Rural chic? Not Blunt’s style
For the second time this week, Gov. Matt Blunt is tangling with our colleagues downstairs in the editorial department.
Earlier, Blunt was miffed about budget issues. Today, he objected to an editorial Sunday tweaking candidates on both sides of the aisle for their “rural chic” dress — Blaine Luetkemeyer’s plaid shirt and jeans, Chris Koster’s cowboy boots.
“All candidates and statewide officials should know that agriculture is the bedrock of Missouri’s economy,” Blunt stated. “It also is the dominant wellspring of our culture. Producing food and fiber for America and the world is a life-giving and life-sustaining occupation. It deserves honor, not condescension. Farming is difficult work, tougher and more challenging even than writing elitist editorials.”
For more from Blunt, check out his webpage.
Otherwise, we’ll step away from this scrum, because we here at the Fix are in no position to comment on sartorial manners — If standard “reporter chic” calls for wrinkled khakis and coffee-stains, we can’t imagine “blogger chic.”
Come on, Jake - you were certainly not shy just 24 hours ago in snarking about the appearance of the Bush administration’s homeless czar, including his attire, speech, hair and olive skin.
shameass:
I love how you squealing whiners think commenting on the impeccable dress of an official is somehow “snarky”.
Pointing out the guy gave a three minute speech in one minute (listen to the audio Jake provided a link to)….”snarky”..of course!!
Combed back hair and olive skin…”snarky:…of course.
Look…the guy looked like a mob boss..he know’s it….his friends know it…he plays it up and loves fielding the questions about it…look at some past interviews with him.
I’m not sure where the repuke whining comes from but it smacks of the same crazed thinking that has led McCain and other repukes to make fun of Obama’s POPULARITY…it’s hilarious.
Missouri depends on jobs and taxes from the ST. LOUIS METROPOLITAN AREA. Blunt is a liar. Jefferson City is full of liars with Ds and Rs next to their names. Until Missouri realizes that they treat their best asset (St. Louis Metro area) terribly and continue to waste tax dollars pandering to the rural vote, we will continue to lose as a state.
Thanks goodness for Mississippi.
Jake, Jake, Jake…
Thanks for the shout-out, but as the author of the editorial “Rural Chic,” I suggest it did more than tweak candidates about their fashion choices. It dealt with the reality of life in rural Missouri today, as opposed to the good ol’ boy image that candidates were trying to project. It referenced historian Richard Hofstadter’s classic study of “The Agrarian Myth.” It paid proper homage to the importance of agriculture in today’s Missouri. It was in no way condescending.
Here and in Jefferson City, critical reading skills are important, all the more so in a blog-eat-blog world. I would urge Fixsters to follow the link to “Rural Chic” in your post (or check it out at the editorial page blog, http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/the-platform/campaign-2008/2008/08/sunday-editorial-rural-chic/) and read it for themselves.
“I would urge Fixsters to follow the link to “Rural Chic” in your (i.e., this) post or check it out at the editorial page blog, and read it for themselves.”
Gosh, Kevin, nothing condescending about that!
Kevin, Kevin, Kevin…
In striving for cynicism - and just when voters needed simple clarity - you delivered supercilious condescension. Gospel singing, blue jeans and sweet corn are among life’s finer gifts. So, too, respect for those who do not share our daily walk in life and those who are trying to communicate across cultures.
I understand your striving for cynicism where politicians are concerned. But looking down your nose to muse about “The Agrarian Myth” fulfills the classic description of an expert — someone who knows 1,000 ways to make love but he doesn’t know any women.
Holly- I actually knew that guy in junior high LOL.
I liked the original “Rural Chic” article and found it accurate. My roots are rural and my shoes still slathered in cow manure. It kills me to see these politicos “cowboy up” just like it would kill me to see Junior Sample in a three piece at the Polo Club.
It’s fakery, carpet bagging foolishness and we’ll see it again in the next election cycle. Can’t wait.
Darren 01, thanks, that was a funny Sunday morning eye opener. I wondered what happened to Junior Samples. It turns out he was running for office in Missouri!