I'm glad I didn't elect to write on the subject of Senator Kerry's "Fins" tie prior to today.

Because, to be perfectly honest, I never liked it all that much. I just don't think it photographs particularly well.

For a Vineyard Vines tie, it strikes me as a bit of a weak effort. The choice to make the sharks, their fins, and a multitude of splashes all the same color has made this a very difficult tie to identify, even in the Senator wears it with stunning regularity. I once even postulated that it was both orange and new - a HUGELY embarrassing mistake for someone with my eye for cartoonish animal prints. And there have been times I wondered if the shark was some kind of bird emerging from a cloud. So there's a real lack of clarity in the design.

Having seen the Fins tie in person (at eye level, yet, thanks to my annoying half-pint-ery), I can't say I blame the Senator for liking to wear it. The little sharks are awfully cute, as you can see from a close-up of the print. And there is a certain alpha-male-iness about the Great White that does make it an appealing choice for a politican - especially a politician who has to pretty much kick elephant ass around the clock to advance even the tiniest bits of his noble, country-saving agenda.

So I won't make an argument against Fins, as it suits the Senator well enough. It's not unflattering, and it's not a tie showing some unfashionable animal like a conch or a three-toed sloth or something. And I can hardly debate the quality of a design that I'm pretty sure JK's wearing in our sidebar.

I will, however, warn you, that if you see the Senator wearing this tie, you will have to pay close attention, because, to reiterate, the sharks are pretty small. Notice how they are little more than confetti in the first picture above, in which the Senator appears on Egyptian TV.

If you see the Senator on Egyptian TV, you are even more of a hardcore Kerryfan than I, and should maybe think about getting a life.

But not until you tell me every single thing he said, or, better yet, have provided me with and English translation I can transcribe and plaster all over the internet.

As the year draws to a close, it is important to remember that John Kerry's tie wardrobe is not infinite. Let's all cross our fingers and hope he gets a new one for Christmas so that Tie Day may celebrated again and again.

Better yet, let's hope the Vineyard Vines spring line is totally cute. Who wouldn't love to see JK sporting, say, some giraffes, or maybe even some clownfish, next year in the chamber?

Until then, let's remember to peace out and Kerry On!