I think this is a pretty strong contender. Let's consider that this -- "my own view is that, considering the efforts all candidates go to in creating their image, discussing what they wear and whether they display cleavage at work, or ever, in their quest to make the nation comfortable with the idea of them holding ultimate power is legit" -- isn't even the most ridiculous thing Lisa Shiffren says.
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Worst Corner Post Ever?
28 Jul 2007 03:10 pm
Comments (22)
I thought I was having an acid flashback reading Shiffren's post.
Are we to presume that if the candidates spent no time on grooming and clothing that none of our "serious" pundits would have anything to say?
And the line between right-wing politics and Cosmopolitan blurs just a little bit more.
Are we really going to have a second week focused on Hillary's chest?
Also--nice touch throwing in the deceased mother-in-law.
To me the most depressing thing about the post is actually the characteristic reflex reference to the U.S. president "holding ultimate power" which fairly encapsulates the worldview of today's leader-worshiping Right.
A noble attempt by Schiffren to act as if she doesn't really want to discuss this "issue," but has been forced to by the rest of the media and by Hillary's opportunism. The lesson here: when vying for the Worst Corner Post Ever crown, you have to go real low. After all, the competition is Michael Ledeen.
I read posts like that and it makes me want to apologize for ever criticizing MY for anything.
Schiffren is certainly a moron, but the people who are all worked about the Hillary's cleavage piece aren't too bright, either. It was in the Style section -- Robin what's-her-face is a fashion writer. She writes about what people wear, that's her job, so the fashion choices of the maybe-first-woman-president are certainly fair game.
It was in the Style section -- Robin what's-her-face is a fashion writer. She writes about what people wear, that's her job, so the fashion choices of the maybe-first-woman-president are certainly fair game.
I more or less agree with that, with two caveats: complaints about the piece might be a species of (legitimate) complaint that the media tend to focus on the truly trivial when regarding Dems, or complaints might make the (legitimate) claim that writers ought to be especially careful in taking these sorts of gendered shots at a woman, as it happens so much, and for such bad reasons, already. But I do think people complaining should be clearer about the basis for the complaint.
Hmm, gotta disagree, too many steves. The piece was patently offensive (as was Givhan's piece about what John Roberts' kids wore to an announcement about his nomination). Don't forget that Robin Givhan won a Pulitzer for criticism; she is one of the best known columnists writing today, whether her work appears in the Style section or not.
Has anyone mentioned that, in addition to being a moron, that Lisa Schiffren is fat. I think it's legit to mention because she is commenting on Hillary's lack of cleavage. Really quite rotund. Not K-Lo rotund, but definitely J Pod or Dough Bob like. Does the Corner have some sort of affirmative action for fatties going on?
After describing Robin Givhan's column as an "ultimately legitimate column, asking what message Hillary was sending by displaying cleavage during work hours," Schiffren informs us that Hillary Clinton did not, in fact, display any cleavage. Legitimate but false, eh?
Schiffren: "That is so aggressive that it defies comment."
Well then, sweetie, perhaps you oughtn't comment on it.
Robin Givhan is a fascinating writer. I didn't think this was her best column; that'd be her critique of what Dick Cheney wore at a ceremony commemorating the liberation of Auschwitz. Do check it out.
I, too, think it's totally legit to analyze how people turn themselves out. People choose, obviously, what to wear, and the choices of public figures reflect the image they want to convey. If you've never given a thought to that issue yourself, you must be either under the age of three or living in a world remarkably unlike the one I inhabit.
The problem w/ Lisa Shiffen's post is not that she is discussing what Clinton wore on the floor of the Senate. The problem is that she wrote the post so that she could slam Clinton by saying that she has no cleavage, i.e., she is not a real woman. And that, my friends, is something we can expect to hear much more of if she becomes the candidate.
After all, you know that she is friends with Donna Shalala, right? And Shalala is, ta dum, an unmarried woman w/ short hair. Therefore, Hillary must be . . . well, you can finish the sentence.
Come on MY, this is The Corner. That title should be "Worst Corner Post Ever To Date? You know there will a worse one along soon.
RE: Givhan's column -
I didn't think it was that bad. She writes about fashion, and I could imagine engaging in a similar conversation with some of my friends. Sure, it's catty but you gotta fill the day talking about something... I was struck by Givhan's observation that Clinton was giving a "look but don't look" signal with the blouse. I've never felt like such a dirty voyeur while watching a C-Span clip.
RE: The Corner -
There is so much bizarre crap on The Corner every week that it's hard to single out any one as worst ever. And to take it a bit further, I'm not really sure who they represent anymore. Could a true "Red-Stater" pick them out of a crowd of your standard latte-sipping ivory tower Liberals? Talk about drama queens!
Not even remotely the worst Corner post I've ever seen. Not by a long, long longshot.
Matt, you need categories if you're going to do this kind of thing. This might be a finalist for the "breathtakingly inane" award, but it is incommensurable with the Ledeen stuff, which is truly damaging. Put it this way: if the Corner had posted nothing but idiocy jlike Schiffren's over the last 5 years, we'd all be much better off.
My nominee for worst ever Corner post, linked at my handle, is from a discussion between Tim Graham and Kathryn Lopez about whether or not South Park should be criticized for mocking the Pope. The illogic, grandiosity, and absurdity all coming together like this is like Joe DiMaggio's 56-game hitting streak. I don't think we'll ever see it again in just a few sentences.
Re: The Pope and South Park [Tim Graham]
Kathryn, I’d have to disagree on the issue of “South Park.” It would be a mistake to play “What Do You Expect?” when Comedy Central mocks the pontiff. If anything, it should be argued that it’s MORE necessary to protest “South Park.” Since they thrive on trashing pieties, if you don’t resist now, how far will they have to go the next time to score on the outrage meter? If the Lord had the same instinct, he would have never met with the prostitutes and the tax collecters. Hey, what did he expect?
"Has anyone mentioned that, in addition to being a moron, that Lisa Schiffren is fat. I think it's legit to mention because she is commenting on Hillary's lack of cleavage ... "
@ Klein's tiny left nut: Sorry, that doesn't excuse your ad hominem. Maybe that's why no one else mentioned it.
Maeglin,
Look I generally agree with the notion of not heaping ad hominem abuse on people -- and believe me it's not like I couldn't be told to drop the spoon and run away -- but I'm sick to death of these clowns feeling like they are free to say anything and literally never have to look in the mirror. One day it's Hillary's cleavage, the day before that it's John Edwards' hair, or that liberal men in general are wimps. It just floors me to be characterized as a wimp by manly specimens like Jonah Goldberg or Rich Lowry or Bill Kristol for Chrissakes. So yes, I feel that the normal rules of politesse need to be suspended with these clowns until it stops. It's symtomatic of an overall phenomenon. We need to hit these people back as hard as they hit us, repeat and rinse, until they get the message. And Lisa shouldn't be making fun on anyone's looks --period.
Comments closed August 11, 2007.
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Heads in the Sand
Most ridiculous part:
Gawd help me, but it's so awful that it's kind of awesome.
Anyway, "Worst Corner Post" is kind of a cheat. The competition of the moment is "dumbest thing ever written by anyone in any venue." I think Applebaum beats Slaughter by several lengths, but Atrios is right to note that Henley hasn't considered most of the serious contenders.
Posted by SomeCallMeTim | July 28, 2007 3:22 PM