September 28, 2016

That Hillary shoulder thing.



Featured — moving like that — on the front page of the NYT. The teaser is "Watching on Mute, I Still Knew the Score/The idea was simple: to test the theory that what presidential candidates say during debates is less important than what they look like while they’re saying it." Here's the article. The author, Jonathan Mahler, loves that shoulder thing:
It was a little shimmy of her shoulders — cheeky, insouciant — accompanied by a big, toothy grin. Her opponent smirked.

She looked as if she was having fun. He, not so much...
Well, "I Wish I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate"...



But what is the shimmy? Was Hillary doing the shimmy? Is the shimmy presidential??



I'm under the impression that the key to the shimmy is not just moving your shoulders, but shaking your shoulders to cause your breasts to jiggle.

Here's some very informative reading on the subject by Timothy Cresswell from "On the Move: Mobility in the Modern Western World" (click to enlarge):





65 comments:

MayBee said...

I'm under the impression that the key to the shimmy is not just moving your shoulders, but shaking your shoulders to cause your breasts to jiggle

Yes! THat's why it was so creepy!

MayBee said...

Let's imagine if Donald Trump had done this shimmy.

Ignorance is Bliss said...

So based on the included article, Clinton is guilty of cultural appropriation, right?

David Begley said...

I know Tina Turner. I've seen Tina Turner do the shimmy. Hillary Clinton is no Tina Turner, but she is a Private Dancer for every corrupt Muslim government in the Middle East.

carrie said...

What they look like is important but I thought Clinton looked plastic and that nothing she did was spontaneous. I am sure that she practice that move before focus groups and only used it after the focus groups liked it. She finally wore something for a debate that was nice and not memorable on its own account. During the debate, I checked out the yellow suit that she wore for one of the democratic debates as well as the suit with the big pockets that she wore for a debate--both of those were memorable for the wrong reasons. I am not the only one doing Google searches for stuff like that either. My Hillary supporter husband got mad at me for doing that.

Curious George said...

Here's Hillary doing the Shimmy.

Followed by the "Face Plant."

machine said...

Mr. Palin's reactions looked terrible...not presidential.

traditionalguy said...

Even a master of female power politics still has to signal to submissive lesbian voters that she wants them, now.

JAORE said...

If both candidates had belched, loudly, the NYT would have reported that too.

Hillary's product would have wafted delicately across the stage leaving delightful hints of ginger and rosemary. Donald would have expelled a noxious brew of brimstone and garlic causing vomiting in the first three rows and in MSNBC viewers across the land..

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

She's tying to signal that she's fun. it will be a blast getting tax-raped by her.

Noton Yalife said...

All I could see was this shimmy.

eric said...

Professor Althouse,

I really don't think they know how these pictures are perceived. When surrounded by sycophants it's hard to ever hear criticism.

There is a picture on Hillary's twitter account from right after the debate. It's in black and white. Hillary tweets, "This is what having a good night looks like" or something like that. I implore you to go and have a look at this picture. It boggles my mind that anyone would think this is a good picture. She looks like the wicket witch of the west, rubbing her hands together and saying, "I'm going to get you my pretty!"

If I could share the picture here I would. Everyone should see it. Tell me I'm wrong. It's such a horrendous picture I'm starting to think Trump has embedded spies in her campaign.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

The First and Second amendments are going to shimmy down the drain with her supreme court picks. Fun!

Clayton Hennesey said...

Except for the predictable Debby Downer frownies when Trump was speaking, Hillary positively bubbled all night like a raver high on Ecstasy. I'm assuming the shimmy was simply an attempt in the heat of the moment to self-stimulate her nipples.

tim in vermont said...

She sort of reminds me of Ursula in The Little Mermaid as she sang "Poor deplorable souls."

Go to about 2:40. If you can make a GIF, go there and do so.

Just_Mike_S said...

looks more like a tremor to me.

Sydney said...

My ability to have a one-on-one private physician-patient relationship without intrusion by corporate medicine is going to shimmy down the sewer when she's elected.

Bob Boyd said...

It looks more like relief to me, as though, having no choice, she finally just let go and trusted the gaskets on her underpants.

traditionalguy said...

Yes, Trump was not fighting back with aggressive body language. He was almost submissive and bowing in the presence of her over assertive persona.

I suspect that was Trump's goal. By appearing to be an under control gentleman, he made her Macho Act appear to be an Auntie Mame act, to which the voter's response will be, "Is that all there is?" If so, then her inauthentic act loses them.

Captain Drano said...

April's right, it was supposed to make her look "fun" and I'll add they decided it also made her look a bit more "girly" than her normal frumpy, dour self.

I thought it was interesting that she wore red and Trump wore blue.

Darrell said...

Parkinson's dyskinesia.

Wince said...

"I want to be loved by you...pah pah dah rah, poo poo pee doo - ooh."

If Hillary is Ginger, does that make Trump MaryAnn? If so, Trump wins.

Nonapod said...

People who like Hillary will perceive that shimmy as fun and playful. People who dislike Hillary will perceive her body language as gloating or mocking or some kind of forced levity.

But how does the all important undecided LIV perceive things? Will this body language make her more or less appealing to such creatures? I can't say since I find it extremely difficult to imagine myself as one of those people. I don't even know exactly those people are demographically. I assume that they are mostly white middle class females who live in swing states. If that's the case then I think the HC shimmy may be a big success.

jr565 said...

She looked like a bobble head. THat reminds me of a business idea - Hillary Clinton bobble heads that make this exact movement.
A few problems with it though. If an Uber driver had this in his car would a SJW who saw it be triggered because of any cultural appropriation that might be exhibited? And more importantly, would anyone actually buy a clinton Bobble head.
Scratch that. Bad idea for a product.

Roughcoat said...

So weird that the shimmy was popular in the 1920s when the flat chest look was fashionable.

jr565 said...

If Trump mocked her by doing that same move would everyone call him a sexist?

tim in vermont said...

Poor Deplorable Souls!

Anonymous said...

Schnurf, schnort, gluttteral emanations- "WRONG!", yes, very Presidential for Mr.Schnorty McLowbar.

James Pawlak said...

Look at her eyes and theink "Pre-Stroke Syndrome"

Bob Boyd said...

Shimmy or piss shiver? Your answer may determine the fate of the nation!

Hagar said...

I think I saw some clips of her leaving after the debate and she was moving slowly and carefully as if old and tired and hurting. Then yesterday morning greeting a crowd somewhere else and she was all bubbly high and twinkly. Wonder what they are shooting into her?

Anonymous said...

"I really don't think they know how these pictures are perceived. When surrounded by sycophants it's hard to ever hear criticism"

This, coming from one of the biggest Trump sychophants in Althousia, hahahahahahaaah!

Wince said...

Don't forget... Pop Song 89

Beavis: “Hey, Butt Head, that chick has small boobs.”

NSFW Bonus: Titties!

Anonymous said...

"Look at her eyes and theink "Pre-Stroke Syndrome""

Look at Trump's behavior and schnurfing and think "coke snorter"".

Brando said...

I don't know about that shoulder thing, but in one way Clinton did better than Trump--she came across happy, even joking a bit, while he looked stern the whole time. Supposedly she is supposed to be the dour, humorless one and he is supposed to be the one enjoying himself. But that didn't come across in the debate--probably because she pushed his buttons and he couldn't rise above it.

If Conway has any sway over her candidate, she'll force him to actually prep, and work on making lighthearted jokes, happy smiles (not that grimace or the thing where the mouth makes a smile but the eyes are glaring) and to brush off Hillary's taunts (like Reagan did with "there you go again").

It's still winnable for Trump, but that debate performance shouldn't be repeated.

tim in vermont said...

Mr.Schnorty McLowbar.

Talks about low bars:

None of these e-mails should have been on any kind of unclassified system, but their presence is especially concerning because all of these e-mails were housed on unclassified personal servers not even supported by full-time security staff, like those found at Departments and Agencies of the U.S. Government—or even with a commercial service like Gmail.

Separately, it is important to say something about the marking of classified information. Only a very small number of the e-mails containing classified information bore markings indicating the presence of classified information. But even if information is not marked “classified” in an e-mail, participants who know or should know that the subject matter is classified are still obligated to protect it.


Except Hillary!

David said...

What she did was cute. Only time I've seen Hillary be cute.

Hagar said...

Kellyanne Conway for some reason reminds me of Dolly Parton.

richard mcenroe said...

Those shimmies were the electronic suppressor she wears to damp down her advanced Parkinson's doing its job. That theory has been advanced by several commenters with Parkinson's in the family.

Another thory is that it is a defibrilator vest for a heart condition, but I've worn one of those and they don't make you shimmy they just drop you like a taser shot (feels kind of like being punched in the sternum from the inside).

Either way, Hillary is way out of warranty.

Wince said...

There may be a reason why Hillary backers would want the video circulated in a clipped gif.

Actually, when you look at the video in large frame, with sound, the shimmy seems to go on too long and is...
tremorous.

richard mcenroe said...

Hagar: Benzedrine! Mother's Little Helper for Big Mother!

Martha said...

Style over substance—there has been minimal analysis of substantive policy differences revealed in the debate.
Instead the talking heads and MSM are gushing about body language and watching the debate with sound off.
WHAT?

Darrell said...

So weird that the shimmy was popular in the 1920s when the flat chest look was fashionable.

Not weird at all. The effect is more noticeable on a small-breasted woman and much more artistic. That's why small breasts rock--always have.

Chuck said...

Just think how far Mrs. Clinton went, from Althouse wanting just the right odds, to bet that Clinton would pull out of the debate, all the way to "insouciant." (Great word, btw.)

Amexpat said...

I think she's trying to be the jovial but wise grandmother (she got grandmother in right away) that's amusingly dispatching Trump's puerile antics.

Hagar said...

Hillary! looked like the "acting cute" performance of a woman who has studied very hard to be an actress, but has no natural talent for it.

Darrell said...

Look at our current Unknown and think "asshole" and "liar."

Can't even use a real name.

Darrell said...

Hillary told us that she applied for Astronaut training. And Hillary told us that she applied for the Marines. That might have been a remnant of her personal training for those positions--burned neural pathways and all.

Known Unknown said...

Actually, when you look at the video in large frame, with sound, the shimmy seems to go on too long and is...
tremorous.


That's what I thought too. It becomes ... odd.

Anonymous said...

@eric "It's such a horrendous picture I'm starting to think Trump has embedded spies in her campaign."

Scott Adams is convinced there is a mole in her campaign who sends the tweets that make you say, "Who thought this was a good idea?" I went to find this one and you're right -- it's horrendously ill-chosen. I love it.

PB said...

She's definitely got that snarky, obnoxious student council president thing going.

Tracy Flick all the way.

Anonymous said...

Do we even know if that was Hillary? Where was the turkey neck? Cheek swabs for all future candidates.

lgv said...

I prefer the Pat Benatar move in "Love is a Battlefield" video.

Daniel Jackson said...

My dog does the same thing when she wants something--anything.

O-la; the implications.

Bilwick said...

Besides preserving what's left of the Second Amendment, one good reason to vote for Trump is that a Trump victory will wipe that smug facial expression off the Dowager Empress' face. What is it with her handlers? Can't Carville or Stephanopolous or someone tell her varying her facial expressions between Queen Smug and "Krazy Eyed Killa" makes Trump look more appealing? Or are they afraid of her?

Known Unknown said...

I'd implore the Professor to watch the longer version and give her take on that.

Bill said...

She's just a little girl from Little Rock!

mikee said...

Hillary copied that shoulder thing from Dolores Umbridge in the Harry Potter movies.

Remember her? You want four years of her?

Earnest Prole said...

Ooooo — That’s a Bingo!

Ann Althouse said...

"'So weird that the shimmy was popular in the 1920s when the flat chest look was fashionable.' Not weird at all. The effect is more noticeable on a small-breasted woman and much more artistic. That's why small breasts rock--always have."

It's called not needing to wear a bra.

Bad Lieutenant said...

People are grooving on this? Imagine Sarah Palin shimmying.

MayBee said...

"People are grooving on this? Imagine Sarah Palin shimmying."

Oh yes! Imagine!

Bad Lieutenant said...

I mean, she'd look great, and I'd enjoy it, but the Hellfire that would rain down on her!

Ctmom4 said...

Not cute. Not fun. Reportedly, there are people who find Hillary warm and funny and charming. She must have some very good dirt on those people.

Michelle Dulak Thomson said...

In a creative writing class when I was just a kid, we read a poem that I still remember every word of, though I can't find it online:

Jimmy's got a goil, goil, goil
Jimmy's got a goil and she certainly can shimmy
If you could see her shake, shake, shake
If you could see her shake a shimmy
How you'd wish that you was Jimmy
Oh for such a gurl, gurl, gurl
Oh for such a gurl to be a fellow's twist-and-twirl
Oh you can take your Salomis
But gimme Jimmy's gal.