Strollerderby : Laura Bush

Photo - Obama Shocked by Schoolkids

Brett Singer — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 14:11:00 GMT

What is the President doing in this photo? Listening to Sasha and Malia's ideas for dog names? Hearing Republican ideas for his stimulus package? Hearing Sasha and Malia's ideas for the stimulus package? Nope. Read on.

The President was surprised by a question from a student during a recent school visit. (Call "shock and awwww.") I imagine that he's just playing around with the kids. At least I hope so. If not, can you imagine what the question would have been?

I know this is unfair, but our current President looks less goofy when he's playing around then George W. Bush did (and does). Then again, he also appears to be less goofy than Dubya. So there's that.

Maybe they should just have Dubya do all the school visits from now on, and let President Obama just, like, work. Bush seems to enjoy it, and he's got time now.

Source

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George W. Bush Visits Texas Elementary School

Brett Singer — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 14:15:00 GMT

This is the age of bipartisanship. So…well…read this.

The former President and his wife Laura dropped by John J. Pershing Elementary School in Dallas. Apparently it really was a "hi, how y'all doing?" type of visit. The former First couple was there for over an hour. It was open house day, according to Kevin Sherrington of the Dallas Morning News.

Here are some highlights:

The Bushes were scheduled to visit three classes, but they ended up popping in on any room with an audience.
Ducking in one room, Bush asked, "Hey kids, do you know who I am?"
Gasps all around, and then someone blurted, "George Washington!"
"That's right!" the visitor said. "George Washington Bush!"

Then:

A little later, at an ESL class, Bush tried introducing himself in Spanish. Only it was a little too West Texas for the Spanish speakers. He tried again. Blank looks. Even held up three fingers. You know, a 'W." Still nothing.
Finally, Pershing's innovative, energetic principal, Margie Hernandez, stepped in with a Spanish introduction.
Ohhhhhhh.
The kids laughed at the confusion. The former president laughed. The principal laughed, out of relief, mostly.

Now, these examples are goofy, which is something that the former President was known for during his eight years in office. (Among other things, of course.) Later in the article, he shows off a different side of himself. One of the kids asked him:

"Why did you come here?"
Bush told the kids he came because he saw signs that welcomed him, and it made him feel good, and he wanted to say thanks. He then made some general observations, none more poignant than the first.
"You can be president," he said. "Can you believe that?"

I mean, look. It's not Barack Obama saying, "you can be president." But I think for the kids who were there to meet him, it was probably a special thing. Right?

Then he got a little goofy again. When asked if he would participate in the Dad's Club Haunted House, he answered with a grin and said, "I'd make a good ghost."

When I was in elementary school, I always thought it would be neat to have a President come and visit. I think it's sort of cool that GWB is still doing that. I mean, I don't agree with any of his major policies, but he was still the President. Heck, I wouldn't have minded meeting Gerald Ford.

See Congress? That's how bipartisanship works. Give me a call, we'll talk.

Source/Image

Fun Stuff To Do When The Kids Get Older

RENT Too Risqué For Some Schools

Kid Forced To Stand In Public Square For Bad Grades

Morning News: 'The Monster' to Head State Department

Madeline Holler — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 14:00:00 GMT

Looks like president-elect Barack Obama will make the big announcement today: Hillary Clinton will officially become a part of his administration as secretary of state. Filling out the other top spots in his national security team are current Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who will remain in the job, and retired Marine General James M. Jones as national security adviser. Susan Rice is expected to be named ambassador to the U.N.

OK, but here's the awkward part:

Remember Samantha Power? She was one of Obama's foreign policy advisers during the campaign -- the one who got busted for calling Hillary Clinton a monster? Well, she's actually a part of the transition team put together to help prepare for Clinton's nomination. Insiders report that she made a big gesture to bury the hatchet and that Clinton received it well. Good. Because we like both of them.

Final thing about the anticipated nomination: Husband Bill jumped through all kinds of hoops to please Obama so that his wife could take the job, including releasing names of donors. Good Bill.

Considering the economy, wars, etc., Obama is said to be working hard to set the right tone for his inauguration Jan. 20th. He has limited the maximum donation amount to $50,000 (typically, it's $250,000). His committee also won't take donations from lobbyists, corporations, political action committees for non-U.S. citizens. And there's been some talk of Michelle opting out of a couture gown for something more pedestrian.

While the Obamas and a packed Washington, D.C., celebrate the new administration, Laura Bush and her husband will be heading back to Dallas. She told Tom Brokaw on Meet the Press yesterday she plans to continue working on behalf of women and children in Afghanistan.

Current Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is heading to India on Wednesday in the wake of the attacks on Mumbai last week. She will offer condolences and also support for the Indian government.

In interesting health news, voters in Switzerland approved a new program that will provide heroin for addicts at clinics around the country. Switzerland has long provided clean needles and designated areas for users to shoot up, but supporters say this next step will cut down on crime and improve the health of heroin junkies.

Photo: JCU.edu

Not Jackie, Hillary or Laura: Michelle Breaks the Mold of Political Wife

Shannon LC Cate — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 13:33:00 GMT

In the wake of the Obamas' visit to the White House, I've been wondering: what kind of First Lady will Michelle Obama be? Ever since Barack announced his candidacy, I have been at least as excited about his wife and daughters as I have been about him.

A big part of this is personal for me, as my own daughters are African American and over the years I have tried to collect images of beautiful Black women and girls to surround mine with affirming imagery of who they are and who they might become. I realize that as a white mother, the difficulty of this task is new for me, while Black mothers are probably used to it, but it's been an eye-opener in spite of my pre-parenting years of study of African American history and culture. There just aren't that many affirming images of Black girls and women out there in the popular culture. Hence my older daughter's first big fan object (at my encouragement, of course) was Gwen Ifill of the Newshour with Jim Leher.

Throughout Obama's run, I would tear up at the thought that little girls who looked like my little girls might become the closest thing the United States has to royalty. Take that all-white Disney princesses crowding the sidewalks at Halloween! And when there's a run on the dresses Sasha and Malia wear to big events, I can be smug in the knowledge that the color will suit my little girls' complexions perfectly, too.

But Michelle, while a wonderful role-model for my girls--smart as a whip, hugely successful in her own career, drop-dead gorgeous and by all accounts a terrific mom--has an interesting task ahead of her. Will she be a Jackie Kennedy? A Hillary Rodham-Clinton? In spite of her claims to Newsweek that she admires Laura Bush, she'll never be Laura Bush. Laura Bush is just too demure, too understated. Michelle Obama is anything but.

Michelle Obama is the first Black First Lady and this is no easy trail to blaze in a world that has a dearth of positive images of Black women. Black women are more commonly demonized in popular culture as sex-crazed and/or oversexualized hip-hop bimbos; as crack addicts; as sexless mammies with bottomless hearts for the children of white employers or white adult friends. Michelle Obama enters this cultural landscape and has already done a lot to blow it away. It can't be even a little bit easy, while she is also busy juggling such an enormous transition for her young children. And even though she assures the press that she has no interest in being Barack's chief adviser, how could she not be? She's simply too smart and accomplished not to weigh in with her opinion. A couple like Barack and Michelle must be discussing current events over their morning caffeine. Why wouldn't they continue to do so, now that Barack has the actual power to change those events?

The fact is, political spouses in this day of "partnership marriage" can't realistically be expected to just stand by while hubby makes world-changing decisions. It's the age of Hillary Clinton, whether or not she's the president-elect. The fact is, she quite possibly might have been. After eight years in the White House, might we look to Michelle Obama for her own run? Some of you might think I'm crazy, but based on what we've seen of her so far, I certainly think the country could do worse.

More Michelle:

Move Over Jackie

Michelle O's Big Decisions

The Obamas Are a Great First Family

Image: michelleobamawatch.com

Political Nanny: Cindy McCain Fakin' Bakin'

Madeline Holler — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 20:31:00 GMT

Cindy McCain has once again been busted for recipe infringement.

Political Nanny brought you the news back in April that the possible future-First-Lady's Ahi Tuna recipe was lifted from the Food Network Web site. Well, her Oatmeal-Butterscotch cookie recipe for Family Circle comes from here:

Hersheys.com. Yikes!

Listen, a cookie's a cookie, right? Unless it has a secret ingredient, we're all probably working off the same few butter/flour/sugar configurations. Who doesn't go online before baking a cookie?

But there is something bigger to consider: how awful is this quadrennial tradition of gathering recipes from the spouses of presidential candidates? For God's sake, rich people don't cook!

Who actually believes that Cindy McCain spends any time in the kitchen? Just look at these BBQ pics (you'll have to do some scrolling) -- she's always sitting around with a red Solo cup. She's a freaking heiress! She doesn't HAVE to cook, and that's OK. But if she concedes that she doesn't cook, well, is that relatable to the GOP base? Well, it should be.

Anyway, does anybody really think Laura Bush cooks? We know Hillary doesn't.

If you're curious, the other candidate's spouses also submitted recipes, but credited them to the family cook (Bill Clinton) and her children's godmother (Michelle Obama).

Bitter, bittersweet cookies.

Photo: HuffPo

Political Nanny: No Cat Fight, But Liz Sheds Some Tears

Madeline Holler — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 21:02:00 GMT

Michelle Obama was guest co-host this morning on ABC's The View. It was her first appearance on the show. The other hosts -- well, those who didn't burst into tears (more on that in a sec.) -- we're visibly thrilled to have her on.

So there was fist bumping, and Matthew Broderick interviewing, and Laura Bush-praising. But, for those with a love/hate thing for Elisabeth Hasselbeck, the show was ultimately disappointing. No meltdowns, no cat fights, no pro-Iraq War diatribes, no talk of the Democratic candidate being "not brilliant."

However, ABC News reports behind the scenes that Hasselbeck cried hard between segments:

At one point during the show's commercial break, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, the most conservative of the co-hosts, burst into tears while talking about how she was about to leave her new baby alone for the first time since his birth.

Sitting on the couch, Obama noticed Hasselbeck was trying to compose herself and asked Sherri Shepherd if she was okay.

Hasselbeck, who supports the Iraq war and spoke at the 2004 Republican Convention, grilled Barack Obama during his appearance in March over his association with Rev. Jeremiah Wright.

During Wednesday's show, Hasselbeck said it was ridiculous for people to anticipate a "girl fight" between herself and Michelle Obama.

"We must be enemies because we disagree politically?" Hasselbeck asked rhetorically.

On the air, Obama said of Hasselbeck: "This girl is solid, she's got great kids, she's funny."

Hasselbeck Thinks Obama 'Not Brilliant'

Hasselbeck's Boobs are Hard

Cindy Says John McCain Doesn't Have a Temper

Obama Tells GOP: Lay Off My Wife

Political Nanny: McCain Goes After Jenna on Her Lack of Support ... Maybe

Madeline Holler — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 21:28:00 GMT

According to this intercepted IM transcript between Jenna Bush and John McCain, the senator is none too happy with Bush's recent appearance on Larry King Live. You'll recall, she was rather reticent regarding unwavering support for John McCain. Looks like Laura got the last word this time.

Political Nanny is having a few doubts as to the authenticity of this exchange. But it's fun to read anyway.

Photo: via worldofwonder.net

Political Nanny: Bush Daughter May Not Vote for McCain

Madeline Holler — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 21:31:00 GMT

First Daughter (for a few months more) Jenna Bush hinted to CNN's Larry King last night that she might not vote for Republican John McCain in November.

On the show with her mother promoting a book the two wrote together, Larry King first asked Laura Bush which of the two Democrats she liked better.

The seasoned politicians wife said "My favorite is the Republican." So savvy.

He turned to the daughter and said he assumed she felt the same way. Here's what she said (from Yeas and Nays):

JENNA BUSH: I don't know.

KING: A-ha! Are you open to...

JENNA BUSH: Yeah, of course. I mean, who isn't open to learning about the candidates and I'm sure that everybody's like that.

So naive! Or is it refreshingly honest! Either way, it feel deliciously heretical. And we're having a hard time imagining a Bush voting for a Clinton, no matter the level of civilized rebellion. She's no superdelegate, but Political Nanny feels fairly certain Jenna's a closet Oba-maniac.

[via Wonkette]

Bush's Plan to Fight Fat in Kids: Play

Karen Murphy — Fri, 02 Feb 2007 22:17:00 GMT

What a novel idea. President Bush said yesterday in a meeting with executives from around the country that one way to combat obesity is to "get people outside" in activities such as "sports or hiking or conservation". (Conservation? Oh, that's right, I forgot, scraping toxic oil-sludge off wet waterfowl is a fun-filled activity for the whole family. Come on, kids! it's our turn to aerate the landfill this week!) But play? Kids? What a concept! Reminds me of the "good old days" when we were all out on the street playing kick-the-can until midnight.

Laura Bush weighed in with this slam on moms, as if they haven't been slapped around in the media enough this week: "Mothers are the ones, a lot of times, who make choices for their children...They make their choices on the foods they eat. They're the ones at home, many times, who encourage their children to exercise." That's right! So not only are we incapable of watching our own children without getting totally plastered, but it's completely our fault that the kids have a BMI that gets notes sent home from their schools because their diet consists solely of Cheetos, Pepsi, Kraft Mac 'n Cheese, and Happy Meals, all consumed while glued to the TV.

Guess how President Bush plans to break the news to kids that they should be out playing instead of watching TV? Of course! Television ads! That's right, coming soon to your TV are clever little commercials "featuring characters from the 'Shrek' animated movies encouraging children to 'Be a Player' and get up and play for an hour a day." Right. Very effective. I can totally see all the kids getting up and turning off that TV after watching ~~such dreck~~ Shrek telling them to.

Also attending the meeting were ~~heads of state~~ representatives from General Mills Inc., Coca-Cola North America, Univision Communications Inc., Kraft Foods Inc., Kellogg Co., PepsiCo Inc., Subway Franchisee Advertising Fund Trust, McDonald's USA and Nickelodeon Television. I guess it's good to know who's in whose pocket.