ConservaDiva!

Feminism: Not Dead, Just Dormant

2005-05-09T00:09:00.000-04:00

Whatever.

Choice quote:

"American feminism has always been a stop-and-go affair. No matter how often feminism has been declared dead, it has always managed to come bounding out of the coffin roaring with life."

I will never be a trophy wife...

2005-04-28T21:46:00.000-04:00

This article proves it.

Being only half wasp, first generation Ivy, and a brunette, I probably won't qualify. That's ok; I'm sticking with New York politics anyway. No DC for me!

Amusing post

2005-04-26T16:52:00.000-04:00

From the Little Green Blog.

I find this hilarious for some reason...

New Beacon is online!

2005-04-16T00:31:00.000-04:00

Check it out: http://www.dartmouthbeacon.com/main/archives/2005_04.html

Puerto Ricans Ranked Happiest People

2005-04-12T13:48:00.000-04:00

...yet some are skeptical.

I'm one of the skeptical people. Psychologists argue that one in three people on the island are suffering from some form of mental illness/depression. I would say that depression is rampant, particularly if I use my extended family as a sample group. And while this refers specifically to Puerto Ricans on the island, mainland Puerto Ricans are confronting similar issues of conformity, Americanization and assimilation.

Amen to that!

2005-04-10T20:56:00.000-04:00

I agree with Joe on this one.

I, too, am one of the small majority of New Yorkers/New Jersey people who would have like for the Twin Towers to be rebuilt as they were, instead of some new design. I really liked the original buildings, and think it would be a good statement if they were exact replicas. But alas...

Yours Truly in "The D"

2005-04-07T17:54:00.000-04:00

Commenting on biased liberal professors.

http://www.thedartmouth.com/article.php?aid=2005040701020

Pray for the Pope

2005-04-02T12:41:00.000-05:00

"Pope Losing Consciousness, Condition Is `Very Grave'"

Thanks Joe!

2005-03-30T20:18:00.000-05:00

Joe from Dartblog has linked to my article on labor unions and the GOP.

I like the part where he calls me the "notorious WalMart hater, but otherwise good Republican." ;-)

Here's the link if you are interested.

Joe has a pretty sweet article on blogs coming up.

Back to Dartmouth!

2005-03-30T14:55:00.000-05:00

So it is the second day of classes here. I miss New York. Terribly. But I am happy to be back.

I am still, however, reading New York news. And here is an article from 1010WINS. Apparently New York Medical College denied funding to a gay student group and it was upheld. They felt that the group's values were inconsistent with the college's Roman Catholic tradition. Score one for religious freedom!

Jackpot!

2005-03-20T23:23:00.000-05:00

Not!

On Saturday afternoon, my mom did the Daily News Scratch-off contest. I am not really clear on the rules, but I think they give you ten numbers and you scratch those numbers off. If you get three of a kind, you win the dollar amount you got three of.
Anyway, long story short, my mom sees that we won $1,000. We were quite excited, until the next day my Dad went to 7-11 and found out someone else who had purchased their ticket at the same store also won $1,000. Seeing that there were only supposed to be ten winners for the whole contest, we became suspicious. Sure enough, in the Daily News, there was an article apologizing that one of the numbers was in fact a MISPRINT.

At a family dinner tonight for my cousin's birthday in Staten Island, we found out that my aunt had "won" $10,000. And her husband's uncle, who lives in Manhattan, had "won" $100,000!!!

There are a lot of *very* angry New Yorkers out there tonight. And as we are already probably the angriest state in the country, that is not good. There had better be police protection at the Daily News office tomorrow. I can only imagine how many false wins there were, and some of those people are bound to cause a scene.

In writing this paper...

2005-03-15T02:58:00.000-05:00

I am struck once again by how wrong the Anti-Federalists were at the time of the framing of the Constitution.

I know this is stating the obvious, but I am delirious.

2005-03-14T02:30:00.001-05:00

I am in pink, and my other half, Katie, is in red. :)
**It has been brought to my attention that I neglected to mention the lurker in the background of the picture. That is Nat, who, to quote him directly, was "trying not to lurk." Needless to say he failed utterly. The person hovering over the liquor is the infamous Michael Ellis.

YAY!

2005-03-14T02:30:00.000-05:00

I figured out how to post pictures all by myself!! I am so proud!

Granted I have an exam at 8 AM tomorrow, but whatever.

OK I am going to read one more article and then I am going to sleep.

2005-03-14T02:22:00.000-05:00

This is me at the Theta formal with Bruce, the aforementioned editor of the Beacon.

This is sad news

2005-03-14T01:56:00.000-05:00

Condi says she won't run. :-(

Finals

2005-03-12T01:01:00.000-05:00

Gross.

So.
Sick.
Of.
School.

I can't even think about politics right now. I just need a rest.

Is this a huge deal?

2005-03-10T12:34:00.000-05:00

Students protest reciting the Pledge in a foreign language.

Things standing between me and New York

2005-03-09T10:33:00.000-05:00

3 Papers
1 Presentation
1 Exam
Lots of time at the table in Novack
A night of binge drinking on March 16th
A long drive

9 MORE DAYS! I can make it! NY is calling to me!

**UPDATE**- Presentation Done!!!!!!!!!!!! And it went really well!!!

Blogs on the rise

2005-03-08T01:17:00.000-05:00

From 1010wins:

'With an official credential hanging from his neck, a young man stepped into the White House briefing room Monday as perhaps the first blogger to cover the daily press briefings. He found the surroundings to be dilapidated and cramped and concluded that his morning at the White House was "remarkably uneventful."'

Happy Birthday To Me!

2005-03-07T17:58:00.000-05:00

Yes, that's right, your favorite ConservaDiva is now 21!! That means I am finally able to do legally what I have been doing since I was 18.

Only I don't have any ID (damn crazy New Yorkers who don't drive!) so I can't go to bars (or strip clubs.) It's a crying shame.

I celebrated at midnight by chugging drinks at Sigma Nu (my favorite frat.) Then I ran to the library and Bruce, Zachariah and Veronica had a cake. Bruce broke coffee stirrers into pieces and lit them so I would have candles, and they sang for me in the middle of Novack. I made a wish. (PS- I'm still waiting for it to come true!!)

It's back to work today!!

Deepest Apologies...

2005-03-05T22:29:00.000-05:00

I have been neglecting this blog for the past few days.

I am working on three papers simultaneously and have basically moved into Novack.

Plus yesterday was the Theta formal!!!! It was sooooo much fun! I will post pictures as soon as I learn how... I think this has Joe from Dartblog written all over it...

So I will try to think of something even remotely intelligent to say soon... right now I am going through several ordeals which need to work themselves out. (Projects that need 'tweaking' to quote You've Got Mail.)

Personal v. Political

2005-02-27T21:06:00.000-05:00

I have been discussing blogs a lot today.

Why do some people feel compelled to publish their innermost thoughts on the internet where literally anyone can read it?

Would that make my blog better? If I assigned all of the people I know code names and wrote cryptic things about them?

Maybe I should start another, secret blog and do that to amuse myself! It sounds like fun!!

OK, I'll bite...

2005-02-26T14:38:00.000-05:00

Joe over on Dartblog posts this about WalMart, and as it is directed at me, I will comment. :)

He says: "For the second time this month, WalMart employees in Colorado have rejected the idea of unionizing. It must say at least something positive about the oft-maligned working conditions at the nation's largest employer."

Aside from brainwashing and propaganda (which both sides are probably semi-gulity of) WalMart has closed down departments that voted to unionize in the past. (Example: The Meat-Cutters in Jacksonville, Texas).

This is my definitive anti-WalMart post, if you are interested in reading it *again.*

Hmmm

2005-02-25T22:53:00.000-05:00

I think something is in the air... shady people reading blogs....

The Dartmouth Beacon

2005-02-24T02:18:00.000-05:00

This is the new site for the Dartmouth Beacon, the conservative campus journal I write for/am associate editor of.

I remember when Bruce (the editor in chief) had this idea over the summer, but then I was off campus in the fall and sort of missed out on the first couple of issues. I was writing from NYC. But I have to say it's been amazing seeing how it went from an idea that we discussed at random meetings over the summer, to a well-organized paper that people read, comment on, praise, agree with, disagree with, etc. Now we have the site up and running, and things are going smoothly. And I'm just really impressed and proud of everyone. :)

I am really quite sappy sometimes!

Didn't we almost have it all?

2005-02-23T13:05:00.000-05:00

**Warning: I am rambling today**

Anyone who reads this blog with some degree of regularity probably thinks that I am beating a dead horse by posting about feminism constantly. But it is an issue which resonates with me. To me, the contradiction over whether or not a conservative woman can call herself a feminist is representative of the flaws of modern day liberalism.

So anyway, I'm always looking for new and interesting articles/opinion pieces about feminism. I found one in the Detroit News. It's an opinion piece entitled: Feminism 30 Years Later: We don't need to have it all."

As a co-chair of Women in Leadership, I have had many conversations with Dartmouth women of varying races, ethnicitites, religions, party identification, etc. What with my obsession with Mona Lisa Smile, and a very interesting talk given by Prof. Bohmer of the Govy department in the beginning of the term, I have been fascinated by asking Dartmouth women: "Do you think you can have it all: a fulfilling family life and a satisfying career?"

Everything in life is a trade-off. I came to Dartmouth to get the education I need for a successful career. But I am not willing to make the trade-off between career and family. I want to have children and be there for them. And while I am confident I can do both, I don't plan on giving up the opportunity to raise my future children. I guess this makes me a slightly more contemporary version of the Julia Stiles character. :)

The conclusion of the editorial is: "Maybe now, having chased the foolish notion that we can have it all, we have come to discover that not only is having it all impossible, we don't necessarily want it all."

That was my stream-of-consciousness rambling for the day. I don't expect anyone to care, really, it's just something I've been pondering lately.
Future posts will have more focus, I swear!

Intelligent Design

2005-02-22T22:39:00.000-05:00

At least the D finally published something that makes sense.

I read "The Case for Faith" by Lee Strobel, and it appealed to my cynical side. (I call it my "cop's daughter side.) My faith was something I took for granted for much of my life. I knew what I believed, but I had no real way of defending my beliefs, even to myself. In an atmostphere where religious faith is belittled as anti-intellectual (unless, of course, you worship Gaia), I felt I needed to have some "rational" basis for my beliefs, and this book was an excellent refresher.

Madame President

2005-02-22T21:59:00.000-05:00

According to 1010Wins, 6 in 10 Americans think the country is ready for a woman president.

Perhaps they are, but they have to wait a little longer, since I'm not eligible to run for president until I'm 35. That will be a glorious day for America. :)

What will my husband be called????

Why is it

2005-02-20T18:20:00.000-05:00

that all good things inevitably hurtle into the abyss??

On that note, I think Katie and I are going to watch Mona Lisa Smile tonight. That's just what I need. A movie about girls, so I don't have to think about boys. :)

I am sick of romantic advice.

The PC Police Strike Again

2005-02-18T15:28:00.000-05:00

My sorority is having an open dance party tonight, so several sisters made an auto-reply to publicize it. It is a black-light party, so we decided to name the party BlackedOut!

Here was the auto-reply:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BlackedOut

an EKT blacklight party
15 Webster
Friday
11-2

DJ, kegs, inappropriateness.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Drama ensued when someone from the Center of Women and Gender found it offensive, and accused it of promoting sexual violence.

Yup, that's me. I promote sexual violence against women.

When will this school GET A GRIP?

Blah

2005-02-17T01:07:00.000-05:00

I am tired, and stressed.

I need a weekend already!!!

Something to consider for Dartmouth?

2005-02-16T09:49:00.000-05:00

"Relationships 101."

I think a course about marriage is a good idea. It wouldn't fly in an Ivy League institution, I'm assuming, but given the divorce rate we can use all the help we can get...

Racially Sensitive Algebra

2005-02-13T22:26:00.000-05:00

I kid you not.

Dartmouth Liberals

2005-02-13T00:49:00.000-05:00

This is one of the most inane editorials I've read in the D, hands down: The Liberal Mystique.

Dear lord.
But then again, what can we expect from the Op-Ed pages of the D... Balance? Sense? Some type of minimum standard of literacy? Nah.

You Know You're Latina If...

2005-02-12T01:54:00.000-05:00

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!

Funny, in a true-ish way...

**UPDATE**
This one is even funnier: You know you're from Long Island If...

Double-Edged Sword

2005-02-08T13:36:00.000-05:00

This makes me happy, since I don't like Pataki at all. But I don't like Spitzer either...

New York is so messed up.

I am failing...

2005-02-06T15:20:00.000-05:00

I know! I know! I haven't updated in days. I have been stressed out, so the blog unfortunately took a backseat for awhile!

But I will be posting more regularly now, I promise. :)

More on Conservative Minorities

2005-02-01T14:53:00.000-05:00

An excellent article by Jonah Goldberg in the Union Leader.

He says:

"And so here we are today. Different players, same game. Republicans bought the racial logic of Democrats for partisan gain — and it worked. Democrats abandoned the same logic when it stopped working for them. Both sides should be ashamed of themselves.

But, as a conservative who actually believes in color-blindness, I have to say that the Democrats deserve the lion’s share of ridicule in this mess. Yes, Republicans are being hypocritical, but they aren’t putting their hypocrisy into law. Democrats may claim a sudden conversion to colorblindness, but they still reflexively claim any opposition to affirmative action is ipso facto evidence of racism.

And, more to the point: They started it."

Amen to that!!

The New (Supposedly Improved) Hillary

2005-01-31T21:55:00.000-05:00

From the Jewish World Review.

Classic quote regarding Faith Based Initiatives:

"[America is big enough for people to] 'live out their faith in the public square,' she said. 'I've always been a praying person.'"

It's so amusing to watch Hillary try to position herself as the conservative Democratic candidate. I wish her the best; she's entirely beatable if she succeeds in fooling enough people during the primaries.

Who Needs the First Amendment?

2005-01-31T13:20:00.000-05:00

Apparently not high school children.

Dude. When I was in high school, I was obsessed with the First Amendment. My parents probably wished it would be repealed, so frequently did I invoke it.

"When asked whether people should be allowed to express unpopular views, 97 percent of teachers and 99 percent of school principals said yes. Only 83 percent of students did."

That is just really, really sad.

Women in the Military

2005-01-30T15:24:00.000-05:00

Holy Lord.

This is some pretty crazy stuff.
As Charlotte Hays points out on the IWF's Inkwell, so much for feminist's hopes that women would add a "kindler, gentler" dimension to the military.

For that matter, who wants a kind, gentle military?

More hyper-sensitivity...

2005-01-30T15:12:00.000-05:00

...and this time the target is a teddy bear.

Apparently the "Crazy For You" Teddy Bear, which wears a straightjacket, has offended some mental health advocates.

I think that it is safe to say that I am a "mental health advocate." I suffered from serious depression for years, and always want to help people reduce stigma surrounding mental illness/depression/anxiety, particularly among college students.

But I just don't see how this little stuffed bear is offensive. It's a play on words! Honestly, I think it would be sort of funny, and if I had any money I might get it. ;-)

What Idiots

2005-01-26T20:13:00.000-05:00

Smoking bans in bars were bad enough, but now companies want to fire employees for smoking cigarettes (which, by the way, are LEGAL, in case people forgot.) And not for smoking on the job... for smoking in their own homes.

Next on the agenda: overweight employees.

WHO are these people to dictate how their employees live their lives??

The most disappointing thing of all... Sean Hannity, who I used to adore, supports this measure. My world has officially collapsed around me.

Read more here.

Dating at Dartmouth

2005-01-24T17:20:00.000-05:00

There has been so much conversation lately regarding the dating/hookup scene at Dartmouth, so I thought I'd bring back an old favorite.

I got viciously attacked for posting this on Dartmouth Divas, my old site, quite some time ago. But I still think it is a valid theory regarding male/female interactions. So for those of you who haven't seen it (as well as those who have, since it never gets old), here is The Ladder Theory.

I think the reason I find this site so impressive is not so much his theory about male/female friendships. I agree with him on that; I don't think men and women can be friends without one party developing feelings for or an attraction toward the other. But the concept of an "intellectual whore" (a man who a woman keeps around for intellectual stimulation, with no plans of ever hooking up with him) is soooooooooo true, although I don't think it is as evil as he makes it out to be. I'm sure guys do some version of the same thing.

Another stupid article about feminism

2005-01-23T15:43:00.000-05:00

From Feminista!

This woman asks whether the term "individualist feminism" is an oxymoron?

What kind of a question is that?

Why should feminists promote blindly following the pack?

**Update**
I found an article on the same site that is even more absolutely, positively WRONG.
From the article:

"The issue of women's advancement through reproductive freedom is not, and must not become, a moral question about the fetus. It is an economic, logistical, practical, and political question."

WHAT?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!??!?!?!??!?!

Allow me to wait for my heart to start beating again. How can it be anything BUT a moral question? I have spoken to people who are pro-choice who see abortion as morally reprehensible, but a necessary evil. This position I can understand. But people who want to remove all questions of morality from the issue... that is just sick.

Condi Rice

2005-01-20T17:15:00.000-05:00

This is an interesting piece regarding the confirmation of Condoleezza Rice, and the, um, noticeable lack of enthusiasm on the part of feminist groups.

I wrote a Beacon article about this which I will link to if we ever get the web site working! Although it was more about my frustration with the double standard over racist remarks made about her.

Could this be our future?

2005-01-18T11:40:00.000-05:00

I got this from dartlog.net.

Apparently several schools, including Rutgers and Case Western Reserve University, are now offering special housing for recovering alcoholics (and drug addicts.)
This would be a really good thing for Dartmouth to have, but I don't think our student body is large enough. And frankly, most alcoholics at Dartmouth won't be recovering any time soon. Trust me, I was friends with enough of them.

This is good to hear...

2005-01-17T16:04:00.000-05:00

Apparently, the majority of people are hopeful about Bush's coming term. (from 1010wins)

Encouraging, especially now that I'm up here on the commune. (JK, I love it here, but still...)

WalMart Sucks

2005-01-14T17:51:00.000-05:00

I have to link to Dartblog again.

http://www.dartblog.com/data/2005/01/walmarts_pr_gam.html

My friend Joe over on Dartblog says:

"The whole anti-WalMart movement always seemed a strange peripheral of anti-capitalism. But it has taken on a life of its own, drawing in everyday left-leaners and rebellious youth at large."

Just because someone is pro-labor does not make them anti-capitalist. Part of what makes America so great is that even the most menial worker is entitled to some amount of dignity, which WalMart employees are not granted.

I don't have the energy to outline all of the reasons why I hate WalMart, but if anyone needs a reminder I listed them once before here.

Catch Phrases = Bad

2005-01-14T17:46:00.000-05:00

Apparently this is a big deal.

Why do people worry so much about little things?

Dartmouth Football

2005-01-09T23:50:00.000-05:00

I think I'm the only person who literally does not care in the slightest bit that the Dean of Admissions made a negative comment about the football team 5 years ago to a personal friend.

WHAT is the big deal?

That is a legitimate question; I'm not being rhetorical. Can someone explain this to me in a nutshell? WHY is this important?

The State of Feminism

2005-01-09T17:04:00.000-05:00

This article was sent to me by a friend.

It makes me furious.

So furious I can barely comment on it.

This quote from Christina Hoff Sommers just sums it up:

"Women have achieved parity with men in most fields," she said. "You'd think the feminists and women's studies professors would be celebrating, but in many ways they've never been more despondent."

Sorry I haven't been posting...

2005-01-07T01:11:00.000-05:00

It's tough getting into the swing of things, especially when I've been away for four months.

I will post over the weekend, and after that more consistently. I hope everyone had a great New Years Eve/Day!

Back at Dartmouth!!

2005-01-03T17:23:00.000-05:00

I am sooooo soooooo happy to be back! It was great to go to Sigma Nu last night and meet up with friends I haven't seen in months. I'm at my job right now, at the Housing Office, which I LOVE!!

I am glowing right now! :) I am just so ecstatic to be back.

Will the insanity ever end?

2005-01-01T21:17:00.000-05:00

I know it's been a little while since I last posted regarding the Ohio recount(s). It has actually been some time since I even thought about the Ohio recounts, having buried them deep in my subconscious so I could retain even a few shreds of optimism regarding the democratic process in this country. I was amused to see that Kerry picked up only a few hundred votes by the end of the recount, although not surprised. Finally, I thought, we can lay this to rest.

But now they want another recount. And I am beginning to question whether or not we will ever have a normal election in this country again.

What do these people expect? Honestly, let's close our eyes and imagine for a second that five recounts from now, the Dems count enough dead people's votes to make Kerry the winner. Who is to say that is the recount that should count? Why shouldn't Bush demand an additional recount?

If I were John Kerry, I would beg these people to put a stop to this nonsense. I don't pretend to know the extent of his or his campaign's involvement in the recount debacle, but it is a reflection on him and makes look like Al Gore, minus the popular vote. At least Al Gore had that leg to stand on. Even if it was irrelevant, it gave him sympathy and a little bit of credibility. This is just pathetic.

Ughh, people, GET LIVES!!!!!! Move on!!!! Focus on 2008 (or better yet, 2006) instead of whining over an election you lost.

As excited as I am about going back to Dartmouth, I am not thrilled at the prospect of being surround by Libs again. I mean, eastern Long Island is not really a bastion of liberalism. It's actually a bastion of corruption and stealing, which, sadly, transcends party lines.

Happy New Year!

2004-12-31T23:09:00.000-05:00

Yes, I am being lame tonight and staying in. Too much packing to do for me to go out and get hammered.

I have spent a good portion of the day trying to evaluate this past year. Was it a good year for me?

It got off to a rocky start. Katie, and a few others, will remember how in late January/early February everything went bad all at once. Some awful weeks, awful guy situations, etc.
Spring term, I was sort of numb.
Summer term was fun, I suppose. It was nice going to Kennebunk with Katie, Michael Ellis, Glabe, and Andrew. And my off term was fine. Katie and I got to live "the dream" of dating best friends. It didn't work out so well for either of us, but it also wasn't catastrophically bad. I guess I'm sort of ambivalent about the whole thing.

BUSH WON! That was the highlight for me. And next year is going to be fantastic. I know this because I'm psychic. (It's a Puerto Rican thing.)

God bless, and have a safe and healthy New Years. Dartmouth people, I'll see you Sunday!!! And for my home town friends, I will miss you all terribly but you have to come visit me! <3 (Meg, Katy, I'm looking at y'all.)

Is this a Long Island phenomena?

2004-12-30T15:10:00.000-05:00

What is with Long Islanders throwing things into moving traffic??

First a turkey, and now this?!

Ahh there's no place like home. I have to get out of here.

The Facebook

2004-12-29T17:10:00.000-05:00

This is really funny. I can relate to "The Facebook Trance."

Here is an article about "facebook etiquette" from a Yale student.

The facebook can be really quite creepy. And yet I am addicted. I'm such a group whore.

Insomnia

2004-12-29T03:24:00.000-05:00

I'm sorry, dear readers. I have been neglecting you lately. I have a busy schedule of, well, not much. Mostly trying to cram in visits with all of the people I haven't seen since I got home in September. Oh, and getting my wisdom teeth pulled. Go me. I can not wait to go back to Dartmouth, seriously. My house is driving me nuts. I mean, my off term was great, no doubt. Especially the second half. ;-) Peaceful and relaxing. But I'm getting antsy and I am READY for Dartmouth, ready for my mind to be actively engaged again.

Anyway, today I started watching Pride and Prejudice, but ended up watching the second half of "A League of Their Own." GREAT movie! Forget any implied "girl power" message, which my friends know appeals to me. It is just such a funny, well done movie. I love the Tom Hanks character. If you haven't seen it, see it soon.

Conservatives Target Liberal Profs?

2004-12-25T23:09:00.000-05:00

Could the tables be turning?

I doubt it, but it's interesting.

Merry Christmas!

2004-12-24T14:46:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas guys! My updates have been infrequent, as I have spent the past four days in the dentist's office. I will be spending Christmas with family in Staten Island. (Talk about a place that doesn't matter, I know, but it's where they are!)

Once again, the coveted Hispanic Vote

2004-12-22T15:35:00.000-05:00

Apparently Bush is making inroads among Hispanic men.

I wonder why men specifically, and not women.

I've been thinking...

2004-12-22T01:39:00.000-05:00

(Scary, I know)

I should say, I have been trying not to think too much about the John McCain/steroids in baseball issue, because it really concerns me that a Republican angling for the Presidency would focus on such a trivial issue during a war. But alas, it keeps popping into my head, a black cloud over otherwise uneventful days. Why, I ask myself, would anyone care about this? It's a game! I love the Yankees, don't get me wrong. (And of course the dear old Bills in football!) But seriously, in the grand scheme of things...

Somehow this overlapped in my mind with the ban on smoking in bars in New York City, an issue which I inherited from my dad. It's so senseless that a bar owner can get a summons for "ashtray possession" in a time when we should be worried about "bomb possession." And it occurred to me that the two things might be oddly related.

During and after 9/11, I saw New Yorkers rally together in a way I had never imagined possible. The horrors of that day, (which I witnessed on TV, thankful beyond words that my dad had retired from the NYPD only two short months before) took a toll on our city. But some good came from the wreckage of Ground Zero. People were patriotic. People were not afraid of being considered "un-PC." They were alert, they cared about each other, they helped each other out in times of need. And I watched over the course of the next year and a half (including when I returned to New York after my freshman fall) as this slowly faded and turned into the most disturbing, head-in-the-sand mentality I had ever witnessed.

Why are we focusing on these inane, diversionary issues now? I think that people feel the issue of terrorism is somehow out of our hands. So we should try to control these little, pointless things as a way of making ourselves feel that we have at least some control over our lives. It's understandable, I suppose, but really quite dangerous. We are facing real problems, and real threats. Pretending they aren't there doesn't make them less real, it just makes us less prepared for them when they do happen.

OK, I am going to bed now. No more thinking for me!

HAHA

2004-12-22T01:30:00.000-05:00

This seems improbable....
According to Fox News, Americans pray more often than they take an alcoholic drink.

From Enter Stage Right.

Pointless update on my life...

2004-12-22T01:19:00.000-05:00

Since not much of interest has been going on, I have been planning out my courses for my next few quarters. Now that I switched my second major to government, instead of women's studies, I have to cram a lot of govy classes into not a lot of terms.

Sorry that the politics has been slow in coming of late, but I am sort of braindead. Christmas shopping consumes my every waking moment. Either that, or talking about Christmas shopping on AIM. I will be glad when this season is over. (I am such a grinch!)

Sort of interesting...

2004-12-21T16:02:00.000-05:00

These are the rankings for the top news stories of 2004.

Not surprisingly, the election gets the top spot. I see that number 10 is the Madrid bombings... which is surprising to me. Not that they weren't news-worthy; I just don't recall a ton of coverage.

Let's Go Bills!

2004-12-20T01:14:00.000-05:00

This is a great article about the anti-Buffalo Bills bias in the New York media. The Patriots get more attention, for crying out loud, and the Bills are the only true New York team!

They won today!!! :) It's a long shot, but I am keeping my fingers crossed.

On "Moral Values"

2004-12-19T14:49:00.000-05:00

Despite claims that the moral values issue was hyped up by the media/Jesus Freaks/Vast Right Wing Conspiracy, I still maintain that gay marriage was the issue that won the election for Bush. I mean, it is difficult to pin a victory to one issue, but I think it was a huge, decisive factor.

Apparently, the gays agree.

Could he have chosen a more boring issue?

2004-12-17T17:07:00.000-05:00

McCain is choosing the issues of steroids in baseball to take a stand on.

Campaign finance reform, baseball players taking steroids... geez, it's a good thing we aren't facing threats from terrorists who want us all dead. Then we might have to focus on real problems. Oh wait...

Where Have All The CRs Gone?

2004-12-16T17:33:00.000-05:00

This article talks about the drop-off in membership in campus political groups after the election. I figured this would happen. But as the girl from the Emory College Republicans points out, maybe it's beneficial to have a small group of dedicated activists, rather than a large group with only a fleeting interest.

NYC

2004-12-15T23:12:00.000-05:00

For those of you who are interested (admittedly few of you, but nonetheless), here are some juicy details from my reunion with my other (better?) half, Katie Racicot.

1) We went to a tobacco store on 42nd street and bought matching long, antique cigarette holders (a la Audrey Hepburn.)

2) We had our traditional tea at The Plaza, and got makeovers at Barneys, where we were conned into buying overpriced makeup. (Not that we need it *wink wink*)

3) We went to lunch at Pershing Square with the people from my job, where Katie hit on a guy who looks like Scott Glabe (a friend of ours from Dartmouth.)

4) Tragically, I did not get to go into Saks, but I bought a sweet coat at Urban Outfitters. And we went to Givenchy but I was not impressed with this line (and there was no free champagne like last time.) So we didn't stay long.

5) Even more tragically, I didn't make it to Baby Ralph Lauren, where I will one day be taking my beautiful little children shopping when I am a Manhattan socialite. Unless they have Baby Saks, in which case I will take them there. Katie will be taking her daughter to Baby Hot Topic! ;)

6) The Phantom of the Opera display at Bloomingdales, and the displays at Bergdorfs, were gorgeous!

OK, I think I've talked enough about clothes. I will be returning to politics tomorrow. But OH how I love shopping in NYC!!!
Katie goes home tomorrow . :( :(

Apologies...

2004-12-13T11:58:00.000-05:00

if updates are few over the next few days.

For those of you who know me, my dearest darling Katie (who I haven't seen in 3 MONTHS!) is coming to New York City and we are going to spend a few days having tea at The Plaza, window shopping at Saks, Bergdorf, and generally pretending to be rich, eating sushi and watching sappy movies!

Far more important than politics, wouldn't you agree?

Beware of Hijackers...

2004-12-13T01:24:00.000-05:00

Hijacking legacies, that is.

It's funny, but conservatives are always accused of hijacking people's legacies to suit our purposes. We hijacked Dr. King's desire that people be judged "not by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character" message, and use it to protest affirmative action. (Oh the horror!) We hijacked feminism by pointing out that the first wave feminists (such as Susan B. Anthony) were pro-life. Nothing like facts to silence a liberal...

If only Dems were as concerned about real hijackings as they are about these abstract, metaphorical hijackings, our country might be in better shape. Oh wait, we brought those hijackings on ourselves! Silly me, I always forget that. We are far better off figuring out "Why They Hate Us."

Absolutely Horrifying

2004-12-12T15:46:00.000-05:00

Courtesy of Right Wing News: The Democratic Underground actually favors American defeat in Iraq.

You have to scroll down a little bit; the trackback URL isn't working.

Choice quote:

itzamirakul:

"Also, I do NOT support any soldiers who are gung-ho about going to Iraq to fight or for any families that stand-teary-eyed and praise Bush and say that their warrior-child died for "our freedom." I have no sympathy for any soldiers except those who do not want to be there."

Giuliani Watch Continued...

2004-12-12T13:13:00.000-05:00

So the last thing turned out not to be accurate (although no we're back at Square One for Homeland Security).

But according to Hugh Hewitt in an article for the Weekly Standard, Giuliani is the clear front runner for 2008.

Granted, Bush still hasn't been inaugurated for his second term, and it is very soon to be seriously thinking about this. I still prefer Condoleezza Rice, but Giuliani is my very enthusiastic second choice. I absolutely love him.

I think Giuliani would win New York handily. And even if his New York/moderate tendencies would alienate some of the deep south, I don't think it would harm him enough. He would probably just win Alabama/Mississippi/Georgia etc. by a smaller margin. And even if he lost one, of them, the electoral votes picked up in New York would more than make up for it.

I would be so happy to see Condi run for President in 2008. But as I have said before on this blog, perhaps a Giuliani/Rice ticket?

Sweet Home Alabama

2004-12-12T01:21:00.000-05:00

I have always had an affinity for Alabama. I am a New Yorker, born and bred, but my grandfather was from outside of Birmingham.

Anyhow, from 1010wins, people in Alabama are rightly concerned that political correctness has gone too far when symbols of its heritage are slowly being made taboo. The current target: The "Heart of Dixie" state slogan on license plates.

For some, "Heart of Dixie" brings up positive images about the South, but "to others it raises thoughts of the Civil War, slavery and mistreatment of African Americans," Siegelman said.

Bad news for Men of Dartmouth

2004-12-10T14:22:00.000-05:00

Apparently, heat from laptops can cause infertility in men.

I find it strangely humorous that this was discovered at SUNY-Stony Brook, approximately 3 minutes from my house.

Early Decision

2004-12-10T10:43:00.000-05:00

So I have been chatting with several potential Darmouth 09s on a discussion board, and yesterday the ones who applied ED received their decisions.

I have to admit I have been living vicariously through them, as next year I will be going through The Law School Ordeal. I am fairly confident that I will do well on the LSATs... now it's a matter of picking up my grades and writing some good essays.

I have to admit, for all my apprehension, I revel in the process. I spend hours at work printing out the ABA descriptions of every school I am remotely interested in. There is little I would not do to get into Yale... it is my first choice... but my GPA is sorta low for that. And I'm not sure how far being Hispanic will carry me. (Plus I hate relying on that like a crutch, but that is the reality of the situation...)

This is just a rant that will interest no one, but it's been weighing on my mind the past few days. Congrats to my 09 buddies!!

My Husband... I mean, Howard Dean, for DNC Chairman

2004-12-09T21:37:00.000-05:00

Dean makes sense regarding the future of the Democratic Party:

"We can't any longer be a party that seeks the presidency by running an 18-state campaign.
We can't be a party that cedes a single state, a single district, a single precinct or even a
single voter," Dean said.

Very true.

More on FOX.

Women's Colleges Revisited

2004-12-09T16:14:00.000-05:00

Speaking of women's colleges, check out this (very old) article about Wellesley.

The Highly Charged Erotic Life of the Wellesley Girl

It's a far cry from "Mona Lisa Smile." (Awesome movie, by the way. I love Julia Stiles.)

Now I've Heard Everything...

2004-12-09T10:17:00.000-05:00

[NY State Gubernatorial] Candidate Eliot Spitzer Calls for "Accountability"

Accountability? From the party that brings us affirmative action and abortion, the two biggest affronts to personal accountability facing our nation today? Give me a break.

Quick update: I want to make it clear I am not enthusiastic about Pataki either, and I hope he does not pursue a Presidential run.

A Women's College Without Boys...

2004-12-09T09:25:00.000-05:00

Actually, I think that would be Wellesley, not Wells, but the message is the same.

I am afraid I'm going to have to disagree with my fellow conservative Dartmouth blogger regarding the decision to integrate Wells College. Well, sort of. I think Wells should stay single sex if the students want it that way, especially as that was the understanding of the women who enrolled. I sort of object to his conclusion, though:

"But for more pragmatic reasons... because seeing feminazis get their comeuppance is sweeter than gooseberry pie, I won't make a fuss about it."

I don't think this is fair. Would he have said the same thing had it been an all girls, Catholic high school going coed? Who knows why these women wanted to attend an all-female college? Maybe they thought guys would be too much of a distraction from academics. Maybe they are painfully shy and awkward about speaking up in front of men. I personally find this ridiculous, and think of it as delaying the inevitable. Women will be facing men out in the working world, so it is just sort of putting the problem in remission.

Plus those who know me well, know how long I would last at an all-girls school! ;-) But I digress!

My Dear Senator

2004-12-08T14:32:00.000-05:00

Apparently, Schumer won with a record number of votes.

I am proud to say that I voted against him.

But at least he is entertaining. I mean, remember when he body-slammed one of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to get a picture with Bush post 9.11?

Hispanic Republicans

2004-12-07T14:54:00.000-05:00

This is an excellent article about the obstacles Hispanic Republicans face in Senate confirmations, as well as some background about Commerce Secretary nominee Carlos Gutierrez.

Bush has done an excellent job in finding qualified, conservative Hispanics for his administration. However, I have noticed that Hispanics are starting to trend more conservative. Including myself, there are three on the paper I currently write for, and I think there is one on the Review. Are there any on the Free Press? (I really don't know; that is not sarcasm.)

The Dartmouth Review

2004-12-07T10:10:00.000-05:00

According to my friend Nat on Dartlog, the Review celebrates its 25th anniversary this year.

In a way I miss the Review. Not only because I made some good friends there, but because I feel like I was a different person when I joined. I was a freshman with so much time ahead of me at Dartmouth, and I was so enthusiastic about a cause which I later felt sort of betrayed by. Well, betrayed is a slight exaggeration, as my decision to leave was instigated by a mixture of political and social factors.

I still think the Review serves an important function in the Dartmouth community, but it also left a glaring gap. As Dinesh D'Souza points out, by staking out a far right position it sort of legitimizes more moderate stances (although I was dismayed by the libertarian leanings of some of the staffers.) But by focusing on Dartmouth issues (to the point of mocking students for no reason other than meanness) there was no one really addressing conservative policy issues.

I think that the Beacon and the Review will work well, and sort of complement each other.

My Kind of Exercise

2004-12-07T09:48:00.000-05:00

Not only can I sleep off a hangover, now I can sleep off some extra pounds!!

I hereby declare that sleep is officially the cure for everything, and clearly the best gift God has given us.

In fact, I wish I could be asleep right now.

Ohio: NOT The New Ukraine

2004-12-06T11:50:00.000-05:00

I know I shouldn't let the enemy rile me up as much as it does, but this almost gave me an aneurysm.

THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF REPUBLICAN VOTER FRAUD IN OHIO!!!

No system is perfect. But for the love of all that is holy, long lines do not constitute voter fraud! People who vote incorrectly are not entitled to go back and change their vote a month later. People: GET A GRIP! If you can't vote, stay away from the polls. I don't care what party you are!

And the part that drove me the craziest was the smug last line.

"Ohio isn't the Ukraine. Or at least it's not supposed to be."

AHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

No, Mr. Rothschild, Ohio isn't the Ukraine. Neither Bush's nor Kerry's supporters had their opponent POISONED AND DISFIGURED! Bush won the popular vote, hands down. The person most people wanted as their President was named the winner (as opposed to the Ukraine.) And we are not facing the possibility of civil war!!

Geez, you know maybe these blue-staters talking about secession are on to something. The red states should secede and let the Dems make their own society of pseudo-intellectuals, atheists, vegetarians and tree huggers. The rest of us will live in the real world.

Oooh, can I be a victim?!?!

2004-12-05T21:35:00.000-05:00

This is a really good article by Heather MacDonald. It shows the misplaced priorities of the PC crowd.

Apparently they still can't quite figure out who the real victims of 9/11 were.

I Hate Walmart

2004-12-02T10:13:00.000-05:00

...and fortunately their sales have been "lackluster", according to Bloomberg.com.

Here are some of the reasons I hate why I hate Wal-Mart (other than the fact that it is crowded and obnoxious.) Yes, I know that this is not a traditionally conservative stance but I just hate them SO MUCH that I don't care.

31 Lawsuits were filed claiming hundreds of thousands of workers had been forced to work off the clock. Managers forced the employees to finish all work before they went home, but kept stores understaffed so that off-the-clock work was unavoidable.
In Jacksonville, Texas, the butchers in the meat department at a Wal-Mart store voted to unionize. WalMart demoted the meat cutters to "sales associates" and switched to pre-cut meat. It took the meat-cutters three years to get their jobs back, and now Wal-Mart is appealing. They produce "A Manager's Toolbox to Remaining Union Free," containing warning signs of possible union formation, and a hotline for managers to call so company specialists can come in and fight off any possible unions.
They hire illegal aliens to work in their stores, thus taking jobs away from Americans.
They pay ridiculously low wages that result in people not being able to support families, which in turn results in the rest of us paying higher taxes to support social welfare.
The "Lock-In" Policy. Supposedly a loss prevention tactic, certain stores lock their doors at night so no one can get in OR out. Employees often found themselves locked in, and were told if they ever tried to escape using a fire exit they would be fired. This one especially pisses me off. As is mentioned in this report, some of the biggest tragedies in labor history have happened because of employees being locked in. (The Traingle Shirtwaist Factory fire, for example.) According to the report, one employee broke his foot on the job and had to wait 4 HOURS for someone to come open the door. Another worker cut her hand with a box cutter and had to wait until morning to go to the hospital, where she got 13 stitches.

There are many more reasons (sexism, etc.) that I loathe Wal-Mart. I couldn't possibly list them all here. I urge you to read the report with an open mind. I for one avoid shopping there whenever possible, and if I can't avoid it, I hate every second of it. Seriously, I want to get a job there for about a week and raise hell with these people, and hand out union pamphlets. Screw them. They are billionaires who are exploiting helpless, uneducated people in my hometown. And call me a left wing labor radical if you want, but some things are more important than party identification and this is one of them.

Giuliani Watch

2004-12-01T16:49:00.000-05:00

According to Newsmax, Giuliani's name has been dropped as a possible successor to Tom Ridge in Homeland Security.

Hot Quote From A Sexy Man

2004-12-01T10:50:00.000-05:00

Bush, in response to a Canadian reporter's question about whether or not Bush had seen polls showing Canadians disapproval of American foreign policy:

"We just had a poll in our country where people decided that the foreign policy of the Bush Administration ought to stay in place for four more years."

Mmmmm.... I can picture him saying it, too.

Last night I had a conversation with Katie. She told me about a picture she saw of Kerry in a spacesuit. My response: Picture Kerry in a spacesuit, and then picture Bush in a cowboy hat...

Sooooo sexy. I can't take it. OK, that's my anti-intellectual rant for the day!

**Update**- It has been brought to my attention that the spacesuit/cowboy hat comparison could be misinterpreted. Lest anyone think otherwise, I was CONTRASTING them. I do not think that Kerry in a spacesuit (or any suit) is sexy. Bush, on the other hand... come on!

Ohio: The New Florida?

2004-12-01T10:06:00.000-05:00

Oh My God! The election was stolen!!!! Quick, somebody call the police. Uh, I mean, somebody call Jesse Jackson so we can play the race card and quick!

Right.

Listen, in 2000 Bush won fair and square. He should not have won. If people in Florida (elderly people in Palm Beach, etc.) had voted correctly, he would have lost. Plus, theoretically it would be good for the person who won the popular vote to win the electoral vote. So yes, Gore should have been President. But he lost, by the rules of our system.

I thought this election day was pretty controversy free. Bush won the popular vote handily, although not in a landslide. And Ohio, the state that represents the hopes of a delusional few, has one of the most bi-partisan, non-corrupt election procedures in the nation. (See Townhall for more details.)

The point is that this election was not stolen, and dragging it on like this makes a mockery of places like the Ukraine where there truly was widespread voter fraud and corruption.

Plus, don't the Dems have any sympathy for their own? The poor souls suffering from Post-Election Selection Trauma might suffer a relapse!! Quelle horreur!

The New Michael Moore?

2004-11-30T14:37:00.000-05:00

Hmmm. Somehow I'm skeptical.

But he sounds rational

"The Republicans - I'll give them this - they had a story to tell," the Bush-bashing filmmaker conceded. "The Democrats, oftentimes, aren't very good at telling a story."
Moore explained:
"And the [Bush] story was: Out of the ashes of September 11 rose one man. And he stood on the rubble of lower Manhattan with a bullhorn and he said, 'I will protect you.'
"And he did," Moore added, as the audience began to applaud. "And we were never attacked again."

Now I didn't see this live, so maybe this is taken out of context. I'm not counting on it lasting very long, but for what it's worth at least he admitted defeat and didn't harp on Ohio "recount" nonsense.

Details from Newsmax.

How are the mighty fallen...

2004-11-29T14:23:00.000-05:00

This article from Blogs For Bush is great!

My favorite part:
"Eventually, all which will remain of the Democratic Party is a rump of leftists in New York City, Los Angeles and San Francisco, still complaining about how stupid everyone else is."

So true. Although at least the author, Mark Noonan, acknowledges that this is sort of sad from a long term perspective, that a major political party can let itself be destroyed by its fringe. *Sigh*

I think Ann Coulter said it best: "...Republican politicians simply can't grasp that they are a majority party and the Democrats are going the way of the Whigs." Ouch.

The Left v. Babies

2004-11-29T10:06:00.000-05:00

According to an AP poll (from 1010wins.com), 59 percent of Americans want judicial nominees who are committed to upholding Roe v. Wade.

For just one second, let's sidestep the moral/social/political/religious issues behind abortion. Roe v. Wade is an affront to the Constitution. Abortion is clearly a state issue and should be decided by individual states.

That said, my position on abortion has evolved over time. I started out as pro-choice (during my middle school/early high school years.) Then I became vehemently pro-life, and wanted abortion to be illegal. Now, I view it primarily as a state issue. Personally, if there were a referendum on abortion, I would not vote to make it illegal. Don't get me wrong; I believe abortion is morally reprehensible. I pray for people who are debating having an abortion, and I pray for those who have chosen to have one. But I feel uncomfortable with the idea of unsafe abortions being conducted. Legal abortion results in the loss of one life; unsafe abortions can result in the loss of *two* lives. Instead of lobbying to make abortion illegal, the pro-life movement would be better served in focusing on making it rare. We should focus on eliminating obstacles that make women feel abortion is their only option.

See www.feministsforlife.com for more information on being both pro-life and pro-woman.

Harvard Sucks

2004-11-28T17:32:00.000-05:00

And they finally admit it!

I am so proud of Yale (my second choice Ivy). ;)

Reading List

2004-11-28T17:01:00.000-05:00

Out of utter boredom, I am going to compile a list of political books that I like. Please feel free to recommend others:

Letters to a Young Conservative, by Dinesh D'Souza. This is a must-read for anyone who considers themself a conservative.

Blinded by the Right, by David Brock. Take it with a grain of salt, but it's fun to read.

If It's Not Close, They Can't Cheat, by Hugh Hewitt. An absolute bible for defeating Democrats.

Let Freedom Ring, by Sean Hannity. I would marry Sean Hannity if I could.

Hardball, by Chris Matthews. Even though he's a neanderthal, he understands American politics.

Who Stole Feminism? by Christina Hoff Sommers. Feminism old style!

Power Plays, by Dick Morris. My political idol.

Any others? Let me know! There are many more I like, but these are probably my favorites.

Florida Counties Vote for Bush

2004-11-28T16:22:00.000-05:00

Despite conspiracy theorists' claims that polls Democratic counties in Florida were rigged, it turns out they legitimately did vote for Bush.

Details from 1010wins.

Of course these people voted for Bush! They are Dixiecrats. They stay with the Democratic Party because of historical ties (à la Zell Miller), but their beliefs and values are conservative.

The Truth: 1
Michael Moore: 0