19 Comments
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Ana warner's avatar

I look at Kamala as a strong role model for women. She ran an energetic, enlightened, joyful campaign with Walz, in a short period of time with little preparation for candidacy. She refused to get drawn into the base name calling and baiting and held herself above that garbage. I know a lot of people faulted her for that, said she was 'snooty', but they would have found fault if she'd gotten into the trenches w MAGA. She was held to a ridiculous standard, with the goalposts constantly moving, as was Biden. When she lost, she conceded gracefully and did her job as President of the Senate, swearing in new members and certifying the election. Many of the incoming MAGA representatives even refused to shake her hand and stood a distance from her in photos, but she remained smiling and kept her cool, showing amazing grace under pressure and disdain. I admire her more every day and I hope our daughters and granddaughters will see what a strong, kind and compassionate person she is and that those things can go together in a leader. History will prove that she is heads above the Tangerine Terror and his ilk in every way.

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Dr. Stephanie Lovely's avatar

Absolutely. I hope we haven't seen the last of Harris or Walz, and that they keep standing up for all of us who are so grateful for their kind of leadership. Thank you for reading Ana!

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Edmond Bertrand's avatar

It’s not that we’re not ready… there are a number of female governors…. It’s just that there are a huge number of misogynistic assholes in our country who just can’t live with the thought of a female president. It’s just as simple as that.

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Ana warner's avatar

couple the misogyny with racism and she faced a double edged battle. shameful!!

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Aurora Trischka's avatar

Would be great if, come Inauguration Day, we could paint the White House pink, as a protest.

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Dr. Stephanie Lovely's avatar

Trump definitely fits the pig interpretation of protest. That’d be amazing.

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David Marhefka's avatar

Clearly the country is ready, they elected a woman for the job of Vice President, who’s major job is to become President in the event that something happens to the President she ran with.

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Dr. Stephanie Lovely's avatar

Agreed!

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Cheryl in Seattle's avatar

YES! I agree 100% and thank you for stating the points so clearly. I'm fed up with the NYT and the implicit bias and outright disrespect that the referenced article displays, and how that article and so many others continue to undercut women and people of color in favor of entitled rich white men--perpetuating a system of misogyny and racism. It's ridiculous that this is even a question. We've now, as a country, passed on two eminently qualified women for President, both times electing an actual criminal instead. It beggars belief.

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Dr. Stephanie Lovely's avatar

Thank you for reading, Cheryl! And yes, it's mind boggling.

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John Wolff's avatar

VP Harris was my initial choice in 2019, but she was gone by the time of our NC primary. I was very glad to have her as Biden's running mate, and my/our VP for 4 years, and of course voted the Harris Walz ticket last November. I fervently hope she stays in the public service sphere, as she has so much to offer.

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Susan MacNeil, PhD's avatar

Powerful essay Stephanie. Legacy media is dying and it can’t come too soon. You and many many others are the beginning of the next wave of journalism and media. We don’t know the exact form yet, but this is a beautiful start.

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Jeffry Weidner's avatar

I'm in full agreement with your take on that headline, and with your creative ideas and energy going forward. In regard to the misogyny that prevails, however, I'm not sure pink is the best color to run with. Maybe gold? Purple?

White? (irony intended)

We shall overcome.

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Naomi's avatar

That’s precisely what we Need.

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Tiffany Coleman's avatar

Yes, yes, yes! I shared this with my neighbor with whom I talk about politics, since I can't talk to my own mother, a Trumper. I'm also sharing with a friend I used to work with. On the day Hillary lost in 2016, I came across her crying quietly at work. "I'll never live to see a woman president," she said to me. She was going to be the first person I called when Kamala won.

I still can't believe this is the reality we're living in, but I also refuse to give up the fight - now more than ever.

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Dr. Stephanie Lovely's avatar

Thanks for reading and sharing, Tiffany! The story about your neighbor is heartbreaking. We all have to keep believing.

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Betty Prioux's avatar

I think Kamala Harris and Tim Walz ran a great campaign and should have won. People want their policies. I want to see Harris/Walz run again.

And I’m still not convinced Harris/Walz really lost. I still don’t believe the final vote totals in the presidential race. Presidential-vote counts just above mandatory recount thresholds in many states, Trump winning the nationwide popular vote for the first time in 3 elections - I don’t believe it. I have serious doubts it was a real untampered-with win.

That said, I’m not interested in arguing or hearing that I’m naive. Maybe the racists and misogynists outvoted us this time. It was up to folks above my pay grade to ferret out and prosecute any election tampering.

We are where we are. Now it’s up to us to keep working towards the better nation we deserve. I’m sure we can figure out ways to paint tanks baby pink. Hot pink. Magenta. Where’s the brush?

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Dr. Stephanie Lovely's avatar

Hi Betty, thank you for reading. Your enthusiasm is just the cure for Trump's brand of stifling administration. We're not giving up!

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Tiffany Coleman's avatar

Betty, I'm with you. I hate how conspiracy theorist it makes me sound, but with Musk involved - and oh, come on, as if Russia just sat this one out - I'm not convinced.

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