Regina Doherty is talking through her Fanny!

Ruudi_Mentari · 16-07-2013 07:31AM

SamHall wrote: »

Says David Norris.

Says you, too the way you have titled it

Frank Black · 16-07-2013 07:41AM

I think we dodged a bullet by not giving him the presidency.
There'd be diplomatic incidents left, right and centre.

Ruudi_Mentari · 16-07-2013 07:44AM

Is just the camp mysogonist in Norris

which we all battle in us. At least he has an excuse, however I would never utter such a thing for i know only sweet song comes from down there.....

Banjo String · 16-07-2013 08:49AM

Ruudi_Mentari wrote: »

Says you, too the way you have titled it

In fairness, I only copied and pasted from the article.

keeponhurling · 16-07-2013 08:52AM

jank wrote: »

I think Regina should hardent the **** up and not get upset over evey uttereance to her anatomy however, I love the AH double standard. If it were Alan Shatter or the like that said that I can just imagine the 'outrage' but sure she is FG and he is left wing so all good so..

Norris is left wing?

jank · 16-07-2013 09:07AM

keeponhurling wrote: »

Norris is left wing?

Yes!

SeventySix · 16-07-2013 09:17AM

I would say I was disappointed in him but after that letter to Israel, he cant be counted on to know when to shut up.

Its not making much of an arguement to keep him in a job, thats for sure.

It should be possible that people can go to work and not have anyone grab them or make reference to their private parts. Its embarrassing to the whole country that this kind of **** is going on in our government.

keeponhurling · 16-07-2013 09:26AM

jank wrote: »

Yes!

How do you come to the conclusion that he is left wing?

The only political views that I am aware he holds are
1) Improved rights for gay people
2) Liberal views on paedophilia
3) Opposition to the Catholic church, mostly arising from point 1
4) Support for arts and theatres
5) Human rights issues

On his own website, under his "Current Concerns" section, he lists
Human Rights Issues
Foreign Policy
Immigration/Asylum
European Union
Luas/Metro

however there is no further explanation of what in particular he is concerned about relating to these issues.
None of those to me would be traditional right-wing/left-wing ideology issues

Given the current situation the country is in, with recession and huge national debt, the fact that "Luas/Metro" is one of his current concerns, while nothing related to the economy is a concern to him is almost disturbing.

I suspect the man is slightly discinnected from reality.

conorhal · 16-07-2013 09:26AM

suicide_circus wrote: »

I like David Norris for the same reason i like Stephen Fry; both well spoken, well read, witty, urbane. But that is not justification enough to pay him a wage to sit in a defunct house and ponificate.
The fact that the money saved by the abolition of the Seanad would be spent on com-it-eees populated by jobs-for-the-boys gombeens makes a mockery of the whole exercise.

I'm no fan of Norris either, but I'll take his profanity any day over the beige technocratic 'management speak' that you hear Richard Bruton using every day on the radio to speak out of both sides of his mouth and fill entire interviews while managing to say nothing at all, or worse, deploy's the correctly identified Gobles-esque tactic of 'repeating a lie often enough for it to become an accepted truth.
His breathtaking claim that scrapping the Seanad would save 20 million (lie, one he refuses to back up with figures while repeating it) and then linking that saving to payments to the disabled (lie, anybody really believe that an aditional 20 mil will go the the disabled if the Seanad is scrapped?) is just stunning.
All the other countries cited by Bruton that have gone from a bi-cameral legislature to a single house have all done so in conjunction with the reform of local government and the lower house to balance out power. As usual we are doing reform the Irish way, by taking disfunction and making it more disfunctional.

So Norris essentally called her a 'see-u-next-tuesday', well if it quacks like a cnut....
What's really depressing is that, yet again, important debates have descending into a 'furore' about the inconsequential while the substance of the debate is yet again pushed to the sideline. I believe that in the trade magicians refer to this as 'misdirection' and it's just depressing how easy, and let's face it eager, the Irish public are to be tricked.

tritium · 16-07-2013 09:32AM

While I have a lot if time for David Norris, TBH the way the pro senate camp conducted themselves yesterday leaves a lot to be desired - rude and ignorant, referenced to Hitler etc.

Equally disappointing, but far less surprising was the lack of any outrage from the usual suspects. Where was the NWC for example to pontificate about women unfriendly workplaces. Where were the ULA to complain about the inappropriateness of the comments. I guess you only need to get outraged when it suits your agenda....

keeponhurling · 16-07-2013 09:37AM

conorhal wrote: »

What's really depressing is that, yet again, important debates have descending into a 'furore' about the inconsequential while the substance of the debate is yet again pushed to the sideline. I believe that in the trade magicians refer to this as 'misdirection' and it's just depressing how easy, and let's face it eager, the Irish public are to be tricked.

In life I usually take the attitude if somebody resorts to personal and childish abuse, then their argument isn't very strong.

Anyways, in the case of whether we abolish the Seanad or not, we'll be having a referendum on that so I'm sure we'll hear all the arguments for and against over the course of the campaign.

jank · 16-07-2013 09:39AM

keeponhurling wrote: »

How do you come to the conclusion that he is left wing?

The only political views that I am aware he holds are
1) Improved rights for gay people
2) Liberal views on paedophilia
3) Opposition to the Catholic church, mostly arising from point 1
4) Support for arts and theatres
5) Human rights issues

On his own website, under his "Current Concerns" section, he lists
Human Rights Issues
Foreign Policy
Immigration/Asylum
European Union
Luas/Metro

however there is no further explanation of what in particular he is concerned about relating to these issues.
None of those to me would be traditional right-wing/left-wing ideology issues

Given the current situation the country is in, with recession and huge national debt, the fact that "Luas/Metro" is one of his current concerns, while nothing related to the economy is a concern to him is almost disturbing.

I suspect the man is slightly discinnected from reality.

The very fact the is overtly concerned with liberal social issues should indicate that he is very much left wing.

conorhal · 16-07-2013 09:44AM

keeponhurling wrote: »

In life I usually take the attitude if somebody resorts to personal and childish abuse, then their argument isn't very strong.

Anyways, in the case of whether we abolish the Seanad or not, we'll be having a referendum on that so I'm sure we'll hear all the arguments for and against over the course of the campaign.

I don't disagree, the level of debate is both houses is just appalingly immature, it's like listening to squabbling children, and for that reason I doubt that the level of debate over the course of the referendum campaign it is likely to rise any higher then it is currently.
We have a series of important decisions coming up and I'm depressed by how likely it is that their debate will be characterised by spin, name calling and insubstantial guff, which is to say no debate at all.

keeponhurling · 16-07-2013 09:46AM

No different to any other referendum I suppose

tayto lover · 16-07-2013 09:49AM

Maybe DN thought her name was Vagina Doherty ?

skimpydoo · 16-07-2013 09:51AM

Regina was on Vincent Browne last night and was shown up for the fool she was. David was so right about her. She claimed that as Dail reform was in FG's election manifesto they have to go through with all that they promised on the manifesto. Vincent then pointed out that they promised not to pay bond holders or legislate for abortion. Regina replied times change. Vincent then said why not ask in the referendum the questions do you want the senate abolished or the senate reformed. She replied with the FG party line that its best abolished. She had some neck trying to claim FG are right, I was close to hitting the tv.

16-07-2013 09:52AM

TBH, it is disrespectful language unbecoming of Senator Norris no matter what his personal situation is. If he cannot conduct himself in public, maybe he should relinquish his seat. By what I have read, all the senators seemed to be reacting fairly badly to the start of the referendum campaign.

In my eyes the Tom Barry incident was far worse as it was a physical act: name calling is a different ball game.

Can anyone clarify what Regina Doherty actually said? There is nothing in the papers about her except in reference to what David Norris said...

keeponhurling · 16-07-2013 10:01AM

Clarehobo wrote: »

In my eyes the Tom Barry incident was far worse as it was a physical act: name calling is a different ball game.

..

Although in the Tom Barry incident, at least the lady in question seemed OK with this horse-play, and not offended. I think they are good friends apparently.

In the case of Norris, the woman was genuinely insulted by it, and doesn't seem to be any friend of Norris.

Neither incident very approporiate in the Oireachtas though

16-07-2013 10:20AM

keeponhurling wrote: »

Although in the Tom Barry incident, at least the lady in question seemed OK with this horse-play, and not offended. I think they are good friends apparently.

In the case of Norris, the woman was genuinely insulted by it, and doesn't seem to be any friend of Norris.

Neither incident very approporiate in the Oireachtas though

Áine Collins didn't seem OK with it when Tom Barry was restraining her in his lap and when she left the vicinity immediately after he released her. I'm not surprised that she is keeping quiet and hoping it will blow over, especially when it is a party colleague.

EDIT: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/republic-of-ireland/td-tom-barry-admits-hed-been-drinking-when-he-put-colleague-aine-collins-on-his-lap-29413954.html

Ms Collins is understood to have been annoyed by the description of the incident by party officials as "horseplay".

A number of female Fine Gael politicians are understood to have approached Ms Collins and asked if she wanted any further action taken – but she declined.

A colleague said: "She is embarrassed and just wants it to go away."

In this instance, it is people with opposing agendas trying to score points. If DN was a party colleague, RD would not be making an issue of this.

Irrespective of friendship, neither incident is casting our political system in a positive light.

GalwayGuy2 · 16-07-2013 11:42AM

Hmmm, I wonder was it sexist? He seemed to be just insulting her, rather than women in general. And even the Vagina Monologues comment seemed to be more a popular culture reference.

Still, though, you think a politician would have more cop on than say something like that.

Femme_Fatale · 16-07-2013 11:44AM

GalwayGuy2 wrote: »

Hmmm, I wonder was it sexist? He seemed to be just insulting her, rather than women in general. And even the Vagina Monologues comment seemed to be more a popular culture reference.

Yep, if anything I think David Norris is quite feminist. I remember him being at the forefront of the protests re Stringfellows and saying he felt it was degrading to women etc etc.

I can't see how "Talking through her fanny" is sexist in any context really.

suicide_circus · 16-07-2013 12:01PM

conorhal wrote: »

beige technocratic 'management speak'.

know it well and despise it to my core. those who use it are an affront to their own humanity. may they be crushed under the weight of their own slimy avarice and incompetence.

conlof · 16-07-2013 12:08PM

Hopefully any seanad reform would eliminate Norris and his undemocratically elected colleagues.
I would love to know exactly how many college votes Norris required to secure his sinecure.
Among his peers he is viewed at a very low academic level occupying a position normally filled by post grad students and new lecturers.

vitani · 16-07-2013 12:12PM

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/oireachtas/political-effin-and-blindin-a-short-history-1.1465298#.UeUjzLZRCk4.twitter

Some stellar reporting here from the Irish Times. Apparently, Norris frequently uses the word 'fanny' in place of the more typical 'arse'.

16-07-2013 12:16PM

GalwayGuy2 wrote: »

Hmmm, I wonder was it sexist? He seemed to be just insulting her, rather than women in general. And even the Vagina Monologues comment seemed to be more a popular culture reference.

Still, though, you think a politician would have more cop on than say something like that.

I think he would have insulted a male colleague in a similar vein - but without the quip of the Regina monologues and talking out her fanny.

I still have no idea what she said that attracted such ire from Senator Norris...

BeerWolf · 16-07-2013 12:17PM

padd b1975 wrote: »

I suppose it's a bit like posters here with thousands of posts looking down on the new guys and dismissing their opinions.

I concur :pac:

Amirani · 16-07-2013 12:18PM

Femme_Fatale wrote: »

Yep, if anything I think David Norris is quite feminist. I remember him being at the forefront of the protests re Stringfellows and saying he felt it was degrading to women etc etc.

I can't see how "Talking through her fanny" is sexist in any context really.

That's the thing I'm having an issue with here. I agree that his comments were inappropriate and I can accept they may have been offensive to Doherty, but there's no way in hell that they're sexist.

I'm all for identifying and slamming instance of sexism because I feel it's genuinely wrong and unfair. Throwing it around in an instance like this though, for something that genuinely isn't sexist, takes away from the seriousness of sexism.

Plazaman · 16-07-2013 12:18PM

RayM wrote: »

He has terminal liver cancer. There's a good chance that he's either in a lot of pain or on a lot of medication. He was on Miriam O'Callaghan's show last week and some of his language was... out of character. I think people should cut him some slack.

Per the news stories last week, I thought he was at deaths door and yet there he is with a mad outburst yesterday on TV. He must be off his tree on drugs.

16-07-2013 12:19PM

vitani wrote: »

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/oireachtas/political-effin-and-blindin-a-short-history-1.1465298#.UeUjzLZRCk4.twitter

Some stellar reporting here from the Irish Times. Apparently, Norris frequently uses the word 'fanny' in place of the more typical 'arse'.

I was thinking as much - still unbecoming, but at least we know it wasn't because she has a vagina. Bloomin Americans causing people to use the word incorrectly...

rubadub · 16-07-2013 12:23PM

RayM wrote: »

There's a good chance that he's either in a lot of pain or on a lot of medication. He was on Miriam O'Callaghan's show last week and some of his language was... out of character. I think people should cut him some slack.

I think this is why she said

“I have to admit that I was upset by the personal nature of the remarks that Senator Norris made about me in the Seanad earlier today. They were contrived and intentional,”

To try and counter any excuse

GalwayGuy2 wrote: »

Hmmm, I wonder was it sexist? He seemed to be just insulting her, rather than women in general. And even the Vagina Monologues comment seemed to be more a popular culture reference.

Femme_Fatale wrote: »

I can't see how "Talking through her fanny" is sexist in any context really.

I couldn't see the sexism either, but I am not surprised its being said. My test for sexism/racism etc is "if a female had said it would the journalist or Regina have called it sexist?". If not then, the person claiming its sexist are being sexist themselves.

If a female (or male) politican said "Norris had some balls to say that", then would they describe that as sexist? they are after all referencing male genitalia and so discriminating.

As said the monologues is a pop culture reference, it could as easily been made about a male politician who had a surname with a similar spelling.

Regina Doherty is talking through her Fanny!

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