You aren't gonna' like this...WHO will handle First Lady's Ceremonial Duties for Hillary/Michelle?

[KoKo]

If she wins? And, if Obama wins, should Michelle be expected to choose the "ornaments and decorations" for the White House during Holidays? Conduct the "Easter Egg Roll?" ...select the China and Flower Arrangements for the State Dinners for Visiting Dignitaries?

Would either Hillary or Michelle want to deal with that?

Isn't it better to "Contract it all Out? That would be an interesting true break from the past. Hire "HDTV Decorators" and the "Food Channel" to supervise it all?

Could this be the NEW AMERICA where Spouses of Presidents no longer have to "do that stuff..that's really old for the 21st Century.

So...who get's your vote for the Contractor? "HDTV & Food Channel" or another group...maybe an insider Beltway Group who is already used to handling this? After all it doesn't take a "rocket scientist" to pull off a BIG EVENT...END THE DRUDGERY! CONTRACT IT ALL OUT!

I think it would be a big relief to all concerned... :shrug: I know it seems "trivial" but theres a long standing TRADITION in the way a President Conducts the White House and all the Ceremony and and activities that go "below the radar" that the First Lady usually has to handle.

BTW: For History Buff's, there's a great WIKI showing all the former First Ladies and their Stand In's...Photo's and Bio's (ignore the Coin Stuff)...here, SCROLL DOWN AT.....
-------------
First Ladies of the United States

The following women have been recognized by The National First Ladies' Library as "First Lady".

Also listed is the First Spouse Program coin designs. Only spouses are honored with coins and those Presidents without a spouse (indicated below with "None") are honored with a "liberty coin" instead. The one exception is for President Arthur who will have Alice Paul honored instead of with a "liberty coin".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Lady_of_the_United_States


EDITED: for better subject line and typo's.

[FrenchieCat]

1. I don't think I'm going to worry about Bill right now......

[ray of light]

2. Why not just let Bill wear those blue dresses he's so fond of...

[emilyg]

3. The First Laddie.

[fed_up_mother]

4. You know...some traditions are worth keeping

The first lady has a whole team helping with the Christmas decorations. It's not like she has to do much work. She signs off on the theme, and the work is delegated to others.

I would imagine that Michelle would want something very special to signify that we will have children in the White House. Just imagine how sweet that would be!

And if Hillary is president, the whole thing could still be more of a family affair. I don't think Bill would be relegated to the job. I can easily picture Hillary and Chelsea doing it together.

[KoKo]

But how will Hillary have time...and Chesea has her own job and future to deal with...

:shrug: Don't see how that could work. MSM would crawl all over the PRESIDENT picking out Christmas Tree Ornaments and "Why doesn't Chelsea have a LIFE? Just saying...

[fed_up_mother]

12. Have you ever seen a program about Christmas dec'ing in the White House?

The first lady signs off on the theme, and shows up for an hour or two to show off the White House once it's decorated. I have no doubt that Hillary could find an hour or two to do that - with Chelsea, maybe. (It's not like she doesn't already have eight years experience doing it. hehe) Really, all that stuff is being made NOW for this Christmas, and I can assure you that Laura is not supervising the work. There's full time workers doing that stuff. It's pretty amazing. There's even a certain gentleman who has been in charge of selecting the main tree for the front lawn for years. He travels around the country to pick just the right tree. (I think pics are sent in, and he personally goes to see the Christmas tree finalists.)

[Vinca]

5. I can see Michelle as First Lady. There's nothing wrong with the ceremonial

duties - you just can't use them as "experience" when you're running for president. I imagine the Obamas would bring the same excitement to the White House that the Kennedys brought.

[KoKo]

7. Michelle had to give up her law career to do this crap?

:shrug: Haven't we moved beyond forcing "First Ladies" to do this kind of thing? Who bothers with that stuff, anymore in a way that can't be Contracted Out to perfectly reliable "Personal Assistants?"

[Vinca]

9. I guess I'm old fashioned. I think it would be a privilege.

You can be a lawyer any old day of the week.

[fed_up_mother]

15. It comes with the territory. Do you really think a first lady will be presenting

cases in district court? It's just not going to happen.

Michelle is a very intelligent woman who will easily use the "platform" of first lady for whichever causes she wishes to promote.

[AllentownJake]

6. There are no official duties

First Lady" is not an elected position, carries no official duties, and receives no salary. Nonetheless, she attends many official ceremonies and functions of state either along with, or in place of, the President. There is a strong tradition against the First Lady holding outside employment while occupying the office <3>. The first lady frequently participates in humanitarian and charitable work; over the course of the 20th century it became increasingly common for first ladies to select specific causes to promote, usually ones that are not politically divisive. It is common for the first lady to hire a staff to support these activities. Additionally, many have taken an active role in campaigning for the President with whom they are associated. Hillary Rodham Clinton took the role one step further when she was, for a time, given a formal job in the Clinton administration to develop reforms to the health care system.

If the United States were to have a female President, it is commonly presumed that the husband of a female President would act as an analogous "First Gentleman". This was the situation portrayed in the fictitious television series Commander In Chief, in which President Mackenzie Allen's husband Rod Calloway was titled as "First Gentleman", but President Allen's mother ultimately joined the First Family and acted as the official hostess at the White House

[40ozDonkey]

8. Blackwater can do the Easter gig, they'll need the work.

I think they may have the spare men available to handle the subtle camouflage and application of Improvised Egg Devices, as that's about the only government contract they'll be getting from '09 on.

[KoKo]

13. OMG! The Image that conjures up.....bunch of Rambo Op's in Black with Big Guns...out there

rolling eggs for little kids after deplaneing their Black Helicopters all to some Navy Band playing Military Anthems... :eyes:

[Rose Siding]

10. They always have staff

No worries.

[Cleita]

11. I remember there being raised eyebrows when Howard

Dean was running for President about his wife who was a doctor with her own practice. She actually chose not to campaign with Howard and seemed unwilling to move into the White House with him should he have become President. I think maybe in the future the role of "First Lady" may have to become a cabinet position. Maybe the incoming President can appoint Martha Stewart, Roseanne or some other domestic doyene to fill the post. Problem solved.

[KoKo]

20. I'd forgotten about that...but yes...his wife wanted to keep practicing Medicine and

questions were raised. I think we've gone beyond that...I just wonder about the Contracting Out. Who will get it?

[Buzz Clik]

14. Quite frankly, I dont' give a damn.

Hire somebody. Who the hell cares.

[lojasmo]

16. Bill will be back in Harlem

And Hillary will be planning for her run as a republican in 2012.

Michelle can do whatever she likes.

[Auntie Bush]

27. You're such a dreamer!

[lojasmo]

31. How'd that thing with Clark work out?

My guy is the head of the Democratic party. Clark, what? Fox news commentator?

Dreamer indeed.

[me b zola]

29. I've been wondering about Bill's Harlem office

I don't see him staying there much longer.

[lojasmo]

30. No. Black Americans will take their place under the bus. EOM

[cbayer]

17. "Would either Hillary or Michelle want to deal with that? "

It's very telling that you would place Hillary Clinton in the first lady role were she elected President. Bill, of course, would be the first spouse in that case. So the better question is, "Would either Bill or Michelle want to deal with that?"

[KoKo]

19. I did say that in my OP...if you read it......don't always assume hobgobblins when none are there...

:-(

[JerseygirlCT]

21. Yeah, that confused the heck out of me.

Why would the president be doing that, I wondered...

[WA98296]

18. I bet Michelle will be honored to follow in the footsteps of some of America's greatest...

women. She certainly will not be able to practice law anymore... too many chances for conflict of interest.

[KoKo]

22. But...why can't she still practice law....and contract the stuff out?

:shrug:

[cbayer]

23. I like the question you raise in your OP.

I think it is time that we re-think what the first spouse's role will be. It is the assumption that one of the women would be in that position that I object to. Your title makes the assumption that either Michelle or Hillary would be in that position.

[KoKo]

25. You mean I left out Bill? I said..give it to the "Food Channel and HDTV" or contract to local DC

Catering and Personal Assistant...but I wondered if "Traditionalists" Sally Quinn and Cokie Roberts might not have a "Hissy Fit" if they did that. (but, who cares, really in these times). But given that both of them use Caterers and "Contract Out" would it be fair to go after Hillary or Michelle if neither wanted to assume those "Traditional Roles." :shrug:

[CreekDog]

24. actually there will be a "Trading Spaces" special

these folks will get to decorate:

(Dick and Lynne Cheney pose with their dinner):

[MediaBabe]

26. ROFLOL!! Oh You BAD!!! n/t

[MediaBabe]

28. Plenty of staff.

Traditionally First Ladies have a whole slew of staff, aides and consultants to do most of the hospitality work. I bet if you were to look into it you'd find that the present First Lady, Laura Bush, has dozens of people helping her with the day to day business of running the White House.

"Would either Hillary or Michelle want to deal with that?"

Shouldn't you mean "Would either Bill or Michelle want to deal with that?"

I'm pretty sure that either President Obama, President Clinton or President McCain, whoever it shall be, will not be fussing about the choice of flowers for the brunch table.