Convention Watch

My darling husband is simultaneously listening to the Red Sox and watching replays of old conventions (conventions where something actually happened, where decisions were made)...the current one got, well, a little boring.  I gave up midway through Carter's speech.  I'm a fan of Carter, the only good president of my childhood.  And, I think he was a better president than many give him credit for.  I got a little bored.  There are only so many speeches I can watch and tonight is the first night.  Perhaps I'll tune back in for Bill and Hillary.  I could use a little inspiration these days, and they can be inspiring speakers.  What I find a bit depressing, and more than a little alarming, is that Carter, who is really old right now, is more inspiring than our presumptive nominee.  Don't get me wrong, I like Kerry, I think he will be a good president (p'haps more on that later).  But inspiring he is not. Sigh.

What was also more than depressing was the 10-15 minutes given to the Democratic Women of the Senate. Glenn Close introduced them.  There are 9 of them.  Yep, folks, that's it... 9 Democratic women who are senators.  That figure alone is pathetic.  It's the 21st Century.  Where are all the women.  By the way, the Republicans have 3 women in the Senate, bringing the grand total of women in the senate a whopping 12%.  Second, it is pathetic that all the women were given one spot.  It felt patronizing.  Like little pats on the head.  Granted, some of the women are probably speaking later on in the convention.  And there are some women Representatives who will also speak.  But to have a showcase of the Democratic Women of the Senate just makes clear what an oddity they are, a freak show, a rarity.  I do not aspire to be a politician.  But where are the women who do?  Tomorrow I'm going to an event sponsored by Revolutionary Women, a new organization dedicated to supporting women in politics.  Jennifer Granholm will be there, and Madeline Albright, and Nancy Pelosi and Barbara Boxer and others, I'm sure...But I hope that in my lifetime we won't need such an organization because we (women, especially progressive women) will be fully represented in all levels of leadership, government and otherwise.  As Abigail Adams said, over 200 years ago, "...remember the ladies, and be more generous and favorable to them than your ancestors. Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of the husbands.... If particular care and attention is not paid to the ladies, we are determined to foment a rebellion, and will not hold ourselves bound by any laws in which we have no voice or representation."  And in this election, I certainly hope that we remember our voices, because another four years of Bush is good for no woman.