The First Lady Campaign

My Opinion of the New/Old First lady

2004-11-10T02:46:00.000-08:00

As I said earlier, it's finally over! I deeply respect and admire the work that First Lady laura Bush has done throughout her time as first lady. She has worked as a children's education advocate, as well as a philanthropist for many other noble causes. She uses her experience as a librarian and educator to show the work that can be done while the wife of the President of the United States. Her position is a powerful one, and she uses it wisely. She does not use it for her own gain, or fame in the public spotlight. She used her time to promote the welfare of other people. I think this was a big reason why her approval rating was so high. Teresa Heinz Kerry is a powerful woman in her own right. She's worth almost a billion dollars without her husband! Her fiery temper and occassional wit, may have dominated her husband. She is active in many roles, and I think that her time would have been unevenly divided. I think she would have not been able to focus her time and energy so completely on her work as first lady with so many other interests of her own. Both women showed exceptional skills as influential and educated women. Laura Bush may have been the quiet and sometime reserved candidate, but she showed herself through her actions. Heinz Kerry also showed herself through her actions, but possibly not the side she wanted to show. I guess we shall see how and what the latest first lady will do during her "reign" as first lady. Here's to another four years!

Back to work!

2004-11-10T02:39:00.000-08:00

First Lady Laura Bush is back to work as usual this week. On Tuesday, Pennsylvania Avenue, the street in front of the White House was reopened to pedestrian traffic, and Laura bush was there. Two blocks of that street are now open to the public to walk by. In the future, officials say it will reopen to vehicular traffic as well. On the opening day, tourists saw the President's dog, Barney, running around the yard. Laura Bush also spoke about how she and her husband will continue their tradition of walking along the street after his next inauguration in January. Even the Mayor of Washington D.C. wants to get involved. He said he will ride his bike down the street. The street has been closed since the Oklahoma City bombing for security reasons.

It's finally over! Or is it just beginning?

2004-11-04T11:36:00.000-08:00

The elections are over! Surprisingly, the focus was not on Florida this year, but on Ohio. Also, we knew who the next president would be within a day and a half! Both first ladies stood by their men throughout the election day. First Lady Laura Bush sat with her husband and daughters surrounded by cameras and friends. Teresa Heinz Kerry sat with her husband, holding hands. Finally, the last results trickled in and the winner was announced. Laura Bush would continue serving as first lady for the next four years. In turn, her husband will remain President as well. Teresa Heinz Kerry avoided the press, standing with her husband without any of her trademark comments. Laura Bush smiled and waved for the camera's speaking about how proud she was of her husband. When Senator Kerry emerged from his condo, Teresa was there with him, holding his hand in support. They avoided looking directly into most cameras on the way to concede the election. Both ladies have made this election extremely interesting and often entertaining. Soon, I'll have more on what they plan to do next. For now, the returning first lady has a new puppy around the white house. For her birthday the President bought her a new puppy who she named Miss Beasley.

First lady in Training?

2004-11-01T03:27:00.000-08:00

On Thursday Elizabeth Edwards came to Gainesville, Florida. She is the wife of democratic Vice-Presidential nominee John Edwards. I was able to go to the event and interview her for Channel 5 news. I was curious to see how she would act in person, since both of the first lady candidates have opposite personalities. After getting through security and secret service, I was finally able to meet her. She was friendly even though she was very busy and already late to speak. I asked her how early voting could keep this year's election outcome from being a recap of the 2000 election fiasco. She answered that early voting would catch problems with ballots earlier and problems with any ballots could be corrected before the crucial counting. She was well-spoken but comfortable. Not overtly friendly, but polite. I found her to be a middle-ground in between the two first lady candidates running this year. She spoke at the event on her husbands campaign and what they wanted to accomplish and why. She also spent much of the time speaking on why early voting was so important to the election. The crowd roared and the place was packed, and people were excited to see her. It's makes me curious as to what her approval rating would be and if we'll ever see her husband on the presidential ticket.

Oops! She did it again!

2004-10-20T16:57:00.000-07:00

Teresa Heinz Kerry just keeps getting more interesting; first her public comment, "Shove it!" to a valid question then her denial of saying "un-American". Now she's targeting the first lady, though not purposely.
In an interview with USA Today, Heinz Kerry says Laura Bush "has a sparkle in her eye.... but I don't know that she's ever had a real job - I mean since she's been grown up."
To that I say, "Teresa Heinz Kerry: Grow up." First Lady Bush is famous for her work with education, which started by her 10 years as a teacher and librarian. She did quit working when her husband held office, but continued educational work with various public programs.
Heinz Kerry issued a written apology, saying she forgot.
An advisor to President Bush issued a statement saying she also forgot to mention that a job as a full-time mother to twins is also a real job.
A spokesman for the first lady said she was not bothered by the comment. People polled on the role of a first lady seem agree with Laura Bush. Also in USA Today, approval ratings for Laura Bush are at 60-74% while Heinz Kerry's are trailing at 34-40%. Apparently the American people go for traditional when it comes to the wife of the president.
Heinz Kerry said she would be a wiser first lady since she is 66 and Bush is only 57. We'll see if that is true, if her husband wins the presidency.

Just a Little Bit of Gossip

2004-10-15T08:37:00.000-07:00

What is an election without a little bit of gossip? This year's presidential election has been full of it... ok, excuse the pun. But, we have heard alot this year about both candidates past. George W. Bush supposedly used family ties to get into the National Guard during Vietnam. Some news sources even produced documentation that were proven false then had to restract their story. John Kerry has stories revolving around his service in Vietnam and his actions when he returned. One action in particular is when he stood before congress with Jane Fonda and threw his medals on the floor. People's reactions to these stories are different but the intentions of the news is the same, to create a little bit of gossip about each. So I decided to see if I could dig up a little about the first ladies just to fit in with the election coverage. I stumbled upon a site dedicated to proving rumours true or false, and found one about Laura Bush.
In 1963 in Midland, Texas, Laura Bush was involved in a fatal car accident. Now I cannot vouch for the authenticity of this site, but it does quote many reputable sources and have references to her biographies. When she and a friend were driving to a party, they ran a stop sign on a country road and hit another car. The driver of that car was a friend from the same high school and a star athlete. He was killed. Rumours have also circulated about whether Laura Bush and the accident victim were in fact romantically linked, but they are still rumours. No one knows for sure. Authorites say no alcohol was involved in the crash, but the girls were not given breathalizers on scene. Any other assumptions are just that, assumptions and guesses.

Not Some Mousy Librarian

2004-09-30T17:37:00.000-07:00

First Lady Laura Bush may be the picture of a sweet small-town librarian, but she's also a brilliant businesswoman. In May of this year, the Laura Bush Foundation awarded more than $600,000 in grants for school libraries. According to the foudnation's website, "The mission of the Laura Bush Foundation for America’s Libraries is to support the education of our nation’s children by providing funds to update, extend, and diversify the book and print collections of America’s school libraries." Because of her national status, she took her expertise on education and used it to promote reading throughout the country. And that made those grants possible. The grants supplied money fare able to help pay for library books in any of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islans or Puerto Rico. First Lady Bush is concerned for students who are reading below grade level. These books will work toward improving their reading levels, and their interest in reading.
The First Lady also heads up reading and other various educational programs. Throughout her volunteerism, education is the key issue. This not just because she is a former teacher, but because she believes every is derived from education. If a child can learn, it opens doors to a lifetime's worth of knowledge. She simply works to promote the first step.

A Day in the Life of a Ketchup Queen

2004-09-21T15:03:00.000-07:00

It's goes without saying to anyone following the presidential election that Teresa Heinz Kerry is an unorthodox candidate for First Lady. She proved this once again the Sunday night before the Democratic National Convention. I know it's been a little while since then, but every candidate needs a character biography. Heinz Kerry told a group of voters , "We need to turn back some of the creeping, un-Pennsylvanian and sometimes un-American traits that are coming into some of our politics." In response to this phrase, a reporter from the rumored conservative newspaper The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review asked her to clarify what she meant by "un-American activity."
After denying saying those words, she moved away to talk to some people from the convention. After speaking briefly, she returned and asked the reporter if he worked for the Tribune-Review. He said yes, and she replied, "Understandable. You say something I didn't say, now shove it." All of this was in plain view of cameras and was indeed caught on film and showed on every television station imaginable. After all the hoopla over her choice of words Heinz Kerry spoke to Bill Hemmer of CNN. She maintains that she was misquoted and was defending herself in order to keep from being misrepresented. She refused to apologize, and even when confronted with a video of her saying "un-American traits" she demanded that was not the same as "un-American activity". Despite having earlier denied saying "un-American" at all. Who remembers President Bill Clinton arguing the definition of "is"?

The Republican First Lady Convention... and Ahnold.

2004-09-16T19:22:00.000-07:00

Who can top a speech by the terminator? Well, Laura Bush tried at the GOP Convention. Ratings were high, mainly due to California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. The first lady was introduced by President George W. Bush, and Mrs. Bush lightly joked that she liked being introduced by the President of the United States. She went on to thank the people for the experiences throughout the last few years and showed her warm personality that she is so known for. By the end of her welcome, you almost feel like you're chatting on a parlor couch having tea. She went on to discuss her passion, education, and why her husband is working hard to improve education in American children. She briefly hints at stepping stones in George W.'s work as president, such as health care, home ownership, and stem cell research. Then she goes on to the big issue... The War on Terror. You can read her message here. Laura Bush spends the majority of her time speaking about her husbands works and his potential and why America needs him as their president once more. Never does she stress her education, her work, or her achievements. She calmly praises her husband and his decisions and quietly urges the viewers to agree. Her strong stability and grace are evident throughout her speech. She does not once mention the name of John Kerry to praise or to criticize, and shows her maturity. She shows a non-political face and manner in a political arena. After her speech, the Republican Party pulls out the big guns, and Arnold powerfully, unremorsefully and nowhere near politically correctly speaks on being a republican. What a night.

The Democratic First Lady Convention

2004-09-10T13:18:00.000-07:00

The Democratic National Convention is full of pomp, promises.... and plenty of patriotism. It's a chance for democratic leaders and supporters to get together and denounce republicans and their evil ways and to pump up the democratic crowd to.... vote democratic? Actually, I tihnk it's just a pep rally for politics. All of the conventions. But, it's also a prime way for Mrs. Presidential Candidate to showcase her achievements and why voters should choose her. Mrs. Teresa Heinz Kerry was a speaker at this year's Democratic National Convention, as most candidate's wives are. But her message was a bit different. She took the initiative and showcased not only why her husband should be president, but why she should be first lady. Right outta the gate, she showcases her ability to speak several languages. She says she wants to tell people why her husband should be president. She wants to say a few words.... key word "few". Most of her words end up being about herself. She was born outside of the United States, in the middle of a dictatorship where they were not able to vote. She takes listeners on a journey of the mind into her past. She tells of her protests, her education, and her right to be "opinionated." After her tales, she explains that her husband, Senator John Kerry is the man the country needs to protect those things. Considering most if not all of the people attending the convention already plan to vote for Kerry, thunderous applause amid murmurs of, "what did she mean by that again?" isn't surprising. She voices her opinions loudly, as she's known for, and forcefully. In the process, some viewers seemingly became lost..... I was watching with a group of people and did hear at least one person asking when she was going to get to the point, and when she finished, ask what was the point? Teresa Heinz Kerry certainly gets across what seems to be important to her, she hates war and men who repress people, not an altogether bad idea. Until you see her telling a reporter to "shove it" when he calmly asks her what she meant by something in a separate speech, you may even think she knew what she was speaking about. I, myself, would like to see that video played right after a clip of her saying the phrase to which she denied saying. Until then, I'll assume it was a "miscommunication" and a very.... unusual first lady response. It's gonna be a good race ladies and gents. Next we'll look at the Republican National Convention and First Lady Laura Bush's speech.

First Ladies Past Present and Future....

2004-08-31T14:40:00.000-07:00

Disguised by the drama, aka soap opera, of the upcoming election is another important campaign....The race for First Lady. In our nation's past, the first ladies have been as different as our presidents have been, and some even more popular.
Many school children know of James Madison as the fourth president of the United States. But many more know of his wife Dolly. Dolly Madison is renowned for having rescued a portrait of George Washington form being destroyed in a fire set by British soldiers in the War of 1812. She is perhaps the first example of a first lady with her own agenda. Some first ladies have dedicated their "reign" to aiding their husbands such as Nancy Reagan. In a famous quote she says, "My life really began when I married my husband." She was an actress, but gave up a promising career to raise children and work for charity when her husband Ronald Reagan won the presidency. Barbara Bush became known as 'everybody's grandmother' because of the way she greeted everyone. She managed six children, the death of one, and a self-declared literacy promotion as her personal charity. Probably the most famous, or infamous, first lady is Hillary Rodham Clinton. She, unlike many of the previous first ladies, studied law at Yale with her husband. She worked as a lawyer, law professor and philanthropist while raising a daughter. When her husband publicly humiliated her by having a high-profile affair with an intern, she stayed by his side throughout his impeachment and last years of presidency. After which she became active in politics herself. She is now a New York U-S Senator and many believe aims to run for president someday.
These Short biographies of the first ladies show how much it takes to be one, and how different the job can be done. This year's election will showcase a submissive librarian educator first lady with the leader of one of the nation's largest private philanthropic foundations. Who also used to work for the United nations. And you couldn't fine two women with such obviously opposite personalities. It should be an interesting race...