Atlas Shrugged: The Mocking

Monday, March 31, 2008

Surfing

Only Congress has the Constitutional right, by the representative will of the people, to commit public funds. The Bear Stearns deal is a dangerous precedent and a dilution of Congressional prerogative. (bold in original)

They seldom miss a chance to grab more power. They really don't believe in a democracy or even a republic.

Mark Steyn's feelings are hurt by a woman, so he calls her one of hoards of "cobwebbed feminists." The inference of a vagina covered by cobwebs is so hilariously inappropriate, so hopelessly geriatric, that it has to be culled from the dim recesses of Steyn's empty attic of a brain. Daddy's words, or maybe an uncle, or a family friend.

That's a good little authoritarian, Mark. Daddy (or whomever) would be so proud.

Speaking of which, Kathryn Jean Lopez is concerned that Islamics will outbreed Catholics. And what are you doing about it, honey? You're not getting any younger you know, and we've all seen what happens to those selfish women who delay taking care of men and babies to have their own careers. Why aren't you popping out little Catholics, instead of thinking you're as good as a man and pretending you're a political writer?

35 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hmm. It seems to me the strange inference you have drawn from Steyn's turn of phrase is all your own. The point about feminism is that for what it had to offer as its original mission, it has been successful. Therefore those that remain committed to a mission already accomplished seem to be sleeping Rip Van Winkle style.... thus the cobwebs.

You might want to cut down on the amount of psychosexual academic goo you swallow.

Anonymous said...

"...and pretending you're a political writer."

Whereas Susan of Texas is pretending ... what exactly?

Anonymous said...

I think it's so great that someone like Steyn can base a whole career as a political pundit on telling white people that they need to f*ck their wives more. That passes for insight in some quarters.

Mark Steyn is a total douche, and if he could engage his puny brain for long enough it might strike him that he has a whole lot more in common with his precious Islamofascists (feminism? gay rights? human rights? love of starting wars?) than he does with most degenerate liberals and other 'pantywaists' back in the USA.

David W

Susan of Texas said...

ted s., I am usig right-wing talking points against a woman who regularly spouts right-wing talking points. I don't pretend; my bio lists what I am.

kevfors, maybe you aren't old enough to recognize the phrase. I disagree with your view of modern feminism, but to each his own.

Susan of TExas

Anonymous said...

Whaaaat?

I agree that it's " hilariously inappropriate" but I'm afraid the joke is on you - if he'd said "cobwebbed Stalanist" I suppose you would have inferred that he was talking about an "anus covered by cobwebs".

It'd be funny but I'm afraid it's a little disturbing.

Anonymous said...

"... anus covered by cobwebs."

Is that what happens to anal retentives?

Sometimes a web covered feminist is just a banana.

kingcityDouche

Susan of Texas said...

Yes, his inference is disturbing.

I wasn't aware of Stalin/cobweb associations. Perhaps he used it for blotting wounds? Maybe he was fond of "Charlotte's Web"?

Anonymous said...

"Yes, his inference is disturbing."

Oh give it up Susan - he's making no such implication - your inference is just silly.

Do a Google search on "cobwebbed feminists". Even better, I'll do it for you here.

The phrase was unused until he wrote it - your quote is the only other use of it in the entire Internet.

Widen the search if you like - feminist cobweb/cobweb vagina feminist/vagina cobwebs Steyn/conservative cobwebs feminist.

After you've done that you might wonder why you were so quick to draw such an odd inference.

Anonymous said...

congrats on being Mark Steyn's reader of the day

Susan of Texas said...

Jane--Well, that settles it then. If you can't find it on Google, it's never been said or written.

Anonymous said...

Hey Sweety,
maybe the phrase "cobwebbed feminist" had more to do w/ cobwebs in your head from lack of moving parts, critical thinking skills, etc... Mr Steyn is too busy to worry about the physical condition of your reproductive parts. Bless your heart slut and get back in the kitchen.

Susan of Texas said...

It's a good thing, then, that he has you to do his errands.

BallBounces said...

The evidence from this post is that the cobwebs are covering the feminists' brains.

Kevin D. said...

I'd say it's far more likely his use of the term is a refrence to the old, unmoving, feminist tripe of the forever oppressed, repressed, or whatever other wrong has been visited upon them by big mean ol' men. That they're coverend in cobwebs simply because they've not bothered moving in some 40 years.

Keep something in one plave for four decades and see if it doesn't get covered in webs!

But, I'm not surprised you'd interpret something as easily understood as "cobwebbed feminist" as having soemthing to do with your vagina. It seems with feminists everything has something to do with their vaginas.

Susan of Texas said...

Forty years ago was 1968. Do you really think the US hasn't been forced to change for women in the last forty years? Birth control-1960 and '72. Abortion-'73. When I was a kid, single women usually could not enter into a contract--which means buy a car or house, among much more. Plus I'm sure you've heard of rights for women employees that were only enacted after women entered the work force en mass.

You can choose to dislike feminism but you can't choose your facts. Stick to statements like "feminists look hairy" or "feminists are icky and don't wear make-up."

Anonymous said...

''You can choose to dislike feminism but you can't choose your facts. Stick to statements like "feminists look hairy" or "feminists are icky and don't wear make-up."''

How about, ''feminists make very odd inferences that occur to no one else on the planet?''

The idea that when Mark Steyn was refering to some feminists as having outdated preoccupations by using the word 'cobwebbed' he ACTUALLY was refering to their vaginas and their need to have a whole lot more sex completely eluded me.

But, if we assume that everything in the whole world revolves around vaginas i suppose it all makes sense. Say hello to the vaginocentric theory of life the universe and everything.

Anonymous said...

Susan -- As a mere male, I fail to understand your logic. What makes you think Steyn is referring to their sexual organs? Have you internalized patriarchial discourse and assumed feminists must be "c***s"?

Btw, I've found hits for "cobwebbed conservatives." Heaven knows what you'll make of that.

Anonymous said...

''Forty years ago was 1968. Do you really think the US hasn't been forced to change for women in the last forty years?''

You do realise that Selderane was refering to feminists ideas not changing, right?

Selderane was not suggesting that the USA hasn't changed in forty years, rather, that some feminists ideas hadn't changed, while the rest of the world had.

Quite a big difference really.

Susan of Texas said...

You mean feminists are *still* for equality??

You're right. It's passe!

Anonymous said...

Only a complete retard would suggest that Steyn is anything but brilliant.

I suggest you get the cobwebs out.

Susan of Texas said...

Surely you all can find someone who will reflect better on you than Mark Steyn? Most of you are probably smarter and better educated than he.

anonymos said...

maybe this just occurs to me but your comments only seem to reinforce the point other people are making you are looking for any possible reason no matter how obscure to showcase your feminist ideals that are, at this point, becoming outdated and i might say "cobwebbed"

Anonymous said...

Good post Susan but unless you wanted to characterise yourself as "hilariously inappropriate" and "hopelessly geriatric" you have misused the word "inference" - you probably meant to write "his allusion to a vagina covered by cobwebs" or something similar.

Anonymous said...

Sorry, you have no evidence to say Steyn referred to vaginas specifically being cobwebbed. It's your contention; you have the burden of proof. I prefer to think it's you who is hilariously inappropriate, you who has the dim recesses of an empty attic of a brain.

And as for the actual phrase Steyn used, "cobwebbed feminists", you say "it has to be culled from" somewhere, but you present no evidence for your use of the phrase "has to", implying necessity. In fact, you present no evidence that Steyn did get it from anywhere else. Again, your contention, your burden of proof.

Although it's already been pointed out that "inference" is probably not the word you meant, in your case you have accidentally used the right one. "Infer" means "to derive as a conclusion from facts or premises". In other word, a "vagina covered by cobwebs" is concluded by you from what Steyn said. And as stated above, you have no evidence for such a conclusion.

And by the way, it's "hordes", not "hoards".

I think you should learn the rules of logic before you post again. And look up words you don't understand before you use them. That would probably mean a very long interval between posts.

Anonymous said...

''You mean feminists are *still* for equality??''

No, if that's what i meant, i would have said it.

Do you think it's a possibility that your powers of inference are not as developed as you think they are?

The point which Mark Steyn made quite clearly (no inference required) is that feminists are still fighting the old battles, when the world has changed and they need to realise that theri are new battles that need to be fougt.

Unless of course, if you 'infer' that being forced to wear a Hijab and being subject to corporal punishment from your husband (forced marriage being arranged) is not something that feminists need worry about.

After all, we wouldn't want to impose our cultural values on anyone would we?

JS said...

Nice work, Texas!

You've gotta get up pretty early in the morning to dig "vagina" out of that Steyn posting. Sorry, by "digging" I don't mean to imply penetration.

On the subject of turning a Freudian slip into a solipsism, I tip my hat to your "hoard" typo. I'm sure, by your powers of inference, you also meant to imply that Mark thinks that women are "whores"... or "horses"? Maybe the whole thing was an April Fool.

Anonymous said...

Gee, S of T. One could almost conclude that you were one of those whoards of semi-educated womyn's studies graduates who unfortunately are trained in "vagina-think" rather than "think-think". Posting your keen insights in the real world may not have been the best strategy to foster your feelings of self worth. Isn't there a closed feminist chat room you would feel more comfortable (empowered) in?

Anonymous said...

The "inference of a vagina covered by cobwebs" is being made by one reader. And yes, it is hilariously, delightfully, inappropriate!

Anonymous said...

On balance however, it must be appreciated that you haven't modified your original post.

Susan of Texas said...

I must say, I'm awfully disappointed. I don't expect humor or wit, but nobody has said anything except "I"ve never heard it so it can't be true" or "femininst, stoopid."

Don't you guys have any debating skills? Knowledge? Anything but junior high insults?

I've gotta find a better class of trolls.

Well, what can one expect from Steyned Shirts? Maybe I should have insulted Christopher Hitchens instead. His fans are probably more literate.

Hmmmmmm....

Anonymous said...

''I must say, I'm awfully disappointed. I don't expect humor or wit, but nobody has said anything except "I"ve never heard it so it can't be true" or "femininst, stoopid."''

I notice you didn't deign to respond to my suggestion that feminists are 'cobwebbed' in that they are still stuck fighting the old battles when the world has moved on.

No interest from you in forced marriages, honour killings, wife beating, female circumcistion?

Maybe it's just easier to insult people like Mark Steyn than to actually concern yourself with the real threats to women?

Anonymous said...

Thanks for showing us some top-notch humour and wit, Susan.

Steyned Shirts! Ha! Ha, Ha, Ha!

You really help demolish the ugly stereotype of the humourless feminist.

Susan of Texas said...

Harry Palm, you know nothing at all about me. You don't even know if I'm a feminist, if I went to school, or anything else.

You simply troll the internet looking for strangers to insult. If you were witty or intelligent I'd understand, but simply showing up and trying to insult strangers with the same tired old cliches you stole from everyone else--very lame.

Try harder or I'll ignore you. You're not entertaining at all.

Anonymous said...

''Harry Palm, you know nothing at all about me. You don't even know if I'm a feminist, if I went to school, or anything else.''

Indeed, and i don't need to know anything about you in order to debate broader ideas.

''You simply troll the internet looking for strangers to insult. If you were witty or intelligent I'd understand, but simply showing up and trying to insult strangers with the same tired old cliches you stole from everyone else--very lame.''

Except that if you read my posts you will see that i haven't insulted you. I have challenged your ideas and asked questions. Or do you consider that to be 'insulting'?

''Try harder or I'll ignore you. You're not entertaining at all.''

Or maybe you could actually try answering some of my points instead of descending to Ad Hominen attacks?

I notice that rather than engage in discussion you have repeatedly used the tactic of simply insulting the people who dare to disagree or challenge you.

Now that IS lame!

Susan of Texas said...

You have yet to make an argument. Only Steyn could answer that question, and he decided to set his winged monkeys on me instead. I don't care, it's a rough-and-tumble world her on the intertoobs. But you don't know what he meant, and simply contradicting me with no evidence to back you up, and repeatedly becoming distratced by shiny objects, isn't an argument.

Incidentally, when you say that feminism is unnecessary, and then turn around and ask me why I'm not doing something to help downtrodden women, you are destroying your own argument.

You don't use logic, facts, or even research. You indulge in the same sins you accuse others of, such as ad hominem attacks. In short, you can't debate and I don't care to argue unless I'm being entertained at the same time. Time is short.