Cut and thrust – that’s democracy
AH, THE cut and thrust of debate in a democratic system. A furious row broke out in the US Congress, according to Sky News, after a politician accused a rival of not reading something correctly because her “fake eyelashes” had got in the way.
Controversial Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene uttered the insult to rival Democrat Jasmine Crockett during a stormy session.
It came after Democrats asked Greene if she knew “what we're here for” after she asked a question at the House Oversight Committee hearing.
The Republican replied: “I don't think you know what you're here for. I think your fake eyelashes are messing up what you're reading.”
The remark prompted cries of disgust, including from Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez who interjected to ask for the comments to be struck from the record.
She said: “That is absolutely unacceptable. How dare you attack the physical appearance of another person?”
Greene replied sarcastically: “Are your feelings hurt? Awww.”
Ocasio-Cortez fired back: “Oh, girl? Baby girl, don't even play!”
Greene also said her opponents did not “have enough intelligence” to debate her, prompting audible groans.
Tension mounted moments later when Crockett asked if committee members would be allowed to “start talking about somebody's bleach blonde, bad-built butch body”.
The comment prompted further uproar as confused committee chairperson James Comer said: “And what now?“
As politicians from both sides shouted over each other, Crockett said: “I'm trying to get clarification”, while several of her opposite numbers shouted at her to “calm down!”.
Crockett replied: “Don't tell me to calm down!” while a Republican shot back: “You're out of control.”
YES, cut and thrust. It recalls an exchange many years ago when I was in the press gallery of the South African Parliament (before the institution of today's full democracy).
The hugely fat Nationalist MP, Hennie van der Walt, was being furiously heckled by Horace van Rensburg, of the Progressive Federal Party.
Van der Walt: “If you'd just shut your mouth then I might be able to see your face.”
Van Rensburg: “If you just pull in your tummy you'll see something you haven't seen in a long time!”
Fury and uproar in the Nat benches. Yes, cut and thrust.
Marriage
ITEMS comes this way on the fundamentals of marriage.
· When getting married, most of the guys say to the girl's parents: “I will keep your daughter happy for the rest of her life.”
Have you ever heard a girl saying something like “I'll keep your son happy for the rest of his life”?
No-o-o-o, because women don't tell lies.
· If wife wants husband's attention, she just has to look sad and uncomfortable. If husband wants wife's attention, he just has to look happy and comfortable.
· Every wife is a mistress of her husband. “Miss” for the first year and “Stress” for the rest of his life.
Tailpiece
WHAT's the favourite dance move of MPs?
The two-faced shuffle!
Last word
SCANDAL is gossip made tedious by morality. - Oscar Wilde