Enter the Frightbat

Today, one of News Corporation's conservative commentators, Tim Blair decided to round up a farrago of progressive female commentators, label them "unhinged hysterics" and poll his readership about which of these articulate women is Australia's craziest left-wing frightbat.

His blog post, entitled Crown Our Crazy Queen, went on to describe some of Australia's most respected female journalists, bloggers and activists in terms usually reserved for sleep-deprived, sugar-laden toddlers.

The results of his poll are irrelevant. It would be an honour to be nominated with this list of remarkable Australian women. Indeed, there has been some ferocious competition for the title. For the record, it looks as though Clementine Ford has the title securely in her spangly purse with just on 22% of the vote, although in fairness, she let it be known that she wanted the title.

Mr Blair's Honour Roll included these Frightbats:

• Clementine Ford
• Elizabeth Farrelly
• Marieke Hardy
• Catherine Deveny
• Vanessa Badham
• Margo Kingston
• Anne Summers
• Clem Bastow
• Jenna Price
• Jane Caro

Did he expect his targets, the left-wing ladies' auxiliary, to be cowed by his watery leak of testosterone-tinged ink? I seems to me that he may have annoyed a group who take this kind of gender-based goading a lot more seriously than he does.

I hope so.