Yes, we can.

[innerSpaceman]

And sorry, but Hillary gets tons of credit in my book for choosing to dedicate herself to revolutionalizing the life and death, sickness and healthcare world of Americans, rather than planting flowers by the roadsides. I don't care if she was elected or not.



Was Eleanor Roosevelt elected?

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Morrigoon nailed it.

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

Was Eleanor Roosevelt elected?

Ok, seriously, you think that Hillary Clinton is comparable to Eleanor Roosevelt? Really, seriously? Hell, I'm not even a huge Eleanor fan, and I still think you're overstepping things by quite a bit.

Seriously, if people want the President to be "The Married President Team", they better amend the f'n constitution.

[innerSpaceman]

Originally Posted by Cadaverous Pallor

Ok, seriously, you think that Hillary Clinton is comparable to Eleanor Roosevelt? Really, seriously?

Get a grip, please, and some reading comprehension Ms. Librarian. I was merely pointing out that a first lady needn't be elected to do good and ultimately admired works. I was not comparing the merits of those works. Simply rebutting Morrigoon's argument that first ladies had best just bake pastries for drive-thru windows.

Originally Posted by Cadaverous Pallor

Seriously, if people want the President to be "The Married President Team", they better amend the f'n constitution.

And now that you mention it, perhaps it should be pointed out that the administration is one, big collective team ... with a single ultimate decision-maker. No one else on the team is elected. So what's the big difference if the first lady (or first laddy) plays on the team???



And if - as looks a longshot now - Hillary wins, we'll not only have the first first laddy ... but the most experienced first spouse EVER to assist the business of the White House.

[Alex]

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

And now that you mention it, perhaps it should be pointed out that the administration is one, big collective team ... with a single ultimate decision-maker. No one else on the team is elected. So what's the big difference if the first lady (or first laddy) plays on the team???

I don't have any expectation that a president's spouse will avoid political participation and don't hold it against her or any other if they did. However, one very key difference is that pretty much all of the major members of that big collective team are submitted to congressional oversight and approval and are subject to lots of laws and regulations that the presidential spouse isn't (or would be in a very grey area if congress tried to enforce them). Congress can't impeach the first spouse.

[Morrigoon]

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

And now that you mention it, perhaps it should be pointed out that the administration is one, big collective team ... with a single ultimate decision-maker. No one else on the team is elected. So what's the big difference if the first lady (or first laddy) plays on the team???

I'm going to ignore your oversimplification of my point, because I have to give you mad props for making an excellent point of your own. It is true that the spouse could be considered a part of the team.

So I'm wondering... should congress insist on the ability to confirm the first spouse?