Lovefest! W gushes over Bill, unveils official portrait

[onehandle]

(this article has a pic and covers the tone of the event)



Bush left Clinton laughing so hard that his face turned red with a jibe about Clinton’s service in Texas to George McGovern’s failed 1972 presidential campaign.

Mostly, though, Bush gave an almost nostalgic tribute to the Democratic former president.

snip...

The former president’s portrait will hang near the Grand Staircase just inside the north entrance of the White House.

It will bump a portrait of the first President Bush to another position in the hall.

http://www.nydailynews.com/front/breaking_news/story/202771p-174986c.html

[onehandle]

1. Another pic here...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A40563-2004Jun14.html

[Bog Frog]

4. Someone needs to tell Senator Clinton that powder blue is NOT her color.

[Tempest]

6. I disagree

I think it looks good on her.

[Bog Frog]

12. looks better in the photo in this thread -- looks awful in photo on WaPo

[papau]

54. "Bush offers glowing tribute to Clinton" is spinning my head! :-)

Bush offers glowing tribute to Clinton at unveiling of portrait
By SCOTT LINDLAW, The Associated Press

[Scairp]

55. So do I

I think she looks great.

[Mokito]

58. Nope. She's a looker in black, IMHO.

[crossroads]

71. I think she looks good in blue...

She is a beautiful woman IMO... Stunning in black...
:thumbsup:

[qb]

8. What about Pickles - did she sew that herself?!?

[Malva Zebrina]

27. Picklees doesn't sew

she just rips down the drapes, or the slipcovers or the tablecloth and wraps it around herself. Wrinkles and sloppy looking dress does not phase her.

Sometimes she may shop at a re-upholstry shop for new fabrics to wrap herself in, if she has that much self esteem or concern.

[missedherniceguy]

45. Speaking of contrasts

W's words for Bill and Hill and these for the current first lady.

[Cassandra]

49. Given our current first lady's considerable wealth...

her persistance in wearing clothes that are unbecoming has been really puzzling. She doesn't have to be a fashion plate but she shows up looking rumpled much too often.
As for how we speak of her, at least we don't call her a Nazi.

[Malva Zebrina]

57. No but "Stepford" is often applied to her.

and it is appropriate I think.

I wonder how she feels in the presence of an accomplished woman like Hillary, or even Cherie Blair. They are accomplished women in their own right. She is chained to the Bush family name and is chained to not doing anything they do not want her to do, has nothing in her own right, and, probably, I think, is happy to be that way -- too lazy to do otherwise. She enjoys adolescent things, like George does. She enjoys being the center of attention, even though she did nothing to earn it but marry a Bush. And, she will be provided for , for the rest of her life and does not have to worry about a thing. It has all been granted to her because she married a 'Bush and she birthed twins. Whew--what a job! She spent the past thirty years doing nothing but leeching off that accomplishment.

[qb]

80. At first I thought you meant W's words for the current first lady...

something about a "lump in the bed". That's the more telling contrast.

[goclark]

66. What was the back of the outfit(?) doing for Pickles

Why was it all puffed out? It looked like the alterations lady at the cleaners around the corner got to it! Lady does jackets for $ 8 -10 and you would not wear anything she alters out in public.

[Ilsa]

33. That has to be one of the ugliest suits I've ever seen Pickles

dumped into. The color is terrible for her, and that white top stitching (or cord trim or whatever) makes it look like a cheap seventies leisure suit.

She really needs a personal shopper or stylist to help her make decisions about some of her makeup and clothing. I will admit to usually liking her hair, though.

[drfemoe]

83. where are you seeing a pic of pickles?

*confused*

[LisaM]

10. That's not powder blue anyway

it's more turquoise. Powder blue is lighter, and has more of a matte look. And less green.

[Catherine Vincent]

24. That color looks great on her.

What do you know? You're a frog.:-)

[Bog Frog]

40. re-deep re-deep

:hi:

[dwilson]

43. I think she looks great in blue. But pink and black

make her look best.

[Carolina]

48. you're wrong

in person, that color really brings out her blue-green eyes and lights up her face. Pictures don't always do her justice.

[mountainvue]

56. She looks great

in that photo!

[Kinkistyle]

86. Whenever I think of Hillary I ALWAYS think of Red.

A lot like Nancy Reagan. It just seems to me that red is a good color for Hillary because of her fierce independence.

[TommyO]

26. The Washington Post...

shot clearly shows that Clinton is far more presidential looking than the chimp can aspire to.

Also, Senator Clinton's portrait looks terrific!

[Piperay]

53. Glad that chimp

showed some respect for the Clintons, if he didn't he would have really looked like an evil SOB and made alot of people mad.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

88. It's a lose-lose situation for him

I can almost see the dittoheads foaming at the mouth now for * having committed the unspeakable sin of being nice to Clinton.

[Occulus]

2. What a headline.

Lovefest! I mean, really.

[Southsideirish]

3. 'Bet the freepies didn't like that! Bill C. is the devil incarnate to

them but I never could figure out just why they hated Hillary so much. I guess lil' freepy men are asceerd of powerful Democratic women.

[truthseeker1]

5. I've never been able to figure it out either

Speaking of Hillary, she's been looking great lately. Whoever's doing her hair is doing a good job. It's never looked better.

[Hoping4Change]

76. Why repugs hate is explained in the Hunting of the President.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

78. Could never figure out the BC hate.

He passed much of the RW agenda. It shows that they pay more attention to sophistry than substance.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

81. repukes hate Hillary because she was a repuke once and she drew up

the papers for impeachment of Nixon and testified at watergate hearings against him :7 ...i love you First Lady Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton!

[Tempest]

7. Something else the Freepers will freak out about the painting

It is the first presidential portrait painted by a Black artist.

[Windy]

9. And Hillary's in a busines suit

not a "dress and pearls"!

[aquart]

19. Looks like him, too.

[goclark]

69. Yes! Bravo!!!!!!!

It was so like the Bill and Hillary to show such class and seek out those that have not been recognized for their talents.

Hillary and Bill are my Presidents!

[ElsewheresDaughter]

82. amen and he painted the portait of the 1st female Prsident Hillary Clinton

[CBHagman]

11. Guess the White House is a love shack today!

N/T

[onehandle]

13. Another pic at NYT...

http://nytimes.com/2004/06/14/politics/14CND-CLIN.html

[onehandle]

15. LOL! Bill's tie is askew in the portrait.

To me that shows how comfortable he was as President.

[lanparty]

21. I wonder ...

I wonder if Bill approved of that. Or did the Republicans make sure that Bill looks "sloppy" for posterity.

[C_eh_N_eh_D_eh]

42. His hands are in his pockets, too.

I'm inclined to agree with lanparty; making Clintstone look as un-presidential as possible has been one of the GOP's main objectives for the last ten years, just below world domination.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

63. Just one hand, the other is on the desk, he is leaning forward

like he is making a point. and the GOP had no control over the painting.

[jdj]

67. I am more convinced than ever that their hatred of Clinton

is because of his COMPETENCE. He proved before the world that their voodoo economics is a total sham, he broke the theory that democratic presidents suck, which they rode on for 12 years after Carter, ( who was probably the most moral human being to ever lead this country). They got him on the blow job because that was all they had. Leave it to the child of a single mother to balance the budget and leave a projected 5 trillion $ surplus. Repukes can't balance budgets simply because they HAVE NEVER HAD ONE.

Clinton exposed these folks for the schysters that they are.

I don't think they hate Hilary, I think they know that a lot of their base resent women ( and blacks, chinese, etc) because they feel downtrodden and life, and the repukes' SOP is to hand them someone to blame.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

89. Oh I live on Long Island... let me assure you... they HATE

Hillary. I still have no idea why, but they do.

[iam]

17. Bad place for the bald guys head

Bad place for the bald guys head

[lanparty]

20. Just shave it!!!

Once the front lawn is barren, there is no need to maintain the back lawn!!! Just shave it and get it over with. It will save a LOT of time in the morning.

[RummyTheDummy]

36. That would look awesome......

In my living room.

[lostnfound]

59. I like it. He looks like a person who

is carrying the weight of the country on his shoulders..

A person who knew that his constituency included the impoverished class.

[robbedvoter]

85. It's an excellent portrait!

[Lorien]

14. He doesn't look very impressed with his portrait

I wonder who the artist is? Looks a bit stiff, but hard to tell from this vantage point.

On Edit: now that I see the photo in post #13...yeah, VERY stiff. Violates a number of portrait "rules"; too much symmetry, no body tilts, full frontal postion of the face flattens it...looks more like a mug shot than a portrait. Maybe the painter had "issues" with his subject?

[onehandle]

16. Excellent Artist....

http://www.portraitartist.com/knox/knox.htm

[Lisa]

52. he does a good job on the eyes ...

... in most of the sample portraits shown on that site. This is quite difficult -- I've seen so many official paintings where the eyes are either dull or creepy-looking.

I think that the photograph blurs the portrait's face a bit. A pity, because I'm curious about the detail, particularly how he depicts WJC's eyes and hands (quite distinctive in photos).

[RummyTheDummy]

37. Nah it'sa great portrait.

NT

[Fridays Child]

18. The portraits are wonderful. Amazing artistic talent.

The artist really captured the optimism and determination of our last legally elected president and his first lady.

[wicket]

22. Why is Bush sucking up to Clinton so badly?!

[Catherine Vincent]

23. Is this the photo where he was laughing hard?

[drfemoe]

84. I want Bill Clinton

for president.. again. Really do.

Where can we read the hilarious joke jr told?

[Tellurian]

25. Bill looked a tiny, wee bit, disappointed w/the portrait..

It doesn't do him any justice at all.

I don't think the artist captured his essence...his vitality, intelligence, his overall presence, a presidential stateliness in the prime of his manhood is severely lacking.

With the use of the very dark paints, he made Clinton looks a bit overweight, stodgy, tired and lackluster in the portrait.

just my opinion...preparing the flak jacket..

[pdx_prog]

44. There was an interview

with the artist this morning on NPR. He said he worked closely with Clinton and his family. They approved the painting every step of the way......told him what they wanted. He also said that Bill was a very gentle and articulate man that was very easy to work with.

[Tellurian]

62. Thats good to know... After all, it's they that have to be pleased with

the end result. But knowing Clinton, thinking it would be rude of him to suggest something other than the artist's recommendations. He wouldn't have criticized the artist if his pants were onfire.

[crossroads]

70. The artist seemed to be fond of Clinton...

and I feel sure if Clinton was disappointed, he wouldn't have let on. I think the man is that kind... Damn, I loved Clinton...
:shrug:

[formernaderite]

68. It's actually a bit depressive, not what I was expecting....

....it almost looks like a bank portrait,

[Ilsa]

72. My guess is that he's seen it enough, and didn't want to

appear overly pleased or involved with his portrait. That's something I'd expect Smirk to do.

[Blasphemer]

28. The Clintons all looked great, especially Chelsea

[Dhalgren]

31. Yeah, Chelsea looks way hot, doesn't she?

And what makes her even more attractive is her intelligence. It shines through her eyes.

[lancdem]

50. Chelsea does look great

I saw photos of her with her boyfriend a couple of weeks ago at the premiere of "The Day After Tomorrow" and I loved her hair.

[goclark]

74. Where are the twins?

I missed them. It would have been lovely to see them at the WH for a change. Since Chelsea was there,it would be PC.

Maybe they are still hanging out in Europe. Or, maybe it took place too early in the morning. Whatever, they are certainly not star quality and Chelsea is a STAR.

[wurzel]

60. Remember when Rush Limbaugh called Chelsea a "dog"?

I guess he was on those pills a lot longer than he says.

[Lisa]

73. Chelsea will look better and better as the years go by ...

And Rush ... well ...

That's what happens when a man who's old enough to know better demeans himself by bullying a young girl just because he has ideological issues with her parents. Poetic justice.

[calimary]

90. Some White House dog, 'eh, limbaugh?

Limbaugh sees that photo and, I'll bet, wishes he could have someone like her on his arm. NOBODY deserves to be a swan like Chelsea Clinton. And I am NOT talking that TV show, either. She's now as beautiful outside as she is, inside. GOOD FOR HER!

And her mom looks gorgeous. Blue suit and all. Any blue-eyed blonde should wear blue. It flatters. She looks good in just about anything, as long as it's tailored. Still my role model.

And as for him? Well, to paraphrase the Reagan-worshippers: "Let Clinton be Clinton!" Always was kind of a sexy guy.

The portraits are lovely. Did you see the one of Ruth Bader Ginsberg? EXCELLENT. She's gotta be BEYOND thrilled with it. I LOVE photographic realism. Knox is truly gifted. Neat that he would be given such an honor - it's well deserved.

[Tellurian]

32. Yes, Chelsea looks darling. I love her new do and her makeup is great too.

I also love Laura's double chins! hee!

[Tellurian]

29. more...

They even photoshoped his face to an overly red tone in the pic.
On tv he looked very tan. Hillary looks fine..

But they really zinged it to Bill.

How does the above photo and painting even come close to looking like the man below?

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

64. Don't forget this is the OFFICIAL portrait of the President

This is not BS work, this thing has to last for hundreds of years. I think the redness in the face is not photoshop, but lighting varieties in the room

[Kinkistyle]

87. Clinton has a condition called Rosacea

He tends to blush and flush alot. It happens to a lot of fair-skinned people (e.g. Northern Europeans, Irish).

Shrub also has superficial symptoms of it in that he tends to have surface redness and bumpiness (on his nose and cheeks) while Clinton tends to get the full on flush on his face. Its probably also one of the reasons why he has a roundish nose (W.C. Fields also had it.)

[Ilsa]

30. Bush must be worried about his legacy.

He must be concerned about what the next president, Sen. Kerry, will be saying at his hanging, so he's decided to be kind.

[Dhalgren]

34. I think that at Bush's hanging

Kerry will just ask him if he has any last words. :D

[RummyTheDummy]

38. LMAO

Too funny :)

[Tellurian]

39. Ha! I didn't catch that right away...

I was thinking hanging portraits...

But YOU-- lil, devil...hahahah!

[Ilsa]

41. Yeah, I intentionally chose "hanging" over "unveiling".

I knew a clever DU'er would have a great comeback.

Don't I sometimes make a great straightman?

But I repeat, that is the ugliest suit I've ever seen Pickles dumped into, and I don't use "ugliest" very often. She really needs help if she's going to continue to leave the residence every day.

[Pallas180]

46. VERY good one Dahlgren.

"I think that at Bush's hanging"
Kerry will just ask him if he has any last words. :D

Posted by Dhalgren

[Tellurian]

35. Isn't there a portrait of Bush already hanging in the WH?

I think I remember early on, during the first year, there was some excuse for Babs to have a portrait made of 41 1/2.

[Voltaire99]

47. Kissy kissy kissy kissy face!

Nothing is so funny as these moments when virulent foes pretend to "honor" one another. On top of all of the Reagan worship, the bullshit has really piled up this month.

Needless to say, Clinton helped make Bush look a little better today--a little less crazy, tyrannical, vulgar, stupid. Count on the duopoly for a reach-around.

[roydcarreau]

51. Love fest

Congratulations to the artist Mr. Simmie Knox. What a coup for him...I mean, to get this commision of our last elected President Bill Clinton and the former first Lady NY Senator Hillary Clinton, that is so impressive. I happen to understand (promoting Canadian Artists) what a difficult life, that too often, artists lead working in this industry...My deepest congratulations to you Mr. Knox!

P.S. How I miss President Clinton!

[Lisa]

61. anyone else wonder if Clinton insisted that his portrait be understated?

When I looked at the photo with the Bill and Hillary paintings together ... the Senator looks radiant. Hers is the portrait that catches my eye first.

Seeing how expressive the artist's other paintings are, and knowing how charismatic WJC can be -- they could easily have arranged things so that Bill had a big smile (e.g. the Thurgood Marshall painting). Instead his portrait looks almost subdued, by comparison.

I'm starting to suspect that he did this on purpose. Perhaps he WANTS everyone to look at Hillary's portrait first -- and think about what a good President she'd make.

[GingerSnaps]

65. Bush is eating his heart out from jealousy

He can only wish that he had the same amount of class that the Clinton's have.

[riverwalker]

75. The portrait shows a lovely hint of a smile

and a sparkling twinkle in the eye. It doesn't show up in some pictures of the painting. Clinton got a standing ovation when he got up to speak, I realized how much I have MISSED hearing him speak. What a gift he has. Chelsea was absolutely stunning.
Lauras ugly dress was corded in the back like an old denim disco suit, HIDEOUS!! Like something hanging at the Goodwill for $2.00 that you buy for halloween.

[Carni]

77. I didn't like the one of Bill

The one of Hillary I thought was excellent but his just didn't capture him in my opinion. I don't know why but I wasn't really that taken with it.

[Francine Frensky]

79. Now wouldn't that face look good on the $10 bill?

We need to start some kind of committee to name everything after clinton.