Why America loves its First Lady: she’s meek, ever-smiling…

[kskiska]

and stands behind her man


GEORGE W Bush went up to Capitol Hill on Thursday to be sworn in for a second time as President of the United States. At his side, as ever, was a smiling, elegant and inscrutable woman: his wife, Laura. So far, you might think, so traditional. The difference with this inauguration was that the most powerful man in the world was not even the most popular person on the dais, far less in his own country.

(snip)

On the face of it, this is more than odd. To admire a person you first have to know something about them. In that respect, Mrs Bush makes the average enigma seem easily decipherable. Americans are besotted, it appears, with a woman who keeps her opinions to herself, who does not dream of interfering in US policy, who has subordinated herself entirely to her husband’s career and trots, dutifully, in his wake, as and when required.

Is this what America wants? Is this the country’s idea of a modern woman’s role? Those poll ratings seem to say as much. An increasingly conservative country would, on the face it, appear to be redefining the place of a political spouse: supportive, submissive, unthreatening and lacking any hint of a brain in her head.

(snip)

Nevertheless, Laura Bush appears to have identified what it is that Americans want from the “office” – it has no real constitutional status – of First Lady. By extension, that says something about how they view the presidency, an actual office held in the sort of reverence by US citizens that is incomprehensible to Europeans. In this sentimentalised view of the world, the President’s wife is handmaiden to the commander-in-chief, mother to the nation, inspirational and admirable, but in no real sense a political actor. All power flows from the head of the perfect, presidential family.

This is, of course, sexism of the sort that will only be broken down if and when America ever acquires a woman president. Male attributes are taken to be leadership, power and machismo; female traits are meekness and that business about loving, honouring and obeying, above all where the image of the White House is concerned. Somehow, though, that doesn’t seem like the whole story.

more…
http://www.sundayherald.com/47224

[rocktivity]

1. PUFF PIECE ALERT!!!

Why America Loves Its First Lady: We don't, you've just been mandated to tell us that we do.

:puffpiece:
rocknation

[kskiska]

4. He makes some interesting points further down

Now Laura Bush, self-effacing almost to a fault, seems determined to prove two things: first, the combination of women and power seems to make America uneasy; second, it makes even conservative American women like herself uneasy. She seems more than happy, eager even, to be kept in her place.

But is it that simple? Last week, just before George managed to get through his inauguration speech without declaring war on someone, Condoleezza Rice was confirmed in Congressional hearings as secretary of state. Her politics are one thing, but here was an event that would have been unthinkable in America even two decades ago: a black woman of ferocious, uncompromising intelligence rising to one of the highest offices in her land, and in the process becoming one of the most powerful people on the planet.

Rice is no mere window-dressing, either, for a president who needs to appeal to minorities. She is, for her sins, one of the chief architects of unilateralist American foreign policy, author of several of the serious, deliberate lies that led to the Iraq war and closer to George Bush than anyone save the members of his family. Yet she is a woman, she is black, she is very clever indeed and noboby thinks twice about it. Charges of ingrained sexism, not to mention perennial racism, seem rebutted in the case of this right-winger. Why does Rice catch a break when Hillary Clinton did not?

[rocktivity]

6. Talking points and wishful thinking

Laura Bush (is) self-effacing almost to a fault...She seems more than happy, eager even, to be kept in her place.
You mean it's Laura's choice? Yeah, right. She's under orders to be self-effacing to the point of oblivioius.

Condoleezza Rice('s)...politics are one thing, but...two decades ago...(she) would have been unthinkable...a black woman of ferocious, uncompromising intelligence...becoming one of the most powerful people on the planet...Rice is no mere window-dressing, either, for a president who needs to appeal to minorities.
Powerful? Intelligent? Uncompromising? Not minority window dressing? Yeah, right. Like Laura, that's how she's marketed, not necessarily what she really is.

She is, for her sins, one of the chief architects of unilateralist American foreign policy, author of several of the serious, deliberate lies that led to the Iraq war...Charges of ingrained sexism, not to mention perennial racism, seem rebutted in the case of this right-winger. Why does Rice catch a break when Hillary Clinton did not?
Precisely because of brain-dead, sychophantic media coverage like this. How can Condi be a victor over discrimination AND a political sinner at the same time? As for Hillary, SHE'S one who has displayed intelligence, power, and cleverness. But because she's not on Bush's side like Condi and Laura, she doesn't catch a break because the mainstream media is under orders not to give her one.

:puffpiece:
rocknation

[Cha]

2. Ya mean like a

Stepford Wife? And America doesn't "love it's first lady"..1/2 of us think there must be something seriously wrong with her because she's married to a sociopath.

Sociopath..

Snip!
Glibness/Superficial Charm
Language can be used without effort by them to confuse and convince their audience. Captivating storytellers that exude self-confidence, they can spin a web that intrigues others. Since they are persuasive, they have the capacity to destroy their critics verbally or emotionally.



Manipulative and Conning
They never recognize the rights of others and see their self-serving behaviors permissible. They appear to be charming, yet are covertly hostile and domineering, seeing their victim as merely an instrument to be used. They dominate and humiliate their victims.



Grandiose Sense of Self
Feels entitled to certain things as "their right." Craves adulation and attendance. Must be the center of attention with their own fantasies as the "spokesman for God," "enlightened," "leader of humankind," etc. Creates an us-versus-them mentality



Pathological Lying
Has no problem lying coolly and easily and it is almost impossible for them to be truthful on a consistent basis. Can create, and get caught up in, a complex belief about their own powers and abilities. Extremely convincing and able to pass lie detector tests. End Snip~

More at..
http://home.datawest.net/esn-recovery/artcls/socio.htm

[The Zanti Regent]

3. Yeah, we really love Lady Macbeth!

That Laura Bush, she's a REAL KILLER!

http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/e1698.htm

http://www.physicsforums.com/archive/t-40378_Laura_Bush...murderer?.html

http://www.princeton.edu/~in/jan04/brome.htm

http://www.talkaboutgovernment.com/group/alt.politics.democrats/messages/547223.html

http://www.gnn.tv/users/user.php?bid=2808&r=1

See Boys and Girls, there ARE different rules for Republicans than there are Democrats. As Laura Bush proves, you CAN kill your boyfriend to get all the way to the top!

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[jrthin]

7. Question: Is this stenographer (that

is now how I refer to journalists who just write and parrot exactly as they've been told) from the Armstrong Williams branch? How much was he paid, I wonder.