Why This Progressive Is Really Excited About Hillary

[Alfresco]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jan-schakowsky/why-this-progressive-is-r_b_8998288.html
Exceprt:
By Jan Schakowsky

I am excited that Hillary Clinton could be President of the United States. You read that right -- excited!

According to conventional punditry, I'm supposed to be lacking enthusiasm, nearly slapping my face to stay awake. But instead I can hardly wait to gather some friends and head to Iowa like I did in the bitter cold of 2008 for Barack Obama.

When asked why I, a long time progressive activist who has worked closely with Bernie Sanders in the Congress, am so strongly supporting Hillary, my answer is simple. I really, really want a pro-woman woman to be the most powerful person in the world.

We are living in a time when the politics are as anti-woman as I have seen in decades. Remarks reserved for the boys locker rooms are now said on stages by men who actually aspire to be President. I'm thinking of Trump being too disgusted to contemplate a woman using the toilet, or controlling herself while "bleeding from somewhere."

Worse, though, are the Republican candidates competing for who can be the most against a woman exercising her Constitutional right to terminate a pregnancy. And the Winners are...Marco Rubio who thinks there should be no exceptions to a ban on abortions, not even in cases when the pregnancy results from rape or would threaten the life of the woman, while Ben Carson and Ted Cruz agree that a victim of rape or incest can't have an abortion -- or maybe even the morning after pill.
--------------
I am really sick of the attacks on women -- on our health care choices, on our pay checks, on our ability to raise healthy children, on our hopes for a secure retirement.

That's why I am going to do everything I can as a member of Congress, a mother, and a proud grandmother like Hillary Clinton, to make her President of the United States. My heart beats a little faster just thinking about it. You can say I'm excited.

Jan Schakowsky represents the 9th Congressional District of Illinois and serves as Ranking Democrat on the Select Panel the Republicans created to investigate Planned Parenthood (again).

[highprincipleswork]

1. I like that she's a woman too. I just don't like her politics.

[99th_Monkey]

2. BREAKING: Team Hillary finally finds a supporter who's actually "excited" -nt

[Alfresco]

4. You don't really believe what you post, do you?

[99th_Monkey]

10. Actually, I do believe Hilary's legendary "enthusiasm gap" is a thing. NYTimes agrees.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/23/us/politics/lack-of-enthusiasm-from-supporters-may-undermine-clintons-lead.html?_r=0

[Alfresco]

11. So some you do some you don't. I see.

[MADem]

17. To the very young, the absence of immaturity is sometimes perceived as a lack of enthusiasm.

If you're not running around wearing silly Robin Hood hats, or yelling slogans that involve the term "Bern," you are regarded as not "excited."

After a certain age, the only "excitement" one needs is the excitement that gets one to the polls on election day.

[99th_Monkey]

18. Denigrating genuine enthusiasm is one way to explain Hillarians' lack of it

but not very a convincing or effective talking point.

[MADem]

20. Gee, and demanding that adults get all hokey and excited over the electoral process to demonstrate

some sort of "teen enthusiasm" "because fuck this shit" is asinine and childish. The only "enthusiasm" that counts is at the polls. We'll all be "convinced" then.

Those of us who are adults come to conclusions based on an analysis of the facts, the costs, the benefits, and we make our decisions accordingly. We don't need tricks and slogans and prizes and felt hats.

And all insults do is firm our resolve.

[99th_Monkey]

21. Oh, so now Hilarians are "the adults" & Bernie peeps are all "childish, immature, amateurish, etc."?

Wow, just wow. So this is how "adults" make a case for their candidate

[MADem]

22. I'm just going by what I read on the internet.

YMMV.

[99th_Monkey]

23. Well, that settles it then. It MUST be true if you saw it on the interwebs n/t

[MADem]

24. I indicated that "YMMV" but I guess that caveat was insufficient for you. nt

[99th_Monkey]

25. If you could be a little more arcane, I'd sure I would "get it". n/t

[MADem]

27. Arcane? What's "arcane" about YMMV?

Your

Mileage

May

Vary.


It's a common --to the point of being ancient--abbreviation. And Google is your friend.

[99th_Monkey]

29. So you thought of an abreviation i never heard before. Congratulations.

And that has what to do with Hillary's "enthusiasm gap" again,
i.e. what we were talking about.

I get that it's a snarky put-down. Is that all you got?

[MADem]

31. It's a) Not new and b) Very common (it would have to be if I've heard of it) and c) You have Google

and a keyboard.

And that has NOTHING to do with anything--YOU were the one who brought it up, and now you're crying about it as though you weren't the one who mentioned it in the first place.

Pull the string--I wasn't the one whining about "arcane" references--you were.

I'm not surprised, though.

[99th_Monkey]

32. Fine. Have a nice evening. nt

[MADem]

33. You do the same. nt

[Hekate]

3. Jan Schakowsky speaks for me! In fact she articulates it perfectly. Thanks, Alfresco.

[cali]

5. She's a great person to have on the Clinton team

but I don't find her argument compelling

[Alfresco]

6. Yes she is. I think with a little nudge here and there you might be persuaded to join us also. :-)

[cali]

8. If Hillary is the nominee, she has my vote

[Alfresco]

9. Good deal.

[MADem]

7. I agree with this. I think HRC is going to be a wonderful POTUS and a role model for

young people coming up.

[SoLeftIAmRight]

12. Hillary could serve america better by being in a position that focuses on this issue

not president

[zazen]

26. +10,000 n/t

[SheilaT]

13. Once again, a woman who supports Hillary Clinton

basis that support almost purely on gender.

I respect Jan Schakowsky, but just because Hillary Clinton is a woman isn't proof she will actually stand up for women and children, not given her record. And her most recent turn against a single payer system.

[Doctor_J]

14. another person who supports Hillary only because of her gender. bully for her.

That will be Mrs Clinton's only card to play pretty soon.

[Karma13612]

15. Respectfully, Jan (sorry Alfresco, but this is aimed at Jan)

I am not impressed with your reasoning that you support a woman president just because you want a female president in the WH for the first time.

Not impressed, and further rather resentful.

Its easier for you to be a 'one issue voter' as you are implying.

Easier because you are not as threatened by the lack of healthcare, and stagnant wages, and weak social security and overall weaker economy. You have great healthcare, a great income and look forward to a comfy retirement when you decide you have done what you set out to do in Congress for the great people of the 9th Congressional District of Ill.

I am 4 years from retirement, and see a pretty bleak view at this point. The stock market is tanking again after I lost a lot in the 09 crash, I pay a lot for pretty crappy healthcare and my job is breaking me.

I can't afford to be cheerful about ( squeeeeeeeee!!) the first female president if that happens to be Hillary (3rd way) Clinton. She is NOT in this race to help the 99%.

I would love to see Elizabeth Warren run. She said no. I respect that. She IS for the 99%.

Thank goodness Bernie came along.
He IS for the 99%

Since you have worked with him in Congress, you know in your heart he is a darn sight better for the 99% in America. Go ahead and endorse Hillary, but remember that you and all the other gals in Congress who support Hillary are NOT in the 99%.

Enjoy your 'single issue' voter buzz. I live in the real world.

#FeeltheBern

[last1standing]

16. She's excited to vote for Hillary because she's a woman. Who cares about policy?

Who cares about integrity?

Who cares about honesty?

Who cares about decency?

Who cares about the blood of hundreds of thousands of innocent human beings?

Who cares about the massive wealth inequality that continues to grow?

Who cares about changing policies with the wind?

If this is all Schakowsky needs in order to vote for someone, I hope Palin never runs for office.

[leftofcool]

19. Thank you, Jan. Great endorsement!

[zazen]

28. this "Cathy" cartoon level of feminism is degrading--shame on her

If you think because someone has a vulva they're a better advocate of women, you really, really don't get it.

[Pisces]

30. I am not excited, but I will vote for her.