Why does Melania Trump always look like she's trying to bend spoons with her mind?

I don't understand the dis because I think she looks good in both pictures. Which one is the "bad" one?

@NicoleK,

It's because the picture on the right implies Melania got a boobjob.

These are the same people who will dox you and get you fired for saying that Michelle Obama has a man face, but they have no problem calling Melania a bought wife/Russian prostitute.

I have a word for them and it's hypocrites.

They should be grateful that Fox News is a paper tiger and thus it doesn't behave like CNN.

> PS I'm not a Trumper.

Why the gratuitous virtue signalling? It's female intrasexual competition and selective feminism whether you're a Trumper or not.

Oh I thought it was because her face looks totally different. But I wasn't sure which one was supposed to be the better one. Both look nice. Just different.

Her boobs just look like she's wearing a different bra.

> Why the gratuitous virtue signalling?

I find Amy's virtue signalling purposeful, proportionate, and articulate. Go get 'em, Big Red.

Also, it creeps me out that people the Melania is attractive. There was a period of several years where she was always photographed with that aging-Playmate look on her face, as if the photographer had instructed her to 'Look like you've just been gangbanged, but haven't yet decided whether you liked it or not.'

She's ookey. Look an her. She's weird.

I take it this Maggie person has never heard of a Wonder Bra? also, the ministrations of a professional make up artist can do amazing things. Almost to the point of making someone almost unrecognizable.

Why the gratuitous virtue signalling?

It cuts down on the next reply from this yoo-hoo: oh, you're defending her because you luv Trump! Of course, they're just playing Calvinball, so that doesn't really matter, they'll just throw more poop at the wall.

She's ookey. Look an her. She's weird.

Well, she is Eastern European. Slovenia to be precise, former Yugoslav republic.

Don't worry NicoleK. I had the same thought. Apparently plastic surgery (or Republicans) make you squint and put on a wonder-bra.

Ookey?

They're creepy and they're kooky
Mysterious and spooky
They're all together ookey
The Addams family

Well, Melania does have a certain Morticia Addams vibe going - coming across, at least at first, as a bit cold and aloof. Morticia was described by Charles Addams as, "The real head of the family ... low-voiced, incisive and subtle, smiles are rare ... ruined beauty ... contemptuous and original and with fierce family loyalty ... even in disposition, muted, witty, sometimes deadly...."

One wonders if Melania sees her husband as her prince or, like Morticia, sees her husband as a man-child in need of her patience.

Oddly enough, Morticia's maiden name was Frump.

Their house is a museum
When people come to see 'em
They really are a scream
The Addams family

Why the gratuitous virtue signalling? It's female intrasexual competition and selective feminism whether you're a Trumper or not.

It occurs to me that I've never heard the term "virtue signaling" when it wasn't itself a form of "virtue signaling."

Regardless, it's bullshit; one could argue standing with your hand over your heart or kneeling is "virtue signaling" when you're there to watch a football game. Public prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, the Ten Commandments on display: it's all virtue signaling.

Kevbubbles, we needn't pretend our theatrical acceptance of Snip's rhetoric was sincere. He's a kid with a massive persecution complex... Amy wasn't "signalling" anything but her disinterest. well-expressed over the years but reiterated for newbees, that she's no fan of Trump.

And she did it with many fewer words than this. It wasn't a signal, it was a comment.

Regardless, it's bullshit; one could argue standing with your hand over your heart or kneeling is "virtue signaling" when you're there to watch a football game. Public prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, the Ten Commandments on display: it's all virtue signaling. ~ Kevin at November 27, 2018 1:15 PM

One could argue that, but one would be wrong to do so as a general rule.

Standing with one's hand over one's heart while the flag parades by or the national anthem plays is basic, longstanding tradition, not to mention federal law.

The US Flag Code was adopted into federal law in 1923 as Chapter 1 of Title 4 of the United States Code.

4 U.S. Code § 4 states that the Pledge of Allegiance "should be rendered by standing at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart. When not in uniform men should remove any non-religious headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart. Persons in uniform should remain silent, face the flag, and render the military salute. Members of the Armed Forces not in uniform and veterans may render the military salute in the manner provided for persons in uniform.

4 U.S. Code § 9 state that "when the flag is passing in a parade or in review, all persons present in uniform should render the military salute. Members of the Armed Forces and veterans who are present but not in uniform may render the military salute. All other persons present should face the flag and stand at attention with their right hand over the heart, or if applicable, remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart. Citizens of other countries present should stand at attention. All such conduct toward the flag in a moving column should be rendered at the moment the flag passes."

Conduct during any performance of the national anthem is also prescribed by law ( 36 U.S. Code § 301).

(b)Conduct During Playing.—During a rendition of the national anthem—

(1) when the flag is displayed—

(A) individuals in uniform should give the military salute at the first note of the anthem and maintain that position until the last note;

(B) members of the Armed Forces and veterans who are present but not in uniform may render the military salute in the manner provided for individuals in uniform; and

(C) all other persons present should face the flag and stand at attention with their right hand over the heart, and men not in uniform, if applicable, should remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart; and

(2) when the flag is not displayed, all present should face toward the music and act in the same manner they would if the flag were displayed.

All that aside, Kevin, one can argue that the national anthem need not be played prior to football (or baseball or hockey) games. The performances in those cases are matters of longstanding tradition, not federal law. But, one the national anthem is being played, the argument's over.

Conan, I'm aware of the US Flag Code, and consider it virtue signaling written into law.

Well then, Kevin, it seems you have an unnecessarily broad definition of virtue signaling; and, dare I say it, a conveniently self-serving one, as you can use that definition to dismiss anyone who stakes out a position with which you disagree. Of course, that may have been your intent all along.

If you guys are going to approach this matter in an essentially rational yet contentious manner...

Good

I'm just saying, Mel ain't that fun to look at. To know that she's regarded as a trophy for an 11th-tier, multiply-bankrupted NYC real estate developer does not imbue her with erotic candlepower. Scrawny; unremarkable, mutt-ly features and proportions; and a metaphysical certitude that this judgment wounds her MUCH OLDER husband's fanboys in an especially poignant way.

Well then, Kevin, it seems you have an unnecessarily broad definition of virtue signaling; and, dare I say it, a conveniently self-serving one, as you can use that definition to dismiss anyone who stakes out a position with which you disagree.

Not in the least; only in the case of public, performative what-a-good-boy-I-am-ism. I'd never be so rude as to interrupt whatever ritual someone feels he or she needs to perform for peer approval, though in private I may indulge in an amused eye roll or two.

"Standing with one's hand over one's heart while the flag parades by or the national anthem plays is basic, longstanding tradition, not to mention federal law."

Read again. The law says "should," not "must." These are suggestions and traditions. Not legal obligations. The First Amendment, which gives the right to protest or disregard both the anthem or the pledge predates both of those problematic odes to American nationalism.

Kevin:

Not in the least; only in the case of public, performative what-a-good-boy-I-am-ism. I'd never be so rude as to interrupt whatever ritual someone feels he or she needs to perform for peer approval, though in private I may indulge in an amused eye roll or two.

Except when you're in the military, as I was. There, it's required.

What I find interesting is your condemnation showing the traditional signs of respect as virtue-signaling, yet here you are, smugly holding yourself superior to those who do this.

It occurs to me that I've never heard the term "virtue signaling" when it wasn't itself a form of "virtue signaling."

That would apparently include you.

On the contrary, I would say that showing respect for the flag and national anthem in the traditional way is the least virtue-signaling; you're doing what 99% of everyone else in attendance is doing.

You do make an interesting point about calling someone out for virtue signaling being guilty of it themselves.

I'm reminded of a time I was listing the more egregious instances of Donald Trump's rampant racism, and included his habit of clearing the floor of all black card dealers in his casino when a certain high-roller lost big and went on one of his very loud anti-black, anti-woman, profanity-laced tirades.

I simply pointed out that I would have shown the gamer the door (which any reasonable person would have done, as opposed to Trump's method of throwing all the dahkies out of the room), and Conan accused of virtue signalling. Yet, in his own mincing, prissified way, he committed the same act himself by adding that he doesn't say Trump was right.

In other words, Trump was so obviously wrong in what he did, but Conan was terrified of saying of saying so, lest he be accused of virtue-signalling himself.

But your opponents in this discussion are Conan and Crid, who are by the far the most smug individuals ever to pollute this blog. So, carry on. We can always hope that you three smuglords break your necks as you keep throwing your noses in the air at each other.

It's like watching the clash between Antifa and the White Nationalists; the best outcome would be if both factions kill each other.

Thank you, Patrick. I had been trying to remember the circumstances of your self-righteous sanctimony.

You were so full of bravado, telling us what you would have done had you been in the managers' shoes in that circumstances, how you would have stood up for justice and thrown the mobbed up high-roller out on his ear - at the risk of your own and your employees' livelihoods and/or physical safety.

You wondered why no one in the casino's employ spoke out. When I pointed out that many who may have sympathized with the excluded dealers, including the dealers themselves, might have stifled any impulse to speak out due to concern for their job or safety, you went on (and on) about your own would-be heroism at any cost.

The debate, at that point, turned not on Trump's response, which was heinous, but on the comic book superhero you made yourself out to be.

In response, I challenged you to tell us when you actually did stand up for something at risk of your own well-being or livelihood. I hoped for something akin to tales of marching in Selma or of being on the receiving end of Bull Connor's hoses; maybe something from your time in the Army. I'd have settled for a lecture on equality delivered to an obnoxious neighbor at a backyard barbecue.

Instead, I got a self-serving rant about my use of the term, "virtue signaling," to describe your hypothetical heroics.

And that, mon ami, is what "virtue signaling" is, telling us, far away from the cannon's roar, how brave, how open-minded, how virtuous you would be.

Conan:

You were so full of bravado, telling us what you would have done had you been in the managers' shoes in that circumstances, how you would have stood up for justice and thrown the mobbed up high-roller out on his ear - at the risk of your own and your employees' livelihoods and/or physical safety.

You never get tired of lying, do you?

Just out of curiosity, shit-for-brains, what do you think would be the least costly means of dealing with this problem?

You own a casino, and a certain high-roller comes in, loses big, then goes on a very loud, profanity-laced tired, full of racial and sexist epithets. What do you do about this?

Think carefully before you answer. (I know thinking is very, very difficult for you, but take a short nap, clear out all distractions, few deep breaths, let your mind enter a calm, relaxed state...and try to think. Who knows? Maybe someday you'll learn to like it.)

And bear in mind, your employees have the right to be protected from harassment by your clientele. Fail in this responsibility, and your employees will enjoy a comfortable retirement at your expense.

1. Do you let it continue, hoping he'll calm down (until next time he loses big, and he does it all over again)?

2. Do you speak to him and try to calm him down? What happens if that doesn't work (since he's done this more than once)?

3. Order all the black people off the floor so they don't have to listen to this?

4. Or show this man the door?

I choose four because that's the one least likely to get me in trouble.

Donald Trump chose three, which I consider rather craven and unfair to the other guests who might have been playing at those tables.

So, Patrick, that's a "no" on whether you've ever tried to live up to the comic book superhero version of yourself you've constructed in your mind and are trying to pass off on this blog?

Good to know.

And, Patrick, I've already given my thoughts on the response to the ranting racist high roller ("heinous" was the word I used above), so I'm not going to play your little multiple choice deflection game.