Helicopter parenting and politics
Everyone around rolls their eyes when they get out of the car: helicopter parents and the poor child stuck with them.
Far too much help.
Too quick to intervene and intercept any perceived threat to their accessory offspring’s emotional state, physical being, or the family group’s image.
One cannot stand by while others damage the group image, right? What is thought of one, is thought of the whole, right?
Helicoptering is a behavior pattern now landing into other arenas of life.
OK. This urchin could use a little help. (1874.USPD/Commons.wikimedia.org)
Currently smothering politics.
Oh, that Trump and his blurted quips.
Oh, the outrage by those quick to rush in wag the Finger of Shame in defense.
Especially for targeted Carly Fiorina.
Seriously Hillary Clinton, celebrities of “The View”, and other high-profile mouths, what is the actual motivation for your helicoptering outrage?
Do they think Carly is a helpless bit of fluff? (1900/USPD/Commons.wikimedia.org)
Carly’s not exactly a shy shrinking violet.
Unlike many of the “defenders”, she made her own way in the business world – in male dominated arenas.
No famous husband going out in her behalf seeking favors or running interference. No agents or body guards holding off clingers or taking the heat for her during her career.
Nope. She’s stood up and made it on her own.
You are all strong women? So? Why do you think she needs you to speak for her?
Couldn’t possibly be motivated to draw attention to yourselves and your own agendas, could it? No, of course not.
I have no doubt Carly’s dealt with strong male personalities in the past, and is perfectly capable of doing it again.
And I’d like to see her do just that.
No shrill chorus requested or required.
Any woman in business masters the swordplay of words and wit.(USPD/Commons.Wikimedia.org)
In the battle for position, the presidential candidates now must stand up and show what they’ve got.
Mother hens or motormouths creating distractions or trying to grab the spotlight not needed.
Time to find out how the cow ate the cabbage.
Phil, the Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge.
As entertaining as new Fall TV shows?
- Fiorina on Trump: “I think I know when someone’s flirting with me” (Like when she was in 3rd grade…)
- Carly Fiorina has a message for Donald Trump “Yes, Look at this face.” (KTLA5. “….So ladies, let’s just think. Can we think of a single instance in which a man’s judgment was clouded by his hormones?” she quipped, to roaring applause…..”)
- Carly Fiorina: “Trump’s and entertainer, I’m a leader” (MSNBC)
“What? This is the arrangement? Dude, I’ll sing the song the way I want to sing the song. You follow MY lead and try to keep up.” (1912Brissand/Commons.wikimedia.org)
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Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge 
Ug! You reminded me that I hate politics. It’s going to be a painful 14? 15? months!
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With luck the weather will be nice enough to go outside for long periods of time. Thanks for flying by with a comment
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We hope…..
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This weekend was a good start on terrific weather. The mud hole previously known as the backyard is drying up.
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I cannot imagine what Trump thinks he’ll gain by bullying Carly… except as she said, he’s flirting with her. Can’t stop himself. I didn’t know that all these other important women had come to her rescue, but it doesn’t surprise me. Narcissism requires it, I suppose.
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Is it a business strategy to get people to leave the table one way or another? We’ll see if he’s met his match.
Who needs daytime TV soap opera drama with all this? Thanks for voting to leave a comment
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Trump is a businessman who’s probably run rough shod over competitors in the marketplace. Carly doesn’t seem to be shaken, in fact she seems somewhat amused as if expecting it. Trash talk and character attacks all part of the political scene for a long time. They are all doing it. Trump just blurts out headlines. You nailed it with your last two lines. Long tedious season ahead. Thanks for landing a comment on this pad.
OH, you got 2 responses. That’s what I get for not checking in the morning what I did last night. (Paw waves…here’s I’ll just knock some of that slung mud off – don’t worry. Molly’s not a politician!)
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I think we would all do well to read, “The Four Agreements” by Don Miguel Ruiz. If a politician practiced that kind of wisdom, he/she would have my vote.
I plan to escape to the woods and river area with my camera through much of this political mud slinging. I like spending time around a different kind of animal. 🙂
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There’s some good advice. (Actually reading ANYTHING would be a good idea during this thin out the field period)
Now real news: fall is visiting! Cool-ish morning, north breeze – and the smell of new hay in the feed store barn. Hay stack smells always are the icing on the Fall cake. (even if for only a day or two. It’s coming!)
Thanks for trodding this trail
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I agree that Carly doesn’t need anyone’s help and our politics is a circus show.
However, on the whole, I think women AND MEN need to stand up whenever they see men attempting to belittle women. Not that the woman needs to be rescued but to impress upon our culture that this behavior is bogus and no longer acceptable to anyone. Domestic violence is the dark side of treating women as less than men. When men start collectively shaming men who use violence against women, it will make a difference. My rant 🙂
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Excellent rant it is!
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Campaigns have become a cross between a sports event and a comedy show.
It is a lovely rant. Little boys used to be universally taught “You do not hit girls. It’s cowardly.” Although domestic violence was kept quiet at the time, generally that was the rule. Perhaps when girls started hitting back and became braver, it changed? Currently here (and I live outside one of the biggest and most diverse cities in the US, so my experience may be different from yours – yours also being valid) domestic violence is frequently the woman battering the man (one was a high profile football player with a tiny wife, and then there was another high heel attack – one resulted in death) and here, one partner is battering the other in same sex marriages and couples.
Violence has become common way to solve problems or express emotion/unhappiness – and that must stop. Violence must stop.
Shaming is (here) almost an old fashion concept. (Your location may be different) Our leaders don’t feel shame. Our politicians don’t feel shame. I doubt many people/kids walking down the street would recognize shame if it ran up and sat on their heads. A little shift there would help. Yep, bringing back the stocks and pillory- even draping signs around people’s necks in public places for a specified time might help. But the self esteem people and civil liberties crowds would not agree. (talking nice and explaining it to culprits works so well, right?)
I am for massive shunning of anti-social behavior, but it won’t happen. Start with professional sports teams: NFL, NBA, baseball – expel those who get in fights on the playing field, in public, in their homes instead of winking. (Oh, but that might cost teams money..) Stop winking at celebrities who fight/shoot/stab/run over others. They should be charged, punished, and shunned. Music lyrics and music videos? The violent ones would stop if there wasn’t money to be made. Social media – you assist violence by posting violent videos of girl fights, brawls in schools, parents standing there while urging their kids to beat another up – and sometimes joining in. Facebook, You Tube, Instagram, Twitter – all of them will censor for racism, “bullying”, and sarcastic “fat shaming” but allow all sorts of fights and violent images. Why? Money to be made.
Public could bring pressure and stop it.
Everyone needs to step up to end violence and demeaning language, which as you say, is the gateway. Like the old people used to say, “If you are thinking it, it’s the same as doing it.” Lots of work to be done.
Love your take on it and the rant. People have to speak up. Thanks
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I was waiting for your reply 🙂
Yep, I agree with your rant! Values are lopsided and cash is king. We need to keep speaking up and taking a stand when we can. Even if it’s just picking one issue and pressing it forward. I’m in the battle against Big Energy invading my neck of the woods. If we win against the billionaires, I’ll be amazed, but I’m giving it my best. That’s all we can do. Thanks for the thoughtful and impassioned reply!
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Speaking as one who had our timber farm pay for much of school, we need to protect our old growth timber and forests – not just from billionaires but also other countries who want fine wood and need construction material for their rapid growth. I really like that certain amusement parks and big box stores will tout their solar energy/green energy while at the same time cutting down massive amounts of trees on the same site. All for fake PR value. Then there’s the massive solar/wind farms built directly in the migratory paths – with knowledge and approval of fed. depts that are supposed to be on watch (Each year they OK higher and higher kill rates of eagles and birds of prey…not to mention the bats) Eventually the eco systems will be beyond repair. No longer able to look to leaders/gov to protect and use good judgement. It’s up to the people. Like you say, “We need to keep speaking up and taking a stand..” The only chance. Every voice added is one step towards hope. Hang in there and thanks for hugging those trees.
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He has said so much rubbish I’m not even sure what the latest bit is. Unfortunately he does has massive support for some damn reason despite all this. I’m boggled – and again quite glad to be out of the US of A. I still have a vote, however – and I’m liking Sanders more and more.
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Actually I missed Trump’s blurt – only noticed it when all the media started going “Oooo, shame. Beating up a gurl”. Which all sort of amused me. Just business trash talking and Carly has dealt with it before. People are sick of out of touch career politicians and Trump has shown that. Maybe other normal people will be encouraged to run in the future. Meanwhile there may be possibilities on this horizon like you say. Thanks for swinging by with a comment
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I don’t know that these other notable women feel they NEED to defend her. Rather I wonder if Trump’s verbal sewage against women has reached such a frustrating level that they find it impossible to stay silent. I’ll say one thing for the guy: he sure knows how to stay in the limelight. Unfortunately, he doesn’t seem to care how he does it.
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With some of these high profile women, it looks like ANY current topic makes them unable to stay silent – as long as they can get some camera time. So many so quick to harp. They have become like the little boy that cried wolf.
Hey Trump has made the end of the summer less boring. Maybe his appearance will show that you do not have to be a political party’s anointed one/long time party supporter in order to make a serious run for president if nothing more. That would be a great gift. Many are sick of career politicians who are totally out of touch with reality and have never had a real job in their lives. Sometimes it takes a maverick to turn the herd? Thanks for ranting along!
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You nailed it! I am including a reference to your wisdom in tomorrow’s post. Kudos!
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Nails? Hammering? Nooo – oh, thought you were talking about the current construction zone. Whew! Thanks for the mention and for chortling along. (Will wander your way shortly)
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I haven’t been following Trump lately – I haven’t heard him say anything yet that I found interesting or useful. I tend to tune out people like that. I guess he has been after women again I take it from your post. Not surprised – he’s a misogynist.
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Actually I almost missed this one, except the motormouths were running on high afterwards. Carly certainly handles all the barbs with humor – something she learned in business. Trumps just doing a bit of trash talking (They all are, but only his burbs make headlines…why is that? Everyone wants to be treated equally. Now they are.). Actually he’s doing the voters a favor – rude comments are something a candidate has to handle and the public is getting a chance to see who reacts how. If one can’t take election quips, they have no business trying to run a country and negotiating with difficult leaders of problematic countries.
Meanwhile back to real life. Molly wants out. And it’s lovely weather. Thanks for flying by!
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like she said… he is an entertainer, I’m a leader :o)
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HA! You could qualify for both, Easy! That’s a big win-win! Voting for you…you’ve got email and internet, you can work from home. It would work! Thanks for woofing along
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Fiorina’s firm confidence show when she deals with The Bloviator. It will be interesting to see what she does when they are on the same stage (as this week) … but I won’t be watching.
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Honestly Frank, I almost missed this one except the mouths that never stop moving were making such a big deal over it (and there is not limit to their outrage over this until tomorrow and another thing to be outraged over arrives…then 30 seconds later, another…HA HA). Like you it’s interesting to watch sparring and see how people handle situations. Snipes are pretty common in the business world. Apparently not a big deal except to those looking for something. There’s a sales pitch, I mean a debate this week? You can tell I’m up on it. Thanks for landing a comment
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Here’s something that is funnier than can be, and does have the faint, whirring sound of a linguistic helicopter: Diagram this!
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That is a long winded funny! Honestly, only one trying to be smarty pants or a problem would note that – oral speech is so different than written language, so those with glass houses…HA HA.
Gorgeous weather – good day for working in your office! Thanks for landing that link and hovering here for a while
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Her sense of humor trumps Trump. I’m so tired of the whole political circus. Maybe I’d find it more amusing if they were in full clown make-up?
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And those little clown cars. Can we get little clown cars for them to humorously swerve wildly around in circles at each other? Thank goodness the weather is breaking and we can go outside and get away from it…THanks for whirling by
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It’s already time for political debates, huh? Didn’t we just endure this? I don’t know much about Fiorina but I have no doubt she can hold her own. (And Trump… he’s just a bully).
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Somehow people don’t change much from elementary school – they just get taller. There’s always one who’s quietly observing and quick with comebacks – and the brash blundering lumbering one who blurts stuff out others don’t think is funny (and he doesn’t know why).
We may need an alternative universe? Thanks for landing a comment
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