20 April 2009

Targeting Katy Again - Backfires Again

| johnboy
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One thing neutral Assembly watchers often wonder about is why the Liberals hate Katy Gallagher so much.

Because she’s a moderately attractive woman in a traditionally rather ugly chamber? (Much improved by the recent influx of Greens we should note)

Because of some long ago failings for which she probably should have resigned at the time? (By which standard the whole Labor front bench aside from the newish Andrew Barr would have spent some time in the sin bin)

To the outside observer it appears to be irrational. Judging a treasurer before they deliver a budget is doubly so.

In the latest escapade the Libs appear to have hawked a story (there’s been nothing as formal as a media release) to some local media outlets about the training budget of the ACT Treasury.

Katy has returned fire out in the open, pointing out that the training budget in question is for the whole ACT Public Service. One might question whether the ACT Government really needs 18,000 public servants in this computerised age. But most intelligent observers would want those public servants to receive ongoing training and professional development.

But the bigger question remains, why do the Liberal men keep trying to give the appearance of back street hoodlums trying to mug a woman?

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neanderthalsis9:16 pm 21 Apr 09

sepi said :

Has Katy actually ever publically called any critics out as sexist?

Yep she has form:

http://the-riotact.com/?p=10653

neanderthalsis said :

I’m sure when Kate Carnell was running the show she too was targeted by the labor opposition.

Even the public picked on Kate & from what I have been told/seen they were right to do so.

The ACT Liberals just want to get their names in the media & attack everything the ACT Government does.

Has Katy actually ever publically called any critics out as sexist?

neanderthalsis5:19 pm 21 Apr 09

I’m sure when Kate Carnell was running the show she too was targeted by the labor opposition.

The rules for lil katie seem to be that when a male politician targets targets another male for whatever reason, it’s just politics. But if one of those mean and nasty mysoginists on the opposing bench say something mean horrible about our dear lil Katie (like asking about her failings within her portfolios) it is blatant sexism.

NickD said :

Dunno; the Liberals seem to have a problem with all prominent women, and not just those on the brink of power – they picked on Julia Gillard before the 2007 election when she had a fairly low profile (albeit as the Party’s deputy leader and head of her faction) and are currently picking on Julie Bishop, their own female deputy Federal leader.

Sheesh – and yet some Libs also picked on Brendan Nelson…! Labor used to pick on Bronwyn Bishop when she wasn’t even deputy leader.

Sorry, but maybe the reference to sexism is drawing a long bow.

neanderthalsis said :

Maybe, just maybe, it has nothing to do with gender.

Maybe, just maybe, it could be because as a Minister she is about as useless as a one legged man in an arse kicking contest.

I agree, it has nothing to do with gender. She has done nothing for the people of Canberra.

NickD said :

emd said :

I think it’s obvious why they’re picking on Katy Gallagher. She’s the next in line to the throne.

Oh god, remember our last female leader?

emd said :

I think it’s obvious why they’re picking on Katy Gallagher. She’s the next in line to the throne.

Dunno; the Liberals seem to have a problem with all prominent women, and not just those on the brink of power – they picked on Julia Gillard before the 2007 election when she had a fairly low profile (albeit as the Party’s deputy leader and head of her faction) and are currently picking on Julie Bishop, their own female deputy Federal leader.

I think it’s obvious why they’re picking on Katy Gallagher. She’s the next in line to the throne.

And Andrew Barr deserves more than just a short stay in the sin bin for the way he mis-handled the school closures. What I keep hearing from people who are pissed off about the school closures is that the community consultation was a farce, and promises were broken about buses to the new schools or community halls to replace the old school halls for hire.

VYBerlinaV8_the_one_they_all_copy6:46 pm 20 Apr 09

The real question we should be asking is this: can she cook?

Probably because she represents the biggest threat to the Liberals. When Stanhope goes out to grass (not in Canberra because he has made shore that’s in short supply), as Labor and a woman she will probably be unbeatable.

neanderthalsis5:23 pm 20 Apr 09

Maybe, just maybe, it has nothing to do with gender.

Maybe, just maybe, it could be because as a Minister she is about as useless as a one legged man in an arse kicking contest.

“One thing neutral Assembly watchers often wonder about is why the Liberals hate Katy Gallagher so much.”

Maybe it’s because she seems to fruck so many things up – yet never seems to take any responsibility for her mistakes?

She’s so bad, she even manages to make Hargreaves look good sometimes!

Which begs the question- why does anyone feel the need to comment on her attractiveness or otherwise at all?

I don’t understand??? What makes Katy so special JB? Hargreaves gets a bruising from time to time (see recent thread on here in fact) – as do all Ministers when the need arises. To deliberately choose not to criticize a Minister based on gender/age/race etc would be a very bad thing. Also, Katy has actually brought down 2 mini budgets so is fair game as far as her treasurers role goes…

weeziepops said :

Is it flattering or insulting to be described as “moderately attractive”?

Depends on how you look – if you frighten the children, it’s flattering. If you look like Princess Jesus, it’s insulting (hope you’re reading this).

Pommy bastard3:23 pm 20 Apr 09

Is the glass half full/empty?

I think it’s due to Liberals fearing strong women, after all, most of them were spanked by their nannies.

It would be great to say that our esteemed editor is assuming the worst based on his own masculine perspective, but I can’t. I suspect they are following in the footsteps of their federal counterparts, who always attacked the female of the species. I seem to recall intense fascination on the part of liberal pollies re: Vanstone’s choice of clothing as well as frequent comment on Ms Stott-Despoja’s appearance versus abilities. A couple of words come to mind – one is bully and the other is misogynist.

Is it flattering or insulting to be described as “moderately attractive”?

I suspect they’re trying to divide the ALP.

I think because she has a friendly face and is a woman, and does not always powerdress they see her as a soft target.

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