Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Holiday Open Thread 2: Chewing over the News

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  • Angus Robertson,

    Really, I'm way too young to be this depressed about humanity.

    There are some who would have us believe that the only reason Sarah Palin is being attacked now is because she is a woman.

    Auckland • Since May 2007 • 984 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Angus Robertson,

    There are some who would have us believe that the only reason Sarah Palin is being attacked now is because she is a woman.

    Been there, done that, got all the merchandise. During the election, I would have saved a lot of time if I'd just made up flash cards.

    I don't despise Sarah Palin because she's a woman.

    I despise her because she's incompetent.

    Unqualified.

    Can't give a straight answer to a straight question.

    Lies. A lot.

    Wants to be Vice President, but won't do interviews.

    Treats her disabled infant son like a handbag.

    Is symptomatic of McCain's deeply unserious and cynical campaign.

    And I'd still despise her if she had a penis.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Marcus Turner,

    I just thought we all needed this:

    Since Nov 2006 • 212 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Marcus Turner,

    Quality journalism!

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • sally jones, in reply to Kumara Republic,

    She is, if you'll excuse me, sex on a stick.

    No; we won't excuse you, Paul.

    I haven't been keeping up with the thread since this, but PH on SP is the pits! Sure, I haven't always been PH's most fervent fan - but neither have I been an ardent critic. Until now.
    SP is a classic right-wing woman politician going hard out to prove she has a dick. Thatcher did exactly the same thing, though she was up against it, being a pioneer.
    Not so SP.
    These women tell men what they want to hear, dress as they know men prefer and ultimately give men what they want (war, guns, money).
    They are puppets (IMHO).

    However, Paul Holmes' pathetic fawning is likely to make things worse by revving up excess sentiment against SP to the point that her detractors end up turning her into some kind of icon for - godhelpus - commonsense.

    She's a performer. Ignore her and she will go away.

    Auckland • Since Sep 2010 • 179 posts Report Reply

  • recordari,

    I'm getting to the stage where I really need a thread about the Queensland floods to counter all this Palindor.

    The human tragedy and impact for people we know and love, are related to (cousins and aunties in my case), and who recently gave us, and continue to give, quite a lot of support during both the Christchurch Earthquake and Pike River, deserve our attention, don't they?

    I would say America can go get screwed, but it seems to be doing pretty well on that front without any help from us.

    This is not meant to be judgemental. I apologise if it seems so. Listened to Jason Leopold talking about Palin and Loughner and an Australian correspondent talking about the floods, and only one made me want to cry.

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    I don't despise Sarah Palin because she's a woman.

    I despise her because she's incompetent.

    Unqualified.

    Can't give a straight answer to a straight question.

    Lies. A lot.

    Does that remind you of a certain big-earringed ex-public servant closer to home? She claimed persecution on the basis of her dress sense, gender and what-have-you, to draw attention away from the fact she's a nouveau riche hypocrite.

    If people thought Dubya was in(s)ane, Bullet Barbie cranks that up to 11.

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Kumara Republic,

    Does that remind you of a certain big-earringed ex-public servant closer to home? She claimed persecution on the basis of her dress sense, gender and what-have-you, to draw attention away from the fact she’s a nouveau riche hypocrite.

    If you're talking about Christine Rankin, she got her day in court – and obviously she didn’t make her case but nobody can make the case she wasn't treated fairly. (And while Steve Maharey and Mark Prebble may have been tosspots, there are a lot of employers out there who have good reason to be thankful that’s not a crime.)

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to sally jones,

    SP is a classic right-wing woman politician going hard out to prove she has a dick. Thatcher did exactly the same thing, though she was up against it, being a pioneer.
    Not so SP.
    These women tell men what they want to hear, dress as they know men prefer and ultimately give men what they want (war, guns, money).
    They are puppets (IMHO).

    Wow, it's been a while since I've been simultaneously offended on so many levels. Snarky kudos to you.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Danielle, in reply to recordari,

    America can go get screwed

    Yeah, well. There are a few of us with personal connections there, just as you have personal connections in Queensland, so 'fuck them, because *this* is what's really important' is... a problematic outlook. At least for me.

    (Please do talk about Queensland, though!)

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Sacha,

    Text of Obama's Arizona speech.

    I listened to it, and damn I had a few tears honestly jerked. Another reminder why it's nice to have an adult in the Oval Office, and not have an attention-seeking flake squatting at 1 Observatory Circle.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Danielle, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    Uh, yeah. 'Men want war, guns and money' is just as gross as 'women want a big diamond ring and long walks on the beach'. *People* of any gender want a wide variety of things.

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report Reply

  • Sam F, in reply to Sacha,

    Text of Obama's Arizona speech.

    Plus a bit of somewhat unfortunate advertising...

    The speech itself is excellent. Sincerely hope its message is heard and acted upon.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1611 posts Report Reply

  • Alex Coleman,

    @sacha

    "When you hunt a moose, blood libel to pour out of it," she told reporters.

    As long as it doesn't get all over my Death Panel.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 247 posts Report Reply

  • sally jones, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    Wow, it's been a while since I've been simultaneously offended on so many levels. Snarky kudos to you

    Not saying all men or all women. Thought that went without saying here.
    Just trying to say something.
    Don't like diamond rings, big or small.

    Auckland • Since Sep 2010 • 179 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Danielle,

    Well, I thought more that patronising women politicians as cock-pleasers (if they're on the right) is as obnoxious as Kiwibogian swill about left-wing female politicians being man-haters - probably dykes, come to that.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • recordari, in reply to recordari,

    I would say America can go get screwed

    Does this mean I actually said it? Ok, guess it does. Sorry for that. And I didn't mean the whole 307 million people, some of whom I also know, love, and am related to, just those messing with my head on this particular day.

    Are we good?

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to sally jones,

    Sally:

    I'm going to make this request seriously and in good faith. Please read John Campbell's biography of Thatcher - seriously and with an open mind -- and tell me if you really think she was just a cock-pleasing she-male with penis envy.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • sally jones, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    as obnoxious as Kiwibogian swill about left-wing female politicians being man-haters -

    Craig, you are quite right. I am obnoxious. However, I must make it clear that not for a minute am I condemning all female politicians. One of the pillars of left-wing politics and principle is equality of the sexes. The right is conservative. A woman who chooses inequality over equality is a strange woman indeed. Though Marilyn Waring is not strange.

    I am odious. Obnoxious and odious. I make terrible sweeping comparisons between male and female. People are bound to take offence. But the cold-blooded assassination attempt of congresswoman Giffords has made me feel oppressed - as a woman.
    Is that pathetic? probably.
    Sexist? maybe.
    But there it is.
    Obviously other women don't react like this. That's their prerogative.
    I have mentioned the preoccupation of my thesis? Quite possibly that has left me jaded. Gender-jaded.

    Man-haters you say?

    Men make me laugh.

    Auckland • Since Sep 2010 • 179 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    It strikes me that this thread has been notable for furious dust-ups that seem unnecessary. Perhaps we might all cut each other some slack.

    Alternatively, I'm just all touch-feely because I'm watching the Obama speech and crying a little bit.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • recordari,

    Puts my transgression in perspective. Guess I better watch that speech, although shedding tears across two continents in one day seems a lot to ask. Such is our lot.

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report Reply

  • sally jones, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    John Campbell's biography of Thatcher - seriously and with an open mind -- and tell me if you really think she was just a cock-pleasing she-male with penis envy.

    Okay Craig. I will do this. But I will also say that I meant to make clear my respect for Thatcher-the-pioneer. It's just that she didn't have the boobs to be a woman in the job, or so I was led to believe from the various accounts read and heard - not exhaustive accounts, needless to say.

    I didn't intend to imply that women like Thatcher, or even Palin, suffer penis envy. Not at all. Just that they know how to win on men's terms and they go out there and play the game to their advantage.
    I don't see how saying so denigrates women in general at all. There are very few options for women to succeed in politics. On the political right, there is just the one.

    My neighbourhood friend voted for Thatcher. I love her in spite of that (or thought I did).

    How to ruin a summer holiday in one? read a book on Thatcher.

    Auckland • Since Sep 2010 • 179 posts Report Reply

  • sally jones,

    Okay, didn't read Russell's sensible suggestion. It's always fatal to leave the computer mid-post.

    Forthwith (?) no more fury from this cherub face.

    Auckland • Since Sep 2010 • 179 posts Report Reply

  • Simon Grigg, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Alternatively, I'm just all touch-feely because I'm watching the Obama speech and crying a little bit.

    It was a fine, hopefully, healing moment and perhaps reminded more than a few why they voted for this particular guy over the other option.

    I did, however, have the odd gagging 'As the scriptures tell us' hosanna moment when I had to take pause, but then I'm not the droid he's looking for I guess.

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report Reply

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