Click on the link below to walk through an interactive "choose-your-own-adventure" style program to learn how H.R.3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act, will affect you and your family. The House will be voting this weekend, so it's not too late to call and make your voice heard. Simply call the Capitol Hill switchboard at 202/224-3121 and ask for your representative's office. If your representative is a member of the Blue Dog Caucus, you especially need to call. Speak now or forever…
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Added by The Zaftig Redhead on November 6, 2009 at 9:19pm —
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Much attention has been paid to the House and its accomplishments, and its historic f…
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Added by The Zaftig Redhead on October 6, 2009 at 11:02pm —
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Finally, the health insurance reform debate turned its focus -- albeit briefly -- on women and girls. About time. Women make most of the health care decisions in American families, and because of our longevity we tend to use more health care services as well. Further, because a persistent wage gap deprives many women of fair pay, women also have a harder time paying for health care and health insurance. And, to add insult to injury, insurance is typically more expensive for women. Without common…
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Added by The Zaftig Redhead on September 26, 2009 at 11:01pm —
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While health insurance reform is the talk of the town when it comes to policy, it's the off-year gubernatorial races that have the politicos buzzing. Why? Well, they help the parties and pundits and the wonks read the tea leaves for the 2010 midterms elections. At the moment, the tea is something of a bitter brew for the Democrats.
In New Jersey,
Gov. Jon Corzine (D) is in serious trouble against Republican
Chris…
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Added by The Zaftig Redhead on September 24, 2009 at 8:54am —
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In an absolutely delicious bit of karmic justice, it seems that Ann Coulter -- that right-wing talking points spouter, prolific regurgitator/author of absurd new books seemingly every other day, anti-progressive, anti-feminist (or is she just the anti-Christ?) -- has had her jaw wired shut. No, really -- wired shut.
Just in time for the holidays, boys and girls, we have all been gifted with a forced moment of silence from Ann Coulter -- something I didn't think was humanly possible. Better yet,…
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Added by The Zaftig Redhead on November 26, 2008 at 5:39pm —
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Paybacks are ... negotiable? All's well that ends... without retribution? Sen. Joe Lieberman (turncoat-CT) apparently kissed and kinda-sorta made up with the Senate Democrats today. The wishy-washy caucus voted 42-13 on a resolution condemning statements made by Connecticut's infamous pain in the ass during the campaign. I'm sure that very firm slap on the wrist struck fear in the heart of any straying caucus member. But wait, that same resolution allowed good ol' Joe to keep his precious Homela…
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Added by The Zaftig Redhead on November 18, 2008 at 10:54pm —
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Tomorrow's the big day. The Election Day we've all been waiting for, the one that couldn't come soon enough -- if only to cease the endless commercials, robocalls, and shredding of trees for campaign fodder. Those of you lucky enough to live outside the boundaries of the District of Columbia will also be electing House and Senate candidates in addition to a president. Lucky you. I'm soooo jealous.
As a resident of our nation's capital, I'd like to take this opportunity to remind the rest of the…
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Added by The Zaftig Redhead on November 3, 2008 at 9:24am —
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The McCain campaign never bothered to tell Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK) that they were conceding Michigan. She
revealed Friday in a Fox News interview -- the only post-debate interview the McCain campaign allowed Palin to do -- that she read about it in the newspaper. (Wonder which paper? -- since she couldn't seem to remember any in her
disastrous interview with CBS' Katie Couric.) Clea…
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Added by The Zaftig Redhead on October 4, 2008 at 9:52pm —
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In this critical election year, women will most likely be the deciding vote. It's quite a responsibility, really -- the direction, indeed the future of a nation rests in our hands. As such, women are more engaged than ever -- 18 million cracks in the glass ceiling don't lie; neither does the fact that pay equity is front and center this election season.
In many ways, this decision-making power rests well with women. We're comfortable with it. We have long been the primary family economic and so…
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Added by The Zaftig Redhead on September 22, 2008 at 10:27pm —
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Barack Obama has just had a particularly good week with the ladies. In fact, it was a noticeably big week for women's endorsements for the Obama campaign. Can you say "gender gap?" I knew you could. :) In a week that saw Republican VEEP candidate
Sarah Palin's approval rating drop precipitously, these actvities aimed at women voters well timed.
First, a…
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Added by The Zaftig Redhead on September 21, 2008 at 1:30pm —
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The wait is over. The text messages have been sent. The pundits have been proven wrong -- or right, depending on how they called it. The breaking news is in, the press conference held -- Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware is the chosen one to stand beside Barack Obama and lead this country back from the brink to which Bush & Co. have pushed us.
Lord knows we've all had plenty of time to think about what this choice would mean, what it's impact might be. This build up to this announcement has been a…
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Added by The Zaftig Redhead on August 23, 2008 at 4:04pm —
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I've been stewing about the John Edwards fiasco. Stewing, fuming, bitching. Many of you know I was an Edwards Girl. I fell for his shtick -- hook, line and sinker. And this blog may seem oddly timed, given the fact that the country seems to be on collective pins and needles waiting for news about Barack Obama's running mate. But really, it's those circumstances combined with the looming Denver convention that crystallized things for me. While I didn't really think Edwards was up for another VP d…
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Added by The Zaftig Redhead on August 23, 2008 at 12:30am —
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Virgina is sure to be a battleground state this fall, with the Obama candidacy putting the state in play for the first time in recent memory. Not to mention the fact that it looks like former Gov. Mark Warner (D) is going to walk away with the state's open Senate seat, which is being vacated by statesman Sen. John Warner (R, no relation). Mark Warner would join Virginia's up and coming Sen. Jim Webb (D) in Congress, representing a state that already has a popular Democratic governor in Tim Kane…
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Added by The Zaftig Redhead on July 30, 2008 at 10:24pm —
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Presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain couldn't stiff arm former Sen. Phil Gramm (R-TX) fast enough after Gramm provided a little of his own straight talk, dubbing the United States "a nation of whiners" in a "mental recession."
Gramm later said that he meant the nation's leaders were whiners, not its citizens. (That's ever so much better, isn't it?) But after that helpful clarification, the former presidential wannabe went on to illustrate why his own ill-fated campaign sputte…
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Added by The Zaftig Redhead on July 17, 2008 at 12:30am —
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The latest
report from the Brookings Institution's
Issues in Governance Studies series underscores what many of us have known for a good long time: more women aren't running for elected office because the daily circumstances of their lives just don't make room for it. In short, the traditional social supports that encourage m…
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Added by The Zaftig Redhead on May 30, 2008 at 10:30am —
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Republican swift boats are armed and already firing at former White House press secretary Scott McClellan, whose tell-all book -- What Happened: Inside the Bush White House and Washington's Culture of Deception -- isn't scheduled for release until June 2 but is already making the scandal rounds in our nation's capital. Given that Congress is out enjoying its Memorial Day Recess, this has definitely been the talk of the town.
McClellan, who resigned just two years ago after an Administration sha…
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Added by The Zaftig Redhead on May 29, 2008 at 12:42am —
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President Truman's old adage that there are no friends in politics has been put on vivid display this election season. Even in CampClinton, long time allegiances don't seem to hold water anymore. And, just as we did four years ago, we had the Democratic presidential nominee (John Kerry, for those of you who've blocked it out) diss his former running mate (my guy, John Edwards) and endorse someone else -- the junior senator from Illinois.
Which, of course, brings to mind my personal fav, Sen. Jo…
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Added by The Zaftig Redhead on May 13, 2008 at 10:49pm —
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Most of you have probably heard by now that Washington University of St. Louis has decided to honor Phyllis Schlafly, a native St. Louisan and two-time Wash U. graduate, with an honorary doctorate of humane letters. This unanimous decision by the university's Board of Trustees has caused a furor, and rightly so.
Over the years, Schlafly has done it all. She's well known for her successful efforts to defeat the ERA because it was "dangerous." Folks can argue the relative merits of the ERA, but r…
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Added by The Zaftig Redhead on May 12, 2008 at 11:32pm —
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Much has been made of the possible damage that the ongoing intraparty slugfest has or has not done to the Democratic Party in general and the candidates in particular. That debate rages on, endlessly -- apropos given the topic. But, we likely won't know the actual extent of the damage or even the possible benefits of the extended primary until the Dems -- and voters -- can focus on one nominee, and truly take stock of that candidate in a matchup against Sen. John McCain.
The flip side of the da…
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Added by The Zaftig Redhead on April 28, 2008 at 11:13pm —
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In an unusual show of good timing, this week -- the week of Equal Pay Day -- the Senate takes up the House-passed Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act (H.R. 2831). It's only been sitting at the desk since July 2007, but better late than never. They'll debate the bipartisan bill, and the make-or-break cloture vote is scheduled for Wednesday (4/23) afternoon -- hopefully at a time when both Clinton and Obama, both original sponsors of the legislation, can get back to town for the critical vote. This civil…
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Added by The Zaftig Redhead on April 22, 2008 at 12:30am —
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Much attention has been paid to the House and its accomplishments, and its historic f… Continue
