Happy Women’s History Month! Make History! Be a TechWomen Mentor!

What a great way to kick off Women’s History Month!  If you possess the required skills set and the time, you can help change the world by helping another women who has  a good idea!

We all know that improving conditions, power, and representation for women and girls is the signature issue of our Homegirl-in-Chief.  So if you can qualify, go for it!  You just might make a few new friends and even learn some interesting things yourself!

U.S. Department of State’s TechWomen Initiative Now Accepting Applications for American Mentors

Media Note

Office of the Spokesperson

Washington, DC

March 1, 2012

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The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs announced today that TechWomen – an international exchange that uses technology as a means to empower women and girls worldwide – is now accepting applications from American women in the technology sector to serve as professional and cultural mentors. Candidates may apply at http://www.techwomen.org/get-involved/ beginning today.

In September 2012, these American “TechWomen” will mentor 42 women from Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, the Palestinian Territories, Tunisia, and Yemen during a five-week program at U.S.-based technology companies in Silicon Valley and the greater San Francisco Bay Area. Click here to learn more about serving as a TechWomen mentor.

Following the U.S. portion of the exchange, U.S. mentors will travel to Jordan and Tunisia to conduct workshops and follow-on training for women in the technology sector and young girls who have expressed an interest in pursuing a tech-based career.

Launched by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton in 2011, TechWomen builds on her vision of “smart power” diplomacy. It embraces the full range of diplomatic tools, in this case technology, to bring people together for greater understanding and empower women and girls worldwide.

The U.S. Department of State partners with the Institute of International Education and the Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology. It is a public-private partnership in which more than 20 leading U.S. companies participated by hosting international TechWomen during the 2011 inaugural program.

Stay tuned for updates on Twitter @TechWomen.

Media contact: Talley Sergent U.S. Department of State at SergentRT@state.gov.

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Unnecessary Roughness

This was the statement.

U.S. Position on the Falkland (Malvinas) Islands

Taken Question

Office of the Spokesperson

Washington, DC

Question Taken at the January 19, 2012 Daily Press Briefing

January 20, 2012

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QUESTION: Does the U.S. take a position on the recent posturing between the United Kingdom and Argentina over the Falklands?

ANSWER: This is a bilateral issue that needs to be worked out directly between the governments of Argentina and the United Kingdom. We encourage both parties to resolve their differences through dialogue in normal diplomatic channels.

We recognize de facto United Kingdom administration of the islands but take no position regarding sovereignty.

I was impressed that both the U.K. and the Argentine appellations were used , and I thought the final sentence stated a very clear position given that both countries are allies of ours.  We do not have a dog in this fight (or should I say “show?”).

Today I came upon this commentary on Commentary:

Obama Sending Wrong Message on the Falklands.

Robert C. O’Brien, a former American representative to the UN, argues today in The Diplomat that the Obama administration has again turned its back on the United Kingdom in its dispute with Argentina over the Falklands. This is a rather easy call–British sovereignty there is lawful and the clear choice of Falklands residents. But Argentina is stirring up trouble there once again, and O’Brien suggests Obama’s behavior is indefensible and will have consequences:

Read more >>>>

What got Seth Mandel all fired up was this lengthy diatribe by Robert C. O’Brien in  The Diplomat.

Obama’s Falklands Failure

With the world’s attention focused on Bashar al-Assad’s violent suppression of the Syrian civilian uprising, and with the increasing likelihood of a strike by Israel to thwart Iran’s relentless drive to obtain nuclear weapons, perhaps the most underreported international story is the increasingly heated dispute between Britain and Argentina in the South Atlantic Ocean. It is an unfolding issue that could say much about the way the U.S. handles its alliances, including those in the Asia-Pacific region.

Read more>>>>

Both Mandel, and O’Brien cite O’Brien as a former representative to the U.N., neither specifies which administration he represented.  I might have guessed.

Robert C. O’Brien is an American attorney who was nominated^[1] by President George W. Bush on November 10, 2005 and confirmed by the US Senate as the US Alternate Representative to the 60th session of the United Nations General Assembly, which met in New York

Read more >>>>

Clearly I was not following our foreign policy at the time with anything like the devotion I have accorded it since a certain brilliant, hard-working charmer took over as our top diplomat.

What advantage would be gained by U.S. interference in this disagreement is no clearer today than it was in 1982.  Of course the British subjects who are residents going back 175 years want to remain under what we term de facto U.K. administration in much the same way that the Protestants in Northern Ireland want to remain part of the Commonwealth.

Naturally, the Argentines feel that their Malvinas are an occupied territory colonized by the British.  Is there some other way of explaining how these islands came to be under British rule?

All who visit these pages know that I am not one to defend President Obama easily, and I certainly see the fingerprints of his Secretary of State, whom I admire (to put it very mildly), all over our policy on the issue.

While Mandel and O’Brien rant over our unwillingness to intrude,  I happen to like our clear, concise position as stated in the January 19 press briefing.   We have no reasons to stick our nose where it does not belong.

You know me well enough by now to be certain that I will not be ending a post like this  – especially since I am defending President Obama (!) without something from the awesome Hillary Rodham Clinton  – a picture, a quote – something!  Here is a video of her remarks on the matter during her visit to the Casa Rosada on March 2, 2010 as they were published here.

Video: Secretary Clinton’s Remarks on the Falklands/Malvinas

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

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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.

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Prosecution of Ukrainian Opposition Leaders

I was disappointed when Tymosheko dropped her challenge of the election results.  She should not be prosecuted. (Cross-posted @Still4Hill.)

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (L) shakes hands with former Ukrainian prime minister and opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko as they meet in Kiev, July 2, 2010. Clinton told Ukraine on Friday that the door to entering NATO remained open and she backed the ex-Soviet republic’s efforts to secure a new deal with the International Monetary Fund. REUTERS/Alexander Prokopenko/Pool (UKRAINE – Tags: POLITICS)

Press Statement

Victoria Nuland
Department Spokesperson, Office of the Spokesperson

Washington, DC

June 24, 2011

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The United States is aware of the opening of the trial against former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko and reiterates its concern about the appearance of politically-motivated prosecutions of opposition figures in Ukraine. When the senior leadership of an opposition party is the focus of prosecutions, out of proportion with other political figures, this creates the appearance of a political motive. We urge the Government of Ukraine to refrain from actions that create such an appearance and undermine the rule of law in Ukraine. We will closely monitor the legal proceedings against Yulia Tymoshenko and other opposition figures.

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Worth a Thousand and One Words II

After Hillary Clinton left Pakistan yesterday,  images popped up on her Daylife site that were more than disturbing.  They attest to why this particular trip was more dangerous than usual for our intrepid, outspoken Mme. Secretary, who, of course, has been to Pakistan before, but  that was before we tracked down and killed Osama Bin Laden.

We are drawing near the six-month anniversary of the series of uprisings in the Arab world known as the Arab Spring.  Americans may be inured to images of protest in the Arab world,  but these Pakistani photos are very different from those we have seen out of the countries where the goal of the protests was democratic participation in government.  I think the contrasts are obvious.

Here are some photos from Pakistan yesterday,  dramatically different beginning with the absence of women and girls, the joyousness.  These Pakistani men are angry and hateful.  They are not demanding a voice.  The voiceless ones, the women, are absent from this.  The anger is not against a longtime dictator.  It is against us and our chief representative there, Hillary Clinton.  I credit our Head Homegirl with high marks for her courage and steadfastness in the face of opposition.  Thank you, Secretary Clinton for your valor.   Your Homegirls and Homeboys love you and have your back!

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Clinton Favors Female Leadership in the Wake of Male Failure

After a week plus of news littered with sexual misbehavior of prominent and powerful members of the male of the species, refreshing news arises regarding a possible replacement for Dominique Strauss-Kahn,  the disgraced former director of the IMF,  in the person of Christine Lagarde.

WINS NY reported earlier in the week that she received high marks from U.S.  Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner .  His colleague, and our Head Homegirl,  Hillary Rodham Clinton,  accorded Lagarde’s candidacy her enthusiastic support.  It should be noted that neither is is a position to endorse officially.

Hillary Clinton welcomes Christine Lagarde’s IMF candidacy

“As you know, the time frame for candidates to be put forward has a few more weeks to run, so officially the US will be assessing and then eventually announcing its position,” Ms Clinton said at a news conference in Paris yesterday. “Unofficially, let me say we welcome women who are well qualified and experienced to head major organisations.”

Read the article>>>>

This caps off a week of prime time news that read more like a tabloid with former Senator and Vice Presidential candidate John Edwards facing indictment for misuse of campaign funds to pay his mistress, and former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger admitting an affair and an illegitimate child all on the heels of  allegations that Strauss-Kahn molested a hotel employee at a NY hotel where he was staying.

During the same week,  Hillary Clinton delivered an address at UNESCO about the value of educating women and girls,   Video: Secretary Clinton’s Remarks at UNESCO Global Partnership for Girls’ and Women’s Education, and another at OECD on development and gender,  Secretary Clinton’s Remarks at the OECD Session on Development and Gender.

Is it high time for women to take the lead in global economic development?  Yes!  Lagarde is eminently qualified to lead the IMF.  We, as a nation,  should support her candidacy as evidently the Europeans do.

Europeans consider Lagarde’s IMF job ‘a done deal’

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Women’s History Month: A Walk Through The Footsteps

My dear friend, DiscourseinC#minor,  has mounted an amazing tribute to women in history.  Please visit  and see what she has found.  Here is her latest.

Admirable Women – The Long Walk to Freedom Taken Many Times Over

She has a lot to share.

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The Richardson Fiction & Other Nonsense

Upon imminent return from public service to private citizenry, Bill Richardson, retiring Governor of New Mexico, has failed to take a page from the book of his former friend and boss, William Jefferson Clinton. Rather than marketing his wares in the NGO sphere to better the lives of the unfortunate, he has chosen to campaign most bizarrely, for a cabinet post in the Obama administration. Oddest of everything about this effort, is that he is applying for the position currently occupied and so well executed, by WJC’s brilliant, beautiful, charming, and effective wife, the most admired woman of the year for the ninth year straight, one Hillary Rodham Clinton, Village Chief of Hillaryhood, and our Head Homegirl.  What is this guy thinking?  Or is he?  Thinking, I mean.

Here is a good article that refutes the rumor and traces its genesis:

How Richardson-to-replace-Clinton rumors started By Matthew Reichbach

I do not doubt for a moment that if we dig down far enough it is Richardson himself that is at the bottom of this.  He is angry that Bill Clinton has cut him off cold, and that after his “heroic” (in his book)  trip to North Korea where he “averted nuclear war,” as he told it on CNN, he did not get a tumble from the Secretary of State.  When asked if he had met with her afterwards, he squirmed and said he met with “high officials” at State.   Right, but not the highest one.  She would not have him on a silver platter!

The idea that the most admired woman and, as President Obama put it, “the best Secretary of State ever” would leave her post, when one thing we all know and love about her is that she is not a quitter, is ridiculous.  Nonsense!

While I am at it, I would like to put a cork in this one as well:

Hillary Clinton – Made For Comfort, Not Speed!

One sure sign of the kind of weight gain this article purports is a new wardrobe.  Last January, when she came back to D.C. after Christmas, she wore this beautiful new outfit.

Here we see her on December 14 at the State Department with South African FM Mashabane.  Same outfit, same fit.

This is not someone who “has piled on 40 extra pounds in the past few months” as this article states.  She is still wearing the same outfits that we have seen on her for two years as SOS, and she looks fabulous!

This is NOT what 171 punds looks like on her frame.  I know a lot of much younger women who would not mind having that body.

She looks gorgeous, so lay off, Enquirer and Showbizspy!  Pick on somebody else (like Bill Richardson).  Pictures do not lie, and our eyes do not deceive us.  The SOS is in fine form!

*rant over*

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Thank you Dr. Mary K. Sandford!

Today, my dear friend Dr. Mary K. Sandford bestowed a name on the village where all of Hillary’s Homegirls and Homeboys live.  It is “Hillaryhood!”  This is our “hood,”  where we all thrive,  and where this lovely lady is our Village Chief.  It is also a state of mind and a form of relationship  It is perfect on so many levels!  Thank you so much, Mary, for the appellation!

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Secretary Clinton’s Statement on the Repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell

This is cross-posted at  Still4Hill. I wanted to put it here also as a reminder to the LGBT community that Secretary Clinton fights for LGBT rights here and all over the world.

Pictured here with Secretary of Defense Gates, a fellow proponent of repeal of DADT, Secretary Clinton tonight released a concise statement in support of today’s  vote in the Senate to repeal  DADT.  Here is her statement. Short, sweet, and to the point.

Repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell

Press Statement

Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State

Washington, DC

December 18, 2010

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This is a historic step forward for all Americans, a step toward a more perfect union and a more perfect reflection of our core values. As the President and I have repeatedly said, we are committed to universal standards abroad and here at home. Our progress on equality here strengthens our advocacy for human dignity everywhere.

Related stories:

Senate Repeals Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell

Reid: Suspend DADT Discharges Now

Lieberman And Collins On DADT Repeal: This Is A Civil Rights Bill

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