Needed: Letters for Louisa – Please Write!

You would have to be a long-time reader at this blog to remember this post from more than three years ago.

CAN YOU HEAR HER NOW?

Tragedy Strikes Women’s Rights Advocate Up Close and Personal: Her Daughter is Shot.

December 21, 2008 by still4hill |

… I woke up to this news the morning after it happened in a neighboring town. I had no idea that her mother was someone I knew from the blogs and Blog Talk Radio. This is cross-posted from Freemenow.

Louisa Rodas, the daughter of outspoken women’s rights advocate Betty Jean Kling was shot in the head the evening of December 15th, 2008 as reported HERE and HERE and HERE. In Betty Jean’s Blogspot, Freemenow, she writes: “She has less than a 50/50 chance of surviving and if she does, she will have one eye, one ear, a half of a head and be paralyzed on one side-we have no idea how much brain damage.”

Betty Jean’s daughters Denise & Louisa

Read more >>>>

Not long after the incident, Louisa’s sister Denise succumbed to cancer.  Louisa was in the hospital for a long time and then went into rehab.  She will never be the same.

I just received an email from a friend and would like to share it here.  Please write letters and ask for a long sentence for the man who shattered this family.

Friends,

Many of you know BettyJean. BettyJean needs people to write letters to the Judge in NJ on her daughter’s behalf. Louisa Rodas, BettyJean’s daughter, was the victim of domestic violence.

George Hartwig, the man who shot Louisa is being sentenced at the end of this month. He needs to be sentenced harshly. The deadline is Jan. 27. She has less than thirty letters written to the judge. You can even just hand write a letter and send it on Tuesday.

Let’s get her hundreds of letters.

Please, take a moment and think of people who will write letters and ask them.

More information:

This is an article about George Hartwig in Court: http://www.northjersey.com/news/HARTWIG.html?page=all

This is what Betty Jean wrote to me today in response to my questions:

Q: Is the letter to ask judge to put him away for good?

A: No not forever- just not the minimum sentencing. We want 40 years.

URGENT-

That is how long Louisa will suffer in the  condition he left her in.

They need to see this link!

http://freemenow.wordpress.com/2012/01/13/victim-impact-statement-let-me-be-the-face-of-dv-reform/

Here is the address to send your letter;

Judge Liliana S. DeAvila-Silebi
Bergen County Justice Court
10 Main Street Hackensack,
New Jersey 07601

Thank you very much for reading this,

Jennifer

Objectification of an Icon? Not in HillaryHood! No you DON’T!

This came up in one of my news feeds.

Obama’s Hillary card

By Brent Budowsky – 11/30/11 05:51 PM ET

President Obama has the extraordinary option of rekindling the historic spirit of his presidency and riding the sweeping tides of history for the advancement of women by naming Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as his vice presidential running mate in 2012.

Read more >>>>

The title is a molotov cocktail.  We all have seen “The Hillary Factor” and “The Hillary Effect.”  Recently, we were heartened to see “The Hillary Moment.”  So what’s the big deal?  What’s the difference?  What is wrong with “The Hillary card?” 

From Dictionary.com:

fac·tor

[fak-ter] Show IPA

noun

1. one of the elements contributing to a particular result or situation: Poverty is only one of the factors in crime.

2. Mathematics . one of two or more numbers, algebraic expressions, or the like, that when multiplied together produce a given product; a divisor: 6 and 3 are factors of 18.

3.  Biochemistry . any of certain substances necessary to a biochemical or physiological process, especially those whose exact nature and function are unknown.

4. a business organization that lends money on accounts receivable or buys and collects accounts receivable.

5. a person who acts or transacts business for another; an agent.

ef·fect

[ih-fekt] Show IPA

noun

1.  something that is produced by an agency or cause; result; consequence: Exposure to the sun had the effect of toughening his skin.

2. power to produce results; efficacy; force; validity; influence: His protest had no effect.

3. the state of being effective  or operative; operation or execution; accomplishment or fulfillment: to bring a plan into effect.

4.  a mental or emotional impression produced, as by a painting or a speech.

5.  meaning or sense; purpose or intention: She disapproved of the proposal and wrote to that effect.

mo·ment

[moh-muhnt] Show IPA

noun

1.  an indefinitely short period of time; instant: I’ll be with you in a moment.

2.  the present time or any other particular time (usually preceded by the ): He is busy at the moment.

3.  a definite period or stage, as in a course of events; juncture: at this moment in history.

4.  importance or consequence: a decision of great moment.

5.  a particular time or period of success, excellence, fame, etc.: His big moment came in the final game.

card

¹    [kahrd] Show IPA

noun

1.  a usually rectangular piece of stiff paper, thin pasteboard, or plastic for various uses, as to write information on or printed as a means of identifying the holder: a 3″ × 5″ file card; a membership card.

2. one of a set of thin pieces of cardboard with spots, figures, etc., used in playing various games; playing card.

3. cards, ( usually used with a singular verb )

a. a game or games played with such a set.

b. the playing of such a game: to win at cards.

c. Casino . the winning of 27 cards  or more.

d. Whist . tricks won in excess of six.

4. Also called greeting card. a piece of paper or thin cardboard, usually folded, printed with a message of holiday greeting, congratulations, or other sentiment, often with an illustration or decorations, for mailing to a person on an appropriate occasion.

5. something useful in attaining an objective, as a course of action or position of strength, comparable to a high card held in a game: If negotiation fails, we still have another card to play

I have emphasized the definitions I consider most relevant.  Most of these nouns name a person or intangibles: an element, a state, a period.    Card   is different.  It is a thing, a piece of paper, or worse  a tool (#5).  To couple this word with the name Hillary (and everyone knows which Hillary), is demeaning, insulting objectification of  the most powerful, recognizable, effective, and altruistic human being on earth who happens to live in a female body.

What is the implication?  A president who inspired hope in so many and then let them down would use the one gem he managed to acquire for his measly crown to retain his position.

Hillary Rodham Clinton is a world hero.  She reaches out to the poorest, the mutest, the most downtrodden, the disenfranchised, the ignored… yes, the invisible … because they/we are not invisible to her.  She told us that in 2008,  and we have seen her act upon that statement as Secretary of State.

To suggest that this awesome woman is an object, a card to be played in a political game,  is deepest insult.  For shame!  Shame on those who suggest it!

If this is indeed from the Obama campaign playbook, shame on them!   She has gone above and beyond.  The Homegirls and Homeboys of HillaryHood excoriate this cheap political move.

Here is our hero with another hero from today – a day of history.

Do not try to cheapen her.  Do not objectify her.  She is not an object or a card to be played.  She is a hero.  She is precious.  Treat her respectfully.  We will NOT tolerate objectification of this icon of human rights.

It’s About Time!

7 indicted in connection with Bhutto assassination

From Shaan A. Khan, CNN

November 5, 2011 — Updated 1517 GMT (2317 HKT)

Bhutto assassination, posted with vodpod

Islamabad, Pakistan (CNN) — Seven men, including two senior police officers, were indicted Saturday for conspiracy to commit murder in the killing of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, a defense attorney told CNN.

Bhutto was assassinated on December 27, 2007.

Read more >>>>

The war is over? But not quite yet? Reality check!

I guess this comes under the heading: Sh*t happens. Obama’s campaign sent this to the blogger known as “Still4Hill.” How presumptive can they be?

Friend – I’m James Kvaal, the new policy director for President Obama’s 2012 campaign. You’ll be hearing from me occasionally about the President’s policies and those of our opponents, and how we can all help bring about change for our country.Yesterday, we accomplished one major change when President Obama announced that all American troops in Iraq will be home before the holidays.With that action, the Iraq war will end. And one of the President’s central promises will have been kept.Both as Americans and as supporters of President Obama, this is something for us to reflect on, and be proud of. Watch the video of the President’s announcement — then please pass this on: http://my.barackobama.com/Iraq-Announcement The war in Iraq was a divisive, defining issue in our country for nearly nine years, and was the catalyst for many Americans to get involved in politics for the first time. Now, thanks to the actions of this President, we can say that conflict is coming to a close. The end of this war reflects a larger transition in our foreign policy as, in the President’s words, “the tide of war is receding.” The drawdown in Iraq has allowed us to refocus on the fight against al Qaeda, even as we begin to bring troops home from Afghanistan. And of course, this week also marked the definitive end of the Qaddafi regime in Libya. These outcomes are an example of what happens when a leader sets a plan and sees it through. In the last campaign, the President committed to getting American troops home while leaving behind a stable and secure Iraq. You rallied around that vision, and now that promise has been fulfilled. On behalf of this campaign and supporters of the President across the country, I want to thank the more than 1 million Americans who have served in Iraq, and all those who worked to make this possible. Thanks, James James Kvaal Policy Director Obama for America

Here is my reply.

James -

I am a blogger associated with Team Hillary Clinton. My first question is why you would send a Barack Obama campaign email to somebody named “Still4Hill.” It seems that ought to imply who my 2012 candidate is. Were that not the case I might have changed my name to “Was4Hill” or something like that. But this is beside the point.

Seriously, James. The war is over? But not quite yet, not until December 31. The transparency promised by the Obama team in 2008 has been as clear as mud until recently. “Ending” the war in Iraq is as obviously political as are all the public appearances exhorting the public to contact representatives to tell them to support the jobs bills. There is one job that is meant to protect and preserve – Mr. Obama’s.

What strategic or tactical event precipitates this mighty finish to our long slog through Iraq? Nothing! Most tellingly, it is evidently not that “over” since the official end does not take place until the end of the year. This is misleading, purely political nonsense. It obscures the truth: that the American presence remains at great expense to Americans. This is a chess move.

Declaring the war over, Obama shifted operations in Iraq from the Pentagon to the poorly funded State Department. Protection of civilian State Department and USAID staff now falls to extremely expensive and poorly regulated contractors. If this declaration of peace were anything other than political, a wise president would have made sure that the State Department had a fully funded and trained civil security arm. There is such a body, but it is miniscule in contrast to the numbers of troops being pulled out. A responsible president would have bulked it up first, before declaring “peace.”

Now it is up to our diligent and assiduous Secretary of State to manage an almost impossible post-war program for which Congress is certain to cut rather than improve funding. Nice move.

Obama is the most disastrous president I have witnessed in my life. Worse than Nixon. This move by him is real clear politics. It reminds me of this and is about as true.

Good luck in your new position,

Still4Hill

Team Hillary Clinton

HillaryHood

Update on Yulia Tymoshenko

 

Ukraine’s Tymoshenko sentenced to 7 years in jail

By Maria Danilova Associated Press / October 11, 2011

 

KIEV, Ukraine—Ukraine’s former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko on Tuesday was sentenced to seven years in prison on charges of abuse of office in signing a gas deal with Russia, a verdict immediately condemned by both the European Union and Russia as politically motivated.

Tymoshenko, the driving force of the 2004 pro-democracy Orange Revolution and now the nation’s top opposition leader, denounced the trial as rigged by President Viktor Yanukovych to get rid of a political opponent.

Read more >>>>

CEDAW: It Is High Time!

I have said it before here, the Obama administration has a miserable record of pushing treaties through the Senate.  I keep a record of Hillary Clinton flying all over the world signing treaties, but back here at home, precious few get pushed to a ratification vote in a Senate that, for now, has a Democratic majority.

When I posted Secretary Clinton’s remarks at a women’s leadership event at UNGA yesterday, little did I know that the U.S. is the only industrialized nation that has not rung in on the women’s rights treaty.  But here it is, thanks to HuffPo.  Signed by Jimmy Carter 30 years ago, CEDAW has been languishing without Senate ratification all these years.

It is time for this White House get moving on treaties, and this one would be a good start.  It needs a push!

Joshua Hersh joshua.hersh@huffingtonpost.com

Hillary Clinton Promotes Women’s Rights Treaty That U.S. Has Not Yet Signed

Posted: 9/20/11 07:55 PM ET

NEW YORK — On the eve of high-level meetings for the United Nations’ general assembly, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton attended an event on Monday afternoon designed to highlight the importance of women’s participation in public life.

Together with a selection of major female world leaders, including Catherine Ashton, the European Union’s top diplomat, and Michelle Bachelet, the former president of Chile and the head of U.N. Women, Clinton put her name to a document calling for developing countries — especially in the changing Middle East — to clear the way for women to hold leadership roles.

The joint statement read:

We call upon all States to ratify and fulfill their obligations under the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and to implement fully Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000) on Women and Peace and Security and other relevant UN resolutions

Read more>>>>

A Quiet Death

Overnight,  silently at midnight, DADT expired.  There was no fanfare, and as far as I can see no protests either.  It simply slipped into history and was gone.  Imagine that!

I had two major problems with DADT (aside from the simple unfairness of it).

1.  Not everyone takes naturally to the military. We have a volunteer army, and I believe the military is a calling.  I know I would have been a terrible candidate for military service.  I am just naturally so insubordinate and argumentative.   So, if some young person is called and is willing to defend me and us, why should I care whether that person has blue, brown, or green eyes,  is right or left-handed, is straight or gay?    That never made any sense to me.

2. As a taxpayer, much of what I earn and pay in taxes goes to defense.  I  help pay for some very expensive specialized training.  I resent that 14,000 specialists that I paid to train were fired.

Can we have the Arabic translators back now?  How crazy was that?

Back Off, Tim Gunn! You’re In Our Sites!

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The above having been established, the Department of Homegirl Security takes enormous umbrage at  the remarks of Tim Gunn, purported fashionista, on George Lopez’s talk show.  Any woman who must stand, sit, walk in front of cameras, sometimes in the wind, who is  past mini-skirt age (an age self-determined by the individual woman) can understand why our turbo-SOS opts for pantsuits. On these pages and elsewhere, Hillary Clinton has, in fact,  been dubbed “The Secretary of Style” and not only by older women.  Younger women like her fashion sense as well.  She is a role model for them.

Confused about her gender?  That coming from a fashion maven of the male sex is ironic indeed.  Her spring into summer fashions,  pictured above are delightfully feminine,  breezy, and even a little tease-y!   She looks lovely, comfortable in her body (very feminine and curvy) and her clothes.

To do the diligent job that she does and look so exquisite  while doing it is spectacular, in our book, and deserves a better review from someone who actually deals with similar work situations (me).  I love the look!  I have acquired nine ruffled tops, some chiffon like hers, to combine with my pantsuits as a result. .  Yes, I also wear pantsuits.  I love them!   I wear necklaces as well.   None of the above make me feel like a boy.  I feel deliciously feminine dressed almost exactly the way the SOS is dressed – different suits, different blouses.

So back off Tim Gunn!  As for George Lopez, you should be fired.  I am boycotting TBS!  Does the name Robyn Givhan* mean anything to you?  Where is she now, anyway?   Anywhere?  Seriously.  If there is a person on earth who is NOT confused about her gender identity, it is Hillary Clinton.  She knows  exactly who she is and uses it brilliantly to our advantage.  You should be thankful!   So back off!   Quit your treacherous flaming.  She’s our SOS and doing a stupendous job while looking sublime!

I am linking to Jezebel’s report of this idiocy because I love the retort at the end.

Tim Gunn: Hillary Clinton Dresses Like “She’s Confused About Her Gender”

*Givhan remarked about Head  Homegirl Hillary showing a tensy bit of cleavage on the Senate floorand caused a huge dust-up. No longer fashion editor at the Washington Post.

Words Fail…

IT’S OVER

Harry Hamburg, File / AP Photo

Elizabeth Warren Out: Report

There’s no better way to ruin a weekend than having somebody replace you at work. President Obama has reportedly chosen his nominee for chief of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and it’s not early favorite Elizabeth Warren, a source told Bloomberg News Friday.

Read more>>>>

Why do I have a nagging thought at the back of my head that this announcement, coming at this particular time, is inextricably tied to conversations going on behind closed doors at the White House between the Republicans and the erstwhile POTUS?

Did I require yet ANOTHER reason not to support Barack Obama for any additional time leading from behind?  No!  Leading from behind whom?  My guess, from behind the GOP!

Base to Robby Mook @DCCC (Testing … testing….)

Just got an email from Robby Mook saying that my DCCC membership has expired and all I need to do to renew it is contribute.

With the Federal Election Commission (FEC) deadline just days away, there has never been a more critical time to show your support for President Obama’s agenda….

Really, Robby?  And what agenda would that be?  The one that has yet to advocate for full civil rights for gay Americans? The one that extended unemployment benefits for 13 months but the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans for two years?  The one that, instead of fighting for the single payer option simply allowed it to be excised from the health care bill?  The one that still does not firmly, once and for all say that LGBT rights are human rights, and human rights are LGBT rights?  That among those rights is the right to serve one’s country, and to die for it,  as openly gay?  As who you are?

That agenda?

Dear Robby,

When the Democratic Party listens to its membership, I will renew my membership.

The party refused to provide a fair and transparent roll call vote in Denver in 2008, and the RBC  reassigned Hillary Clinton delegates to Barack Obama in a move that, if not illegal, was at least unethical.

I, as a registered Democrat resent the way the party treated me and my 18 million pro-Hillary cohorts.  My contributions since 2008 have gone and until further notice will continue to go to Hillary Clinton.

What will it take for me to make future contributions?  Put Hillary Clinton at the top of the ticket where she belongs.

Regards,

S4H (my real name here)

Happy Pride Day, everybody!