US Women's National Soccer Team Wins World Cup Over Netherlands 2-0

The US Women's National Soccer team has won the World Cup beating the Netherlands 2-0.

From CNN:

Competing in its first World Cup final, few gave the Dutch hope. The reigning European champion it may be, but it had not yet come up against the best team in the world, the dominant force of its generation.

The Netherlands held on for over an hour but two goals within eight minutes sealed the underdog's fate. In a tournament where she has transcended her sport, Megan Rapinoe coolly drilled home a penalty before a Rose Lavelle thunderbolt made sure of a second successive title for the US.

This win makes for back-to-back titles and the fourth championship in total for the US women's team.

W ⭐️ O ⭐️ R ⭐️L ⭐️ D
C H A M P I O N S
#OneNationOneTeam pic.twitter.com/6JMJRTJ69b

— U.S. Soccer WNT (@USWNT) July 7, 2019

ROSE. LAVELLE. 🌹🇺🇸

A beautiful solo effort doubles the @USWNT's lead in the #FIFAWWC final! pic.twitter.com/ToznvQiuxb

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 7, 2019

A reminder that @USWNT, which just won its fourth World Cup, is suing @ussoccer for fair pay and equal treatment https://t.co/f9SGiTJBNm

— L.A. Times Sports (@latimessports) July 7, 2019

Meme Of The Day

I love this every time I read it... LOL

Campaign Ad Celebrates Female Pioneers In Politics

From USA Today:

A new ad from a political action committee is focused on the possibility of Hillary Clinton making history as the first woman president of the United States.

The ad — titled Man Smart (Woman Smarter) and featuring the song of the same name — opens with a shot of Michelle Obama and her quote: "So much history yet to be made." It then rolls through a "who's who" of pioneers in women's political history including the first woman Supreme Court Justice, Sandra Day O'Connor, the first woman vice presidential candidate, Geraldine Ferraro, the first woman Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, and the first African-American woman secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice.

The ad then pauses on a still of an open presidential lectern in the White House with the words "It's time" suspended above. Next, we see a black-and-white still of a smiling Clinton. "Vote Hillary. #FirstWoman," the ad concludes.

The Story Behind The Miss Universe Donald Trump Called "Miss Piggy"

Near the end of last night's presidential debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, the issue of how Trump sees and treats women came up, along with a story I hadn't yet heard.

Apparently, the Miss Universe of 1996 (Trump owns the beauty contest) was called "Miss Piggy" and "Miss Housekeeping" by Trump when he noted after winning the crown she had gained some weight.

In addition to names, Trump blind-sided her by inviting reporters to "watch her work out."

Machado is now an American citizen, and she plans to vote this November. Guess who she's casting a vote for?

Just another entry in the long list of ways Donald Trump lacks the proper temperament to serve as the president of the United States.

Trump on Alicia, 1996: "Miss Piggy."

This morning: "She gained a massive amount of weight...it was a real problem." pic.twitter.com/0wrISjJe6z

— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 27, 2016

Campaign Ad: "Mirrors"

New campaign ad out today from Hillary Clinton highlighting just a few of Donald Trump's hideous comments about women, while raising the question: is Donald Trump “the president we want for our daughters?”

The spot uses the Trumpster's own voice from the past, with comments like, “I’d look her right in that ugly face of hers,” and describing one woman as a “a fat slob” and eating “like a pig.” All of that takes place as video of young girls, staring at their own images in the mirror, plays out.

As political junkies know, Trump has struggled mightily in attracting the support of female voters. A McClatchy-Marist poll released today indicates Clinton has a 24 point lead over Trump among likely female voters, 58 percent to 34 percent.

President Obama Vs Donald Trump On The Subject Of Women

In their own words.

Super PAC Ads Use Donald Trump's Past Comments On Women

Priorities USA, a pro-Hillary Clinton super PAC, has two new ads on the air in battleground states Ohio, Florida, Virginia and Nevada using his own words about women against him.

The super PAC promises this is only the beginning...

SNL Cold Open: Donald Trump v Woman

You know how when you watch cable news shows during the presidential election cycle and the candidate's surrogates and supporters simply can't see or acknowledge ANY fact that is less than flattering about their candidate?

Last night's SNL cold open featured "Scottie Nell Hughes" (Cecily Strong) defending comments by "Donald Trump" (Darrell Hammond) about women to CNN's "Kate Bolduan" (Kate McKinnon).

Only Female Senators Show Up For Work After Jonas Blizzard Last Week

Only Female Senators Showed Up To Work After The Snowstorm

Only female Senators showed up to work during the giant blizzard of 2016

Posted by NowThis on Wednesday, January 27, 2016

FDA Approves First Ever "Female Libido" Drug

FDA votes to approve female libido drug, 1st drug of its kind targeting the female sex drive: http://t.co/V8Btnvnj9O pic.twitter.com/seRypRI4RE

— ABC News (@ABC) August 19, 2015

Republicans vs. Equal Pay For Women

For those of you who haven't voted yet, something to think about...

How much do women lose over a lifetime of earning less than men?

Click pic to enlarge

By age 65, the average woman will have lost $431,000 over her working lifetime because of the earnings gap.

It's very simple - Women deserve equal pay for equal work.

Come on Congress, fix this.

New Hampshire Republican jokes about domestic violence

New Hampshire Republican state Rep. Kyle Tasker thinks domestic violence is funny.  So much so that he took to Facebook to joke about it.

Tasker was attempting to stand up for Republican Mark Warden, who last year said that some people “like being in abusive relationships.” ”It’s a love-hate relationship,” Warden concluded.

Taking things into his own hands, Tasker posted the image below which depicts two people, drawn as stick figures, apparently having oral sex, and captioned, “50,000 battered women and I still eat mine plain.”

Tasker later removed the post but was screen captured by Huffington Post.

Remember, the GOP thinks it has no problem with women voters.  Between the coarse humor being posted by an elected official and the message behind the post, does this go too far? 

Pennsylvania state Rep. Brian Sims to be honored as a National Champion of Choice by NARAL

Openly gay Pennsylvania state Rep. Brian Sims will receive the National Champion Of Choice Award from NARAL Pro-Choice America.

Via press release:

"As President Obama said in the State of the Union, when women succeed, America succeeds! As a first-term representative, I am humbled and honored to receive this national award for my defense of women's rights, and I will continue to stand up for those rights and oppose the attacks on them. Women's rights are human rights," Sims said.

Sims is strongly pro-choice and attracted national acclaim for his impassioned defense of women's rights during an April 2013 state House debate on legislation that restricts a woman's right to an abortion and access to health care by putting government restrictions on private insurance companies and how women can spend their own money.

And from Brian's Facebook page:

Though I've had the opportunity to attend some pretty kick-ass events, being recognized during this NARAL dinner has to be at the top of my list.

First, I want to say how humbled I am to be recognized with women and organizations that I have tremendous respect for: I’ll be joining Dolores Huerta (President of the Dolores Huerta Foundation), Martha Shane & Lana Wilson (Directors of "After Tiller") and Representatives from Young Women United (Community Organizing by and for Young Women of Color in Albuquerque, NM).

Wow. I’m still in shock about this, and again, I’m humbled and excited to get to meet some of my (s)heroes from all across the country who are fighting for women’s health and a woman’s right to choose.

Only rich white gay men care about marriage equality?

93 years ago today...

93 years ago today, the 19th amendment was ratified, guaranteeing women the right to vote.

Interestingly, many states did not officially ratify the legislation for decades.  Mississippi did not ratify the amendment until May of 1984.

Patrick Stewart addresses violence against women in powerful, personal response at Comicpalooza

And in diametric opposition to Mr. Erick Erickson (in my previous post) comes Patrick Stewart who speaks powerfully about how women are treated and how men hold in their hands the ability to stop most domestic violence against women.

Stewart has spoken publicly about the abuse he and his mother suffered at the hands of his father before.

The woman in the video above who asks the question about violence against women had this to say:

This was my question to Sir Patrick Stewart at Comicpalooza 2013. I wanted to thank Patrick Stewart for his speech at Amnesty International it personally help me put a name to the abuse, sexual abuse in my case, I had experienced in the past. He responded very passionately and the last thing I thought I would get at was a heartfelt hug.

When he embraced me he told me "You never have to go through that again, you're safe now". I just kept thanking him.

I hope everyone who needs help in abusive or violent situations has the courage to do so. There are people willing and ready to help you.

You can also learn more about Amnesty International's campaign against domestic violence here.

(via Upworthy)

Madonna - "Secret Project" to be unveiled soon?

Madonna may be prepping to unveil a new song that has been referred to as "Secret Project" within her camp of compadres. The project is rumored to be a civil rights song and video addressing women's empowerment.

The debut could come this weekend at the Sound of Change Live concert, a global charity event for female empowerment broadcast globally from London, England.

From the Examiner:

Madonna shot the video for her secret project last December and recorded a new song that deals with feminist power earlier this year. The name of the song was tentatively titled "Back of the Bus," but that could change in the final version. It is said to be one of the most powerful ballads Madonna has haver come up with. It compares the struggle women face around the world with the Civil Rights Movement that started in the 1950s.

Madonna has always been an outspoken advocate for women's rights as well as gay rights. In the 1980s, when gay men were dropping like flies because of AIDS, Madonna preached tolerance through her albums, videos, and concert performances. She risked her career by defending the gay community, but gave them a much needed voice at a time when even our own president, Ronald Reagan, was homophobic.

Madonna has a special place in her heart for empowering young women. In 1989, she released the song "Express Yourself," which became an anthem for women's rights.

The four hour concert, which begins at 1:00 p.m. EDT, will include inspirational and provocative films and stories highlighting women's issues around the world.

(source)

Documentary: "Wonder Women! The untold story of American Super Heroines"

Completely right up my alley - with interviews with Lindsay Wagner, Lynda Carter and a host of women's rights icons.

Airs this weekend on PBS.

"Turns what could’ve just been a flat history of a comic book character into a brief study of female empowerment in the last century." -– Wired.com

Go to the film's website for more info.

US Senate: Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act passes 78-22

The original 1994 act expired in 2011 and failed to be reauthorized last year.

The vote today in the Senate was 78-22; all of the "no" votes came from Republican men.

The bill is expected to face tough opposition in the House.

From the AP:

By a robust bipartisan majority, the Senate voted Tuesday to renew the Violence Against Women Act with new assurances that gays and lesbians, immigrants and Native American women will have equal access to the act's anti-domestic violence programs.

Last year both the Republican-led House and the Democratic-controlled Senate passed renewal bills, but they were unable to reach a compromise.

This year House Republicans, sensitive to their lackluster showing among women voters in the November election, have vowed to move expeditiously on the issue.