2.25.2011

No Compliment But Clearly Said By a Student of the Classics

“Diane Harpy”

— A Legislative Staffer referring to Assemblywoman Diane Harkey, a Laguna Niguel Republican

(Editor’s Note: In Greek mythology a Harpy is a winged creature with a woman’s face. In the Odyssey, they are winds that carry people away. Over time, they evolved into ill-tempered, loathsome, food-stealing monsters. In the lower-case, a harpy is defined as a “harridan” or “shrewish woman.” While California’s Capitol finds no nexus between either Harpy and Harkey or harpy and Harkey, the erudition and alliteration of the putdown deserve at least some recognition.)

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Filed under: Overheard



5 Comments »

  1. Well said. Clearly you like to walk on the wild side, Mr. Lucas. Do Republicans return your phone calls?

    Comment by PasadenaVoter — 2.25.2011 @ 7:48 pm

  2. Too close to comments or a drawing of a African American legislator and watermelon and bugged eyes. This is too sexist to be amusing. I hope the artist is regretting it got this far. For one I am sorry you shared it.

    Comment by Lillianese — 2.26.2011 @ 3:49 pm

  3. Lillianse, are you kidding? The artist is long dead. The illustration comes from a book published in 1918, which was probably taken from an even earlier source.

    You’re just a tad too easily offended. Just a tad.

    Comment by Cat — 2.26.2011 @ 4:33 pm

  4. I misspoke. The artwork and the artist are irrelevant to my point.

    Comment by Lillianese — 2.28.2011 @ 1:24 pm

  5. If the shoe fits …

    Comment by SugarMuffin — 3.01.2011 @ 4:19 pm

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