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The Lively Stateswoman: Hillary Clinton and Singh Pandey: What does equality mean?
The success of individual women is not license to unfurl the “Mission Accomplished” banner.
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The Lively Stateswoman: Author Lisa Birnbach talks prepdom, politics, and social media
“True Prep” by Lisa Birnbach was a souvenir from my internship in the book review section of a Boston newspaper two years ago. I breezed through the candy-striped sequel to “The Official Preppy Handbook” (TOPH) on the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority commuter rail to and from work. Here’s a glance between the covers:
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The Lively Stateswoman: Like McGovern and Paul, ‘losers’ can have lasting political legacies
There’s nothing worse than waiting for a text message after a fight. Even fresh recriminations are preferable to the silence, and the faintest sounds—real or imagined—send you digging for your phone. I recently found myself in just such a state. Anticipating the follow-up to a disagreement with an old friend, I was surprised (and later, delighted) when this message from another friend was delivered instead:
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The Lively Stateswoman: When wrong, good leaders shoulder the blame
On September 12, as I watched live videos of the President speaking in the White House Rose Garden about the attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya, I was struck by a moment that you won’t find in the transcript. This image didn’t make the White House YouTube channel’s cut of the speech, and it didn’t come up in debate.
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The Lively Stateswoman: Debate trends rife with sexism and disrespect
In 2000, when Rep. Rick Lazio left his debate podium to wag a finger at Hillary Clinton, the former first lady managed to look bemused. Lazio laid a copy of The New York Freedom from Soft Money Pact—a document that would effectively ban largely unregulated campaign donations—on her podium. He then proceeded to jab at it while commanding her to “sign it.” Later, as viewers expressed distaste for the Congressman’s debate tactics, both campaigns would claim that sexism had occurred—but against whom?
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The Lively Stateswoman: If Romney wants to play doctor, the first step lies in offering clear advice
I’m okay with the fact that I can’t have a beer with Mitt Romney. At this point in the election cycle, I’d suffer through a glass of tomato juice if it meant the conversation would turn to how he plans to help me, a 21-year-old middle-class woman who will be soon be paying off student loans.