Dames: Happy Women's Equality Day

by: Rosi Efthim

Fri Aug 26, 2011 at 06:40:51 PM EDT

Another union leader fares less well in exercising power and judgement. But the union she leads, NJEA, has articulate members of both sexes in a profession historically employing women. It's been under constant assault by the Governor - and NJ's teachers don't deserve it. Wishing the best, Barbara Keshishian.

New Jersey's first-ever African-American woman to lead the Assembly as Speaker knocked some of us out with a bold speech this Spring. Since then we've seen capitulation and puppetry from a woman who doesn't seem to know the power of her position -  which should be hers to exercise, not as proxy for shadow powers that have run things for too effing long. Looking at you, Sheila Oliver.

My highest compliment for a woman is that she's a broad, a dame. So it is for the godmother of progressive New Jersey, born less than a generation after the beloved suffragettes. Try telling her what to do. Christie, who cows taller, beefier  senators, doesn't impress her. Women, she's got your back. Gays, you know it. If you're climbing up and out, she's your woman. Happy Women's Equality Day, Loretta Weinberg.

There might be a woman running for governor in '13. She comes out when she comes out, but you know. Battle could be classic. Happy Women's E. Day to you, too - yes.

Chris Christie likes to insult people who disagree with him (best graphic ever), and most of those are women - add Valerie Huttle, Bonnie Watson Coleman, Marie Corfield. But this, and the fact that his worst decisions disproportionately affect women hasn't been lost on women who - yeah - vote. Chris Christie's got a gender gap. And it's only going to get worse.

So, cheer up ladies. Things suck. But chances are if there's going to be change, you're going to be driving it. So congrats again on that vote thing.