AMY SCHILLER's Blog

Sistahs doin' it for themselves- and only themselves

aschill — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 14:20:38 EST

MSN just gave me some terrible whiplash this afternoon with their juxtaposed slideshows on 10 Amazing Women You’ve Never Hear Of, and their witch counterparts, 10 Women Who Make Us Cringe. Ruth Simmons vs. Lindsey Lohan, how very Crystal v. Alexis for the new millennium (thanks, Susan Douglas!). More to the point: this is probably the first and only time that Linda Hirschman, Phyllis Schlafly, and Paris Hilton have shared a categorization (“cringe,” in case you were confused).

What’s most interesting is how precisely these presentations demonstrate Lisa Jervis’s insightful thesis on “femmenism:” the popular but misguided notion that feminism should concern itself exclusively with what how females behave and achieve in the world rather than systems of domination and oppression.

You see, almost all of the women in the “good girls” slide show (to whom I mean no disrespect, for I have only the highest regard for their accomplishments) have directed their efforts at helping other women. Emme, the plus size model who speaks out against eating disorders, Waris Darie, the anti-female genital mutilation activists, and Zainab Salbi, founder of Women for Women International, are three obvious examples.

Now, I do find most of the “bad girls” disturbing. Ann Coulter is a longtime menace to women and to intellectual discourse in general. Britney is, well, Britney (of course, no one brings up questions of why young female celebrities might receive conflicting messages about their self-worth being tied to their public sexualities from their pimps/corporations). But Linda Hirschman? Talk about one of these things being not like the others…until you realize the intent to put all the radicals together to undermine the validity of any innovative arguments about gender. Anyone whose read Hirschman’s Get to Work knows that she’s calling for a more egalitarian arrangement of the household as well as the marketplace, which requires some changes for men as well as women.

Red alert, red alert, we have a system-changer, folks. Can’t fete those rabble-rousers, so just stick with those who respond to women who are already victims. At least we know that’ll always garner dissociated sympathy, especially from the powerful people who victimized them in the first place.

Tim Fernholz, I think I love you

aschill — Thu, 16 Feb 2006 12:43:52 EST

If you haven't read Tim Fernholz' piece about Paul Hackett on CP's front page, do so right now (and then read mine right above it. heh.)

As an Ohioan and an almost-graduate of college looking to go back and work on 06 elections, I am simultaneously thrilled and pissed about Hackett dropping out of the Senate race. Thrilled because I *heart* Sherrod Brown and always felt he was the better candidate and would be a phenomenal senator. I also actually dislike Hackett- there's something about his macho posturing and his sense of entitlement (like losing by four points in your first campaign guarantees you a nomination??) that puts me off. And the bloggers seized on him becasue he seemed like a prototype of the tough-talking Washington outsider that makes Dems feel like we could be macho cowboys, too.

So why am I pissed? First of all, Hackett wouldn't recognize gracious behavior if it sprayed his face with buckshot. Ever since Brown announced his candidacy, Hackett has been unnecessarily combative in his campaign rhetoric. Dude, come on. His run has always seemed more about ego than strengthening the party, otherwise he would have decided on his own to run for the OH-2 congressional district and kicked Jean Schmidt's ass. So now he chooses to get all drama-queeny and flounce out of politics like Andrae on week 2 of Project Runway. We could use his energy, his Iraq-veteran perspective, his name recognition, but apparently he'd rather throw a temper tantrum. I guess now we KNOW he didn't belong in the Senate.

Alert! A horrendous under-the-radar bill

aschill — Tue, 20 Dec 2005 01:24:30 EST

In the wee hours of yesterday morning (probably as I was finishing a paper), the House passed the budget reconciliation conference bill 1932. The bill includes crippling cuts in Medicaid, stricter demands on states to receive funding for TANF and child care, and cuts in child support enforcement. The vote was a characteristically close 212-206 (I get the sense that the conservative leadership likes to pass bills with pathetically small margins because they refuse to compromise on pieces that might get a broader consensus. Just to show they can.)

The bill is currently under debate in the Senate, so especially if you are from Ohio, Maine, Oregon, Minnesota, or Pennsylvania, call your senators and express your strongest possible objection to a bill that will result in further strain on the most vulnerable among us, especially children.

I love when SA schools us in democracy

aschill — Fri, 02 Dec 2005 14:14:29 EST

Full disclosure: I spent a summer living and working in South Africa and found it a fascinating, somewhat schizophrenic country with amazing people who, despite persistent poverty and de facto segregation, were extremely optimistic about their country's potential to live up to the promise of democracy, pluralism, and equality.

They were proven right yesterday, when South Africa legalized gay marriage, becoming the fifth country to do so, the first in Africa. Keep in mind that homophobia persists to a rather strong degree throughout sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in some black religious factions. Also keep in mind that this is a nation that, when we were born, was the apartheid state, a country whose values were the antithesis of equality for all. I am simultaneously inspired that a country dear to my heart with such a troubled history can take such a bold step, and ashamed that my other beloved country smugly undermines its democratic credentials every day that we lag behind on this issue (and many others).

one Democrat rediscovers his spine, buried under mounds of doughy flesh

aschill — Thu, 17 Nov 2005 17:44:51 EST

um...better late than never, I guess, for criticism of Iraq war rationale, execution, and strategy (or lack thereof) from the likes of Rep John Murtha (D-PA). He said today that the Iraq campaign is "a flawed policy wrapped in illusion" and called for immediate troop withdrawl (I almost typed truth withdrawl, which is in fact what I am going through after 6 years of this administration) after being all gung-ho three years ago.

good thing I have this time machine to take us back to 2002...when plenty of other people forsaw that revelation- oh. right.

But really, the important thing is- damn, that man is jowly. I cannot for the life of me think of the right side-by-side, but oh please please, someone think of the proper pasty, wrinkly, jowly cartoon character with beady dark eyes. Literary characters are easy- he's clearly Drummle, aka Spider, from Great Expectations. But what cartoon character is he??? this will drive me nuts.

Words You Never Thought You'd Read

aschill — Tue, 13 Sep 2005 15:33:07 EDT

The latest headline on the nytimes site is "Bush Takes Responsibility for Failures in Storm Response."
Take out the last three words, and I'd swear we were living in a parallel universe. Granted, that statement was through that rosy editorial prism of the standard bearer of centrist coverage (yeah, I said it. Maybe I'm just mad I have to pay for the Op-Ed page now).

In all seriousness, I guess its a good thing something finally shook the oblivious-to-criticism spin machine. Too bad that something had to be a) hundreds of people dying b) on our own soil. Too bad it won't bring back those people, or their homes.
On the upside, maybe he'll get these guys (Link to stop trying to defend the administration and calling out Democrats for the alleged "blame game." (Salon.com, registration or day pass required) Also note that Scott McClellan couldn't give a yes or no answer with a rifle pointed at his groin.

Oh, and in other news, hearings? are usually? about HEARING what the NOMINEE has to say. Not eighteen senators bloviating all over his airtime.

huge news in organized labor

aschill — Mon, 25 Jul 2005 10:22:03 EDT

So as many of you may have hears, the SEIU and other major unions are boycotting the AFL-CIO's constitutional convention in Chicago this week as a signal of their intent to leave the confederacy of the unions (heh) entirely.

I am far from the most informed person on this topic, but from what I gather, the break in ranks stems from SEIU's leadership wanting to consolidate unions by industry to get greater bargaining rather than AFL-CIO's structure, which is individual unions all belonging to one umbrella federation regardless of industry.

My dilemma in how to react to this development is based on my concern that if these enormous unions, all major contributors to political campaigns and enormously important grassroots teams (yes, still), split, a lot of that money that could be used primarily on Democratic campaigns and causes will now go to self-preservation.

On the other hand, I am not in favor in enforcing solidarity within groups for the sake of political expediency- that's not a progressive m.o., and it happens to young voters a lot. We probably saw the effects of that in the pres election, where we consolidated on electoral muscle above content.

So...I'm hoping people who actually follow union politics regurlarly will chime in and give some guidance.

just a few things to finish up

aschill — Wed, 13 Jul 2005 18:15:23 EDT

so everyone is munching on quesadillas and guacamole (mmm). Here's a wrapup of closing remarks, along with some hilarious quotes from the day.

Adonal Foyle- the nightmare of an NBA based on money not talent ("who knew ross perot has such a great right hook shot?). But it is politics that is controlled by money, and it affects everything in every policy and marginalizes young people.

Jon Lewis- We don't know anything about raising chickens, and its going to cost us. wait, no. actually, he painted a very affecting picture of encounters with discrimination from childhood to getting arrested when he tried to register to vote to marching in Selma. We young people, according to Lewis, must find ways to get in trouble and get in the way of the forces of hatred and division. All followed by a teary standing ovation.

Highlight reel:

I think of Paris Hilton sitting on her bony slutty ass- why should she inherit 25 million dollars tax free and the waitress who brings her a double frappuchino pays tax on every nickel she earns. (Paul Begala)

Most of the time what they (politicans) want is money- and you don’t have any! Adonal Foyle

Did you hear that (reverb) effect in the mike? That’s really cool! Thomas Frank

Mckinley and his supporters though Bryant was this prairie Robespierre who would set up a guillotine in Washington DC. Thomas Frank

You should really check out “advise and consent” (a 1940's political film). It just came out on VCR. William Jefferson Clinton.

specifics from the "Playing to Pocketbooks" panel

aschill — Wed, 13 Jul 2005 17:22:56 EDT

Both Anna Burger, a representative from the SEIU, and Nick Penniman, from People for America's Future talked about the need for dignified work, including a full time job that pays well enough to own a home and send children to college. SO true, and an issue that has galvanized lots of students too advocate for living wages and wage parity on campuses.

John Burton, a research associate at Center for American Progress, made note of that generational aspect, when he said we young people have to make sacrifices and create the social movements, especially around what investments we make in human capital.

Ruy Teixeira offered some interesting insights about the limitations of populism, at least economic populism against cultural populism, like Reagan's anti-government rhetoric. Populism can be a tool in our toolbox, he said, one that connects to our origins as being the party of the people, against crony capitalism.

The big question from the session was, if we (progressives) are all populists now that there is such egregious abuse and crony capitalism, is the populist message something we connect to on a visceral level, through involvement in real working and immigrant communities, or is it simply a rhetorical messaging tool,with all the credibility that gives to critics who call us out-of-touch elites.

Its a big question, one that I hope continues in discussions even after the conference

why I like progressive conferences

aschill — Wed, 13 Jul 2005 16:54:10 EDT

basically, if I am ambivalent about the success of a particular panel, I don't have to worry about being a good soldier and relentlessly hammering the party line without any critical thought.

Not that I'm saying that "Playing to Pocketbooks," the panel on economic populism, went poorly. not by a long shot. But economic issues have been arising all day, along with debates as to their centrality to the progressive message. So it felt a little low energy for such a hot topic, with only a few questions eliciting applause or strong enthusiasm.

This is an issue we HAVE to get excited about if we're going to be the messengers of the progressive party. More later, with specifics from the speakers and questions.

party music? but I though we were activists!

aschill — Wed, 13 Jul 2005 16:42:35 EDT

I'll get to the economic populism panel in a moment, but first I wanted to share this amusing exchange between Ted Leo and two girls who very energetically defended hip hop, which Leo had classified as originating as party music in one of his responses to a question on his panel.

Girl 1: I know you probably know this, but hip hop is not just party music- it bothers me when people associate hip hop with the corporate "pimp and ho, throwin back a forty" stuff that companies think will sell

TL: Right, but I was thinking of, like basement parties-

Girl 2: but hip hop did NOT start as just fun party music- you know, listen to KRS One or Common or tons of other guys-

TL: Yeah, totally! I saw Run DMC in 1983- I grew up on political music

Girl 1: I just think hip hop and punk could work really well together.

Gotta love a conference where nebraskan hip hop fans bond with d.c. punk rockers over cultural activism.

in your face! (and ears and eyes...)

aschill — Wed, 13 Jul 2005 14:47:53 EDT

the posters that Favianna Rodriguez is showing at the Art Attack panel are so impressive- their color, vibrancy, expressiveness, and the potency of their slogans- "media justice is self determination" "women are at the center of war" inspired by graffiti, photo-screened graphics, ethnic symbols, they are bursting with passion and righteouness, much like favianna and her colleagues.

Ted Leo, nervous? say it aint so.
to his credit, he says, modestly, that question of what makes you bring politics into your music actually makes him question if he is doing enough, esp. with his distingished other panelists.

"There are real people in policy equations and what they think and feel is best expressed through the arts...No one should tell you you don't have the right to appreciate the greater amount of beauty in the world..."

The highlight was ted's fave quote by "crass" a punk rock band that, in the middle of a song abuot the war over the flakland islands said "people ask us why don't sing love songs- everything we say and do is a love song. our love of life is total." inspired enthusiastic applause, because ted leo is just that deep and genuine and smart.

Rees is so quietly hilarious. the soft-spoken, boyish guy from "get Your War On" who goes on four-panel expletive-laden rages aginst the Bush admin. says "it was not my intention to offend anybody" and mocks himself for writing for "of course, the leading underground music publication- rolling stone."

rees and rodriguez disagreed about the role of corporations, with rees thinking its more benign and bottom-line oriented-
"if angry dissent left wing stuff makes money and gets peoplel to buy tickets and albums, then private companies will let it through the gate" citing Michael Moore as an example.

rodriguez countered insisting that corporate monopolization is increasingly dangerous and restrictive of thought, even down to education policy, requiring greater creativity, porbably outside the conventional market structure.

The quote that sums up the panel?
Hans Riemer, the moderator, "culture and entertainment is America's largest export"
Rees: "Other than freedom."

how to live what you preach, part I

aschill — Wed, 13 Jul 2005 14:06:56 EDT

One thing I have noticed throughout the conference is how receptive all of the speakers have been in terms of talking with students and posing for pictures. These are people who of course you assume are nice enough in person, but seeing not just Paul Begala and Dee Dee Myers basically stand throughout all of lunch break to take pics and talk to students but now President Clinton do a trademark ropeline brings home just how much these guys want to talk to young people and care about our ideas and our potential.

On a completely different note, the random flashing on and off of lights in the convention hall- humourous, yes, but more than a little unsettling, even afer five times.

At Least We Can Stop Holding Our Breath...

aschill — Fri, 01 Jul 2005 12:00:36 EDT

As most of you have already been informed, Justice Sandra Day O'Connor resigned this morning, pending the nomination and confirmation of her successor. Obviously, she's had a fascinating and inspiring record as the first woman justice and an often crucial vote on many 5-4 decisions.

Knowing what is next, and the history of contentious judicial nominations from this president, it would be so easy to get scared and cynical, and frankly, that's where I keep reverting mentally when I stop to think about the worst case scenario. Of course, everyone knows that this was the subtext of the filibuster tug-of-war, and that conservatives have been all about packing the courts because theyre the one arena of government that they don;t have complete control. This is possibly the one issue that young people should be most mobilizes around for now, because it will literally affect the rest of our lives. Women, that's our reproductive choice, our daughters, and possibly granddaughters, certainly something worth fighting tooth and nail for. But, heck, everyone, that's affirmative action, powers of state government, commerce (we will, one day, have to deal with real money, not just campus meal cards), immigrants, and pretty much everything. Not a time to panick, but a time to mobilize.