Strollerderby : Kathleen Sebelius

Morning News - Specter Switches Sides

Brett Singer — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 13:00:00 GMT

The big news yesterday was Arlen Specter making the switch from Republican to Democrat. The reason is partially about his Senate voting and political views, which often go against the Republican party line. Mostly, though, it's about the fact that he faces a tough Republican Primary fight because of that voting record, especially his recent support of President Obama's stimulus package. (Anyone else think that tbe phrase "stimulus package" sounds a little naughty? Like, if Jenna Jameson were to say it? Nevermind.) Democrats have pledged to support Specter as he runs for re-election, and the President will even fundraise with him if necessary. To me, this illustrates the problem with political parties. Why do we have them? I'm sure there's a reason, but I don't know what it is. Ross Perot may have been nuts, but a third party would be a good thing, wouldn't it? Anyway, with Specter's switch, this means that when/if Al Franken takes office, the Democrats would have 60 votes in the Senate, which is enough for a "filibuster-resistant majority" if they vote along party lines. Which brings me back to my point about parties being a bad thing. Even if you agree with the way things go on a party-line vote, it seems like the wrong way to go about doing things.

As for Al Franken, he's good enough, smart enough, and doggone it, the people of Minnesota voted for him. But Norm Coleman is still contesting the election. The case will be heard on June 1.

With swine flu running rampant, pig farmers are getting pinched. And by that I mean fewer people are buying pork. This in spite of the fact that, according to MSNBC, "the strain may not come entirely from pigs and cannot be spread by eating pork." Some piggy people want a new name for the disease other than "swine flu." Yeah. That'll happen. How about "the other influenza?" Nah, that sounds as dumb as "the other white meat" did.

Some good news and some bad news about the kiddie porn industry. A British watchdog group says that there are 10 percent fewer sites than before, but the images are "more violent." So... I don't know. I guess 10 percent fewer sites is nice.

OMG! American Idol! It's down to the final five! I, like, totally think Adam should win, don't you? OMG, yes!!! OK, that'll be enough of that.

Katherine Sebelius was confirmed as the head of the Department of Health and Human Services, despite Republicans who objected to the fact that a doctor who performed abortions had contributed to her campaign. See, I thought abortion was legal in this country. Lucky for her, there's not a major health crisis in this country. Oh wait! Swine flu. My bad. Have fun, Kath!

Let's end with a weird one: a Serbian union official "chopped off his finger and ate it in a protest over wages that in some cases have not been paid in years." Zoran Bulatovic said that "he did it to show how desperate he and other workers were." Dude. That is both impressive and really, really disgusting.

Image: MSNBC

Morning News: Susan Boyle's Dream Just Might Come True

Swine Flu - Are You Worried About Your Kids?

Morning News: Search for Missing NFL Players Continues

Madeline Holler — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 14:00:00 GMT

Two NFL players, missing since they set out Saturday on a fishing trip, are still the subject of a search off the Florida Gulf Coast. Authorities continued to look for four missing boaters and included Oakland Raiders linebacker Marquis Cooper and NFL free agent Corey Smith, who had played most recently for the Detroit Lions. Large waves and rough weather made for a difficult search, which was conducted mainly by air.

President Obama will call off his search for a secretary of Health and Human Services. He is expected to announce today is intention to appoint Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius to the post. Sebelius had been her state's insurance commissioner for two terms and is a popular Democratic governor in a very, very red state. While she knows all about crossing the aisle, some say she'll need to quickly get up to speed on legislative process and Washington politics.

Women the world over are better at handling money, according to the results of an international survey. They're also more vulnerable to suffer financially if they pool their money with men.

The Chicago Tribune investigated infant car seat safety and uncovered crash-test results that will scare the crap out of you. In fact, two of the most expensive seats had the worst outcomes.

An Australian hospital study shows that there has been an increase in post-partum hemmorrhage. Between 1999 and 2004, the rate of adverse maternal outcomes increased more than 20 percent -- nearly all of it due to PPH.

Washington state will soon allow terminally ill patients with fewer than six months to live to ask their doctors for a lethal medication. Washington is the second state, after Oregon, to have a voter-approved initiative to allow for the so-called "death with dignity."

Start thinking of an alternative to waffles and pancakes -- the maple syrup supply is dwindling. Poor sap harvests due to a colder than normal spring the past couple of years has cut the supply. Prices will likely be double for the next few years.

Photo: CNN.com

Political Nanny: New Girls On Waitlist for Next Presidential Playgroup

Madeline Holler — Mon, 19 May 2008 19:02:00 GMT

It's just a matter of when, not if, right? Hillary Clinton will eventually drop out of the race for the White House.

Sadly, the above sentiment is often followed by a lament: "if not Hillary, who then? We'll never have a woman in the White House!"

A Sunday New York Times piece tries to answer just that. This one, in particular, names names. And for much of the country -- in those states where female leadership is not new and unchartered terrain -- it's a hopeful list (and quite a long one). Political Nanny would like to especially call out Democratic governor of Kansas Kathleen Sebelius. You want reaching across the aisle? This governor has gone so far as to convert Republicans (Kansas Republicans!) in addition to appointing GOP party loyalists to high-level positions. All in the name of bi-partisanship (no wonder her name gets trotted out whenever running mates come up in the discussion).

But this eulogy -- uh, Political Nanny means "issues piece" -- in today's Times is another worthy read. If anything it reminds women and girls and the people who care about them that, no, sexism isn't dead but maybe, just maybe, Hillary Clinton got it all taken out on her, thereby clearing the way for the next woman who might finally get to stick her head through the shattered mess in that highest glass ceiling.

Photo: NY Times

Is Workplace Parenting The Wave Of The Future?

Amy S.F. Lutz — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 13:32:00 GMT

It's been a while since I worked in an office. It hasn't been long at all, however, since I've had young babies around (call it 'ongoing'). And based on my experience trying to write and think with those babies crawling all over me, I find it hard to believe that infants in the workplace wouldn't be . . . distracting, to say the least.

But Carla Moquin doesn't agree. As founder of the Parenting in the Workplace Institute, she's compiled a database of over 70 companies that permit employees to bring babies to work, and she suspects many more allow it even if it's not officially recognized. Although there are obviously some professions less baby-friendly than others (i.e., doctors or teachers), a 2005 study found that babies have virtually no effect on productivity. In fact, babies can actually vitalize the work environment and lead to higher morale among co-workers.

I'm still having a tough time imagining how my kids, none of whom would spend more than ten minutes in the exersaucer, would have fared in an office. Maybe this arrangement works best with those mythical babies I've heard of but never actually encountered - the ones that spend hours contemplating life from the confines of their infant car seats, or sleeping in papooses strapped to their mothers' backs. After all, it worked for Kansas governor Kathleen Sebelius, who took both her sons to work when they were babies. Now over 20 state agencies in Kansas allow workplace parenting. And as we all know, where goes Kansas, so goes the rest of the country.