Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Rodham: The Hillary Clinton BioPic Set to Roll

A promising young Hillary Rodham, commencing her law career spectacularly as the youngest lawyer for the House Judiciary Committee to impeach Nixon, but struggling with her loneliness for her boyfriend, who was teaching law in Arkansas, will be the subject of a film set to release in 2016.  While we all know how this love story resolves itself, one thing is certain.  Hillary fans will flock to see it. The story inundated political and entertainment news feeds today.  I hope they choose Anna Camp to play Hillary.  She would be perfect!
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'Smashed' director James Ponsoldt to direct Hillary Clinton biopic

James Ponsoldt is attached to direct a biopic of Hillary Clinton.

Ponsoldt, who directed Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Aaron Paul in last year's Smashed, has been "pencilled in" to direct Rodham, according to The Wrap.

Penned by Young Il Kim, the biopic will focus on rising star Hillary Rodham and her early career as a young attorney on the House Judiciary Committee, during the Watergate scandal.

According to a synopsis, her "unresolved feelings for Bill Clinton, a former boyfriend who now teaches law in Arkansas" will also be central to the story.

'The Spectacular Now' Director James Ponsoldt to Helm Hillary Clinton Biopic

The 'Smashed' helmer is attached to direct 'Rodham', the film about Hillary Clinton's early years from Kim Young Il's screenplay.

"Smashed" and "The Spectacular Now" director James Ponsoldt is confirmed to serve behind the lens for "Rodham", a tale of the early years of former First Lady of the United States Hillary Clinton. The indie film is based on Kim Young Il's script, which was ranked fourth on 2012 Black List.

Set during the height of the Watergate scandal, "Rodham" centers on Hillary Rodham, the youngest lawyer chosen for the House Judiciary Committee to Impeach Nixon, who finds herself forced to choose between a destined path to the White House and her unresolved feelings for former boyfriend Bill Clinton, who is teaching law in Arkansas.

Read more >>>>


Talk about a hot button project.
With a presidential run in 2016 as likely as the sky still being blue tomorrow morning, Hillary Rodham Clinton will be one of the most important figures in American politics for the next handful of years, and now, she’s about to be fodder for a biopic.
The Wrap is reporting that James Ponsoldt, best known for the films Smashed and the breathtaking The Spectacular Now, is set to direct Rodham, based on a Black List script from writer Young Il Kim. The film will follow the story of Clinton during her time in school, and also happens to deal with her romance with one Bill Clinton.  Here’s the synopsis:
During the height of the Watergate scandal, rising star Hillary Rodham is the youngest lawyer chosen for the House Judiciary Committee to Impeach Nixon, but she soon finds herself forced to choose between a destined path to the White House and her unresolved feelings for Bill Clinton, her former boyfriend who now teaches law in Arkansas.
Hillary Clinton movie finds new director. 
James Ponsoldt has a knack for getting the best out of Hollywood's most talented young actresses, and he could turn the trick again with "Rodham." According to TheWrap, Ponsoldt -- who directed "Smashed" and the upcoming "The Spectacular Now" -- has signed on to make a new biopic about Hillary Clinton.
First announced in January, "Rodham" focuses on Clinton's early career as a young attorney on the House Judiciary Committee during the Watergate scandal. (The House Judiciary Committee was responsible for impeaching President Richard Nixon.) Young Il Kim wrote the script for "Rodham," and described the film to Politico as a "journey."
"[She was] torn between her personal desires and her professional ambition -- both literally pulled her thousands of miles apart, because Bill did not want to leave Arkansas, and she did not want to leave Washington, D.C.," Kim said about that time in Hillary's life.
Read more >>>>

Hillary Clinton biopic aimed at potential presidential campaign

Release of much-anticipated Young Il Kim-scripted film Rodham to tie in with 2016 US presidential primaries
guardian.co.uk,
Rightwing US politicians who last year campaigned against the release of the drama Zero Dark Thirty for fear it could influence the outcome of the 2012 presidential election may have a new target in their sights.
Deadline reports that a biopic about the early life of Hillary Clinton – entitled Rodham – is being primed to tie in with its subject's mooted presidential run in 2016.
Screenwriter Young Il Kim's drama, which was included on the 2012 Black List of the best unproduced screenplays, centres on the future first lady and US secretary of state as she vacillates between her legal career and the attentions of a charming young suitor from Arkansas in the 1970s.
Its synopsis reads: "During the height of the Watergate scandal, rising star Hillary Rodham is the youngest lawyer chosen for the house judiciary committee to impeach Nixon, but she soon finds herself forced to choose between a destined path to the White House and her unresolved feelings for Bill Clinton, her former boyfriend who now teaches law in Arkansas."
Read more >>>>


Monday, April 29, 2013

Ready for Hillary? Maybe. Ready for Hillary's Women? Maybe not so much.

Ready for Hillary organized a rally tonight at a venue where Bill Clinton was speaking. The information was posted here this morning in case readers in the D.C. area wanted to attend. The  link went to the actual invitation, which apparently went to about 570 people, because it contained the particulars,  rather than to the Ready for Hillary Facebook page which had a post up about the rally.

That post used a graphic with an adorable picture of Bill Clinton with the expression on his face that we see so often when he is watching Hillary speak.  Lovely picture.  But the text in the meme is disconcerting.



I spent today wondering if my skin is still too thin from the sexism of 2008.  Perhaps it is.  The sexism in this meme simply leaped out at me. Is it just me?  The text objectifies Hillary in the worst way.  " 'First Gentleman'  I'M IN."  Wow!  The subtext there!  The implication!

Noam Chomsky, back when he was a linguist rather than a political activist, propelled a language theory (Transformational-Generative Theory) that involved what he called "surface" and"deep" structures.  This particular surface structure has one deep structure that was probably the one intended in all innocence.  But there is a second deep structure that puts Hillary flat on her back rather than behind the desk in the Oval Office, and, while probably unintended,  should have been caught by someone at Ready for Hillary before this graphic was posted  no matter how cute and clever it appears on the surface.

Women, many, have been supporting the Ready for Hillary PAC and its efforts, and this blog has been reporting those efforts.  Women also remember, and can quote chapter and verse of,  the sexist remarks that were aimed at Hillary in 2008.

If Hillary does decide to enter the arena, there will be plenty of sexist as well as political mud slung.  Her supporters need to be vigilant and avoid generating messages that detract from her appreciable personal qualifications no matter how unintended that might be on the surface.

Ready for Hillary Event Tonight in D.C.

Those living in the D.C. area who would like to encourage Hillary to run have an opportunity to do so by proxy this evening.   Details are available here

Sunday, April 28, 2013

Another Honor for Hillary Clinton

Here is the scoop from Lynn Sweet in the Chicago Sun-Times:  Hillary will be honored by CURE at a Chicago event on June 13. 

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Hillary Clinton hits Chicago June 13 to be honored at CURE dinner

WASHINGTON -- Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton hits Chicago on June 13 to be honored by CURE, the epilepsy research foundation -- this while a new poll and the start Wednesday of a new chapter in her life are sparking even more speculation about a 2016 White House bid.
CURE -- Citizens for Research in Epilepsy -- was founded by President Barack Obama's former top strategist David Axelrod, and his wife, Susan, 15 years ago; their daughter, Lauren, has epilepsy.

Clinton, then the first lady, was the draw at the group's very first fund-raising dinner and the boost from her star power was "instrumental in getting us started," Axelrod told me.
The June event will be at the Navy Pier Grand Ballroom and Clinton (a Chicago native: born in Edgewater Hospital, raised in Park Ridge) will deliver remarks for the CURE fund-raiser at a time when guessing about a future presidential run is the top political sport.
Read more >>>>

This Week: On Hillary Clinton's Agenda

Following a busy week with two appearances in Dallas, we can expect to see Hillary in public again on Friday, May 3,  when she and President Clinton return to Little Rock for the dedication of the airport renamed for them in March 2012.  Details are here.

May 3 Airport Naming Dedication Ceremony in Little Rock

By: KARK 4 News
LITTLE ROCK, AR - The Little Rock Municipal Airport Commission is ready to welcome Bill and Hillary Clinton back home for an airport renaming ceremony next month.
The event will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, May 3 in front of the airport, and will also celebrate the completion of the airport's $67 million Phase I improvement project. Some of the completed renovations include a redesigned ticket lobby and baggage screening area.
The ceremony will be free and open to the public, but tickets will be limited. Click here to reserve tickets through an online registration form.
SNIP
"Hillary and I are so honored to have Little Rock National Airport named in our honor," said President Bill Clinton. "We are excited that the first phase of renovation is complete, and look forward to seeing all of the airport's improvements in May."
Read more >>>>
The New York Daily News ran this humorous take on the event.  After all these years, finally, her name comes first! 

Jokes are flying about Clintons' 'Hillbilly' airport

Updated: Monday, April 22, 2013, 2:00 AM


The LIttle Rock, Ark., airport is being renamed after Hillary and Bill Clinton, and locals are excited.

The new Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport in Little Rock, Ark., will hold a dedication ceremony May 3 featuring the former President and his wife and ex- Secretary of State — but there’s just one problem for the snazzy new airport.
“Locals are calling it the Hillbilly Airport,” one insider tells Confidenti@l. “And project managers certainly don’t want an airport named after our President called Hillbilly. In the South. How does that look to the world?”

Saturday, April 27, 2013

Inside the Rally for Hillary in Dallas

When Hillary spoke in Dallas on Wednesday evening, our own Maddie was there to greet her!  Maddie attended the Ready for Hillary rally at the Four Seasons Resort and provided us with this account.  Thanks Maddie!
We only got a glimpse of her car at the “Ready for Hillary” rally in Dallas yesterday. There were at least 45 people there (we counted), and a few more joined later. Lots of press. CNN, FOX, local stations and one from Austin. They interviewed people and took footage and stayed the entire time we were there. The people who attended were from all over the area and all eagerly took the Hillary 2016 bumper stickers that were being passed out, as well as an informational flyer on the first organizational meeting to be held June 1st at a Mexican restaurant closeby..
There were all sorts of people there, people from the PAC, people who had worked on her campagian, volunteers and party chairs. People brought home made signs and wore buttons. Also, lots of “Ready for Hillary” and Hillary will “Turn Texas Blue” signs. Everyone seemed happy and eager to work hard, if Hillary decides to run. Lots of cheering and honks from people driving by.
I took pictures, but am going to have to get one of my friends to help me post them here, as I am clueless.
The only negative, was that the local newspapers played it down in today’s paper and decreased the number to “possibly 30″..but that was to be expected. After all, we were in Bush country and his museum was opening the next day, as noted by still4hill.
All in all, I’d say the mood was “determined”….when/if we get the word!!

Maddie sent this as a test picture, and I love it because it has all of us in it!  If I get more later, I will add them here.
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More pics coming through.

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Thursday, April 25, 2013

Hillary Clinton at the Dedication of the George W. Bush Presidential Center

Hillary Clinton, former FLOTUS, former senator, and former secretary of state accompanied by her husband, the former president, attended the  dedication this morning of the George W. Bush Presidential Center.  She appeared to enjoy the event thoroughly.  The relaxation shows.  She was glowing as she stood with the current and other former FLOTUSes.  She is once again wearing kitten heels.

It was a huge event, historic, and fun.  Quintessentially American.  The elder Bushes drew attention - he with his pink socks and she with her always surprising remarks.  When Matt Lauer asked her before the ceremony about Jeb Bush running in 2016, she said there are more qualified people than four families and the country has had enough Bushes.  Bill Clinton referred her as "my mother" so it is possible her message was not only for Jeb but also for her adopted daughter-in-law.  From the looks of things Barb and Hillary get along especially well.



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 This picture was provided by the Bush family.

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How To Waste Your Two Minutes With Hillary Clinton

Unless you spent last night in a cloister, you know that Hillary Clinton launched her paid speaking career as a private citizen last night at this affair.  It was closed to the press and simultaneously all over the news.
Hillary Clinton One
More than 300 of the apartment industry's top executives gathered at the Four Seasons at Las Colinas in Dallas today for NMHC's spring business meetings. The day opened with the Apartment Finance Strategies Conference, which included in-depth discussion of financing and operations issues, trends and forecasts, and closed with an exclusive interview with former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. Secretary Clinton is considered a potential front runner for the 2016 Democratic presidential nomination.
This appearance is Secretary Clinton's first paid speaking engagement since leaving office and continues NMHC's tradition of connecting members with a wide spectrum of world-class thought leaders. Similarly, past speakers have included Secretary Clinton's husband and former President Bill Clinton, as well as members of the Bush legacy, including former Presidents George W. Bush and George H.W. Bush and former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, among numerous other influential political and business leaders.
Read more  and see the slideshow >>>>
According to The Daily Mail, Hillary Clinton was twice asked the question that, for two years running, has represented the most ridiculous waste of time spent with her.  Granted she is said to have pulled down six figures for this appearance, and you might argue that those paying that much are entitled to use their moment in her presence any way they want, but seriously, if you had two minutes with Hillary Clinton, knowing what that answer is going to be (we all know) would this be the question you would ask?

Hillary Clinton dodges 2016 talk and says she just wants to relax at first paid speech since leaving office

By Associated Press Reporter
|
Tom Bozzuto, chairman and CEO of the Bozzuto Group, a real estate services organization based in Greenbelt, Md., conducted an interview of Clinton during the hour-long session, and said he covered topics such as international affairs, the economy and the role of rental housing in the U.S.
When he asked about 2016, Bozzuto said Clinton told the audience that she was 'too freshly released from her role as secretary of state to have time to even think about this.'
Bozzuto said Clinton said she had been asked about the subject by someone in the hallway minutes before the speech. 'She said she was looking forward to having time to relax,' he said.

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

The Tea Party v. Hillary Clinton: It Never Ends

Resoundingly missing from the cover of the Interim Progress Report  on the Benghazi, Libya consulate attack published yesterday by the House Republican Conference is the name Harold Rogers (R-KY), chairman of the House Appropriations committee that twice slashed the State Department's diplomatic security budget.   That committee was apparently excused from reporting to the conference in the zealous crusade being waged by Tea Party Republicans,  led by Darryl Issa and Jason Chaffetz, to pin blame on then Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.  Issa's name is listed as a co-author of the report while Media Matters reports that Chaffetz appeared with Megyn Kelly to discuss the report released to great hullabaloo in right-wing circles.

Fox's Kelly Interviews Rep. Chaffetz And Ignores His Hypocrisy Over Embassy Security

 ANDREW LAWRENCE
During the interview there was no mention of Rep. Chaffetz's own vote to cut funding to embassy security or reports that have undermined right-wing attacks on Clinton.
SNIP
Kelly provided Chaffetz with numerous opportunities to bash Clinton - asking if Clinton "blatantly lied" over requests being made for more security at the embassy, allowing Chaffetz to make claims that Clinton personally denied more security for the embassy, and speculating that there are documents being hidden from lawmakers that prove Clinton had direct knowledge regarding the lack of security at the embassy.
Read more >>>>
Oh!  So he is speculating!  Never mind that she accepted full responsibility for failures, provided State Department personnel to testify and documents for examination as requested, submitted the Accountability Review Board report in a timely fashion from home while recovering from a concussion and blood clot,  and went on to testify in person before committees in both the Senate  and the House as requested before she had fully recovered from her serious (and scary) health issues - never mind all of that.  Chaffetz and his Tea Partiers think documents are being hidden.   According to an article yesterday in The Hill,  the former secretary was not interviewed by the audit committee.

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Hillary Clinton to Address ASTA Convention in Miami

Hillary Clinton, who will begin her paid speaking career this evening in Dallas, has been confirmed as the keynote speaker at the ASTA convention on September 19 in Miami.

04-02-13-Y-04

Hillary Rodham Clinton to Speak at ASTA’s Global Convention



Alexandria, VA, April 23, 2013 – The Honorable Hillary Rodham Clinton, Former Secretary of State and Former U.S. Senator from New York will address attendees in the closing session at ASTA’s Global Convention in Miami, FL Sept 17 to 19, 2013. This year marks a new vision for the convention with a format that will deliver education for agents in technology, marketing and sales. 
“We are very excited to welcome such a prominent speaker to ASTA’s Global Convention,” said Zane Kerby, ASTA president and CEO.
Secretary Clinton will address attendees during the closing General Session on Sept. 19, at the James L. Knight Center in Miami.
The keynote address from Secretary Clinton will be an exciting opportunity for all ASTA convention attendees.
Read more >>>>

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Bill and Hillary Clinton Fête Barbra Streisand

Well here is a remark that has to make any Clinton fan smile.
“I thank her every time she sings ’Evergreen’ for me at political events,” said former President Clinton, who called Streisand to the stage and handed her the award.
These were President Clinton's words in tribute to Barbra Streisand as she received the Chaplin Award at Lincoln Center.  Everyone who is anyone was there.

Scene Last Night: Clintons, Streisand, Cohn, Blavatnik

By Amanda Gordon
April 23, 2013

Bill and Hillary Clinton dined with industrialist Len Blavatnik and hedge-fund manager Richard Perry. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. President Gary Cohn left his seat with Anchorage Capital Group LLC’s Kevin Ulrich to visit at their table.
The gathering last night on the promenade of the David H. Koch Theater rounded out a Film Society of Lincoln Center tribute to Barbra Streisand as the recipient of the 40th anniversary Chaplin Award, named after its first recipient, Charlie Chaplin.
I could not agree more with this remark!

Speakeasy: Aww: Bill Clinton thinks his wife is beautiful

Alicia M. Cohn

Examiner Staff Writer
The Washington ExaminerApril 23, 2013 | 6:17 pm
"Someone told me when I was elected president that politics was show business for ugly people. That was before Hillary got into it."
- Bill Clinton, at a New York City event honoring Barbra Streisand on Monday night, according to Variety. The former president also reportedly invited co-presenter Ben Stiller over for a "Meet the Fockers" movie night to "watch Barbra give sex advice to old people -- like me!"
Read more >>>>>
Ummmm ....

Barbra Streisand wins film award

Bill and Hillary Clinton among guests at gala dinner in New York
Associated Press in New York
guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 23 April 2013 12.27 EDT

40th Anniversary Chaplin Award Gala - Arrivals
Barbra Streisand at the Chaplin awards gala. Photograph: Jim Spellman/WireImage
"Ever since I can remember, people have been calling me bossy and opinionated," Barbra Streisand told a crowd at Lincoln Centre on Monday night. "Maybe that's because I am. Three cheers for bossy women!"
The crowd, which included Bill and Hillary Clinton, cheered for pretty much anything connected to Streisand all evening as the star of song and screen was honoured for her film career with the 40th annual Chaplin award from the Film Society of Lincoln Centre.
Read more >>>>

Gallup: Hillary Clinton Still Beats Out The Boys

The Gallup poll out today has Hillary still leading in favorability over the president, the vice president, and her successor as secretary of state.  Whether numbers like these would hold if she were to step back into the arena is unclear.  What is most startling about these numbers, given Gallup's methodology, is the column on the far right.

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April 23, 2013

Hillary Clinton Is Still Popular, More So Than Obama, Biden

Clinton starts with advantage over Biden if both run in 2016

by Andrew Dugan
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Though currently she is -- at least temporarily -- out of political life, former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton continues to enjoy a strong favorability rating, now 64%. Americans view Clinton more favorably than the president and vice president, as well as Clinton's successor, Secretary of State John Kerry.
Please say if you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of these people -- or if you have never heard of them. How about --

Here is How Gallup conducted the poll.
Survey Methods
Results for this Gallup poll are based on telephone interviews conducted April 11-14, 2013, with a random sample of 1,012 adults, aged 18 and older, living in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia.
For results based on the total sample of national adults, one can say with 95% confidence that the margin of sampling error is ±4 percentage points.
Read more >>>>

Monday, April 22, 2013

This Week: On Hillary Clinton's Agenda

On Wednesday, Hillary is set to deliver the first of her paid speeches which are booked via the Harry Walker Agency.  She will be the keynote speaker at this event.
Board Meeting Logo
Keynote Speaker
ClintonHillary

Hillary Rodham Clinton

Hillary Rodham Clinton will keynote the National Multi Housing Council’s (NMHC) 2013 Spring Board of Directors Meeting dinner in Dallas on April 24.  Clinton served as Secretary of State from January 2009 until February 2013.   She joined the State Department after nearly four decades in public service as an advocate, attorney, first lady and senator.
The 2013 NMHC Spring Board of Directors Meeting will be held April 24 and 25 at the Four Seasons Resort & Club in Dallas.  The Spring Board Meeting brings together senior apartment executives from the industry’s leading firms.  This meeting provides Executive Committee and Board members with an invaluable opportunity to candidly share information and insight on issues of common interest.  The Spring Board Meeting immediately follows the 2013 NMHC Apartment Strategies/Finance Conference being held at the same location on April 23 and 24.
The Spring Board Meeting is open to NMHC Executive Committee and Board of Directors members only.
The dinner is scheduled for 7 p.m., and, in what has become an instant tradition, the Ready for Hillary Super PAC has planned a rally to greet her at the venue and encourage her to run in 2016.
On Thursday both Secretary and President Clinton will attend the inauguration of the George W. Bush Presidential Center at Southern Methodist University.
President and Mrs. Bush look forward to sharing this historic day with all living Presidents, dignitaries and supporters of the Bush Center. President Barack Obama and Mrs. Michelle Obama, President George H.W. Bush and Mrs. Barbara Bush, President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and President Jimmy Carter and Mrs. Rosalynn Carter will participate in this special ceremony.
Due to space limitations, attendance at the Dedication Ceremony is by invitation only.
The Bush Center welcomes you to join President and Mrs. Bush for the live webcast of the Dedication Ceremony.  With world leaders in attendance for this historic day, the event is expected to enjoy internationally-televised coverage.  Please refer to your local listings for news coverage.  The webcast will begin at 8:00 a.m.
There are no plans for a rally at this event as far as we know.

Sunday, April 21, 2013

Hillary Clinton Inspires Kenyan Anti-Corruption Website

For Hillary Clinton fans and loyalists, there is nothing better than having the last smirk.  The media turned a blind eye in August 2009, when then Secretary of State Clinton toured Africa rather extensively,  except for two occasions.

One was a night out in Nairobi when,  after a rather taxing official day when she spoke at the AGOA  Forum, she hit the dance floor prompting her husband to remark in a TV interview that he wondered how he could get her to come home to  New York and do that.  The second was during a town hall with Congolese students when she went all New York on a student who asked her what President Clinton thought of something.

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Few news sources, however, bothered to cover a university town hall in Nairobi the day after our  dancing queen demonstrated her ability to get down.  On stage with Fareed Zakaria and Dr. Sally Kosgey, Kenyan minister for education, science, and technology,  at the University of Nairobi,  Secretary Clinton said this.
I said in my speech yesterday before the AGOA Forum, quoting one of our famous judges, that sunlight is the best disinfectant. And I think there’s an opportunity for young people and for civil society to use modern technology to run corruption watches and reporting. There are some examples of this beginning around the world where you basically surface what is going on.
And it goes on at all levels of society, and frankly, look, it goes on in our society. We have to go after it all the time ourselves. You have seen people get arrested in America, whether they’re governors or they’re Congress members, if there is a belief that they have committed an act of corruption
And I think there ought to be a way to use interactive media, especially the internet, obviously, and some of the new vehicles like Twitter, et cetera, to report in real time allegations of corruption.
Although this message was not widely seen here, the Kenyan students heard her loud and clear and took her words very seriously as The Daily Nation Reports.

Corruption? Don’t try it at my university please

By EVERLINE OKEWO eokewo@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted  Monday, April 22   2013 at  01:00
A group of 15 graduates have localised a global whistleblowing website to report indecent activities by university lecturers and administrative personnel.
Notinmycountry.org, an Internet site developed by concerned individuals, among them professionals and students who prefer to remain anonymous, is now in Kenya and university students are using it to expose malpractices in their institutions, including corruption.
SNIP
The founders say that the creation of the local chapter of notinmycountry.org was inspired by a statement made by former US secretary of state Hillary Clinton when she visited Kenya in 2009.
So while we Hillary followers were somewhat frustrated at the time with the paltry coverage this trip received,  it is heartening to see young  people turn her words into actions that address problems they have identified in their environment.  We hope she is aware of the difference she has made in the lives of these students. 

Bill Clinton Wants Hillary To Take At Least A Year To Rest And Recharge

In Los Angeles to accept an award from GLAAD and spending some time on the stump for L.A. mayoral candidate, Wendy Greuel ,  Bill Clinton said he wants Hillary to recharge her batteries for awhile.   The L.A. Times reports that the former president made the statements while participating in a town hall with Greuel on Saturday.

06-10-12-02


... attention naturally turned to whether Hillary Clinton would run for president in 2016.
Clinton demurred, saying that his wife left her secretary of State post four months ago and has been recovering from the concussion she suffered after fainting in December.
"I've urged her to take at least a year … to rest and get her batteries recharged, and to stay back from politics, and then take a look at where we are and what she thinks," he said. "I have no earthly idea what she's going to do ... I think she did a heck of a job as secretary of State and I'm proud of her."
Read more  >>>>

Friday, April 19, 2013

The Power of Hillary Clinton's Face

How can you not love this story?  The header alone makes me smile.  The story refers to a study out of Europe  which showed that women made longer, more effective political speeches when they saw Hillary's face. 

Just Seeing Hillary Clinton's Face Improves Women's Public Speaking

A new study finds women give longer and more confident political speeches when they are exposed to images of female role models.

By Shaunacy Ferro Posted 04.19.2013 at 11:00 am

Encouraging Hillary
Encouraging Hillary Lawrence Jackson
What do women in politics need? Strong female role models.
A new paper in the May issue of the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology suggests that even just seeing images of female role models can help women speak publicly and perform as leaders.
SNIP

... scientists asked 149 students from a Swiss university (81 women, 68 men) to give a persuasive political speech against increasing student fees, within the context of a virtual reality program that put them in front of an audience of six men and six women. For some participants, the back wall of the virtual room featured a hanging picture of Hillary Clinton. For others, it showed a portrait of Bill Clinton or Angela Merkel, and for some the wall remained blank.
The researchers timed and videotaped the speech, then asked the students to evaluate their performance. A separate group of people unaware of the experimental conditions watched the speeches and rated them based on fluency and body language.

Virtual Politics
Virtual Politics:  Latu et al.

Both the people watching the speeches and those giving them perceived longer speeches as being more positive. When there was no role model in view, men spoke longer than women. The same held true for speaking under the withering gaze of Big Bill.
Female role models eliminated the gender gap, though. Women gave longer speeches and evaluated themselves more positively when they were primed with with images Hillary Clinton and Angela Merkel than when they saw Bill Clinton or weren't primed at all. The outside observers also rated their speeches higher.
Read more >>>>

Thursday, April 18, 2013

Hillary Clinton Reacts to Boston Bombings at Global Fund for Women Gala

Hmmmmm... this speech was never announced or publicized!  The event was kept pretty quiet, but there is a slideshow here



Clinton, Amanpour Headline Global Fund for Women Gala

Global Fund for Women's 25th Anniversary is a party with a purpose. On Wednesday, April 17th, we will celebrate 25 years as the world’s leading funder of women’s rights, and recognize some of the extraordinary women leading the way to equality and justice around the world.
CNN’s Christiane Amanpour anchors the sold out event. The Hon. Rodham Hillary Clinton will deliver the keynote speech and honor Charlotte Bunch, one of the brains behind UN Women. Cecile Richards of Planned Parenthood Federation of America will present the inaugural Charlotte Bunch Human Rights Defender awards to three extraordinary women from Colombia, Egypt and Serbia. Jennifer Buffett and Jacquelyn Zehner will be honored with Global Philanthropy Awards.
CNN reports.

Hillary Clinton reacts to Boston bombing

(CNN) 
"I've been obsessed the last few days as I'm sure a number of you have been about the terrible violence and loss of life and injury in Boston," she said. "Like so many Americans and those watching around the world, we saw ordinary citizens alongside first responders rushing into danger to help. It was a tragic terrible day, but it seemed to exemplify what Patriots Day really means, because we do better when we work together. Women and men, all of us across every line that is used to divide us.
Read more >>>>

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Does Obama Miss Hillary? In a Word, Yes.

While some of us were watching Margaret Thatcher's funeral this morning, from which the Clintons, the Bushes, and the Obamas were all notably absent, on another channel President Obama was talking to Savannah Guthrie about his former secretary of state.   Proving that he has mastered the fancy footwork involved in dancing around Hillary Clinton 2016 speculation,  Obama accomplished a creditable sidestep on the Today Show as HuffPo reports.

US-LIBYA-UNREST-OBAMA

Obama Misses Hillary Clinton, But Says 'She's Earned Her Rest' (VIDEO)

The Huffington Post  |  By Posted:
President Barack Obama couldn't avoid questions about Hillary Clinton potentially running for president in 2016 during a recent interview on NBC's "Today" show.
Speaking with NBC's Savannah Guthrie in an interview recorded last week and aired Wednesday morning, Obama steered clear of assuming anything about Clinton's White House plans. But he also appeared happy to praise his former secretary of state, who departed the administration earlier this year.
"Do you miss her around here?" Guthrie asked.
"I do," Obama responded. "She's earned her rest and I know that she's going to be able -- whatever she does -- to continue to be a leader and an incredibly positive force for the causes I care about and that she cares about all around the world."

Read more  and see the video clip here >>>>

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Thatcher Funeral Update: Clintons Not Attending

04-28-10-20

Although invited, the Clintons will not, as previously reported, be in attendance tomorrow at Margaret Thatcher's funeral.  According to the Washington Post, Neither the Clintons nor the Bushes, who recently became first-time grandparents,  will be there.
LONDON — More than 2,000 invitations were sent out for the Wednesday funeral of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. Among the former U.S. presidents, surviving U.K. prime ministers, world leaders and celebrities who made the cut are some high profile would-be guests who sent regrets: Former First Lady Nancy Reagan — whose husband had a close relationship with the late premier — will not be able to attend; nor will former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, who shared key moments in history with the Iron Lady. Germany’s Angela Merkel is sending her foreign minister, while U.S. power families the Clintons and the Bushes won’t be making appearances.
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Sunday, April 14, 2013

For The Women Of The Emerald Isle The Grass Is Not Yet Green Enough

During the weeks of transition between the Clinton State Department and the Kerry State Department, many got a mild chuckle from a child's question as to whether a man can be secretary of state. No one knows for certain whether that question was ever asked in real life.

Not long after leaving her post as President of Ireland, Mary Robinson, who was succeeded in 1997 by Mary McAleese, appeared on Oprah Winfrey's show and recounted a similar story as the post of president had been filled by a woman from 1990 when she succeeded Patrick Hillery until Michael Higgins succeeded McAleese in 2011. Can a man be president of Ireland? Well, it appears the answer is yes with the election of Higgins, but the more burning question among Irish women does not concern the presidency.

It is difficult for Americans to wrap our heads around the intricacies and hierarchies of parliamentary democracy. When Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited parliamentary republics, we would see on her schedule a meeting with the president and another meeting with the prime minister with corresponding photos and statements at the end of the day.

US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, right, is greeted by Ireland's President Mary McAleese and her husband Martin at Aras an Uachtarain in Dublin, Ireland as part of her five day tour of Europe Sunday Oct. 11, 2009. (AP Photo/Niall Carson/PA Wire)
US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, right, is greeted by Ireland's President Mary McAleese and her husband Martin at Aras an Uachtarain in Dublin, Ireland as part of her five day tour of Europe Sunday Oct. 11, 2009. (AP Photo/Niall Carson/PA Wire)


The concept of prime minister v. president  escapes us.   To add to the mystery, Ireland does not actually have a prime minister, strictly speaking.  That position goes by the title Taoiseach Wikipedia explains the etymology thus.

 

The words Taoiseach and Tánaiste (the title of the deputy prime minister) are both from the Irish language and of ancient origin. Though the Taoiseach is described in the Constitution of Ireland as "the head of the Government or Prime Minister",[nb 3] its literal translation is chieftain or leader.[9] Tánaiste in turn refers to the system of tanistry, the Gaelic system of succession whereby a leader would appoint an heir apparent while still living.
In Scottish Gaelic, tòiseach translates as clan chief and both words originally had similar meaning in the Gaelic languages of Scotland and Ireland. The related Welsh language word tywysog (current meaning: prince) has a similar origin and meaning.[2] Both derive ultimately from the proto-Celtic *towissākos "chieftain, leader".
In short, the head of government is the "chief,"  the head of state is the president,  and the Irish Republic has not seen fit to assign a Gaelic title to the latter position which serves a purpose similar to that of a monarch in a parliamentary monarchy like the United Kingdom where the Queen is regarded, largely, as a figurehead.  Linguistic matters aside, while we, stateside,  have been impressed since the early 90s that the Irish have had two women presidents, the position itself is not a very powerful one leading Gabrielle Monaghan of the Independent to ask if Ireland will soon (or ever) have a woman Taoiseach.

Joan, Lucinda, Averil – could we ever have our own Iron Lady?

Gabrielle Monaghan
Two weeks after the last general election, readers of the New York Times were told Ireland had sworn in its first female Taoiseach. It was a false alarm, of course: the paper thought Enda Kenny was a woman.
But as the UK prepares for Margaret Thatcher's funeral, its first female prime minister, some question whether Ireland could ever have an Iron Lady of its own.
Female leaders are hardly a novelty in global politics; Germany, Australia, Iceland, Denmark, Argentina and Thailand all have a female prime minister. In the US, there is mounting speculation that Hillary Clinton will run for president in 2016.
After our next general election, also due in 2016, the odds of a woman being elected Taoiseach are 20-1, bookmakers Paddy Power calculated this week. But their odds lower dramatically for subsequent elections.
Read more >>>>
Aside from the fact that this is Ireland,  and for any forecast of anything happening in the world, one turns to the Irish bookies (they were very busy weeks ago during the conclave of the College of Cardinals),  Monaghan  finds the probability somewhat bleak despite legislation that requires  representation within the parties.
The Government legislated last year to halve funding to political parties if they fail to make sure that at least 30pc of their election candidates are women, a measure that will take effect in time for the next general election.
At present, women account for just 15pc of Dáil seats, the same proportion as North Korea and behind Rwanda. At this rate, the National Women's Council had estimated, it would take 370 years before half the Dáil was female.
Earlier this month,  at the Women in the World 2013 Summit, Hillary Clinton, our own leading prospect for woman chief, said for the Nth time that the full participation of women in the economy and society is the unfinished business of the 21st century.  She has been broadcasting this message around the globe for more than four years in addition to citing concrete examples of where women have been allowed (or have apprehended)  egress and how that has aided societies. 

While many of us have looked to Ireland as an example of a country where women have achieved the top rank, it is not, in fact, the case in the eyes of Irish women who still await their "Thatcher moment."   So while so many in this country eagerly await a decision from Hillary Clinton on 2016,  Irish eyes are fixed on 2016 in hopes of a female chieftain rising through the ranks and seizing the real power of government there.