Wobbles,
You said, "I have heard women refer to each other in far worse terms than what was shown in those text messages".

Looks like you have a very high standard in regards to the company you keep. No woman I know would use that sort of language and I trust my kids would not frequent places where it is spoken.

By supporting Slipper, Labor deems it acceptable for the Speaker of the House to use such terms.

579,
Drean on boy. The voters will only remember that Gillard, and Labor, supported the sleaze bag slipper. I might just remind them, come the election.

Poirot,

Abbott used the phrase 17 times before in referring to Labor's dishonesty and deceit. Were all of these linked to Jones?

I like this from Fairfax:

"The dictionary defines misogyny as "hatred of women". It is an ugly word, an ugly accusation and an ugly fact of life. It is now the word that has driven Australian politics to its lowest point in decades. Yesterday, the mask fell away, the curtain dropped, the real driver of the politics of personal abuse was revealed.

After sending out two attack dogs, Gutter and Sewer, to do the dirty work, after hiding behind two political zombies, Insufferable and Unspeakable, to stay in power, after using the Minister for Innuendo and the Compromise-General to play the gender card, the mask has finally dropped away to reveal the driver of the politics of hate in Australia.

The mask fell at exactly 2.42pm in the House of Representatives. Looking on were the member for Gutter, Anthony Albanese, the member for Sewer, Wayne Swan, the Minister for Innuendo, Tanya Plibersek, and the Compromise-General, Nicola Roxon, and the independents who will do anything to avoid facing their electorates, Mr Insufferable, Robert Oakeshott, and his fellow regional zombie, Mr Unspeakable, Tony Windsor.

Someone had to set Gutter and Sewer loose. Someone directed Innuendo and Compromise to play the gender card. Someone paid the bill for Insufferable and Unspeakable. Someone's authority still rests on the vote of Craig Thomson. And someone had to approve making Peter Slipper the Speaker despite his being manifestly disrespected by either side of the house, a low point of political opportunism."

However loudly the lefties applaud Juliar's playing of the gender card, she is left stinking of sleaze in her defense of Slipper. The stench of corruption is still lingering from Thomson and from her dealings at Gordon and Slater.

This entire government under the leadership of Ms Gillard smacks of an atmosphere of illegitimacy. Particularly, after they ambushed the legitimate Prime Minister in the back. Her core promise at the last election,'...there'd be NO carbon tax with the Govt. that I'd lead...' A blatant lie, by an illegitmate Prime Minister.

I like this!

http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/restaurants-and-bars/restaurant-removes-misogynist-urinals-20121010-27cvx.html

I think we have to have a reclaim the humor march.

Misogynist walk!

For all guys who don't hate women, use swear words without really thinking about genitalia or coitus, and are so sick of the word being bandied about to silence any criticism of feminist doctrine or 'women in positions of power'.

Pest, it appears you do not watch parliament very often.
Quite understandable, but if you did you would see that both sides
when the leader is sitting at the table turn around to consult, talk
or whatever with their front benches.

No one has ever complained of that as far as I am aware.
As for referring to her as she, what should he say;

"Will the PM tell me what he intends to do about ---"

Bit silly your comment wasn't it ?
But very suitable for this thread.

SM,

It seems Abbott visits his "wit" door regularly then : )

You now what I'm getting at. If the leader of the opposition isn't capable of reassessing his usual banter to avoid a particularly notorious phrase - under the circumstances - then he deserves to be ridiculed for his lack of common sense.

You won't get me riled up by laying into Labor. I'm not particularly enamoured of them either.

I'm criticising Mr Abbott for being stupid.

(Btw, kudos from me for the title of this thread - excellent!)