CAT FIGHT 2008: When the goose threatens to sue the goose, and the gander likes to watch...

The cat fur's a-flyin'!

According to today's front page of the Cape Cod Times, Barnstable Town Council President Janet Joakim is threatening to sue in retaliation to recently being the subject of local recall efforts spearheaded by her arch-enemy Taryn Thoman. She's apparently blaming 'bloggers' for her impending demise.

A law suit may prove to be a very unwise move for Joakim, a woman who has her own hand in submitting her own equal share of not-so-nice online 'blog' comments and posts.

Yes, it's true that very recently Janet Joakim has purposefully tried to clean up her own blog. But is it too little too late? And would an impartial legal system view her efforts as 'contrived?'

At Hyannis News, we have certainly researched both sides of this ongoing 5th-grade-like 'cat fight.' There are many different opinions flying around depending on what side you happen to be rooting for. Some say it was Joakim who 'started it,' with her own personal attacks towards the growing number of her recently empowered critics, of which Taryn Thoman is seemingly one her biggest. The Internet has effectively leveled the once lopsided playing field and Joakim doesn't like that fact.  But like it or not, citizen journalists and editorialists have a growing audience and aren't afraid to voice their own opinions... their free speech protected by the same constitutional rights and laws governing the 'main stream (traditional) media.'  But having said that, people are responsible for what they say, and that includes the very vocal Town Council President as well.

While it is now Joakim meeting with all her friends and supporters, rallying support for her next move regarding the often unfriendly playground of the blogosphere, opponents have their own arsenal of copied comments and blog postings, allegedly authored by the town council president herself; it has basically descended into a war of sharp words; a 'you're a no-good-something-or-other!' with a return volley of ' yah well you're a no-good-thing-a-bob!'

When using a gender specific term like 'cat fight,' making various sweeping generalizations, trying hard not to be 'P.C.," being a male, some may sarcastically ask if I 'know how to try any harder to be a sexist male chauvinist pig?' and to that I would sarcastically respond 'no, but do you have any more suggestions? Because this is GOOD STUFF!' It sells, and you have to concede, you're reading it, right? Admit it or not, we all love a good cat fight. And why is that?

Remember those rough and tumble days when the boys use to 'hook and jab' in the bus port after school? Remember the excitement when everyone knew about the upcoming 'see you after school main event,' where basically everyone would rush to the designated location the second the bell rang? Yes we were barbaric little monkeys in those days, normal, but barbaric!

Now try to remember how much more charged-up the throbbing young masses use to become when the 'main event' happened to involve two angry young girls. Why is it that? I have some opinions and sweeping generalizations that I'm not too afraid to share.

First of all, girls pull hair!

They scratch, they kick, they gouge, they bite... and they don't let go until at least three of four teachers pry them apart, usually with each coming away with a fist full of hair. They're usually ten times more violent and ruthless than any UFC cage fighter, and their frays are usually just as bloody.

But here's the main difference between a 'good' cat fight and your average boy-on-boy fisticuff. Cat fights never ever really end. They're never ever really over. When it's not too unusual for boys to actually bond after a good 'fair' fight, girl cat fighters rarely forget and move on. While boys have a hard time remembering what actually caused the fight in the first place, girls tend never to forget... they take their grudges to their graves. Now talk about commitment!  In the case of Joakim vs. Thoman, the commitment level is no different.  And one has to wonder where the truth begins and the rhetoric ends.  But one thing is for sure, a recall petition has been filed and processed and Joakim is grabbing for a handful of hair. But is it too late?

Now these are admittedly opinionated generalizations, probably considered extremely 'sexist,' not to mention 'offensive' to some women (especially the ones who wear Birkenstocks and drive Volkswagen Bugs covered with tons of bumper stickers... with one about global warming, at least one that still says 'Kerry / Edwards,' and one, invariably, that tells everyone how stupid their ex-boyfriends happen to be... and I would be the last one to argue the truth spilling off that one...). But, I think we can all admit deep down inside that there is something different about a good 'cat fight.'

Well lets find out together. Stay tuned for more Hyannis News coverage of 'Cat Fight 2008!' It's 'on' and it's sure to be a fur flying main attraction, where someone will potentially even be removed from office in the upcoming recall!

Cat Fight 2008 Recall Coverage!  The rest of the story...  Don't miss it.

We'll see you all in the bus port!