Dance, Dance, Dance. October 31, 2015 8:44 AM   Subscribe

This Halloween, if you could dress as any past political figure, who would it be?

Happy Halloween MEFI!
posted by clavdivs to MetaFilter-Related at 8:44 AM (110 comments total) 8 users marked this as a favorite

Maximilien Robespierre; he may not have been one of MetaFilter's Own, but he would've made a terriffic fit, n'est-ce pas?
posted by Smart Dalek at 9:01 AM on October 31, 2015 [9 favorites]


The quinotaur what fathered the Merovingian dynasty.
posted by prize bull octorok at 9:03 AM on October 31, 2015 [6 favorites]


Nixon, obviously! With a scythe - for shredding purposes, you understand.
posted by marienbad at 9:13 AM on October 31, 2015 [1 favorite]


Shaka Zulu.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 9:13 AM on October 31, 2015


"Land of Confusion"-style Reagan
posted by knuckle tattoos at 9:14 AM on October 31, 2015 [4 favorites]


Pachakutiq
posted by poffin boffin at 9:32 AM on October 31, 2015 [1 favorite]


Caligula? Fun at parties, but that toga would be cold on a New England night of trick-or-treating.
posted by wenestvedt at 9:39 AM on October 31, 2015 [1 favorite]


Roger Williams.
posted by Bringer Tom at 9:40 AM on October 31, 2015 [2 favorites]


Edgar Allen Bro!
posted by Fizz at 9:41 AM on October 31, 2015 [4 favorites]


...i want to be in the room where it happens, the room where it happens, the room where it happens - IIIIIII WANT TO BE IN THE ROOM WHERE IT HAPPENS
posted by nadawi at 10:15 AM on October 31, 2015 [7 favorites]


Brutus' evil twin.
posted by Namlit at 10:16 AM on October 31, 2015


Mayor McCheese
posted by Eggs Benedict Cumberbatch Kids at 10:18 AM on October 31, 2015 [6 favorites]


Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter
posted by mstokes650 at 10:21 AM on October 31, 2015


Eugene Victor Debs.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 10:23 AM on October 31, 2015 [4 favorites]


IF? Happy Halloween, Hams!
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 10:23 AM on October 31, 2015 [7 favorites]


Well, I've already dressed as Che Guevara, so....
posted by Sara C. at 10:26 AM on October 31, 2015


Mayor Curley (not Mayor Curley)
posted by briank at 10:28 AM on October 31, 2015 [1 favorite]


I dressed as Clara Barton when I was in 3rd grade and I find I'm still comfortable with that choice.
posted by phunniemee at 10:38 AM on October 31, 2015 [3 favorites]


President John Tylor? He was born in 1790, and he has grandchildren who are still alive. Maybe one person could go as Zombie John Tylor, and a friend could go as his grandson, looking totally normal.
posted by SpacemanStix at 10:40 AM on October 31, 2015 [5 favorites]


Ideally, Elizabeth I. Realistically? Bill Clinton in the 70s.
posted by Lorin at 10:48 AM on October 31, 2015


The Emperor in his new clothes
posted by philip-random at 10:48 AM on October 31, 2015 [7 favorites]


President John Tylor? He was born in 1790, and he has grandchildren who are still alive.

WOW. That is incredible.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 10:53 AM on October 31, 2015


tony blair.

wait. what sub is this?
posted by andrewcooke at 11:06 AM on October 31, 2015 [1 favorite]


Haile Selassie I, Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah and King of Kings and Elect of God.
posted by Divine_Wino at 11:07 AM on October 31, 2015 [5 favorites]


The Empress Wu Zetian!

They had rocking clothing in the period.
posted by winna at 11:11 AM on October 31, 2015 [1 favorite]


Gandhi because non violence, love and truth are much needed alternatives for peace.
posted by infini at 11:13 AM on October 31, 2015


I have an invite to a party tonight but it's not expressly a Halloween party so I don't know if I should dress up? Like I'm torn between going in my party suit but with some lavish accessory like a diamond rose pin or just showing up in my robe and saying " my costume is me in my robe it's comfy" .
posted by The Whelk at 11:30 AM on October 31, 2015


Anyway I'd dress as Elegabolus so I could carry around a basket of flowers to smother people with
posted by The Whelk at 11:30 AM on October 31, 2015 [5 favorites]


John Wesley Powell!

if it were a present one I'd dress up as Angela Merkel but as framed by the ermhagerd meme so it says ERMHAGERD! ENGERLER MHERKEL.
posted by barchan at 11:43 AM on October 31, 2015 [21 favorites]


My friend is dressing up as the pig. You know the one.
posted by EndsOfInvention at 11:48 AM on October 31, 2015 [6 favorites]


A skeleton, because it leaves open so many possibilities.
posted by Going To Maine at 11:57 AM on October 31, 2015 [1 favorite]


Boudica!
posted by Ufez Jones at 12:02 PM on October 31, 2015 [6 favorites]


Mayor of the Altered State of Drugachusetts.

I declare this question to be awesome.
posted by mintcake! at 12:25 PM on October 31, 2015 [5 favorites]


Halloween Night was Homecoming my junior year of high school, and I was scheduled to work my new job bussing tables at the fancy restaurant on the other side of town. I quit that shit job from the pay phone in the parking lot, hit up the mall and a Goodwill on the way back to school, and went to the game in a raggedy suit and a Newt Gingrich mask where I proceeded to never once take the mask off, be a total dick to everybody, and have the time of my life.
posted by carsonb at 12:36 PM on October 31, 2015 [5 favorites]


With the right orange wig I could be either Dr. Zaius or Donald Trump.
posted by octobersurprise at 12:52 PM on October 31, 2015 [2 favorites]


In a college production of "A Man For All Seasons", I got to play Cardinal Wolsey, who was Sir Thomas Moore's predecessor as Chancellor to King Henry VIII. Wolsey has one scene, arguing with Moore (and providing some exposition), then is killed offstage . In the movie version, he was portrayed by Orson Welles. So if I can get a decent red robe, I'll be Cardinal Wolsey. If not, Orson Welles.
posted by oneswellfoop at 1:11 PM on October 31, 2015


Évariste Galois, mathematician, anti-monarchist activist, and general bad-ass. His last words were allegedly:
Ne pleure pas, Alfred ! J'ai besoin de tout mon courage pour mourir à vingt ans ! (Don't cry, Alfred! I need all my courage to die at twenty.)
Hard as fuck. (Also, invented Galois theory!)
posted by en forme de poire at 1:46 PM on October 31, 2015 [4 favorites]


A friend and I always talk about going as The Simpsons' "Jury of the Damned," with her as the 1976 Philadelphia Flyers* and me as Richard Nixon (and probably other friends as Lizzie Borden, Benedict Arnold, etc). Someday! Someday I will be that Nixon!

*We have also talked about going as Bobby Clarke (with some fog) and Jim Lorentz (with a bat on his stick) because as it turns out there are a lot of great costumes if the theme is mid-'70s hockey
posted by everybody had matching towels at 1:48 PM on October 31, 2015 [1 favorite]


Louis Riel, obviously
posted by Sternmeyer at 1:50 PM on October 31, 2015 [1 favorite]


My friend is dressing up as the pig. You know the one.

Honestly this is the best potential couple's costume of the century.
posted by poffin boffin at 1:59 PM on October 31, 2015 [13 favorites]


Sexy Leonid Brezhnev
posted by chococat at 2:07 PM on October 31, 2015 [6 favorites]


oneswellfoop, if you go as Wolsey, I'll go as slutty Thomas Cromwell.

My favorite idea for a group costume is to have each person dress up as an accused Kennedy assassin. I dibs Eladio del Valle.
posted by S'Tella Fabula at 2:10 PM on October 31, 2015 [2 favorites]


Margrethe I of Denmark, first of the women rulers of Denmark (Margrethe II is the second, and is currently ruling). Barring that, either Eleanor of Aquitaine or Boudica. Honestly, I just want the clothes and Jewels.
posted by Deoridhe at 2:15 PM on October 31, 2015 [3 favorites]


Rasputin's penis.
posted by Literaryhero at 2:17 PM on October 31, 2015


#1 quidnunc kid!
posted by Harvey Kilobit at 2:36 PM on October 31, 2015 [12 favorites]


Rasputin's penis.


- something tells me that it didn't dance...
posted by Namlit at 2:36 PM on October 31, 2015 [1 favorite]


My friend is dressing up as the pig. You know the one.

Six months ago I would have (I would have assumed it was a Black Mirror reference). Now I can think of two candidates.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 2:40 PM on October 31, 2015


I am the A-L-E-X-A-N-D-E-R ...
posted by ChuraChura at 2:45 PM on October 31, 2015 [5 favorites]


Mary Ellen Pleasant
posted by fuse theorem at 2:58 PM on October 31, 2015


Would Wally George count? I could wear a suit, with the hair, and hang the "USA IS #1" picture around my neck. Scary!
posted by teponaztli at 3:05 PM on October 31, 2015 [1 favorite]


...some would likely go as Clavdivs, obvsl.
posted by Namlit at 3:08 PM on October 31, 2015


It can be scary, right? Then Pim Fortuyn. I'd pick Wilders but that's too scary.
posted by Too-Ticky at 3:18 PM on October 31, 2015 [1 favorite]


Nestor Makhno. If for no other reason than this fly hat.
posted by Aya Hirano on the Astral Plane at 3:30 PM on October 31, 2015 [2 favorites]


Margrethe I of Denmark, first of the women rulers of Denmark (Margrethe II is the second, and is currently ruling).

Huh, I actually came in here to say exactly the same thing. Not just (modern day) Denmark either, Margrethe I ruled over the Kalmar Union, which stretched from Greenland through Finland, including Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. The woman ruled 3 million sq km at a time when women couldn't inherit the throne.

(I did not actually dress up-- rather than dressing up as anything, I simply decided to reenact the sleeping schedule of a vampire.)
posted by nat at 3:51 PM on October 31, 2015 [1 favorite]


David Cameron. Fucking a pig.
posted by stet at 3:52 PM on October 31, 2015


Aaron Burr, sir.
posted by Mavri at 4:16 PM on October 31, 2015 [3 favorites]


I’m John Laurens in the place to be!
Two pints o’ Sam Adams, but I’m workin’ on three, uh!
posted by atropos at 4:19 PM on October 31, 2015 [3 favorites]


Nuclear Gandhi only, you know, a chick. Witness my beautiful culture and multifaceted people! Tremble in the face of my insatiable bloodlust!
posted by Mizu at 4:34 PM on October 31, 2015


Emperor Franz Joseph! Look at that facial hair.
posted by Carillon at 5:27 PM on October 31, 2015 [2 favorites]


Ben Franklin. I have the physique, and I'm getting the hairline.
posted by GenjiandProust at 5:29 PM on October 31, 2015 [3 favorites]


Genghis Khan
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 5:34 PM on October 31, 2015 [1 favorite]


Genghis Khan

Curses, came here to say exactly that.
posted by mordax at 5:39 PM on October 31, 2015 [1 favorite]


Do I even have to say?
posted by Justinian at 5:56 PM on October 31, 2015 [7 favorites]


Deoridhe I came in to say: Eleanor of Aquitaine, so you be Margrethe and we'll rule the world together!!
posted by supermedusa at 6:01 PM on October 31, 2015 [1 favorite]


Justice of the Pekingese Or maybe Anne of Cleves.
posted by jessamyn (retired) at 6:41 PM on October 31, 2015 [2 favorites]


Gilgamesh.
posted by Gygesringtone at 6:50 PM on October 31, 2015


Boudica!
posted by soakimbo at 6:50 PM on October 31, 2015 [1 favorite]


also as always

Sexy Abe Vigoda
posted by poffin boffin at 6:54 PM on October 31, 2015 [2 favorites]


Marie Antoinette in her insane Petit Trianon getup.
posted by mynameisluka at 7:10 PM on October 31, 2015


Do I even have to say?
posted by Justinian


Would you clarify for me? I have it narrowed down to Belisarius or Procopius....
posted by GenjiandProust at 7:34 PM on October 31, 2015 [4 favorites]


Although I am tempted by Edith Wilson, I am going to plunk for Livia. She got stuff done.
posted by julen at 7:44 PM on October 31, 2015 [1 favorite]


Weird Al of course! (My nephew in the shot)
posted by cnanderson at 7:54 PM on October 31, 2015


Eugene V. Debsutante
posted by Joseph Gurl at 8:07 PM on October 31, 2015


We don't know any of their names, but we know a bit about how they dressed. I'll come dressed to be seated in the megaron at Knossos.
posted by littlewater at 8:09 PM on October 31, 2015 [2 favorites]


Screaming Lord Sutch.
posted by arcticseal at 8:37 PM on October 31, 2015 [1 favorite]


America's favorite Fighting Frenchman!
posted by corb at 8:40 PM on October 31, 2015 [3 favorites]


I'm impressed that there are two other Boudicas before me.

I'll also add Grace O'Malley or Victoria Woodhull.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:44 PM on October 31, 2015 [2 favorites]


Queen Elizabeth I of England. The farthingale! The pearls! The wig! The lace! The crown! What's not to love!
posted by Lynsey at 8:56 PM on October 31, 2015 [1 favorite]


AND PEGGY
posted by nadawi at 9:11 PM on October 31, 2015 [3 favorites]


King Tut.
posted by SisterHavana at 9:12 PM on October 31, 2015


Hatshepsut! WOMAN KING, YEAH.
posted by yasaman at 10:20 PM on October 31, 2015


Emporer Norton.
posted by klangklangston at 11:23 PM on October 31, 2015 [7 favorites]


this year for Halloween my costume became surprisingly political despite my going as a mischievous shit. I took my own Ask advice and dressed up with with little foam circles painted as little coins of different kinds, only instead of washington's little side dog* and jefferson's fuckin' side face all smirken and shit I used symbols of global warming like the hockey stick graph and oil rigs so that when people asked I could say, "I'm the scariest thing I can think of: climate change." I wore this costume to an energy executive's party, my friends, because I'm a little stinker.

Then I had a lot to drink, obviously.

*have you ever noticed that washington's side profile is less like a profile and more like his neck is actually the side of a little dog with washington's head a la mars attacks sara jessica parker?
posted by barchan at 11:51 PM on October 31, 2015 [7 favorites]


ok so I totally ganked the pig idea tonite, because I had pink construction paper and no costume, but only 2 ppl got it despite my construction paper valentine from David Cameron :( :( :(

also i taped a janky construction paper pig nose to my face with gift tape which i guess is different from regular scotch tape? anyway peeling it off i now have a few regrets
posted by en forme de poire at 1:39 AM on November 1, 2015 [3 favorites]


Maybe Sir Ian Holm's drunk Napoleon in Time Bandits?
posted by plinth at 6:15 AM on November 1, 2015 [1 favorite]


Donald Trump. In the hopes he is indeed a "past political figure." (Plus there are a lot of good wigs!)
posted by chavenet at 6:17 AM on November 1, 2015


Thaddeus Kosciuszko. Played a key role in the American victory at the Battle of Saratoga. Designed and helped to build the (then critical) fortifications at West Point. Fought against the British in the southern colonies. Fought against a Russian invasion of Poland. Tried to convince Thomas Jefferson to free his slaves. Advocated for Polish serf freedom and education.
posted by A dead Quaker at 6:42 AM on November 1, 2015 [1 favorite]


en forme de poire, I guarantee you are not the only one having halloween regrets this morning
posted by barchan at 8:32 AM on November 1, 2015 [2 favorites]


I made a bet with myself that Nixon would show up no earlier than 10th, and he was 3rd!

I also find it very disturbing that anyone else on this site would be aware of Rasputin's penis.
posted by jamjam at 9:08 AM on November 1, 2015


Vladimir Nabokov. No, not this one, silly: this one.
posted by languagehat at 9:11 AM on November 1, 2015 [1 favorite]


Autocorrect
posted by y2karl at 10:36 AM on November 1, 2015


GeroniMoe.
posted by Oyéah at 10:57 AM on November 1, 2015


Myself
posted by jonmc at 1:38 PM on November 1, 2015


Caligula?

Incitatus.
posted by homunculus at 4:03 PM on November 1, 2015


quonsar the magnificent
posted by quonsar II: smock fishpants and the temple of foon at 7:26 PM on November 1, 2015 [2 favorites]


Queen Elizabeth I of England. The farthingale! The pearls! The wig! The lace! The crown! What's not to love!

That is a getup that looks highly flammable.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 6:00 AM on November 2, 2015 [1 favorite]


A friend and I always talk about going as The Simpsons' "Jury of the Damned," with her as the 1976 Philadelphia Flyers* and me as Richard Nixon (and probably other friends as Lizzie Borden, Benedict Arnold, etc). Someday! Someday I will be that Nixon!

*We have also talked about going as Bobby Clarke (with some fog) and Jim Lorentz (with a bat on his stick) because as it turns out there are a lot of great costumes if the theme is mid-'70s hockey
posted by everybody had matching towels at 4:48 PM on October 31 [+] [!]


If Lizzie Borden isn't taken I am claiming her now.
posted by Mrs. Pterodactyl at 6:01 AM on November 2, 2015


Lord Richard Buckley.
posted by ardgedee at 6:36 AM on November 2, 2015


Dull clothing, but she freaking rocks, so--Frances Perkins, first female U.S. Cabinet member.

(Also, I would do this partially because I was denied the chance to do it in high school, when we put on "Annie" and the director didn't know that "Francis Perkins" (misspelled in the script) was actually Frances, and female, and cast a male along with the other suits. I told him he was wrong but he wouldn't change it (probably because he didn't want to be called out on being wrong). I wanted to sing "Tomorrow" with the FDR cabinet, dammit.)
posted by dlugoczaj at 7:41 AM on November 2, 2015 [1 favorite]


Ann Richards.
posted by Sophie1 at 7:43 AM on November 2, 2015


"Bathhouse" John Coughlin
posted by burden at 7:48 AM on November 2, 2015


chavenet: Donald Trump. In the hopes he is indeed a "past political figure."

I got a spooky phone call on Halloween: "Hi, I'm Gladis Somethingorother, and I'm calling from Patriots for Trump..." I hung up, hoping the call wasn't coming from inside the house.

Anyway, I'd go as the Glam Lord, ruler of the Glam Castle. I'm not sure if he's really political, or but he'd be fun at a political party. (Hyuk hyuk.)

That, or Hercules Mulligan, gifted with a badass name and blarney.
posted by filthy light thief at 8:27 AM on November 2, 2015 [2 favorites]


I was Ross Perot for Halloween in 7th grade. Easy costume.
posted by the_blizz at 8:40 AM on November 2, 2015


Best political Halloween costume ever? Going as Ginger Crab of the Jam Wrestling Party.
posted by octobersurprise at 8:52 AM on November 2, 2015 [1 favorite]


I went as "Donald Rumpsfeld" in 2001, using balloons to make my butt huge. This year, however, it was Harry from DHMIS.
posted by grumpybear69 at 10:29 AM on November 2, 2015


Filthy light thief, it doesn't count if you don't sing it.
posted by corb at 11:36 AM on November 2, 2015


There is only one answer to this question -- specifically, involving eyeglasses. And that is Sexy Ben Franklin.

posted by St. Hubbins at 1:41 PM on November 2, 2015 [3 favorites]


there were a couple Donald Trumps at this year's Dog costume contest in my local park. this one was my favorite.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 1:50 PM on November 2, 2015 [1 favorite]


I was Lagertha this year, which I think is arguably a past ruling historical figure. If she doesn't count, then I'd go for Cate Blanchett-style Elizabeth I.
posted by tautological at 2:21 PM on November 2, 2015


Since it was 80 degrees for the past two days but cold on Halloween it decided on Nicholas Jourdan of from the 'Day(s) of the Market women' fame.
posted by clavdivs at 9:23 PM on November 5, 2015 [1 favorite]


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