Whatever you think of incumbent Mendo D.A. Meredith Lintott, why do even progressive writers find it so necessary to discuss the physical (or photogenic) appearance of a woman candidate?
I don’t mean to sound “politically correct” or anything, but there are serious issues in the race warranting their attention. Granted, the AVA has always been something like a left version of the Humboldt Mirror.
I’d like to know why the driving passerby’s flipped them off. Much more of a story there.
Addendum: Actually, in finishing the column I found the final paragraph to be the most interesting.
THE SANTA ROSA COPS might want to re-think their villains. The other day they held a hostage training with the hostage takers being “an extreme environmental activist group” whose behavior was similar to “situations that have occurred.” Really? Where?
Were they saving the best for last?
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March 26, 2010 at 11:47 am
Anonymous
Well, it could be worse
County asked DA to take time off
http://humboldtonline.com/blog/34043/county-asked-da-to-take-time-off/
see also
http://www.triplicate.com/…/News/Local…/County-asked-DA-to-take-time-o
March 26, 2010 at 3:22 pm
Eric Kirk
Wow! That’s uh, … not good.
March 26, 2010 at 5:29 pm
the reasonable anonymous
I love the fact that this Del Norte DA is running for re-election. Should be interesting.
March 26, 2010 at 7:15 pm
Ben
Uh… Eric, This is the AVA. Do you ever read it? Everyone Bruce doesn’t like is fat and ugly. Bruce is slender and manly. The reason the cars flipped them off was… it was Bruce.
March 27, 2010 at 8:28 am
ED Denson
You are right about news focus on women’s appearance, but this article is not an example of it. This article focuses on the change of a campaign photograph, which is certainly subject to analysis just as the change of a slogan would be. The photo choice is made by the candidate (or someone working for the candidate) for the purpose of putting forth an image to the public.
March 27, 2010 at 4:16 pm
Not A Native
Answer: Because progressives consider a woman’s appearance to be a significant indicator of what she prioritizes in her life, especially of what cultural values she “really” believes in.
Theres a lot of “political correctness” with regard to appearance in progressive culture. Progressives are almost paranoidally fearful of being deceived by establishment spies, poseurs, and wolves in sheeps clothings.
And if she’s “progressive” and therefore presumably sexually “liberated”, any indication of her sexual preferences and libido level is also especially interesting to to men of all political sentiments.
Practically, women have had much more social latitude and options than men in choosing their personal appearance, considering hairstyles, clothing styles, makeup, cosmetic medical procedures, and shape changing garmets. So their appearance reflects choices from a wide range of possibilities and probably indicates something about their decision making. Studies also show that people have a better perception of women who have features associated with fertility.
March 28, 2010 at 10:21 pm
Eric Kirk
Uh… Eric, This is the AVA. Do you ever read it? Everyone Bruce doesn’t like is fat and ugly. Bruce is slender and manly. The reason the cars flipped them off was… it was Bruce.
I know it well, and I know that many people are angry for him for many different reasons, including the whole Bari thing which really did get out of hand. But I love his writing. Reminds me of Mencken.
I first read him back in like 1986 or 87. I heard him interviewed on the radio while visiting the Albion area. Probably it was KGYX. The host’s name was Ed something. I thought Bruce was hilarious and articulate, so on my way out I bought a copy of his paper and couldn’t put it down. My favorite was a response to a letter from some NRA guy who had delivered the party line (paraphrasing to the best of my memory, but I often referred to it for inspiration when I had writer’s block).
“You people are not a well-regulated militia. You’re mostly a bunch of fat-assed fantacists who lie awake at night hoping that a member of some ethnic minority will break into your home so you can blow him away. Since the lot of you are dangerous misfits and a threat to any hope for democracy I hope they pry the guns from your clammy masturbatory fingers. I’ll just bet you’d have wanted the Kent State victims to have been armed with AK-47s you hypocrites. Poland my patoolie!”
There was something raw and appealing about it. But I do think he took the point about newspapers having no friends a little too literally.
I got slammed in his paper once. Didn’t mind. It made me seem more important than I was. Makes me think of Kissinger’s comment that it’s a bad thing if you’re a political figure and you don’t get slammed in Doonesbury.