Posted on 10/03/2024 11:52:34 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican
Beards are seemingly ubiquitous in pop culture and public life. From sports stars to country singers to Hollywood actors, facial hair has made a noticeable comeback in recent years — except in politics.
It’s been more than a century since a sitting president or vice president sported a beard, and nearly 80 years since a candidate for the White House had any facial hair whatsoever. Even in Congress, those with beards remain few and far between.
Enter Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance. The Ohio politician’s full beard is so novel on a presidential ticket that it’s been the subject of a disproportionate amount of the chatter surrounding his selection.
Pundits had speculated as to whether it would ultimately be a deal-breaker for Donald Trump, whose well-known aversion to facial hair reportedly doomed some potential picks for his first-term Cabinet. Trump’s preferences mirror the long-standing societal stereotypes, which is part of why most pols have avoided facial hair in recent decades:
For most of the 20th century in the United States, beards were seen as unprofessional and unhygienic. More recent research has shown that voters perceive facial hair as deeply masculine, which can come with both positive connotations (like competence) and negative ones (like aggression and less support of feminist issues).
(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...
I definitely feel that way about dudes with mustaches.
Except JD’s bulbous baby face looks worse when shaved.
Men under 40 in my family are all sporting beards.
That’s more like a dirty used toilet bowl brush.
In Central NU (Upstate) there were a number of men who sported breads.
Here in NH, it is VERY common. But most of them are not kept as neat as Vance’s.
Vance wears his bread VERY well. It helps when you’re handsome anyways, but also, he keep it very neat and has a very tidy haircut as well.
If the biggest criticism of his appearance is him having a bread, well, it speaks very well of him.
Between that and his professional, unflappable demeanor, it looks like Trump has picked a VP that makes him far more assassination resistant. I suspect the left would be pooping themselves over the thought of a Vance presidency.
The beard absolutely just him a look of more maturity.
I like his appearance MUCH better with it than without.
Those eyes..... Wow.
I’m 80....lol...
Hey, I’m not far behind you but can still appreciate a nice view.
I just don’t tell my kids...
Beard? Oh, they are referring to facial hair, not a “beard” like Michelle is rumored to be for Barry Obama.
Beards are uniquely male. There are numerous religious and spiritual sects that regard beards as a sign of virtue. Maintaining a beard is actually pretty complex. My wife jokes that I spend more time maintaining my beard than she does her hair. There’s a fine line between coiffed and chaotic.
I believe shaving is actually lazy. It’s quick and most men can do it in the car on the way to work with an electric razor. Like Vance, I look like I’m 12 when I’m fully shaved, so I’ve sported some facial hair since I was in high school. I’m glad social norms are shifting.
You are correct. THIS woman loves beards. And, the testosterone just oozes out of Vance. I’m on the other side of the world, and almost 70, but I think he’s HOT! THUDDDD!!!
Oh, this is a very good thread! My knees are quivering!
The beardless JD reminds me of someone I don’t like or respect, but I can’t quite place who it is. The beard is definitely an improvement.
It’s an issue to Dem’s, because all the bearded “women” who are on their side no longer have Barnum and Bailey jobs......
Wheat or rye?
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