Kay Steiger

IF KIDS COULD VOTE … The Children’s Defense Fund started a faux presidential campaign supporting a 10-year-old girl named Suzie Flynn for president. The press stunt is largely targeted at drawing attention to funding cuts for the state program called SCHIP, the State Children’s Health Insurance Program. It’s currently scheduled to expire in September, and […]

HOLY SON OF JESUS. Oscar award-winning director James Cameron is working on a new documentary that focuses on the tomb of the alleged son of Jesus and Mary Magdalene. No doubt that Christians around the world will be up in arms about it. The subject of debate is located near Jerusalem. More religious tension in […]

MORE RAPE ALLEGATIONS IN IRAQ. Yet another woman has come forward with rape allegations against Iraqi security forces. Four soldiers allegedly raped the 50-year-old Sunni woman and attempted to rape her two daughters in Tal Afar. The fifth soldier, standing guard outside, came in and held his fellow soldiers at gunpoint to make them stop. […]

RAPE IN IRAQ. In a horrifying convergence of events this week, Iraqi women are taking the center stage as rape victims. Two soldiers pleaded guilty to raping a 14-year-old Iraqi teenager and murdering her along with her family. From yesterday’s testimony: “I lifted up her skirt and took off her stockings while Barker held her […]

WORKING MOMS OR CONGRESSWOMEN? ALWAYS BOTH. The NYT features a profile today of freshman Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand. The article points out the balance of campaigning while in office and the struggles of Democrats to differentiate themselves from their Republican counterparts on Iraq, but the article also notes that Gillibrand is a wife and mother of […]

OPENING BID: $50,000. Walter Mondale‘s boyhood home in Elmore, Minn. is listed on eBay. So far, no bids. — Kay Steiger

THE 30 PERCENT RULE. Women’s E-News reported today that Chile is debating a quota law for women in congressional representation. The article noted that more than 50 countries around the world have laws requiring a certain percentage of women hold offices in congress or parliament. Opponents of the law in Chile say it will be […]

ON MINNESOTA POLITICS. Al Franken has been saying he’s going to run for Senate for a while now. (As the aforementioned Minnesota native on staff, I especially love this colorful illustration of Minnesotans depicted as simpletons courtesy the New York Times.) The recent announcement just made it official. I’m going to venture out on a […]

KIDS SAY THE DARNDEST THINGS. The WaPo humorously pointed out today that while the House debates the non-binding resolution on the troop surge, Bush scurried to a seemingly more friendly YMCA, where a little boy ruined the photo-op with a peace sign. Bush told him to, “Put your hands down.” In the last line of […]

THE ‘WOMEN’S VOTE.’ Linda Hirshman‘s column in the Post yesterday was yet another commentary that focuses on Clinton-as-the-first-female-presidential-candidate angle. Hirshman concludes what seems obvious to me: women will never overwhelmingly support one candidate just because they are women. She says historically, women have never made a decisive difference in an election, with perhaps the exception […]