posted on January 22, 2004 12:26:08 PM newGertrude Clark: The Wesley Clarks have been married for 36 years and have one son, Wes Jr., who's a screenwriter in Los Angeles. Gertrude Clark has lived the life of an Army wife, moving frequently, and devoted her energies to family and to volunteering in civic activities.
"I met my wife at a dance in N.Y. in 1964 . . . and she is helping me a lot in this campaign," wrote Wesley Clark in an e-mail to a Michigan voter recently. "She travels with me, and she has excellent judgment, great people skills and is a real source of inspiration."
Judith Steinberg Dean: A physician like her husband, former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, she is tending her medical practice, and has made it clear that she won't let her career take a backseat to her husband's presidential bid.
An internist, she met Dean when both were studying at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City. She retained her maiden name so that patients could distinguish between them when they practiced medicine together in Vermont.
Elizabeth Edwards: Married to Sen. John Edwards, she studied English literature in graduate school and has a law degree from the University of North Carolina, but now is a full-time mom. Their younger children, Emma Claire, 5, and Jack, 3, sometimes join their parents on the campaign trail. Their daughter, Catharine, is a student at Princeton University. Their first child, Wade, died in a traffic accident in 1996.
Teresa Heinz Kerry: The daughter of a Portuguese physician, Heinz Kerry was born in Mozambique, and went to college in Johannesburg, South Africa. Heinz Kerry is now the chair of The Heinz Endowments and the Heinz Family Philanthropies, institutions dedicated to protecting the environment, improving education, enhancing the lives of young children, broadening economic opportunity and promoting the arts. She became a democrat in 2003.
Hadassah Lieberman: The wife of Sen. Joseph Lieberman is perhaps the most active spouse on the campaign trail and certainly one of the most visible. Her image graces campaign buses and the campaign's Web site.
The daughter of a rabbi, she strongly supports her husband's devotion to their Jewish faith and emphasis on moral values.
Kathy Jordan Sharpton: The Rev. Al Sharpton met his wife when he was touring as part of the entourage for soul legend James Brown. Jordan was a backup singer for Brown. Her occupations have included: U.S. Army Sergeant, school choir director, activist for National Woman's Committee, Action Network. She and her husband have been married for 20 years and have two teenaged daughters.
posted on January 22, 2004 12:57:46 PM newLaura Bush is already qualified and we will enjoy her presence in the White House for another 4 1/2 years. Soft spoken, gracious, educated and attractive. No need for finding a replacement ... she's doing an A-1 job.
Re-elect President Bush!!
[ edited by Linda_K on Jan 22, 2004 12:58 PM ]
posted on January 22, 2004 01:06:31 PM new
Excellent post, Linda
Laura Welch Bush
Laura Welch Bush shares America's concerns about the education of our children. Through her national initiative called Ready to Read, Ready to Learn, she stresses that America's children can't wait to read. In fact, they should have a book and an adult to read with long before they start school.
She urges more Americans to become teachers; discusses preparing young children for learning and school; and wants parents and other adults to have important information on child rearing and cognitive development.
On September 8, 2001, Mrs. Bush launched the first National Book Festival, which featured authors from across the nation and was attended by 30,000 people. Building on the success of the first festival, Mrs. Bush hosted the second annual National Book Festival on October 12, 2002. Seventy award-winning authors, illustrators and storytellers participated in the event which was attended by 45,000 people. Mrs. Ludmila Putina, wife of Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation, traveled to America to attend the festival.
Since the tragedy of September 11, Mrs. Bush has focused her energy on helping our nation, especially children, through the healing process. She encourages Americans to spend more time together as families and support the teachers who take care of their children every day in school.
Mrs. Bush joined a worldwide effort to stop the Taliban's oppression of women and children in Afghanistan. In November 2001, Mrs. Bush became the first First Lady in history to record a full presidential radio address, speaking out on the plight of women and children under the oppressive Taliban regime in Afghanistan. In May 2002, Mrs. Bush addressed the people of Afghanistan through Radio Liberty in Prague, the capitol of the Czech Republic.
In her speeches and public appearances, she expresses what many Americans believe: that every human being should be treated with dignity; and that no child should be left behind in school, or in life.
Mrs. Bush is also interested in women's health issues - particularly heart disease and breast cancer awareness. In Texas, she worked with the Governor's Spouse Program of the National Governors Association to promote women's health issues. She worked to establish Adopt-A-Caseworker programs and Rainbow Rooms throughout Texas. Rainbow rooms provide abused and neglected children with basic necessities such as clothing and diapers.
Her love of education and reading began in her youngest years and guided her to a career as a Texas public school teacher and librarian.
She attended Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in education in 1968. After college, she worked as a teacher at Longfellow Elementary School in the Dallas Independent School District until 1969 and then moved to Houston, Texas, where she taught at John F. Kennedy Elementary School in the Houston Independent School District until 1972.
Later, she enrolled at the University of Texas at Austin and earned a Master of Library Science degree in 1973. Afterward, she worked at the Houston Public Library, Kashmere Gardens Branch until she moved back to Austin in 1974.
She worked as a librarian at Dawson Elementary School until 1977, when she met George Walker Bush at the home of mutual friends. They married in November 1977 and made their home in Midland. In 1981, George and Laura Bush became the proud parents of twin girls, who are named Barbara and Jenna, after their grandmothers.
Today she brings her experienced viewpoints, her love of children and her interest in education to a much broader audience as the wife of the 43rd President of the United States, George W. Bush.
__________________________________
"I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to the people who sleep under the very blanket of freedom I provide, and then question the manner in which I provide it. I'd rather you just said 'thank you' and went on your way." - A Few Good Men
posted on January 22, 2004 01:38:17 PM new
Laura Bush has always struck me as a Stepford Wife. At least Barbara had some spunk.
I think Deans wife would make an amazing example to young women and would be an interesting addition to the White House. I think that Heinz Kerry is already doing what is expected of most first ladies so would fit right in. As far as Edwards.. as completely hokey as it may seem - I would love the concept of seeing kids in the White House mainly because their kids are young enough that they would be out of there by the time they reached their teens so the nation could have those great "kid" moments and then the teens could be teens without being under the national microscope.
In other words - I like them all - this information has not helped me in the least
~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~
If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
__________________________________
"I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to the people who sleep under the very blanket of freedom I provide, and then question the manner in which I provide it. I'd rather you just said 'thank you' and went on your way." - A Few Good Men
posted on January 22, 2004 01:50:37 PM new
Dean's wife? Does he really have a wife....I haven't seen her. Didn't even show up for his birthday party. Probably too busy for such nonsense.
Having Laura in the WH has been a very pleasant change from having the two previous president's in the White House; One elected, one who just forced herself on the nation.
posted on January 22, 2004 01:59:00 PM new
I admire all of the democratic candidate's wives! I even have a good word for Laura...she would make a better president than George. Of course, that's not saying much.
posted on January 22, 2004 02:12:19 PM new
The whole thing is damn foolishness. How would you like to go in for a job interview and have to present your wife and defend her ability to do the 'social' job? Yes I know you have that in certain very executive positions. And it is just as stupid there as sitting around in powdered wigs with pursed lips speaking of breeding.
Class distinctions that when we see it in another culture such as caste in India we laugh at it. But when it is which country club do you belong to and what society in school such as they have made so much of with Bush - Oh my - that is so serious.
posted on January 22, 2004 02:23:35 PM new
Well...at this point at least, doesn't look like we have to worry about Dean's wife and her qualifications. His 'angry left' campaign strategy doesn't appear to have won him the support in the democratic caucus that he thought it would. surprise, surprise...
posted on January 22, 2004 04:04:11 PM new
Well, okay. I had purposely left Laura Bush off the list of prospective first ladies because she is the first lady, but since some of you were unable to grasp that and brought her up, let me ask you: just what the heck is wrong with her eyes? Was she really stupid enough to have plastic surgery in Texas??
posted on January 22, 2004 10:21:27 PM new
I agree with Gravid! Censorship, like charity, should begin at home; but unlike charity, it should end there --Clare Booth Luce
posted on January 23, 2004 06:15:58 AM new
If the media had allowed Moseley-Braun to get further, would there be questioning about
the potential "First Mady?"
1. Would the "First Mady" leave his law/medical practice to follow his spouse's run for Pres?
2. Would he be ask to attend a birthday party
for the benefit of the animals in the media zoo? Or the sheep following the media's every bleet?
3. Would the potential "First Mady" leave his medical practice and patients to give photo ops! Screw the patients! Give the National Inquirer readers something to read!
Laura Bush told Katherine Matthews (ABC-Washington Bureau) during a White House tour when Bush first weaseled into the job, that she intended staying home and sticking to her knitting. That is exactly what she has done.
Edited to add: I like Fenix's Stepford Wife image. Whether the insipid Laura is Faux-First Lady or not, she relects the kind of "little woman" the Right seems to worship. Keep your mouth shut and stay in the kitchen.
Laura will be remembered as the first lady who withdrew her invitation to a distinguished group of American poets when she learned that they might read an anti war poem.
posted on January 23, 2004 09:48:19 AM new
yes, the presidency is a job and a 'service-oriented' one at that. I will admit the spouse has some influence there, but those of you who pick apart the spouse on behalf of the presidential candidate or president are really dumb. These couples are not jointed at the hip, you know.
posted on January 23, 2004 11:17:42 AM new
Do people really make decisions based on the wife or are they actually just having a little fun on a slow day?
~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~
If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
posted on January 23, 2004 05:48:26 PM new
Helen, isn't it ironic that Laura Bush would lie about her husband writing a bad poem for her?
[quote]MRS. BUSH: Upon returning home last night from my long trip, I found a lovely poem waiting for me. Normally I wouldn't share something so personal, but since we're celebrating great writers, I can't resist. "Dear Laura, roses are red, violets are blue. Oh, my lump in the bed, I've missed you. Roses are red, bluer am I, seeing you kissed by that charming French guy. The dogs and the cat, they miss you, too. Barney's still mad you dropped him. He ate your shoe. The distance, my dear, has been such a barrier. Next time you want an adventure, just land on a carrier."[/quote]
[quote]Well, of course, he didn't really write the poem. But a lot of people really believed that he did.[/quote]
posted on January 23, 2004 06:21:51 PM new
Hey, Snowy, totally off-topic (except your sigline reminds me to ask you every time I see it) have you ever read Ellison's short story, "The Man Who Rowed Christopher Columbus Ashore" ?
(If not, it's part of the 1993 Best American Short Stories anthology and was also included in his own collection of his stories, "Slippage". It's a "keeper". )
posted on January 23, 2004 06:50:25 PM new
Hi Pat, I don't remember that title, but I've read a lot of his writing. (2 Ellison fans in this house) His work holds up well. You have the right to an informed opinion -Harlan Ellison
