Sarah Palin getting divorced

[policywonk]

admittedly not the world's most respected media outlet, but...

Wonder if this contributed to her resignation?

[UnquietDad]

Exactly. Pleased that you got my point. The joke was made by that well-known misogynist, female comedienne and impressionist Tina Fey.

[HeadFairy]

Out of curiosity dittany were you this quick to defend say Jacqui Smith when she was getting beaten about in the press for something her husband did? I thought that was equally unfair at the time. As the further relevations appeared about duck houses and moats, it seemed like paying a tenner for a couple of blue movies seemed pretty innocent, and it wasn't even her who watched them. She was torn apart in the press.

Of course claiming rent for your second home when it's actually your sister's house isn't so good, but they really had a go at her for the porn more than anything IIRC

[UnquietDad]

All the best satire is only a small step away from the truth, and even her supporters had a hard time spinning the worrying lack of foreign policy experience she revealed in interviews. She didn't use those actual words "I can see Russia from my house" - that was Tina Fey - but she talked about how close it was geographically and how she could see the coastline from her home town on a clear day, as if that gave her great insights into policy on Russia. By that same token, every Englishman living in Dover should be an expert on the French.

[HeadFairy]

Do you not think that male politicians get quite a hard time too Dittany. Going back to David Mellor again he was torn apart for his fling, the football kit thing was a source of much amusement to the press.

I think a lot of male politicians get a pretty hard time too. Don't you remember the pictures of Tony Blair showing how much he'd aged while PM? You'd be howled out of Fleet Street if you attempted that on a woman surely?

[HeadFairy]

True, but I'm not always sure what the answer is Dittany, because if you prop up women who are less than ideal candidates for any political role (and IMO Sarah Palin was such a person, surely the Republicans can find someone better?) you are accused of positive discrimination. It was as far as I recall an accusation she faced, that she was only the VP candidate because of her looks and the newspaper column inches she'd attract, something which I suspect is true.

I would prefer women won these positions on merit, but the odds are unfairly stacked against them in the first place.

[sayanything]

I don't know why I'm returning to this thread, but here goes.

I think we all agree that reporting lies about any politician is wrong. To be fair to the OP, she did add a caveat as to the reliability of the news source and the reports denying the story were linked very shortly. But Palin is not unique in this respect - McCain for example, during the 2000 nomination campaign, was slandered continuously by Bush, including a vicious lie about his adopted daughter being the product of an affair.

Palin has been ridiculed more than most, but she seems to be an inexhaustible source of material (the Charles Gibson interview, the Couric fiasco, her incoherenet resignation speech, the fact that she resigned). Much in the manner of Don Quayle, who was also endlessly mocked. Again, I don't think it's because of her gender. The one time I did cry foul was when some (Republican) pundits/politicians were questioning her ability to take on the VP post, given the fact that she has five chidren. That, I agree, was sexist and unacceptable.

[Pan]

No, LG, it isn't necessary. But funny and true.

Have you evolved into The Thread Police - MN Towers representative on earth, LG?

[UnquietDad]

See what I mean?

dittany is actually quite deluded if she thinks I care two hoots about her, to be honest.

Anyone who looks at the "punching" thread will see I only asked for a link to that Alex James article. I don't really mind if it isn't offered.

[UnquietDad]

Link to the article then?

Thought not.

[UnquietDad]

Only in dittany-world do they contradict one another.

It's actually quite amusing to see someone manoeuvre - almost subtly - from the "you disagree with the opinions I post", thence to "you don't like the opinions I post", and finally to the refuge of "you don't like me having opinions." I feel that the more reasonable people on here will see that is not the case.

There are dozens of people on here I have had really quite strong disagreements with. They all still seem to manage to be nice to me, with one exception. Odd, that.

[violethill]

(isn't it a contradiction to say you're leaving the thread and then continue to post....?)

[violethill]

Ah I see!!