Noonan put this in yesterday’s Fire for Effect but I felt it worthy of a deeper dive, as it were, especially considering it’s Friday (and this has been a LONG week). So what do you guys (and girls) think? Was the Senator correct to attempt this bitch slapping of General Walsh or was she out of line?
Naturally the “who earned his or her title more” arguments might ensue, so let us offer the official bios of both parties:
Read Senator Boxer’s official bio here.
Read Brigadier General Walsh’s bio here.
So, to sum up, Boxer - career politician who loves nothing so much as a good hearing in a comfortable caucus room; Walsh - lifelong patriot who has traveled the planet rebuilding regions devastated by disasters both natural and man-made.
It’s not even close, is it? We salute you, m’am … er, Senator …
– Ward
{ 122 comments… read them below or add one }
No, she was disrespectful to the General. Once upon a time it was considered to be respectful to refer to someone as sir or ma’am but I guess that doesn’t apply to self important Califonia Senators like senetors Pelosi and Boxer. That General has spent more time earning his title thourgh hard work that Ms. Boxer spent pandering to the leftist to get elected.
She is out of line. The General addressed her in a respectful manner. She also could have said “Just call me senator” and not made the long winded speech. As if she is someone to be respected with a long history of worthwhile accomplishments(she is not).
Also he had to work much harder, take much greater risks, and sacrifice more then that dumb pandering broad could ever comprehend. More like dumb broad boxer.
She appeals to idiot sheep and lies to get where she is. She is the champion of the worthless who contribute nothing to society. Respect her and her ilk…. never…..!
I have to agree that he worked a lot harder to get where he is than she did to get where she is.
“I have to agree that he worked a lot harder to get where he is than she did to get where she is.”
And you know this how? You an expert on the biographies of the Senator and the General? Spent lots of time talking to them? Or are you just making a knee-jerk response because you don’t like it?
“She also could have said “Just call me senator” and not made the long winded speech”
Four sentences is now long-winded? You’re not familiar with politicians, are you?
“dumb pandering broad”
And it’s people like you that make the Senator want to be called by her proper title.
The use of the honorifics “Sir or Ma’am” is the default under the Uniform Regulations. That carries the weight of law for the uniformed members of the US.
This is especially true when talking to civilians that are not part of his chain-of-command. Senators and Congress are not part of the military’s chain-of-command. The only elected official in the c-o-c is the President.
If Boxer doesn’t like that, she needs to change the law.
Just like UCMJ Article 125 is not military policy, it is Military Law. The military does not get to pick or choose its own laws. That job belongs to the House and Senate. You know, people like Boxer…
She’s a royal bitch.
Can we move on now to real topics?
Why not “Your Majesty?”
As a Southerner, saying “ma’am” can be a hard habit to break. The General was perfectly respectful.
On the other hand, it is polite to address some of stature by their title. Boxer was perfectly correct to make the request and the General politely complied.
Boxer request could have been a good deal more polite and respectful to the General, though. He worked pretty hard to get where he is, too (especially with that required Congressional approval for his promotion and all).
Like many self professed feminists, she has a chip on her soldier. Some women like ma’am, some don’t. You don’t need to talk down to the man because he doesn’t know before hand, what title to use in addressing you.
“Humility – Lt. General Hal Moore’s Definition”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Sq02R3WGz0
“HAL MOORE”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpUpil4hqm0
She was way out of line and is ‘ate up’ with her own self-importance (among other things)
If one views longer recordings of this session, one finds that the General uses the honorifics of Senator, Sir, and Ma’am respectfully throughout.
So if the issue is ‘respect’ then the requirements were well met. Obviously the real issue was something else.
My first thought upon viewing the Senator’s fit was “what a useless (rhymes with the word for an open flatbottom boat with squared ends, used in shallow waters and usually propelled by a long pole). But that’s just the GI in me.
I forget what site I was visiting when I first saw this little tantrum, but in the comments there was a memorable suggestion as to how the General could have responded:
“As you wish…Senator Buttercup”
Senator Boxer, you have beclowned yourself.
Maybe if she stopped acting like a motherly matron of all things government then he would not have called “ma’am”. But the fact is she was and has always acted arrogantly and so she got the ma’am treatment.
Being called ma’am probably made her feel like an old hag….. I give the general an A+ for correctly identifying the enemy.
Barb Boxer was just plain prissy, but more to the point, her prissiness was bad business. It’s hard to image whose favor she was currying.
How about Senator BITCH instead, he is a gentleman and he was actually just being polite. But I see why and understand why she did it. She has to get respect because by saying maim he’s showing that he thinks of her as a woman first and a senator second.
There are two sides to every story but she was being a bitch. She could have said that she appreciated his being a gentleman but please call me Senator. Instead she acted like a bitch!!!! Which actually destroyed the respect she was trying to get.
I didn;t know there was someone else as bad as Pelosi but I guess there is.
i thought sauing Maam was showing respect? What is she thinking or is she thinking hahaha
As for titles, we do not call judges “sir” or “ma’am”, so why is it a problem to call a senator by their appropriate title?
Many times in the professional world I see people using a different set of titles for women, and I suppose this is no exception. My biochemistry professor had problems with people calling her “miss” when they had no problems calling her male counterparts “Doctor”. Perhaps it would be like calling every stranger on the street “buddy” when you don’t even know their name.
That Bi-itch is suppose to represent the people of CA. Well to put it mildly, I don’t approve of her fudge flinging form of representation, she’s an embarrassment. General Walsh, to achieve his position, has had to perform, meet standards, has Boxer, flip-no. Boxer is not deserving the title, Ma’am. Ya got to hand it to Walsh though, he was trying his best to be respectful of that POS, and what was his reward, an unnecessary slap-down, she should apologize.
The majority of the comments in this thread–with their references to the “enemy” and “bitch”–are exactly why Boxer did what she did.
To make it even, Governors Palin and Brewer can be ma’am, along with Senator Snowe, Collins, etc.
I suppose we can try it for a while and see if they’re okay with it. And then we can make it permanent if nobody complains. How ’bout it?
TOTAL—
Can I call you Ma’am
“Can I call you Ma’am ”
You can call me “Senator.”
Ward,
I believe that this has really struck a nerve. I predict that comments will go above the 100 mark with a lot more pooh to be slung.
Game on!
I don’t see a problem with her asking to be addressed as “Senator”, but in turn she should address military personnel by their proper title.
TOTAL—
I sense you “totally” agree with Senator (whew) Boxer’s childish behavior, my, how Senatorial.
Boxer is a joke of a Senator. So she worked hard to get the title. Ok, how about actually working then you PITA.
Can’t believe she is still in office.
“I don’t see a problem with her asking to be addressed as “Senator”, but in turn she should address military personnel by their proper title.”
Did she not?
TOTAL–
I don’t believe for a leftist second that Gen Walsh would have been as demanding for proper address as was citizen Boxer, no way, ya see, the General is an officer and a gentleman, something Boxer and her crowd do not understand, but they sure prosper from the military’s honorable sacrifice.
“I don’t believe for a leftist second that Gen Walsh would have been as demanding for proper address as was citizen Boxer, no way, ya see, the General is an officer and a gentleman, something Boxer and her crowd do not understand, but they sure prosper from the military’s honorable sacrifice.”
So, in other words, you have no idea how the Senator addressed the General, but if she had been impolite he would have been all nice and understanding about it? That’s an argument impressive for its vacuity.
And how long, exactly, is a “leftist second” Longer than a regular second? Shorter? How about a “rightwing second”?
TOTAL–
A “leftist second”, hmmm I’m surprised you don’t know, I’ll explain: A leftist second is not a measurement in time, but intention, say an outright lie, to gain an advantage, to shove an ideology down throats, to demonize an individual because he’s wearing a uniform, maybe it’s a so-called Senator having never grown-up, still in Jr. High School, squealing about how unfair it all is. Well I hope that’s an explanation, albeit not too far beyond your comprehension skills…
“Call me Senator”(with a smile)is all she had to say. What pissies people off is that she had to go into a mimi feminist diatribe becuase she has a chip on her shoulder..
If it’s so important, here’s a link to an archive on it.
http://epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Hearings.Hearing&Hearing_id=c7026be1-802a-23ad-4fa3-4c8ed0b6d074
Looking for a text transcript myself.
I think only people with no military experience think “Senator” is more respectful than “ma’am”.
Generally (from a junior officer perspective), you call the people with a rank below yours their rank and the people above you sir/ma’am. For example, assume I’m a 2nd Lt; I’d call a Corporal “Corporal” and a Colonel “sir”.
She isn’t directly in the chain of command, but still “ma’am” is a sign of respect (higher than “Senator”).
Drake1: You almost had it correct. All she had to do was REQUEST, politely, that she be addressed as “senator”. She did not. She ordered it.
“….DO me a favor…”
Ma’am is correct, respectful, mandated by military custom. If it is unwelcomed, by less-than-customary-feminine types…..than a polite REQUEST of a different address is proper.
Her vocalizations were improper, unwarranted, and, well……..petty and unseemly.
No, she’s not a “bitch”….merely grossly self-centered and rude.
Everly, so you were writing that “I don’t believe for a [intention, say an outright lie, to gain an advantage, to shove an ideology down throats, to demonize an individual because he's wearing a uniform, maybe it's a so-called Senator having never grown-up, still in Jr. High School, squealing about how unfair it all is] that Gen Walsh would have been as demanding for proper address as was citizen Boxer”?
English your first language, is it?
“So, to sum up, Boxer – career politician who loves nothing so much as a good hearing in a comfortable caucus room; Walsh – lifelong patriot who has traveled the planet rebuilding regions devastated by disasters both natural and man-made.”
Alternatively, you could put for Walsh: “representative of a group trying to explain why the levees that failed at New Orleans four years ago and cost us a major American city are still not repaired, even though hurricane season is beginning.” That wouldn’t fit your conclusion, though, would it?
“Ma’am is correct, respectful, mandated by military custom”
As others have already noted, this was not a military situation, and the correct address for a Senator is…”Senator.” Not “Sir,” Not “Madam.” Just Senator.
TOTAL–
Hmmm, I rest my case Ma’am….
TOTAL:
Please, inform everyone of this forum as to your experience in military matters… What branch did you serve with? Time served? Tours of duty?
Ok, now inform us about your political back ground… Activist? Protester? Census taker?
STFU or show some respect yourself. People on here have done more combat tours, to protect your right to be an ass, than you’ve seen years.
It was the way she was asking to be addressed, not that she asked. It reminds me of times doing support calls for people who insisted on being called “Doctor” over the phone. What the heck does that have to do with anything? “OK then, Dr. Johnson. Your computer is working perfectly, you simply don’t have it plugged in. Have a nice day.”
First, let me stipulate that Senator Boxer has every right to insist that her proper title be used when addressing her.
With that said, she was rude to the General, and was WAY out of line. A simple, ‘Please just call me Senator, General’ would have gotten the point across, and the General certainly would have respected her wishes. Instead, she lectured a man whose jock she is not qualified to carry, and made it clear that this was all about showing who was boss. Even if I agreed with her (and I do not), there were certainly more appropriate ways to have expressed herself.
Like many on this thread, I see this as just another example of liberal arrogance and immaturity…
At least he didn’t call her a slutty flight attendant.
Haha, I think she’s going to be getting a lot of ‘your magesty, your greatness, your royal excellence’ from here on out.
This is a culture clash, plain and simple.
The General comes from a background where ma’am is extremely respectful.
The Senator comes from a background where it is a borderline insult.
The General deserves credit for quickly and politely adjusting to the suggestion.
The Senator deserves to be scolded for being unnecessarily cold and impolite.
Worked hard? Come on. I’m from San Diego and the nut crowd on the left coast loves BB. All she had to do was get her name on the ballot again.
They’re everywhere in that exalted body. Remember Mel Brooks’ depiction of them in “The History of the World?”
It’s what’s wrong with America y’all.
Lets see whose done more for this country.
a) General Walsh
b) The supreme ruler of the peoples state of california.
em…… im gonna go out on a limb and say a.
Some one needs to go up to that b*tch and whisper “you to are mortal” in her ear every 5 min.
TOTAL walks into a bar with cupped hands that contained some fresh, still steaming dog poo, walks-up to the bar tender and says, “look what I almost stepped in”.
And Everly continues with the “dumb things people do when they’re losing an argument.”
TOTAL–
Okay, I promise to leave you alone. Oh, Oh, wait, what’s your mom cooking for supper????
Everly is worked up; at levels beyond irrational.
Hold the line, Total.
Hey Chuck-
You a wanker too, huh….
Total says:
“From my parent’s basement, I curse thee!”
He should have apologized, then acknowledged her as Senator Box.
Mark Twain had it right: “Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself”
Boxer – worst of the worst
“I worked so hard to get that title…”
Is this what America is about these days? Titles and honors? The Constitution has a few things to say about that.
Just more evidence that the whole political class needs to be sent packing.
57 comments and im pretty damn sure what im going to say has already been said but hey; what an arrogent ‘woman’.
politicians..
Thanks, Charles.
“Oh, Oh, wait, what’s your mom cooking for supper????”
By that logic, Everly, that means you’re losing an argument to an eight year old.
“57 comments and im pretty damn sure what im going to say has already been said but hey; what an arrogent ‘woman’.”
Your attitude is why she insisted.
“Mark Twain”
Mark Twain also talked about the American Army having the “the taste of Christian butchers,” so I wouldn’t fall too in love with his witticisms for your argument.
Like others have said, it wasn’t the request that she’d be called “Senator” that I have issue with, it was how she went about doing it.
I won’t call her a b*tch because that’d be quite disrespectful to one of our great, infallible, and all-powerful Senators, but it’d be interesting to see what kind of response there would be if that type of comment came from a male Senator (I think the word b*tch would simply replaced by a**hole and d*ck).
When she whines, “I worked so hard to get that title” she sounds like some housefrau who tells everyone how hard she works when all she does is sit her fat ass on the couch and eat bon-bons.
I hope Arnold b!tch slaps her into reality.
Lol, as if a general wouldn’t be a politician in disguise…
An officer enters a senate hearing and has to answer questions because of the civilian primacy over the military.
Military custom and rules lose relevance in such a setting; it’s simply the wrong realm.
Most comments reveal a much lesser respect for a democratically legitimated senator than for a brigadier general. That’s rather disconcerting because a parliament needs to be highly respected.
A parliament with low prestige means a democracy without enough democratic minds, and that can kill a democracy.
Yeah, this post is enough for me to stop reading this blog.
Boxer called him “General” throughout the hearing, even as he was giving her some rather evasive, unsatisfactory answers. He’s her subordinate. She asked to be called by her formal title, just as she’d been calling him by his. Not a problem. Gen. Walsh didn’t seem to be offended or even phased.
But this crowd sure is. What an uppity outrage! And so she’s a “disrespectful” “bitch” who’s impliedly not a “patriot”? What bullshit. A bunch of whiners who claim to love America but clearly can’t stand Americans.
I was wondering when and if someone would bring up the relative prioritization of rank/title vs “sir” or “ma’am”. Thanks Lorenz. In MY Air Force, you addressed a superior by rank or Sir/Ma’am. If you were in an extended exchange and you respected the ‘Superior’ you tended to use Sir/Ma’am more than Rank/Title. If you barely tolerated their presence you addressed them by their title. I’m thinking of one exchange late in my career as a particularly effective example of how use of Rank/Title is less deferential than Sir/Ma’am:
“Major, I acknowledge that you are unhappy that I did not do what you wanted me to do. But Major, my job here is not to keep you happy by doing what you want me to do. My job, Major, is to keep you happy by keeping you out of jail.”
Substitute ‘Sir’ for ‘Major’ and it sounds a lot more deferential.
By the way, if you think Congress-critters can be insufferable, they are nothing compared to a lot of their staff, who often behave as if the electorate voted them in with their bosses.
Hey! This is one thread where I’m enjoying the (total)ly masochistic trolls. Keep feeding ‘em!
Correct me if I’m wrong–when is a senator “over” a military man?Chain of command doesn’t work like that,as far as I remember.Get rid of Boxer & Feinstein and the country would be better off!
I vote “Arrogant Bitch”. She’s not fit to fetch him a beer or make him a sandwich.
And as if on cue, a friend pointed me to this:
******************
According to the U.S. Army’s own guide to protocol, Members of the U.S. Senate should be verbally addressed as “Sir”,”Ma’am” or “Senator”. So, General Walsh was simply following longstanding tradition.
Ironically, when addressing senior officers, with the exception of generals whom most junior officers and enlisted personnel will call “General”, the most respectful form of address is “Sir” or “Ma’am” with use of the actual rank in address being reserved oftentimes in situations when the senior officer has not yet earned respect from an enlisted person, as in “Yes, Lieutenant!” as opposed to “Yes, Ma’am!”
*****************
From: http://bullypulpit.com/ (scroll down for ‘Its Time for Barbara Boxer to Have a New Title’)
I suspect the Army Protocol on this has been around a Looooooong time. If so, it kind of makes Boxer look like even more of a prima donna, and her ‘defenders’ even more her weak sisters, eh?
Bah….I’m a dem and a homo and I’ll call her a bitch…That was ridicules, whiny, annoying, disrespectful, ignorant and just plain rude. Did I mention petty? Oh and asinine, pathetic, moronic, idiotic, retarded, revolting…F that B. She sounded like manikin skywalker whining about how great she was. I’m sure the general worked even harder to attain the rank he has and done more and greater service. I’d be willing to bet my arse he’s spent more time in service to his country than that dumb cunny.
Ward needs to be fired for this. The guy is a dinosaur, racist and misogynistic.
A web site that goes around calling female senator a bitch is not the sort of thing the the DoD should be funding.
Go bake a pie toots!
Ma’am doesn’t have the same connotations as Sir, if I recall. Ma’am is used on superiors and inferiors in the interest of being formal.
It was probably a bad day for Boxer…people have them from time to time. My hat is off to Walsh for recognizing that and sidestepping the issue (which is probably how he survived in the game to make it to general officer).
What I don’t get is the fire and brimstone that came out afterwards, but it’s typical “Dems are always wrong” people coming out to attack every mistake made by people with Democrat political affiliation.
Isn’t it irrelevant what Ma’am means in military circles?
The officer had used the right word till she asked him to use another one – and then he used the new right word.
Seriously – that happened in the Senate. The senate’s rules apply, and a senator has the right to ask others to call him/her senator.
The only real problem in this affair is how people are reacting to it, as the officer obviously had no problems with accepting the change.
Interesting, Boxer is pushing Feminism to a new level. She doesn’t want to be called “Ma’am” as this insinuates that she is a woman.
The arrogance of the Democrats is just mind boggling.
I wonder how much of America will be left in 4 more years…
RE: “Ward needs to be fired for this. The guy is a dinosaur, racist and misogynistic.
Q: What did he write that was any of the three?
A: Nothing
RE: “A web site that goes around calling female senator [sic] a bitch is not the sort of thing the the DoD should be funding.”
Q: What ‘web site’ called a Senator anything?
A: “Web sites” don’t call anyone anything, people call people things. )I’ll give you an example at the close) In this case, they are the COMMENTERS not the proprietors of the site.
Q: What web site is the ‘DoD funding’?
A: With the exception perhaps of some advertising (only because I can’t swear I’ve never seen any), NOT THIS ONE.
Example I promised:
Q; Who is apparently too stupid to be a real NCO?
A: ‘Sgt’ Oblat
Extra Credit Question for Ward:
Q: How many of these turds in the puchbowl with delightfully unimaginative, and rarely seen here, handles– all spouting the same weak defense of Boxer–are Sock Puppets?
100 comments by midnight!
And lets not forget government officials are paid PUBLIC SERVANTS not royalty. Senator is not a title she must be called it is something that people may call her if they respect her.
Duping an electorate that can barely read never mind put 2 and 2 together is hardly working hard.
For those of you whining about “chain of command” you might want to go and read Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution.
For those of you whining about politicians, I assume you feel the same way about Ronald Reagan?
And further on politicians, how many elections has General Walsh won?
Finally, for those of you prattling on about the military protocol for addressing people, this was *not* a military situation. As you all have noted, Boxer’s not in the military. The correct way to address a Senator is “Senator…”
“In MY Air Force, you addressed a superior by rank or Sir/Ma’am”
We’re not in your Air Force; nor is the General; nor is the Senator. So what happens in your Air Force is entirely irrelevant to the discussion. I’d also note that it’s not *your* Air Force, it’s the Air Force of the *United States of America* and I don’t think we appreciate you taking it like that. Just like Boxer, you’re a public servant, and you should act like one.
Hey total….
People who take pride in their work often take ownership when referring to their profession.
For instance I teach at my school. DO I own it? no.
But pride in ones work is a concept foreign to democrats and the left so I do not expect you to understand.
There is no reason that you should ever have to call a Senetor by that title. There might be rules for how the Sentate talks to each other, but not civilians.
Many of you might not know this but when Washington was PotUS, John Adams tried to change the title of the Pres to something other than Mr. He felt like it would show the respect that the office needed, however Washington and the Senate at the time felt like it would inaprorate to raise any elected offical above the common person. No law or rule has been past that changes this standing policy.
She was rude for the sake of proping up her own ego. I don’t care how much of a jerk the General is or not, I don’t care how good or bad of a job he has done. I wouldn’t care if she was talking to a bum from the streets, Sentors are should have try to put themselves above the common person.
If “SENATOR” Boxer was secure in her position, her grand accomplishments, satisfied that she was doing something of substance for the citizens of CA, I guarantee that there would have not been that childish outburst of hers, she’s an insecure POS. I’m not a psychiatrist, but my bet is her entire persona is based on her anger at being so inconsequential, not a good choice to represent the people. Ya know, the sad part is she’ll be re-elected by the clueless citizens and (non-citizens) of CA. Oh yeah, someone keeps calling for the firing of Ward, now doesn’t that make liberal sense. If anyone needs firing it’s the bad SENATOR!!!!
Total: my attitude is why she insisted? U dont even make sense in commenting on what i said…
oh and an FYI: im not american so i dont share in the views that she should be thrown out of office and all that (i couldnt care less), but necessary respect should be given, from both sides of the fence (politician and military man) – in the video shown the respect’s only being shown one way and thats a disgrace and highly disrespectful – but what more can be expected from a person that follows purely civilian career lines from a highly anti military region?
The accompanying poll gave an answer as ….she earned the title….WRONG! She did not earn such a title, it was given her when she won an election or should I say “popularity contest”. Had she addressed the Brig Gen as “Sir” he would not have said a word as he EARNED his title or position of rank with no such “popularity contest” involved. Goes to the fact that our “elected” are so power hungry they MUST HAVE that title of “authority” instead of the true meaning of the title as “service”. She and her ilk are just maniacal power whores and this proves it
“There is no reason that you should ever have to call a Senetor by that title. There might be rules for how the Sentate talks to each other, but not civilians.”
Golly Gee, then I guess there’s no reason for us to refer to General Walsh as “General” is there? Since we’re civilians and all that. I think I’ll call him “Mike.”
I still much more impressed with Mike’s reaction than just about anyone in this thread. You know what to do when you just can’t stop crying about something? When the tears won’t stop? Think of a happy place, with puppies. Especially the puppies. Give it a try.
Upon hearing this story, I wrote this letter to Senator Boxer via her official congressional website.
Ma
This is exactly the type arrogance leadership in DC that we need to get rid of.
She is an elected public official that serves the american people, to include the BG. The general did her a favor by addressing her as ma’am and senator.
She is NOT a superior officer to the BG. The UCMJ doesn’s apply to her.
boxer is a jerk ill just call her that! missy jerk,kiss my wide ass!
“We the people elected you and we will hold you accountable for your actions come Election Day.”
No, you didn’t. The people of California did, and so far they’ve re-elected her several times.
“The general did her a favor by addressing her as ma’am and senator.”
No, he didn’t. He did the respectful thing, which lots of people in this thread could learn from.
“She is NOT a superior officer to the BG. The UCMJ doesn’s apply to her.”
And? The UCMJ has nothing to do with how he should address her in an official capacity.
I don’t like Barbara Boxer. Never have. Don’t like her politics. That said, she was absolutely within her rights to request to be called “Senator”. Her “outburst” was nowhere near what I’ve seen some judges do when they felt they weren’t getting their proper respect.
If the General is testifying before Congress, then he absolutely must show her deference and respect. Congress has the constitutional power to hold hearings of this nature, and can issue subpoenas. Hopefully none of you would go into a courtroom and call the judge a bitch. If you did, you’d be sitting in jail for contempt of court.
Our military is absolutely subservient to our elected government. The moment our military doesn’t have to show respect to the elected body which governs this country is the moment where we start living in a military dictatorship.
The General is a big boy. His feelings weren’t hurt when the mean old lady snapped at him.
As we head towards 100 comments lets see if TOTAL can agree that in trying to make sure that everyone, including the General, knows she is a big shot she only made herself appear small. Her insecurity is not covered up by her abundant arrogance. Infact her insecurity is only magnified by her arrogance. So we must pitty her mental condition and wonder why she is in such a sad state.
I think it has to do with the fact that she just can not get enough of telling people what to do. Go read her bio and all you see is “Let me tell you how to run your life becasue I am so smart”. So, she struggles to control everything and everybody. This even extends to how she is addressed. Sad…….
So, she is a perfect comrade to Obama and his fellow bureaucrats.
Wild Bill–
This is excellent. You’ve backed off the “she was wrong” argument and now you’re reduced to the “she was right, but man she’s scary and I’m terrified of her” line.
So, in your world, being right is the sign of a mental condition, is it? I’m having trouble reconciling that because, if your mental condition is considered, you must have been right a *lot* and I just don’t believe that…
WE need more info! Did the good general call the male senators Mr. or Senator.He should have addressed all the same. I am betting the males got the title Senator. I wish I hade a quarter for all then times I was told I was not a “real” officer and could not go to “official officers functions” since I was a female. I wore the rank but was treated as “second class” but tended to set the record straight as did the Senator. As a veteran, many people questioned my being a verteran because I was a “woman”. Thing were interesting when I joined my local American Lwgion Post. No, I joined the Legion not the Auxiliary, but now am an officer and haven’t heard the “you can’t your a woman” in quite a while. Bt the way, Congress “gives out the stars”. Why do you think all those Colonels at the War College were falling all over Bush and applauding his every word.????
WE need more info! Did the good general call the male senators Mr. or Senator.He should have addressed all the same. I am betting the males got the title Senator. I wish I hade a quarter for all then times I was told I was not a “real” officer and could not go to “official officers functions” since I was a female. I wore the rank but was treated as “second class” but tended to set the record straight as did the Senator. As a veteran, many people questioned my being a verteran because I was a “woman”. Thing were interesting when I joined my local American Lwgion Post. No, I joined the Legion not the Auxiliary, but now am an officer and haven’t heard the “you can’t your a woman” in quite a while. Bt the way, Congress “gives out the stars”.
Just think, all this over a simple title. The BG could have avoided all this by simply doing some preparation. If he was in doubt, he should have simply addressed her as “Senator.” She is not in the military so even though it is proper for military personnel to address one as “sir” or “ma’am”, he should have considered that she is not in the military. She is a civilian and her civilian rank is “Senator.” However, Senator Boxer should not have publicly corrected the general. She could have gone off record and then made the request and we possibly wouldn’t have this flap over a nothing request.
I am confused!! I just wrote a comment stating that we need more info on how the general addressed the “male” senators – Seantor or Mr. and related a few incidents in my 7 yrs as a military nurse and remaining years as a veteran, but it was refused beause it was abusive. But calling a US Senator a “bitch” is not abusive. Can’t wait to see if this is accepted.
the issue is cultural. In the military culture, “ma’am” and “sir” are common, official usage. In the civilian world, especially on the left, it’s all about power games. The Senator is a master of power games and acted in this manner to exercise her power.She has no grace.
If you have ever met her and been on the opposite side of an issue, you would know that she is a small minded, nasty ideologue of the left. She is a demagogue and prevaricator who will use every underhanded tool to achieve her goals. On the Hill, she is considered one of the most incompetent members of the Senate.
That she would act in this manner is unsurprising.
What a B*tch!! I say Ma’am and Sir to people out of respect. The General should have kept saying Ma’am. The stupid woman asks him a question then interrupts him for a stupid commit. I doubt that she knows what it is to work hard.
I’ll Bet Boxer watched “A Few Good Men” recently-it sounds like she stole old Jack Nicholson lines from the movie. Regardless I’m glad she’s not my Senator!
I can think of a few thing to call boxer and senator is at the bottom of the list
I can think of a few thing to call boxer and senator is at the bottom of the list
My response would have been “Of course senator and could you please address me as Brigadier General, I’m quite sure i’ve earned it.”
I really wish I was a resident of California so I could vote against her each and every time. Her little political game is actually a bit offensive at least to me. Ma’am is a perfectly respectful title and it’s just a shame she has no respect for apperantly anything but her ratings. I hope she isn’t in office much longer.
I cannot remember the last time I saw a highly decorated, brave, defender from our enemies treated with such disdain. Except for that pink,wrinkled,ball sack murtha. MARY Z. apparently your fellow officer’s saw something in you that brought on your percieved ill treatment. You ever heard of “Old School”. I’ll bet his mom would have slapped him if he addressed a women other than ma’am. Would she have snapped at him if he opened a door for her and said “after you ma’am”.
I don’t quite understand why she was so angry? He did not disrepect her in anyway, he spoke as all military people are told to respond. So what is her big deal? I guess the general didn’t earn his like her? Man as a nation we are going down so fast it’s unbeleiveable.
Senator Boxer was establishing the pecking order, a Senator outranks any General. She will remember this when the Gineral’s name comes up again for promotion.
Senator Boxer was establishing the pecking order, a Senator outranks any General. She will remember this when the Gineral’s name comes up again for promotion.
Although I am no Fan of Senator Boxer, I will make a leap of faith that she was justified in her remarks. If the General was addressing the other male senators as
“You know when you argue with an idiot you look like an idiot too?”
Ah, so I won’t argue with you, then.
Mz Boxer needs to understand that respect is earned – not voted on. She needs to understand she is nothing more than a public “SERVANT” and NOT a very good one at that………………..
I do so pity MR Boxer….
What upsets me about this is the complete lack of tact used by the senator. She knows that he has been trained to address superiors and civilians as ma’m and sir. All she had to do is say “call me senator please” and he would have done it.
Now personally I don’t believe that any member of congress or the president deserves a title. They may hold the office, but they don’t hold a title. Having a title sets them apart from the people they represent. The constitution starts with We the People… The people outrank the all of government. If any senator asks me to refer to them as Senator I would politely decline and ask them to point out the section of the constitution that grants them the title.
In my opinion no senator has the right to be called senator…but thats just me.
She worked hard and earned the right to be called senator?
Last i checked , most career polititions,only work hard at raising millions of dollers to in effect be able to outspend and hence most of the time, basically buy the election. hmm, polititions work hard? Absolutely not, not in my eyes. Whine and complain as children? yes. Sale us down the river for their own good? yes!
Those in the military in my opinion, have earned the most respect in the is country. Boxer , ma’am, you are an egomaniac who does not deserve anything.
Being from California and being a Combat Veteran I truly Respect the fact that B.G. Walsh upheld the tradition that was tought to all military personel to show Respect to congresional and senitorial personel. Having seen and heard what MS. Boxer said, I believe that she herself was out of line in trying to exsert what she belives is her so called polictical power. I have never seen any High ranking Officer show any type of disepect to any political cadre of any kind.
OooooRaww General Walsh in for being what many of us Veterans call a Trus Gentelman and Officer.
“What upsets me about this is the complete lack of tact used by the senator.”
Oh Good Lord, we’re back to this? I swear, this is the most sensitive, weepy comment thread I’ve seen in quite a while. “She was *mean* to him! Sob!” My toddler handles (supposed) impoliteness better than you folks.
He earned his by service to his Country. Boxer earned hers by service to her wallett.
Seems to me California needs to rethink some of their political choices!!!!
A Military protocol member of her staff could have alleviated this whole incident.
For those “ignorant” in military protocol, a Military member presents themselves in Military bearing and conduct 24-7 more so in civilian “situation”. Ooooorah, Gen Walsh!!!
Total why don’t you look up the meaning of tact. I don’t think it means what you think it means.
I believe that I have given you more attention than you deserve.
The late-term abortion queen.
The most odious loathsome Lefty in the US Senate.
What do expect from a Politacian in the first place. Name the last one who put there life on the line took a job that pays less then it should syffer moving having your child go to 17 different schools. Ms Boxer is like a lot of babyboomers take take take never give back it’s all about me. The other side to that is the babyboomers who did serve. I’m sure she’ll be relected by those people who think the serice is for those other people
I admire the good General for keeping his cool when most of us would have rather flipped her “the bird”! But in reflection I should not have been surprised that the bozos we have for a legislative body would actually demand the royalty approach as if it really means anything today.
The chip on her shoulder outweighed her common courtsey. When someone makes a breach of ediquite you don’t rub it in, in public. She lacks compassion.
Poor Barbi got her wittle feelings hurt, this bed wetting Liberal and her buddy/lover Palosi have not earned squat as far as respect, much less a political title for serious Americans concerned for Americans…. She is a travisty, a scar on politics and a sham, and needs to show respect for a man that has earned everything he has to include his rank and the option to call Barbi ma’am or B*tch…
Senator;
You need to remember you ar ea public servent. Therefore you work for me and the rest of the citizens of the US. If you do not respect us, we will not respect you and you will lose your job.
Why did she not address him as General at the begining of her question? He has worked a lot harder and went thru a lot more than her to get his title!!! I think she should be voted out at the next election.
I wrote to Sen. Boxer regarding her blathering to Gen. Walsh. Here is her response to me:
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Dear Mr. Kelley:
Thank you for contacting me regarding the recent Senate hearing with Brigadier General Michael Walsh. I appreciate hearing from you on this matter.
Shortly after the hearing, I called General Walsh, and we had a friendly and productive conversation. We expressed our respect for one another and our determination to work together to protect our nation and communities from natural disasters.
Thank you again for writing to me. Please feel free to contact me in the future about this or any other issue of concern to you.
Barbara Boxer
United States Senator
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I was surprised to even get a response, as she is not my Senator And she does not represent me as I am from Missouri.
That form letter response can be filed under “spin-control”.
I’m sure it was directed for some congressional page to write that response to you.
(D) California. Big surprise there, eh comrades?