Boston Boomer has a great post up about the insanity of trying to be sane in an insane world. Her citation of this study, in which sociologists had themselves admitted to mental hospitals by pretending to be crazy and then acted normally once they were committed, only to find that the only people in the asylums who knew they were only pretending to be crazy were the actual crazy people (the doctors and nurses NEVER realized), is worth a chuckle on many levels.

Also, this from Violet Sox is a must-read. A sheepish young feminist named Hilary G, who no longer participates in PDS’ fueled misogyny, wrote:

“In the wake of the Bush presidency, McCain’s choice of a female VP seemed like an audacious ploy to differentiate his campaign from Bush’s, to redeem the Republican ideology by distancing itself from the Bush presidency. The idea that this (Republican) woman could throw the whole election somehow gave me every incentive to hate her, to believe everything I heard about her, to brand her “one of those women that make other women look bad.” She was definitely a hate receptacle. McCain wasn’t a hate receptacle, despite his Republicanism, because he was a man.”

If in fact Hilary G is a real person and that is a genuine comment, well, welcome to Pumaville Hilary G! I’m thrilled you now see the light, though I find your word choice somewhat puzzling. You were afraid Palin might be a sign that McCain’s campaign was “distancing itself from the Bush presidency” and that Palin “could throw the whole election”? Well, what the heck would be wrong with “distancing itself from the Bush presidency?? Also, another way of saying “throw the whole election” is “WIN the whole election.” For crying out loud. If a candidate, or team of candidates, and the platform they push become attractive to a large enough number of voters who go ahead and decide to VOTE for the team, that’s called WINNING AN ELECTION IN A DEMOCRACY!

It sounds like what Hilary G is really saying is that she was afraid her team was going to lose so she decided to lie, cheat, and throw her principles overboard so that she could feel like a winner.

The candidates, by design and/or by coincidence, TRY to reach out to voters and persuade them of their competence, charisma, whatever. You appear to be characterizing Palin’s appeal as CHEATING. In fact, to take the insanity masquerading as sanity theme a bit further, you appear to have decided that since the other side might WIN FAIR AND SQUARE (though you call it cheating) that you and all your friends were JUSTIFIED IN CHEATING yourselves! In my book, participating in vile smear campaigns based on blatant and disproved lies (rape kits, creationism, incest) IS cheating. Damnit it all to hell, Hilary G. 

Hilary G’s perhaps inadvertently candid assessment of the behavior and motives of the Left (and their toadies in the established Feminist Movement) makes it obvious to me: We were right then and we are right now. The Powers That Be were scared witless of Hillary Clinton and they feel the same way about Palin.

Don’t forget it Pumas. Every stupid, insane crazy LIE they use to Kill The Bitch is used for one, simple reason: They are TERRIFIED of her.

Good.

Because it should be repeated every few weeks, HERE is a CLASSIC post on Clinton Derangement Syndrome and the misogyny it made commonplace. Every single one of the links in this paragraph is to mainstream media outlet or a Big BOIZ Blog. Every single one.

Hillary Clinton is a bitch. A big ol’ bitchy bitch. And a cunt.A “big fucking whore.” Fortunately, you can “call a woman anything.” She’s “Nurse Ratched.” She’ll castrate you if she gets a chance. She would like that. She’s a “She-Devil.” She’s a madam, and her daughter’s a whore. She’s frigid, and she can’t give head. She’s a “She-Devil.” A lesbian. A nag. When things get tough, she cries like a big dumb GIRL. In fact, she’s just that — a “little girl.” In FACT, she wants to “cry her way to the White House.” To be, ahem, “Crybaby-in-Chief.” That proves that she’s not tough enough. But she’s also not feminine enough. She’s “screechy.” She’s an “aging, resentful female.” She’s “Sister Frigidaire.” She really ought to quit running for President and stick to housework. She basically spent her entire times as First Lady going to tea parties. She’s a monster whojust won’t die. In fact, she really should just die. You can buy aurinal target with her face on it to express what you really think of her. OMG she’s got claws! She’s crazy. In fact, she’s a lunatic. She’s petty and vindictiveand entitled. She’s a washed-up old hag. She’s “everybody’s first wifestanding outside probate court.” She’s a “scolding mother.” She’s shrill… shrill… shrill. She can’t take it when people are mean to her. She’s a “hellish housewife.” She’sTanya Harding. She CAN’T be President, what with the mood swings and the menses.Any woman who votes for her is voting with her vagina, not her brain. Women only like Hillary because she’s a fellow Vagina-American. And because they vote with their feelings. Frankly, anyone who still thinks we need “feminine role models” should get over it and move on, already. Oh, and men who supporters are castratos in the eunuch chorus. You shouldn’t make her President because she wants it too much. She’s totally just banking on support from ugly old feminists. And she looooves to “play the victim.” She cackles! And cackles. And cackles. It’s like she’s a witch or something! She’s definitely“witchy.” And now you can buy her cackle as your ring tone. Her voice, too, is “grating”—like “fingernails on a blackboard” to “some men.” She’s hiding behind her gender. She isn’t a “convincing mom” because she’s too strident. She never did anything on her own. Her husband keeps her on a leash. She hates men. Her campaign is a “catfight.” She makes people want to kill themselves, is like a “domineering mother,” and is cold. And OMG she has boobies! All of which are reasons to hateher. (And boy, could I go on.)

Oh, and if you even mention any of this, you’re either silly or a bad person.  

And she has cankles. (h/t mangoprincess)

Oh, and p.s. The SCFP, MSM, and TPTB can just knock it the fuck off with the “Sarah Palin is a Polarizing Figure” baloney. She’s a POLITICIAN nitwits — she’s SUPPOSED to be supported by some and not supported by others. Are the Boston Celtics a POLARIZING basketball team? I guess they must be, at least according to fans of the L.A. Lakers. About half of all American voters pulled the lever for obama in November. The other half voted for McCain. How come no one calls obama a “Polarizing Figure” even though at least HALF of the voters don’t like him, didn’t vote for him, and think he’s a terrible president?

More people strongly disapprove of obama than strongly approve — his worst polling yet. His daily approval index is also at a new low: -3%

You know what that means!

Mockery and Rant: I think they may be the mainstays of blogging (someone should start a blog with that title. It’s available), and as valuable as they are, both are so often and so predictably abused. Mockery is certainly a powerful and effective tool for those with less power and influence to use against those with more. It’s free and can be wielded alone, even on a lonely little blog. And rant has its uses too. It can be funny, cathartic, and use hyperbole to set bright lines delimiting the broadest area of common ground shared by a diverse group. We may disagree on many minor and major individual points, but we ALL agree David Letterman’s “jokes” were offensive, or that Prop Hate is a despicable piece of legislation.

Short rants also have their purpose. Contemplating the vast miasmic swamp that is the Islamic political and cultural treatment of women is enough to dismay even the staunchest political feminist from even attempting to understand, analyze, or criticize it. How does one work with THIS? In trying to, one gets swallowed up in THIS. Much easier to just cut to the quick (Islam sucks!), knowing (YES, I know there are good, brave, honorable, freedom-loving, feminist muslims. YES, I know there is much to criticize in all religions. YES, I know there is beautiful thought and philosophy in the Koran (actually, I don’t know it; but I’ll happily take your word for it.), so yes I know it is a simplification and and a one-sided machete with which to fight. So be it.

Islam sucks.

So, yes of course bloggers need to depend on mockery and rant to be heard and to influence or participate in the national discussion, but it’s SO easy for us to accidentally, or stupidly, start shooting at each other.

Molly Ivins was right about satire:
“Satire is traditionally the weapon of the powerless against the powerful. I only aim at the powerful. When satire is aimed at the powerless, it is not only cruel — it’s vulgar.”

I’m with Steven Mather 100% on this. Make arguments using evidence and clearly state your opinions. Don’t call people names, either implicitly or explicitly, ESPECIALLY when you’re arguing with allies.

I guess it pumps up readership to engage in flame wars or whatever, but isn’t it kind of boring at the end of the day?

And the story in Honduras is IMPORTANT! Way too important to allow baseless ad hominem attacks to distract us from the story. We know the powers that be will use confusion and radio silence to keep us guessing and unsure. Anyone who pretends to know what the FACTS are in Honduras is most likely lying.

Did the U.S. train the military personnel who ousted President Zelaya?
If so, why is the obama administration condemning the coup? IS this a radical shift from the policies of the Bush era?

And oh my goodness, how’s this for rich irony? Left-wing know-it-alls at Daily Kos are now objecting to the replaced president, Roberto Micheleti, on the grounds that he is NOT A NATURAL BORN CITIZEN of Honduras. Seems, there’s a leetle bit of trouble with the new guy’s birth certificate:

“In other words, this coup was carried out by a graduate of a sinister U.S.-backed terrorist training school, for the purpose of overthrowing a legally elected president, who has been replaced by a man who may be constitutionally forbidden from ever holding the office of president. All international bodies and agencies, and every nation in the world that claims to support the concept of democracy, has every valid reason to stand firm against this coup. It’s important that they know it, that the coup leaders know that they know it, and that everyone knows that the world will not allow it.” 

BWAHAHAHAHAHA! (Kos later corrected the misinformation about Micheleti’s birth certificate. I’m sure the wingers over there are prepared to admit they are BLATANT racists for believing that anyone with such a “funny sounding name” like Michelleti in Honduras is obviously not a citizen. But they didn’t change the original article, nor do they acknowledge the entire piece loses a fundamental basis for being published AT ALL once the inconvenient “update” is taken into account. Will the writers at the all-powerful Kos now allow some nuance to enliven and widen their arguments about the coup? Don’t hold your breath Pumas.)

The Women’s Movement

I have no degree in Women’s Studies. I have learned mostly through my own life experiences. So please take what you want and leave the rest. But recognize what you leave may be what keeps women from fully recognizing the power we hold but never wield. The reason for our failure to wield power is the subjugation of women in this country, which takes many forms. All of them man made.

But, the main reason for the subjugation of women is the failure that results when women seek a political remedy through the political process. Women as members in the political process today have attempted to make life better for women in this country, and it has failed miserably. Not because of the individual woman, but because of the political process. To be a member in the political process you must take a side or have a viewpoint that is contrary to another woman’s viewpoint. The power structure, the man made power structure, thrives on this division to suppress the one commonality. As long as women are busy telling other women how to live their lives, we cannot be free to live our own.

To achieve a political remedy the political submission of women in our political system must end. Women must focus on the commonality. The participation in the political process leads women down a road of division. Until women fully reject the political process to achieve a political remedy, we will remain divided. We must build our own political process. A process, like men, where there is respect for difference of opinion and a respect of one another because of their one commonality, which is they were born male. Women need a process that does not depend on the men and subjugated women who have defined what our roles should be. We need to define our own roles. We know what has kept women in their place. We know the political process seeks to divide and suppress the woman’s voice.

This is not a call of revolution, or it might be in someone’s opinion, it is more a call for women to see things differently. We need a political remedy, yes, but traveling down the avenue through the political process leads to a dead end street. Of course women can hold their own views on a multitude of issues, but one should not lose sight of the one common thread, which is we were born female.

Ruth Marcus in the Washington Post this morning gives succor to the enemy. Yeah, Larry Summers is right Ruth — math is too hard for girls. Puma comments needed. Send Ms. Marcus an email telling her that her science is junk, her analysis laughable, and her contribution to the public debate mind-numbingly incoherent.

marcusr@washpost.com

This stunning poll at Tina Brown’s new digs, The Daily Beast.

“The poll’s key findings include:

• By an overwhelming 61% to 19% margin, women believe there is a gender bias in the media.

• 4 in 10 men freely admit sexist attitudes towards a female president. 39% of men say that a male is “naturally more suited” to carrying out the duties of the office

• Only 20% of women are willing to use the word “feminist” about themselves. Only 17% of all voters said they would welcome their daughters using that label.

• 48% of women thought Hillary Clinton received fair media treatment and only 29% believed Sarah Palin was treated fairly. In contrast, nearly 8 in 10 voters thought the press gave fair treatment to Barack Obama and Joe Biden.

Oh, and don’t forget to tune in to the wonderful Betty Jean and Robin on Puma United Radio (PURrrr!) at 9pm eastern. Their weekly show, Free US Now!, at its new home on PURrrr! Listen live HERE, and call in at (347) 539-5420!

“On my own I have no rights but together, as the Gulabi Gang, we have power,” Aarti Devi, 25.

“When I go to fetch water, the upper-caste people beat me, saying I shouldn’t be drinking the same water as them. But because we’re a gang, they’re scared of us and will leave us alone.

“Six months ago, a woman was raped and we went to the police station. The officers initially refused to take the complaint, but together, we were able to force the police to take action.

“We dragged the police officer from the station and beat him with our sticks.”

The group has attracted the support of an increasing number of men.

“My father is a member of the Gulabi Gang,” says Aarti.

“We are not against men. We are for the rights of everybody and against people who don’t believe in that.”

Sampat, a mother of five who was married at nine, has become a local celebrity.

Read MORE.

I am increasingly disturbed by how often we blame women for sexism, for failing, for being stupid enough to vote for obama, for attacking other women. Call it kick the dog syndrome. Call it a circular firing squad. Call it whatever you want, but no matter what you call it, blaming women is UTTERLY counter-productive and worse, it is self-destructive.

You say that women who voted for obama are dumb-asses; that feminists who attacked Sarah Palin are hypocrites and weaklings; that Kim Gandy and NOW suck; that so MANY women are complicit in their own subgugation.

Yup, yup, yup, and yup. You are correct. Congratuations! Please collect your Captain Obvious Award at the podium and head on over to the Mutual Admiration Society table where we can all pat each other on the back.

Now what?

Right.

Today is Novemebr 18, 2008. Let’s take a quick look back over the past year. For sins of commission and omission, for talking out of turn, for slipping up in public, for letting down their guard, and for having a skeleton or two in their closets, WHO paid with their dreams, their livelihoods, their reputations, or even their careers?

1. Hillary Clinton
2. Sarah Palin
3. Samantha Powers
4. Randi Rhoades
5. Amanda Marcotte
6. Melissa McKewan
7. Geraldine Ferraro
8. Taylor Marsh
9. Bristol Palin

I’ll leave it to the winners of the Captain Obvious Award to figure out what this list means.

It is EASY to kick the loser; to attack your neighbor in the ditch rather than your enemy on the field. And can we please, FINALLY, put to rest the absurd notion that women are our own worst enemy? HOGWASH. Just keep telling yourself that until you’re ready to face the facts and face up to this:

In all its forms, guises, and insidious ways, THIS is our worst enemy.

p.s. I’m behind on getting the PROWLS and Action Items out today because I keep getting distracted by the circular firing squad.

brb.