Portraits of a politician

Sen. Barack Obama hugs attendees of the Service Employees International Union's Member Political Action Conference held at the Washington Hilton.

– Roll Call/Tom Williams

It's a motion blur of supporters around former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards as he signs some autographs after speaking at a fundraiser in Milwaukee.

– AP Photo/Morry Gash

Gen. David Petraeus intensely testifies on the future course of the war in Iraq while appearing before a joint hearing of the House Armed Services Committee and House Foreign Relations Committee.

– AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais

Rep. John Murtha speaks at a press conference Monday at the National Press Club about Congressional action on the United States’ future in Iraq.

– Roll Call/Tom Williams

Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Chris Dodd speaks at the Service Employees International Union Political Action Conference in Washington. (And this is the only one I saw in which he wasn't yelling...)

- AP Photo/Gerald Herbert

Perfectly silhouetted? Rep. Ron Paul, a candidate for the Republican presidential nomination, speaks at Seattle University.

– Seattle Post-Intelligencer/Andy Rogers

Seen on the monitor of a video camera, Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney delivers a statement on Sen. Hillary Clinton's health care plan, outside of St. Vincent's Hospital in New York.

– AP Photo/Dima Gavrysh

Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton quite awkwardly flips steaks during Sen. Tom Harkin's annual fundraising steak fry in Indianola, Iowa.

– AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall

The Gores glamour?

I had to get the Emmy's in somehow....

Former Veep (and now Emmy and Grammy winner) Al Gore arrived in typical, boring style to the Emmy's last night in Los Angeles. The tux is your average tux, so there's not much to say. He really isn't looking very good, though, beyond that. His face coloring is very blotchy, his slicked-back hair very old man, and I don't want to give him a hard time like everyone else in the world, but he sure has put on a lot of weight in recent years.

Tipper, however, should have known better than to wear brown while next to her black-and-white hubby. The jacket is OK, but rather dowdy and over-embellished, and not really venue-appropriate; it's the blah cami and mis-matched skirt that bother me a little bit more. She really should take a note from other fine ladies her age, though I know they all have different figures, like Sally or Glenn or Helen. Her hair and makeup are nice, though, and very age-appropriate, and her earrings match the outfit perfectly.

– AP Photo/Chris Carlson

What's the coif about?

Yet again, I found the most amazing dribble in The Politico - I can't believe they actually publish this stuff in a "newspaper." It was a two-page spread about the presidential candidates' hair. Some highlights:

Whether a presidential candidate maintains his (or her) split ends surely will rate low on voters’ “presidential material” scale. But many politicians have learned that an impeccable hairstyle — even at $400 — can be a political asset.

... Romney’s not above jabbing his opponents. “You know, I think John Edwards was right. There are two Americas. There’s the America where people pay $400 for a haircut and then there is everybody else,” said Romney, who pays $50 for his own.

... “Your hair will send very important messages to those around you,” [Clinton] told Yale University’s graduating class in 2001. “It will tell people who you are and what you stand for.”

... According to Susan Abrams, a professional political image consultant based north of Los Angeles, a bad hairdo can distract voters from a candidate’s message. Take Edwards’ costly trim. “No one talks about what he’s saying,” she said, “because everyone talks about the hair.”

To read the entire thing, click here... Though if you want a chart about why each style does or does not work, click here...

– Composite image by Politico.com

Another Bush administration loss

Goodbye yellow-wrist road,
through the good times and the bad ...






Outgoing White House Press Secretary Tony Snow completed his final briefing and decides to have a chat with Bush rival and veteran reporter Helen Thomas. Not much to say about our departing friend (who claims he can't afford the job), except that I hope some time off air will help you recoup and stop wearing so much pinstripe, it just makes you look even taller than you already are and on nonHDTVs it's like a blurry snowfall.

– AP Photo/Charles Dharapak

It's a slow week

It's been hard to find stuff when the only thing going on is Gen. Patraeus' speech in which everyone knew what he was going to say before he said it, the House was out for the funeral and now everyone's out for the rest of the week because of Rosh Hashanah.

So here's random talk about my favorite fashion disaster, Hillary. I love the photo at right because it looks like Hill's trying sooo hard to stay awake while listening to Amb. Crocker and Petraeus on Tuesday. The glasses give her the I'm-really-trying-to-take-this-seriously look while amplifying the fact that her eyes can barely stay open. I've never seen her done this pair, but I do have to say I like them. Of all the things she wears, especially her oft-tacky accessories, I think these do a good job of staying somewhat-trendy and young, but not in a offensive you're-too-old way.

I also like the pink jacket for the same reason. The pink is a good pop of color for her that isn't too strong, isn't the coral family we've seen way too much of, and doesn't wash her out too much.

– AP Photos/Kevin Wolf and Gerald Herbert, respectively

Have a great weekend!

I figured I'd leave you with a great photo to laugh at for the weekend. I really don't mean to put Hillary up here so much, she just provides so much great fodder. Just keep in mind, this is in no way, shape or form an endorsement of any kind.

I have to say this isn't the worst outfit I've ever seen on her. She's owning the monotone outfits, thinking they make her appear slimmer (I'd argue that, but to each their own). The wool is at least a summer color and seems to be lightweight. What I don't understand, and her being at an AARP convention doesn't save her on this one, is what's up with the floppy handkerchief she's sporting. She's done this a few times now, and it totally looks like her left boob is exploding. Oh well - you can't teach an old dog new tricks.

– AP Photo/Steven Senne

**** UPDATE: She wore that outfit again on Sunday. She always does this, and knows she's in the spotlight being photographed at each event. I just don't understand. It's not like she doesn't have enough money for a full wardrobe - I learned today in Roll Call that she's worth at least $12 million.

The nuts are made for crackin'

Thanks to the shoe-fund ad on the left side of my page, I found this amazingly hilarious campaign 2008 paraphernalia: The Hillary Nutcracker! You have to check it out, it is so funny and oh so true...

I think I am going to make this an ongoing feature, so if you see any other great political parodies, please let me know and we can get them up here to ogle and boggle (?)

Unexpected celebrity, but she's wearing it right

Megan Colon probably never expected to have her picture in newspapers across the country today, but the staffer who stood by her boss looked great while doing it. Looking poised in casual professional ware, Sen. Tim Johnson's intern coordinator cheered him on in his first appearance back to the Senate since suffering a brain aneurysm in December.

Colon wore a very simple and understated outfit, with cool and neutral colors mixing in a perfect fit. The skirt was basic, but an added slit gave it a little flair, and though I am not so sure the popped collar was necessary, it didn't look as wrong as most popped collars. Besides her neatly polished (and posh) bob, what I appreciate most is she found a pair of wedges that I don't absolutely hate. As Johanna would say, I don't particularly like shoes that "make a woman's foot look indelicate," and I believe that is something so many wedges do. These, however, are slim and narrow, have a just-perfect-hint-of-shine patent, a slightly provocative peep toe, and a not really offensive contrasting tone for the wedge itself.

Overall, the look is what a staffer should aim for. Now an actual Member is something completely different ...

– Bill Clark/Roll Call and John Shinkle/Politico, respectively

This is no scandal to write about

And the worst Hill article of the day: It starts out kind of about what's appropriate to wear to court and digresses somehow into how scorned wives of wondering politicians should present themselves.

“In these sex scandals the scorned woman is often the most scrutinized. Women can’t win; wear something modest, people will say, ‘Well, no wonder he went looking.’ Wear something that celebrates your femininity, and you’re desperate trash. Wear something appropriate? Well, that would render you invisible, perhaps the worst option of all.”

Though some would argue that this article is the same as this blog, I would say the venue of a blog is very different from a newspaper. Even so, I still wouldn't deem important what Sen. Craig wore to a press conference unless it was something outwardly offensive. Fashion Critic - and this instance in particular - is so often a wishy-washy column that doesn't say anything.

To read it all, though I don't know why, click here...

– The Idaho Statesman/Joe Jaszewski

Speaking of brassy

This was a very busy weekend for Hillary's newest accessory to hit the campaign trail: a raffia visor.

Many of the maybe-early primary states got to see this tennis-on-top, beach-on-the-bottom accoutrement as the junior Senator went from state fair to state house and back again. I'm not sure what designer made this (I say designer because it has a little silver leaf-shaped emblem on the rim), but Hill, honey, it isn't suit-worthy. If it's that hot and sunny that you need to shade your eyes, go for khakis and a nice button down or something and skip the full-on blazer. But that's just my opinion.

– AP Photos/Charlie Neibergall and Jim Cole, respectively

A blond, not brassy Hillary could grab the nod

As much as I detest myself for actually reading The Hill, it becomes even worse when I find multiple items to quote them on. Well, today their usually pointless (and, well, let's face it today's is too) 20 questions piece features S. Monae Everett, a stylist and manager at Bubbles Salon on Capitol Hill. Not that I would consider Bubbles a trend-setting cuttery, but unfortunately a lot of the male Members actually do get their hair cut there (even though they have their own in-house barber).

So, without further ado, here are the top trends in D.C. hair:

• "Blond highlights. A lot of blond highlights." Really? For the summer blond is in?

  
  

• "The bob is very popular and the side-swept bangs." Really? Like Posh Spice and Katie and my favorite local blogger?

  
  

• "Men used to think of products as just for women — now they’re using them." Really? Like the metrosexual of 2004 is finally making his way to the Hill?

She also comments on some of the presidential candidates coifs, saying that Edwards' $400 haircut was worth it if it made him feel good and Hillary should go blonder, though she doesn't know if the country can handle it. She also states that Rep. Louise Slaughter has the best hair in Congress, saying she "keeps it nicely curled. I love the color, the height. You can tell she didn’t roll right out of bed." Well, that we can agree on.

To read all the questions, click here...

– AP Photo/Jim Cole

Breaking news: Stress makes you all wrinkled

I'm sorry I left you with such a crappy last blog for so long; and I am sorry that I have to keep saying I'm sorry all the time. I can't make any promises though - work is, well, stressful.

Well, in my trying-to-destress I came across an article in The Hill today trying to tell me if I tell myself, “I am strong,” “I am in balance,” I will be strong and in balance. Anyway, there is a funny quote up top from Kathleen Hall, creator of The Stress Institute in Atlanta, who seems to have no connection to Washington at all...

“I would think [lawmakers] care about the way they look. Their skin gets wrinkled, [and stress] makes you age fast. It changes your metabolism [and] makes you store fat around your vital organs.”

Sounds great! To read some affirmation-centric tips on how to destress, click here...