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Jan
31
Making love to the real-time reaction meter
Filed Under Campaigning, WH2008, Elections, Politics | 5 Comments
Senator Hillary Clinton’s responses caressed the CNN real-time reaction meter with consistently higher ratings than Senator Barack Obama all night long.
A few other observations, as a result of liveblogging the debate at two blogs at once:
-Hillary was “Senator Clinton” while Barack was “Barack” much of the evening - some of the co-bloggers I blogged with didn’t like that and thought it wasn’t respectful of HRC to not call Barack “Senator Obama.”
-some bloggers thought Obama looked annoyed when talking about hugging a grieving parent in relation to the angst of the war in Iraq.
-everyone loved the idea of the Dream Team and blogged it before Wolf Blitzer asked about the two candidates whether they’d consider it.
-we all wanted to know where Bill was shacked up and who he was with for the night.
-we wanted Pierce Brosnan and Diane Keaton to ask the questions and we wanted the camera to stop showing Rob Reiner.
General consensus: far better debate on every level than the GOP event last night. My estimation: because the two candidates are far better candidates on every level. But that’s just me. 
You can check out the live-blog commentary I participated in here and here.
Also - I could have sworn Wolf said that there will be debates on Feb. 27 and 28 and in Ohio?? Maybe he said just before Ohio? Anyone else hear that? I’m still on pretty powerful pain meds.
UPDATE: Behind the People Meter.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 10:25 pm January 31st, 2008 in Campaigning, WH2008, Elections, Politics | 5 Comments
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Jan
31
The Columbus Business First covers the news here.
Ann Taylor Stores Corp. will close 117 of its more than 900 apparel stores over the next three years, though the retailer didn’t specify whether shutdowns would be made in Central Ohio, where it runs nine stores.
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Ann Taylor Stores (NYSE:ANN) sells women’s apparel, shoes and accessories in stores bearing the Ann Taylor, Ann Taylor Loft and Ann Taylor Factory nameplates. The company operates 921 stores, of which 22 are in Ohio.
Thank you, Google Alerts.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 8:10 pm January 31st, 2008 in Economy, Business, Ohio | 1 Comment
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Jan
31
The Fix goads gender battle: Mano a mano has nada to do w/gender
Filed Under Campaigning, WH2008, Women, Elections, Politics | 7 Comments
And I bet Chris Cillizza knows that, but then why use this very tired rubric for tonight? Is he totally deaf to people begging for the gender and race stuff to stop?
The quote from his debate preview:
After a year of campaigning, tonight’s Democratic debate in California finally offers the sort of a mano a mano — eh, mano a womano — confrontation that many within the party have been craving.
Feh.
Watch the debate tonight between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 5:51 pm January 31st, 2008 in Campaigning, WH2008, Women, Elections, Politics | 7 Comments
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Jan
31
Interrogation transcript of Jerome Kerviel,French rogue trader from SocGen
Filed Under Law, Social Issues, Business, Crime, Culture | Leave a Comment
Is Jerome Kerviel really that unusual? How many people try and don’t get caught?
Here are the excerpts published in English speaking markets. One curious to me:
On his hiring by SocGen in 2000: “I had no illusions. I knew perfectly well that I would be less well-paid than on other desks, that I would not be paid according to market standards, but that did not lessen my motivation.”
On his advancement to the Delta One trading desk in 2005: “I was aware, starting from my first meeting in 2005, that I was less well-considered than the others, as regarded my university degree and my professional and personal background. I had not come directly to the front office, but had passed through the middle office, and I was the only [trader] to have done that.”
How is it that someone who had enough pluck to be the only trader to get to the Delta One desk through the middle office, and not the front office, that he didn’t trust that pluck to keep going? Was it him, the hierarchy in the French system, both?
By Jill Miller Zimon at 9:48 am January 31st, 2008 in Law, Social Issues, Business, Crime, Culture | Please comment
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Jan
31
Petites to suffer again?
Filed Under Economy, Women | 11 Comments
Ann Taylor is closing more than 100 stores. I can’t locate a list of which ones yet though.
Remember when Saks shutdown its petites sections, only to be forced by little old ladies to re-open them? Given my current back problems, I may be closer to little old lady than I like to admit.
More information here, but no locations to close revealed.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 9:28 am January 31st, 2008 in Economy, Women | 11 Comments
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Jan
30
HEY!!! THIS IS MY FRIEND!!! (new president of Barnard)
Filed Under Women, Announcements, Education | Leave a Comment
Debora L. Spar - the new president of Barnard. Wow, am I proud.
More here.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 7:51 pm January 30th, 2008 in Women, Announcements, Education | Please comment
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Jan
30
Bliss Institute’s John Green on evangelicals & politics
Filed Under Government, Campaigning, Social Issues, Elections, Ohio, Religion, Culture, Politics | 3 Comments
Hattip to Kyle Kutuchief at The Point for flagging this interview by PBS’s program, NOW, with Professor John Green.
An excerpt:
NOW: Can you be a liberal and an evangelical?
GREEN: You know [this question] is really interesting. I’ve done surveys for many years of pastors and evangelical activists and the people in the pews—-surveys of the public. And one of the questions we often ask is, “Is it possible to be an evangelical and a liberal?”
And the reason we ask that is because that is the subject of some contention and debate within the evangelical community. And we find that there really are two opinions on that matter. Some evangelicals, particularly the more conservative ones, really doubt that one could be a true believer and a political liberal.
But there are others, and there always have been others, that don’t see that that’s necessarily a contradiction and that one could find in the religious teachings of the evangelical community plenty of things that might lead one to adopt liberal positions in politics. It’s my sense that in the last few years, that second group, people who don’t see a necessary contradiction between evangelical beliefs and political liberalism, has become somewhat larger. And more than that, it’s become much more vocal.
Please read the rest. Professor Green is a wonderful resource (and person).
By Jill Miller Zimon at 3:43 pm January 30th, 2008 in Government, Campaigning, Social Issues, Elections, Ohio, Religion, Culture, Politics | 3 Comments
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Jan
30
WayBack machine: McCain endorsed Ken Blackwell
Filed Under OH17, Campaigning, OH24th, WH2008, Ohio, Elections, Politics | 1 Comment
Thanks to Ohio Daily Blog (who hattipped a reader) for reminding us about GOP presidential candidate and very likely nominee John McCain’s efforts to appear conservative enough. Writes Jeff:
About six months [after the endorsement in 10/05] McCain was featured at fundraisers for Blackwell in Ohio that raised about $250,000. The Plain Dealer’s Mark Naymik wrote then that McCain dismissed the notion that he was pandering to the party’s conservative base, and laughed at a suggestion that Blackwell could become his possible running mate on the 2008 ticket.
Yeah, that guy. And we saw what happened to his pick for governor.
Here’s another WayBack Machine item from the PD’s blog from 4/06:
Northeast Ohio’s three musketeers of Republican fund-raising are soliciting money for gubernatorial candidate Ken Blackwell.
Industrialist Ed Crawford, insurance magnate Umberto Fedeli and health-equipment manufacturer Mal Mixon will host a set of fundraisers for Blackwell at the city’s stuffy Union Club next week.
But the event isn’t a chance just to pay respects to the conservative cabal. It’s a opportunity to meet Republican Senator John McCain.
McCain, who endorsed Blackwell last year, has agreed to appear at three events: a general reception; a private reception; and a far more exclusive roundtable discussion.
[NB: Fedeli and Mixon donated to my state rep., Josh Mandel’s (R-Lyndhurst) 2006 campaign. I do not know who Mandel supports for the GOP nomination. Fedeli has given to my state senator Bob Spada’s (R-N. Royalton) campaigns in the past also and I don’t know who Spada supports for the GOP nomination.]
Thanks, Jeff.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 3:35 pm January 30th, 2008 in OH17, Campaigning, OH24th, WH2008, Ohio, Elections, Politics | 1 Comment
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Jan
30
Now posted: Carnival of Ohio Politics #102
Filed Under Ohio, Carnivals, Politics, Blogging | Leave a Comment
Much thanks to Ben Keeler of the Keeler Political Report and The Point for producing this week’s Carnival of Ohio Politics, the 102nd edition.
Carnivals come and carnivals go but this is a carnival you can visit whenever you like to measure the pulse of Ohio politics from on the ground in the swingiest of swing states. If you want to contribute, please send in your links by Tuesdays at 9pm to OhioPolCarnival[at]Gmail[dot]com.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 3:05 pm January 30th, 2008 in Ohio, Carnivals, Politics, Blogging | Please comment
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Jan
29
Carnival of Ohio Politics: let’s get going Lefties!
Filed Under Ohio, Carnivals, Politics, Blogging | Leave a Comment
Submissions are still being taken for this week’s edition - the 102nd! - of the Carnival of Ohio Politics.
For those of you who’ve never sent in posts, the Carnival is a great opportunity to be read and linked to along with tens of other Ohio blogs that wax political.
Just send up to three posts (their URL addresses) to OhioPolCarnival[at]Gmail[dot]com.
And while of course I love having Righties in there too, there’s some sense that the Lefties aren’t flexing their muscles equally every week. Could be the moons, could be you’re all feeling my pain (God forbid) but I’ve actually already sent in my three links.
So go ahead - just do it.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 5:26 pm January 29th, 2008 in Ohio, Carnivals, Politics, Blogging | Please comment
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Jan
29
Ode on a Blogosphere
Filed Under Writing, Media, Blogging | Leave a Comment
Hattip to India Uncut for the link to this poem about the thirstiness of the paper press.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 5:09 pm January 29th, 2008 in Writing, Media, Blogging | Please comment
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Jan
29
Blogs of Importance
Filed Under Foreign Affairs, Ohio, Jewish, Politics, Blogging | 2 Comments
Care2 Election Blog My bloggy good friend, Catherine Morgan, runs the elections blog of Care2. Here’s a good article from last fall about Care2 in general and an excerpt:
[Care2 is] an online community for green living and social change, has grown to include 7.75 million members and 250 nonprofit partners. The company, which relies on ad sales and sponsorships to generate revenue, grew to $5.9 million last year and has been profitable for the past three years.
Care2’s site combines social action, environmental news and green tips with related discussion groups, as well as services such as e-cards, email, blogs, polls and petitions. Members register for free, and then can participate in any of the groups, actions and services.
Thanks for flagging the elections portion, Catherine - it looks very complete and user-friendly. I just signed up. 
Full Frontal Scrutiny is a joint venture between Consumer Reports WebWatch and the Center for Media and Democracy, two non-profit organizations whose mission includes consumer education using investigative reporting. This Web site seeks to expose front groups, which are organizations that state a particular agenda, while hiding or obscuring their identity, membership or sponsorship, or all three.
Pakistani Spectator - I learned of this site from a fellow TMV co-blogger, Swaraaj Chauhan, who wrote this post about a Pakistani woman, Dr. (Mrs) Ayesha Siddiqa Agha, who speaks out for women and her country. The full interview with Dr. Agha is here on the Pakistani Spectator.
Stop the Smears - from the National Jewish Democratic Council; includes new spreadsheet on where the Democratic primary candidates stand on Israel
Battleground Ohio (hattip to Buckeye State Blog) - some serious insiders involved, or so it appears
I’d discovered a couple of other Ohio blogs yesterday or the day before, but I lost them. Hopefully, as the election season progresses, they’ll re-emerge.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 3:34 pm January 29th, 2008 in Foreign Affairs, Ohio, Jewish, Politics, Blogging | 2 Comments
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Jan
29
Where to watch for Florida primary results
Filed Under Campaigning, WH2008, Elections | Leave a Comment
Try this page at the state’s Departement of State, Division of Elections.
Although there’s also this [update: I’m told this is leftover from a test-site in 2004 but I haven’t confirmed that]:
Maybe it’s the drugs I’m taking for my back - but does this chart (shown above too) show that the primary is over? What am I looking at?