Did I hallucinate the 70s?

[blamebrampton]

Warning: Humourless grumping follows.

Goodbye, feminism, we hardly knew you.

It's my own fault for reading about American politics while I'm still sick, but I am now sick and cranky and too weak to throw things in the directions they should be thrown.

A woman's right to own her own body and make choices about it is for all women. Not all women except the daughters of conservative politicians. All of them.

If you, as I do, disagree with Sarah Palin's position on abortion, then you can write to her, vote against anti-abortion politicians in your area, or donate money to women's health clinics. Don't weigh in on her daughter. It's obnoxious, whether it comes from the right or from the left. 

Women have enough difficulties asserting ownership over their own bodies as it is.

It's not as though there aren't genuine political issues that are worth being involved with and angry about in America at the moment. The delightful kestrelsparhawk  has been chronicling police reaction to protests against the Republican National Convention. Observers, journalists and lawyers sent into represent others have been detained, handcuffed and arrested in a manner that makes mock of the Land of the Free. Flick over and read, the entries aren't locked.

This is not the Republican Party of Lincoln, this is not the America of its Constitution. To be fair, I doubt it is the Republican Party of John McCain. But I sadly suspect that he is not the party. I would be far more cheerful about the state of international affairs if he was. While he may have issues with keeping his pants up, he seems underneath to be a committed political figure. I may prefer Obama, but all I ask from political leaders is diligence and good legislation. They can do what they like with their pants, and their daughters can, too.

Comments

[empress-jae.livejournal.com]

oh god, why would you do that to yourself?? don't read about american politiks. i'm american and I don't even want to read about american politiks. and yes, the misspelling was intentional...because our political system is basically a joke right now. and even thought i'm not voting for mccain, i'm still waiting for someone to jump out from behind a desk and yell,'Gotcha!' over this fuckery of a VP pick.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

I know, I just turned down a job on a news mag, but I can't let go of the habit of wanting to know what's happening!

And there are many reasons to thing Palin is a bad pick (lack of experience, fundamentalist policies, no grasp whatsoever on the scope of national infrastructure), yet everyone has gone the anti-feminist route and I am SO CRANKY! And still sick! Wah!

You just deserve something better after the last eight years. Forget Reagan, Nixon is starting to look comparatively quite good.

[empress-jae.livejournal.com]

every item you listed is exactly why i think she's a horrible pick...it has nothing to do with her backwards views of women's rights or the dysfuntions of her family life which, as obama sternly put, should remain off limits to the media. but of course this one was gonna get out; 17 year old unwed pregnant daughter of presumptive VP candidate? can we say, thick, juicy, bloody rare T-bone steak thrown out to the wolves?

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

You know, I am starting to be in love with Australia again. Of the last several PMs here, two conducted long-running affairs while in office and we've had at least one mostly gay PM, yet the media ignore it and concentrate on voting records. I'm sorry for every mean thing I've ever thought about you fellow local journos!