In what must be the Senate’s most meaningful move like . . . ever . . . Senator Barbara Boxer put in its place the absurd practice of using “ma’am” as a title.
Especially when there is another title from which to choose – “Senator,” in this case – the whole ma’am and sir business is at best a cut-rate adoption of the French (madam; monsieur) and at worst a feint vestige of slavery.
That’s my beef with it, anyway.
Senator Boxer, for her part, was just mad that someone missed an opportunity to highlight her title.
Here’s what she said to some general or another (“sir so-and-so,” no doubt) as he testified at a Congressional hearing:
You know, do me a favor. Could you say ‘senator’ instead of ‘ma’am?’ It’s just a thing, I worked so hard to get that title, so I’d appreciate it.
I love this lady!
And we could really use her here in South Carolina, where somehow it is disrespectful not to use ma’am.
By fitsnews June 19, 2009 at 5:08 pm
Mande,
With all due respect, this “I’ve earned it” shit is precisely why people hate politicians of both parties.
They are public SERVANTS, not fucking royalty.
I would have told “Senator” Boxer to kiss my white ass in the middle of that hearing and not given a flying fuck what anybody in the chamber thought of it.
-Sic
By Mande Wilkes June 19, 2009 at 5:16 pm
Sic -
Totally. But I’m automatically down with any criticism of the sir/ma’am BS. Even when it is, like I said and like you echoed, a result of political hubris.
Plus: Madam Boxer has that feisty yenta thing going on, which always makes me swoon.
- Mande
By Mande Wilkes June 19, 2009 at 5:22 pm
And Sic…
Not to put too fine a point on it, but maybe the “I’ve earned it” shit comes in part from the affected sir/ma’am thing. Like you said, they’re not royalty.
By jethro June 19, 2009 at 5:28 pm
Mande….Are you still dating Linda Ketner?
By Dj June 19, 2009 at 5:36 pm
Actually it is military protocol. You say ma’am or sir to higher ranks in the officer corp. A enlisted troop no matter what rank would say good afternoon sir or ma’am to an officer, and officers to higher ranking officers would use those titles too, so there is nothing wrong with what he did. In reality he was giving her respect and acknowledging her authority in accordance with military rules. This just continues the stereotype of Democrat politicians not in touch with the military. I will agree that maybe it is an antiquated formality but a rule nonetheless as of this time.
By trudee June 19, 2009 at 6:04 pm
Just another insecure, liberal feminist with an ax to grind…
Way to smear your title in that GENERAL’s face.
After all, Ms. Boxer, you are such an IMPORTANT person.
By Liberty for me June 19, 2009 at 6:15 pm
Its funny how it is good enough for the queen of England but not for her..Will we ever get rid of all these elitist assholes???.I am all in for a Iran type revolt..Whos with me??
By Silence Dogood June 19, 2009 at 7:49 pm
What an absolutely horrible person (Senator Boxer) coming from a family of person’s who’ve held both high political and military title’s I saw this a very embarrassing for the Senator. She’s just an anti military zealot, and always has been. For the record, she also writes one hell of a shitty book.
By You Can Call Me Ma'am June 19, 2009 at 8:11 pm
I attended a work-related conference where a fed bureaucrat dressed me down after I used “Yes Ma’am” in answering her inquiry. She was not an elected official, not a military officer, not a director at her agency, just a federal employee. After her public tirade — which ended with “DO YOU UNDERSTAND?” — all I could manage to stutter was an Southern-bred, automated “Yes Ma’am.” I was a split second from a Sic Willie moment. AS you can imagine, if looks could kill, she would have wiped out the whole room.
By Yes, Ma'am, Senator, Ma'am June 19, 2009 at 8:49 pm
Yes, Senator, you’re a public servant. Please call me, Sir, if you don’t mind. I help pay your salary — which you do not work so hard to earn! Is it such “hard work” to forgo your narcissism? Harder than the work you did to become Senator Boxer? Why don’t you pack it up and let some other Californian show some honor as well as demand it.
By Todd June 19, 2009 at 9:40 pm
You can call me ma’am: I bet that was a woman lawyer. And they say that old joke What do women lawyers use for birth control? is dead? …. (Their personalities)
By Mike June 19, 2009 at 9:58 pm
Even for you, this is silly…
Your “ma’am as a title” premise is flawed, although you’re accidentally partially correct. Ma’am (and “sir”) are forms of address, not titles like those so coveted by these nitwit windbags. They are simply how persons in “polite society” (as they say) address each other in formal and semi-formal settings, like say, a hearing before the US Senate.
When I was required to attend formal functions of State (back in my federal days), we actually had to take little refresher courses as reminders of our “fork and spoon school” days to cover this tuff. There are certain times when very high ranking persons must always be addressed in a titular manner, but the US Senate isn’t one of them. Check out some CSPAN and you’ll routinely see male senators addressed as both “Senator so-and-so” and/or “sir.”
And slavery? Slavery?! Come on…it’s just common, everyday etiquette. The military has used it for centuries, as have civilized societies around the world. The general (who you apparently dismiss in much the same way as Boxer did) was merely showing Boxer the respect that her position deserved. Boxer is just another self-righteous, self-important buffoon, but she is a US Senate buffoon and the general was simply acknowledging that.
By Not a Spurrier Fan June 20, 2009 at 2:02 am
Ma’am sounds a whole lot better than what I would have called Boxer…. which is bitch. She is anti-military, and her record reflects that throughout her tenure in Congress. Protocol in the military is to refer to a Senator as sir or ma’am when responding to a direct question. I guess that rule is now out with her, which is fine…. she doesn’t warrant the protocol anymore. A use of the title “Senator” using the right inflection, can make her title sound an awful lot like what she is…… a loathesome waste of human protoplasam. If that is what turns you on Mande, then I feel very sorry for you.
By Old Army Guy June 20, 2009 at 10:27 am
My Momma taught me good manners so well that as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Army I even addressed my female sergeants as “Ma’am”. Ms Boxer never has had much use for the people who serve this country in uniform, and frankly, we’ve never had much use for her, so she should be happy when a soldier is professional enough to address her as anything other than “bitch”.
By Mab June 20, 2009 at 11:52 am
Oh Todd — where have I been all my life to have never heard this!?!
[What do women lawyers use for birth control? (Their personalities)]
Though I think simply the air around some of them would do it.
Frickin’ stifling. Dead stifling.
By BIN News Editorial Staff June 20, 2009 at 12:03 pm
“…some General or other.” Mandee, you are as big a fake and m@r@n as those you sometimes write about.
Your choice of this as an issue reflects your keen lack of insight and mindless use of words.
BTW, do you realize the pic you’re using makes your nose look as big as a cannon and your chin look like a chipmunk’s? Just wondering. Back the camera off.
By Mande June 20, 2009 at 12:29 pm
BIN –
“BTW, do you realize the pic you’re using makes your nose look as big as a cannon and your chin look like a chipmunk’s?”
Surely then you can see the to-die-for dimples on my nose and chin. My best features, some say.
- Mande
By fitsnews June 20, 2009 at 12:55 pm
BIN-
For a “paid pest,” you sure can’t seem to land a bite.
-FITS
By CUAlum85 June 20, 2009 at 1:59 pm
I’m not a Spurrier Fan either but I agree that the title “Bitch” is good for all who are offended by the term “Ma’am”. If you don’t want respect I’ll be happy to oblige! My kids will use Sir and Ma’am too, so TS! This is kinda like the woman who refused to go through the door I held open because she “was more than capable” to open it herself.
By Its ok to call me sir June 20, 2009 at 2:09 pm
A little (true) story, that I think, fits this situation.
There were two gentleman who on many occasions sat across the union / management bargaining table. Gentleman #1 was the CEO of a local co. Gentleman #2 was an employee of the company, and president of the local union. Gentleman #2 had always addressed gentleman #1 as sir, as a show of respect for his position in the company.
On one particular occasion, both men found themselves on the corporate jet flying to Chicago for a meeting. There was some conversation going on, and of course, gentleman #2 kept calling gentleman #1 sir. Well the libations were flowing, and the atmosphere was relaxed. So, gentleman #1 said to gentleman #2 “you don’t have to call me sir”.
Gentleman #2 responded by saying “Ok Asshole”!!
Gentleman #2 went on to retire from the company many years later.
Gentleman #1 retired about the same time.
Oh, by the way, gentleman #2 was my Stepfather.
It was gentleman #1 that told me the story when I had the occasion, and respect to call him sir, as my employer. Strange, I don’t recall him telling me not to call him sir.
Moral of the story: Appreciate someone’s manners. If you don’t, you may not appreciate how they really feel about you.
By EM June 20, 2009 at 6:57 pm
Ms Mande,
Bless your heart, but you are wrong about this one. Ma’am and Sir are good manners. My spouse is from the north and we have this discussion periodicly. Chewing with your mouth open is rude. Rarely does anyone comment when you chew with your mouth closed. People always remember bad manners. Good manners only get commented on when someone is surprised you have them, or recognize that they themselves don’t have them.
Ma’m Senator Ma’m Boxer is a Demorcrat Thankfully…because I’d otherwise have to call her an Ass.
By Eye on the Law June 21, 2009 at 9:07 am
Vote on whether or not you think that Senator Boxer was rude to the General at:
http://www.eyeonthelaw.blogspot.com/
By UpYers June 21, 2009 at 10:03 am
This is what happens when you allow women into positions of power, elected or otherwise.
By paul serrano June 21, 2009 at 11:50 am
MILITARY PROTOCOL – you address a SUPERIOR as maa’m – I think it’s fairly obvious if you’re sitting in front of a dais FULL OF SENATORS the general knows what she is, as does everyone else – this is nothing more than boxer’s EGO, and how she feels someone calling her maam is being condescending – she is a MORON – if I ever meet her i’m gonna ma’am the hell out of her and see what she says..
pauls.
former naval cadet and DEMOCRAT…
By Katherine Jenerette June 21, 2009 at 1:10 pm
At least by using the title SENATOR, no one will make the mistake of confusing Senator Barbara Boxer – a Politician – with persons who are worth their title and full respect of the American people like Private or Sergeant or Airman or Marine or Captain.
Senator Boxer looks much shorter in real life than she does in her pictures on television. God blesses some fools with a fool’s face and other fools with a fool’s mouth; in Senator Boxer’s case, she seems to have both. The title politician with all the respect that goes along with it is well deserved by Boxer.
The lowest ranking private in our military serving in Afghanistan, Iraq, or anywhere in American uniform does more a one day for this Nation then Barbara Boxer will probably ever do in her lifetime.
The term REMF comes to mind.
That’s all for now.
Katherine
By Son of Liberty June 21, 2009 at 1:45 pm
Reason # 417 for revolution (change we can PARTICIPATE in)…. Our politicians at one time were voices of the people. Today they are voices of corruption and personal entitlement. They truly believe they are superior to the rest of us. Liberty may be asleep, but when she awakes Revolution will have something to say.
By Linda June 23, 2009 at 10:40 am
It’s amazing to me that this douche doesn’t understand how the military is trained to address it’s superiors. How dare she publicly admonish this officer, who has served his country for decades. Somebody should inform this whackadoodle that she is a public SERVANT and not royalty.
By Hecuba June 23, 2009 at 6:44 pm
Putting lipstick on a female pig and addressing it as ‘senator’ rather than “ma’am” would likely agitate a gentle pig familiar and comfortable with the longstanding, polite and respectful tradition of addressing a gentlewoman as “Ma’am.”
By Jennifer June 26, 2009 at 7:12 am
What is WRONG in this world today is the so little use of the words “sir” and “ma’am” by our youth. One thing I can’t stand is for some snot nosed young’in to say yeah, and no to an adult, especially one that is due respect. Why do left-wing, egotistical liberals like Barbara Boxer and yourself oppose this so much? What’s wrong with showing a little respect? Very little respect is what is wrong with this country today. We need to get back to the basic values our country was founded on. I Boxer just needs to get off her high horse!!!
By Rick June 26, 2009 at 2:25 pm
Semper Fi KJ and you do the REMF a diservice by comparing the two. I believe that the Senator from the land of cereal (fruits, nuts and flakes) is in fact much worse than a REMF can be. Could be wrong.
By David Clouse August 2, 2009 at 10:26 am
Here is an e-mail I recieved and agree with 100 percent
Don’t know if you all saw the article last week about Barbara Boxer admonishing a Brigadier General because he addressed her as Ma’am and not Senator before a Senate hearing. Anyway this is a letter from a Guard Aviator and Captain for Alaska Air Lines. He hits the nail directly on the head. Maybe we all should send a copy of this letter to the bitch…….
Here is my final draft to Barbara Boxer Please give it your widest
dissemination. I want the world to know at least one scoundrel who
masquerades as a wise solon and a congress in whose hand $trillions are
spent without even reading the bills.
Babs:
You were so right on when you scolded the general on TV for using the
term, “ma’am,” instead of “Senator.” After all, in the military, “ma’am”
is a term of respect when addressing a female of superior rank or position.
The general was totally wrong. You are not a person of superior rank
or position. You are a member of one of the world’s most corrupt
organizations, the U.S. Senate, equaled only by the U.S. House of
Representatives.
Congress is a cesspool of liars, thieves, inside traders, traitors,
drunks (one who killed a staffer, yet is still revered), criminals, and
other low level swine who, as individuals (not all, but many), will do
anything to enhance their lives, fortunes and power, all at the expense
of the People of the United States and its Constitution, in order to be
continually re-elected. Many democrats even want American troops killed
by releasing photographs. How many of you could honestly say, “We pledge
our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor”? None? One? Two?
Your reaction to the general shows several things. First is your
abysmal ignorance of all things military. Your treatment of the general
shows you to be an elitist of the worst kind. When the general entered
the military (as most of us who served) he wrote the government a blank
check, offering his life to protect your derriere now safely and
comfortably ensconced in a 20 thousand dollar leather chair, paid for by
the general’s taxes. You repaid him for this by humiliating him in front
of millions.
Second is your puerile character, lack of sophistication, and
arrogance which borders on the hubristic. This display of brattish
behavior shows you to be a virago, termagant, harridan, nag, scold or
shrew, unfit for your position, regardless of the support of the
unwashed, uneducated masses who have made California into the laughing
stock of the nation.
What I am writing, Senator, are the same thoughts countless millions
of Americans have toward Congress, but who lack the energy, ability or
time to convey them. Under the democrats, some don’t even have the 44
cents to buy the stamp. Regardless of their thoughts, most realize
politicians are pretty much the same, and will vote for the one who will
bring home the most bacon, even if they do consider how corrupt that
person is.
Lord Acton (1834 – 1902) so aptly charged, “Power tends to corrupt
and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Unbeknownst to you and your
colleagues, Mr. Power has had his way with all of you, and we are all
the worse for it.
Finally Senator, I, too, have a title. It is “Right Wing Extremist
Potential Terrorist Threat.” It is not of my choosing, but was given to
me by your Secretary of Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano. And you
were offended by “ma’am”?
Have a day. Cheers!
Jim Hill
16808 – 103rd Avenue Court East
South Hill, WA 98375
By americanpatriot October 13, 2009 at 2:59 pm
What’s funny to me is that “general or another” has served his military and his country honorably for damn near a lifetime to earn him that title and I am sure at one point or another he was in harms way defending the freedoms of this ignorant woman. Senator with all due respect this man your talking down to has more honor, and has earned the respect of more people you will ever even know. You may have campaigned your way into office but obviously you know very little of public service and respect and I am sure like so many others that you are corrupt. What ever happened to politicians who served in the military when they were younger, like Gen. George Washington, Dwight Eisenhower, Teddy Roosevelt. Now a days politicians have this sense of entitlement, back in the day people respected these leaders for what they have done to get where they are at. Now people respect the office not the person and this holds true. Its that reason that the General did not make the senator look like a fool because you damn well better believe that he easily could have. I love this country but people in office like boxer are the reason we are so weak right now.
By STEPHANIE WALLACH February 8, 2010 at 1:50 am
“Babs”? “Hag”? “Shrew”? “Nag” “Harridan”? I don’t remember who Jim Hill is but I now know he’s a sexist bonehead. Show some respect, Jim. There is not a requirement to be familiar with “all things military” to have credibility in this country. In the military, “ma’am” is a sign of respect, but it isn’t in the Senate. And respect is about knowing whom you’re talking to.
Civilians run the military in the United States – always have and hopefully always will. Brigadier General Walsh knows that and you don’t get to be a general by having thin skin. I’m sure General Walsh is man enough to take a scolding from a mere woman. But I I bet couldn’t say the same for you. Let’s see if you can take it: Jim, you’re an ass.
If you’re so enamored of the military, bully for you. Maybe you should re-enlist.
“Democrats want American troops killed…”? You can’t possibly be serious? Tell me you’re not serious. Please. I question your grasp of reality. If you really believe this, Jim, then you are in fact a “right-wing extremist” – if the shoe fits…..
Exactly who are the “unwashed, uneducated masses”, Jim? Do we have a euphemism here for immigrants and minorities? I’m really interested. Who do you mean? I refer you again to the “right-wing extremist” comment.
California is not the laughing stock of the nation. What rat hole did you pull that out of? It has the biggest economy in the country, in spite of its broken electoral system. And it’s being run by a REPUBLICAN governor. And exactly how does Janet Napolitano fit into this diatribe? Interesting that the only two people you pick on here are women. Scared of the big boys, Jim?
Jim, a little anger at the folks in Washington is absolutely justified these days. I’m sure you’re frustrated that the Republicans continue to block any legitimate health care reform. But revealing yourself as a sexist extremist does nothing to take back Capitol Hill for the people. Next time you go on an anger bender, consider reading up on your subject first.
I think your vituperative reaction to Senator Boxer’s comments are indicative of a deeper issue for you. Perhaps a little self-reflection might go a long way. Think about it.
– Show quoted text -
Stephanie Wallach
P.S. – “arrogance” and “hubris” are synonymous.
“Democrats” is spelled with a capital “D”
By Sir April 1, 2010 at 7:08 pm
Two words describe Boxer better than senator OR ma’am:
SHREW & CUNT