The President in blue jeans – this is Pulitzer Prize writing?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/23/AR2009072304042.html




“For the President, A Dilemma Regarding Denim”

Yesterday the Washington Post wasted almost three full columns ( and I, sadly, wasted 10 minutes reading) to this trash. Robin Givhan somehow won a Pulitzer Prize for her fashion commentary. Reread that: FASHION COMMENTARY. How many magazines are there devoted to fashion? Oh, let’s see – Vogue, Fashion, Elle, Bazaar, Jelly, GQ, Best Life and the list goes on. Why the Hell does the Washington Post have a FASHION commentator AND ask why sales are falling????

So, Yesterday she decides to attack the POTUS’ choice of garb at a baseball game. ZOMG – a GUY wore BLUE JEANS to a BASEBALL GAME!!!!! Yes, folks, it is the end of the world as we know it.

Her article Yesterday is so fraught with crap it takes a shovel to get thru it all. At the heart of this drivel is a comparison to Presidents Reagan, G.H.W.Bush and Clinton. She bashes Clinton a bit, but finally lets him off the hook due to his “stocky frame.” However, she goes on to laud President Reagan as showing off his image-making with “his casual clothes, which consisted almost solely of jeans, cowboy hats and denim jackets. His clothes spoke of the swaggering machismo of Hollywood's cowboys.” And she also fawns over GHWB “…with Western style as well, favoring cowboy boots, belt buckles and hats whenever possible, and steering clear of anything that suggested familiarity with a certain Kennebunkport compound.”
Well, yes – good job there Captain Obvious. Presidents Reagan & Bush (both of them, actually) were working ranchers. The clothing they wore on their down time was what they were used to – a return to the comfortable. It was not about showman ship or brand making – that was the real person you saw there. The man was making the clothing – not the other way around.

Mr. Obama’s background (really) is Hawaii. Would Ms. Givahn have been OK with board shorts and a loud print camp shirt? His adopted home is Illinois – probably one of the largest centers of agriculture, manufacturing & energy production in the US as well as being a huge railroad hub. So perhaps a set of engineer’s boots, coveralls & a twill shirt would be acceptable.

Notably absent from her list of comparisons was Jimmy Carter. Why? Because that is where her snippy little tirade falls apart. Mr. Carter appeared regularly in jeans & plaid shirts during his “down time” and no one flinched. Why? Because of his farming background and jeans are what you wear on a farm.

Who cares if his jeans were a bit baggy? A bit short? A bit high in the waist? He was comfy. Would you rather he wear a polyester jacket over a polyester shirt like Ach{plegm}amadidyersister? President Obama was at a BALLGAME!!!! I suppose, dear Robin, that were you to attend such a fete you would be in a Dolche gown? That’ll look great in mustard.

Race will continue to be an issue as long as we make an issue out of race…..

The arrest of Henry Lewis Gates has dominated the press for many weeks, causing folks to ignore other, very important issues like what the President wears to a ball game (oh, wait…that got covered). So – a summary of events: neighbor lady looks over at Gates’ home and sees two black men trying to open the door. She gets nervous and calls the cops. Cops arrive and comic high jinks ensue. Basically the cop determines that Gates is, in fact, in his own home but Gates becomes belligerent and is arrested. NOT on breaking & entering charges but on disorderly conduct. It’s a day or so later that the POTUS decides to step barefoot in this pile of fresh, steaming dog poo and calls the Cambridge cop “stupid.” Oh – so MUCH to comment on!!!

First – let’s revisit the scene. If you’ve followed the news articles it appears to look like this; in front of Gates’ house is a hired car of some sort with a driver and assisting Gates is his secretary (I assume a woman). Gates is dressed in a polo and & khakis while the driver is probably in a dark suit & tie. I assume the secretary is dressed appropriately. So, if neighbor lady sees a group of nicely dressed folks at the front door of a home having trouble with the lock and decides this is a 911 event – what the Hell kind of neighborhood is it? Goodness!!! Those robbers rented a car & dressed in their finest casual clothes to rob a house! Allegedly neighbor lady called because it was “two black men with backpacks” at the door. For the Love of God – a black man OWNS the house!!!!!

Second – Gates and he black community (yes – including Al Sharpton) are decrying his arrest as racist. OK, again with the facts. Officer Crowley asked Gates to step outside to the front porch to which Gates replied (OK – allegedly); "Ya, I'll speak with your mama outside," YOUR MAMA? Gates is reportedly the most scholarly black man in America and he responds to a Police Officer’s request with a “YO MOMMA” line?????? Give me a frakkin’ break. This is a Harvard “intellectual”? No – this is a racist. Plain. Simple. He took advantage of a situation that could have been resolved in moments and raised it to an international level hoping that President Obama would weigh in. Oh, and he did……




Last – The POTUS should never – ever- ever- EVAR comment on “local” events. Riots in LA? Yes. Disaster in New Orleans? Yes. The arrest of a guy in Cambridge, Mass.? NO! Mr. President – YOU BLEW IT. Especially with this comment: "Now, I don't know, not having been there and not seeing all the facts, what role race played in that . . . But I think it's fair to say, number one, any of us would be pretty angry; number two, that the Cambridge police acted stupidly in arresting somebody when there was already proof that they were in their own home." Sir – you were not there. So shut the Hell up and move along. It is BELOW you to comment on this matter. Get it yet?

What this all points out is that race continues to be an issue in America. Why? Because race continues to be an issue! It’s not an issue with the majority either, bit with the “minorities.” Sotomayor cannot be regarded as a qualified judge for the Supreme Court. She has to be regarded as a “Latino woman” in the running for a Supreme Court position. Really? Are we not beyond this? If not, why not? Easy – because it makes for Bad Press if we are beyond this.

Sarah, Jacko, and other Random Stuff

So, Sarah Palin announced she was stepping down as Governor of Alaska. According to whom you listen to she cited personal issues, ongoing probes, a "higher calling" or all of the above. Seriously, who cares what the reason is? It doesn't take a rocket scientist to look at the challenges she facing at home to figure it out. She has to help Bristol raise her child and has a Down's Baby of her own to care for.

Sarah (it's OK - I can call her that - we're buds) has been the object of derision since her introduction by Sen. McCain in his disaster of a Presidential Bid. How much of it was deserved? Here was this obscure Governor, plucked out of the wilderness and dropped in to the public's eye. She got, what, 15 minutes of coaching before her first appearance? How much time did the GOP think about how the public would react to her family situation? What about the reaction the Dems would have? Probably none. They knew the election was lost and wanted something with a big shock factor to try & get back in the race. Instead, they gave the Dems & the comedians a new target.

Sarah deserves more sympathy than hostility. She was a fish out of water - in bear country.

OK folks - he's dead. Get over it. He had great years with the J-5, fell into obscurity and had a shot at a really great second career with Thriller & the emergence of MTV. Then, he blew it. Let me retype that with emphasis -
HE blew it. Not his handlers, not his lawyers, not his yogis - he did - The Man in the Mirror. The stress he put on his body with all the plastic surgery, the odd behavior, Neverland - these were not acts of his "people" - this was him - all him.

But with his death comes the usual circus that surrounds the passing of a person who was larger than life. The usual ring masters have shown up to revalidate themselves. Al Sharpton & Jessie Jackson stading by Pops Jackson, a shout out by Madonna during her gig, and almost every pop concert on the planet turns into a Jacko love-fest - all the while the MJ machine continues to make certain he stays in the headlines - gotta keep those album sales up.

However, a friend made an interesting observation; who's voice have you **not** heared? Here we have a very famous African American who was "cut down" in the prime of life and who is staying silent? Oprah. Why is she not off comforting Michael's mother? Why has Jermain or Janet not been on her show? Well, I share my frind's opinion - she knows the truth.


In the random bit-bukket I just have a few bullet points:

* I am done with the being of overweight. I guess it's time to get serious (or dangerous)

* On July 3rd I learned of the death of buddy. She was a Band Mom with the local high school. Her son & mine graduated together and now go to Va Tech. Evidently she had been battling depression and finally gave up. Another Band Mom called to give me the news. She commented that we were all so close until the kids graduated then those whom we called "friend" suddenly were off in the mist. Dear reader - open your old address book, look up a friend you have not seen a while & call. Make the effort.

* Some folks need to calm the frack down. Seriously.

* How do you know you've cooked damned fine BBQ? You smell it for days afterwards.

* Finally - please leave a comment letting know where your from and if you are a regular reader. Just trying to get a handle on if anyone is really reading this crap.

4.4 million out of work.....

And you want to be granted leave because you have.....

The sniffles?
A headache?
Some emotional problems?
Forgotten to order your meds???

Put on your Big Kid Pants and DEAL WITH IT....