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Castigating The Tanaiste is not sexist !

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    #2
    oscarBravo
    Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 28,804 Mod ✭✭✭✭oscarBravo


    Darsad wrote: »
    I especially like her questioning the merits of having an Obese minister for health which I always found to be a contradiction in terms .
    In that distant and desirable future where cabinet ministers are appointed on the basis of their professional qualification and experience relevant to their portfolio, criticism of the minister for health for being obese will be justifiable. Until then, it's simply ad hominem and pointless.

    There's plenty to criticise Mary Harney for. Her weight is as relevant as mine is.


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    #3
    Darsad
    Registered Users Posts: 679 ✭✭✭Darsad


    Ad hominem certainly, pointless No ! In the present where ministers are not appointed on merit Harney could as likely end up as minister for sport as any other ministry in a cabinet reshuffle !


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    #4
    oscarBravo
    Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 28,804 Mod ✭✭✭✭oscarBravo


    Darsad wrote: »
    Ad hominem certainly, pointless No ! In the present where ministers are not appointed on merit Harney could as likely end up as minister for sport as any other ministry in a cabinet reshuffle !
    So what? I don't remember Martin Cullen winning any Olympic medals lately.

    Once again: it would be nice if we had a political system where competence in a field was a requirement for a ministerial post. It isn't, so no aspect of Harney's health is remotely relevant to her job.


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    #5
    Riskymove
    Registered Users Posts: 10,888 ✭✭✭✭Riskymove


    Indeed i don't recall any fuss over Cowen as Minister for Health given similar issues (plus smoking!)


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    #6
    lostexpectation
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,082 ✭✭✭lostexpectation


    this is the paper that constantly now prints the marys got lowerlegs photo and the sunny lucinda creigton photo


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    #7
    Permabear
    Closed Accounts Posts: 39,022 ✭✭✭✭Permabear


    This post has been deleted.


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    #8
    adrem
    Registered Users Posts: 32 ✭adrem


    Carol Hunt demonstrates in that article that in fact it is her that is operating beyond her actual capability. A lot of the anti-Coughlan guff is sexist, as was a lot of the anti-Clinton guff - that is not the same as saying that Clinton didn't get the nomination because of sexism.


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    #9
    Permabear
    Closed Accounts Posts: 39,022 ✭✭✭✭Permabear


    This post has been deleted.


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    #10
    P. Breathnach
    Registered Users Posts: 12,089 ✭✭✭✭P. Breathnach


    Darsad wrote: »
    Ad hominem certainly...

    Ad feminem, surely.


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    #11
    jmayo
    Registered Users Posts: 13,186 ✭✭✭✭jmayo


    When I see or more particularly actually hear Mary "gobdaw" coughlan, I don't automatically think ah there is a woman speaking.

    First thought is "there is that idiot, who inherited daddy's seat".
    For a moment I actually think, isn't it great that someone with such limited capabilities can rise to such a rank in our government.
    Then I snap out of it and realise that she is depriving some village somewhere of it's village idiot :rolleyes:

    Does that make me sexist or am I just insensitive to idiots ?

    I am not allowed discuss …



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    #12
    irish_bob
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,271 ✭✭✭irish_bob


    donegalfella wrote: »
    This post has been deleted.




    i once watched mary coughlan speak ( was born on a farm and she was minsiter for ag at time ) at my local mart

    they had a platform errected especially for her , she was baschically standing where the heifers run through to be sold :)


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    #13
    Fishtits
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,382 ✭✭✭Fishtits


    donegalfella wrote: »
    This post has been deleted.

    On a more basic point, the missing attribute would appear to be competence... on behalf of both.

    Coughlan's appointment might have survived scrutiny during the good times, unfortunately when we need substance BC opted for popularity.

    Both have proven their incompetence, and the electorate will express their take on it.

    The reports emerging from private sector honcho's re meetings with the 2ic are frightening to put it mildly. Put simply, she has zero credibility.

    A county councilor promoted would be the best description.


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    #14
    bangersandmash
    Closed Accounts Posts: 686 ✭✭✭bangersandmash


    Darsad wrote: »
    Excellent article by Carol Hunt in yesterdays Sindo .
    I especially like her questioning the merits of having an Obese minister for health which I always found to be a contradiction in terms .


    http://www.independent.ie/opinion/analysis/castigating-the-tanaiste-is-not-sexist-supporting-her-on-gender-grounds-is-1734557.html
    An "excellent article" in the "Independent Woman" section of the Sunday Independent? Surely the very definition of a contradiction in terms.

    If there was any evidence that Harney's weight has had any correlation (negative or positive) with her effectiveness during her appointment as Minister for Health and Children, surely Hunt could have produced it. Surprisingly she didn't.


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    #15
    jimmycrackcorm
    Registered Users Posts: 14,339 ✭✭✭✭jimmycrackcorm


    While we are on this track, shouldn't gynecologists only be female?


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    #16
    Permabear
    Closed Accounts Posts: 39,022 ✭✭✭✭Permabear


    This post has been deleted.


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    #17
    waitingforBB
    Registered Users Posts: 173 ✭✭waitingforBB


    harney should be judged on her ability and record. Same as coughlan, its not a sexist thing. Both have underperformed and should be judged on that, nothing else. Same as BC.
    Cowen has screwed up royally, Lenihan is a smart bloke but was placed in role where he couldnt coast through as before. Cowen should take responsibility for the situation as he was finance minister when this whole debacle built up.
    Appointing Mary coughlan was just wrong..a misjudgement..

    another one


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