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And now for something a little different

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Illinois

* Oof…

The Hill reports an Illinois representative was spotted at the Capitol wearing attire fit for dancing to “Disco Inferno.”

Quoting a “spy,” the newspaper reported Rep. Timothy Johnson (R-Ill.) was walking through the Speaker’s Lobby recently in “a bright ruby-red shirt with large lapels unbuttoned to the chest, a black blazer, black trousers and a thick gold chain with charms. One observer remarked that he resembled an extra in the movie ‘Saturday Night Fever.’”

I remember the congressman from his Statehouse days. He never had a disco look. “Up all night and haven’t changed clothes” look, yes. Disco, no.

* Johnson angrily denied he was dressed as a disco boy…

“I don’t know even what a disco outfit is,” he said. “This is so insulting to me.”

He lived in Champaign-Urbana in the 1970s and doesn’t know what a disco outfit is? Really?

* The climbdown…

Told that his feedback would be included in this item, Johnson’s sharp tone changed and he started to have fun with it.

“Maybe this is a compliment,” Johnson said. “For someone to think that a 61-year-old still goes to a disco, it’s the greatest compliment to me.”

Ah, the power of the press.

* The explanation…

[Johnson said] his shirt seemed open, because he probably loosened his tie around his neck upon returning from the airport, the shirt is a dress shirt and the chain is a religious symbol with charms of a cross, fish and WWJD (What Would Jesus Do?).

* Just curious, but did the shirt look anything like this?…

Just can’t stop
When my spark gets hot

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Jun 5, 08 @ 12:12 pm

Comments

What about some of Ricky Hendon’s outfits??!!

Comment by Bi-Partisan Thursday, Jun 5, 08 @ 12:43 pm
Yeah. That would’ve been a good addition to the post, but I’ve looked for pics of his red and blue suits before and was unsuccessful.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jun 5, 08 @ 12:48 pm
Tim Johnson is a strange strange man

Comment by Touchdown Rejus Thursday, Jun 5, 08 @ 12:56 pm
Isn’t this the same guy that interns used to mistake for a homeless guy when he walked into “Play It Again Sams?”

Comment by 312 Thursday, Jun 5, 08 @ 1:07 pm
Just when you long for the good ol days in Springfield, something like this comes along and reminds you of exactly who was here and you’re glad it’s all over.

Comment by Michelle Flaherty Thursday, Jun 5, 08 @ 1:12 pm
It was a needless insult and an elitist fashion statement from a “reporter” with nothing else to report.

Comment by VanillaMan Thursday, Jun 5, 08 @ 1:20 pm
Nothing will ever top the classic style and taste of the Illinois GOP delegation’s orange blazers at the national convention.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Jun 5, 08 @ 1:22 pm
Johnson must know something about disco to say it involves drugs…… it’s like thunder (pow) lightnin’…the way you serve us is frightnin’

Comment by Vote Quimby! Thursday, Jun 5, 08 @ 1:57 pm
Rich-

Can you find any pictures of Ken Gray during his days in Congress? He was a leader in Congressional fashion statements.

Comment by Old Shepherd Thursday, Jun 5, 08 @ 1:58 pm
Wordslinger, those were prison jumpsuits, not blazers.

Comment by Frank Booth Thursday, Jun 5, 08 @ 2:18 pm
Know who used to be dapper was ex-rep Oral Jake Jacobs. White pants, white dress shirt, pastel jackets (and ties). He could pull it off.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jun 5, 08 @ 3:00 pm
I miss Paul Simons bow ties.

Comment by Ghost Thursday, Jun 5, 08 @ 3:36 pm
I didnt know Emil was a member of the Tramps?

Comment by Speaking At Will Thursday, Jun 5, 08 @ 4:03 pm
check out Ricky’s Senate Dem bio page his suit is out of control

Comment by Quacktastic Thursday, Jun 5, 08 @ 4:07 pm
Here’s the link to the suit referenced in the comment above

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jun 5, 08 @ 4:15 pm
Anyone remember Herb Husky’s green leisure suits?

Comment by Shelbyville Thursday, Jun 5, 08 @ 5:02 pm
Word, those beautiful waffleweave blazers that contained nary a stitch of natural fiber were foisted upon the delegates by Pate Philip, whose wife Nancy sold this tacky crap, ah make that, custom-made campaign mechandise and apparel. Paired up with the orange 10 gallon cowboy hats from the preceding convention, the Lou-Do blazer was a crowd pleaser at any Halloween party or Illini event.

AA actually was given one of each by a delegate who wouldn’t have been caught dead in either. Lost the hat to a water event in my basement in the 90s. As for the blazer, made the mistake of loaning it out to a nitwit friend who backed into a candle at a party, with fatal consequences for the blazer. He said it went up like a Christmas tree in April.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Thursday, Jun 5, 08 @ 5:05 pm
Old Shepherd, with Kenny Gray, I don’t know what was worse - the suits, the hair, or the shoes.

Comment by Little Egypt Thursday, Jun 5, 08 @ 7:16 pm
The hair

Comment by Just the Facts Thursday, Jun 5, 08 @ 7:53 pm
Loved the song. All Hendon needs is a fur hat with a feather. Talk about Rev. Ike.

Comment by Disgusted Thursday, Jun 5, 08 @ 9:50 pm
Geeez? Slow news day at both the “Hill” & apparently “Capitol Fax”. Tim’s eccentric to be sure but not worthy of that kind of story.

Comment by annon Thursday, Jun 5, 08 @ 11:18 pm