I agree with you. But I always have heard the saying as "Clothes make the man." I'm fascinated by your variation, which I have never heard. I don't think you'll get much argument. I'm struggling to come up with something.
Fetterman seems to define himself this way, standing out for his insistence on casual clothes and a sloppy look. It's annoying. Congress has gotten full of folks trying to stand out for reasons that have nothing to do with their work, like Lauren Boebert trying to carry a gun into the House of Representatives.
There is an attitude among political leaders now that celebrates rule-breaking, whether cultural mores, such as dressing with respect, or actual laws. A society can suffocate in rules, I believe, but can also disintegrate because of rule-breaking. We're going in the latter direction.
I totally agree! Well stated. Our deteriorated language, defines us as a culture as well. What is acceptable for a teenager should not be tolerated by professionals.
So great to witness your wit and wisdom again, Bob! Commentaries by you, Will and Ken are the living proof that the art of honest, well-researched journalism can and does exist, despite efforts to extinguish it. Here’s hoping you guys can convince Forrest Hartley to make a comeback through this forum also.
I agree and remember there were “church clothes” also growing up- I’m your generation Bob! And when we came home from church we changed into play clothes . These habits were really traditions and I felt were a reflection of our values. Sigh. Thanks to Covid times I now have casual sweat clothes and dressy sweats! But I’ll still where my jewelry- but that’s a topic for another day!
As I hated dressing up as a child( I had to wear skirts, gloves, no air conditioning and plastic furniture, I was tough on “city clothes,” and couldn’t wait to get home to change and ride my bicycle. However as an adult, I bought comfortable and fashionable clothes for work as an engineer and then educator and was disheartened at the sloppiness of the younger staff.
Ok Jill, here’s my sad story but has a happy ending. I was raised in Queens. Then at 14 , my family & I moved to Hyde Park NY 90 miles north of the city. I was a junior in HS - not a great time to move fir a 14 year old. No friends -they thought I was that uppity b___ from the city!!!
So fall of junior year, my class is going on school bus trip to see a Broadway show (1964)
So I wear my red linen suit, my white nylon blouse with the Peter Pan collar and thr circle pin, stockings, black patent leather shoes!! ( I’m 74 now - my generation knows what I’m describing)
NO ONE SAT NEXT TO ME ON THE BUS!! I was miserable don’t remember anything!!
Got home, threw off my clothes! Cried wanted to go back to queens, never gonna wear that suit again!!
Ok . now on to February 1965. They discovered that I’m funny!! I go out for talent show, and they are hysterically laughing at my imitation of a French opera star????!!! When I graduated in 1966 under my photo was “Everybody”s friend”!!
I thought about dress for church, while reading this. I’m in church every Sunday because Jesus wants me there and I do sound. I frequently wear jeans and a button down shirt sans tie. Someone commented on my being dressed up recently because I wore a blazer. It’s getting cooler. I said my father would be impressed....if I’d also had a tie on. Our society’s dress code has changed. He always, always had on a suit and tie for church.
That all said. I agree that Sen. Fetterman should step up his appearance a bit. As far as I know he’s required to do the suit and tie on the Senate floor so is not doing the hoodie and shorts there. I’m fairly sure it’s part of a brand effort and in that it seems to serve him well.
I’m more concerned about Sen. Tuberville, whose only uniform in life was a football one, holding up 300 military promotions. The commandant of the Marine Corps, whose own promotion was delayed, recently had a heart attack. I’ve seen it suggested that was related to the senator’s blockade. The commandant has reportedly been doing his job in addition to his immediate subordinate’s.
Here’s a good substack today from Chris Cillizza on the Tuberville blockade. It’s at least a little bit reassuring that his fellow Republican senators realize how wrong this is. An aside, TT famously thought the 3 branches of government were president, House and Senate. 🙄
What a treat to have one more of my favorite columnists show up on this site. Your insight into this “problem “ is so spit on.
Now for another comment, please bring back your commentary on the outdoors. It is missed by myself and I venture to say a whole life t of other people as well.
I want to echo the other writer onForrest Hartley but also add Dave Blow. You people were the best part of the paper.
It is still taking me time to, not judge a book by it's cover. How many times have we been reminded about sow's ears and silk purses or lipstick on a pig (poor pigs get a bad rap in all these sayings). I appreciate the effort one takes to present "serious", but I feel there's some middle ground. (Like your lovely photo 🙂).
It's not that I disagree but I can't help note the irony living in the same county as the author. I've often felt the same way about the heaps of unsightly junk in people's front yard. Where's the pride of ownership? I've seen our own Congressional Representative poured into too tight jeans with a prominent muffin top overhang in the majority of her local public appearances. I've seen county Town Board members, and attendees, in visibly dirty clothes at after dinner, evening meetings. It's not just D.C. Maybe more of us need to pay attention to Bob Henke's message here at home.
Maybe those board members and meeting attendees are farmers or laborers who have spent their long day at hard labor, but still find time to honor their civic obligations.
I dunno. Dress codes in professional offices over the past decade have gone decidedly casual. I'm used to it and it doesn't bother me. As for Mr. Fetterman, given his 6'9" frame, I wonder if his choice of hoodie and gym shorts is more of a physical/medical/health choice. Life and let live.
There are plenty of guys in DC in natty suits bought and paid for by their corporate owners who relish sticking it to those of us who actually work for a living. Fetterman seems one of the few guys in town who stands up for working people. I don't give a toss whether he dresses like the puppets in Congress nor should any other serious person. Actions speak louder than clothes.
Tom Landry won two Super Bowls in a nice suit and fedora. Bill Bellichek won six in a hoody.
The representatives in nice suits were the ones providing the clown show that held the House hostage for weeks. The nicely dressed were the least serious of the lot.
I love the Front Page. Ken Tingley‘s current work is literally the embodiment of what the dedication to free speech, smart opinion pieces and vetted, investigative journalism should look like. His loyalty to his former colleagues is also admirable. However, the tone of this particular essay by Bob Henke on John Fetterman and the absence of a Congressional Dress Code feels oddly out of place. The Dress for Success trope seems so outdated. Could any issue be less important to actually getting legislation passed though this dysfunctional Congress than this? John Fetterman is an impressive man. His involvement with AmeriCorps, childhood literacy and a masters degree in Public Policy from Harvard says a lot. This is the reasoned choice that he is making, to simply be himself and to work through his recovery. I think that we voters can let this one go. Having a progressive in the Senate in this crazy MAGA environment is far and away more important than whether he sports a suit and tie. Matters not to me.
Kevin’s reference article is a must-read. The short-sighted rule that a single Senator could sabotage timely promotions/critical reassignments of Senior Military Command personnel is an abomination.
Tuberville’s sole opposing vote, based on his determination to prevent funding for military women to travel to a state that provides pregnancy termination, even in cases of rape and risks to maternal health, is beyond appalling, and abusive in nature.
Since February his arrogant, self-serving stance has halted strategically planned senior personnel reassignments which impact on military readiness, family relocations, children’s school enrollments, housing arrangements in both military and civilian settings, spousal jobs etc.
At a time when our active duty men and women are being asked to do more with less, in life- threatening circumstances around the world arising simultaneously, which were almost unimaginable in war game rooms within the Pentagon and armed forces war colleges, we are in a “perfect storm” for Putin, the Krazy Korean and China to exploit our current military leadership “vacancies.”
Tuberville, like his hero tRump, is essentially ”aiding and abetting the enemy.” He took the same oath of office as those of us who served our country. I just wish they both could be court- martialed and placed in solitary confinement in a brig for dereliction of duty…
Females in the military are speaking out on Tuberville as intentionally attempting to marginalize women. His misogyny and bigotry say everything we need to know about his unsuitability for his position in our government.
I agree with you. But I always have heard the saying as "Clothes make the man." I'm fascinated by your variation, which I have never heard. I don't think you'll get much argument. I'm struggling to come up with something.
Fetterman seems to define himself this way, standing out for his insistence on casual clothes and a sloppy look. It's annoying. Congress has gotten full of folks trying to stand out for reasons that have nothing to do with their work, like Lauren Boebert trying to carry a gun into the House of Representatives.
There is an attitude among political leaders now that celebrates rule-breaking, whether cultural mores, such as dressing with respect, or actual laws. A society can suffocate in rules, I believe, but can also disintegrate because of rule-breaking. We're going in the latter direction.
Agree Will. I think if Mr. Fetterman was to wear a suit, he would look outstanding and definitely get undivided attention.
Moreover he would be taken more seriously.
I totally agree! Well stated. Our deteriorated language, defines us as a culture as well. What is acceptable for a teenager should not be tolerated by professionals.
Dress to make an impression. A good impression.
So great to witness your wit and wisdom again, Bob! Commentaries by you, Will and Ken are the living proof that the art of honest, well-researched journalism can and does exist, despite efforts to extinguish it. Here’s hoping you guys can convince Forrest Hartley to make a comeback through this forum also.
I agree and remember there were “church clothes” also growing up- I’m your generation Bob! And when we came home from church we changed into play clothes . These habits were really traditions and I felt were a reflection of our values. Sigh. Thanks to Covid times I now have casual sweat clothes and dressy sweats! But I’ll still where my jewelry- but that’s a topic for another day!
As I hated dressing up as a child( I had to wear skirts, gloves, no air conditioning and plastic furniture, I was tough on “city clothes,” and couldn’t wait to get home to change and ride my bicycle. However as an adult, I bought comfortable and fashionable clothes for work as an engineer and then educator and was disheartened at the sloppiness of the younger staff.
Hey. I’m from the generation of stocking and garter belts when you dressed for church( they snapped when I knelt down ) boy didI pray !
Ok Jill, here’s my sad story but has a happy ending. I was raised in Queens. Then at 14 , my family & I moved to Hyde Park NY 90 miles north of the city. I was a junior in HS - not a great time to move fir a 14 year old. No friends -they thought I was that uppity b___ from the city!!!
So fall of junior year, my class is going on school bus trip to see a Broadway show (1964)
So I wear my red linen suit, my white nylon blouse with the Peter Pan collar and thr circle pin, stockings, black patent leather shoes!! ( I’m 74 now - my generation knows what I’m describing)
NO ONE SAT NEXT TO ME ON THE BUS!! I was miserable don’t remember anything!!
Got home, threw off my clothes! Cried wanted to go back to queens, never gonna wear that suit again!!
Ok . now on to February 1965. They discovered that I’m funny!! I go out for talent show, and they are hysterically laughing at my imitation of a French opera star????!!! When I graduated in 1966 under my photo was “Everybody”s friend”!!
But I never wore that red linen suit again !!
That’s adaptation. Bravo.
I thought about dress for church, while reading this. I’m in church every Sunday because Jesus wants me there and I do sound. I frequently wear jeans and a button down shirt sans tie. Someone commented on my being dressed up recently because I wore a blazer. It’s getting cooler. I said my father would be impressed....if I’d also had a tie on. Our society’s dress code has changed. He always, always had on a suit and tie for church.
That all said. I agree that Sen. Fetterman should step up his appearance a bit. As far as I know he’s required to do the suit and tie on the Senate floor so is not doing the hoodie and shorts there. I’m fairly sure it’s part of a brand effort and in that it seems to serve him well.
I’m more concerned about Sen. Tuberville, whose only uniform in life was a football one, holding up 300 military promotions. The commandant of the Marine Corps, whose own promotion was delayed, recently had a heart attack. I’ve seen it suggested that was related to the senator’s blockade. The commandant has reportedly been doing his job in addition to his immediate subordinate’s.
Here’s a good substack today from Chris Cillizza on the Tuberville blockade. It’s at least a little bit reassuring that his fellow Republican senators realize how wrong this is. An aside, TT famously thought the 3 branches of government were president, House and Senate. 🙄
https://open.substack.com/pub/chriscillizza/p/what-exactly-is-tommy-tuberville?r=9qpud&utm_medium=ios&utm_campaign=post
I completely agree with you. I think wearing a suit adds distinction and seriousness. Also respect.
What a treat to have one more of my favorite columnists show up on this site. Your insight into this “problem “ is so spit on.
Now for another comment, please bring back your commentary on the outdoors. It is missed by myself and I venture to say a whole life t of other people as well.
I want to echo the other writer onForrest Hartley but also add Dave Blow. You people were the best part of the paper.
Thank you
It’s pretty easy to start one’s own substack. I would give those folks a follow if they did.
That should have said spit on not spit…oops!
It is still taking me time to, not judge a book by it's cover. How many times have we been reminded about sow's ears and silk purses or lipstick on a pig (poor pigs get a bad rap in all these sayings). I appreciate the effort one takes to present "serious", but I feel there's some middle ground. (Like your lovely photo 🙂).
It's not that I disagree but I can't help note the irony living in the same county as the author. I've often felt the same way about the heaps of unsightly junk in people's front yard. Where's the pride of ownership? I've seen our own Congressional Representative poured into too tight jeans with a prominent muffin top overhang in the majority of her local public appearances. I've seen county Town Board members, and attendees, in visibly dirty clothes at after dinner, evening meetings. It's not just D.C. Maybe more of us need to pay attention to Bob Henke's message here at home.
Maybe those board members and meeting attendees are farmers or laborers who have spent their long day at hard labor, but still find time to honor their civic obligations.
I dunno. Dress codes in professional offices over the past decade have gone decidedly casual. I'm used to it and it doesn't bother me. As for Mr. Fetterman, given his 6'9" frame, I wonder if his choice of hoodie and gym shorts is more of a physical/medical/health choice. Life and let live.
There are plenty of guys in DC in natty suits bought and paid for by their corporate owners who relish sticking it to those of us who actually work for a living. Fetterman seems one of the few guys in town who stands up for working people. I don't give a toss whether he dresses like the puppets in Congress nor should any other serious person. Actions speak louder than clothes.
Tom Landry won two Super Bowls in a nice suit and fedora. Bill Bellichek won six in a hoody.
100%
The representatives in nice suits were the ones providing the clown show that held the House hostage for weeks. The nicely dressed were the least serious of the lot.
I love the Front Page. Ken Tingley‘s current work is literally the embodiment of what the dedication to free speech, smart opinion pieces and vetted, investigative journalism should look like. His loyalty to his former colleagues is also admirable. However, the tone of this particular essay by Bob Henke on John Fetterman and the absence of a Congressional Dress Code feels oddly out of place. The Dress for Success trope seems so outdated. Could any issue be less important to actually getting legislation passed though this dysfunctional Congress than this? John Fetterman is an impressive man. His involvement with AmeriCorps, childhood literacy and a masters degree in Public Policy from Harvard says a lot. This is the reasoned choice that he is making, to simply be himself and to work through his recovery. I think that we voters can let this one go. Having a progressive in the Senate in this crazy MAGA environment is far and away more important than whether he sports a suit and tie. Matters not to me.
Kevin’s reference article is a must-read. The short-sighted rule that a single Senator could sabotage timely promotions/critical reassignments of Senior Military Command personnel is an abomination.
Tuberville’s sole opposing vote, based on his determination to prevent funding for military women to travel to a state that provides pregnancy termination, even in cases of rape and risks to maternal health, is beyond appalling, and abusive in nature.
Since February his arrogant, self-serving stance has halted strategically planned senior personnel reassignments which impact on military readiness, family relocations, children’s school enrollments, housing arrangements in both military and civilian settings, spousal jobs etc.
At a time when our active duty men and women are being asked to do more with less, in life- threatening circumstances around the world arising simultaneously, which were almost unimaginable in war game rooms within the Pentagon and armed forces war colleges, we are in a “perfect storm” for Putin, the Krazy Korean and China to exploit our current military leadership “vacancies.”
Tuberville, like his hero tRump, is essentially ”aiding and abetting the enemy.” He took the same oath of office as those of us who served our country. I just wish they both could be court- martialed and placed in solitary confinement in a brig for dereliction of duty…
Females in the military are speaking out on Tuberville as intentionally attempting to marginalize women. His misogyny and bigotry say everything we need to know about his unsuitability for his position in our government.
Personally, I am thankful that social dictate no longer requires that I wear pantyhose.
OK, Boomer.
I agree. Bds of supervisors need to dress better.