The Manbag: Washington's Most Authoritative Accessory (SLIDESHOW)

D.C.'s politicos are always on the move, but how do they transport their prized possessions? With Washington's hottest accessory: the manbag. Call it what you will -- murse (man + purse), European carryall, gadget bag, tote or backpack -- but don't deny it: manbags serve an indispensable purpose in every society.

From briefcases to gym bags and from Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel to Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, take a handy hint from the Obama administration. Check out these staffers' style and tell us whether you love it or think they should leave it at home.

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The Obama Bag

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Vote and Share Choose Your Top 5 Leave it at home! Love it! Now Make Your Own Top 5 And Share with Your Friends RANK: AVERAGE:  OUT OF 10 President Barack Obama rarely totes his own items, but here's a rare moment with his soft leather briefcase.

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Comments

[NoSillyName]

Oh, please. I'm tired of all these stupid invented names for things.

Now this is a "manbag"; last year they were calling ia "murse". ugh.

The latest stupid new word heard this past week is.... "tweenorexia" As if "tween" wasn't bad enough; now there's a special word for tweens with anorexia.

Oh, so clever.

[SamKnause]

Reminds me of an episode on Friends when Joey had a man bag. If you have things you need during the course of the day, you need something to put them in, and carry them with you. It's not a purse. They look stylish and very useful, I imagine that is the purpose of a man bag.

[NoSillyName]

And a woman bag.

[apolloguide]

I just drag the "old bag" around wherever I go.

[Yves Papa]

What about the the bro?

[HekmabaJuzimax]

So that's where they put the football. Adjusted for Bush Hyperinflation, it's now a medicine ball.

[Paxhope]

Don Juan taught Carlos Castenada never to carry such a bag in his hands... to use a knapsack. Habitually carrying something like that in your hands seems certain to invite bad trips.

[marleysghost]

Gimme a break! This is round two. This idea floated a while ago. That was before personal computers. Now if you have a computer, you need a bag to carry it around in. Even longer ago, they just called them briefcases, but we have since evolved in nomenclature.

[mykebee]

Something just 'taint right about all this bag talk.

[mykebee]

None of them bags have as much character as my bag.

[Bontempo]

A man has got to carry his stuff!

[David Valenta]

And sometimes it's just luggage.

[Coconike]

har de har har har!

[goodinuf]

I call mine a purse.

[mergina]

The Manbag? Heheheheh!

[RRonin]

I've toted a messenger bag to work every day I bought at Eddie Bauer about 15 years ago. It's better than a back pack, which I toted to work before the messenger bag. The backpack could only be carried comfortably if I slung it over both shoulders, I usually ended up carrying it by one hand and it could be heavy with a thermos of coffee, a book and my lunch. The messenger bag works much better.

[johnkalel]

"manbag". Bah.

Backpack. More versatile, more durable, more capacious than any "manbag".

I've used several since the (duh!) Seventies.

[mykebee]

Yup...nothing completes the Brooks Brothers look as a backpack can. Zippers everywhere....room for your camelback water supply....Camo print if you can find it.