Michelle Obama crafts policy agenda

[Number23]

Article http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20090203/pl_politico/18329">here

Snip:

"As she prepares to step out beyond her role as the self-described “mom in chief,” Michelle Obama has been busy behind the scenes crafting a policy-driven agenda that will bring working-family issues into the White House — and she’s surrounded herself with a team of veteran political insiders and seasoned policy advocates to do it."

Money Quote:

Carl Anthony Sferrazza, a former speechwriter for Nancy Reagan who also wrote the introduction to Hillary Clinton’s "Invitation to the White House: At Home With History."

“This is not going to be a first lady focused on sleeveless designer dresses and puppy names but on serious and complex issues,” he predicted.

That's my girl...:fistbump:

[Number23]

1. I guess folks here are used to First Ladies doing this type of thing. I thought it was pretty cool

If anyone knows about working families, it's the Obamas and particularly Michelle.

[MADem]

2. She'd best go slow. Sometimes it is easier to start out with the puppies and go from there.

Hillary got her ass handed to her for getting out there too ambitiously, too soon.

Laura Bush started out with "reading," just like her mother-in-law, and just ambled along for awhile until the press left her alone....next thing you know, she was all over the Burmese govenment when they wouldn't let aid in after the natural disaster, and was way more forceful and effective than her husband. She also was out in front on Afghan women's issues.

I hope Mrs. Obama proceeds with all due caution.

[fasttense]

4. Yeah, our last first lady was a librarian and the libraries of this nation have never been so awful

U.S. libraries on borrowed time?
By Marisol Bello, USA TODAY
Dwindling tax dollars are forcing libraries to close branches, cut hours and end programs just as more people are turning to them for services.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2009-02-01-libraries_N.htm

[MADem]

7. Towns and states need the money for potholes.

Libraries don't get much federal funding but maybe they should get more.

Maybe they can shitcan NCLB and put all THAT wasted money back into the libraries, eh?

Actually, under Bush, aid to libraries INCREASED. Problem is, what the feds gave, the states and towns took away. That's why libraries are having troubles, some of them:

The American Library Association (ALA) applauded the funding increases for libraries proposed in President Bush’s fiscal year (FY) 2009 budget, released on February 4, 2008. The increases in library funding proposed by the President will mean that many of America’s libraries can continue to provide key programs and services to their communities, like bookmobiles and public access to the Internet.

In a budget where domestic discretionary spending was severely restricted and funding for 151 programs was cut or eliminated, the Library Services and Technology Act saw several key increases. Included in LSTA, the most important federal legislation affecting libraries, are the following totals:

$171.5 million for state grants, an increase of $10.6 million over FY 2008; this funding increase ensures that smaller states will have the resources to serve their populations, a priority the Congress recognized in 2003;
$12.715 million for the National Leadership Grants for Libraries, an increase of $556,000 over FY 2008;
$26.5 million for the Recruitment of Librarians for the 21st Century, an increase of $3.16 million over FY 2008;
$3.717 million for Native Americans Library Services, an increase of $143,000 over FY 2008; and
$3.5 million for library policy, research, and statistics (included in the administration total), an increase of $1.54 million over FY 2008; this will help libraries identify the programs that most effectively serve users.
For school libraries, the President requested level funding for the Improving Literacy Through School Libraries Program.


http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/wo/woissues/washfunding/funding.cfm


Bush may have been a jerk, but he wasn't stupid--he listened to his wife and momma.

[Number23]

5. True, but I get the impression that "going slow" is not a trait one can prescribe to either Obama

:)

And your take on Laura Bush's success as an advocate is interesting. My personal thought is that she was all too happy to sit in the corner with her pet interests of reading and literacy, and didn't seem to be all that vocal about either of those issues. When she did speak out about the Burmese government, her criticisms were met with (deserved) howls of hypocrisy since she was criticizing that government of its handling of a crisis within its borders and sounding remarkably similar to the criticisms folks made of how her husband handled Katrina.

When she tried to become an advocate of the arts, by then her husband was so despised no self-respecting artist would have anything to do with her. But by laying low, Laura managed to keep her favorables fairly high. I think you're right that Michelle could learn a thing or two in that regard, but I get the impression she is too committed to certain issues to not take that risk.

[MADem]

6. Now see, I don't blame Laura for George. Laura was NOT responsible for Katrina.

I think Laura did a really good job at that Burma presser--I was so impressed with her. I pictured George oversleeping and drunk, and her saying "You stupid asshole, if you can't do it, I'll go do it for you. And show your sorry ass how it's done."

I was sitting with a bunch of people when that came on CSPAN, and we all looked at each other and said "Now if THAT BUSH had been President all these years, we'd probably be a LOT better off!"

Unfortunately, she had to take a lot of shit because of her idiot-husband's policies, and she was dragged out to defend him every so often, but she still managed to keep her dignity, and good for her.

I don't think husbands and wives are joined at the hip. I think they're individuals who often have shared goals.

Mrs. Obama has a great opportunity as a consequence of her husband's job, like all White House spouses do. No one's going to excoriate her if she takes it slow, though, and I hope she does, because the media always has the knives out for the women--it's the "meow" factor and they just can't seem to get enough of it (odd how it's often the men doing the vicious reporting). She's got plenty of time to get acclimated and dip a toe in, before embarking on a full schedule. She'll be busy enough, soon enough.

[Number23]

11. "She'll be busy enough, soon enough."

Now on that, we definitely agree...

And I do think the "take it slow" advice is good and it would be great if she did, but like I said I don't think that either Obama knows too much about taking things slowly...

[avaistheone1]

3. I thought it Michelle was going to make her priority taking care of her kids.

Once she steps on the policy podium I hope Michelle is fully prepared to be criticized.

Those are the rules like them or not.

[MADem]

8. They always say that before they see the possibilities... nt

[ellacott]

9. She's said that her first job will be Mom in Chief

And other issues she wants to address are volunteerism, work/life balance, military families and education.

She said this frequently on the campaign trail.

[Number23]

12. Looks like she's not wasting any time getting on those issues.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

10. Nice to see a First Lady who's not afraid to get out front and lead. We need more . . .

strong women like Michelle Obama. You go girl!