Melania Trump's star continues to rise (CNN!)

CNN ^ | 12/15/2017 | Betsy Klein

[simpson96]

Washington (CNN) — First lady Melania Trump's popularity continues to climb, according to a new poll out Friday.

The first lady's favorability rating now stands at 54%, up from 37% favorable in January 2017, per a Gallup poll conducted last week. Her unfavorable rating is down slightly from 37% to 33%, with 13% having no opinion.

Nearly a year into her husband's time in office, the first lady has embraced her role, and though she has maintained an air of mystery through her desire for privacy, she has raised her national profile, moving into the White House with son, Barron, in June and accompanying the President on a series of high-profile trips, both domestic and abroad.

In Washington, she has played the time-honored role of White House hostess, but has also unveiled a platform focused on compassion and issues facing children.

Her solo trips this fall have also helped Americans get to know their private first lady: she spoke about challenges facing children at a UN luncheon in New York, traveled to Canada to attend the Invictus Games with Prince Harry in September, made an unannounced visit to a suburban Detroit middle school to kick off the "Week of Inclusion" in October, and last week, toured storm recovery and relief efforts in Texas.

[Nothingburger]

I hear your argument, FRiend, but at the risk of sounding like an optimist, I’d like to point out that Melania’s public image isn’t a gift from the media.

She’s the First Lady of the United States. The media did zero to give her that role.

As Rush always used to say, and I paraphrase, “when the media didn’t build you up, they can’t take you down.” Rush was a perhaps little optimistic there, but try to see his point.

I was at the supermarket today and saw a very flattering picture of Melania on the cover of a magazine at the checkout. I thought to myself: “Perhaps there’s some significance in the fact that she’s drawing a fair amount of positive coverage. Perhaps the media is finally settling in to the reality of a Trump presidency.”

Of course, reality will set in for sure when a whole host of traitors are frog marched off to prison, but that’s another subject.

[EQAndyBuzz]

“As long as it ends with the Stars holding the Cup, I don’t care where it is.”

Did you watch the Stars vs Rangers the other night? One of the best hockey games I have seen in years. Both goalies were on fire. Stars won in a shootout.

I have to get up to Dallas for a game. Spent a lot of time up there coaching youth hockey but never got to a Stars game.

[dfwgator]

I see Let-One-In went back to his old form tonight against New Jersey.

[353FMG]

Not fair toward previous FLOTUS (snicker, haw, haw.)