Althouse: Why does Valerie Jarrett have a picture of herself with figurines of bowing men in front of it in her office?

July 1, 2014

Why does Valerie Jarrett have a picture of herself with figurines of bowing men in front of it in her office?

Caught on "Meet the Press" camera.

Drudge is linking to that, at Buzzfeed.

I would guess that it was one of those office gifts that you keep on display to show you have a sense of humor. I'd rate it more self-deprecating than grandiose. If you really think you're a goddess you don't keep dopey junk like that around.

Unless you're hiding your goddesshood under a pretense of not thinking you're all that.

So many layers!

Watch the whole video at the link. She seems to like to think she's the equivalent of Karl Rove.

67 comments:

Russ said...: Imagine the inverse of this: a male republican with a picture frame of women bowing to a picture of him.

And then ask how well "it's a gag gift" would fly as an excuse.; 7/1/14, 12:57 PM
FleetUSA said...: Yes, a gag gift with a point to it. The giver thought it made the point that she wants to be obeyed - not respected or loved.; 7/1/14, 12:58 PM
Witness said...: "She seems to like to think she's the equivalent of Karl Rove."

So definitely a goddess complex then.; 7/1/14, 1:01 PM
The Drill SGT said...: I'm more interested in her Twitter handle.

Valerie Jarrett@vj44

Obama is POTUS 44.

Jarrett seems to think she is the First Lady I guess. Or the Kingmaker...; 7/1/14, 1:01 PM
Goddess of the Classroom said...: If you really think you're a goddess you don't keep dopey junk like that around.

Unless you're hiding your goddesshood under a pretense of not thinking you're all that.

Oh, noes! You've seen through me!; 7/1/14, 1:08 PM
The Crack Emcee said...: "Why does Valerie Jarrett have a picture of herself with figurines of bowing men in front of it in her office?"

For the same reason I've made figurines of bleeding, Beyonce'-worshipping white men, being whipped to within an inch of their lives, on an alter of bullets and stolen money:

I've got self-esteem issues,….; 7/1/14, 1:10 PM
Goody said...: I don't particularly like her, but I give her a pass on this. My wife has the same frame given to her (as here) as a gag gift.; 7/1/14, 1:23 PM
n.n said...: I am goddess... with a low self-esteem... hear me roar!; 7/1/14, 1:24 PM
Anonymous said...: Rove looks better in a dress.; 7/1/14, 1:25 PM
MayBee said...: She doesn't get 1/4 the scrutiny Karl Rove got. She needs more.; 7/1/14, 1:37 PM
CWJ said...: I initially read that as bowling men. Somehow that seemed funnier.

As for the reality. Knowing how she came to have such a thing would tell us a lot more about its significance than merely guessing.; 7/1/14, 1:39 PM
MD Greene said...: Classy.; 7/1/14, 1:40 PM
Larry J said...: Witness said...
"She seems to like to think she's the equivalent of Karl Rove."

So, she thinks she's an asshole? I tend to agree.; 7/1/14, 1:41 PM
Lucien said...: Has anyone dared to give her a broomstick "as a gag gift"?; 7/1/14, 1:41 PM
Gahrie said...: I've got self-esteem issues,….

Yes..it seems you have too much of it.; 7/1/14, 1:47 PM
Big Mike said...: She seems to like to think she's the equivalent of Karl Rove.

She ain't.; 7/1/14, 1:49 PM
George M. Spencer said...: "To keep yourself from letting the egomaniac get to you emotionally, you can use this little trick to put a little psychological distance between you and the egomaniac. On issues that won't make a difference if the egomaniac gets her way, think about the egomaniac as a pet or animal of some kind. What animal does she most remind you of? Does her long neck remind you of a giraffe? Then in your head you can think to yourself, "How do I want to deal with Valerie the giraffe today?" What do I need to do to soothe her ego? Try not to smile too much lest your new pet egomaniac ask you what you're smiling about."; 7/1/14, 1:50 PM
Michael said...: I thought the little altar/picture scene was great. A sense of humor. Always appreciated.; 7/1/14, 1:54 PM
Tank said...: Crap.

Crack made me laugh.; 7/1/14, 2:00 PM
SomeoneHasToSayIt said...: As one of the key people who helped inflict Obama on the nation, she deserves only contempt.; 7/1/14, 2:01 PM
traditionalguy said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 7/1/14, 2:02 PM
Strelnikov said...: Two comments:

(1) it's a joke; and (2) she's about 150 lbs. short of Rove Equivalency.; 7/1/14, 2:09 PM
Hagar said...: More like the Obama camp's fantasies about Karl Rove. It's kind of like the Wizard of Oz; the real man behind the curtain is not all that scary.

So, may be it's fantasy meets fantasy?; 7/1/14, 2:09 PM
Unknown said...: @ The Drill Sgt..
"Jarrett seems to think she is the first lady I guess. Or the Kingmaker..."

...or Obama's vj; 7/1/14, 2:14 PM
Heyooyeh said...: @ck1938

Is that necessary? On what planet do you contribute anything to anybody with a comment like that.

I thought these comments were moderated. Why would that be approved?; 7/1/14, 2:21 PM
Anonymous said...: Forget about the figures.

Why does someone have a picture of themselves in their office? We did speak about being proud the other day, didn't we?

I have pictures in my office. I've got my children and my wife and even my dogs. But hell if I want a picture of myself staring back at me.

Seems kind of creepy to have a picture of yourself in your office.; 7/1/14, 2:21 PM
theribbonguy said...: "For the same reason I've made figurines of bleeding, Beyonce'-worshipping white men, being whipped to within an inch of their lives, on an alter of bullets and stolen money"

The "seriously fucked up" is strong with this one.

WTF Crack, I have been reading this blog for many years now, and once upon a time you were interesting now and again. I can't pinpoint the time you went into full on "Black Power..Kill Whitey" mode, but seriously WTF happened to that melanin rich head of yours.; 7/1/14, 2:21 PM
Bob Ellison said...: She is the equivalent of Karl Rove, on many levels.; 7/1/14, 2:23 PM
theribbonguy said...: P.S.

Ann, why do you put up with his blatant racist B.S. ?

I'm pretty sure if I were to go off half as hard as Crack, in the opposite direction, my post would never see the light of day.; 7/1/14, 2:25 PM
madAsHell said...: Another empty ‎résumé.; 7/1/14, 2:27 PM
285exp said...: And Obama joked that he was going to have the IRS audit his enemies. Aren't they funny?; 7/1/14, 2:44 PM
Martha said...: So Valerie thinks she is the equivalent of Karl Rove....does that make her Obama's brain?; 7/1/14, 2:53 PM
Moose said...: Kinda dumb.; 7/1/14, 3:21 PM
mccullough said...: She's more Rasputin than Rove; 7/1/14, 3:22 PM
George M. Spencer said...: Eric has an outstanding point...who in the world would keep a picture of themselves in their office!; 7/1/14, 3:38 PM
richard mcenroe said...: Ah, yes, self-deprecating, good-humored slumlords. The world is full of them.; 7/1/14, 3:48 PM
David said...: Valerie Jarret is the new Baby Jesus.; 7/1/14, 4:55 PM
Curious George said...: One of the dudes bowing is Obama.; 7/1/14, 4:57 PM
Mark said...: I wonder if, in ten years time, the Obama sycophants will be blaming Jarrett for the failure of The One's presidency?

Nah, after 8 years in charge, somehow all the mistakes made since 2008 will still have been Bush's fault.; 7/1/14, 5:01 PM
David said...: I just looked at the screen grab of Jarrett and the men.

Those men are not bowing. They have been shot in the back.; 7/1/14, 5:02 PM
David said...: Perhaps Valerie could look into the facts behind this story from AP today:

Two reports from the Health and Human Services inspector general marked the first independent look at a festering behind-the-scenes issue that could turn into another health law headache for the White House.

The inspector general found that key personal details submitted by many consumers — such as annual income and citizenship — do not match records the government has on file.

It also found shortcomings in the internal safeguards used by the federal insurance exchange and some state marketplaces to check the accuracy of consumer information.

Those personal details are critical because they determine whether an individual is eligible for taxpayer-subsidized health insurance, as well as subsidies for monthly premiums.; 7/1/14, 5:16 PM
Diogenes of Sinope said...: If a white male republican had a picture frame of black women bowing to a picture of him the cries of outrage would be unending and deafening. He would be driven out of his job.; 7/1/14, 5:23 PM
SteveR said...: However much she is, or thinks she's, a Karl Rove, the reality is that she's Obama's main adviser and besides getting elected (twice), he's been a pretty lousy president. She's got nothing.; 7/1/14, 5:25 PM
lemondog said...: What's the problem? It’s just 3 white guys.

An observation.....the photo to the left appears to be from Richard M Daley.; 7/1/14, 5:30 PM
Drago said...: Thank goodness there is at least 1 thread where crack can dive in "black" first, so to speak.

For awhile I was afraid it was all going to be high-falutin white person/latin-speak related to judicial rulings and legislative analysis.

That kind of deeper than normal endeavor "ain't for crack", no sirreebob.

But then, lo and behold, our prayers were answered when the Jarrett thread popped up.

Not a moment too soon.; 7/1/14, 5:39 PM
Mary Beth said...: Us strong women don't need worship

Us don't.; 7/1/14, 5:41 PM
Heartless Aztec said...: Dom & Subs; 7/1/14, 6:44 PM
Titus said...: we totally hate her; 7/1/14, 6:58 PM
lemondog said...: Eric has an outstanding point...who in the world would keep a picture of themselves in their office!

Speculating that the frame was purchased, the picture inserted and given to her.; 7/1/14, 7:13 PM
FullMoon said...: theribbonguy said...

P.S.

Ann, why do you put up with his blatant racist B.S. ?

I'm pretty sure if I were to go off half as hard as Crack, in the opposite direction, my post would never see the light of day.
Yeah, ask Shouting Thomas how it worked out for him being politically incorrect.; 7/1/14, 7:23 PM
Guildofcannonballs said...: Ha. Reminds me of August Derleth.

Not that the overeducated would consider.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/August_Derleth; 7/1/14, 7:47 PM
Guildofcannonballs said...: Shadow of Night (1943)

Indeed.

Indeed.

Until the f*&%%%*( Four Tops come up wit "Standing in the Shadows of Love."

All over.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oSYhNVaHwY&feature=kp; 7/1/14, 7:49 PM
Beorn said...: @Mary Beth
Us don't.

Um, maybe us do!; 7/1/14, 8:35 PM
Guildofcannonballs said...: A well-formed thought born of remiss.; 7/1/14, 9:55 PM
The Cracker Emcee Refulgent said...: "For the same reason I've made figurines of bleeding, Beyonce'-worshipping white men, being whipped to within an inch of their lives, on an alter of bullets and stolen money:"

Really? Do you have any for sale? I'd put one of those on my desk in a heartbeat.; 7/1/14, 10:28 PM
Guildofcannonballs said...: The most important concept is your teaching Buckley.

That you are not, nor me.

So my existence is a null.

Set or whatever.

Oh, Fuck.; 7/1/14, 10:32 PM
Gahrie said...: Speculating that the frame was purchased, the picture inserted and given to her.

..and then she was forced to put it on her desk in her office and keep it there at the point of a gun.

Look...it is a funny joke. I get it. There is nothing wrong with that. But I don't know if I like what I think it means about her personality that she has it on her office desk.; 7/1/14, 10:54 PM
SomeoneHasToSayIt said...: The Crack Emcee said...
For the same reason I've made figurines of bleeding, Beyonce'-worshipping white men, . . .

Beyonce' is a classless slut doing significant harm to impressionable young women.

So there's that.; 7/2/14, 5:40 AM
George M. Spencer said...: It's just more trashy behavior from a white-trash administration. A classless president who jokes about crack cocaine in his desserts. A seething wife who publicly reprimands him.

Of course, "The Godfather I and II" are his favorite movies. Why? Because they're about family! And the savagery beneath!

Below from a hard-hitting Katie Couric interview:

"Oh, I think it would have to be the Godfather. One and two... I love that movie.... Love--love those movies. I--you know--so many of them. I think my favorite has to be --you know, the opening scene of the first Godfather where, you know, the opening scene of the first Godfather where the caretaker [Ed.: mortician} comes in and, you know, Marlon Brando is sitting there and he's saying "you disrespected me. You know and now you want a favor." You know it sets the tone for the whole movie. Now there--..... I mean there's this combination of old world gentility and you know, ritual with this savagery underneath. It's all about family. So it's a great movie."

What a weird answer. Family? Corleone is a vengeful vampire whose decisions lead to the complete destruction of his family and misery for his community.

Earlier in the interview Couric asked him if it was okay to lie to the people:

"I don't think it's appropriate to lie to the American people. I mean--you can--you can put together a hypothetical where--there is a national security emergency that is imminent....And I think that one of the things I want to change about the culture of Washington is, not just the big lie, but also the soft lie. The fudging, the manipulation, the spin. If we can restore a sense of trust between the American people and the government, we're going to go a long way to changing the country for the better."

People actually believed that crap, even though he says "The Godfather" is his favorite movie. God help us.; 7/2/14, 6:46 AM
Gahrie said...: If a man had a similar frame, with women bowing to him, on his desk at work...how long do you think it would take for someone to file a hostile workplace evironment complaint?; 7/2/14, 7:46 AM
chillblaine said...: I think Stalin had the same frame.; 7/2/14, 8:10 AM
exhelodrvr1 said...: It's very probably a joke; the real problem is how differently the media would have treated this had it been a Republican. And even worse is that conservatives have been put in the position of having to analyze things in that context.; 7/2/14, 8:51 AM
The Crack Emcee said...: exhelodrvr1,

"Even worse is that conservatives have been put in the position of having to analyze things in that context."

And, even worse, this is what passes for news,….; 7/2/14, 9:25 AM
Known Unknown said...: an alter of bullets and stolen money

It's altar, Crack.

Of course, that's the white man's spelling. Yours may differ.; 7/2/14, 12:27 PM
David said...: I thought gag gifts had leather straps and a little black ball that the straps hold in your mouth. Oh Valerie.; 7/2/14, 12:34 PM
David said...: I would like to know who gave her the gift.; 7/2/14, 12:35 PM
David said...: MayBee said...
She doesn't get 1/4 the scrutiny Karl Rove got. She needs more.

She doesn't seek the same exposure and publicity that Rove did. She's very good at staying in the background. Allowing this photo out might cause her to reinforce that approach, but I doubt she really cares what people think.; 7/2/14, 12:38 PM