First Lady nominees who are skilled politicians

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

b33, do you think Michelle Obama has "tremendous discipline and verbal skill,"?

I personally don't, though I'm not trying to rip her here.

Perhaps we're just not seeing enough of Ann Romney yet.....but we certainly will in the upcoming months for sure.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

So far, I have found Ann to be quite verbally skilled myself, and rather supple in handling tricky questions.

And I think she would be disciplined, and graceful when she needs to be. 

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

b33, do you think Michelle Obama has "tremendous discipline and verbal skill,"?

No, I don't. She's obviously smart and in the top x% on those qualities but she could never be a politician.

I'm putting First Ladies in three buckets: the very skilled, the competent-but-not-that-into-this, and the negatives. Barbara, Nancy, and Rosalynn were excellent politicians in their own right. Ann and Michelle are smart and poised enough but don't have that drive that the first group had. Teresa Heinz Kerry falls short of that. Does that make sense?

Yes, and I bascially agree.....what about Laura Bush?

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

b33, do you think Michelle Obama has "tremendous discipline and verbal skill,"?

No, I don't. She's obviously smart and in the top x% on those qualities but she could never be a politician.

I'm putting First Ladies in three buckets: the very skilled, the competent-but-not-that-into-this, and the negatives. Barbara, Nancy, and Rosalynn were excellent politicians in their own right. Ann and Michelle are smart and poised enough but don't have that drive that the first group had. Teresa Heinz Kerry falls short of that. Does that make sense?

Yes, and I bascially agree.....what about Laura Bush?

Ditto. I have a lot of respect for her.

Indeed.  It's funny you mentioned Teresa Heinz Kerry.  Ms. "Chuv it" would have be a disaster....F bombs a rockin' everywhere....lol.    We've had enough of her over the years in this area for sure