Archives
Thursday, July 22, 2004
Jenna and Barbara
Despite all this grown-up-itude, the irrepressible Jenna, who almost lost her dress at the Republican Convention four years ago, playfully stuck her tongue out two days ago at the reporters and photographers surrounding the president's limousine in St. Louis. Maybe she was remembering the snotty coverage The Washington Post gave to their Vogue interview:
Jenna's ruby red dress is by Oscar de la Renta, a designer favored by her mother. Barbara is wearing a similar ivory gown by Calvin Klein. They are accessorized with an array of borrowed diamonds. The dresses are classic designs -- styles a designer would keep on hand in the showroom but wouldn't bother to put on the runway.
The 22-year-old twins look like
debutantes, minor royals, or that particular New York species of
well-groomed, pedigreed and socially connected women known as the
"Bright Young Things." For much of the time their father has been in
the White House, they were kept under wraps. Occasionally they emerged
from their protected world to be snapped attending a fashion show or
traveling with their mother. The only significant ink on them has been
on police reports detailing their ill-advised underage drinking.
The article goes on like this for quite a while, as if the Washington Post has never had any
truck with the well to do. It would seem that Jenna, at least, hasn't
been so thoroughly protected that she doesn't know how to deal with
the press.
We at InstaPunk think the Bush twins are charming. There's something
mischievous going on there that defies the slick characterization
offered by the Post. We think
they have a sense of humor. We think they have secrets. We think
they're always up to something, which their father probably knows but
doesn't worry about because Laura does plenty of worrying about it.
Herewith our lowly tribute to the First Daughters: a photo caption
contest. We really like this picture, which was published the same day
as
the notorious 'tongue' photo:
There's Dad, leading the way, probably
just out of earshot of the girls (what with the jet engines and all),
and something is happening between the two of them, but what? A sly
comment? A cutting barb? An argument? A plan? You tell us. Mail your
captions to punk@Instapunk.com, and we'll sort through them and decide
on first, second, and third place winners. First prize is an
autographed copy of The Boomer Bible,
courtesy of our friends at BoomerBible.com, and second and third place
will be a hat or T-shirt or something, courtesy of same. We'll accept
entries through midnight Tuesday, July 27. We'll announce the winners
one week from today.
No big deal. We're just having fun. Maybe
you will too.