America's Next First Lady

Maureen on Michelle

2007-04-30T18:44:00.000-07:00

Maureen Dowd is at it again.
From the NYT via theunknowncandidate:

"Usually, I love the dynamics of a cheeky woman puncturing the ego of a cocky guy.

I liked it in ’40s movies, and I liked it with Katie Couric and Bryant Gumbel, and Cybill Shepherd and Bruce Willis in “Moonlighting.”

So why don’t I like it with Michelle and Barack?"

Well how about it's because you don't like much of anything?

Or maybe it's o.k. when the "cheeky woman" is White?

Or perhaps it's because you secretly lust after Senator Bahm Bahm - like millions of other women across America - and can't stand to have the fantasy punctured?

All of the above?

Go somewhere and sit down.

Barbara Richardson Rings Bells for Victims

2007-04-22T21:20:00.000-07:00

New Mexico's First Lady, and most human of all the possible next first ladies, leads her state in an expression of sorrow for and solidarity with the people of Virginia after some crazed killer took the lives of 32 innocent people.

From krqe.com

"First lady Barbara Richardson said holding a service like this and ringing bells across the state is one way people can feel a connection to Virginia and the rest of the country.

“I think it's very important we do have this expression of support for those families and also to let the nation know we care,” Richardson said.

She also said connecting like this as a country helps in the healing of people who have had tragedies in their own lives. "

The Trib Bows Down to Barack's Better Half

2007-04-22T21:07:00.000-07:00

From the Chicago Tribune

'But Michelle Obama, 43, has a reputation for telling it like she thinks it is -- whether about the butter, her husband's ongoing effort to quit smoking or his political priorities. And though she's lighthearted in her critiques, she never plays the role of the deferential political wife.

"He's a gifted man," she tells the audience, "but, in the end, he's just a man."

The fact that the crowd responds with laughter and a long, warm ovation is a good sign for the Obama team.

One of its most formidable tasks, after all, is to win over Democratic-leaning women tempted to help make Sen. Hillary Clinton the first woman president, and Michelle Obama figures prominently in the promotion strategy. She's a charismatic public speaker, an accomplished professional whose life as a working parent looks familiar to all kinds of women.

More than just a spokeswoman, she's a crucial part of the Obama package itself, complementing and shaping her husband in ways that are politically and personally significant."

Michelle's Getting Good

2007-04-19T08:00:00.000-07:00

Oh Christ Judi, What Next?

2007-04-16T20:26:00.000-07:00

You know, as much as Judith Guliani gets on my nerves - I wouldn't wish this on anybody. One of her yappy ex-boyfriends is going on and on about how this woman (who is now a another man's wife - a man running for president no less) was basically the best he ever had.
Gross. Judi should have had Rudy's people hunt this dic@head down and make him sign some kind of post-relationship privacy agreement. Instead he's a-blabbing to the New York Post:

Theirs was a relationship that spanned five special years. They shared dinners, theater and a love of New York. And in his first in-depth interview, Judith Giuliani's ex-boyfriend tells how he believes passionately that she will be a terrific asset to her husband Rudy's presidential campaign - and a wonderful First Lady.

"Her heart is in all the right places in terms of doing good. She is well-trained for this kind of job if it ever happens," said Manos Zacharioudakis, who lived with the then-Judith Nathan for four years between husbands No. 2 and No. 3.

Eight years later, the clinical psychologist still waxes poetic about the woman he once loved and said former Mayor Rudy Giuliani, the GOP front-runner, is in capable hands."

It gets worse.

"She is a sensual person; she is a passionate person. She has that Italian eroticism and passion," said Zacharioudakis, when reached at his office in Volos, Greece, where he is in private practice."

Ew.

More on Michelle Obama's Money

2007-04-16T20:19:00.000-07:00

Yep. The financial colonoscopy continues.
From Lynn Sweet of the Chicago Sun-Times:

"White House hopeful Sen. Barack Obama and his wife Michelle reported $991,296 in income in 2006, boosted by a $506,618 payout in advances and royalties for his books, according to returns released by his campaign on Monday.
The Obamas have four main sources of income:
*Obama’s Senate salary of $157,082.
*Book income of $506,618. Obama’s second book, “The Audacity of Hope,” was released last fall and soared to the best seller lists.
*Michelle Obama’s payment of $273,618 from the University of Chicago Hospitals. She will get paid less in 2007 because she cut back on her job because of the campaign. She made more in 2005 because of a signing bonus from the U of C given when she was promoted to vice president of community and external affairs in January, 2005, just as Obama was sworn in as senator.
Tax returns from last year showed her total compensation in 2005 went from $122,000 to $317,000, though the higher figure includes a one-time pension payout and the bonus.
*Michelle Obama’s payment of $51,200 from TreeHouse Foods, where she has been on the board of directors since June, 2005.
Interest income totaled $4,590 in interest with $1,188 from dividends."

Bill Takes Hill to Regroup

2007-04-07T07:55:00.000-07:00

You'd need a vacation too if you had raised a record 26 million dollars in campaign funds in ONE quarter - only to learn a few days later that Michelle and Barack are breathing down your necks with 25 million.
Team Obama is beating the bushes for any and all contributions. And the spin is excellent: that his funds come from more donors, so they are more grass-rooty and therefore cleaner and a better indication of his popularity.
It clearly shook Camp Hillary to its core, and the principals are taking some time in D.R. to try to get it together. As a former president and possibly America's Next First Lady, Bill is probably telling Hill to keep her chin up - and remember he can raise stupid amounts of money in a matter of minutes.
How?
Consider this from worldmagazine.com

"What would motivate 45 health enthusiasts to dish out $2,300 apiece for 30 minutes on a stationary bicycle at a trendy health club? Two words: Bill Clinton. The former president showed up late last month at Soul Cycle, a new fitness center in New York City's upper west side, to raise cash for his wife's financially fit presidential campaign.

Strolling through rows of bicycles in a suit and tie, Clinton shook hands and shared personal anecdotes about Hillary Clinton, while raking in an easy hundred grand. The small crowd, mostly women, usually pays $25 for a spin class, but said Clinton's appearance was worth the extra dough. "People love him," one woman told ABC News. "People love him more than Hillary."

Mrs. Obama to Univ. of Chicago: 'I'm Outta Here'

2007-04-07T06:38:00.000-07:00

Uhhhhh. Ya think?
Let's see. Stay in Chicago to go to boring meetings about how to math over-achieving little snots with volunteer programs they don't really care about but need to have on their resumes....
Or hit the campaign trail to play a central role in one of the most exciting presidential elections in decades.
Yeah, I think it's safe to say Michelle Obama will be putting her career on hold.

Oh and ABC News - we get it. SHES TALL. You don't have to keep describing her as if she's the jolly green giant. Makes you wonder - what kind of dwarf Sunlen Miller is.

Who's the Boss?

2007-04-07T06:22:00.000-07:00

Ah the age old question.
Mary Sanchez of McClatchy Newspapers says America is not ready for a female president. The proof? She says just look at the backlash heaped upon the Giulianis after Rudy suggested Judi could sit in on Cabinet meetings (that is if she could squeeze them in between "freshenings").
I disagree Ms. Sanchez. I think the reaction is to Dame Judi. Just as I think some of the extreme reactions against Hillary - are because she's HILLARY and all that implies. I think different women in both situations might be received differently.
I do however agree with your assessment on this:

"So, when you cast a presidential vote, know that you're also signing on for the candidate's better half. Look closely at Michelle Obama, Cindy McCain, Ann Romney, Elizabeth Edwards, Jill Biden, Mary Brownback, Barbara Richardson and the rest of the wives whose husbands are vying for the White House.

Look closely at our old friend Bill, too. His famous charisma will be necessary to counter the harsh image his other half has duly earned. If President Hillary ever becomes a reality, it will be in no small part because people were actually voting for her spouse."

Yep, this race is all about "America's Next First Lady"

The Anti-Judi

2007-04-05T15:53:00.000-07:00

In true seasoned politician style Mrs. John Edwards takes advantage of the Judi Giuliani-lash and sets herself up as the antithesis of the woman America is becoming truly sick of.
When Rudy said if he made it to the White House wife number three would sit in on Cabinet meetings - Lizzy responded

"I wouldn't be attending cabinet meetings. Honestly, I have a lot that — You know, I think you get a great big megaphone and you get to talk about things you care about, and I hope I'd be busy doing that and mothering my adorable children as opposed to sitting in Cabinet meetings."

Ouch.
Love it.

See Giuliani - If You Had Listened to Me...

2007-04-03T19:58:00.001-07:00

when I told you to shut Judi up, you wouldn't be putting out pleas like this to CBS News

"Attack me all you want. There's plenty to attack me about. Please do it. But maybe, you know, show a little decency."

--Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani, asking the media to back off from scrutiny of his wife Judith Nathan Giuliani. Writes WCBS-TV New York's Lou Young: "That's a tough sell for a man who suggested he might invite his wife into cabinet meetings."

And more bad press found at keyetv.com

"The fuss started when Mrs. Giuliani confirmed she had been married three times. It was previously believed that the former Judith Nathan had been married twice.

"Something I will share with you is that ... Rudy and I have both been married three times," Nathan, 52, told the New York Post.

Subsequently, Giuliani said that if elected, he'd be open to his wife attending Cabinet meetings on issues in which she's interested.

In an interview with Barbara Walters on ABC News' "20/20," Giuliani and his wife answered questions about the six marriages between them and whether she was the "other woman" who caused the breakup of his second marriage to TV personality Donna Hanover.

The Post and the New York Daily News gave prominent play to the marriage and cabinet stories. The Post followed up with a story under the headline, "JUDI'S JOB WITH PUP-KILLER FIRM."

The newspaper reported that that Mrs. Giuliani, a nurse, had worked for a medical supply company that used dogs to demonstrate the use of medical staplers."

The Ladies Finally Get a Little Love

2007-04-02T18:24:00.000-07:00

From the New York Daily News:

"Marriage has become a major subtext of the 2008 campaign.

The revelation of a third husband by Judith Giuliani was a first for a presidential campaign, but even before the Giuliani surprise the candidates' spouses were attracting attention.

For one thing, there's a famous former President auditioning to go back to the White House as First Gentleman.

Indeed, all three of the top Democrats have charismatic lawyer spouses at least as popular as they are. It's generally not hard to find people at a Clinton, Obama or Edwards event who wish Bill, Michelle or Elizabeth were on the ticket.

On the GOP side, marriage is a touchier issue."

(more)

And from CBS

"The extraordinary travel and time demands on presidential candidates make it impossible for spouses to stay on the sidelines.

"The increasing length of time that these national campaigns are running under now, and the concentration of these early primary states for nomination, the spouses are just critical to the campaign," said Sarah Brewer of American University's Women & Politics Institute.

Michelle Obama – at first apprehensive – is winning over audiences. Anne Romney kept a low profile when Mitt Romney was governor of Massachusetts, but not anymore, despite her Multiple Sclerosis. And Cindy McCain is along for a ride on Senator John McCain's Straight Talk Express much earlier than she was in 2000.

"Now, there she is sitting next to him – grinning from ear to ear, hair perfect, looking adoring," Mehren said."

Obama Bashes Bush - Gets His Grip and Grin On

2007-03-30T14:54:00.000-07:00

While making the campaign rounds in Tallahassee, Fla. Sen. Bahm Bahm lashed out at George Bush - saying the current Attorney General scandal show's Georgie-Boy's disrespect for the constitution.
Agreed.
But er um Barack sweetie you're showing a healthy disrespect for married man rule number 311. Don't be looking so damn smiley-smiley, and genuinely pleased to be posing with some cute state representative down in Florida - when your wife and possibly America's Next First Lady is back home in Chicago up to her a!@ in whiny little girls and dance recitals and PTA meetings. Photo ops like these are what the fake smiles are for.
Got it?
Good.

Oh No Not Again

2007-03-29T20:38:00.000-07:00

Oh good lord jesus.
Will this woman never shut up?
Now Judith Giuliani, in her infinite wisdom, is having a little prime time chat with the crypt keeper a.k.a. Barbara Walters. Other ancient New York hags like the Post's Cindy Adams are kissing much Giuliani a!#... making Judi and Rudy believe the public wants to hear about their relationship.
Wrong.
And all that talk about the third Mrs. Giuliani sitting in on White House cabinet meetings if hubby is elected?
Sigh.
Judi does not play well in the Red states. Have you guys forgotten you're trying to get the Republican nomination?

Cindy McCain Back on the Bus

2007-03-19T21:04:00.000-07:00

screenshot from abcnews.com Even the fantabulous Cindy McCain can't seem to breathe new life into this old concept. But she dutifully boarded The Straight Talk Express dos this weekend and rumbled around some well-trod primary ground. The bus, a hold-over from 2000, has been spruced up for round two.. but so far it is failing to generate the excitement of the last campaign.
Senator John did however manage to get in a dig-what-dig? shot at the competition. McCain said: "It's the same McCain, the same Straight Talk, the same, frankly, people with me, same wife."
Uh-huh, unlike that ho-monger Rudy Giuliani who is on spouse numero tres. But you know what McCains? Guiliani, Judith and all, is leading you in the polls.
Your mission Cindy - have his people come up with an idea better than the bus.

Judi "The Deal Killer" Giuliani Strikes Again

2007-03-16T22:37:00.000-07:00

Obviously my advice to Mrs. Rudy G. to SIT HER ASS DOWN has gone unheeded.
So guess what happened?
The media dumped another s!@#load of criticsim after her bizarre introduction of her husband at a recent fund raiser in New York.

The New York Sun called her intro "arguably problematic".
At the New York Times political blog "The Caucus" - the reader responses to Miss Judi were overwhelmingly negative.
Andrew Sullivan called her "Rudy's Judi Problem".
The New York Post painted her as a laughing stock.

Oh and Judes, - it's "This means so much to Rudy and me" not "Rudy and I". Not that you should ever get the chance to speak again.

bill bashes back

2007-03-16T22:35:00.000-07:00

Potential Next First Lady Bill Clinton's campaign appearances with his wife the senator may be few and far between - but don't think he isn't pulling those levers behind the curtain. The New York Post reports on how he took on the Times this week while raising another gazillion dollars for Camp Hillary.

"He said his wife wasn't getting a fair shake from the Times," said Curtis Sliwa, the WABC Radio host, who was there as a guest. ("I'm a Rudy guy," Sliwa explained.)

"Clinton said the Times is attacking Hillary because she won't apologize for her vote on the war in Iraq," Sliwa said. "The Times has always been super supportive. It's the equivalent of Rudy Giuliani attacking The New York Post."

Oh and don't let the chummy photo of Barack, Bill and Hill in Selma a couple of weeks ago fool you either. Big Willie is trying to deflect criticism about Hillary's war stance(s) - and force the Times to take on Obama.

"Clinton focused on the fact that three years ago - shortly after Barack Obama burst onto the world stage with his speech at the Democratic National Convention where John Kerry was nominated - Obama was asked how he would have voted on the Iraq war if he'd been in Congress at that time.

"And Obama said, 'I'm not sure,' " Sliwa recalled. "Clinton said the Times has a duty to report on Obama's initial ambivalence."

Ouch.
Michelle? Your turn.

Meet Michelle Obama's New Chief of Staff

2007-03-12T21:54:00.000-07:00

Little did she know when Eric Appleman visited her for one of his Democracy in Action pieces in 2003 - that she would eventually end up near the center of the hottest Presidential campaign in decades.
Melissa Winter, who worked for Senator Joe Lieberman for 10 years, is now Michelle Obama's right hand woman.

She probably also didn't know that some poorly lit snapshot from a random day at the office would end up being e-mailed around the internet four years later...or that some blogger with no life would end up poking around in her expense reports and giggling about how she probably spent that 1,700 bucks worth of tax payer money during that weekend in pre-Katrina New Orleans.

Laissez le bon temps rouler!

Michelle Obama Has Paid Her Dues

2007-03-12T20:52:00.000-07:00

The Left End of the Dial blog has dug up this shot of Michelle Obama trying to choke down some rubber chicken - while her then state senator hubby lays the ground work for an eventual run for 1600.

Barack: 'Hmmmm. I wonder how much campaign cash I can squeeze out of...oh s!@#. 'Did a flash just go off? O.K. stay focused. Note to self - have assistant get me two seats at another one of these godawful dinners with Chicago's Jewish movers and shakers to counter inevitable Obama loves Arabs hates Jews headlines.'

Michelle: 'Why is this fool trying to take my picture when he sees I've got my mouth - oh wait - maybe if I move behind this carnation...'

Michelle Takes Manhattan

2007-03-11T17:10:00.000-07:00

In New York - 1010 wins shows the Obamas' strategy was in full effect with Mrs. O playing the role of grounded partner to reassure the adoring masses that she will never let Bahm-Bahm believe the hype.

From AP:

"Senator Barack Obama was welcomed by an enthusiastic crowd at a fundraiser in New York today.
But the person who had the audience laughing the hardest was his wife, who decided to air some dirty laundry.

Michelle Obama told roaring audience members she sometimes wishes she could live with the same character she sees on T-V. She called that man "Barack Obama the phenomenon."

She said the Barack Obama at her house has trouble putting his socks with the dirty clothes. And he doesn't do a better job than their five-year-old daughter at making his bed.

But the senator's wife tried to depict her husband as more good-guy than politician.

She said he is sincere and authentic -- not manufactured.

The event at Manhattan's Grand Hyatt Hotel was one of the Democrat's first major presidential fundraising forays into New York City."

Good New York hair, make up, and suit by the way - sophisticated without being boring. Bonus.

Babs Richardson Still Under Radar

2007-03-08T11:00:00.000-08:00

I swear Barabara Richardson. If you show up at ONE more groundbreaking for yet another worthy cause - and all you get out of it is a mention in the Daily Lobo - I'm gonna strangle somebody.
Get out there girl!

Judith "The Deal Killer" Giuliani

2007-03-08T10:24:00.000-08:00

From TIME.com:

Richard Land, the Southern Baptists' ambassador to the very earthly kingdom of politics and policy (his official title is President of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, the nation's largest Protestant Denomination) is a diplomat and an affable character, so when he speaks plainly the words carry weight. And his salvos launched at Republican frontrunner Rudy Giuliani were the warning shots in the evangelical primary: who has the strongest claim to the hearts and minds of the GOP base?

That's right. The Southern Baptists' Big Kahuna has spoken on the Giulianis' hoedom. And it's not good:

"You can't win just with white evangelicals" Land says, "but without them you face a loss of apocalyptic proportions." And that's the bad news for Rudy. "The vast majority of those people will not vote for Rudy. The three marriages is a deal killer."

Oh what to do. What to do?
OK - we'll have to re-think this but here's a start. Judi...KEEP YOUR ASS AT HOME. Republicans like Rudy, and they really want to give him a pass on that whole thrice married, pro-abortion, cross-dressing, estranged children thing. But they can't if he's constantly throwing his latest wife in their faces. If Rudy's there - you can be for damed sure Judi is too ...grabbing on as tight as she can - loving the limelight and tounging him down on the cover of the Post.
You want a shot at the East Wing? Confine yourself to the Upper East Side for the rest of the election.

Michelle Obama Headed to NY

2007-03-08T10:06:00.000-08:00

Move over Beyonce the real chief chick is coming to town and New York Business.com says the city can't wait.

The presidential contender’s $100-a-head fundraiser, being held this Fridaynight in Manhattan, sold out so quickly that his campaign moved it to a larger venue, the Grand Hyatt New York’s Empire State Ballroom. Tickets sales were resumed, with a new deadline of Thursday. The campaign had stopped selling tickets last week, but requests continued to roll in.

Typically, a fundraiser for a prominent candidate who appears in person would carry a minimum ticket price of far more than $100. Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, for example, has an event at the Sheraton New York Hotel & Towers on Wednesday, March 14, with a buy-in of $2,300—the most an individual can legally contribute.

But candidates will occasionally schedule low-dollar events, intended to attract and cultivate a large number of younger donors. In December 2005, Sen. Hillary Clinton sold $50 tickets to a fundraiser at Crobar on West 28th Street that both she and her husband, former President Bill Clinton, attended. Predictably, the place was a madhouse.

Mr. Obama and his wife Michelle may find a similar scene at the Grand Hyatt in midtown Friday. The event was originally to be held at The Grand, 41 East 58th St. His campaign would not divulge how many tickets have been sold.

Hairy Situation for Edwards

2007-03-07T13:38:00.000-08:00

Elizabeth honey, If you want people to stop thinking of your husband as the "Breck Girl" you're gonna have to do something with your own hair. How could his not look like shiny product-ed perfection next to this?

Paging Michelle Obama

2007-03-07T12:06:00.000-08:00

Sheh-Shell.
Sigh.
Come get ya man.

The New York Daily News reports that this went down at one of those down low rich people only fund raisers Barack has been holding sans spouse:

"He spoke for about 20 minutes, never mentioning Hillary Clinton," one guest tells us. "He was very impressive. People formed a circle around him. He shook everybody's hand and asked what they did."

One lady needed no introduction. Feasting his eyes on Beyoncé, the candidate said: "I never do this, but can I ask for your autograph?" The admiration seemed mutual as they posed for a photo. "I want a copy of that picture!" said Obama.

Naturally, he was also cordial to her boyfriend, Jay-Z, who laid his money down despite having had dinner a few nights earlier with Bill Clinton."

Naturally...as any playuh-playuh would be. When Senator Bahm-Bahm was in the pulpit in Selma on Sunday he sent a shout out to his lovely wife who was holding down the home front and taking care of the kids. He should have done the same while all hugged-up with Bey...and it's those very same kids that should have been the (very loudly) expressed reason why he was asking for some sexy 20-something singer's autograph (whether the kids wanted it or not).

Presidents have groupies - they are not groupies themselves. Learn it.

Yeah, a lot of people will say it was cute that his tongue was hanging all out. But you know who won't? Black women. They are still trying to decide whether he gets a pass or not anyway- and he will definitely be denied if they even think he has eyes for anyone other than Michelle.

Mrs. O - whether your husband was trying to get his JFK/Marilyn on or just clowning around...make him stop it. It could do more harm than good.