# Unintended Side-Effect Of Dictatorship -- No One Mentions The Goofy Leader Get-Ups **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 22, 2011, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unintended-side-effect-of-dictatorship-no-one-mentions-the-goofy-leader-get-ups/572284 "2011-02-22T22:31:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Huerta88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/82dd89/32.png) [@Huerta88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Huerta88)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2011, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unintended-side-effect-of-dictatorship-no-one-mentions-the-goofy-leader-get-ups/572284/1 "2011-02-22T22:31:14Z")
But still – don’t these guys have some rudimentary level of image advisors? They had a gallery today of Gadhafi (or whatever they’re transliterating it to today) and his “fashion choices” over the years. It looked like a bad cross between Ali G and a transvestite. And what’s wrong with his face/mouth? Whatever it is is not enhanced by that ratty beardlike fungus. [http://abcnews.go.com/International/slideshow/gaddafi-fashion-years-12966270](http://abcnews.go.com/International/slideshow/gaddafi-fashion-years-12966270) Does anyone else in Libya dress like that? Why don’t people laugh out loud (other than fear of being shot, which I guess is kind of a big reason)? More broadly, what’s with the dubious sartorial choices of dictators in general? Can’t some North Korean spy inform the leadership that the pervy smoked aviator shades are about 50% of the entire reason no one takes Kim Jong Il seriously? Does Fidel really think he’s projecting “statesmanlike” by appearing in a polyester track-suit? Even if they don’t **have to** care about the “electorate,” isn’t there some personal hubris that would tell them funny facial hair and naff clothing choices diminish their stature? You have to know when those guys go to meet with allies for a photo op where the other six guys are wearing nice suits or proper military uniforms, that the other six guys are biting their lip to keep from laughing at their pajamas or whatever. ---
**Author:** ![Rumor\_Watkins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@Rumor\_Watkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rumor_Watkins)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2011, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unintended-side-effect-of-dictatorship-no-one-mentions-the-goofy-leader-get-ups/572284/2 "2011-02-22T22:33:47Z")
[Even if they don’t **have to** care about the “electorate,” isn’t there some personal hubris that would tell them funny facial hair and naff clothing choices diminish their stature? You have to know when those guys go to meet with allies for a photo op where the other six guys are wearing nice suits or proper military uniforms, that the other six guys are biting their lip to keep from laughing at their pajamas or whatever.](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_anqVy8b414Q/SwscyDxRX4I/AAAAAAAACdk/nGs7lXBAvYk/s1600/I43195-2005Jan27L.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2011, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unintended-side-effect-of-dictatorship-no-one-mentions-the-goofy-leader-get-ups/572284/3 "2011-02-22T22:39:14Z")
Edit: It’s amazing how much Gadhafi (sp?) reminds me of Michael Jackson in some of those pictures. > [@Rumor\_Watkins](#): > > [Even if they don’t **have to** care about the “electorate,” isn’t there some personal hubris that would tell them funny facial hair and naff clothing choices diminish their stature? You have to know when those guys go to meet with allies for a photo op where the other six guys are wearing nice suits or proper military uniforms, that the other six guys are biting their lip to keep from laughing at their pajamas or whatever.](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_anqVy8b414Q/SwscyDxRX4I/AAAAAAAACdk/nGs7lXBAvYk/s1600/I43195-2005Jan27L.jpg) Are you saying that [parkas aren’t high fashion](http://www.moneyville.ca/article/941588--arctic-parkas-hot-and-haute)? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Rumor\_Watkins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@Rumor\_Watkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rumor_Watkins)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2011, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unintended-side-effect-of-dictatorship-no-one-mentions-the-goofy-leader-get-ups/572284/4 "2011-02-22T22:40:59Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > Are you saying that [parkas aren’t high fashion](http://www.moneyville.ca/article/941588--arctic-parkas-hot-and-haute)? 🙂 Even Steven Harper wouldn’t be so gauche. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2011, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unintended-side-effect-of-dictatorship-no-one-mentions-the-goofy-leader-get-ups/572284/5 "2011-02-22T22:42:53Z")
> [@Rumor\_Watkins](#): > > Even Steven Harper wouldn’t be so gauche. He can’t talk–he has 1970’s-style modular hair. ---
**Author:** ![CT\_Damsel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CT\_Damsel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CT_Damsel)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2011, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unintended-side-effect-of-dictatorship-no-one-mentions-the-goofy-leader-get-ups/572284/6 "2011-02-23T00:10:39Z")
Pic#9 [http://abcnews.go.com/International/slideshow/gaddafi-fashion-years-12966270](http://abcnews.go.com/International/slideshow/gaddafi-fashion-years-12966270) reminds me of [this](http://jaymckinnon.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/the-usual-suspects-line-up.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![42fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/4/b487fb/32.png) [@42fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/42fish)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2011, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unintended-side-effect-of-dictatorship-no-one-mentions-the-goofy-leader-get-ups/572284/7 "2011-02-23T04:45:23Z")
> [@Huerta88](#): > > Does anyone else in Libya dress like that? Why don’t people laugh out loud (other than fear of being shot, which I guess is kind of a big reason)? Maybe it’s intended as an early warning system: If the people start openly mocking your appearance, you know your grip on power is starting to slip. (Unfortunately for Qadafi, the Libyans cut straight to demonstrating in the streets without stopping first at asking, ‘WTF is up with the leader’s fashion sense?’) ---
**Author:** ![dhkendall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9adbd/32.png) [@dhkendall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dhkendall)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2011, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unintended-side-effect-of-dictatorship-no-one-mentions-the-goofy-leader-get-ups/572284/8 "2011-02-23T05:13:45Z")
> [@Huerta88](#): > > [http://abcnews.go.com/International/slideshow/gaddafi-fashion-years-12966270](http://abcnews.go.com/International/slideshow/gaddafi-fashion-years-12966270) My favourite is #9: suit, suit, suit, suit, suit, ??!!?? (And, you’d think a country with a leader with a fashion sense that Elton John is envious of wouldn’t have [the world’s most boring flag](http://www.fotw.net/flags/ly.html). (Nice to see that anti-Gaddafi-ites are waving a flag that I’ve long liked, no matter its political connotations.) ---
**Author:** ![Agent\_Foxtrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc29f/32.png) [@Agent\_Foxtrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agent_Foxtrot)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2011, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unintended-side-effect-of-dictatorship-no-one-mentions-the-goofy-leader-get-ups/572284/9 "2011-02-23T16:18:58Z")
> [@dhkendall](#): > > My favourite is #9: suit, suit, suit, suit, suit, ??!!?? > > (And, you’d think a country with a leader with a fashion sense that Elton John is envious of wouldn’t have [the world’s most boring flag](http://www.fotw.net/flags/ly.html). (Nice to see that anti-Gaddafi-ites are waving a flag that I’ve long liked, no matter its political connotations.) Why does everyone in that picture look so uncomfortable? ---
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2011, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unintended-side-effect-of-dictatorship-no-one-mentions-the-goofy-leader-get-ups/572284/10 "2011-02-23T17:02:15Z")
Yeah, but look at Hosni Mubarak. He was GQ all the way, and got overthrown just the same. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2011, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unintended-side-effect-of-dictatorship-no-one-mentions-the-goofy-leader-get-ups/572284/11 "2011-02-23T17:29:12Z")
Why can’t they just be like [Clinton](http://www.theonion.com/articles/clinton-declares-self-president-for-life,191/)? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Weird\_One](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@The\_Weird\_One](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Weird_One)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2011, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unintended-side-effect-of-dictatorship-no-one-mentions-the-goofy-leader-get-ups/572284/12 "2011-02-23T17:41:24Z")
> [@dhkendall](#): > > My favourite is #9: suit, suit, suit, suit, suit, ??!!?? > > (And, you’d think a country with a leader with a fashion sense that Elton John is envious of wouldn’t have [the world’s most boring flag](http://www.fotw.net/flags/ly.html). (Nice to see that anti-Gaddafi-ites are waving a flag that I’ve long liked, no matter its political connotations.) I love #9! Oh, yup, here’s a bunch of serious guys, and - wait, what? Some kinda cross between Michael Jackson, a judge and a general? ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2011, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unintended-side-effect-of-dictatorship-no-one-mentions-the-goofy-leader-get-ups/572284/13 "2011-02-23T17:50:03Z")
> [@dhkendall](#): > > My favourite is #9: suit, suit, suit, suit, suit, ??!!?? > > (And, you’d think a country with a leader with a fashion sense that Elton John is envious of wouldn’t have [the world’s most boring flag](http://www.fotw.net/flags/ly.html). (Nice to see that anti-Gaddafi-ites are waving a flag that I’ve long liked, no matter its political connotations.) That flag is just green screen. Something good is supposed to be put there in post production. And can I ask a semi serious question? What’s up with “Colonel”? Why didn’t he ever promote himself to General? ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2011, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unintended-side-effect-of-dictatorship-no-one-mentions-the-goofy-leader-get-ups/572284/14 "2011-02-23T17:50:38Z")
#2 and #3 are things you might actually see people wearing. African clothing is it’s own thing. I have no explaination for the gnarly suits though. Since Cameroon is having protests, I’d like to submit my favorite wife-of-a-dictator, the beautiful “Mama” [Chantal Biya](http://www.google.com/images?um=1&hl=en&safe=off&biw=1276&bih=703&tbs=isch:1&aq=f&aqi=g9&oq=&q=chantal%20biya)…and her hair. I love pictures of her at otherwise sober state summits. I’ve never seen any woman work so hard to look like a drag queen. ---
**Author:** ![Walmarticus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Walmarticus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walmarticus)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2011, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unintended-side-effect-of-dictatorship-no-one-mentions-the-goofy-leader-get-ups/572284/15 "2011-02-23T17:50:47Z")
You think I’m going to dress like a normal person if I get to be a dictator? It’s one of the perks! Fuck all that shit about diminishing my stature. Dressing like a clown and never being criticized for it is the definition of power. ---
**Author:** ![darkgoddess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a183cd/32.png) [@darkgoddess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/darkgoddess)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2011, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unintended-side-effect-of-dictatorship-no-one-mentions-the-goofy-leader-get-ups/572284/16 "2011-02-23T17:53:25Z")
OMFG he looks like Michael Jackson!!! But seriously, I love Gadhafi he’s been entertainment for me and my family since the 80’s. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2011, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unintended-side-effect-of-dictatorship-no-one-mentions-the-goofy-leader-get-ups/572284/17 "2011-02-23T17:54:13Z")
In #'s 2, 5, and 7 he looks like a guy who should have his own “reality” porn site. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2011, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unintended-side-effect-of-dictatorship-no-one-mentions-the-goofy-leader-get-ups/572284/18 "2011-02-23T23:38:47Z")
i guess it is the opposite of the emperor has no clothes. zebra, i guess he thinks it makes him sound like the average guy? or perhaps it was his rank when he became top dog? even sven, ms biya is something else. love the hat she met the pope in. ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2011, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unintended-side-effect-of-dictatorship-no-one-mentions-the-goofy-leader-get-ups/572284/19 "2011-02-24T01:11:11Z")
I see I’m not the only one who got MJ vibes from some of those pictures. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2011, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unintended-side-effect-of-dictatorship-no-one-mentions-the-goofy-leader-get-ups/572284/20 "2011-02-24T02:44:47Z")
> [@Zebra](#): > > And can I ask a semi serious question? What’s up with “Colonel”? Why didn’t he ever promote himself to General? \*\*\*His \*\*\*revolution was a junior officer’s uprising (he was a Captain, in the course of the takeover he got field-promoted to LTC) and they repealed the general grades and shortly the leaders of the revolt replaced the full colonels with themselves. He left actual active duty sometime around '72 and decided he’d prefer to just be addressed by the last rank he had as a full-timer. The general grades were restored on paper at some point but mostly as rare honorary retirement titles, nobody in actual service is past Colonel. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unintended-side-effect-of-dictatorship-no-one-mentions-the-goofy-leader-get-ups/572284.md?page=2)