her: we can either do a fashion piece on you and connect shoes to women running for office, or we can do a piece on how you and Maloney differ and what you bring to the table that she doesn’t. Which would you like? Read more
By Jill Miller Zimon at 12:10 pm August 24th, 2010 in Campaigning, Gender, Media, Politics, Sexism, Social Issues, Women, democracy, leadership | Please comment
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Aug
21
Better than five old white guys for sure.
Now, if only we could do better with the guests:
14 slots total. 11 men (on is showing up on two shows) and 2 women. Yeah. No.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 9:13 pm August 21st, 2010 in Culture, Ethics, Gender, Media, Politics, Sexism, Women, democracy, intolerance, leadership | Please comment
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Aug
17
Anastasia does a great job in Ohio Daily Blog’s A Disturbing Pattern with this subject and honestly, I feel as bothered if not more so (probably not possible though given how passionate we both are about this).
What is going on? Please read her post and comment here or there.
And remember, just because there is no intention does not mean that there is no bias. It should be revealed and filtered out or otherwise acknowledged and/or controlled for.
17 primary endorsements total from the PD
11 in Democratic primaries: 10 men, 1 woman
6 in Republican primaries (no Republican primary in the other five districts): 5 men, 1 woman
For County Executive:
2 endorsements total (one per party)
4 Democratic candidates (2 men, 2 women): PD endorses Ed Fitzgerald
3 Democratic candidates: (3 men): PD endorses Matt Dolan
So, if Cuyahoga County voters went with all of the primary PD’s endorsed candidates, the gender composition of the brand new Cuyahoga County government, with 12 elected officials, would be either 10 men and two women (or less than 20% female composition) or 11 men and one woman – less than 10% female composition.
With less than 25% women even in these races, we’ve not given ourselves very good odds. But that does not excuse the PD from needing to unpack what’s going on with their endorsements, including the difference in the decisive value between managing tempests with aplomb versus being polished.
Oh – and just for the fun of it? Cuyahoga County, as of the Census data for 2009, was composed of 52.6% women – not less than 20%. Just in case, you know, representative government has you confused.
Guess they’re all worried about the end of men – which certainly doesn’t seem to be in sight here in Cuyahoga County, if these PD endorsements reign.
Last but not least, why having more than one matters so damn much. I cannot say it any better than Swanee Hunt and Kerry Healey earlier this year:
…we share the conviction that a “critical mass’’ of women will lead to better public policies.
What’s a critical mass? Research shows that when about 30 percent of a group is made up women, the discourse, values, and working style of the entire organization changes.
Women collectively bring a broader perspective to the political debate, based on their different social roles and life experiences. That breadth is crucial in order to solve the many challenges society faces, including the current economic crisis, national security issues, and health care reform.
While no stereotype is true for all men or all women, social science research says women tend to be more inclusive, more easily build bridges across ideological divides, and are more in touch with their local communities – all necessary traits for the kind of leadership needed in this deeply divided country.
But it will take a big effort to get women to imagine themselves in the political ring. Unfortunately, women candidates are often held to a different standard by power brokers and opinion-makers, including party leaders, donors, and the media. Sometimes other women are a female candidate’s harshest critics – so the obstacles to women participating in electoral office are not placed there by men alone. When a mother runs, voters of both genders often wonder, “Who will care for the children while she campaigns?’’ – a question for Pauline but not Paul. And typically, those controlling the party’s purse strings demand proof that the candidate has raised a substantial portion of her projected budget before even discussing how they can help her win her race.
This observation about what’s happening with our brand new county government and the media’s role in endorsements for 12 new elected offices is an opportunity to lead, not to be defensive.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 10:10 am August 17th, 2010 in CuyahogaCounty, Gender, Media, Ohio, Politics, Sexism, Voting, Women, leadership | 1 Comment
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Aug
16
Chris Cillizza wasn’t the only one writing about whether Democrats should be closer to or farther away from President Obama in the current election cycle but his piece, Some Democratic candidates distance themselves from Obama, covers the bases. Here’s evidence that Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland is not one of the ones distancing themselves:
President Barack Obama
joined by
Governor Ted Strickland
and
Yvette McGee Brown
Candidate for Lieutenant GovernorWednesday, August 18, 2010
The Strickland for Governor event
begins promptly at 11:30 am
Columbus Athenaeum
32 North Fourth Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215RSVP online by August 13:
http://www.TedStrickland.com/BarackObamaRSVP
Corporate contributions are prohibited. However, partnerships, LLCs and other unincorporated entities may contribute, but must provide the name of an owner to whom to attribute the contribution. Ohio law requires that all contributors must provide their name and address regardless of the amount of the contribution and the name of their employer if the contribution is for more than $100. If the contributor is self employed, the business name and occupation of the contributor must be provided. Ohio law in general prohibits the award of an un-bid state contract if contributions to the officeholder from an owner, partner or shareholder of the contracting entity or their spouse have exceeded $1,000 from the person in the two calendar years prior to the award of the contract. State employees are prohibited from donating to the campaign and should disregard this invitation. Contributions to Strickland for Governor are not tax deductible for federal income tax purposes.
Strickland for Governor, John P. Brody, Treasurer, 65 E. State St., Suite 1800, Columbus, Ohio 43215
Good, bad, neutral move?
By Jill Miller Zimon at 9:02 am August 16th, 2010 in Barack Obama, Campaigning, Democrats, Government, Ohio, Politics, Ted Strickland, leadership | Please comment
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Aug
12
Okay – so – you know – I don’t want to whine. I don’t want to claw. I don’t want to – oh hell, you know what? I’m pissy. I’m just very very pissy because Politico, which I really do read and really do get news from, really did have a reporter write a story about political bloggers who run for office – see, here it is – More Bloggers Throw Hat in the Ring. And he really did get to me by THREE different routes: Alan Rosenblatt emailed me to include me in on a conversation when he first got contacted, then the reporter contacted me directly and then BlogHer got a shout out from the reporter and they asked me if I would like to speak with him (by which time I’d already set up a phone call with the writer).
And we talked for over an hour. And I told him to check with Technorati, which it didn’t sound like he was going to do or hadn’t thought of yet, because that would put into metrics and context just how many political bloggers there even are, let alone those that run for office that are we can find/trace/hear about (given how hyper-local both blogging and running for office can be).
Then at this little gathering of 2400 bloggers, called BlogHer10, you know, I do this thing called an Inspirational Call to Action speech for 50-60 female bloggers who are interested in running for office or helping others run for office or advancing their causes through the political process and you know, I feel, like Denise encourages us to, kinda powerful – like I’m going to make a difference, just from my blogging – and, you know, running for office, all by my lonesome (with some serious BlogHer mojo behind me of course).
Then I follow up and get a nice note that the article will post this week and I’m not going to be in it but my info was very helpful (of course it was – why else do you stay on the phone with me for an hour?).
And then I read it. And you know what? My heart sank – it sank. Because it mentions my city – but not me.
Pepper Pike is 11 characters or spaces. Jill Miller Zimon is 17 characters or spaces. The reporter says it was a space issue.
You can read the rest at the original post at BlogHer.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 10:24 pm August 12th, 2010 in Blogging, Elections, Gender, Government, Media, Ohio, Pepper Pike, Politics, Research, Social Issues, Transparency, Voting, Women, Writing, democracy, leadership, social media | Please comment
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Aug
8
Long before there was an August 3rd set of ballot issues for Pepper Pike, I’d been asked and accepted an invitation to be the inspirational call to action speaker at The White House Project’s training program done in conjunction with BlogHer10, a gathering of more than 2400 women bloggers organized by three of the most powerful people in new media. I adjusted travel plans to accommodate being at the conference and the training and this post recaps my speech intended to encourage female political bloggers to run for office.
Ironically, a reporter for Politico contacted me within the last couple of weeks (after two others whom he’d contacted had also contacted me about his inquiries) on the topic of political bloggers who run for office, and his research is in part in relation to this post I wrote last November about the rarity of both news stories on political bloggers who run for office and the rarity OF political bloggers running for office. The training collaboration between BlogHer and The White House Project will, I hope, make a dent in this lagging area of civic engagement for bloggers (going beyond blogging and running for office). As soon as the article is out, I’ll link to it.
Here is a Flickr set of photos taken by The White House Project from the training and, after the jump, you can read the text of the entire speech. I was only supposed to speak for 15 minutes, which I did, but then they were so pleased with that, that I took a few questions as well. I particularly love explaining to people why all the excuses they have for why they can’t or won’t run for office are surmountable. Go ahead try me!
You can also read a live-blog of the speech as well as the Q and A here.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 9:50 pm August 8th, 2010 in BlogHer, Blogging, Campaigning, Elections, Gender, Government, Jennifer Brunner, Politics, Sexism, Social Issues, Transparency, Voting, Women, Writing, activism, democracy, leadership, social media | 1 Comment
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Aug
3
And one is my nominee! Rita Singh of Pepper Pike. Many of you will recognize the names of Lana Moresky and Barbara Fergus, both of whom I also have the privilege of knowing. Mazel tov to all of the inductees whom you can read about below or at this webpage:
| Governor Announces 2010 Ohio Women’s Hall of Fame Inductees |
Columbus, Ohio–Ohio Governor Ted Strickland and the Governor’s Office for Women’s Initiatives and Outreach today announced the 2010 inductees to The Ohio Women’s Hall of Fame.
“These exceptional women, all leaders in their fields, have demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to excellence, achievement and service, often against great odds, with courage, determination and compassion,” Strickland said. “I am proud to welcome them in to The Ohio Women’s Hall of Fame.”
The inductees for 2010 are: Read more
By Jill Miller Zimon at 10:35 am August 3rd, 2010 in Gender, Ohio, Women, activism, leadership | Please comment
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Aug
3
Gender neutral punches. Gender. Neutral. If we don’t lead and show how it’s done, we can never be heard to expect that others stop it too.
Why? Watch this video – again and again – and see how men and women contribute to the sexist treatment of politicians (in this video, Hillary Clinton is the target but the remarks are lobbed by everyone from Michelle Malkin to Chris Matthews):
And here’s a collage of how bad it was against Sarah Palin herself:
It has got to stop and we have to stop it – and replace it. It’s not right when Maureen Dowd does it or Chris Matthews does it or Glenn Beck or Donny Deutsch (as shown in that video and you can read more here), and it’s not right when Sarah Palin does it either and compares President Obama and Governor Brewer’s cojones.
It’s just not okay. Period. Ed Schultz – you get a star for getting this one right and calling her comments out as sexist:
ED SCHULTZ, HOST: Sarah Palin is hitting President Obama below the belt on immigration. The same Sarah Palin who claimed to be a victim of sexism during the 2008 campaign has no problem making sexist remarks about the President of the United States. Here she is at home on Fox News Sunday.
And Newsbusters, you get an F- I suppose you think macaca is okay too.
Unbelievable. And very unpresidential (yeah yeah – don’t get bent out of shape – I call out Obama on junk like this too – remember his sweetie comment during the 2008 campaign?).
By Jill Miller Zimon at 9:10 am August 3rd, 2010 in Gender, Hillary Clinton, Media, Sarah Palin, Sexism, Women, leadership | Please comment
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Aug
2
In 2004 and again in 2008, Jennifer Lawless (Director, Women & Politics Institute, American University) and Robert Fox published reports that examine why women don’t run for elected position. The first was called Why Don’t Women Run For Office?, and Why Are Women Still Not Running For Office? was the follow up. Both reports eventually were published as books.
While seen as mostly accurate in nailing a number of issues related to the paucity of women in elected office, especially the suggestion that women may be victims of an ambition gap, there also was some criticism of that perspective being placed above systemic sexism.
I personally don’t buy the ambition gap per se, or even the assertion in an article from just a few weeks ago, Stagnating Gains For Women in Politics, that “The central obstacle to getting more women in elected office is the fact that they are less likely to even want to run for office.” [bold emphasis is mine]
If you want to read about the number one reason we don’t have more women in political office, read the full post here and leave a comment with your thoughts.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 9:11 am August 2nd, 2010 in Campaigning, Elections, Gender, Government, Media, Politics, Sexism, Social Issues, Transparency, Voting, Women, democracy, leadership | 1 Comment
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Jul
29
I’ve written before about my state rep’s assertions regarding his electoral success as it relates to his being Jewish. The Cleveland Jewish News now has a lengthy article with quotes from a well-known Democratic political consultant, among others, that directly contradicts Josh Mandel’s previous suggestion that identity politics plays little if any role in his career.
Marilyn Karfeld does a nice job with a subject that many won’t even tackle and some pundits want to say doesn’t really matter (identity politics). Just one excerpt to indicate otherwise:
Mandel has also raised large amounts of money from out-of-state Jews, particularly ones from heavily Jewish regions of New York and California. “Why? Because he’s good looking? No. Because he’s Jewish” and a strong potential candidate some day for governor or U.S. senator, says Austin. “Jews, even liberal Jews, see Josh’s potential. His positions don’t matter. There are no issues in the treasurer’s race. It’s about (his) being Jewish. They want to see Jews promoted.” [emphasis mine]
By Jill Miller Zimon at 5:57 pm July 29th, 2010 in Campaigning, Jewish, Judaism, Media, OH17, Ohio, Pepper Pike, Religion, Social Issues, Transparency, Voting, leadership, treasurer | Please comment
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Jul
29
If you aren’t old enough to remember Bush v. Gore (serious trivia: for those who’ve followed California’s Prop 8, check out the attorneys in Bush v. Gore and who they represented), don’t worry. The debate it highlighted — should our president be selected by popular vote or the electoral college system — lives on in the efforts of many states, catalogued by National Popular Vote, to dump the electoral college in favor of the popular vote, and Massachusetts is just the latest state to walk that way.
Read the rest of the debate and speculation at my latest BlogHer post, Massachusetts’ Legislature Favors Popular Vote over Electoral College: Will Your Vote Get Neutralized?
By Jill Miller Zimon at 5:24 pm July 29th, 2010 in Campaigning, Elections, Ethics, Government, Law, Politics, Voting, democracy | 3 Comments
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Jul
29
I assume the Democratic endorsement for the seat that includes representation for Pepper Pike will come out tomorrow. Here’s today’s:
ENDORSEMENT
District 6 consists of Bentleyville, Brecksville, Broadview Heights, Brooklyn Heights, Chagrin Falls, Chagrin Falls Township, Cuyahoga Heights, Gates Mills, Glenwillow, Highland Heights, Hunting Valley, Independence, Mayfield, Mayfield Heights, Moreland Hills, Newburgh Heights, Oakwood, Pepper Pike, Solon, Valley View and Walton Hills. The winner of this race will be the Republican nominee for a two-year term. Early voting for the Sept. 7 primary begins Aug. 3.
THE CANDIDATES:
Sam P. Cannata, 47, attorney, business owner.
Jim Crooks, 31, public relations consultant, Independence council member.
Ed Hargate, 52, attorney, Highland Heights council member.
Jack Schron, 62, business owner, former Chagrin Falls school board member.
Don Sopka, 65, retired teacher, former Broadview Heights council member.
OUR VIEW:
The Republicans have a strong group of candidates — Crooks, for one, is a fount of energy and ideas — but none is more impressive than Schron. He has successfully helped steer Jergens Inc., the machine parts business that his grandfather and father started in a Collinwood garage, into the world of advanced manufacturing and global competition that they scarcely could have imagined.
He started an online education company to train new factory workers and has worked with Cleveland’s Max S. Hayes High School to do the same. He mentors other small firms through Cleveland-based MAGNET, the Manufacturing Advocacy & Growth Network, and WIRE-Net, on whose boards he serves. He worked with local, state and federal officials to clean up the old Collinwood rail yard, then built a new home there for Jergens. If the new county government is to be serious about economic development, Schron’s hands-on experience could be invaluable.
I have never disagreed more than I do now with the entire focus many who wanted reform are placing on an alleged need – and the alleged benefits – of having people with business experience enter public service. Public finance, in existent to meet resident needs, defies analogy. Read more
By Jill Miller Zimon at 10:12 am July 29th, 2010 in Cleveland+, CuyahogaCounty, Elections, Endorsements, Government, Ohio, Pepper Pike, Transparency, Voting, leadership | 3 Comments
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Jul
29
The media’s focus has been on the symbolism of saying the words “I’m sorry,” as if that single utterance means everything and is the only thing. In today’s soundbite world that clamors to satisfy the hunger of news consumers, the media pushes the meme that the words “I’m sorry” alone are the end of the story. Some examples:
Lisa Belkin in articles on both her Motherlode blog and in the New York Times Magazine focuses on how to apologize and explores “how well” someone apologizes.
This post by Lauren Frayer is about a BP gaffe that was made during an apology for the oil spill. The BP executive then had to apologize for the blown apology about being sorry … for the oil spill. Again — what was the focus? It was on just spitting out the apology.
And even with sincere, appreciated words of contrition, such as UK Prime Minister David Cameron’s words about Bloody Sunday, the obsession is with how to say an apology and that not enough people give apologies.
I’m going to be a complete contrarian here: we have to stop focusing on who is asking for apologies and who is giving (or not giving) apologies. Instead, we need to focus on what people are doing after they give their apology. Because it is that behavior that matters. Period. Read more
By Jill Miller Zimon at 8:45 am July 29th, 2010 in Culture, Ethics, Media, Results, Scandal, Social Issues, leadership | Please comment
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Jul
23
I still cannot believe I lived through this and ran and won an election and my children and husband are still with me. An excerpt from my latest which you can read at BlogHer, Renegades of Home Renovation: You Did WHAT While I Was Working?:
Living through home renovations is like living through lice: If you’ve never had to endure it, you really don’t know what the rest of us are talking about. You won’t heed warnings, you won’t take precautions, you will think, “It really couldn’t be that bad — you’re just being dramatic.”
BONUS! There are photos of what we were coping with. Oh joy. And oh boy – I will not be going through that again.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 10:23 am July 23rd, 2010 in BlogHer, Campaigning, Elections, Humor, Jill Miller Zimon, Writing | 1 Comment
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Jul
20
Ohioans for Democratic Values and
are sponsoring a
Democratic Candidates Forum for
County Council Districts 6, 7, 8, 10, & 11 Tuesday, July 20, 2010
7:00 – 9:00 pm
Cleveland Heights Community Center
1 Monticello Boulevard (at Mayfield Road), Cleveland Heights, OH 44118
All Democratic candidates for County Executive and five* of the East side County Council districts have been invited to this event, which is a great opportunity to introduce yourself to the candidates and hear about the issues before the September 7 primary.
Refreshments will be provided.
Questions? Please call CDWC Chair Cindy Demsey at 216-470-6622
or contact ODV Chair Jane Buder Shapiro at ohio4demvalues@gmail.com.
*District 9 is not included, as the Shaker Heights Democratic Club and other co-sponsoring clubs are holding a separate forum for Democratic District 9 and County Executive candidates on August 3, 2010. Location TBD. For questions, call Michael Jackson, Shaker Heights Club President, at (cell): 216-280-5502.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 7:56 am July 20th, 2010 in Campaigning, Cleveland+, Democrats, Elections, Government, Ohio, Pepper Pike, Politics, Voting, leadership | Please comment
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Jul
11
Welcome to this week’s edition of Haveil Havalim #275: The “I’m so busy that putting together this blog carnival is actually what substitutes for taking a break” Edition.
Founded by Soccer Dad, Haveil Havalim is a carnival of Jewish blogs — a weekly collection of Jewish and Israeli blog highlights, tidbits and points of interest collected from blogs all around the world. It’s hosted by different bloggers each week and coordinated by the formidable Jack.
No enthusiastic experiments this week like last week’s edition, but I’ll see what I can do to keep it flowing:
Culture
Batya presents If I Were To Wear A Wig… posted at me-ander. Side-note: my daughter is into anime/manga and desperately wanted to wear her character’s wig. Did not work out so well, but maybe if I wore one, she’d have been conditioned? FYI, here’s a fascinating post on Jews in Anime and Manga.
Kissmeimshomer presents Get With the Program, an entry I read to be about parallel lives, and choices, posted at Kissmeimshomer.
Izgad offers a book review in An Anthropologist Does ArtScroll: A Review of Orthodox by Design posted at Izgad.
Izgad also addresses dress codes, values and what price people are willing to pay in Of Matisse, Skirt Lengths and Teaching Skills posted at Izgad.
Mordechai Torczyner speculates in Why does Cleveland hate LeBron James? posted at The Rebbetzin’s Husband. But I can tell you, having just driven past the famous “Witness” wall last night on my way to a friend’s 40th birthday party in downtown Cleveland that, as a parent, LeBron’s decision just sends a bad message – if it doesn’t have to be about money, then it can be about winning. And that seems to make it not be about life.
Humor
Mrs. S. presents A tale of two graduations (possibly alternatively titled, “Expectations Explained”?) posted at Our Shiputzim: A Work In Progress.
Israel
Shira sounds a theme I’ve read in other posts regarding Segregation in Israeli Schools Today posted at Table Poetry. It’s posts like this one and Mottel’s that make me ache for us to have ever-larger audiences though, so the nuances of such situations can be known and acknowledged.
Joel Katz’s weekly podcasts can be listened to here, Religion and State in Israel – July 5, 2010 (Section 1) and here, Religion and State in Israel – July 5, 2010 (Section 2) (both posted at Religion and State in Israel).
Ben-Yehudah’s Loyalty To The State? piece reminds me of the “First they came for…” reading many of us have heard or read for decades. His entry is posted at Esser Agaroth.
Harry gives kudos to good writing in A bissle culture posted at ISRAELITY.
Then, Harry describes how a rocker expresses his love for Israel in A porcupine tree grows in Tel Aviv, also posted at ISRAELITY.
Finally, Harry looks at just how frequently all-things-Israel get mentioned in How Kagan’s hearing turned into an Israeli focus, you know where it’s posted.
Ilana-David publishes an intriguing Weekly Interview: Baila, accompanied by nice photos, at Ilana-Davita.
The World Cup and a meal led David Levy to write this rather deep entry about Rethinking Germany, posted at Jewish Boston.
Batya highlights PM Binyamin Netanyahu and Larry King “Fencing” Around The Chess Board complete with video and a link to the show’s transcript, posted at Shiloh Musings.
Susan Barnes presents a cute, flip take on her, ahem, hatred of Tel Aviv posted at To Kiss A Mezuzah.
Then, Susan reflects on how easy it is to realize, here in the U.S. how one is No Longer in Israel, also posted at To Kiss A Mezuzah.
In Religion Taken Too Far, posted at The Israel Situation, Eric writes about his impressions of the multi-faceted situation in Immanuel.
Then, Eric offers his opinion on Israel Offers Peace Talks, PA Says No and wonders what we think, again at The Israel Situation.
Judaism
Batya argues, “It’s not enough to feel the spirit” in Torah Judaism, Is It Enough to Be Spiritual Without Keeping The Laws? posted at Shiloh Musings. A very provocative topic indeed.
(I love the name of this blog): Homeshuling presents What’s Jewish about competitive eating? – Homeshuling posted at Home-shuling.
Mottel’s lengthy but absolutely worth the full-read, A Fire Burns in Crown Heights: An Essay on Religion, Modernity and Pizza, has implications, imo, for all kinds of situations, religious and non. It’s posted at Letters of Thought.
Kissmeimshomer examines religion and happiness in Killing Babies and Understanding Brad Pitt’s Depression at Kissmeimshomer.
Rabbi Yehoishophot Oliver discusses levels of commitment to our faith in The corrosive impact of half-hearted worship, posted at A Chassidishe farbrengen.
Ben-Yehudah gives some technical advice with illustrative illustrations in Do You Pay Attention To The Google Ads On Your Site? posted at Esser Agaroth.
David Levy’s Book Review: Empowered Judaism might add to your summer reading list, posted at Jewish Boston.
I don’t know whether or not I’d recommend this to someone consider being a rabbi but Mordechai Torczyner’s entry, Why Rabbis Stop Believing, posted at The Rebbetzin’s Husband, sure raises a lot of good conversation points.
Minnesota Mamaleh’s Minnesota Mamaleh: Tradition!, posted at TC Jewfolk, is an excellent counter-balance to Batya’s belief (linked to above) that spirit alone doesn’t do it.
Kashrut
The title of Joshua Waxman’s entry faked me out so it’s a good thing he included what category Anisakis worms and peshat in Kukyanei, according to Rashi and Rabbenu Tam belonged to (posted at parshablog).
Personal
Shira confesses a bit in Material Girl posted at Table Poetry.
Rachel Moore describes the classic chaos we often go through just to get to the rest we need in Chugga Chugga aahhhh, posted at Ima 2 Seven.
Don’t read this entry unless you want to be baking today – the photo alone in Miriyummy’s Dulce Dog Days of Summer, at Miriyummy is going to seduce you.
Chabad Lubavitch World Headquarters shows us how we can find a lesson pretty much anywhere in Old and Wise, posted at lubavitch.com Chabad-Lubavitch news site.
To the question raised in Hadassah Sabo Milner’s WWYD – hair covering, posted at In the Pink? I always always do what you did.
The title of Chaviva’s entry, Once Upon a Time, I Was Agnostic. posted at Just call me Chaviva, reminds me of when I was a freshman at Georgetown and we had to pick a second mandatory theology class (the one all frosh have to take is called The Problem of God), and I first encountered the word, “gnosticism.”
Politics
Batya presents skepticism in Obama’s All Teeth …, posted at Shiloh Musings.
Lady-Light writes about what she sees as A Disturbing Assessment of President Obama, posted at Tikkun Olam.
Independent Patriot’s perspectives on the same event can be read in the Oval Office Nonsensical Dance, posted at Liberty’s Spirit.
Torah
I can’t even pretend I know what he’s talking about given my insufficient education in this area, but I bet a lot of you will enjoy Joshua Waxman’s Demonic messages between Sura and Pumbedita, posted at parshablog.
That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of Haveil Havalim using the carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on the blog carnival index page.
Thank you all for your submissions – they make me sad for all the time I have not had or made to read and keep up on often gripping and always real thoughts on these subjects.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 11:20 am July 11th, 2010 in Barack Obama, Civil Rights, Culture, Education, Foreign Affairs, Gaza, George Bush, Government, Holidays, Israel, Jewish, Judaism, Military, Politics, Recipes, Religion, Sexism, Social Issues, Sports, Women, Writing, Youth, anti-semitism, conservatives, democracy, intolerance, leadership, palestinians, peace, war | 13 Comments
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Jun
30
What I wrote about it in demanding that the latest crop of GOP female political candidates (aka Mama Grizzlies) address their policy position in regard to workplace policies and women – especially mama grizzlies-to-be.
Watch the Elena Kagan/Sen. Amy Klobuchar exchange:
Read an excerpt here of Kagan’s comments:
I don’t think it’s a matter of bad faith in this regard. But I do think that there are structural obstacles, that there are ways in which it’s — it’s hard to balance work and family, still harder for a woman than it is for a man. And that that often comes into play in the legal profession as it does elsewhere. And if you — if you look at these opportunities for women, you know — I think probably the best thing that we could do as a society but this isn’t the court’s rule, this really is congress’ role is to — to try to enable women and men, but i think that they especially strike women to — to manage those balances, the — the — the desire to have a fulfilling professional life and also the desire to have a wonderful family life, to manage that balance better and to sort of create the structures that enable them to do so.
…And one of the things that I did do there [when in the Clinton Administration] was to work on some of these issues, to work on issues relating to child care, for example. And to — to try to help women and men with these very difficult issues in how to have wonderful professional lives and also have wonderful family lives. [emphasis added]
Now is that really all that hard for the mama grizzlies or any policymaker, present or future, to commit to? Honestly.
Makes you want to run for office so you can make some policy, doesn’t it? Check out the BlogHer/White House Project training I’m keynoting or The 2012 Project, from the incredibly well-regarded and completely non-partisan Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 7:57 pm June 30th, 2010 in Business, Congress, Elections, Gender, Law, Parenting, Politics, Republicans, Sexism, Social Issues, Women, Youth, conservatives, democracy, employment, intolerance, leadership | 1 Comment
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Jun
26
Conservative New Media has posted all of Sarah Palin’s speech from last night at the California State University, Stanislaus, in four parts:
Part 1:
Part 2:
Part 3:
Part 4:
By Jill Miller Zimon at 4:06 pm June 26th, 2010 in Politics, Sarah Palin, conservatives | 7 Comments
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Jun
26
Think I’m kidding?
In my opinion and experience, being underestimated by others is one of the greatest gifts to receive. Consider the underestimation of Sarah Palin and the inverse relationship of that underestimation to her current status. No accident – completely predictable if you are a person who understands how setting expectations works and influences the future.
Personally, I have little opinion of Nancy Pelosi The Person – I don’t know her. But from the 30,000 foot view of her political trajectory, I have great respect. Today’s NYT op-ed by Gail Collins, The Age of Nancy, is a bit over the top gooey for me about Pelosi, but makes several salient points, among them:
The Republicans have turned Pelosi into the Demon Grandmother — in ads, a satanic figure in the flames of deficit spending, or a 50-foot monster smashing houses with her big-government feet. (She seems utterly indifferent to the endless public pummeling — although she did express some dismay, in an interview with The Times’s Mark Leibovich, that people had been speculating that she might have had a face-lift.)
But even the public that likes the legislation she’s been churning out tends to underestimate her.
…
She is, at any rate, a person who combines the high ideals of politics with a sure grasp of the very practical realities. Some progressives will never forgive Pelosi for caving in to the anti-abortion forces during the health care negotiations or for giving the National Rifle Association an exemption in the new campaign finance legislation. But the real world has limits, and one of them is that there will never be a major bill to emerge from the House of Representatives that doesn’t have something regrettable in it. [emphasis added]
The real world has limits. One of them is that there will never be a major bill to emerge from the House of Representatives that DOES NOT have SOMETHING regrettable in it.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 11:25 am June 26th, 2010 in Politics | 2 Comments
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Jun
24
Read this poll information on the battle for New Mexico governor, between Republican Susana Martinez and Democrat Diane Denish, if you still don’t get why the self-proclaimed Mama Grizzly pro-woman conservative feminists must make known their position on workplace policies that penalize women.
Susana Martinez has a stronger image [than Denesh] among men than women, with 52% having a favorable opinion of her compared to 39% of women. Women, in past New Mexico general elections, have contributed 55% of the overall vote.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 12:46 pm June 24th, 2010 in Business, Campaigning, Elections, Gender, Government, Law, Parenting, Politics, Sexism, Social Issues, Women, Youth, conservatives, leadership | 1 Comment
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