Posted on 06/25/2009 11:46:25 AM PDT by Neverforget01
For weeks, Michelle Obama had been telling her staff and closest confidantes that she wasn't having the impact she wanted. She is a woman of substance, with a background in law, public policy and management, who found herself relegated to role model in chief. The West Wing of the White House -- the fulcrum of power and policy -- had not fully integrated her into its agenda. She wanted more.
snip
Her new chief of staff, Susan Sher, 61, is a close friend and former boss who the first lady thinks will be more forceful about getting her and her team on the West Wing's radar screen. The first thing Sher said she told senior adviser David Axelrod, whom she has known for years: When I call, "you need to get back to me right away."
snip
Although Obama's job-approval ratings have soared, the first lady -- a Harvard-educated lawyer -- wasn't satisfied with coasting. She is hiring a full-time speechwriter and has instructed her staff to think "strategically" so that every event has a purpose and a message. She doesn't want to simply go to events and hug struggling military families, she said; she wants to show progress.
snip
Every morning, Rogers and Sher attend White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel's 8:15 staff meeting. Johnston, a newcomer to Obama's circle but a White House veteran, and Katie McCormick Lelyveld, the first lady's press secretary, sit in on White House press secretary Robert Gibbs's daily message meeting. As part of the president's domestic policy team,
snip
They're all focused on raising the stakes. "It isn't just about hugging," Sher said. "Whatever she talks about will bring press and interest, but it's important that she's not just talking [but] actually moving forward on those issues."
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
LeBron without the tats.
She obviously didn’t demand much when picking a husband, but he was articulate and clean.
She’s not `coasting’ here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ig_2k9aDhpE
Yeah; especially among the "millions of jobs" holders that were hired as a result of porkulus....
/sarc
WP is a lyin' fishwrapper State-run media outlet.
They must be referring to the law license that she gave up and that $300K a year job doing community outreach for the U of Chicago hospital, a job that was abolished after she resigned.
This line alone almost rises to BARF ALERT level. Law = affirmative action admit; public policy = needed a person of color; management = big $$$$ job because of hubby's ability to deliver the goods from the public coffers.
Michelle the arugula needs picked. Now get at it.
Do not participate in policy matters, Michelle.
Just fair warning.
I don’t recall Michelle being on the ballot last November.
Co-Empress?
It worries me that she wants a bigger role, because that will take away from her role modeling (there are only so many hours in a day) and I'll be left rudderless.
Why oh why does the election of a Democratic President mean that his wife fills in as a Co-President?
What was it that Patton said about “shovelin’ sh*t in Mississippi” during the war?
Oh - Right. The presstitues in ABCNNBCBS aren’t about covering issues anymore: instead, they cover her dresses, her very, very, very expensive dates and invent a “style” ....
what Mrs. Zero doesn’t get, is, she IS the ‘hugging’ arm of the presidency - American’s don’t want two presidents.
and, if Mrs. Zero wants to be a Hillary, then she’s no longer off limits politically, including criticism for comments about not wanting to be limited to hugging ‘struggling military’ families.
Time for the taxpayers to quit paying for the First Grandma to live in the White House. Send her back to Chi-Town, and Michelle can take care of her daughters.
Right on!!! this all reads like “I’m not getting enough attention.... look at me... look at me.... look at me.....”
and when one looks, there is nothing of SUBSTANCE there or in the WP!!
Gads. The thing has an unerring way of picking the wrong outfit.
This ugly bitch thinks the south lawn is her 40 acres and a mule that wuz promised to her back in the slave days.What is it about liberal wives being insufferable shrews?
bump for later read and time to find a photo of her huge read end that won’t eat up all the bandwidth!
She has an eye on a U.S. Senate seat when they’re done with the White House...
Woman, if you gotta demand and shout for respect, you’ll never get and you never deserve it.
Who ever heard of either a Mooselimb or a commie woman who was an important leader? Fahgedaboudid Meechelle
Uh - Michelle, honey, you didn’t get elected. Your impact just doesn’t matter.
Colonel, USAFR
I always HOE in my black boats and nice outfit
The First Lady (debatable) has a role - to support her husband and appear as a role model for our country. She shows a great lack of respect for her husband in not only wanting more but feeling she is owed more.
Exactly. I did NOT vote for Michelle (America’s Unhappiest Millionaire) even MORE than I did NOT vote for Barry. She’s the wife of a careerist politician. Neither of them are about substance...
Who didn't see this coming?
Looks like Michelle has packed on a few “flubbery” pounds.
Funny how she wore sleeveless tops all winter in below zero degree weather, now in the hottest part of summer we always see her wearing sweaters...many times layered...gag, gag....puke.
what kind of substance is she demanding?
We didn’t elect you Michelle and I doubt seriously we elected your husband legally. So step down from your phony soapbox and quit trying to pretend to be Hillary.
And to the horrible WaPo: (sarcasm) What wonderful words for the First Lady. What was Laura, a cardboard cutout?
what substance is she demanding?
that’s the french leader’s wife.
I think they’re at normandy commemorating the sacrifice there in WWII
“what kind of substance is she demanding?”
***************
Not so much substance... as power and adulation. She wants some of that bowing at her feet and tingly feeling going up MSM legs when Queen Michelle grants them an audience.
We didn’t elect you, Missy.
So, do you reckon that, by now, Mrs. Obama is no longer not proud of her country? Now that Mr. Obama is the chief magistrate of the republic?
Now, when he leaves office, does this mean that she will revert to not being proud of her nation...again?
The press simply loves Mrs. Obama. I suspect much of it is guilt, and the longing to be close to the seat of power.
Let’s hear for sophistry!
“Potomac Fever” can be an awful affliction.
From the article:
"Her desire is to step out more and have deliverables," said communications chief Camille Johnston. "It's about things that are coming up that we want to be a part of: child nutrition reauthorization act, prevention and wellness for health-care reform."
In the past couple of weeks, Obama has been more vocal about the specifics of the president's health plan, and she will play a substantive role in promoting it. She will soon announce the creation of an advisory board to help military families. And she will be the face of the administration's United We Serve, a summer-long national service program, which she launched on Monday. Even her social events have a message: She let congressional families know that before the annual White House barbecue today, the 500 guests are expected to show up at Fort McNair to stuff camp backpacks with goodies for the children of military personnel.
A degree given, not earned due to her skin color. Fake "public policy" credentials, and the only management she has done is that she has managed to marry a "man" and ride his coat tails. Sort of like Hillary.
that reminds me hillary had the gosh awful hairband......while michelle has the beastly belt....LMAO! ....yep, they are both fashion icons.
Sounds like we’re going to have another “co-presidency” on our hands.
Whaaaa? Wasn't Bush lambasted for taking long vacations?
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