# Dick Cheney a Sartorial Embarrassment **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 29, 2005, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dick-cheney-a-sartorial-embarrassment/287243 "2005-01-29T04:33:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Bitterness\_Comes\_Standard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b19c9b/32.png) [@Bitterness\_Comes\_Standard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bitterness_Comes_Standard)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2005, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dick-cheney-a-sartorial-embarrassment/287243/81 "2005-01-29T23:54:29Z")
I would be willing to bet that Cheney was not the oldest, sickest, most frail person there. Do not act like he was the only sick person in attendance. Let’s say he didn’t mean to be disrespectful, so how about another word… selfish. I’m sure the last thing some of the survivors were thinking about was how cold it was. Oh, his cap said “Staff 2001”, did he forget to pack the “Staff 2005” cap? ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2005, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dick-cheney-a-sartorial-embarrassment/287243/82 "2005-01-29T23:56:41Z")
> [@This Year's Model](#): > > Well, I happen to believe this was substance. And you would be wrong. [_This_](http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2087-1452462,00.html) is ‘substance’. What coat you wear is ‘style’. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2005, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dick-cheney-a-sartorial-embarrassment/287243/83 "2005-01-30T00:04:07Z")
> [@Brutus](#): > > Heh, at least you admit it. Kudos! You too if IIRC. Weren’t you people recently chiding those bongo hippies to put on a suit, so the world would take them seriously? ---
**Author:** ![chique](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@chique](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chique)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2005, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dick-cheney-a-sartorial-embarrassment/287243/84 "2005-01-30T00:04:20Z")
> [@PhDMetalhead](#): > > Um, not unless Putin and Chirac have recently been demoted… Many, then, if you wish to pick nits. QEII sent her kid, the UK sent their foreign minister, Germany sent their president rather than their chancellor, and Israel sent their president rather than their PM. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2005, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dick-cheney-a-sartorial-embarrassment/287243/85 "2005-01-30T00:06:01Z")
> [@Brutus](#): > > And you would be wrong. [_This_](http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2087-1452462,00.html) is ‘substance’. What coat you wear is ‘style’. You think political posturing is substance? Wow. You think a display, as the representative of his country, a representative of all of us - you and me both - of disrespect for the dead is not substance? Wow. Out of curiousity, how do you dress when you go to a funeral? Y’know, as far as I can remember, I haven’t done this before, primarily because I like your sense of humor. But, **Brutus** , you really are a fucking moron. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2005, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dick-cheney-a-sartorial-embarrassment/287243/86 "2005-01-30T00:12:07Z")
> [@chique](#): > > Many, then, if you wish to pick nits. QEII sent her kid, the UK sent their foreign minister, Germany sent their president rather than their chancellor, and Israel sent their president rather than their PM. I’ll pick some nits too. Both Germany and Israel sent their heads of state, not their heads of government. There’s a difference. Part of the job description of both of those people is to represent their country at events like this, and believe me, both Germany and Israel of all countries were highly aware of the nuances of who they sent. ---
**Author:** ![chique](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@chique](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chique)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2005, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dick-cheney-a-sartorial-embarrassment/287243/87 "2005-01-30T00:18:29Z")
> [@This Year's Model](#): > > I’ll pick some nits too. Both Germany and Israel sent their heads of state, not their heads of government. There’s a difference. Part of the job description of both of those people is to represent their country at events like this, and believe me, both Germany and Israel of all countries were highly aware of the nuances of who they sent. Mmm. So both the US and UK were rude? Interesting. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2005, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dick-cheney-a-sartorial-embarrassment/287243/88 "2005-01-30T00:26:20Z")
> [@chique](#): > > Mmm. So both the US and UK were rude? Interesting. No, not necessarily. Keep in mind the relative positions of Germany and Israel re Auschwitz. Though now I’m picturing the Queen in a stocking cap and boots. No, no I’m not, can’t quite do it. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2005, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dick-cheney-a-sartorial-embarrassment/287243/89 "2005-01-30T00:40:17Z")
I’m not letting **Brutus** off the hook here. If those dirty bongo playing hippies need to cut their hair and put on a suit, he could at least admit that Cheney might have considered wearing something different. ---
**Author:** ![chique](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@chique](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chique)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2005, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dick-cheney-a-sartorial-embarrassment/287243/90 "2005-01-30T00:45:47Z")
> [@World Eater](#): > > I’m not letting **Brutus** off the hook here. If those dirty bongo playing hippies need to cut their hair and put on a suit, he could at least admit that Cheney might have considered wearing something different. **Brutus** will never admit any such thing, dear, and you know it. I don’t know why so many people here pay so much attention to the trash that emits from his fingertips. Send him to Coventry and let him rant at a wall. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2005, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dick-cheney-a-sartorial-embarrassment/287243/91 "2005-01-30T00:53:55Z")
> [@chique](#): > > Mmm. So both the US and UK were rude? Interesting. IIRC the Queen and the Prime Minister were attending a similar event in the UK, in which they met with survivors of Auschwitz and lit candles in memory of Holocaust victims. I don’t know what President Bush was doing instead. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2005, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dick-cheney-a-sartorial-embarrassment/287243/92 "2005-01-30T01:14:36Z")
At [Atrios’ website](http://atrios.blogspot.com/), there is a slightly wider shot than shown in the link from the OP, which makes it a bit more clear just how much Cheney stood out like a sore thumb. Nice hiking boots, dickhead. ---
**Author:** ![caphis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e19adc/32.png) [@caphis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caphis)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2005, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dick-cheney-a-sartorial-embarrassment/287243/93 "2005-01-30T01:15:29Z")
> [@even sven](#): > > Wouldn’t we be a tad peeved if the president of France showed up at a Sept. 11th memorial in a zippy red suit? To be perfectly honest; no, I wouldn’t be peeved. What he chooses to wear is his deal; the fact that he showed up at all would be good enough for me. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2005, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dick-cheney-a-sartorial-embarrassment/287243/94 "2005-01-30T01:19:37Z")
I love what the blogger Jeff Jarvis (who voted for Kerry) [said about this](http://www.buzzmachine.com/archives/2005_01_29.html#008975): > [@](#): > > And are we on the left really reduced to the Mr. Blackwell party? I’ve got it: If we can’t decide who should head the DNC, let’s elect Joan Rivers. ROFLMAO! ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2005, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dick-cheney-a-sartorial-embarrassment/287243/95 "2005-01-30T01:24:50Z")
> [@chique](#): > > **Brutus** will never admit any such thing, dear, and you know it. I don’t know why so many people here pay so much attention to the trash that emits from his fingertips. Send him to Coventry and let him rant at a wall. At the risk of sounding insane, he’s the type of people we need to show the light. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2005, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dick-cheney-a-sartorial-embarrassment/287243/96 "2005-01-30T01:32:11Z")
> [@World Eater](#): > > At the risk of sounding insane, he’s the type of people we need to show the light. Unfortunately, leaving completely aside the “reasonable men can disagree” viewpoint, he’s shown no signs of an ability to admit when he is wrong. A **Bricker** or a **Scylla** will, from time to time, acknowledge that they have been bested on the facts in a particular argument. I cannot recall ever seeing that from **Brutus**. ---
**Author:** ![chique](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@chique](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chique)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2005, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dick-cheney-a-sartorial-embarrassment/287243/97 "2005-01-30T01:36:48Z")
> [@World Eater](#): > > At the risk of sounding insane, he’s the type of people we need to show the light. Here, have a butterfly net… ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2005, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dick-cheney-a-sartorial-embarrassment/287243/98 "2005-01-30T01:53:05Z")
> [@chique](#): > > Here, have a butterfly net… Lol, thanks. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2005, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dick-cheney-a-sartorial-embarrassment/287243/99 "2005-01-30T02:03:04Z")
> [@This Year's Model](#): > > Unfortunately, leaving completely aside the “reasonable men can disagree” viewpoint, he’s shown no signs of an ability to admit when he is wrong. A **Bricker** or a **Scylla** will, from time to time, acknowledge that they have been bested on the facts in a particular argument. I cannot recall ever seeing that from **Brutus**. Hey, I’ve got a butterfly net, nothing can stop me now! ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2005, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dick-cheney-a-sartorial-embarrassment/287243/100 "2005-01-30T02:12:59Z")
Well, we have to presume the Veep did not cause offense on purpose. That means he and his staff made a rather basic mistake. Very amateurish. Further once it was made, and it may have been done for health reasons, they did not spin the story, instead they stonewalled. Not the kind of performance I expect of the Number Two man and his team. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dick-cheney-a-sartorial-embarrassment/287243.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dick-cheney-a-sartorial-embarrassment/287243.md?page=6)