The Lipstick LobbyList 5.19.10

Maureen Dowd finally gets it right in today’s column on the Kagan nomination, by asking the question: when do you go from being “single” to “unmarried”? 

“White House officials were so eager to squash any speculation that Elena Kagan was gay that they have ended up in a pre-feminist fugue, going with sad unmarried rather than fun single, spinning that she’s a spinster.”

Some great commencement speeches out there.  Two of my favorites:
Meryl Streep and Rachel Maddow (h/t TAG).

Fantastic video of Rep. Mark Souder, the eight term Republican congressman who recently resigned, discussing the importance of abstinence only education….with his mistress.

New York Times offers A Toolkit for Women Seeking a Raise. From a friend who emailed the link:  “I like anything that coaches women to ask to be paid more but don't like that there is a fundamentally different way for women to do it so that they aren't disliked by males in the workplace for being too aggressive.”  (h/t ESL)

Rebecca Traister says “Screw Happiness.”

A piece in the New Yorker earlier this month with lots of Boston history – from the tea party of the American Revolution to the tumultuous 1970s to the modern day Tea Partiers and Sarah Palin's recent visit.  A great read. (h/t Banker Babe)

For anyone in Boston tonight, head out to this great event:  DO Ask, DO Tell! Hear retired Marine Staff Sergeant Eric Alva speak out against “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” at Faneuil Hall on Wednesday, May 19, at 7 pm. Local gay and straight veterans will join him in a panel discussion that will be open to questions from the audience.