I Thought They Were Supposed To Hold Hands

Obama bowing to the Saudi king. My goodness.  Must be a Muslim thing.

Props to Clarice, who claims the top of the hill at Memeorandum.

[bow or curtsy]

Comments

[Rick Ballard]

What in the name of Hussein Obama (the most magnificent and merciful, PBUH) are you trying to suggest?

[Danube of Thought]

Clarice!! Attababe!!

[verner]

Yeah Clarice! BO probably did it in thanks for the Saudi's paying for his ride at Harvard Law.

[Gabriel Sutherland]

David Weigel says President Bush genuflected in front of King Abdullah.

Link

Both are shit of course. But this is Obama's big showcase showdown. The whole world is watching.

[clarice]

WOW!! Wait till they see the hot shots I have of PUK and the Queen!!!

[clarice]

The thought that this shows Obama is a Muslim is, of course, preposterous. It shows that he is not a serious enough person to pay attention to basic protocol. And in this case it is not without consequence as Commentary's Abe Greenwald notes:

http://www.commentarymagazine.com/blogs/index.php/greenwald/61031

[centralcal]

Woo Hoo, Clarice. Sooooo looking forward to the candid photos of PUK and the Queen!

I think Zero came close to kissing Abdullah's hand (someone must have whispered DON'T DO IT! YOU'RE ON CANDID CAMERA!!!).

[centralcal]

Yes, Clarice the Greenwald piece was great. But do you notice not one MSM or even Drudge is posting about this?

[Rick Ballard]

Now, Clarice, I think L'il Abner and Daisy Mae Do London show is kinda cute. Weren't we always told that anyone can grow up to be President? Doesn't this prove the point?

Even a lying, cheating, stealing ignoramus too dumb to know just how dumb he really is can travel the world in Air Force One making an ass and a public spectacle of himself.

After all, it's not as if the man had any dignity to lose.

[Porchlight]

Way to go, Clarice! It's running above the Blago story - that's really something.

[Porchlight]

Could Michelle look any worse?

First Lady's fashion sense falters

Okay, I like the skirt. But it's not flattering to her hip size or height. And look at the poor posture, the pigeon toes and that horrid sweater that looks like it isn't even buttoned properly. And it cost over $1000, per the article!

Poor Sarah Brown doesn't fare much better, but at least she isn't trying to be flashy, and is clearly trying not to upstage Michelle.

Following the coverage of the Obamas is like reading The Emperor's New Clothes every. single. day. At least the Telegraph calls BS on the fashion angle.

Would love to hear what the ladies of JOM think.

[Rick Ballard]

"is clearly trying not to upstage Michelle."

Then she should have called in sick or become invisible. Micky O definitely has her own "style" but Beverly Hillbilly chic isn't exactly unbeatable.

[PeterUK]

Clarice,
We were both much younger then.

[bad]

GEEZ Porch, next time warn me if I have to look at stuff like that!! Actually, the rear view of Sarah Gordon makes Michelle look not as awful in comparison.

What an excellent hostess to distract attention from her guest's faults so decisively.

[Rick Ballard]

Bad,

That one should be titled In Search of a Singletree. They'd never get a straight furrow though. Way too much haw for the gee to overcome.

[PeterUK]

The newspapers are absolutely ridiculous,plastering their pages with super models and film stars,then they try and convince us these two bag jobs are glamorous.
Nurse! The screens!

[MayBee]

Following the coverage of the Obamas is like reading The Emperor's New Clothes every. single. day.

Ha! Exactly.

I like the message, for the most part, that Michelle brings to school children. So to me, she is...ok. Just ok.
I wonder which of the admin geniuses got the fashion icon meme going. It certainly didn't come from anybody watching her clothing choices.

Tina Brown today explained that Europeans like the Obama so much because they are a "novelty".

This is funny (from Porch's article)
A wise stylist might have suggested that the British First Lady try the form-flattering magic pants some claimed Michelle Obama was wearing yesterday.

Spanx, anyone?

[hit and run]

That Daily Mail article is pretty damn carpy about its fashion comparison.

If I were Nick Faldo, I'd seriously consider suing.

[Porchlight]

Way too much haw for the gee to overcome.

lol, Rick

Sorry, bad, I guess it was kind of shocking. I honestly thought Michelle would do much better on this trip, fashion-wise. She is just like her husband in that respect - even when you're not expecting much, they still perform so badly as to make one's jaw drop.

The only slack I'm willing to cut Michelle on fashion is that tall women are often insecure about standing up straight, and to make it more difficult I don't think she is very bright. Still, if she listened to the right advisors she might do okay.

[Ann]

Wow, Porchlight. They look like they went to a thrift store and couldn't find anything in their size.

Who knew Mrs. Brown had a tail?

And It just confirms why they hate Sarah Palin. :)

[MayBee]

Yesterday, the US press was desperately trying to create a big set up for the moment when Michelle Obama and Carla Bruni meet. If I have to pretend Michelle is more beautiful or fashionable than Carla Bruni, I will die.

It all has a bit of the "Black People Love Us" vibe.

[Extraneus]

And It just confirms why they hate Sarah Palin.

No kidding.

[bad]

I like the message, for the most part, that Michelle brings to school children.

I'm a little weirded out by the president constantly harping on humility while Michelle tells children she likes being smart and pointing out how successful she is.

Perhaps I'm old fashioned, but those comments sound so much better coming from someone else.

[Porchlight]

Spanx, anyone?

Heh, MayBee. There is a good reason the Brazilian women love their girdles.

[PeterUK]

At least we know what their husbands were doing whilst these two wannabe WAGS were boosting their carbon footprint.The little men were raising taxes and borrowing money.Which is why Obama tried swopping spit with Abdullah.

[hit and run]

MayBee:
Spanx, anyone?

Bom chicka wah wah...

[DrJ]

tall women are often insecure about standing up straight

Depends. My mother stands about 5'12" (no typo), and was brought up in the old world. As a child she was taught how to stand with a proper posture, how to point one's feet when doing so, and how properly to sit. It may be an old aristocratic affectation, but it was ingrained in her.

Damn MO goes against all that she taught me about it.

[MayBee]

Michelle tells children she likes being smart and pointing out how successful she is.

Perhaps I'm old fashioned, but those comments sound so much better coming from someone else

I agree, but I did grow up with a lot of people who thought being smart was just not the way to go. So what she is saying is something that will carry extra weight coming from her, even if she is perhaps overplaying her own brilliance.

[Jane]

I like the message, for the most part, that Michelle brings to school children.

I like the "you can be anything you want to be' part. What I don't like is telling kids that they can only do it if they are loved. She should mention hard work altho she may not be familiar with the relationship of hard work to success.

She should be saying the "love" part to the kid's parents.

And that picture is atrocious.

[clarice]

I so want to introduce MO to the concept of SUITS. And of course someone needs ro explain to these two clueless rubes that in these circles, "informal" does not mean cardigans..And what kind of daytime skirt has a tulle overlay?

OY!

[bad]

And what kind of daytime skirt has a tulle overlay?

The kind that matches daytime sequins?

[Jane]

I have a fashion question: Do women still wear stockings? Is Michelle wearing stockings in those pix. Every time I see TV anchors in short skirts I wonder the same thing.

[clarice]

I think much of the time she isn't, Jane. I don't know why she isn't, but she isn't.

[bad]

Clarice, I loved your blog and love it even more that it's getting great play.

Ya know, it kinda makes sense for BO to bow to a king, him bein' so humble and all...

[Ann]

Hey Jane

Mark Steyn linked to Clarice's picture at AT.
(just trying to start a fight) I'd say it is getting great play alright!

Mark adds this:
This is a very weird presidency. But something tells me Abdullah won't be getting the discount DVD pack of Psycho and :Lawrence Of Arabia. LOL

Congrats Clarice!

[clarice]

Thanks..I was always sure I was his main squeeze--it's just that photoshop of him holding the Jane sign was so realistic.

[MayBee]

What I don't like is telling kids that they can only do it if they are loved.

I guess I'd missed that part. Of course that's exactly the wrong message to give kids.

Oh yeah, here it is:
"I am an example of what's possible when girls are loved and nurtured by the women around them,” she said.

Well that's just creepy. She needs to teach that it comes from within. What is this about the "women around them" business anyway? It sounds like a lesbian fantasy.

[centralcal]

Porch - have dinner on the stove and followed your link above and have this to say - Oh my gawd!

For both ladies. Now, has anyone else noticed in the rear-end photo of the duo, that Michelle's sweater looks like it was pinned to fit tighter(?) or something? Poor Mrs. Brown, guess she doesn't have a full length mirror in her boudoir. She probably asked the half-blind hubby: Honey . . . does this make me look fat?

He must have answered in the negative because she went out in public in that cheap fabric body clinging suit.

Again . . . oh my gawd!!!!!!

[Sue]

MO does not have on stockings. And dear bessie, no more rear shots, please.

[centralcal]

raising hand! raising hand! I know the answer, Jane. I know the answer!!!

oh, sorry . . . actually during the campaign Me'Chelle stated emphatically that she detests pantyhose.

So I am sure she is not wearing them ever, unless forced to.

[Porchlight]

I wondered about that too - it doesn't look like she has them on to me, but I could be wrong if they're really sheer.

That's pretty tacky. I don't much like wearing hose (or "nylons" as they were called where I grew up) myself, but if I was FLOTUS I would get over it.

[Sue]

Where was Carla Bruni?

[Ann]

I will throw MO a bone. If you are tall you hate pantyhose. I detest them too.

However, it is interesting to see two women that have the money and all sorts of aides to help dress them come out looking so awful.

Like they say: You can't buy class or taste.

cc, Good one on the blind husband!!!

[Charlie (Colorado)]

I have a fashion question: Do women still wear stockings? Is Michelle wearing stockings in those pix. Every time I see TV anchors in short skirts I wonder the same thing.

Interestingly, that's somewhat similar to what I wonder about when I see them.

[Rick Ballard]

"Where was Carla Bruni?"

Trying to stop laughing.

[bad]

Where was Carla Bruni?

Lost in one of the great divides...

[Ann]

I wondered how long and who would answer that one Charlie. LOL

[Jane]

Thanks..I was always sure I was his main squeeze--it's just that photoshop of him holding the Jane sign was so realistic.

Not only is it real, it is sitting in my office right now, and the taker of the pix is flying in tonite. Tomorrow we are meeting TC for lunch. And I certainly wouldn't be surprised if my man Mark showed up at some point to say hello.

So eat your heart out!

[centralcal]

Ann, honey, you know I love you, but height has nothing at all to do with hatred of pantyhose. Only size 4 women barely tolerate them. Some MAN designer came up with the grand idea of "control top," which literally means a too small rubber band size "0") sewn into the stockings so that you are in abject pain everytime you put the damned things on.

They do not control anyone's top. However, they excruciatingly pinch your middle so that it blooms and bulges above and below the rubber band.

I am SO with Me'Chelle in detesting all pantyhose products.

[Jane]

What is this about the "women around them" business anyway? It sounds like a lesbian fantasy.

I thought the exact same thing.

I wondered about that too - it doesn't look like she has them on to me, but I could be wrong if they're really sheer.

I'm perfectly okay with no one wearing stockings - but doesn't that make their shoes stink?

[centralcal]

Jane, puhleeze, I am on California time and about to have dinner, could you be less descriptive?

[clarice]

Oh, Jane , what fun! Tell Jmh I sent my love.

[MayBee]

I also am starting to wonder what is up with the whole J Crew thing. I love J Crew. But is Michelle using up some giant gift certificate or something?
Can't someone introduce her to some other mid-price casual brands? Take her shopping at Anthropologie, for heaven's sake. J Jill. Give a nod to America (and a boost to department stores) with a dash of Tim Gunn's Liz Claiborne. But enough with the J Crew fetish!

[MayBee]

Not only is it real, it is sitting in my office right now, and the taker of the pix is flying in tonite.

Is that Caro or JMH? Either way, I hope you enjoy your time being nurtured by women.

(that's ugly jealousy rearing its head)

[richard mcenroe]

'Obama bowing to the Saudi king. My goodness. Must be a Muslim thing.'

Nah, he was just looking for the zipper.

[bad]

I hope they keep pushing J Crew as proof of Michelle's "common touch." $300 skirts aren't very common for the vast majority of American women.

[Sue]

http://www.jcrew.com/AST/Browse/WomenBrowse/Women_Shop_By_Category/skirts/pencil/PRDOVR~11804/11804.jsp>Here is MO's J Crew skirt. Sorry, they say, this item is so popular they have sold out. I think MO has a deal with J Crew. Someone should ask for receipts. Just kidding, sort of.

[Ann]

CC, The only thing I would add to our hatred of pantyhose discussion is if you add hot weather to the scenario. I always thought someone should conduct a study on ladies dispositions wearing pantyhose in the summer.
I am sure they would outlaw them. LOL

Thank goodness for tanning lotion. :) And I love ya too!

(Talk about OT, the men around here are going to run for the hills)

[Jane]

It's not JMH Clarice - more proof that you were no where around when Mark and I did our thing, and if I recall correctly neither was JMH. It's Caro!

[Porchlight]

I am certain Michelle could have someone custom design her some tall-lady pantyhose that wouldn't bind, if she chooses. But she doesn't.

Great point about department stores, MayBee. If she wants to go with midrange labels I bet there's a DC department store that could use some help right about now. J Crew will do just fine w/o Michelle. And frankly, they design for 20-year-olds these days, so really it's not that appropriate.

[Moose]

This really hits home that our elite press has really collapsed into fan magazines. The whole Michelle nonsense is unreal. These elite press people clearly have no self-respect or self-control. Why the never-ending pimping?

For the media to avoid, en masse, covering this bow gaffe (has a US president ever bowed to "royalty before??)is Orwellian.

[hit and run]

Ann:
(Talk about OT, the men around here are going to run for the hills)

Uh, why? We're talking about short-skirted lesbians taking off their pantyhose and lathering themselves with tanning lotion ready to spanx each other...

At least that's what I'm getting out of it.

Bom chicka wah wah...

[clarice]

Yes, moose. It is proof positive.
Well, Ssend my best to Caro then. I like her, too.

If MO can wear Spanx she can find some kind of hose to wear. It's not appropriate to go barelegged to these things.

[Rick Ballard]

"J Crew will do just fine w/o Michelle."

That's the way extortion works - how much will they have to pay her to stop wearing their clothes?

[JM Hanes]

Apparently, sequins are the new little black dress. A day at the office, an opera at night -- what's the diff? Our national sweater girl can't compete with Sarah Brown in the What-Was-She-Thinking department, though. Talk about your OMG fashion moment! Get that woman a three way mirror. Please.

Scrolling down to the group photo (I couldn't resist the "Enlarge" button) I'd boot everybody but Japan, Thailand and India off the island, although Mrs. Japan could have used a little more operatic bling, don't you think?

Gluttons for punishment can check out this little Fashion Fauto Album. For your daily dose of narcissism, take a look the Obamas with the Queen & Prince P. in #4. Even if the royals were no-name Bess & Phil, it's just rude to stand in front of your short, elderly hosts -- whether it's all about you or not.

Clarice has made short work of Obama's obeisance, so I'll just add a footnote to her picture. Get that man a three way mirror! Seeing our President, butt first, in full tilt bow to a Saudi potentate is disturbing any way you look at it.

[Jane]

Get that woman a three way mirror. Please.

LOL

[Sue]

http://www.jcrew.com/AST/Browse/WomenBrowse/Women_Shop_By_Category/sweaters/cotton/PRDOVR~12280/12280.jsp>And here is the cardigan. Sorry, sold out too.

Please note that this "cheap" ensamble cost the First Lady at least $500.

[Jim Ryan]

Richard Epstein describes O. via Insty.

[Sue]

And please note that J Crew paired the skirt with a casual cardigan and the cardigan with jeans. Which is the look you get when you shop J Crew. Casual chic. Not sure if that is the look the 1st Lady needs while abroad.

[Ann]

Jane,

I hope you guys have a wonderful time. Say hello to Caro and TC. You are so lucky to get to meet so many fine people here at JOM.

You know the whole J Crew thing is just PR. She wore a double strand of pearls and a 1000 dollar ugly sweater. I am surprised that designers are not giving her free clothes and advice. She needs them.

And I totally agree with Clarice on the suits. Are designers for St. John not available. She would be a terrific model for them.

[Ann]

Oh my gawd hit, I haven't laughed that hard in forever. Thank you!!!

And I was just going to ask where my stylish JMH is and she appears. Where ya been? I missed you.

[Sue]

Ace is saying that Tina Brown claimed Carla Bruni didn't accompany her husband on this trip "because she feared she'd be compared "unfavorably" to the sublimely beautiful Michelle Obama." Dear bessie. I bet she said that with a straight face, too.

[clarice]

Whoever is closest to Hit, twist his ear for me, please.

[Ann]

JMH,

Oprah would call that:

"The high and the mighty". :)

[clarice]

Actually pret a porter is not a good idea for her. First of all she;s not built for it. Secondly. it;s not made to face this sort of scrutiny. The fabrics tend not to be properly able to drape and shape for the kind of scrutiny that they'll be subject to. She needs to go to Armani or St John to get her day wear. And she should save the J Crew for gardening days or trips to Camp David.

[Porchlight]

Sublimely beautiful? My goodness, Tina.

But unfortunately, Carla is correct (if in fact this was her reasoning). In this media environment, she would have been compared unfavorably to Michelle.

[Sue]

It's amazing how Sarah Palin could wear a suit and look amazingly sexy and well tailored at the same time. I can only imagine the fun the media would have had with Palin had she shown up in J Crew to an event. She wore jeans, a white button up the front shirt and hoop earrings to a campaign event early on and the press tore her to pieces. I thought she looked fabulous for an outdoor, informal, campaign event.

[Porchlight]

clarice, I agree that she is going about it all wrong. She could and should wear suits, maybe with interesting textures or colors, and slightly more daring or retro cuts. Like her camel and black ensemble for the Inauguration.

But my sense is that she isn't comfortable in suits and is going for a more youthful look, which really, really doesn't work for her. I guess she just doesn't have the instincts to know better. But the right designer could probably take her to Nordstrom and get stuff off the rack and alter it to make her look good.

You *can* buy taste if you don't have it naturally - you just have to find the right people to work with you, and have the sense to listen to what they tell you.

[Porchlight]

It's amazing how Sarah Palin could wear a suit and look amazingly sexy and well tailored at the same time.

Totally agree - she looked fabulous every time I saw her. It was difficult for her to go wrong because her sexiness and style is innate. Sarah has instincts that Michelle doesn't, and they go beyond fashion (obviously). She would walk brightly onto the stage and just own the place.

[Rick Ballard]

"In this media environment, she would have been compared unfavorably to Michelle."

The medias fawning over the Empresses Wardrobe won't cut it. Some comedian is going to finally crack and point out that Lumberjack Chic isn't actually chic and that will be the end of it. The sight of her brings the "and the buffalo roam" line from Home on the Range to my mind every time I see her and I know I'm not alone.

Armani won't help. Not without a good deal of work on carriage and deportment with a good acting coach first and "a good deal of work" is a deal breaker for either Obama. They're both as lazy as their slovenly appearance suggests.

[DrJ]

Not without a good deal of work on carriage and deportment

Bingo. In those areas she is more fitting for a warm-up to the Kentucky Derby.

[clarice]

My guess is she's surrounded by nitwits who are encouraging this horrid taste. I took another look and something is hideously wrong with that sweater..It does look like it's pinned up the back and of course it's not buttoned right, but it seems it couldn't be--look at it again--If the top buttonhole were buttoned the bottom right button would have to end somewhere near her nose..Curious??

I'm afraid a grown women not built like Bruni cannot get away without a custom made wardrobe..but every top designer would be happy to do this.

Time to forget the fashion forward nonsense..she's a big gal with a broad beam and she cannot hide that by wearing by sleeveless tops all the time.

[clarice]

This is the first time in my life that the wife of the Russian leader looked classier than the wife of the American one. PHEH

[Jane]

Don't get so caught up in the fashion that you miss Jim Ryan's link on Epstein. It's quite good.

[daddy]

I saw Raisa Gorbachev in a muff once and she looked pretty hot. Just saying...

[clarice]

Raisa was an attractive woman, daddy.

[hit and run]

Uh oh...

BREAKING NEWS: Did the Obama Bows Before Zod Saud pic get airbrushed to remove some of his humiliation?

You be the judge!

Obama: http://www.flickr.com/photos/59013527@N00/3408694656/>Putting the 'ass' in embarrassment.

[daddy]

Great stuff Clarice!

Mark Steyn linking to you is the top post this minute at Instapundit.">http://pajamasmedia.com/instapundit/">Instapundit.

[clarice]

Hit--excellent.

Mmm, thanks, daddy. You know I'm starting to think I might be able to lure him away from Jane, that hussy.

[daddy]

An OT question.

Do you guys know where I can get a link which specifically states exactly what Ted Steven's was accused of illegally accepting by the Government?

[daddy]

Fun with Mark and Clarice?

Does sort of have a nice ring to it.

[Jane]

Boy you guys sure stay up late.

Clarice - I will rent him to you - for the right price.

[Elliott]

JMH, good morning. That photo was hilarious. Were they helping the producers of The Hobbit with false perspective test shots?

[daddy]

Elliot,

There used to be a nutty Australian restaurant in Manila called "The Hobbit House". Everybody who worked in the place had to be a midget. Crazy.

[clarice]

daddy, I was looking but cannot find it--google's blog search feature seems haywire--IIRC ADN reprinted the indictment.

[Elliott]

daddy,

Charles McCarry rather imaginatively incorporates one into a novel of his, as narciso can attest.

[MayBee]

.It does look like it's pinned up the back and of course it's not buttoned right, but it seems it couldn't be--look at it again--If the top buttonhole were buttoned the bottom right button would have to end somewhere near her nose..Curious??

It's Junya Watanabe. He's Japanese and very funky, very asymmetrical, very out there. She shouldn't have worn him.

[daddy]

Thanks Clarice for trying.

I'm digging thru the ADN this minute trying to find it. Interesting developments publically going on about it back in Alaska from what I'm reading.

And for Narciso if he's awake. Dan">http://www.thealaskastandard.com/?q=content/ted-stevens-governor">Dan Fagan, Sarah's harshest Talk Show critic, is now on the bandwagon for Stevens to run for Governor in 2010, because (surprise) it gives Fagan a chance to publically attack Sarah each and every day between now and the election.

[clarice]

MayBee reminds me of that hilarious Cosby Family episode where one of the Girls tries to make a shirt for her brother...

[narciso]

Getting cryptic there, Elliot, that's my job. Tina Brown really should retire, she's
one of these fashion doyens right, and she can't tell the difference between Carla Bruni and Michelle Obama. Not to mention the
other obvious comparison. It's like a bad off Broadway version of Moliere, crossed with possibly Charles McCarry, dideverybody get absorbed by the pods or the brain slugs