dress codes != responsible execution of the job

[acroyear]

Dispatches from the Culture Wars: Dumbass Quote of the Week:

From W's former chief of staff, Andy Card:

I found that Ronald Reagan and both President Bushes treated the Oval Office with tremendous respect. They treated the Office of the Presidency with tremendous respect. And some of that respect was reflected in how they expected people to behave, how they expected them to dress when they walked into the symbol of freedom for the world, the Oval Office. And yes, I'm disappointed to see the casual, laissez faire, short sleeves, no shirt and tie, no jacket, kind of locker room experience that seems to be taking place in this White House and the Oval Office.

Because that's what really matters. You need to be well dressed while you're destroying the separation of powers, suspending habeas corpus, spying on American citizens and authorizing torture.

Comments

[thatliardiego.livejournal.com]

Clothes make the martinet.

[fiona64.livejournal.com]

That pretty much covers it. Destroy the government, but make sure that you are the picture of sartorial splendor.

Talk about a lesson in not judging a book by its cover ...

[pictsy.livejournal.com]

The White House went without air conditioning for a long time, even after it was available. Do they think those people never rolled up their sleeves in the summer?

Anyway, in Bobos in Paradise David Brooks talks about how dressing up for work used to be associated with occupational prestige, but now the luxury of dressing down for work is prestigious.

[thatwasjen]

"All hat, no cattle" is basically the same thing as "style over substance," isn't it?

[wildwose.livejournal.com]

While researching the White House and it's layout, teaching my little girl about the setting, she is very interested in the idea of little children there, we found the great non-governmental site, http://www.whitehousemuseum.org/

We were looking over the various rooms and such. Came to the Treaty Room, with the famous Treaty Table. Used by presidents as desk in the residence by many presidents and a cabinet table by U.S. Grant, and the Treaty for the Spanish-American War was signed on it. There was Ellawyn and I, she sitting in my lap, reading down the page, when we came to the following picture. Which, when my 5 year old saw it, with no prompting by me, she said, "He really shouldn't have his feet on it!"



You will note, that not only his he wearing his shoes, but they are lug soled. Really. Is that respect?

As a matter of point, I would feel the same no matter the president, but I think this picture reflects a greater attitude.

[celtink.livejournal.com]

They spent what seemed like 15 minutes on this topic on the nightly news a few night ago and all I could think was that I don't care if he wears his PJ's and bunny slippers in the oval office so long as he does his job correctly. People's fecking priorities are just screwed. Like it makes sense to say "Gee, Bush sucked as president, BUT he was so well-dressed while he did it"

[rokstar.livejournal.com]

i'd rather have an effective President working in pajamas on the weekends than a blithering idiot in a suit.

[uncle-possum.livejournal.com]

At least W didn't restore the Ruritanian outfits Nixon came up with for the White House guards.

("But, was the guard *polite* to you while he pulled out your fingernails?")

Memories of Andrew Jackson inviting the immediate world to his inauguration.

[wildwose.livejournal.com]

That was fascinating. I didn't know about that little aspect of the Nixon admin. Had to go use my Google Foo to find out. Thanks.

[scaleslea.livejournal.com]

Not only are his feet on the desk, he's not wearing a tie OR a jacket! Such affrontery to the office! And there is someone else in the room without a tie who is not getting pilloried! Is THIS the kind of slovenly government the people really want?

Doc

[acroyear70.livejournal.com]

ah, but it's not the Oval Office, which is the place of worship respectful observance.

[piraterogue.livejournal.com]

I see it as a bit of a Respect for the Office kind of thing you know. The stories of jeans and golf shirts as regular wear in the white house does kind of make me go hummm. I personally would like the whole world to return to the respect of work that is shown by the care you take in dressing in a suit and tie. That being said I don't wear a suit and tie, I wear work attire because I always have the possibility of having to go out in the muck and filth of my field activities.