The following is The New Agenda’s press release which was sent out this morning:
The New Agenda Hails NY Choice of Gillibrand for U. S. Senate
The New Agenda, a new, nonpartisan women’s rights organization, hailed New York Governor David Paterson’s choice of U.S. Representative Kirsten Gillibrand to fill the Senate seat vacated by Hillary Rodham Clinton.
“This is what feminism looks like.  Today’s announcement embodies the new women’s movement in America,” said Amy Siskind, a New Yorker and co-founder of The New Agenda.  “It’s bold. It’s sensible. It’s substantive.  And most important …

The news is flashing around the media tonight that Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand will be Governor Paterson’s choice to fill Hillary Clinton’s Senate seat. We’ve been lobbying Paterson to appoint a woman, so let’s hope the rumor is true. The official announcement is tomorrow.
According to the Huffington Post, Paterson made his decision before the Inauguration. If that’s the case, then I think we know now why Caroline “withdrew” her name.

Editor’s note: This is Part Two of a three-part series on the links between the religious right, President Obama’s “AIDS czar” Mark Dybul, and the faith-based programs that are killing women and girls around the world. Part One was published yesterday, and Part Three will conclude the series on Friday.
Rick Warren on the giant screen at his Saddleback megachurch.
God Hates Divorce
Rick Warren enjoys his reputation as a mainstream, compassionate champion in the fight against AIDS. But a close examination of his Saddleback Family website reveals a …

Rick Warren delivers the Inaugural invocation.
The dominant narrative of Barack Obama’s inauguration is that it represents the triumph of civil rights for African-Americans. And it does, undeniably. It’s a transcendent moment in America’s tortured history of race relations.
But there’s another, unacknowledged narrative. This one is about the role of men and women in the world, and about shoring up the patriarchal order. It’s about putting women in their place.
Throughout the 2008 campaign, Barack Obama’s candidacy was framed as America’s chance to elect …

Earlier today, The New Agenda sent out a press release renewing our call for Gov. Paterson to appoint a woman to fill Hillary Clinton’s Senate seat.
An excerpt (click here to see the full text):
After the 2008 election, ten states have lower representation of women in State Government positions. The U.S. Congress is still 84 percent male and women lost four seats overall. The U.S. Senate is 83 percent male, and women gained just one seat in the November election. This small gain will be lost if Governor Paterson appoints …

Editor’s note: The New Agenda congratulates Hillary Clinton on her confirmation as the new Secretary of State. The Senate approval vote was 94-2.
In her confirmation testimony before the Senate, and again in a speech she gave celebrating Emily’s List, Hillary Clinton has signaled her intention to use her role as Secretary of State to advance the status of women around the world. Although I understand that many people reading this would rather have her as President, I think it might be fair to say that she will be freer …

Editor’s note: This is Part One of a three-part series on the links between the religious right, President Obama’s “AIDS czar” Mark Dybul, and the faith-based programs that are killing women and girls around the world. Part Two will be published tomorrow, with Part Three concluding the series on Friday.
Earlier this month, many of Barack Obama’s most stalwart supporters were shocked to learn that he had asked Rick Warren, the entrepreneur behind the “The Purpose-Driven Life” products and founder of Saddleback Ministries, to give the Inaugural …

So, did you watch? Did you weep? Did you snort with derision or cheer with joy? Tell us all about it.
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While it is a truism that women are way under-represented in science, we need more data and reasons as to why this is so. On this inauguration day, Natalie Angier, a science writer for the New York Times, writes of optimism In ‘Geek Chic’ and Obama, New Hope for Lifting Women in Science. Angier deserves applause for writing about this issue, as it is time to attract more women into science and keep them there: “Researchers who have long promoted the cause of women in science view the incoming …

We’re on Twitter!
The New Agenda will tweet the Inauguration tomorrow, providing commentary and data on the proceedings from a bold feminist perspective. Follow us at newagendapress on twitter.com. If you don’t have a Twitter account yet it’s easy to set one up: just go to twitter.com. You can follow us on your computer or from your phone.
We’re integrating Twitter with our blog, too, so from now on blog posts will automatically be tweeted — and tweets will automatically show up here …