What five women would you choose to speak at YOUR Women's Convention

[obamanut2012]

Mine, in no particular order:

1. Michelle Obama

2. Hillary Clinton

3. Ashley Judd

4. Delores Huerta

5. Ellen Page

[DURHAM D]

1. Joy Reid if any above are not available.

[Squinch]

4. Great one.

[obamanut2012]

5. Great choice!

[DUgosh]

2. And

Carmen Yulin Cruz, Chelsea Clinton, Caroline Kennedy, Rose McGowan, Elizabeth Warren....

[obamanut2012]

6. I almost added Rose instead of Ellen Page

But, Page's coming out speech really meant a lot to a lot of younger LGBT women.

[Squinch]

3. Tammy Duckworth!! (I know, I'm a broken record on her, but I think she'd

be a great person to bring out to the front of Democratic politics.)

Ginsberg, Sotomayer, Kagan.

The mayor of San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Definitely auntie Maxine, so they did that well.

Cecile Richards

Samantha Bee

Give me five minutes, I'll give you twenty more.

[obamanut2012]

7. Oh, I love Duckworth!

I wish she could be President. If I made a list of ten, she would be on it.

[Squinch]

11. I think, if we ran her, she'd get segments no one else would.

She'd get the military, she'd get a lot of the right gun-humper people who we don't relate to but who would revere her for her service and sacrifice. She's a woman and a person of color, she's young and tough. She hasn't been in the limelight long enough for the right to have turned the world against her with lies.

She's the perfect candidate for us!

[obamanut2012]

16. I agree with everything you said!

[loyalsister]

20. I think so too

Who better to represent recovery of a wounded nation?

[Squinch]

37. Great point.

[karynnj]

40. Two words - Max Cleland

Cleland lost three limbs in Vietnam and ran the VA under Jimmy Carter before becoming Senator. He was swiftboated two years before the term existed. He was also a Democratic southern. Obviously not POC or a woman, but it not clear that either of those make a DEMOCRATIC candidate able to reach usually unreachable segments.

What happened to Cleland was unspeakable, the Republicans ran ads questioning his service and his patriotism. Losing that way was devastating for him. One person who was there for him then and at other times - John Kerry. In 2003, he lent Kerry a Bible that he had carried in Vietnam. He had worried that the Republicans would try to personally destroy Kerry, who he greatly respected.

My point - a party that would not just smear the service record of a very highly decorated Presidential candidate, they were willing to do so to someone like Max Cleland. Remember that even John McCain - because he was not with the far right -- was attacked by Trump and millions on social media. Yet, Cheney who had other priorities, GWB whose dad pulled strings, and Trump who had a bone spur -- all have been portrayed as patriotic Americans.

Note: I am not saying that she might not be a wonderful candidate, but that her genuine record of service and sacrifice will not protect her from these right wing attacks by people who define "not right wing" as not patriotic.

[Squinch]

41. Yes. I remember Cleland. But hopefully we now know their tactics and would get out in front of

it shaming them publicly for using them. What happened to Cleland was horrible, and above all of it he seemed like a truly sweet guy. The Democrats should have thrown everything they had at those who were smearing him. But I think at that point people didn't realize how evil the rank and file Republican was. Now we do.

And a disability resulting from military service CANNOT become a reason NOT to run.

[obamanut2012]

8. Mayor Cruz! I dodn't even think of her!

Great choice.

[Squinch]

12. And Samantha Bee would not be most people's choice, but she would generate a LOT of free

press for the event both before and after. You know she'd blow it up!

[Demsrule86]

9. Mine.

Michelle Obama

Tammy Duckworth

Nancy Pelosi

Angelina Jolie

Wendy Davis

there are others...many other great women out there.

[obamanut2012]

19. +1

[oberliner]

10. I would eschew big names

And go for great speakers that aren't that widely known.

[Blue_true]

13. Big names bring the crowds.

The best strategy is to balance big names with great unknowns. The organizers of this conference blew it.

There are likely better unknown writers in America than James Patterson and Steven King, but guys that have sold 300 and 400 million books respectively will get more notice that some unknown and unread woman or man who has written a book that will one day become the next "Of Mice and Men" or the next "Moby Dick".

[oberliner]

23. The Women's March in January had big crowds

And not because of any big names, I don't think.

[Hekate]

42. Really? There were plenty of "big names" involved, wherever you marched

True, we were all primed for these Marches, but they take great organization and all benefit from "headliner" speakers.

[obamanut2012]

17. Except that would be a ridiculous strategy

[oberliner]

21. It's not meant to be a strategy

It's meant to create a conference where the most inspiring and skilled speakers are included regardless of how well-known they are. I think that would be a valuable and edifying experience for all who attend.

[Hekate]

43. Of course, but well known keynote speakers generate interest and set the mood for the rest...

...of the entire event. That is the whole point of inviting them and in some cases for paying them handsomely.

[jberryhill]

14. Whats my budget?

[obamanut2012]

18. Anything you want it to be!

[mcar]

15. Sally Yates

[tammywammy]

22. Wendy Davis & Cecile Richards.

[Me.]

24. Hard To Pick Just Five

Michelle Obama

Hillary Clinton

Ginsberg

Gillibrand (because of the way she has been/is working to change the way sexual abuse is handled in the military)

Joy Reid

And all the others…a month long conference

[dsc]

25. My five

Ginsburg, Hilary Clinton, Roberta Kaplan, J K Rowling, Pelosi

[obamanut2012]

33. Rowling!!!

[leftofcool]

51. Perfect!

[Irish_Dem]

26. This thread brings tears to my eyes and goosebumps.

So many women making a positive contribution to the planet. Too many to list.

[obamanut2012]

30. Yes

[smirkymonkey]

63. Yes, instead of being hell bent on destroying it.

Wouldn't it be nice if we had more representation in government? If it wasn't for us, this planet would be a wasteland.

[Irish_Dem]

66. Yes instead of killing all of us and robbing us blind.

Women should at a minimum be 51% of our leadership.

Men have ruled the planet for the past 3000 years. Maybe it is time for them to take a
time out and let women have a crack at it.

[smirkymonkey]

67. I couldn't agree more!

[CTyankee]

27. Some great women are being mentioned here. It makes me realize how much talent

we women have in the political sphere.

But may I add one woman from the film industry?

Meryl Streep!

[obamanut2012]

31. Great pick!

[NastyRiffraff]

28. Hard to pick just 5, but:

Hillary Clinton
Carmen Yulin Cruz
Michelle Obama
Kamala Harris
Nancy Pelosi

There are many, many more accomplished, intelligent women who would be terrific speakers at the convention.

[Va Lefty]

29. My 5

Last edited Sun Oct 15, 2017, 04:27 PM - Edit history (1)

Ruth Bader Ginsberg
Soledad O"Brien
Michelle Obama
Cecile Richards
Venus Williams

[obamanut2012]

32. Venus and Soledad are great pix!

[boston bean]

34. Maura Healey

Angela Rye

[smirkymonkey]

64. Maura Healey is a great pick!

She is such a fighter for so many Democratic causes. Truly fearless!

[StevieM]

35. Hillary Clinton, Michelle Obama, Elizabeth Warren, Sonia Sotomayer, and Joy Reid. (eom)

[llmart]

36. Gabby Giffords...

N/T

[AwakeAtLast]

44. YES! n/t

[Sgent]

38. I'm not sure I should comment

since I'm a man, but I'd throw in Madeleine Albright.

[leftofcool]

52. She would be great!

[obamanut2012]

57. Anyone can comment - and she is a great choice

[MurrayDelph]

39. I wouldn't choose.

As a guy, it's not my place to choose.

But I would gladly attend.

[Skittles]

45. ...

Hillary Clinton

Michelle Obama

Joy Reid

Serena Williams

Tamron Hall

[a kennedy]

49. oops, sorry didn't see Serena here.

would love to hear her.

[Skittles]

56. she is just so fabulous

wow, I just realized four of my five are women of color

I guess I have just always admired those who have excelled while dealing with both sexism AND racism

[AwakeAtLast]

46. Difficult to choose

1. Diane Ravitch

2. Gabby Giffords

3. Michelle Obama

4. Malala Yousafzai

5. Tina Fey

[obamanut2012]

58. Tina Fey!

[Hekate]

47. Some great names here, many of whom I would love to hear in person...

...and since it seems to have somehow become a bone of contention regarding the current conference -- of all ethnicities and ages. We have immensely talented, accomplished, and intelligent women among us.

[a kennedy]

48. ah, how bout Serena Williams??

[a kennedy]

50. Billy Jean King!!!

[Squinch]

61. Good one!

[lunamagica]

53. I believe that the great majority of them will become warriors...keyboard warriors

1. Hillary Clinton.

2. Michelle Obama.

3. Maxine Waters.

4. Dolores Huerta.

5. Rachel Maddow.

[WhiteTara]

54. I would chose

Sheila Jackson Lee
Maxine Waters
Michelle Obama
Hillary Clinton
Delores Herta

[LisaM]

55. Marion Wright Edelman.

I've heard her speak. She was terrific. Barbara Boxer. Jennifer Granholm.

[obamanut2012]

59. All great choices!

[samnsara]

60. all great choices...anyone i would suggest has been anmed already..

...as LONG AS THEY ARE A WOMAN!

[obamanut2012]

62. +1!

[smirkymonkey]

65. So many great choices - all of the above and so many more.

It was really heart-lifting to just see a list of names of women who are doing positive things in this world to make things better for all of us. There are so many more who are contributing that aren't famous except for maybe in their little corners of the world and I would like to see some of them too.