Obama: The (Re)Birth of the Cool

I'm a little...confused about this topic. Is this stereotyping? I thought we were post-racial.

Just like this whole election: the ultimate rejection of substance over style...

Perfect. Just perfect.

I, for one, am looking to that day when Jay-Z, Dre, Ludacris, and Snoop are at a White House event - if for no other reason than to see the collective heads of Limbaugh, O'Reilly, and Hannity explode in unison at the "outrage."

As "foobar" noted at 11:18 AM, this expresses the "ultimate rejection of substance over style."

Because McCain was all about the substance? I mean, the man ran on nothing more than his being a "maverick".

At any rate, don't underestimate the cultural side of things. Having the top man endorse cool, steady professionalism and stable family is an important positive.

BHO: "But, man, I'm cool! Dig it. Let's listen to some jazz, baby.

If only that would be his response. Instead, he'll probably throw out the same ineffective, borderline insane bluster W did.

I mean, Saul, what exactly do you think we can do if the Russians want to redeploy their missiles, or slap around Georgia?

Squat, that's what.

I, for one, look forward to the cool jazz sounds and crisp dress style of the new administration.

Jeez, you just can't get a break on your own blog, can you Rod? Some of the posts here are good evidence that we could stand an injection of neo-cool into the culture. God knows we've had enough of the hot stuff lately--the main reason I voted Obama. Thanks for the nice little mental health-enhancing video.

I suppose these kinds of stories were inevitable. The sooner they're out of the way, the better.

Depending on his choice of cabinet, you may end up with Devo at the White House.

Jim Grant for Sec. of Treasury!

http://search.forbes.com/search/colArchiveSearch?aname=James+Grant&author=james+and+grant

1) Paleoconservative bemoans the danger of "Expanding anti-white affirmative action programs."

In the higher realms of academia, at least, they're not anti-white. Not at all. They're anti-yellow.

The people who don't get in to the best schools despite phenomenal grades and test scores are Asian. And of the whites - it's overwhelmingly still Jews who get the high test scores but whose numbers are culled.

There are, of course, other games (like "geographical distribution," i.e. affirmative action for the heartland, to limit folks from places like California and New York, which are full of Jews and Asians) to further insure that folks like Paleoconservative and his kind are accepted in numbers disproportionate to any achievement.

That's before we even look at the "legacy" games, i.e., affirmative action for rich white Protestants who've been in America the longest and have had the money to attend the best colleges.

If they played fair in the upper echelon of higher education there'd even be even less white Christians. The 10% allotment for affirmative action for African-Americans and Hispanics would mean nothing compared to the even greater percentage of Asians and Jews who would get in well before heartland whites if applicants were judged only on merit.

The cry-baby whine about "miscegenation" was rather pathetic too..

It's a shame that Dreher (who comes across as genuinely well intentioned, well meaning, open minded but unapologetically pro-life guy) seems to attract so many bitter (and, yeah, perhaps worse) commentators.

2) Dreher, of course, is saying that it'd be nice if "cool" - a concept that won't be going away any time soon, alas - was defined by well dressed, talented people who despite their demons (and Baker and Davis had problems aplenty) had mastered a difficult craft while demonstrating decorum in their person and complexity in a truly impressive art. As opposed to, say, thuggish rappers or braggart millionaires.

It's a good point actually.

Sadly, it would seem that right now everyone's much too consumed with rage that an educated, seemingly competent, if inexperienced, African-American Democrat will soon replace a shockingly incompetent white conservative Republican in the presidency to even bother to attempt to figure out what a post is about. Everything just becomes an opportunity to rant about Obama or his innocuous wife. Rather pathetic actually.

3) Nice clip!

Rod, yet another cleanup needed, this time on the Paleoconservative aisle at 11:12. It's your blog, but how about banning that jerk?

I'd love to have the technology to be able to block his IP, but this software doesn't allow for it. Why do you think Mad Dickie Bottoms' rants ever get posted here? I take them down as soon as I see them, or someone points them out to me, but I can't pre-emptively strike anybody's post. Alas!

As to "Cool" Chris Buckley-

-told conservatives to shut up about McCain's shortcomings last spring and suggested they support him wholeheartedly;
-was exposed as a cad who ruined his marriage with an affair, the resulting child of which he has nothing to do with:
-ad come fall proceeded to tell us all that he now supported Obama.

A real class act. Cool like that. That's what we need. Yeah!

Yeah, this is gonna be awesome: Cool, soft-pedaled Socialism. Nothing like it!

There's nothing trendy about cool. Cool is the antithesis of trendy.

As in, "So far out, it's in?" Showing your age, Daniel. :)

Miles Davis wore blocky HSM suits? I did not know that.

If Obama is to be the rebirth of slick he needs to support his local economy and take a trip to Chris Despos' for a suit with higher armholes and without a roll across the upper back/shoulders. Unlike the working wealthy he would like to tax into submission, he's a millionare so he can afford bespoke. At least he avoids those ridiculous wide-lapelled high three button chalk stripes favored by the MSNBC-crowd, but then, no one would accuse Olbermann of being cool.

Mrs. Obama's election night dress was obamanable, unless it was intended as some sort of performance art regarding the horror of abortion. In which case it was effective.

If only hairshirt prairie dresses were in fashion, then Erin could be happy with the Obamas.

Imagine the horror of a McCain/Palin White House, Erin. Country music and Praise bands. And felt banners. It's your worst nightmare.

Funny, Daniel! True story: I usually wake up to ABC news on a local radio station, because the ABC News radio feed is one of the few things guaranteed to annoy me awake. But yesterday I decided to switch stations like I did during the Clinton years--ABC news is merely annoying during a Republican administration, but I find it a near occasion of sin during a Democrat one. So I switched to a Christian rock station, on the grounds that that will *also* annoy me enough to get me out of bed in the morning.

But like I said, I'm nonpartisan in my violent apathy toward the "style" produced by the White House, regardless of its occupant. I mean, I still don't own a pair of cowboy boots--why would I? The president may or may not be many things, but my personal standard of taste or dress or music or art will not be influenced one iota by the temporary occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.--I can think of almost nothing more absurd.

(Prairie dresses? Really? Ugh. How little you know me, Daniel.)

Hey Rod, I'm sorry your commentors can't pull the stick from their bums for long enough to appreciate a light-hearted post. But their over-the-top hysteria at the election of Obama is quite entertaining.

Rod, you may be brilliant but you're also naive. I heard this nonsense 11 years ago when Tony Blair ushered in 'Cool Britannia' after a supposedly centrist Blair and Nu-Labour thoroughly trashed a disgraced Tory party. What we got at first was Oasis in 10 Downing, Damien Hurst's dead animals floating in formaldehyde, multi-culturalism, and Becks and Posh. Now it's higher taxes, a collapsing housing market, Sharia Law in Britain, no-go Muslim areas, and marginalized British values.

Thanks but no thanks. I'm hoping that the US will not make the same mistakes as Britain.

I am baffled by how out of sorts my commenting favorably on Obama's sense of style seems to have put some of you. I would rather have a frumpy slob who shared my political views and who was a competent executive in the White House than a GQ-ready slick who was neither conservative nor competent. But I don't understand why it is trayf to admire the way Obama dresses and carries himself, and to anticipate that the president of the United States might be a cultural trendsetter.

The Kennedys made a point of showcasing the best in American art, and beyond, in their White House. When JFK introduced Pablo Casals, he said something, I recall reading, about the connection between a free society and artistic excellence. The point is, the president believed that excellence in arts and culture were a fruit of our free civilization (this, in a Cold War context), and ought to be celebrated.

If the Obamas go this route, I can't see it being anything but good for our country -- depending, of course, on the kind of art and artists they showcase. Why is it wrong to expect excellence in every field from the American president? Please don't tell me that this is going to be another opportunity for conservatives to decry "cultural elitism."

I regret to say that I've had to take down a few racist posts on this thread. All I will say to you folks is this: Do you really think it'll be such a bad thing that America's first black president, the man who is already an instant icon for black America, will be known for looking sharp, valuing education and intelligence, and carrying himself with unforced self-confidence? That young black boys will now have a role model to look up to who's not an athlete or a foul-mouthed hip-hop performer? Hell, my two young white boys, ages 9 and 4, are crazy about Obama, and if I can get them to take more pride in their appearance by appealing to his example, fantastic.

What is it with that freaky thing that jazz trumpeters necks and cheeks do? They look like bullfrogs. Dizzy Gillespie was the best example, but I didn't know Miles had some of the same syndrome. I once saw to an even greater degree than Dizzy on a bagpiper in a bistro in San Antonio. That guy was freaky.

If Obama can bring some style to the White House, the rest of the world will rekindle its respect for us. In the early 1980s, my brother went on a six-week trip to India with the Rotary Club. He was floored when he discovered that even in the most modest hovels, a common decoration was an 8x10 glossy of JFK--the first American President to go to India. The rest of the world is obsessed with the US, and they kind of have to be. Most countries want to love us but have felt disaffected for quite a while, now. Obama may well restore the US brand around the world in a mstter of months. One well-planned trip will do unbelievable things--maybe not wih the Axis of Evil, but certainly with everyone else.

I regret to say that I've had to take down a few racist posts on this thread. All I will say to you folks is this: Do you really think it'll be such a bad thing that America's first black president, the man who is already an instant icon for black America, will be known for looking sharp, valuing education and intelligence, and carrying himself with unforced self-confidence?

I hear you, Rod, and you're right. It's not just good thing for blacks, but for everyone.

Hell, I could do with a shave :)

I'm with you Rob, I think the White House could use a lil' bling - since the frat boy won't be getting his security deposit back.

Now if only we could change the standard forum for international debate to a game of 3on3 basketball. Throw down, Ahmadinejad.

Barry's got some skillz with a brick man. Check out youtube.

The concept of the role model for America's youth with have far-reaching consequences.

P.S. as a matter of principle - I would have left the racist posts up for everyone to bear witness. Hiding it only validates their statements; but hey - You call the shots.

Rod, thank you for not deleting jazzypaul's post, where he refers to my statement and the "utter stupidity of the average American." I'd hate to think that personal attacks were tolerated around here.

It'd be highhanded to liquidate Rod for bobo deviationism. After all he did invent Crunchyconness, but I have to agree with Comrade Manning.

Watching conservatives implode after the Obama victory isn't nearly as amusing as I thought it would be.

"If the Obamas go this route, I can't see it being anything but good for our country -- depending, of course, on the kind of art and artists they showcase."

That's always the trick, isn't it?

What contemporary artist will the Obama's choose and present as 'American' art? Will it be a Charles Saatchi created marketing scheme like the Young British Artist's where rumpled beds, dead animals, and feces as art are marketed as 'Cool American'? Considering how mercurial trends are within contemporary art who's to say what's 'cool' now will be not be considered awful a short time later?

You don't need a degree from Harvard/Yale to know crap when you see/hear/read it. More importantly, new styles and trends to re-brand American are marketing strategies NOT substantive policy or leadership.

As for Obama inspiring black youth(and youth of all colors) with a snazzy, cool fashion style, sure that's great but then again Farrakhan and the NOI are pretty snazzy dressers too. More importantly, I always though one should look at the content of a man's/woman's character, words, and actions and not their style.

James P.
November 6, 2008 4:18 PM
In the early 1980s, my brother went on a six-week trip to India with the Rotary Club. He was floored when he discovered that even in the most modest hovels, a common decoration was an 8x10 glossy of JFK--the first American President to go to India.

Yep, here's a travel tip for anyone going to the third world - take a few rolls of Kennedy half - dollars and pass the coins out as gifts.

Rod writes, "I am baffled by how out of sorts my commenting favorably on Obama's sense of style seems to have put some of you. I would rather have a frumpy slob who shared my political views and who was a competent executive in the White House than a GQ-ready slick who was neither conservative nor competent. But I don't understand why it is trayf to admire the way Obama dresses and carries himself, and to anticipate that the president of the United States might be a cultural trendsetter."

Rod, all due respect, as always. But look at this objectively for a second.

Suppose HRC had been her party's nominee and had been elected. Suppose some writer at the NYT (oh, what the heck, let's call her "Maureen") wrote a column saying that Hillary would be a cultural trendsetter, would bring an elegant feminist urban-pantsuit chic into the White House, and would likely also reintroduce the nation to the concept of the striking-yet-tasteful necklace, last seen in a more genteel era. I have a feeling you you'd be howling, and lambasting the notion that a president ought to shape consumer tastes as being both un-crunchy and un-conservative.

Is it the president's job to be a cultural trendsetter? Is that something we should even want, playing in as it does to the worst impulses in American consumerism--image as everything, frivolous expenditure, a focus on the new and superficial and fleeting and large and national instead of on the small, old, local, particular, and enduring?

I get that you want to say some nice stuff about Obama, and I also get that your appreciation of his personal style and my lack of said appreciation is nothing more than the classic de gustibus. But considering the fact that we still know next to nothing about what Obama's leadership style or consensus-building style or diplomatic style will be (Grand Tour notwithstanding) I think it's a bit depressing to zero in on his personal style, which--to me, anyway--should be the last thing crunchy conservatives care about in the least.

A tool used by Republicans scared of change since 2000!

Personally I was scared of change well before 2000.

It would appear that Mr. Dreher is calling on us all to raise our consciousness by embracing coolness in the White House, principally through the sacrament of hosting jazz musicians at the White House. Interesting that Mr. Dreher had nothing to say about how cool President Bush was back in June of this very year when he hosted a social dinner in honor of American Jazz [http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/06/20080619-24.html], which featured performances by Davey Yarborough, Esther Williams and Earl Kluge. Or how about back in 2003 when he welcomed Sydney Brillo Duodenum's favorite musician Buddy Guy(not jazz, sorry purists!)

Shelby Steele discusses how as a youth he was admonished by the Dick Gregories of the times to "raise your consciousness" by making "it correspond to a much valued attitude . . . in black life: hipness. This attitude comes out of the experience of oppression in which survival requires one to have a separate knowledge from that of the oppressor. The world lies constantly to those it oppresses, and to survive oppression one must not only be "hip" to those lies but also nurture a deeper awareness of the world as it really is. This more existential and subversive awareness of the "real" world is hipness. And the hipster is a kind of existential hero who preserves his humanity (amidst his oppression) by seeing through to the irony and absurdity of his situation. The true hipster is never surprised - is therefore "cool" - because he already knows." (White Guilt at 31-32)

Mr. Dreher hopes that it will be a "very cool jazz White House," meaning perhaps that the White House - nay the institution itself - will now be authentic because it will no longer be a house of oppression as it now houses the symbol of the formerly oppressed and because Jazz music may be heard in the Blue Room. Silly, right? But there is something in the possibility of a "very cool Jazz White House" which speaks some higher truth to Mr. Dreher and certainly evidences his severe White Guilt.

Mr. Dreher needs to remember that it's the People House. Not the "Cool People's House." It must always and ever welcome all American voices and styles. And it has. The White House is not a crib in need of pimping; it is not an episode of HGTV's Designed to Sell. And to imply as Mr. Buckley has that it does not and never has been American because the personal taste of the current and past inhabitants - all white - has prevented "cool catness" from its full expression is assinine. The President's job is to embrace all American sub-cultures, and it's that very banality that serves to ensure the proper functioning of our dear Republic.

So, let the jazz play from the White House indoor speakers but the true test of President-elect Obama's understanding of American culture is the extent to which he demonstrates an understanding, and embraces and appreciates that there are many authentic American cultures beyond jazz, maybe not "cool," but all of which comprise the unending score of our national symphony.

The better jazz analogues for Obama are Duke Ellington externally, Thelonious Monk internally.

Timbo, it shames to me think that we share the same first name.
Goodness and gosh. We were bashing Palin's trendy threads a few weeks ago and now we bow down and worship His "style". Oh, if only we knew before the election that the king was walking around in his birthday suit.

Yes, Timbo, I loved how my "... failed conservative ideals ..." were soundly defeated in California. Love ya! :-)

"Man, the way people are carrying on around here you'd think their failed conservative ideals had been soundly defeated in a national election or something."

Which would be true if any conservative ideals had actually been defeated. Like most liberals you're laboring under the misapprehension that Bush -- oops, sorry! -- McCain was a conservative.

That he was less liberal than the Dear Leader doth not him a conservative make.

Gee, Rob G, you sound like the blogger version of Scrooge! The children are excited about Obama, of course, because they're getting a vicarious thrill out of seeing two kids the same age as themselves going to live at the White House. (I can just imagine the first-person fiction that will come from young writers this year about imagined trips to visit their "new best friends" Malia and Sasha).

I guess this is why Obama made such a point of delving into American black culture, because he certainly didn't grow up with it. I lived outside the US most of my growing up years, so there are many pop-cultural references that I don't get even know. It doesn't bother me, but I was never in need of a cultural/racial identity. I actually think it is kind of sad that Obama has 'limited' himself to the traditional American black culture and not brought in Pacific Island or Indonesian cultures. And phooey on people who would think that was 'foreign' or 'muslim'.

Of course, I agree with Erin in fact, that what he wears or what music he listens to or any of that is really, really beside the point.

Ugh...couldn't disagree more. I'm utterly uninterested in having the venerable White House remade into "The House of Cool." I suppose

Very Cool!

More dead babies! Enjoy!

Jesus Wept.

DDD

This guy's the enemy of a free and prosperous America, and you're concerned about this?

There's a dramatic irrelevance factor, Rod.

Too bad indeeed that Chet Baker and Miles Davis aren't around to see what happened, or to play the White House or the inaugural ball. Now THAT would have been cool! But we still have the Marsalis brothers, Josh Redman, Buddy Guy, Dr. John and all sorts of other cats who can bring plenty of cool! I can't wait to hear who gets booked for the inaugural ball! Hep, hep, hep, Daddy-O! Dig it the most!