The Place of Women on the Court

In late February, three weeks after she had an operation for a recurrence of cancer, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg went to Barack Obama’s first address to Congress. Given the circumstances, it wasn’t an event anyone expected her to attend. She went, she said, because she wanted the country to see that there was a woman on the Supreme Court. Now another woman, Judge Sonia Sotomayor, is about to begin the confirmation hearings that stand between her and a seat near Ginsburg on the high bench.
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Women More Likely to Be Democrats, Regardless of Age

A new Gallup analysis of almost 150,000 interviews conducted from January through May of this year sheds new light on the substantial gender gap that exists in American politics today. Not only are women significantly more likely than men to identify as Democrats, and less likely to identify as independents, but -- with only slight variation -- this gap is evident across all ages, from 18 to 85, and within all major racial, ethnic, and marital-status segments of society.
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Gillibrand Plan Addresses Nursing Shortage

Armed with new data showing that almost 20 per cent of New York's nurses are over 55 and approaching retirement age, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand has unveiled plans to create more educational opportunities at nursing institutions, train more nursing instructors, and incentivize new nurses to work in underserved areas.
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Updated: Poll shows Sink ahead of McCollum in Florida governor's race

A new poll on Florida's race for governor shows Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink slightly ahead of Attorney General Bill McCollum, but that may be just because she's a Democrat -- and a woman.
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If Bonnie Newman is confirmed to replace Commerce Secretary-nominee Judd Gregg (R) as a Senator from New Hampshire, it truly will be a historic moment for women in the Senate -- and in more ways than one.

Newman would be the 18th female Senator this Congressional session, a new record for female representation in the chamber, Senate assistant historian Betty Koed confirmed to HOH. But because Newman also would join Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D) in representing New Hampshire, the Granite State would become the fourth served by two female Senators -- the others being California, Maine and Washington -- and that’s another record.

The speed of women entering the Senate also is notable. Koed recalled the excitement surrounding the 2001 publication of the book “Nine and Counting: The Women of the Senate,” in which the then-nine female Senators shared the personal stories of how they managed to break through the “old boys club” of the Senate. “Here we are, eight years later, and if this happens, they would have doubled their numbers,” Koed said.

Their ranks could grow even more: Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan (D) already has announced she’s running to replace retiring Sen. Kit Bond (R) in 2010. Should she win, she’ll join Sen. Claire McCaskill (D) in representing the Show Me State -- making them the fifth female Senatorial pair.

Sounds like it might be time to put in some more ladies’ rooms in the Senate.

2009 © Roll Call

From Glamour
February 3, 2009
By Linda Kramer Jenning

What do you learn about work, love and life when your boss is the new commander in chief? Seven of President Obama’s top advisers share their get-ahead advice.

Jackie Norris, 38, Chief of Staff to the First Lady

Plain English job description: She helps Michelle Obama accomplish her goals.
What she’s learned from the President: “Not to let little things overtake the bigger picture.”
How she does it all: “I think it is critical to set boundaries. I don’t think the world is going to fall apart between 5:30 and 8:30 at night when you’re having dinner with your children and putting them to bed. And if it is, someone is going to call and tell you.”
Her stress buster: “Exercise. I love to run, I’m horrible at it, I’m slow, but I do it.”

Heather Zichal, 33, Deputy Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change

Plain English job description: She’s on a mission to save our planet.
How she first met the President: “I ran into him in the basement of the Senate Building; he was lost and asked for directions.”
How she does it all: “You have to prioritize your family and friends. Your job may come and go, but they won’t.”
Her stress buster: “I’m all for combining activities, like hanging out with friends while getting pedicures. You have to take time for your toes.”

Melody Barnes, 44, Director of the Domestic Policy Council

Plain English job description: She works with the President on his domestic goals, like health care and education.
How she does it all: “If you make your life about what you think is important, and not what [others] think, it’s easy to determine how to use your time.”
Her motto: “‘What would you do if you knew you could not fail?’ When I’ve tried to live my life by those words, really exciting and wonderful things have happened.”

Ellen Moran, 42, White House Communications Director

Plain English job description: She gets out the White House message and engages the public in supporting it.
How she met the President: “I actually didn’t meet him until I interviewed for this job. We spent 45 minutes together, one-on-one.”
Her motto: “I love what Margaret Mead once said: ‘Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.’ I really think those are words to live by.”

Cassandra Butts, 43, Deputy White House Counsel

Plain English job description: She keeps special interest groups from having too much power.
How she met the President: “At law school. I had rare recordings of John Coltrane and Miles Davis, which I loaned to him in exchange for his constitutional law book. I still have it. I’ve thought, What if I put this on eBay?”
What she’ll do for you: “I will help President Obama work to get women equal pay for equal work.”
How she does it all: “I don’t take the BlackBerry into the bedroom.”

Mona Sutphen, 41, Deputy White House Chief of Staff

Plain English job description: She makes sure that the President’s policies are carried out.
Why she took the job: “I was always complaining that there weren’t enough good people going into public service, so I figured I had to get behind someone I found so compelling.”
How she does it all: “Organize the little things, like laying your clothes out the night before.”
Her motto: “‘Don’t be a jerk.’ There are jerks all over Washington. Life is short; being a jerk is just unnecessary.”

Susan Rice, 44, U.S. Ambassador to the U.N.

Plain English job description: She helps manage the United States’ relationships with foreign nations and will work on key issues like terrorism, climate change and genocide.
Her nickname in high school: Spo; short for “Sporting.” She was a star point guard on her basketball team.
How she gets the job done: “As I often say, ‘I plead guilty as charged to wanting to move and get things done and occasionally being impatient.’”
Her stress buster: “I exercise and spend quality time with my children.”

2009 © Glamour