Anyone watching Obama and Brown live?

I have major issues with Brown - privately he opposed the Iraq war, but hadn't the balls to truly stand up to Blair - but I do think, for all his faults, he's an inherently decent man.

But whatever differences we might have with him and/or Obama, especially on foreign policy issues, it just struck me how impressive these two were today - intelligent, articulate, knowledgable. How often did GWB refer to the econony of Ukraine, as Obama did today, in his press conferences?!

Any way, it was just a refreshing contrast to those bullshit love-ins between Bush and Blair, goodbye to all that waffle and bollox.

I just read it was cancelled due to snow, that Brown would have to settle for drinks with Biden, which didn't seem to me to be so bad.

the podium. Instead, they sat in the Oval Office and took questions for about 20+ minutes.

:loveya:

I read a post that the press conference was cancelled. Hopefully I can find a link to the video.

...well, in my part of the world any way! He knew the war was wrong, but didn't have the *guts* to force the issue with Blair. That's all I meant. As a female I'd hardly make the ownership of 'balls' a prerequisite for doing the right thing, would I? :-)

Each assumes that the person on the receiving end is, biologically, inadequate as 'female' or 'black' so it is considered to compliment to credit them for being something they are not. Both comments are considered compliments.

They're not.

By using one of the most common expressions heard on a daily basis in Britain and Ireland - one that, oddly enough, is applied to men and women - I am asuming "that the person on the receiving end is, biologically, inadequate as 'female' or 'black'"....good grief. Please tell me you're being amusing?!

makes you weak. Mental fortitude does not require having balls.

It's not a compliment to tell a woman she has balls.
It's not a compliment to tell a black person they're being 'white'.

Folks also talk about 'welshing on a bet', and 'gyping' people, but they're offensive too.

That you don't see the sexism of associating having balls with moral fortitude shows how pre-reflective sexism is in our language and our society.

Everyone doesn't have a problem with what Jackeens said. I don't compare it to telling a black person they're being white.

Didn't mean to derail the thread. I agree with everything else Jackeens has said here.

I think sometimes we just WANT to have something to be offended about. It's not that deep.

masculinize a woman, it means she's strong. She has balls.

Language is important.

Anyway, it's such a relief to see Bush and Blair gone!

Do your thing. Everybody doesn't have a problem with it.

Yes, it's a relief that Bush and Blair are gone. I hope Pres. Obama can have a good relationship with Prime Min. Brown.

By someone who evidently intends serial harrassment until all and sundry accept his/her view of the world.

You made your point. Repeatedly. And you're getting increasingly nasty about it. Surely there's another thread for you to go derail by now, another inappropriate word somewhere on the internet for you to go police. We're all greatful for your service, really. Let us know when you finish.

It isn't "derailing" anything for misogynist language and stereotypes to be plastered all over a PROGRESSIVE discussion board.

It isn't derailing the advancement of women, any more than plastering racist or homophobic or otherwise bigoted language and stereotypes all over would be.

It isn't derailing the progress of human society. Not at all.

It isn't cool to remark upon and reprove the invoking of such stereotypes to make some point on a PROGRESSIVE discussion board, among people who allegedly adhere to beliefs in equality and equal opportunity and all that jazz.

Why, if someone said it was mighty white of Obama to, oh, thank John McCain for his service to his country, and somebody objected, why no one would have any idea why it might be somewhat odd, not to say ignorant beyond belief, to invoke a racist stereotype to praise Obama.

No, it's not odd at all to invoke a misogynist stereotype to praise a woman. Not odd at all.

And no one should say it is, in any thread ever.

.....with the world's economies crumbling and wars in every corner of the globe I envy you the luxury of obsessing over petty semantics.

And really, do you seriously believe the citizens of Swansea, Cardiff and the Valleys take offence at the term "welshing on a bet"?

They don't. They have lives to lead. And I should know. ;)

PS I know positive posts about the President offend you, but you really need to move on.

1) That sexist/racist expressions are okay so long as your friends use them
2) That I am not an Obama supporter when I am. Please continue to ignore my positive posts.

Jeez...you must in a constant hell being offended so often. You must find things to be offended about in half the conversations you hear.

Whoops did i offend bald people ?

Every decent person should be offended by expressions like this, it has nothing to do with "looking to be offended." I find it very odd that you are defending ethnic slurs.

Try here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x2948666

;-)

But you'd certainly have made Rob Brydon smile, I'm sure.

or to tell a woman or a man they have balls. All it means is that they have the nerve to say or do what needs to be said or done even if its uncomfortable. Its not mental fortitude, more like ethical fortitude. This particular phrase is used so commonly that you are the VERY first person I've ever heard consider it to be sexist.

This particular phrase is used so commonly that you are the VERY first person I've ever heard consider it to be sexist.

A lot of things are commonly said. A lot of people don't know what they mean, or claim not to know what they mean, or don't bother noticing what is in front of their face.

Its not mental fortitude, more like ethical fortitude.

Well yes indeed.

And what, exactly, might ethical fortitude have to do with male genitalia?

I can't even imagine who first came up with the notion.

Except for the fact that ethical fortitude is one of the very elements of the male stereotype in our society. And one of the things expressly absent from the female stereotype.

The female stereotype is of an amoral person. Sometimes, even, an immoral person. Eve. Men are honourable and have integrity. Women are self-absorbed and never see the big picture. Kind of like that other well-known segment of humanity, the other amoral/immoral and shiftless ones. The ones being insulted when anyone is complimented by being told what they did was "mighty white of them".

For a woman to be complimented by being told she has an admirable characteristic of men that women, by common consensus, do not have takes some self-loathing indeed.

And, no, typically, most people don't assign a gender to integrity. That you do says something about you. I do not.

imply anything negative.

:thumbsup: My sin, it seems, was to be complimentary towards the President..... :-)

Oh my, did I just insult the injured? :)
:sarcasm:

You're very welcome. :)

I don't like seeing stuff like that. And I appreciate your threads. So, it's a no-brainer for me to jump in. :hi:

I use it and I'm a woman.

We obviously use the same expression here on DU quite frequently.

Who 'we', white man?

I sure as hell don't.

Political correctness = :crazy:

He is better then Blair at the very least. And I am not offended by "balls"...I never really thought about it actually. Perhaps some people like the word "guts" better?

had many conflicts with Tony over policy. I think there is a stronger streak of integrity in Brown than was found in Tony Blair. The Labor party turned to Blair as a more conservative leaning leader after 16 years of conservative party rule, with Thatcher and Major. The more America backs up Brown the mutual benefits will come to fruition, as Gordon Brown ia a powerhouse on the economy.

That will be interesting