So we need to stop beating her. I can’t say for sure why she died, perhaps she was poorly bred, perhaps her trainer missed important signs before the race, perhaps Gabriel Saez is to blame for not recognizing the injury, maybe it really was just a freak accident. We’ll never know, and we’ll also never know if a healthy, uninjured Eight Belles might have beaten Big Brown.

What I do know is that we have to stop beating her. To Eight Belles’ supporters: Big Brown didn’t kill her. You have to stop blaming it on him. Continuing to beat Eight Belles won’t bring her back to life, it won’t propel her to a posthumous Derby victory, and it won’t hurt Big Brown’s chances in the Breeder’s Cup later this year. She was a heck of a filly, one of only a few to compete in the Triple Crown. Lets not spoil her memory with continued floggings.

To Big Brown’s supporters, you too have to recognize that Eight Belles’ is dead. Let her rest in peace. It’s not necessary for you to continue beating her either. Your horse can’t win the Derby nor the Preakness by any more than he already has. And continuing to beat her won’t erase people’s memories of his flame out in the final contest in the Belmont. It’s time to look forward to future races, and (hopefully) to many years of healthy studding.

Comparing a black guy and a white woman to a pair of working animals?

I don't even know what to say, dude, except this: I am never voting for a man again, and your post here is one of the reasons why.

As in Ding Dong The Witch is Dead? The Munchkins will sure be happy!

That's what you got here? You jumped right past my obvious (and admittedly hackneyed) cliche and went straight to "working animals?" Do you always search for the worst possible way to twist the intentions of everyone who isn't in lock-step agreement with you?

Or maybe you just need it spelled out for you. What I'm doing is calling out the dozens of people on this forum who have posted the same thing over and over and over again incessantly for a month.

it would have been funny. If you'd used the analogy as a call out, it would have been funny. That you can post such an analogy without irony or awareness of the parallel to the way blacks and women have been treated historically is evidence to me that you, somewhat aware though you are, still really, really don't get it.

There are many here like you: some whom I like a great deal, whose lack of awareness just reinforces my conviction that I will never vote for a man again.

It's not that I'm twisting your intentions, it's that I'm seeing that although your intentions are good, you don't see the problem, and therefore you cannot effectively address it.

Yeah, but Eight Belles did hold her hoof over her heart during the playing of the national anthem. Big Brown just stood there...unpatriotically. So fuck him...Big Brown will never win the Breeders Cup.

Jack

I'm well aware of why comparison to a beast of burden could be offensive to those who have suffered persecution. But take a step back for a second. The horse race analogy and the "beating a dead horse" cliche are commonly applied without regard to gender or race. How many times have people said "I don't have a horse in this race?" Is that statement racist or sexist? Of course not, and its absurd to suggest otherwise. I didn't write about Barack pulling a plow, or Hillary being tied to a wheel. There's no "beast of burden" in my analogy. Just a race.

Now I won't tell you who to vote for. And I won't insult you by threatening you with things you already know about McCain. I also won't claim to understand what its like to be a woman. What I will say though, is that you have real enemies in your fight, and you seem to be pushing away potential supporters for perceived offenses.

before you go betting the mortgage.

http://www.electoral-vote.com/

I'm using you to make a point. Ironically, it's almost the same one you were making in your other top post.

Women are being asked by the DNC to shut up already and get in line. Listen, they're saying to us, you women have more to lose if you don't go along with us, so just get back in line and we'll listen to your shrill demands later.

I think women are saying, Hey, if you think I'm just getting back in line AGAIN, you're nuts.

I think we're so tired of getting in line with people who don't get how pervasive the sexism is, who are at great pains to not see it, who want to characterize the women turning their backs on the Democratic Party as sore losers vested in their own victimhood, that we'd rather take our chances on Roe being overturned, because at least then we'd have an honest fight on our hands, rather than just being shooed back into the kitchen by people who claim to be our allies, who promise us a new dishwasher, if we'll only just put up and shut up while another dude gets to be King of the World.

Good way to metaphorically compare the Derby (Eight Belles vs. Big Brown) to the Hillary vs Obama.

And yes, you are so right. It's over and time to stop beating up on Hillary.

Nice post.

JackDallas:

Yeah, but Eight Belles did hold her hoof over her heart during the playing of the national anthem. Big Brown just stood there...unpatriotically. So fuck him...Big Brown will never win the Breeders Cup.

Jack

lol.

Thanks, CE. Great link. I like where it lists the "women governors for potential Veep material."

I'd thought about my governor, Christine Gregoire, but dismissed the notion for the same reason stated in the atricle.


Then there's this:

"The mud has started to fly. A key Republican strategy will be to attack Michelle Obama as unpatriotic. This could backfire though if women rally to Michelle's side and are turned off by the Republicans attacking someone who is not running for office herself. Fetch your buckets, everyone. Here it comes. "

There's more to this election than just a black male... there's a black female that comes with him.

they're elite athletes

and I don't believe in getting in line for anyone. Blind obedience is "unamerican" (and my use of that term is intended to be ironic, but I also mean it). I also happen to think Obama should pick a woman to be his VP (specifically either Napolitano or Sibelius, the fact that they're both women isn't even one of the main reasons I'd like to see him choose one of them- I just think either would be phenominal additions to the ticket), and I think that women should be well represented on the cabinet and in the administration. I don't believe it quotas, but I do believe in diversity of experience and opinion. I think Obama does to. I hope I'm not disappointed. Believe it or not, I'm on your side on a lot of things.

I also don't like to tell people when they should and shouldn't be offended. I've taken note of how you read my post, and will consider that in the future when I choose my words. But I am asking to you recognize how it was intended.

Its a great blog. Daily state poll and electoral college updates. The writer has been doing the Female VP candidates thing for a couple of days actually, starting with senators, most recently governors.