1 what's this "mostly male" hard-core Left shit? I'm hard-core Left, and ain't I a woman? I believe that war should be a last resort, not a first source of profit and testosterone, and ain't I a woman? I believe that social spending is, when done properly, an efficient and compassionate way to life people out of poverty, and ain't I a woman? I believe that schools should be palaces, teachers should be rich, and warmongers should be in prison, and ain't I a woman? I contemn (oh, it's a verb!) Joe Biden, and ain't I a woman? fie on you, Miss Hun! fie, I say. And fiddle dee dee, too!

2 I'll amend my wording, which was meant to give some respect to the PUMAs (not what you think: it's the "Party Unity, My Ass" feminists, rather than those predatory middle-aged women who prey on young men). Let's hear it for Sojourner Truth! And never mind the controversies over how well her speech was accepted by the crowd, or whether she did in fact repeat the phrase "and ain't I a woman?" (Contemporary accounts differ on these two issues.) I am so happy with the accepted version of her speech that I can forgive any poetic license, if any were taken. One of the more conventional renderings: That man over there says that women need to be helped into carriages and lifted over ditches, and to have the best place everywhere. Nobody ever helps me into carriages or over mud puddles, or gives me any best place. And ain't I a woman? Look at me! I have ploughed and planted and gathered into barns and no man could head me. And ain't I a woman? I could work as much and eat as much as a man -- when I could get it -- and bear the lash as well. And ain't I a woman? I have borne 13 children and seen most all sold off to slavery, and when I cried out with my mother's grief, none but Jesus heard me. And ain't I a woman? Then they talk about this thing in the head; what's that they call it? [Intellect, someone whispers.] That's it, Honey. What's that got to do with women's rights or negro's rights? If my cup won't hold but a pint and yours holds a quart, wouldn't you be mean not to let my little half-measure full. Than that little man in back there, he says women can't have as much rights as men 'cause Christ wasn't a woman. Where did your Christ come from? From God and a woman! Man had nothing to do with Him. If the first woman God ever made was strong enough to turn the world upside down all alone, these women together ought to be able to turn it back, and get it right side up again! And now they is asking to do it, the men better let them. Of course, Truth was an orator--but not a lightweight. Just sayin'. She had those thingies--what do you call 'em?--oh, yeah: life experiences.

3 you, as ever, rock! and you most certainly are a woman!