Beware! Elena Kagan does not cross her legs!

[Are_grits_groceries]

UNUSUAL: Most women, including Sen. Amy Klobuchar, cross their legs when sitting, but not Kagan. (

<snip>
In the photographs of Kagan sitting and chatting in various Capitol Hill offices, she doesn't appear to ever cross her legs. Her posture stands out because for so many women, when they sit, they cross. People tend to mimic each other's body language during a conversation, especially if they're trying to connect with one another. But even when Kagan sits across from Sen. Amy Klobuchar, who has her legs crossed at the knees, Kagan keeps both feet planted firmly on the ground. Her body language will not be bullied into conformity.

She does not cross her legs at the ankles either, the way so many older women do. Instead, Kagan sits, in her sensible skirts, with her legs slightly apart, hands draped in her lap. The woman and her attire seem utterly at odds. She is intent on being comfortable. No matter what the clothes demand. No matter the camera angle.
<snip>
People make choices about their appearance for all sorts of complicated reasons. And often, they glom on to a cliche because they find it reassuring and easy. They wear the dress of a particular social tribe because they want people to make assumptions about who they are -- because letting folks come to a conclusion on their own is often easier than having to explain.

Ultimately, of course, on matters so personal, only the individual's speaking up can truly make things clear.

Yet, while most nominees aim for a wardrobe that sends no wayward signals, it may be that Kagan would be just as happy if her clothes said whatever it is that everyone wants to hear.

But if they don't, at least she will be presumed reliable and reassuring. Dowdy and dull. And very, very wise.
More of this stupidity is here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/21/AR2010052101670.html?hpid=topnews

More of Givhans blathering about political figures here : http://sobeale.blogspot.com/2010/05/print-journalism-still-dead.html

AS KO would say,"This woman is an idiot!"

[Jamastiene]

1. Well, if she pulls a Sharon Stone ala Basic Instincts,

she'll be sure to get the job...and some more fans.

:hide:

[SoCalDem]

2. Here's hoping she wears underwear that is the same color as her skirt

You KNOW there is some intrepid photographer out there just waiting for a Sharon Stone moment..:(

[Are_grits_groceries]

3. I'm surprised that Givhans

didn't include an allusion to Sharon Stone too.

[SoCalDem]

16. It's implied, in the picture

:(

[seabeyond]

4. it causes varicose veins on back of legs. good for her. nt

[eShirl]

5. and it's bad for knees and hips

http://kettlebellfitnessdk.wordpress.com/2009/10/27/don%E2%80%99t-cross-your-legs-%E2%80%93-it%E2%80%99s-unhealthy/

[Captain Hilts]

6. She's too short to do so comfortably. I have that problem in a lot of chairs. nt

[Are_grits_groceries]

7. Meh!

Mere excuses when Givhan's can discern her real purpose.:sarcasm:

[Captain Hilts]

9. Givhan is such an idiot. That's also why she's sitting forward in the chair. nt

[Captain Hilts]

10. I just read the comments and others noted that Kagan is short. Givhan's won a Pulitzer.

Beats me why.

[Catshrink]

12. I'm built like Kagan

crossing my legs isn't always comfortable, especially in a skirt.

Can't they find something substantiative to talk about? Did John Roberts cross his legs? Does Scalia? I'm not going to lose sleep over whether a Supreme crosses his or her legs but might lose a few zzzzzz's over another Citizens' United type ruling.

Oh yeah, and Michael Jackson is still dead.

[Captain Hilts]

18. Same here. Furniture is getting too big for me. In a skirt I'm miserable because of it. nt

[a la izquierda]

40. Me too.

I sometimes cross my ankles and swing my legs back and forth (yes, like an 8 year old). I'm 32.

I don't really care about convention. I care about being comfortable.

[Captain Hilts]

8. Givhan thinks women should all be wearing the Furstenberg wrap dress and jackets and blazers are

for lesbians only. Many women - and MOST women 'of a certain age' have no interest in wearing a wrap dress. But that is Givhan's big deal.

She doesn't understand that women like to wear jackets for the same reason men do: easy on/off, have pockets, cover up your gut, etc.

Givhan's an idiot.

[Are_grits_groceries]

13. You give Givhans too much credit.

Thinking is above her pay grade.

[Captain Hilts]

19. The 'feminine' look for the workplace of the Furstenberg dress is Her Cause. The other sidelight

of Givhan is that as another black woman who went to Princeton, she expected a special rapport, or access, to Michelle Obama, and is totally pissed she hasn't gotten it.

[blondeatlast]

21. Edit: I found out who she is--a real class act,, ain't she? Ugh. nt

[blondeatlast]

23. Oh, she's a prize, she is, belss her heart. I just read her latest blog entry--

un-effin-believable (http://www.robingivhan.com/):

Saturday, May 22, 2010

I Hate the DC Government
At the moment, I'm in a foul mood because the DC department of transportation has rerouted tour buses past my apartment and down tiny little 3rd Street NE. I'd like to point out that there's massive construction in the middle of 3rd street. And that I've been complaining about this for two months. To no avail.

I'm considering lobbing water balloons from my deck. Friends have threatened to start mooning the drivers and passengers. I've just been giving them scowling dirty looks and thinking about how pissed I am with DC. It's such a stupid, minor problem. So easy to solve. Alas, all I have is my one lone vote.

Perhaps I could rent a giant Grayhound bus and drive it in circles around Mayor Fenty's block? Hmm. Could be worth the cost.

[peekaloo]

11. I see London, I see France

Dumb shit from Givhan, not perchance.


code word "sensible".

[stray cat]

14. At least not around the clock at all times

[DaveinJapan]

15. I see a nice picture of two people having an enjoyable conversation. nt

[Submariner]

17. Is this how a reporter thinks?

Did the writer actually wake up one morning and think "Gee...I'll write a story about her not crossing her legs....that's the ticket to journalistic fame."

How shallow can these people get. Pathetic stuff.

[Captain Hilts]

20. Givhan is the Wall St. Post's 'fashion' writer. There 're Big Bucks in reading too much into women's

clothing choices.

[blondeatlast]

22. FFS! I just looked at the original story--what a bunch of petty, pathetic drivel! I'd call it BS,

but BS is useful.

[Jane Austin]

24. She can't.

She is short and chubby.

No way she can cross her legs.

I have trouble with that myself, and I'm not even short.

[csziggy]

25. Short people have trouble sitting comfortably in most chairs.

I am 5'3", the same as Solicitor General Kagan. Most furniture is too long front to back and too tall for me to sit comfortably. If the chair is too long front to back,crossing them can lead to a tendency to slide forward; too tall and that slide is harder to stop. So most of the time I sit with my legs straight. And since I am short and built like a fire hydrant, this is not terribly attractive.

Look at the photo with that story - see how much longer Sen. Kloubachar's legs are just from the knee down? Of course, she can sit more comfortably in furniture designed for medium height people.

[Captain Hilts]

34. Exact same here. All furniture is designed for the average man: someone approx 5'9".

You really notice it on buses: in DC they've gotten complaints the seats on buses are too high for the women - many Hispanic or Asian and shorter - and kids and elderly to sit on comfortably and safely. They're sliding around everywhere.

[csziggy]

36. I read somewhere that most furniture used to be designed for 5'7" women

Which would be about right for a 5'9" tall man since women have longer legs for their height. But then you get people whose proportions are different - I have a longer torso and shorter legs than many my height and I suspect Elena Kagan does too. All I know is that the standard 18" tall seat is about 2" too tall for me and every single seat is too long from back to front.

A too tall bus seat would be dangerous - they need to re-engineer those things before someone gets hurt!

[blondeatlast]

26. Etiquette advice from a woman who wants to moon DC transit drivers and passengers and throw water

ballons at them? Claaaaaaaassyyyyyy...

I think I will pass, thanks.

From her blog on Saturday:

http://www.robingivhan.com /

Saturday, May 22, 2010

I Hate the DC Government
At the moment, I'm in a foul mood because the DC department of transportation has rerouted tour buses past my apartment and down tiny little 3rd Street NE. I'd like to point out that there's massive construction in the middle of 3rd street. And that I've been complaining about this for two months. To no avail.

I'm considering lobbing water balloons from my deck. Friends have threatened to start mooning the drivers and passengers. I've just been giving them scowling dirty looks and thinking about how pissed I am with DC. It's such a stupid, minor problem. So easy to solve. Alas, all I have is my one lone vote.

Perhaps I could rent a giant Grayhound bus and drive it in circles around Mayor Fenty's block? Hmm. Could be worth the cost.

[Dr Morbius]

27. I guess the Washington Post wants their columnists to reflect all sides.

The left, the right, and the terminally stupid.

[eShirl]

28. looking at the photo, Kagan sits exactly how my grandmother used to sit

and she was a Quaker minister

[Berry Cool]

29. This story will be all over Fox News by this afternoon!

Because, you know, any woman who doesn't cross her legs is showing more concern for her own physical comfort than for playing the role women are supposed to play in society--which is PROOF POSITIVE that she is a LESBIAN!!!!!

Only LESBIANS care about their own physical comfort more than about playing the role of the dainty female!!!! That's why they wear comfortable flat shoes instead of high heels, and it's why they don't cross their legs!!!!

Hurry, Glenn Beck!! This is HUGH!!111!!!111 You should be able to get at least two or three blackboards out of this!

[Captain Hilts]

31. Yep. nt

[Berry Cool]

30. OMG, I just read the whole article.

I think my IQ dropped 50 points just by reading it.

Is THIS the best the WaPo can do in "serious" analysis of political figures? A lengthy essay on what we can, or can't, or shouldn't try to jump to conclusions about re Kagan because of the journalist's assessment of her personal style as "dowdy" and "frumpy"?

Heaven help us all. They are calling this "journalism." It's this kind of stuff that reminds me why I never wanted to be a journalist.

[seabeyond]

33. when there is a smart female in public, she must be focused solely on sexuality and femininity.

dontcha know. too intimidating otherwise.

[liberalla]

32. I'm amazed she wears skirts/dresses everyday.

I would be in pants or slacks.


But sheesh! enough with how she LOOKS!

[Captain Hilts]

35. In DC, stockings are FAR too hot to wear 5 months out of the year. Like wearing a plastic bag.

You leave puddles everywhere.

I commuted in my jogging gear or my Mets "Mookie" jersey and changed at the office.

[Arkana]

38. If I were her and thought I could get away with it

I'd show up at my confirmation hearings in cutoff jean shorts, a "WHO FARTED" t-shirt, and a trucker hat.

Oh, and I'd be drinking a Budweiser.

Just to troll the Republican members of the SJC.

[Arkana]

37. Jesus fucking Christ what the hell is WRONG with the media.

I'm waiting for some homophobe reporter to crack and use the d-word in a piece.

That's where we fucking are right now.

[blondeatlast]

42. You should read the author's blog. Un-effin'-believable. I quoted her Saturday entry

elsewhere in the thread. Monumental, scary stupidity.

[gratuitous]

39. Thank GOD for the Washington Post!

This, this woman almost slipped by, didn't she? Just about got her lifetime appointment to the highest court of the land. But this charlatan was exposed, at practically the last possible moment, by intrepid reporting not afraid the delve into the deepest, darkest reaches of Robin Givhan's psyche to prize the sordid secret that Ms. Kagan has desperately tried to hide all of her life: She doesn't cross her legs when she sits in a chair, even when given the lady-like example of Sen. Klobuchar to mimic!

Can you imagine what kind of nutcase, out-of-the-mainstream rulings we might have gotten from a Justice Kagan? If you want to talk about the Republic dodging a bullet, nay a cruise missile, then I think we need go no further than this column by Ms. Givhan. Thank you, madam, for your inestimable service to our country. A grateful nation stands in mute awe before your writing.

[Missy Vixen]

41. I don't cross my legs, either

We were in a car wreck almost twenty years ago which caused some significant lower-back problems. It's really difficult for me to cross my legs. I'm self-conscious about it, even when crossing at the ankle.

It's amazing there's nothing else for the media to discuss besides how Elena Kagan dresses, or sits in a chair.

:eyes:

[Warren DeMontague]

43. If you don't see the vagina, it can't eat you.