Dancing Queen by Martha Thomases – Brilliant Disguise | @MDWorld
July 28, 2012 Martha Thomases 8 Comments
Mitt Romney is out of the country this week, trying to impress us with his international statesmanship. His first stop is London, where the 2012 Olympics are being held. He may wish to remind us of one of his professional so-called triumphs, running the 2002 Winter Olympics.
(And where he did this because it’s always all about Mitt. If he’s elected, I bet he puts himself on our currency.)
So far, it’s not going so great for him. The rowdy (and rather right-wing) British press, the Conservative government, and former Olympic athletes have all been offended by his antics.
There is another reason the Romneys are in London. On Thursday, August 2, his wife Ann’s horse, Rafalca, competes in the dressage events. Dressage is a sport in which horses essentially dance, or perform what, for horses, would be gymnastic events.
Romney seems to know that this looks bad, as one can see here and here.
Ann first got involved in the sport as therapy for her MS, and, according to a recent interview, changed her life. As the linked article reports:
“You know the horses have been my therapy,” she said on ABC’s “Good Morning America” on July 19. “They’ve been my joy. They’re my passion in life. I wish everyone had a passion like I have this passion.”
More power to her. I am happy that she was able to find something that helped her control her symptoms. I know that therapy animals make a huge difference in the lives of people with a variety of medical conditions. My cat makes my life much less lonely, so I am able to be a more productive citizen who contributes to the economy and my community.
The difference between the Romneys and the rest of us is that we don’t get to take enormous tax write-offs for our animals. They are our therapy, our companions, and that’s as far as it goes. I don’t even know how I would invest $77,000 on my animal, much less lose it.
That’s a lot of catnip.
Media Goddess Martha Thomases would like to see a cat Olympics.
Mike Gold
July 28, 2012 - 11:25 am
Her horses might be her therapy, but the $77,000 tax saving was certainly Mitt’s therapy — at the very least. Rich Republicans hate paying taxes. They think their hard-earned money is being taken from them and given to indolent bums. They’d rather it be spent on their horses.
Ah, for the days of the guillotine! Dressagist pigs!
As for your cat — who I call Harvey, for obvious reasons — I’m sure she’d LOVE to get her claws on $77,000 worth of catnip. Even at Manhattan street prices…
Pennie
July 28, 2012 - 1:36 pm
Martha, I know we had this discussion early thiis morning but in the hopes that it bears repeating, last night’s opening take on world history as seen through Danny Boyle’s take on a uniquely focused British Empire was a pretty clear demonstration of class distinctions with the everpresent ruling class in various costume changes marching around the fields of plenty and smokestacks erecting to life around them as thousands of smudged workers were birthed out of the large holes falling into lockstep drudgery immediately. All of this overseen by that most royal personage herself. Where’s Freddy Mercury when we really needed him?
In this backdrop, as opening festivities would point to, is the American Royal Pretender to the Throne, his MIttnes and wife so out of place with their dressage interest? When I close my eyes (and lately there has been more than my share of that) what is the one sport that I passionately need to see–Dressage?
Really?
If any of you answer that question positively, I welcome you to the 21st Century, not the 18th.
On the other hand, when Mittsy gets erected, dressage might be cumpolsory for kindergartners.
Russ Rogers
July 28, 2012 - 5:03 pm
This was Mitt Romney’s biggest Olympic Gaffe, possibly his biggest gaffe in the campaign! In reference to the sport of Dressage, where his wife Ann owns a horse that is competing, Romney said this:
“I have to tell you, this is Ann’s sport. I’m not even sure which day the sport goes on. She will get the chance to see it, I will not be watching the event. I hope her horse does well.”
I don’t care what appearing near a million dollar horse in a poncy sport of the upper-class does to his image or chance to with the Presidency. If you are at the Olympics, if your WIFE is in any way competing, you see the event and cheer her on. You might not look like a rich snob, but you will definitely look like a douche-canoe-husband if you don’t support your wife at the Olympics.
Seriously, I don’t begrudge Mitt being rich or owning a fancy-pantsy dancey horse. But a man should appear supportive of his wife’s endeavors, even if she has very little chance of winning, just like Ann is of Romney.
Mike Gold
July 28, 2012 - 8:47 pm
How did the horse get there? Did they tie it to the roof of the airplane?
Pennie
July 29, 2012 - 5:27 am
Russ, I get your point about supporting one’s beloved, particularly in public. But, don’t you think this is just one more chiming example of the clear cut differences in the candidates?
Cut it rich/poor; upper/middle (or lower); middle ground to liberal/conservative (or far right); among all the other obvious distinctions. Sure, I have an admitted bias: as a queer woman, while I have hardly agreed with many of Obama’s policies and stances (or lack thereof), under Romney, none of the positives would have occurred. In fact, there would most likely have been reversals.
So, I thank Martha for pointing out this latest illustration leading to what will surely not be a dressage event but a horse race in the fall. May the best (dark) horse win.
Pennie
July 29, 2012 - 5:32 am
Mike, silly guy…the horse came in on his own chartered Lear. Probably flew the thing. Went to Dressage Horse Pilot Training run by The Flying Burrito Brothers. Tried to sing with them but was horse.
Jonathan (the other one)
July 29, 2012 - 9:22 am
Of course he was horse – he was still getting over a terrible colt. At least, that was the mane issue he was saddled with.
Pennie
July 29, 2012 - 10:01 am
Romney’s running-mate: Mr. Ed.
Campaign manager: My Friend Flicka.