Madam Speaker or Mrs Speaker or Ms Speaker

Bucky

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Thu Jan-04-07 01:14 PM
Original message

Poll question: Madam Speaker or Mrs Speaker or Ms Speaker

I remember a wonderful line from a Katherine Hepburn movie in which some condescending man addressed her as "My dear madam" and Kate replied, "I'm neither yours, dear, nor a Frenchwoman."

While I think the line would've been better if she'd said "nor a madam", but Kate Hepburn didn't talk about brothels in the movies, I don't think.

Anyway, I'm seeing people refer to Pelosi as Madam Speaker and even a few step-ahead-of-ourselves hopefuls saying Madam President. I don't like that lack of parallelism. Which do you prefer?

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Hoosier Dem

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Thu Jan-04-07 01:16 PM
Response to Original message

1. Madam Speaker is fine by me...

I think it does have a more dignified tone. In fact, when the House of Commons got its first female speaker, they used "Madame Speaker".

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theoldman

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Thu Jan-04-07 01:17 PM
Response to Original message

2. Her last name is not speaker so it's "madam speaker" to

acknowledge her position.

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Hosnon

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Thu Jan-04-07 01:45 PM
Response to Reply #2

7. But aren't male speakers referred to as "Mr. Speaker"?

And I like "Madam Speaker".

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Jack Rabbit

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Thu Jan-04-07 01:20 PM
Response to Original message

3. I vote Madame Speaker only because it is what is used

Although, quite frankly, I like the democratic sound of Ms. Speaker.

As for Katherine Hepburn, I wonder if they didn't retake the scene or leave something like what you suggested on the cutting room floor. She had a mind of her own.

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DesertRat

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Thu Jan-04-07 01:22 PM
Response to Original message

4. Actually it's Madame Speaker.

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theoldman

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Thu Jan-04-07 01:31 PM
Response to Reply #4

5. It's Madame if you are French.

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DesertRat

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Thu Jan-04-07 01:48 PM
Response to Reply #5

8. I stand corrected

I'm used to seeing it the French way. Here's to our new Madam Speaker!

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Bucky

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Thu Jan-04-07 07:19 PM
Response to Reply #8

9. Either is a welcome break from the last 12 year of "Madman Speaker"

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Luna_C_06

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Thu Jan-04-07 01:36 PM
Response to Original message

6. I voted for Madam Speaker

just because I like the sound of it, although Madam President sounds better :).

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Jed Dilligan

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Thu Jan-04-07 07:34 PM
Response to Original message

10. "Sir" and "Madam" have no place in American society.

Ms. seems fine to me. We don't say "Sir Speaker," do we?

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mod mom

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Thu Jan-04-07 07:36 PM
Response to Original message

11. Madam because it sounds french and that will irk the pugs.

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bigwillq

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Thu Jan-04-07 07:40 PM
Response to Original message

12. I like Madam Speaker.

:bounce:

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ellisonz

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Thu Jan-04-07 07:43 PM
Response to Original message

13. Madame.

I love the formalism in address, it keeps it civil, sometimes....

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