If we learned anything from Sarah Palin, it’s that “woman” is not the same as “feminist,” which is why the bitching over this Ms. magazine special inauguration cover (right) has become so obnoxious.

“It is time that we take back the term ‘feminism’ and restore its dignity and honor . . . maybe Ms. and the former national women’s movement will return in the sequel as Superwomen once again,” wrote one complainer. “This seems designed to mock people who supported Hillary Clinton during the Democratic Primary,” wrote another.

When did “feminist” become code word for Hillary Clinton? Is it possible that these people simply never want to have a feminist president? Don’t we want all of our presidents to identify as feminists (except Sarah Palin, who will never be president and does not understand the meaning of words)?

I want a female president, too. But there’s a difference between a female president and a feminist president. We’ve got one. It doesn’t mean we’re going to stop working for the other one.

* Tim Dickinson for Rolling Stone on why Prop 8 failed. (Hint: It wasn’t Mormon or black voters, but it might have been you).

* The Gay Recluse reports on the shielded statues in Union Station (photo above), indicates that behind the shield are uncircumcised Roman penises, calls it “the biggest scandal in the history of hot gay statues!”

* WaPo says Barry and Hills need to work on their “rapport,” but noted this cute press conference tidbit: “Leaving the news conference in Chicago yesterday where he introduced his national security team, President-elect Barack Obama strolled out of the room arm in arm with his choice for secretary of state and onetime rival, Hillary Rodham Clinton.” Oooooooh!

* Mark your calendars: Forum on gay marriage in D.C. slated for Dec. 11.

* Barrack buys Michelle First Bling!

Duh. Here’s what Obama had to say:

I have known Hillary Clinton as a friend, a colleague, a source of counsel, and as a campaign opponent. She possesses an extraordinary intelligence and toughness, and a remarkable work ethic. I am proud that she will be our next Secretary of State. She is an American of tremendous stature who will have my complete confidence; who knows many of the world’s leaders; who will command respect in every capitol; and who will clearly have the ability to advance our interests around the world.

Hillary’s appointment is a sign to friend and foe of the seriousness of my commitment to renew American diplomacy and restore our alliances. There is much to do – from preventing the spread of nuclear weapons to Iran and North Korea, to seeking a lasting peace between Israel and the Palestinians, to strengthening international institutions. I have no doubt that Hillary Clinton is the right person to lead our State Department, and to work with me in tackling this ambitious foreign policy agenda.

Obama appointed two other women to his national security team: My home state of Arizona’s Governor Janet Napolitano will be Secretary of Homeland Security, and Susan Rice will serve as UN Ambassador.

Last week, local blogger—and Clinton-turned-Palin supporter—Lynette Long wrote about a startling encounter she and her friends had in a D.C. restaurant—a girls-night-out that ended in a floor-dragging, face-punching assault. Dubbing it “The War of the Sexes,” Long detailed how she and her friends attempted to borrow an unused chair from a group of men. Story goes: the men refused; the women took the chair anyway; the men called the women “cunts”; one woman poured a glass of water on a man; that man took her by the hair, dragged her across the floor, and punched her in the face; the men left victoriously; the women called the cops; the cops sided with the men.

Obviously, this is no good. But after Long faults the group of men, the unsympathetic bartender, and the cops, she turns to an unsuspecting target of blame for violence against women: Barack Obama. Long details why Obama may be to blame for her friend’s battered face:

Read More “Blame Obama: Violence Against Women” »

Introducing the Manliest Workplace Competition: In search of D.C.’s most male organization.

The American workplace’s storied glass ceiling is in pretty bad shape. Female workers are on the fast track to conquering the upper echelons of all sectors of industry, including the nation’s highest office. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton invoked the ceiling in her June concession speech: “Although we weren’t able to shatter that highest, hardest glass ceiling this time, thanks to you, it’s got about 18 million cracks in it,” Clinton said, adding, “the light is shining through like never before, filling us all with the hope and the sure knowledge that the path will be a little easier next time.” With Clinton’s defeat, the glass-crushing spread across the political aisle. As Republican vice presidential candidate and self-described “feminist” Sarah Palin confirms, “Women certainly today have every opportunity to succeed.”

But what about that unsung other half of our nation’s workforce: men? As more and more women enter the workplace and climb to its highest ranks, they do so to the detriment of a group that has comfortably occupied high-level positions in our nation’s capital for centuries. At risk of extinction are D.C.’s manliest institutions: its unions, newspapers, and government agencies. In 2008, what workplaces may truly call themselves manly?

Read More “D.C.’s Manliest Workplace Competition” »

It begins innocently enough: “When we’re at war with the A-rabs, we do not need a damn A-rab president,” the woman explains. Then, the dudes drive up in the tractor holding a dog, smoking cigarettes, “woo”-ing, and generally carousing, and it all goes to Hell. Wait until the end for the resounding Clinton endorsement (via).