Hillary Clinton
The Getty photographers had SO MUCH FUN with the giant screen behind each speaker. Hillary was REALLY into the Two Thumbs Up at this convention, and now that have witnessed it as Four Thumbs Up, I can see why.
While we're in the close-up: Good lipstick, Hill.
Barack Obama
Is his tie SHINY, or vaguely ombre/tie-dyed? I don't remember the latter, so maybe it's just a trick of the light.
Hillary
"THIS GUY. THIS IS THE GUY."
This was a "surprise" appearance on Night Three by Hillary. I don't have a problem with her wearing pantsuits, but let's be real: The last time we saw this particular one MAY have been on Violet Beauregard.
Barry and Hillz
"Get in here, you cuddle-muffin, you."
Elizabeth Banks
I wish we had more shots of rehearsal, because this could either be a Surprisingly Not Bad Jumpsuit or a Noteworthy Cocktail Dress. I love the pattern.
Elizabeth Banks
"UM GUYS WE DIDN'T REHEARSE THIS LIGHTING. I DID NOT DRESS FOR THIS." Luckily it did not turn her dress transparent.
Elizabeth Banks
"Oh, it's the clapper. Clap on, clap off. Got it." (I like the dress. I wish I could tell what the shoes are. I suspect that's because they're neutral. This would not be a problem if they were red, Elizabeth!)
Lena Dunham and America Ferrera
I couldn't resist this photo of them. It makes me laugh. But both of their heads looked FANTASTIC. That's the best Lena's hair and makeup have ever been, truly, and America's red lipstick is PERFECTION.
Lena Dunham and America Ferrera
And the SHOE GAME. YES. They may be the first people to make me cheer at their shoes. I liked FLOTUS's metallics, but they also didn't read that strongly under the lights. These are unmissable. I thought they both looked professional and great.
Bill Clinton
This photo cracks me UP. It reminds me a lot of Phil Hartman when he'd impersonate Bill Clinton - remember that great sketch where he was "jogging" and went straight to McDonald's and made up reasons to eat people's food? -- but it also makes me think of Darrell Hammond when he does his most impish and flirtatious Bill Clinton impersonations. This is total Mischievous Bill Face. I feel like Hillary sees him like this at the dinner table and is like, 'WHATEVER YOU ARE PLOTTING, DON'T."
Bill Clinton
See? These framings are gold. Tiny Bill and Big Bill. I had a theory that he might've been at less than 100 percent for mysterious reasons (I had a guess but it doesn't matter), because I feel like until now he's been used so sparingly, but he came off okay so maybe I'm just a drama junkie.
I thought his speech was generally fine. I know what we've come to consider "First Lady Speeches" often include stories meant to humanize the candidate and paint them as a loving partner and family person. But I don't recall, in the past, having it come off like a validation of sexual attraction. And my issue was that the pundits seemed to think Hillary NEEDED that; that there was a burden of proof of desirability here somehow in order to make her seem relatable as a candidate. That strikes me unfair. It's fine that Bill wanted to talk about how she enthralled him, but when the analysts are all patting him on the back for making her look like a coveted being... I hope that's selling America short. I know there are other layers to this pertaining to his infidelity, but... well, I'll get to that later. My point is, watching Bill do that made me realize that when First Ladies do it about their husbands, it comes across as proving they're solid and loyal family men. But when you flip the script on this whole thing, it takes on a sexualizing tone that I'm not sure anyone expected until it was happening. It's an interesting gender study, to be sure. This is an annotated look at the speech -- it's fascinating just for picking apart the whys of certain things he included -- and the first annotation basically covers this point; the NY Times also discussed in particular Rachel Maddow's feeling that it framed "the first female major party nominee as an attractive girl." Worth a read.
People on Twitter got mad at me for holding Bill to a different standard than First Lady speeches of the past, but I'm not, really. It's a different case, a different situation, and the big part of what bothers ME is this implication -- from the pundits who react and the researchers who advise -- that *America* really needs her to seem desirable in order to trust or relate to her. I HOPE America doesn't need that. We should be past a person's bangability as a job qualification unless the actual job is Person To Be Banged.
Meryl Streep
Meryl has worn this dress before (we had her in it in 2009). I feel like she's up there going, "THANK YOU for delivering me the perfect venue for this dress. I KNEW WHEN I BOUGHT IT THAT THIS MOMENT WOULD COME."
Tim Kaine and Anne Holton
Oh, Tim. He is a likable dude, for sure. We've been having fun with the whole America's Uncle thing on Twitter. But the medium-blue shirt and strong tie and dark suit somehow didn't work for me. It was too... heavy? It's like Tim Kaine was given this combo for Christmas and promised his kids he'd save it for something really special. Tim Kaine totally has a tie with tons of tiny Santa Clauses on it where the secret is that one of them is mooning you. Tim Kaine also has a Velvet John Wayne somewhere in his attic and left you a case of Pabst when he visited you at college.
Tim Kaine
I will say this: All the Fug Nationals who've reached out to us with some experience with Tim Kaine -- they've met him, they're a constituent from way back or even just recently -- has lovely, lovely things to say about him. We didn't even solicit stories; they all just seemed REALLY excited and proud when he was the pick and wanted to share.
Stephanie Rawlings-Blake
I missed how the Baltimore mayor got picked for this; was she always set to, or was she pinch-hitting for Debbie Wasserman-Schultz? Regardless, she was all in on the gavel, and she looked great both days. I thought I nabbed a pic of the black dress she wore at roll call, but I guess not.
Stephanie Rawlings-Blake
OH WAIT I found it. Yeah, it's a good dress.
Demi Lovato
I missed her speech. Jessica said it was good, if I remember correctly. But, sweet child, your skin does not need to match your metallic shoes. You are not Ms. Roboto.
Anastasia Somoza
It's interesting how many people chose white at the two conventions. Other than Meryl, it really was a Keep It Simple kind of event. Which is not a criticism; just an observation. This young lady did herself absolutely proud. She has cerebral palsy and spastic quadriplegia, and has been an advocate for kids with disabilities since she herself as a tot. The NY Times also wrote a nice story about her and her twin sister, who appears to be more limited and yet equally undaunted.
Eva Longoria
More white! And more good shoes. I wouldn't have worn beige shoes, but they're definitely attractive beige shoes, so that's a huge plus.
Sarah Silverman
I have never been a huge Sarah Silverman person, but I thought it was great when she told the Berners that they were being ridiculous. Because I think... to ME, anyway, I understand being disappointed when your movement doesn't work, and wanting to mourn it, but I also don't understand taking it to the weird extremes that some of them did. You have to find a way to rebound and keep pushing toward the positive ends you wanted. I mean, planning a fart-in?!? Life is full of disappointments, but generally organized flatulence is not how people handle them.
Paul Simon
At a convention that was rife with division, it is hilarious to me that the half of Simon & Garfunkel that REFUSES to compromise with his estranged partner is the half that sang "Bridge Over Troubled Waters." HEED THINE OWN WORDS PAUL.
Elizabeth Warren
She wore many colorful blazers this week. I would love to see what her closet is like, and whether they are organized in color order.
Bernie Sanders
I would not have ended Day 1 on Bernie (Twitter was divided on whether this was his demand or the Clinton Campaign's late schedule change) because it meant people left the venue with HIS name on their lips more than anyone's, and that's regardless of how supportive his speech was. He did seem to bask in the first two days, it's true, but I can't really blame him for it; there was a bit of a melancholic sense to him by the end of day 4, and I wonder if it's because it really hit him that this might have been it. His first run was probably his last. I'm just speculating, but it was interesting. He was in a tough position and ultimately he did what the party needed him to do but... y'all part of the reason I'm going on and on about all these people is that this election, on all sides, has been SO FASCINATING. There are just so many tremendously rich facets to consider and study, from that first 17-person RNC debate to today and on until November.
Former Gov. Jennifer Granholm (Mich).
Tim Kaine pulled out his dinnertable Trump impression during his speech, and Granholm did him one better with a little song and a Trump of her own. It was a very animated convention, y'all.
Rep. Maxine Waters (CA)
VERY animated. Lots of gesticulating.
Howard Dean
SO ANIMATED.
Lenny Kravitz
Lenny would not be contained. Lenny put on his favorite Science Poncho and unleashed his feels.
Martin O'Malley
Jessica tells me we have one Fug National who digs his forearms, so this is like Convention Scrapbook material for that person.
Sen. Cory Booker (NJ)
"OH OH ONE MORE THING I THOUGHT OF ONE MORE THING HANG ON TWO MORE THERE ARE NOW TWO OR THREE MORE. NO ONE EXPECTS THE SPANISH INQUISITION."
For real, I enjoyed Cory Booker's energy, and his suit and tie. But someone on Twitter noted that his speech was a bit like "Return of the King" in that it had SO MANY false endings, and that made me laugh, because it was true.
Bill and Cory
Cory: Oh was I talking too loud? Sometimes I get over-excited. Shoot off at the mouth.
Bill: I'm with you, but the situation is fraught.
(Hamilton reference. Sorry. I couldn't resist. Neither could Hillary, though.)
Donna Brazile
Donna actually genuinely sauntered and sashayed out to the podium. She is the interim DNC chair - and possibly also incoming - and her speech was really energetic and engaging. But I've long loved Donna Brazile. I remember once during the 2008 election, she was referring to the many things she does/has done by coyly saying to Anderson Cooper, "I wear MANY wigs." It was great.
The Mothers of the Movement
They were the picture of grace. We went to the Glamour Women of the Year awards in November and the survivors of the Charleston massacre were there, and it was beautiful; anyone who can suffer that kind of tragedy and immediately look for love and positivity and a way to turn tragedy into hope... well, I admire people like that, and these ladies are the same.
Andra Day
She performed "Rise Up." The outfit looks a bit like PJs and a dressing gown put together, but her style is offbeat and retro in a way that this also fits. She did not seem happy with a few of the notes she hit, but I thought she was stirring.
Erika Alexander
It's Cousin Pam! Possibly wearing the wrong shoes! I was not expecting a Cosby Show alum at any of the conventions, I'll tell you that. She looks glowy. Welcome back, Cousin Pam.
Madeleine Albright
Gilmore Girls fans might remember this brooch. Madeleine is a formidably smart lady -- one of my favorite qualities -- and one of the best things I learned about her is that she TOTALLY will not mind me saying, "Damn, I love your brooch," because she wrote a whole book about her collection and using them for diplomatic expression. The jacket copy reads, "It would never have happened if not for Saddam Hussein. When U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Madeleine Albright criticized the dictator, his poet in residence responded by calling her "an unparalleled serpent." Shortly thereafter, while preparing to meet with Iraqi officials, Albright pondered: What to wear? She decided to make a diplomatic statement by choosing a snake pin." She is a badass, I think.
Madeleine Albright
And on Thursday, she wore a special shattered-glass-ceiling pin.
Alicia Keys
Alicia has stopped wearing makeup, to which I say: good for her. She looks radiant.
Rep. Eleanor Holmes-Norton (DC)
"Please, hold your applause for my refreshing stripes. We have more things to discuss."
Joe Biden
"WHAAAAAAT? BUT STRIPES ARE LIKE UNHEARD OF AT THESE THINGS!!!!! MUST! CLAP!"
Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden
Joe was MAD CRAZY ANIMATED. Dr. Jill is like, "It's cool, everyone, I can keep him from popping his lid." (Insert standard shoe commentary here. Shoe Rescue with Uzo Aduba -- was that the name? -- should have been on the ground at both conventions.)
Anyway, Joe's photos were all really enthusiastic and charming. He is one of those politicians who seems, regardless of party, like he's just a decent as hell dude.
NYC Mayor Bill De Blasio
A word about waving, everyone. Please proceed carefully. Angle and arm rigidity are EXTREMELY IMPORTANT and easy to misconstrue. There is a reason Queen Elizabeth II does that tightly coiled one. You will NEVER mistake that for anything else. Maybe we can agree that you wave to the higher tiers and the lower ones, and just POINT to the people who are more on your eyeliner.
Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee (TX)
Or follow her example. Sheila totally gets it. That is a wave. We've got elbow crook, a clear vertical hand... it's geometry, everyone. The geometry of a wave. Let's remember it. (I also enjoy her suit, and the fact that I've decided she's a huge Carrie Bradshaw fan and that explains the neon flower.)
Robert Rodriguez
"I was told this was a Kenny Chesney concert."
Mayor Karen Weaver (Flint, MI)
She looks great. That front-and-center slit works safely because it's not very long, so it isn't opening any barn doors.
Sigourney Weaver
"I'm Sigourney Weaver and I'm running for president... of the Oh My God She Looks Fantastic WHAT DOES SHE PUT ON HER SKIN Club."
Angela Bassett
Lots of these dresses suffer from being photographed while the person is in motion, so i'm trying to remember that they were all really chosen to look good while standing behind a podium. I bet that's why Melania chose The Sleeves, too. They were like a piece of flair.
Rep. Joyce Beatty (OH)
Speaking of The Sleeves. IS that the exact same dress as Melania's, or just a cousin? No one seems to have a definitive verdict. It's the Battle of the Elbow Clouds. I call it a tie.
Broadway Stars
I have no idea who all is up there singing "What The World Needs Now Is Love Sweet Love," or how many of them are even actually in current Broadway shows (here is a Playbill piece about it). All that matters is that Cagney and Lacey were up there with each other singing away. It's all I need.
Gabby Giffords
I genuinely think you have to be made of stone not to be moved by her perseverance and by the simple fact that she is alive.
Leon Panetta
Leon was out there to deliver a foreign policy rebuke of Trump, I think, but he got booed by a lot of Sanders supporters who were chanting "No More War." It flummoxed him. All he really wanted was to be on The Love Boat.
Rep. Tammy Duckworth (IL)
It is utterly beside the point to note that her lipstick is ALSO good, but... it really is.
Gov. John Hickenlooper (CO)
He went out there and kept talking about wanting to start a Group Hug, and having the ability and guts to start a Group Hug that would survive and profit, and Jess basically had to turn on the closed-captioning to realize it was in fact "Brew Pub." But I DO think he would be okay with a group hug, too.
Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen
I assume Ted is saying, "Hillary just wants to go where everybody knows her name," and Mary is remembering that day she was in a time-traveling train in Back to the Future III.
Lance Bass
"Sigh. I was told we'd play cricket."
Rev. William Barber
My DVR crashed and I missed his entire speech. Jessica said it was good enough to get even the non-religious to his church every Sunday.
Khizr Khan
Their son died for the U.S. as a member of our military. They were incredibly moving. Again... no matter where you stand on immigration reform, it's a worthy reminder that there are Americans of every hue and belief, and that bravery and patriotism are themselves a rainbow and not limited to one mold.
Sarah McBride
Sarah, who works for the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, is the fist transgender person to speak at a convention, and she did a stellar job.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
A LOT of people got on the DNC stage and spat the words "reality star" like they were made of poison. However, I feel I should note, in absolute fairness, that Kareem himself is technically a reality star, thanks to his stint on the one-season ABC diving competition called "Splash." In which he had his own theme song about the sky hook and nearly concussed himself, but stuck around at least halfway through if not longer. I might be the only person in this country who watched that show.
His tie is the jam.
Chloe Grace Moretz
Did CNN show her? I feel like... I didn't realize I hadn't seen it until the photo came in. It is a victory that she's not wearing a choker, or anything else that looks like a rigging to keep her head attached. But the jacket is a bit bulky for me here. And wintry. Well, hang on, that's probably a crazy thing to say at a convention FULL of business-wear. Sorry. But it does seem overly heavy.
Katy Perry in Michael Kors
Is it an optical illusion, or can we see basically where her undergarments are? I have to be honest, I did not think she was in very good voice. But between her and Demi being here, and Katy getting the official Rio anthem for NBC, Team Taylor Swift has taken a lot of hits lately. They've GOT to be mobilizing soon, right?
Barack Obama
This is a touching picture. He seems to be fighting his emotions.
Hillary and Chelsea
Speaking of, there was a moment when Hillary and Chelsea met on-stage where I really did think Hillary was going to start crying. The photo doesn't really capture it.
Chelsea Clinton
I can't tell if she's wiping tears away, or just moving her hair. She looked and sounded polished and lovely -- she and Ivanka both did their parents a credit, and I don't REALLY care about the beige shoes on anyone given that everyone was behind a podium-- and it was especially nice to me because I remember when Chelsea first moved into the White House. She was in her awkward teen years, and the media was MERCILESS about her appearance. I tend to think the First Kids should get left alone -- we sometimes feature Sasha and Malia when they travel with their parents, and I'm even torn about that -- and so good on Chelsea for not letting any of that period break her. She didn't ask for that spotlight and she bore it anyway.
Hillary
Hill wore a white pantsuit. This was destined to please everyone or no one, you know? Some people want her to try skirts, but she's someone with a long history of pantsuits at the point, and if she'd suddenly swapped in a skirt it probably would've been the headliner. It also risked people snarking that she was trying to play up her gender, or that she was glamming up; worse, there probably IS a contingent she needed to play to that still thinks of a pantsuit as being more authoritative (sigh). It's a minefield, basically. I think she was better off this way. She does not need the clothes to be the story any more than they are already.
It really is anthropologically fascinating to have this happening in our country, FINALLY, and discover all the ways in which powerful women still have to be at war with perception.
Edited to add: I found an article that says the color is meant to evoke the suffragette movement, and I think that's very meaningful.
Hillary and Tim
I think Tim Kaine is actually jumping for joy here.
Hillary
I wish I'd found better shots of her with the balloons; she was batting them around with glee. No human alive can resist spiking a balloon like a volleyball.
Bill
Balls jokes aplenty.
Bill and Hillary
I said I'd get back to the infidelity, which is the elephant in the room with these two, but honestly... I'm not sure what to say anymore. I understand fully why people think Hillary is shady in other areas, and I absolutely have big questions, and think that stuff is relevant as it relates to her work. How can it NOT be, really? If I believe Trump is being hinky about not releasing his tax returns, and I do, then I have to cast a critical eye on her past as well. THOSE things all speak to a person's leadership instincts just as much as their oratory does.
But with Bill's dalliances... I mean, does it matter? Of course people are going to talk about it, but does it really affect her ability to be president? I have this sense that we're in for a long few months of mudslinging on both sides, and Bill's marital skeletons will be a big part of it. I just think she should be judged on HER actions, not on his. (I would say the same about Trump and Melania; if she's ever been unfaithful, it's not useful to me as an indicator of his abilities in the Oval.) Sometimes elections turn into this weird pissing contest about who's been married longer and can say the nicest things about how their spouse is their better half, etc. I just naively want good governance.
So whatever does or doesn't -- or has, or hasn't -- transpired between these two, the fact is that they've chosen to stay a partnership and it clearly works for them, and i genuinely think this was a proud and emotional moment for them. Just as Melania and Donald have chosen to walk this election path together, and many couples before them. I feel like... nobody needs to prove anything to me on that front. Just go out on the trail, all of you, and please put America first. And whatever that means to you is I guess one way that we can decide what it means to us.