Tuesday, June 28, 2005

John McCain and Girls from Maine

Norquist supports my view that McCain Dealt himself out of the 2008 GOP primary:

Speaking to the same group a few hours later, party strategist Grover Norquist lambasted three Republicans who broke party ranks over the issue of judicial filibusters. He referred to them as "the two girls from Maine and the nut-job from Arizona" – Sens. Susan Collins, Olympia Snowe and John McCain.

Can't say I especially like the belittling use of "girls" here. I mean, I've occasionally called them the "girls from Maine" myself, but the connotations are all different. It's more like, "If the Senate is close and we send them a real nice invitation, I wonder if the girls from Maine will come to our Party?" I know it's just a fantasy and they don't think of us that way, but a boy can dream...

1 comment:

Mary said...

OK, here is my rule. I shall spread it far and wide throughout the land, and I will begin here. If there is even any hint that a word will be belittling, and you are not a part of that group, the word is off limits to you. Most people seems to get that about "ethnic" words, or is at least willing to be educated to that effect, but gender words seem to be open to abuse. For example, I know that a certain word is TOTALLY off limits to me (even though I find it a repulsive word and would never use it anyway.) I understand the concept of a group claiming an objectionable word to dissipate its power, to be used only in that group. That's why I have a serious problem with members of that same group using the word "bitch" quite freely, not only in a gender-specific way, but also as an insult to someone who is not that gender. Of course, "girl" is a little tricky, in that a minor female is indeed a girl. An adult female is not. However, because someone like Norquist is using it in a belittling way, and you are not a member of that group, you can't have it. I mean, I can't stop you, but if you use it inaccurately,to indicate someone it does not describe, you then become part of the problem.