Spouse Rules; Advice for the ladies who seek to become first lady

The Wall Street Journal ^ | August 3, 2007 | Peggy Noonan

[Eric Blair 2084]

It's gotten catty out there. Jeri Thompson is a trophy wife, as is Cindy McCain. Michelle Obama is too offhand and irreverent when speaking of her husband, and Judith Giuliani is a puppy-stapling princess. Even Hillary Clinton was a focus, for wearing an outfit that suggested, however faintly, that underneath her clothing she may be naked, and have breasts.

Why these stories? Because it's August and no one wants to think. Because the campaign is too long and reporters have to write about something. Because cable news has an insatiable need for guests, and if you write a story cable producers can easily find tape for, you get to go on Olbermann or O'Reilly and seem to publicize your paper, which will please your bosses, with the added benefit of giving you personal face time, which essentially asserts, in the world of high-level politics, that you exist.

None of these stories have come from blogs but from Pulitzer Prize winners at major newspapers and veteran journalists at magazines. For all their harrumphing about the crucial role they play in democracy (and it is crucial) and the seriousness of their professional intent (and it is sometimes serious), the mainstream media is full of the cattiest human beings in history with the exception of the vast political consulting/advising class of Washington, i.e., the gargoyles with BlackBerrys in the back of the SUV, whose job is not only to help their guy but hurt the other guy. Their email gossip reminds me of Johnny in the movie "Airplane!" When the frantic wife of a pilot rushes into the control tower, Johnny solicitously removes her coat and then reveals his actual interests: "Where did you get that dress?"

[divine_moment_of_facts]

Hot out today.. Hot out yesterday.. Gonna be Hot out tomorrow...

[Eric Blair 2084]

Watcha talkin’ ‘bout Willis?

[trisham]

It's gotten catty out there.

**************

Well, Peggy, it's gotten catty in here, too. Free Republic has its own coven of feline whiners who swoop down on every Fredthread and carp (or should that be meow?) about Jeri's lack of fashion sense. Now that it's August, perhaps they'll take a vacation from jealousy.

[Emmett McCarthy]

Most wonder more about what Hilary has in her pants while Hilary wonders how she could keep Bill’s locked up somewhere to avoid further embarassment.

[Tamar1973]

Why these stories? Because it's August and no one wants to think.

The only reason anyone knows about Cindy Sheehan is due to the August malaise.

[KarlInOhio]

No mention of the potential first gentleman horndog.

[goodwithagun]

But but but- what happened to global warming?

[SE Mom]

Yes, there is, actually...read the whole piece. His Billness is mentioned at the end.

[Eric Blair 2084]

Well, Peggy, it's gotten catty in here, too. Free Republic has its own coven of feline whiners who swoop down on every Fredthread and carp (or should that be meow?) about Jeri's lack of fashion sense. Now that it's August, perhaps they'll take a vacation from jealousy. ____________________________________________________

Promise me you will never bring this up in my presence again. Please. I beg you.

I don't care if all of the candidates wore a tank top and speedos. I'm interested in their political positions.

[Eric Blair 2084]

Yes, there is, actually...read the whole piece. His Billness is mentioned at the end. ____________________________________________________

If God forbid the Hildebeast and her Marxist ideology makes it into the White House...how much does anyone here want to bet that the first Executive order will be that ALL WHITE HOUSE INTERNS BE PIMPLY FACED FAT COLLEGE MEN?

[SIDENET]

Even Hillary Clinton was a focus, for wearing an outfit that suggested, however faintly, that underneath her clothing she may be naked, and have breasts.

I really didn't need the visual that that sentence produced.

[SWAMPSNIPER]

Hilary naked? Not before breakfast, please! Can you imagine having that image stuck in your head all day?

[CJ Wolf]

No mention of Carol Paul. Ron’s trophy wife of 50 years.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFPMxtAXOgg

[bravo whiskey]

first ladies should not have pierced tongues. reference to the elf and his no. 3 wife, who qualifies as a trophy wife only by definition.

[trisham]

LOL! Then why did you post this article?

[Kimmers]

Thank you for the post.....I liked the article.

[George W. Bush]

Even Hillary Clinton was a focus, for wearing an outfit that suggested, however faintly, that underneath her clothing she may be naked, and have breasts.

Too much information, Peggy. It's the job of Ol' Crusty to keep us from having to think about this.