Why is Bob Rae still being treated as our Official Opposition leader?

Mon, 2012-02-20 12:38

MegB

pcml wrote:

Arty if I make the same errors or any errors of course just go ahead and fire away

I have big shoulders and promise not to dry my tears on some mods cuffs as I plead they banish your none existant E name

Now without hurting your obvious tender feelings I would say I really do not care squat about what you think actually although I do kibitz here with you from time to time

Mosttime you are a means to an end

I would respond to others if they said the same things

Don't flatter yourself that I may have taken a shine or even targeted you

It is your words that I am referring to

Your alias is just that...and we all can imagine others here as what ever

As a matter of fact in your case ..??..even with that name ....I kinda picture you as a girl actually

Now it matters not what I think doesn't it?

And if that comment also bothered you and you took offense...to even ?

Well I must warn you that my mother was also girl and so is my wife and that as a result I am pretty partial to them over here in my kingdom

So....
Don't tread on them to dispel my arguments ...please

LOL

Bad enough that your post is personally insulting and offensive, but using "girl" as an insult? Referring to the adult women in your life as girls? Wow. Insulting an individual and 51% of the population in one post. Congrats. Do it again and you'll be taking a vacation from babble.

Tue, 2012-02-21 07:09

#53

pcml

Why is it your view that it is an insult?
Where is my insult?
The women in my life are girls
Since when did the word "girl" now become an insult?

This is rediculous
I am a boy incase some are confused

And I think this is over the top silly and not even about what I said

So what if I picture some one as a girl?

And go ahead as I would not want to be some where so silly over nothing
And if I did I certainly know enough to get back here anytime

But I say you are completely wrong here and I must point that out

Tue, 2012-02-21 08:51

#54

Caissa

Girl is not a synonym for woman, pcml.

Tue, 2012-02-21 10:00

#55

MegB

pcml wrote:

Why is it your view that it is an insult?
Where is my insult?
The women in my life are girls
Since when did the word "girl" now become an insult?

This is rediculous
I am a boy incase some are confused

And I think this is over the top silly and not even about what I said

So what if I picture some one as a girl?

And go ahead as I would not want to be some where so silly over nothing
And if I did I certainly know enough to get back here anytime

But I say you are completely wrong here and I must point that out

Actually, I am not. Babble policy supports my view. You need to seriously educate yourself on feminism before you post any further ignorance as seen above.

Tue, 2012-02-21 10:11

#56

NuclearJeff

Rebecca West wrote:

Actually, I am not. Babble policy supports my view. You need to seriously educate yourself on feminism before you post any further ignorance as seen above.

And the award for overreaction of the day goes to...

Tue, 2012-02-21 10:14

#57

Caissa

Calling a woman, "girl" is insulting. Why is that so difficult for some people to understand?

Tue, 2012-02-21 10:27

#58

NuclearJeff

Caissa wrote:

Calling a woman, "girl" is insulting. Why is that so difficult for some people to understand?

Is it because the term 'girl' implies immaturity?

Frankly I find this argument over the assumed intent of an innocent word to be immature and very out of place in this thread. Perhaps you should start a new one and continue your crusade there, as per the Babble Policy.

Good day.

Tue, 2012-02-21 10:44

#59

Caissa

Let's get the thread back on course. I'm sure our moderators can deal with matters of Babble policy.

In the English language media, I think Rae gets better coverage than Turmel because he gives a better English language interview. Does anyone know whether Turmel is getting more French language coverage than is Rae?

Tue, 2012-02-21 11:02

#60

Arthur Cramer Arthur Cramer's picture

That is a great question Caissa!

Tue, 2012-02-21 11:07

#61

MegB

NuclearJeff wrote:

Caissa wrote:

Calling a woman, "girl" is insulting. Why is that so difficult for some people to understand?

Is it because the term 'girl' implies immaturity?

Frankly I find this argument over the assumed intent of an innocent word to be immature and very out of place in this thread. Perhaps you should start a new one and continue your crusade there, as per the Babble Policy.

Good day.

This kind of sexist ignorance doesn't belong in this thread - or anywhere on babble. This "crusade" as you so insultingly put it is a core value here at babble and won't be tolerated. My patience for this kind of ignorant male privilege is limited. Both you and pcml are a heartbeat away from an indefinite break from babble.

Tue, 2012-02-21 11:20

#62

NuclearJeff

I apologize for suggesting the conversation get back on track. Perhaps you should also ban Caissa for doing the mature thing and dropping the issue. *facepalm*

Just out of curiousity, do many people read the transcripts of the debates in the HofC? Personally I find the 'debate' between the NDP and CPC to be almost childish in nature. 'They're maknig fun of me on twitter! Nuh-uh! Uh-huh! Nuh-uh!..." This is a generalization of course and there are exceptions, but I that's how it comes across to me.

But every once in a while a Lib. MP will stand and say something mature, and productive, and attempt to get things back on track. Perhaps it's these kinds of behaviours that get more respect from media for interviews. Just a thought though. I'm not trying to diminish the NDP plight for dominance, but I think they have some improvments to make in how they present themselves on an individual basis.

Tue, 2012-02-21 11:24

#63

Steve_Shutt Steve_Shutt's picture

Caissa, agreed - good question. My suspicion is that she isn't faring any better there than with the English media, if the poll results are to be belived.

In the polling thread someone noted that the falling Quebec numbers have been counterbalanced by growing numbers in English Canada, particularly BC. "Turmel-mania" made me smile, thought the idea that we do better when no one is looking may give us pause.

I suspect that post-March we get a bit of a boost as the MSM starts to watch us again. Once we get rolling with the new leader - and the equally important return of our front bench and unified focus in QP - we will have a better take of where we actually stand. My suspicion is that the Rae-diation of the Liberals will be a mixed blessing for them. Other than the old white male (and the guy with the even more dated last name - Trudeau - threatening to separate) who is making any noise for them. It's good to have a clearly identified voice and face but recall how we felt when the MSM ignored our bench - the subtext is these guys are ready to oppose, not govern. If we get our team out front post convention, I think the Liberals will be clamoring for the sort of coverage we get.

Tue, 2012-02-21 11:24

#64

MegB

NuclearJeff wrote:

I apologize for suggesting the conversation get back on track. Perhaps you should also ban Caissa for doing the mature thing and dropping the issue. *facepalm*

Goodbye Jeff. Not sure when you'll be back.

Tue, 2012-02-21 11:41

#65

Slumberjack

All of that and a Bob Rae thread to boot.

Tue, 2012-02-21 14:01

#66

Catchfire

I'm just going to go ahead and suspend pcml here too, despite my colleague-in-arm's impressive restraint. In the case that Rebecca and I permit you to return, NuclearJeff and pcml, I want to make this clear: this site is feminist and progressive. Wielding "girl" as an insult is frat boy bullshit, and not acceptable here. You can draw whatever conclusions you like about that, but it is simply not allowed here. So either respect the space, or bail. It's simple.

And calling a woman a "girl" is diminuitive (literally and figuratively). It's a sign of disrespect and it's anti-feminist. This site is built on eleven years of building feminists and anti-oppressive language, so we know a thing or two about what we're talking about. Both of you stand to benefit from reexaminining your privilege and language before you return. This "overreaction" stance is tired and clichéd. We've seen it before, and it bores us. So get the message, or get out.

Now back to the beautiful Bob Rae and his silver Rhodes scholar tongue.

Tue, 2012-02-21 18:11

#67

bagkitty

Back to the topic as posed in the OP (hopefully).

I think the MSM will stop treating Mr. Rae as the official opposition leader at about the same time they (media types) all find themselves unemployed... I think a purge of the newsrooms and broadcast centers is in order. They are both filled with individuals whose world view has quite simply ossified, and they are demonstrating their complete and utter inability to address change. They seem more intent on maintaining relations with the various old-boy networks they struggled so hard to elbow their way into than in describing the facts on the ground (or in the house for that matter).

Tue, 2012-02-21 20:16

#68

Boom Boom

No mention of Bob Rae on P&P tonight but about 40 minutes devoted to both the NDP membership sales and leadership race. And Megan Leslie debated a Con on the tar sands (no Liberal present). And Pat Martin weighed in with Ian Capstick later on the program about the NDP memberships and leadership races. Finally, NDP Prez Rebecca Blaikie debated Stockwell Day on C30.

Tue, 2012-02-21 22:54

#69

Arthur Cramer Arthur Cramer's picture

How did Blakie do?

Tue, 2012-02-21 23:03

#70

Boom Boom

Oh, she was great, as usual. Surprisingly, Stockwell Day was good too.

Why is Bob Rae still being treated as our Official Opposition leader?

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