If the shoe fits

Inspired by Sarah Palin's signature bright red Naughty Monkey Double Dare peep-toe pumps with three-and-a-half-inch heels, we ferreted out our own mid-seventies-vintage Elkins rosebud-pink, peep-toe pumps with three-and-a-half-inch heels from the back of a neglected closet where they had languished these many years. All that was old is new again,

"The Governor of Alaska gets our girls-just-wanna-have-fun juices flowing," we blogged three weeks back during the rumor-revved hours and minutes leading up to John McCain's announcement of his VP choice, even as members of the fuddy-duddy community counseled a "safe" pick. Now we're getting some insight into what makes those fuddy-duddies tick. "Clearly, a small but influential number of conservatives — almost exclusively from the New York-Washington axis which we will term the 'Northeast Corridor' — could not comprehend Sarah Palin or what she represents, any more than the liberal-left could," writes J.R. Dunn in The American Thinker:

In fact, the liberals can be said to have had a superior grasp of Palin's impact. They, at least, saw her as a threat.

If this is the choice of the conservative base, one said, "Then we need a new base."

Two points are immediately evident: this rhetoric echoed precisely what the liberal media was saying and at the same time was diametrically opposed to what the rest of the country had to say.

In the same way that liberals view the U.S. a racist, militarist monolith, the Northeast Corridor coterie view it as a cultural wasteland populated by backwoodsmen, halfwits who need to be guided by an enlightened but aloof elite.

We totally agree with reader Wemedge's thoughts in the comments:

This is the first article I've read since the Palin announcement which articulates my disappointment with all the Krauthammers, Noonans, Willses, and Brookses at their rejection of someone who is clearly compelling and fresh.

What most disappointed, as so well put by Mr. Dunn was that "so isolated had the Northeast Corridor conservatives become, so deeply embedded in their Jamesian parallel universe, that they couldn't recognize her clear conservative stance, couldn't recognize her personal courage, couldn't, in the end, be bothered to stand with her when she and her family were victimized by the most repellent political attack of our epoch."

So I came, all by myself to the same conclusion that this article did: they're clueless.

"We sold our Governor a pair of red Double Dare Naughty Monkey shoes a couple of weeks ago," the proprietors of Juneau's Shoefly Inc. wrote Fausta the other day. "She just wore those shoes as John McCain announced Governor Sarah Palin from Alaska as his vice president running mate. Although not everyone agrees with her politics, everyone can agree that she wears 'sexy shoes.'" Fuddy-duddies need not apply. Update: "They look like something Daisy Duck would wear," comments Tuck.

Those Northeast Corridor Conservatives need to get out more, beyond their Pauline Kael bubble, like businessman Jay Randhawa of the San Diego firm that markets the "very edgy, very hip, very street" Naughty Monkey shoes favored by Sarah Palin. "He was surprised to learn that Gov. Palin was introduced as Mr. McCain's vice-presidential choice wearing a red pair of peep-toe pumps with 3 1/2-inch heels," reports the WSJ, but instead of staring in incomprehension, he saw an opportunity:

The shoes, marketed by his company's Naughty Monkey line, generally are geared to women in their early-to-mid-20s who go clubbing, he says.

"The age bracket we target is a little younger. It's a very edgy, very hip, very street brand," adds Mr. Randhawa.

Celebrities like Paris Hilton had been photographed in the brand's shoes, but seldom, if ever, a 40-something politician.

Mr. Randhawa says he realized that Gov. Palin's footwear choice offered the chance to pitch the Naughty Monkey line to a new demographic. The company quickly sent out emails to its retailers with a photo of the Alaska governor wearing the shoes and the slogan "I vote for Naughty Monkey!"

Women in their early-to-mid-20s who go clubbing, 40-something politicians, women d'un certain age who blog. Girls just wanna have fun. Unless you're a fuddy-duddy. Yes you, Peggy Noonan. And you, Miss Hillary:

The organizers of an anti-Iran rally Monday rescinded their invitation to Alaska Governor Sarah Palin after Democrats protested that her presence would turn the event into a political rally, McCain campaign and Jewish community sources said.

The Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations created a political tempest by inviting Palin to speak without clearing her invitation with another speaker, Senator Hillary Clinton. Clinton promptly dropped out of the event, saying it would be seen as unduly political.

"I guess now we know how deep Hillary's concern for Iranian nukes really is, skin deep," wrote blog buddy Sol of Solomonia in disgust at the disingenuousness of Hillary's posturing:

As soon as she learned that Sarah Palin would be there, she was out the door. Thanks for nothing. I get the feeling she reacted worse to this news than she would have had she heard that Monica would be there making a speech. Nothing, absolutely nothing, trumps cynical selfish partisan politics on Planet Clinton. Not even Iranian nukes.

Or maybe Clinton backed out in fear of her own sensible shoes' being upstaged by Palin's red peep-toe pumps with three-and-a-half-inch heels.

Update: Northeast Corridor regressives progressives liberals weigh in (Bring on the smelling salts.):

"All of my women friends, a week ago Monday, were on the verge of throwing themselves out windows," an author and political activist, Nancy Kricorian of Manhattan, said yesterday. "People were flipping out … Every woman I know was in high hysteria over this. Everyone was just beside themselves with terror that this woman could be our president — our potential next president" …

Even some prominent figures admitted to being overcome by anti-Palin feelings. "I am having Sarah Palin nightmares," an acclaimed playwright and writer, Eve Ensler, wrote on the Huffington Post. She said she was disturbed by the chants about oil and gas drilling during Mrs. Palin's speech to the Republican convention. "I think of rape. I think of destruction. I think of domination," Ms. Ensler wrote.

That's just how Hillary's Pink Offensive made us feel back in the day, but now the shoe's on the other foot. Why can't we all just get along? Our own Dr. Sanity, quoted in the article, has the last word:

A psychiatrist and conservative blogger, Patricia Santy, said the strong emotional reactions are driven by Mrs. Palin's differing with the left-leaning political agenda of many feminists. "Their entire image of themselves is based on the fact that they are paving the way for women. What do they see? Women getting ahead, women being empowered who don't agree with them," Dr. Santy said.

Sorry. We don't have that in your size.

Comments

[goomp]

Sarah Palin. A free and capable leader who is not afraid to be a woman.

[Gayle Miller]

goomp is absolutely right. She is a real woman and that scares the bejabbers out of them! The women's movement was supposed to be all about choice - yet they deride hers. It was supposed to be all about equal opportunities for women. She has certainly taken that lesson to heart. She has chosen her own path and since, as you so aptly say, it is not THEIR path, they are confused and frightened and thus react with shrill incomprehension and venom, thus proving how much they lack true intelligence.

[Laura Lee Donoho]

Many feminists (or women in general) lack logic. They react emotionally, that is just how many of us are made. Sarah Palin has the ability to communicate both logically or let's say reasonably and with passion. That's just too much for women who have had their mind and emotions set for life. This new species threatens all they have known.

[misskelly]

"All of my women friends, a week ago Monday, were on the verge of throwing themselves out windows..." "Every woman I know was in high hysteria over this. Everyone was just beside themselves with terror "

Delightful! Tee hee! Sissie, these sorts of statements warm the very cockles of me heart. Thanks for making me break out in a very big smile.

[Laura Lee Donoho]

When I was in college my roommate, suite mates and everyone at the end of our hall would have a five o'clock scream on every Wednesday afternoon. Maybe that will help the high hysteric women. Or smelling salts.

[Donna B.]

The Wednesday 5 o'clock scream sounds like a great idea! I know a few men who might join in, though they might prefer the Thursday night groan.

No matter how it's reached, through feminine or masculine thoughts or means, there is a bottom line. There's no need to make the feminine route a longer one as so many "modern feminists" do.

[hnav]

Great post again.

So much energy goes into fashion, it is an incredible human obsession.

Image is everything, or is it?

Why do women wage war on their own eyebrows?

Thinking of eyebrows, Nancy Pelosi looks very unhealthy, like as if she is constantly surprised, or vacant.

I was so disappointed this week with the Maverick ticket. Firing the SEC? Claims the SEC Chair betrayed the American People? Confusing the SEC with the FEC? Populist this, populist that, populist everywhere? Bitter, angry, ranting, anti-Business?

I genuinely wish Gov. Palin was the GOP Presidential Nominee.

[Kris, in New England]

Came here thru The Wide Awake Cafe - hope you don't mind if I stay awhile.

As you can tell from my signature, I'm in the "Northeast Corridor"; don't let that fool you! I am in reality a conservative trapped in the liberal wasteland that is the North East.

Just making sure that's clear - I have a bumper sticker on my car that says "McCain/Palin" and a lawn sign that says the same thing. I dare to be different.

I'm a rebel.

And I love shoes.

[USAF Captain]

LATE TO THE DANCE
I think you have articulated what is in a lot of people's (particularly men's) minds: Obama being elected will usher in a tidal bore of troubles, reminiscent of Jimmy Carter in 1975. Most of us older men remember how dreadful and clunky women's shoes were in the 70s -- particularly in the last years of that decade -- and how sleek and stylish they became when Nancy Reagan entered the White House. Don't even start with HRC's mankles, combat boots, and pantsuits.

O.K., I candidly admit it: I am a fan of a nice pair of (ladies') legs wearing stiletto heels. It is my only failing..

[Sourceoutdoor]

I follow enviously after Sarah Palin's shoes selections, and i believe that this girl is not only smart, but also knows how to pick her shoes. Having said that, her taste is too rich for my blood